Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the Trump White House and the U.S. Treasury Secretary continue to issue formal reports about the Republican corporate tax cut plan. These reports are devoid of fact or credibility and have been categorically rejected by each and every respectable tax expert.

These tax cuts will pay for themselves and fuel $2 trillion in economic growth over the next decade.

Not true. Tax cuts have never come close to paying for themselves, not once or ever in human history.

Corporate tax cuts will trickle down to increase annual household income in America by between $4,000 and $9,000.

No one believes this or them. For the White House Council of Economic Advisers to say this is official misconduct and a blatant fraud perpetrated against middle America.

Mr. Speaker, this big, corporate tax cut is a massive giveaway to corporate America and a major takeaway from middle America.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican corporate tax cut bill is a massive takeaway from middle America and a massive giveaway to corporate America.

The Treasury Secretary says that these tax cuts will pay for themselves, and more. News flash for the Treasury Secretary: Tax cuts don't pay for themselves. They never have, not once, in human history.

What does pay for itself are Federal historic tax credits. When Federal historic tax credits are used to renew historical buildings, $1.20 for every $1 in tax credits is generated. When historic buildings are renewed, including in my

community of Buffalo, New York, Main Streets across America are restored, jobs are created, and new business income and property tax revenues are generated.

The Federal historic tax credit does, in fact, pay for itself, and more, by helping cities and communities to become economically independent and self-sufficient.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and welcome the newly constructed naval ship, the USS Little Rock, to my home city of Buffalo, New York, where it will be docked until its formal commissioning on December 16.

For the first time in the history of the United States Navy, the commissioning of the new USS Little Rock will take place alongside the original USS Little Rock, which served during the Second World War and for the last 40 years has stood tall as an honored exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to thank the brave men and women of the United States Navy and crew of the USS Little Rock, past and present, for their service.

On behalf of Buffalo and western New York, it is an honor and a privilege to serve as the site from which the USS Little Rock will embark on its next mission.

This new vessel will make a formidable addition to the United States Navy fleet, and its dedicated crew, tasked with protecting our Nation's coasts and waterways, will ensure the ship lives up to its motto: ``Back with a Vengeance.''

Mr. Speaker, it has been said by the U.S. Treasury Secretary that tax cuts pay for themselves. He says that not only will these corporate taxes pay for themselves, they will add an additional $2 trillion in economic activity. Nobody believes that. There is no credible report that supports that contention.

What do pay for themselves are tax credits, particularly the Federal historic tax credit. That is one that returns generously to the Federal Treasury. The Federal historic tax credit returns more to the Treasury than it costs. In fact, $25 billion in credits have returned $29 billion to the Federal Treasury; $5 of private investment is made for every dollar in the Federal historic tax credit program.

Nationally, $132 billion in private investment has been made because of $25 million in Federal historic tax credits. Over 43,000 buildings in downtown areas like my community of Buffalo, New York, have benefited tremendously from this valuable program.

It is eliminated in the House bill; it is eliminated in the Senate bill; and the conference should restore it as an issue of fairness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Community Missions, Inc. (CMI) of Niagara Frontier's Executive Director, Ms. Robyn Krueger on the occasion of her 40th Anniversary of dedicated service to those in need throughout the City of Niagara Falls and beyond its borders.

Since 1925, Community Missions' guiding principle to provide ``Compassion in Action'' remains a clarion call to all those who lead, work, volunteer and engage with individuals and families to reach their full potential. This organization has expanded its reach beyond its initial population of homeless individuals to now include 19 programs within four divisions known as Crisis & Community Services, Mental Health Housing Services, Mental Health Recovery Services and Youth Services, reflecting the changing needs of the community throughout the decades.

Community Missions' vision to help people find their place in the world is certainly personified in its long-time Executive Director, Robyn Krueger. Hired in 1977, she began her career with CMI as a live- in houseparent to six adolescent males in the City of Niagara Falls. She graduated from SUNY at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1985 and completed several selected graduate studies in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department. Ms. Krueger was named Executive Director of CMI in September of 1994. For the more than two decades since she assumed this role, CMI continues to open its doors to better reflect the changing needs of the community. As CMI provides almost 50 percent more meals than it did 10 years ago, it is clear those needs are growing. In 2016 alone, Community Missions provided 11,104 nights of shelter, 89,366 meals, 6,744 individuals with clothing, 2,295 care days in Youth Services, 46,888 care days in Recovery Services, 73,994 care days in Housing Services and 182 opportunities for Faith Development.

Ms. Krueger's extensive professional and community involvement spreads beyond her duties as Executive Director as she serves on a variety of local, county and state committees, boards and associations in leadership and active roles. These include the Association for Community Living, Homeless Alliance of Western New York, Juvenile Detention Association of NYS, Niagara Behavioral Healthcare Network, Niagara County Juvenile Justice Taskforce and NYS Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Inc.

A member of the Who's Who among Outstanding Business Executives, this determined administrator is a graduate of Leadership Niagara's Class of 2004. Her achievements have earned her the 2006 Anthony J. Cuccurullo Award from the New York State Juvenile Detention Association, the 2011 Niagara Award for Management from the YWCA of Niagara Frontier, and the 2013 Killian Vetter Individual Achievement Award given by the Homeless Alliance of Western New York. Other well deserved recognitions include the Woman Vanessa Scott Ministries ``I Shall Wear a Crown'' Award given for Ministry Service, the Dominion Life Christian Center ``Lion of Judah'' Award for longevity of service to the community, and the 2016 Niagara University President's Award-St. Vincent de Paul.

Ms. Krueger's commitment to service clearly includes putting others first as her heart, humanity and deep faith are integral to her leadership style. She publicly proclaims so often that ``operating such a diverse organization would not be possible without the help of our dedicated staff, along with the unwavering support of our community.'' These are more than mere words as for 25 years CMI recognizes their volunteers and supporters for their countless hours of commitment, care and concern for their neighbors in need with its Annual Compassion in Action Awards Brunch.

CMI continues to strengthen its public, private and non-profit partnerships, with institutions such as United Way of Niagara County and Niagara University, as it is actively engaged in the planning, programs and intervention strategies presented at the Annual Poverty Conference. The leadership of Community Missions and the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center have joined forces to increase recovery and understanding with a focus on the annual Interfaith Community Prayer Service. Under Ms. Krueger's direction, these works and other ongoing collaborative efforts have earned Community Missions the Catholic Charities 2003 Community Partner and the 2009 Niagara USA Chamber Community Advocate of the Year Award. On Wednesday, November 29th, 2017, the Community Missions family including staff, board members, volunteers, supporters and friends will gather to observe 92 years of service to the Niagara Frontier. The highlight of this event will be the heartfelt acknowledgement of Robyn Krueger's 40 years of helping countless families and individuals reach their full potential.

It should be noted that the 40th is traditionally known as the ruby anniversary, as the symbolism behind that crimson stone rests in its inner flame that represents a living and vibrant love. It should be said that Ms. Robyn Krueger possesses that inner flame as her professional career and personal commitment represents a living and vibrant love for Community Missions, her faith and her fellow human beings.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the significant contributions and good works of Ms. Robyn Krueger as her 40th Anniversary is recognized during this ``Season of Thanks'' celebration, and to thank her and Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. for making a real difference in our world.

Mr. Speaker, this is nothing more than a hit job on middle America to pay for a massive tax cut for corporate America. The only certainty from this charade is slower economic growth, more income inequality, and exploding budget deficits.

When you take away tax relief from sick people who were born into illness and for whom insurance doesn't provide enough coverage, that is a hit on middle America.

When you remove help for people who are just trying to make college affordable, who are trying to make themselves better, that is a hit on middle America.

And when you take away healthcare from 13 million Americans and raise the cost for millions more because you needed another $300 billion to give more to corporate America, that is a hit on middle America.

And when 152,000 people from my community and millions more from New York lose 100 years of protection from State and local taxes, protection worth more than $8,000 per household, that is a hit on my community, it is a hit on New York State, and it is a hit on each and every community in America.

And when you take away the essential needs of middle America to feed the rapacious needs of corporate America, it is a hit on fundamental fairness, and that, Mr. Speaker, is a hit on all of America.

Mr. Speaker, New York State contributes $41 billion, annually, to the Federal Government in taxation. The House Republican corporate tax bill cut is being funded by tax increases on middle America and on western New York.

The elimination of the State and local tax deduction would be a major hit on local taxpayers. In fact, in Erie County, 89 percent of middle- income households claimed the State and local tax deduction in 2015, deducting $1.6 billion in already-paid local taxes. The average State and local tax deduction in Erie County was $12,866.

This corporate tax cut is being funded by tax hikes on middle America and on western New Yorkers and should be rejected.

Mr. Speaker, the White House Council of Economic Advisers issued a report recently asserting that, by cutting the corporate rate from 35 to 20 percent, every American household will see their income increase by $4,000 to $9,000 next year and those years after.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary also said that these tax cuts would pay for themselves and produce $2 trillion in growth over the next decade. In fact, Mr. Speaker, tax cuts have never paid for themselves--not once or ever--in human history.

The White House has a problem in that nobody believes them, not the Congressional Budget Office, not the Tax Policy Center, not the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School, and not even Goldman Sachs, from which both the Treasury Secretary and the National Economic Adviser came to the White House.

In fact, each of these nonpartisan institutions that studies and reports on tax and economic policy have stated explicitly that these corporate tax cuts will have near zero impact on future economic growth and add at least $1.5 trillion in new deficit over the next decade.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, this is fraud being perpetrated against middle America.

Mr. Speaker, the Tax Policy Center, the Wharton School, and virtually every rational economist have reviewed the House Republican tax cut plan and the results are clear: no new good economic growth, big debt and deficit, and big tax cuts for corporations and very rich Americans.

Three million wealthy Americans will get a tax cut next year of $220,000; 250 million not-so-rich Americans will get a tax cut of $221. If you make $730,000, your income next year will increase by 8.5 percent. If you make $150,000, it will increase by 1 percent.

Where are all of the deficit hawks? Where are any of the deficit hawks?

This tax plan is nothing more than fraud being perpetrated against middle America.

I ask my colleagues to reject this plan.

Mr. Speaker, no family or community should have to relive the devastating loss we felt on February 12, 2009, the day Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in western New York, killing all aboard and one on the ground.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Flight 3407 families and a bipartisan collection of Members of Congress, new flight safety standards have saved other families from similar pain, achieving 7 years of no commercial airline fatalities.

Yet some, including the new nominee to the National Transportation Safety Board, are questioning the need for these hard-fought, commonsense flight safety and training standards.

You have a right to know which airline is flying your plane, you have a right to know that your pilot is well rested, and you have a right to know that the pilot is adequately trained to handle any challenges that might occur in flight. For these rights and for enhanced safety, you can thank the families of Flight 3407 for their work in reaching these standards, and you can join me in fighting to make sure that we keep them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Olivia Smith-Blackwell as she receives the Golden Stethoscope Award from the Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians at the 2017 Cheplove Dinner. As we celebrate local leaders in family medicine, Dr. Smith-Blackwell's career and accomplishments deserve recognition.

Dr. Smith-Blackwell's career demonstrates her depth and breadth in the field of medicine, including experience in public health, hospital administration, and clinical care. Her first endeavor out of medical school was to serve our community as Associate Medical Director of the Medical Assistance Program at the Erie County Department of Health, earning a promotion to Medical Director two years later. For thirteen years, Dr. Smith-Blackwell continued her public role as the Western Regional Health Director for the New York State Department of Health's Office of Public Health. She brought her skills next to Sheehan Hospital, where she was President & CEO until 2002. Dr. Smith-Blackwell then moved on to open Meadow Family Medicine in North Tonawanda, where she continues to provide primary care to patients in our community.

Her educational background is equally as varied and impressive. Dr. Smith-Blackwell received her medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, now known as the Jacobs School of

Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at Deaconess Hospital in Buffalo in 1979. For her undergraduate degree, she attended the University of Pennsylvania. After earning her M.D., Dr. Smith-Blackwell went on to attain a Masters of Public Health from Columbia University.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to join Dr. Smith-Blackwell's husband. Roger Blackwell, her family, colleagues and friends to recognize the impressive contributions she has made in the medical field as she receives the Golden Stethoscope Award. So many in Western New York have benefited from her care, and I am grateful she chose to dedicate her life to bettering the well-being of our community.

Mr. Speaker, Medicare is the best public option that already exists to improve the Affordable Care Act and to provide immediate relief to Americans on the individual market.

Next week, the Nation's State insurance commissioners will make public insurers' price gouging increases for next year, including a 60 percent increase in Georgia, a 50 percent increase in Florida, and the remaining States up to a 50 percent 1-year increase.

A Medicare buy-in option for younger Americans is the only hedge against these price spikes that every American will look to Congress for relief from. Congress has been negligent in their 7-year near obsession with repeal and replace. You can no longer blame ObamaCare.

Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of Congress to support the Medicare Buy-in and Healthcare Stabilization Act and Medicare X legislation. It is time to unleash the market power of Medicare to lower costs, improve quality,

and push back on private insurers' aggressive pricing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Mr. Robert T. Scott of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. Throughout his 47 year career at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, Mr. Scott has served in numerous roles. He joined the faculty as a Religion and History Teacher in 1971, served as Vice Principal for Student Affairs for twenty years before becoming Principal, and--since 2004--has been the school's first lay President.

In each role, Mr. Scott's countless contributions and genuine care for the St. Joe's community impacted thousands of young men and their families. He is present every day, all day, and is simply an institution who has personally guided our school's mission for decades. His tireless fundraising efforts remain focused on student financial aid to ensure that a St. Joe's education is affordable and accessible.

Since the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Scott has lived the Lasallian Mission in the footsteps of the Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, St. John Baptist de La Salle. He has completed the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies, the Lasallian Leadership Institute, and held numerous leadership positions throughout the Christian Brothers network in the United States. As a testament to his life of service, he became an Affiliated Member of the Brothers in June 2001--the order's high honor.

In 2009, his leadership ofthe school's capital campaign, entitled Pride in our Past . . . Faith in our Future, generated more than $13 million to construct a state-of-the-art Science Facility, a modern Athletic Complex, and a new residence for the Christian Brothers. After an overwhelming response to the campaign, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name the athletic complex in Mr. Scott's honor.

With his constant support and encouragement, notable innovations in both curriculum and physical space have taken place. Recently, the library was converted into a digital learning space and course offerings in the STEM fields continue to increase. Currently, an acquired building adjacent to campus is being converted into an Innovation Center.

His greatest influence, however, has been on the young men who passed through the halls. During the last four decades, St. Joe's students' lives have been deeply influenced, shaped, and cared for by Mr. Scott.

After attending Catholic grammar and high school in Western New York, Mr. Scott received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. He began graduate studies in Hebrew and the Old Testament at the University of Dayton before serving for two years in United States Army. He finished his Master's Degree in Religious Studies at Canisius College in 1975.

Today, Mr. Scott serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse and the Elmwood Franklin School in Buffalo. He is a past member of the Board of Trustees of Mt. St. Mary Academy, Holy Angels Academy, and the Nativity Miguel School.

Mr. Scott has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 49 years. He is the proud parent of Jason and Tracy, and grandparent of Tracy's children, Noah and Sarah.

Mr. Speaker, I honor and recognize Mr. Scott for his selfless service to the young men of St. Joe's and the community of Western New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Buffalo Police Officer Craig Lehner, who lost his life in the line of duty this past week. On October 13, tragedy struck. Officer Lehner went missing while performing underwater recovery training in the Niagara River. For 5 days, State, local, Federal, and Canadian agencies heroically assisted in the search and recovery.

Officer Lehner lived a life of service to his country and to his community. A resident of south Buffalo, Lehner was a 9-year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, a 16-year National Guardsman who served in Iraq, and a member of the canine unit.

Those who knew Officer Lehner knew how much he loved his job and the people of Buffalo. Buffalo is the hardest working city in America, the city of good neighbors.

In the past several days, there has been an outpouring of support for Officer Lehner's family and the Buffalo Police Department. I want to extend thanks to the many brave first responders who worked around the clock in recovery efforts.

Officer Lehner, thank you for your service, and may you rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and the President said that their plan would not benefit the rich and would grow the economy. They called it the Mnuchin rule.

If you make $730,000 a year in America, your income would rise by 8.5 percent, which is $129,000 a year, or $10,750 a month. That is your tax cut under the Trump plan, a direct violation of what we were told.

We are also told that this plan was a middle class miracle. If you make $67,000, your income will rise by 1.2 percent, which is $670 a year, or a whopping $56 a month.

This is not a miracle. This is an illusion. This plan will increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years. I am wondering where the deficit hawks are.

We were told that these tax cuts would pay for themselves. News flash: tax cuts don't pay for themselves. In fact, economists from Goldman say these tax cuts will have virtually no good impact on the economy. The Treasury Secretary and the National Economic Adviser are both immediately from Goldman.

This tax cut is a fraud being perpetrated against the American people and against the American middle class.