Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bill Erickson from Eaton, Colorado. A longtime dairyman, Mr. Erickson was recently honored with the Colorado State University Alumni Association 50 Year Club's Public Service Award for his work with 4-H, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) youth organization which promotes science, citizenship, and healthy-living through hands-on learning activities. Mr. Erickson has been involved with 4-H for 60 years.

Mr. Erickson became involved with 4-H as a child and has since served the Colorado agricultural community in a variety of leadership roles. He is a long-standing member of the Weld County Farm Bureau and has also served as president of both the Weld County 4-H Leadership Council and the Colorado 4-H Leadership Council. Now 84, Mr. Erickson continues be involved with 4-H and serves on the Agriculture Committee for the Greeley Chamber of Commerce.

I am extremely grateful for Mr. Erickson's dedication to agricultural development and the youth of Weld County. Please join me in congratulating him on receiving this award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Horace Elliott from Greeley, Colorado. Mr. Elliott currently serves as Executive Vice President of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) and has recently received several awards for his dedication to the chiropractic profession. Earlier this year, Mr. Elliott was the recipient of the 2013 NBCE Leadership Award and was also recognized as Dynamic Chiropractic's Person of the Year.

Mr. Elliott's 27-year career has been characterized by a dedication to his patients and his community. For his work, Mr. Elliott has received honorary doctorates from Texas Chiropractic College and the American College of Chiropractors, and has also been named an honorary fellow of the International College of Chiropractors. He was elected to the board of the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care in 2010.

In spite of these professional commitments, Mr. Elliot has also made time to be an active member of his community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce and holds a seat on the board of the Greeley Rotary Club. He is also a Chamber Representative to the City of Greeley Planning Commission.

I feel very fortunate to represent someone as talented and involved as Mr. Elliott. Please join me in thanking him for his many contributions to Greeley.

Mr. Speaker, Colorado's 4th Congressional District is home to countless special people and businesses. Today I rise to honor Larry Ciesla, one of those special people who has made a major impact at Intrado, Inc., a company in my district that has played a significant role in providing our country's 9-1-1 emergency system. This month, Larry will retire after more than 40 years in this mission- critical industry.

Larry began his telecommunications career as an engineer with Western Electric, which later morphed into Bell Labs, AT&T Technologies and eventually Lucent Technologies. Before and after Intrado acquired Lucent's Public Safety Division, Lucent's switch engineers recognized Larry's special capabilities and came to respect his expertise in 9-1-1 switching functionality--presenting Larry with the Bell System's prestigious ``Distinguished Member of Technical Staff'' award. It was in those early years when Larry's visionary participation in standards development and his pioneering contributions led to the technical foundation for what we all know today as Enhanced 9-1-1 service.

Larry can count among his accomplishments his role as the chief architect of the AT&T E9-1-1 database management system, his leadership in developing a geo-spatial 9-1-1 database which was a precursor for locating mobile 9-1-1 callers used today, and his co-authorship of the technical paper that defined the method used today for routing wireless 9-1-1 calls--ensuring that those calls for help at a time of need are delivered to the appropriate public safety agency.

Larry is credited as an inventor or co-inventor of multiple U.S. Patents, including a method for expanded communications in a telecom network and an E9-1-1 architecture for Internet telephony.

Always content to work behind the scenes, Larry has been an unsung hero--responsible for saving countless lives in his four decades on the job. On behalf of all Americans, I commend Larry Ciesla for his dedication, his outstanding contributions, and his impactful service to his country and its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the selfless sacrifice and service of The Armed Forces and their families to our Nation on this Thanksgiving Day. Across this Nation many families will be separated by War and Death on this Thanksgiving. Remember all of them, as you sit down with your families and say a prayer of Thanks to them all. I submit this tribute penned in honor of them ``No Words'' by Albert Carey Caswell.

No Words

(By Albert Carey Caswell)

No words!

No words of thanks can express!

On this Thanksgiving day,

what we so owe to America's Best!

And no words of thanks can ever repay the debt!

That we owe,

for what you so gave without regret!

And no words can erase,

all of the pain and heartache that you've faced!

And no words can so mend,

the loss of your loved ones, and your best friends!

And no words can ever describe,

all of the worry and heartache that you've lived with inside!

And no words can ever repay,

all of you whose eyes and arms and legs so gave!

And no words of thanks and gratitude can so rise!

High enough,

to thank all of you whose loved ones died!

And no words can ever heal,

all of the pain of which you now feel!

And no one can explain,

to all of those children . . .

that their mommy and daddy aren't coming home again!

And no words can so repay,

all of those Doctors . . .

Nurses, Medics, Corpsman, who helped rebuild your lives . . .

and from death you so saved!

For no words can so express,

our Nation's gratitude on This Thanksgiving to America's

Best!

And no words can so bring back,

all of those Husbands and Wives,

Sons and Daughters . . .

Brothers and Sisters,

whose courage did not so lack!

And no words can ever repay,

all of you, America's Heroes on This Thanksgiving Day!

But Thanks!

To all of those in hospitals who now so lay!

And no words can not so stop all of those tears,

around Thanksgiving dinners,

for all of those who could not be here!

But Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You This Thanksgiving Day!

A prayer for all of you upon bended knee we now so pray!

Because no words can thank you enough on this Thanksgiving

Day,

Amen!

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee for his work on this bill and the legislation before us.

Mr. Speaker, 250,000 Coloradoans have had their health care plans canceled. I join them. Here is my letter. As one of the insurance policyholders in Colorado, I, too, had my insurance canceled. I am part of 250,000 people who had a health care plan they were told they could keep, but they won't be able to.

Noel from eastern Colorado contacted my office to tell me that his insurance has been canceled, insurance

that he liked, that he was promised by the President that he would get to keep. Mr. Speaker, Noel tells the story that he has two kids and a third on the way. He tells the story that his premium is going to go up by about $400 as a result of the changes under the health care bill, and that with the addition of his third child, it will go up another $300 more a month. His family doesn't make much money. For eastern Colorado, they actually do better than others. They bring home $5,000 a month. But to see that kind of a health care cost increase when they were promised if they like their health care policy, they could keep it is simply wrong.

We have been accused in this bill of rolling back the law. This bill does one thing. It rolls back a broken promise. It rolls back a broken promise so we can keep our health care plans and so that the 250,000 people in Colorado can keep their health care plans. In fact, it does go back. It goes back to a time when President Obama promised the American people that, if they liked their health care plan, they could keep it, period. It goes back to a time when Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of HHS, said, if you like your health care plan, you can keep it. It goes back to a time when the majority who passed the legislation in the House and in the Senate said, if you like your health care plan, you can keep it, period.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues today have already pointed out, the President made this promise to the American people:

If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep

your health care plan. Period.

I have in my hand a letter sent to my office from Noel, from Akron, Colorado, in my district. This is, in part, what it says:

I am a 37-year-old automotive mechanic in the family

business, volunteer firefighter, devout Catholic. My wife,

Heather, is a 33-year-old third grade teacher. Our daughter

is 2 years old, our son is 1 year old, and our third child is

due in March. I recently received a letter from Rocky

Mountain Health Plan stating that my existing policy is

canceled as of January 1, 2014, due to mandated government

policies.

250,000 Coloradans have lost their insurance. That is more people than have now signed up across this country, nationwide, for ObamaCare.

Noel, you are not alone. I join you because I too lost my health insurance when I chose to opt out of the congressional coverage, one of the 250,000 people that lost our coverage. And it is time for this President to uphold his promise to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jack Annan, Executive Director of Northeastern Junior College Alumni Association, in Sterling, Colorado. Jack was recently named ``Alumni of the Plains'', an award given by a non-partisan advocacy group in Northeast Colorado called Progressive 15 to individuals who have excelled in their profession and given back to Northeastern Colorado.

A lifelong Coloradoan, Jack graduated from College High School in Greeley and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Colorado State University. Jack has invested his life in education and youth development. He began his educational career teaching agriculture in New Raymer and Grover.

In 1966, Jack joined the agriculture department at NJC as a teacher. He later became a vocational counselor and then an admissions recruiter. As an admissions recruiter, he traveled thousands of miles to recruit thousands of students on behalf of NJC. In addition to currently overseeing the Alumni Association, Jack also oversees the college's Alumni Heritage Center collecting and preserving NJC's history. A popular figure, Jack is known as ``Mr. NJC'' on campus. In 2004, a life-size bronze statue was erected in his honor. Earlier this year, he enjoyed more than two thousand people singing him Happy Birthday at the college's 70th annual commencement ceremony.

In addition to his work at NJC, Jack is the Executive Secretary of the Colorado Young Farmers and directs their state-wide activities. They have recognized him for his many years of dedication and involvement. He is also an active member of the Sterling Lions Club.

Throughout his lifetime, Jack has received numerous awards, including being named to the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, the Colorado Association for Career and Technical Education Hall of Fame, and the NJC Agriculture Hall of Fame. Despite regular accolades, Jack remains a modest figure. He lives with his wife, Florence, in Sterling.

Please join me in congratulating Jack on his award, his successful career, and his many contributions to the State of Colorado, particularly in relation to agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lauren Hallstrom from Douglas County, Colorado. Last November, sixteen-year-old Lauren participated in Douglas County Libraries' National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and authored an entire novel in only 30 days.

Miss Hallstrom's novel, Dreamweaver, tells the tale of a girl named Audrey in a place called Fortune. The novel follows Audrey's efforts to rid her town of bad luck after an unlucky penny wreaks havoc on Fortune and its citizens. This intriguing story and Lauren's outstanding efforts were recognized when Dreamweaver was announced the winner of the Douglas County Libraries' novel-writing contest last February.

As part of Lauren's prize, Douglas County Libraries provided editing and cover design services for Dreamweaver, and it is now possible to find Lauren's book on both Bookcrafters.net and Amazon.com. Such literary success is truly remarkable for a sixteen-year-old.

I am extremely honored to represent this talented young woman. Please join me in congratulating Lauren on the publication of her first novel. I hope we continue to see many more from her in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic veterans of Honor Flight Northern Colorado as they travel to Washington, DC to visit the memorials that stand in our Nation's capital. The members of this 11th Honor Flight Northern Colorado trip include veterans from multiple wars and different generations, linked together by their service to our Nation.

Eighteen years ago, Honor Flight began its mission to fly veterans of World War II to Washington, DC, so that each person who bravely served could experience the monuments and memorials honoring them. Having now expanded to serve veterans from every corner of the country, and conflicts beyond World War II, the Honor Flight program has become a national expression of gratitude to our veterans. Of the 118 veterans on the most recent flight, 40 served in World War II, 75 in Korea, and 3 in Vietnam.

Our gratitude extends well beyond the physical memorials dedicated to those who courageously risked their lives to preserve our inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We know that without the bravery of our veterans, our Nation would not be able to stand as the shining city on the hill for the world to see. Today we honor those who risked their lives to ensure that the United States remains the greatest Nation on earth for generations to come:

Homer Andersen, Ernest Baugh, Norman Bever, William Compton, Alton Cooper, Arthur Cushing, Robert Davis, Harold Dawe, Jr., Richard Doyle, Robert Eldridge, Stewart Fonda, Jr., Donald Forry, Albert Gablehouse, Charles Gebauer, William Hammond, Sidney Hanks, William Hargis, Walter Hayward, Herman Huwa, Reinard Janssen, Donald Larson, Evelyn Lee, John MacQueen, Robert Martin, Isaac Martinez, George Norton, Eugene Olson, Herbert Pugh, Thomas Ramm, Eugene Replogle, William Ripple, Max Rodgers, Loyal Smoke, Glen Springer, Harold Sutton, Donald Steinshouer, Roger Van Thorre, Charles Webb, James Whitley, Lawrence Zuppan, Harry Ahlbrandt, Wallace Akers, Ronald Anderson, Joseph Annello, Filbert Baca, Gilbert Ball, Delbert Black, Keith Bordewyk, Delmar Bonser, Emilio Brito, Dorn Brunner, Charles Crihfield, Marvin Crihfield, Charles Dunfee, Sr., Thomas Eckrich, Verne Einspahr, Virtus Einspahr, Theodore Farwell, Edwin Foss, Robert Frank, Loren Garretson, Scott Goshorn, Earl Graham, Howard Hanson, Fred Hara, Jerry Herring, Bernard Hill, John Holloway, Harold Hoyland, Vealess Hudspeth, William Hughes, Jimmie Hylton, John Jacobson, Ray Jacoby, Richard Jaggers, Kenneth Jan, Frances Killinger, Jr., Raymond Kosley, Edward Krivonak, William Krupke, Pat Lanphear, Owen Lecheler, Clarence Lueb, Robert MacLauchlin, Roquez Martinez, Horacio Masearenas, Edward Minch, Robert Muller, Leonard Peatrowsky, William Phillips, Dean Pope, Charles Pugh, George Pugh, Teddy Putnum, Tommy Richie, Theodore Roos, Leonard Schmidt, Paul Schroeder, Lloyd Seekamp, Robert Sharritt, Richard Sherman, James Sparks, Boyd Stark, Harvey Steward, Joseph Stockert, Richard Stoner, Jr., Leo Thielen, John Toth, John Wachsmann, Benjamin Wagner, Roger Warden, Jr., Robert Weber, Lester Weers, James Weitz, and Russell Zingelman.

I rise to offer the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment to the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, and I express my intention to withdraw this amendment at the end of my statement.

This amendment authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to designate a team to serve as the Office of Water Storage. The office is tasked with coordinating every agency involved in the approval of water storage permits, including the EPA, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of the Interior. Once initial applications are submitted to the Office of Water Storage, the office must, upon notification of the Governor, approve or deny a permit within 365 days.

The amendment does not circumvent environmental laws but merely sets a time frame for an initial up-or-down decision to move forward, and the Congressional Budget Office stated that this amendment contains no direct spending. The amendment would seek to streamline the process for desperately needed water storage infrastructure, particularly in the western United States.

Economic development to agriculture job creation is directly correlated to each individual State's ability to deliver and store water. We can no longer rest on our current water storage infrastructure to meet the demands of both our agricultural and municipal water needs.

In Colorado alone, by the year 2050, we will need an additional 1 million acre-feet of water to meet the needs of agriculture, industry, and our growing cities. Without that water, we will see a buy-up and dry-up of agricultural land and the destruction of our economy.

To approve of these projects that have been tied up for decades in permitting battles, we need to rethink the Federal Government's role in water storage and redefine the various missions that agencies at the Federal level are charged with in these permitting decisions.

The Federal Government has created a litany of regulations and bureaucratic red tape that inhibit local communities and States from building new reservoirs and new water storage systems, and the result, as I said, will be a buy-up and dry-up of agricultural land if we fail to move forward with these permitting projects.

The amendment puts control back in the hands of local water users, back in the hands of local governments, back in the hands of the Governor of the State, and away from the bureaucracy of Washington,

I thank the chairman for his leadership on issues of national infrastructure.

And with that, I withdraw my amendment and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, seventy years ago this year, an iconic image of American strength, perseverance and sacrifice splashed across the front page of The Saturday Evening Post. The cover soon found its way to immortality, embedded by Norman Rockwell into the spirit of America. As much message as art, it featured a strong armed, can-do, hard working warrior in laborers clothes. It was the symbol of a nation's fierce determination, a reminder that every ounce of American life and family was mobilized in war. Seventy years ago, America met Rosie the Riveter.

But the introduction wasn't really needed. We already knew her. The cover was at long last recognition of what had happened all around America. A showing of homefront strength that had already sent so many sons and daughters to war.

When I was growing up, my Grandma told stories of how, in the early 1940's, she and her husband left Colorado in desparate search of work. Leaving the landlocked high plains and heading west to the shipyards of Oregon in a beat up old car, she and Grandpa left behind generations of family and familiarity. To pay for the trip's final-stretch tank of gas they sold the headlight off the car somewhere in Idaho, eventually finding work in Portland. There, Grandma became a welder, building liberty ships and making the machines of war and commerce.

They lived in a one room apartment above a grocery store, their only meal a daily serving of Dinty-Moore stew prepared in a kitchen that consisted of an electric burner. Grandma cannot look at that red stew can to this day.

In Oregon, a lady from the plains of Colorado learned to weld on the deck of a ship in drydock. There, drawing a bead with sparks flying, heat and sweat, smoke and steel filling the air, she went off to war. Nearly dying after falling from the top deck of a ship to the deck below, she became an equal partner in the fight for our nation's freedom. She and her co-workers never sought recognition, but a future. And Rosie the Riveter spoke for them all.

Decades later, she would share her welding skills with her astonished grandson's, staring wide-eyed as Grandma showed us up.

Everyday we come face to face with the blessings of our great nation, made possible not by men, but by all. Seventy years ago, Rosie helped America welcome my Grandma, and women across the country, in the fight for freedom.

So to let us give thanks to her, Rosie, and everyone like her who pioneered the way.

Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, this House worked to find a solution to the impasse over the continuing resolution, sending over various options to the Senate to try to jump-start negotiations to work through an agreement to find a solution to keep our government funded.

In the early hours of this morning, we finally said to the leader of the U.S. Senate, Harry Reid, let's find a way to meet face-to-face, through a conference committee, to negotiate a solution and avoid a government shutdown. We've passed, three times now, measures to keep the government funded and a way to find solutions to this critical issue.

But there are many people in Colorado who are struggling now because of the shutdown and who are worried about what happens to their situation, particularly those who may have been impacted by the flood. And that is why we must find a way to get government funded to find a solution to get government going back on track, while preventing policies that we know are bad for the economy.

So let's work together and find solutions but also, at the same time, ensuring certainty to people who are suffering from Colorado's greatest natural disaster.

That's why I bring to your attention a statement that the Vice President made on September 23 in Greeley, Colorado, after touring the damage and devastation that those floods caused.

I stood 2 feet away from the Vice President of the United States as he addressed the people of Colorado and said this:

None of the Federal assistance that we're providing, none

if it is going to be impacted even if there is a government

shutdown.

So while people may try to use this as a scare tactic, try to politicize a disaster, the Vice President himself stood before the people of Colorado and said there will be no impact on flood recovery.

And yet we have seen in the newspaper people are trying to scare people to try to take away any kind of certainty that exists, but you can't take those words back.

That's why I also sent a letter this morning to the White House reminding the White House, Mr. Speaker, of the promise that the Vice President made to the people of Colorado. And we, as elected officials in Congress, in the Senate, the Governor of Colorado, we have a responsibility to make sure that the Vice President and the President keep their word, they're true to the people of Colorado; that we make sure that, indeed, this statement:

None of the Federal assistance that we're providing, none

of it is going to be impacted, even if there is a government

shutdown.

So while we work to resolve this issue before the government right now, while we work to make sure that policies are put in place to return to normal operations, we cannot let this be politicized. We cannot let the people of Colorado be forgotten, and we must hold the Vice President and the President accountable and true to their word.

Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the letter that I sent to the White House this morning, and also the statement, in full, of the Vice President's comments.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, October 1, 2013.

President Barack Obama,

The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. President: As you know, Colorado is recovering

from some of the most devastating floods in state history.

Catastrophic water levels caused over $1 billion in damage to

infrastructure and property throughout my district and other

areas in the state. More than 20,000 homes were damaged or

destroyed, eight individuals lost their lives, and

overflowing rivers left a path of devastation. I am grateful

for the recovery efforts led by the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA), National Guard, and others involved

in this process. Federal assistance is critical in this time

of need and I have fought to ensure that funds are available

for disaster relief. On September 30th, my legislation that

would raise the cap on disaster-related transportation funds

successfully passed the House.

Unfortunately, Congress has not yet come to an agreement to

fund the federal government and the nation is now facing the

effects of a government shutdown. While I am working

diligently with my colleagues to resolve this funding gap, it

is vitally important that the people of Colorado do not

suffer as a result of gridlock in Washington. To this end, I

was pleased to hear Vice President Biden pledge to the people

of Colorado that ``none of the federal assistance that we're

providing--none of it--is going to be impacted even if there

is a government shutdown.'' This commitment from the White

House is reassuring for my constituents and others in the

state worried about the impact a shutdown might have on

disaster funds. I appreciate your support in this recovery

and look forward to working on behalf of the thousands

affected by these recent events.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to

contact my office. Thank you for your attention to this

matter.

Sincerely,

Cory Gardner,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, about a week ago, one of the chief proponents of the President's health care bill in Colorado said this:

Your health insurance plan is being cancelled, and that's a good thing.

Yet President Obama said, If you like your health plan, you will be able to keep your health plan--period.

Over the past month, thousands of people around Colorado and this country have started receiving letters, notices, that their health insurance plans

that they liked--that they were promised they would be able to keep-- are being cancelled. We heard promises from the President that they could keep them, and yet here we are--cancellation after cancellation.

The House has passed legislation to keep the government open; but to make sure that ObamaCare doesn't continue to be the drain on our economy, let's do the right thing--let's pass a bill, fund the government--and keep ObamaCare from doing harm to the American people.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin and appreciate his leadership on this important matter as we try to bring relief to the people of Colorado who have suffered as a result of the floods that began on September 11.

I also thank the gentlelady from the District of Columbia for her leadership on this issue as well and for her support of the underlying measure.

Thanks to Chairman Shuster and the Appropriations Committee as well, Chairman Rogers, for supporting and making sure that this legislation moves to the floor as expeditiously as it has.

To the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, I would note that I voted for the $17 billion Hal Rogers amendment on Sandy, making sure that we had emergency funding through FEMA for all victims of that atrocious storm and disaster. But I also tried to make sure that we had funding for another disaster that had happened in Colorado and the western United States, dealing with wildfires and forest fires.

In fact, I tried to amend the legislation with disaster assistance for Colorado that was rejected and was not allowed to go into the bill, and ultimately, I made a decision based on the fact that we were treating disasters differently. But it's important to know that we do come together for disaster assistance, to make sure that we take care of people who have been harmed around this country.

On September 11, just a couple weeks ago, a flood began that destroyed nearly 2,000 homes and damaged over 17,000 homes. Early reports indicate that almost 25 percent of the buildings at the University of Colorado received some kind of damage.

I have toured with other members of the Colorado congressional delegation--Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Coffman, Mr. Polis, our two Senators, Senator Mark Udall and Senator Bennett, as well as Governor Hickenlooper--as we have witnessed firsthand, both on the ground and from the air, the devastation that has taken place.

And for people who are rebuilding lives and rebuilding homes or rebuilding businesses that were lost, today this body takes a great step forward in providing at least one key component of certainty. And that certainty comes into those thoroughfares that allow them to get to and from school, to and from work, and farmers to get their goods to market.

Our transportation system was dramatically impacted by the floods. There were 200 line miles of highway affected. It's as if somebody had made a sand castle, built it, and a wave came and washed it away, a crumpled-up piece of paper, destroying hundreds of miles of Colorado highway. Fifty bridges were wiped out.

The Colorado Department of Transportation initially estimated that between $300 million and $500 million worth of damage was done to our highway system and has now settled on a figure closer to $475 million. I commend the Federal Highway Administration, who swiftly released $35 million to help with the cost of the most immediate repairs; but there must be more that is done.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I thank this body for its support of H.R. 3174, legislation that, with a ``yes'' vote, will not automatically lift the cap for other States that experience severe weather events, but allows the Secretary of Transportation to make that determination.

As the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) noted, this is not a new appropriation. There is no new spending, but it gives flexibility to the Department of Transportation to make decisions that will help the people who have suffered in Colorado.

And as I mentioned, the cap was also raised to $500 million for responses in other areas and other hurricanes--whether it's hurricanes, floods, or other events this country will face. We have an opportunity to help the people of Colorado, the people of this country get back on their feet. And I appreciate the support that this body has given this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, when the President began his push to pass the partisan Affordable Care Act, he did so with two primary promises: the promise that if you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away. That was the plan that this Chamber voted for when they passed the so-called Affordable Care Act. That was the plan the United States Senate voted for when they passed the so-called Affordable Care Act: If you like your health care, you can keep it.

In 2011, Richard Foster, the Chief Actuary of Medicare, testified before Congress that this promise would not come true, the promise that if you liked your health care, if you liked your health insurance plan, you would get to keep it. The Chief Actuary of Medicare--he is not a Democrat or Republican appointee--said that this promise, the promise that was made when this bill passed, won't come true.

Over the past several months, my office has received countless letters, emails, tweets and Facebook comments from people around this country and around my district in Colorado who have said thanks to ObamaCare they are losing their health insurance, they are losing their family's plan. This promise for them is not coming true.

When I first got elected to Congress, I made a decision that I would reject congressional health insurance, that I would reject the Federal health care plan, because I wanted to be in the same boat as my constituents. Just a couple of weeks ago, I too received a letter in the mail from our insurance plan, our private provider, in Colorado for our family, and it said this: We notify you about the upcoming discontinuation of your plan. This letter right here that says my family's plan is being canceled.

Mr. President, where is the promise? Mr. President, if you like your health care plan you'll be able to keep it--tell that to the thousands of people in my district who are losing their health insurance, to my family, to millions of people around this country for whom this promise that you made when you sold this bill is not coming true.

The plan that my family had was an affordable plan. We shopped for it. We worked hard to find a plan that met our needs in rural Colorado. We found a plan that is now being canceled. The plan that replaces it-- the plan that replaces it--now increases in cost by over 100 percent. In fact, the plan that is most similar to the one we had is now going up to $1,480 a month. It is a 100 percent increase from the plan that we had.

But the President said if you had your health insurance that you liked, you would get to keep it. The President also said the second primary promise, though, was that if you had your plan and you got to keep it, we're going to make sure that this bill, the Affordable Care Act, brings down your cost. Yet we know that that's not coming true either, as people around this country are facing higher insurance costs, higher plan costs, canceling their plans, forcing them to go to other alternatives.

In the letter that we received canceling my family's plan it said this: that I have options, I have options to purchase another individual health plan from us, purchase a plan from another carrier, or go through the health care exchange in Colorado, an exchange that was just reported in the newspaper to have significant computer glitches even though it is supposed to be up and running on October 1. But not one of these options, not a single one of these options include being able to keep the plan that my family had, despite the President's promise, the promise that if you liked your insurance you would be able to keep it.

Mr. President, where is your promise today? Will you explain to the American people that neither of those promises--the primary reasons you pushed the health care bill--are untrue. Explain that to the American people.

In recent reports we've seen from Forbes an analysis that ObamaCare will increase underlying insurance rates for younger men by an average of 97 to 99 percent and for women by an average of 55 to 62 percent. HHS compared what the Congressional Budget Office projected rates might look like in 2016 to its own findings. What happened, of course, in this analysis was that premiums, according to Forbes, nationwide will be around 16 percent lower. That's what they said. But after the analysis, after the analysis by CBO, which looked at the projected rates in 2016 compared to its own findings, neither of those numbers tell you the statistic that really matters: how much rates will go up next year under ObamaCare relative to this year, prior to the law taking effect. Looking at families like mine, a 100 percent increase.

We've received stories from around the district--people who have seen their costs increase, people who have seen their insurance canceled. We received a message over Twitter that said: I lost my insurance because I can't afford the 100 percent cost increase. For the first time in 47 years I will have to depend on the government for health insurance. Another gentleman said he will be dependent on the taxpayers as well for the first time in his life.

Mr. President, explain to the American people why the promises that you made, the promises you made to the American people, are simply not true.