Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are truly one of the jewels of North America. They contain 20 percent of the world's surface water and provide drinking water for 30 million people. They're also a driver of our economy, as studies have shown 1.5 million jobs are directly connected to the Great Lakes, generating $62 billion in wages.

That's why I'm encouraging my colleagues to support my Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act. This bill will help ensure we have a healthy Great Lakes, while boosting the economies along the Great Lakes region.

This bill already enjoys bipartisan support, and I hope my colleagues will join me in protecting one of the most precious resources in North America, the Great Lakes.

Mr. Speaker, every day, we talk about the need to cut spending and government waste in order to promote economic stability and to grow our economy. That's why I've introduced a bill to do just that.

The SAVE Act would cut $200 billion over 10 years by eliminating the duplicative and inefficient spending within the government. This bill has already received bipartisan support. In fact, these cuts were outlined in the President's own GAO report. They include: cutting $137 million by eliminating duplicative catfish studies; saving taxpayers $33 billion by reducing Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse; and forcing government agencies to act more

like the private sector with contract bidding, saving taxpayers $80 billion.

These are commonsense and practical cuts, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the SAVE Act.

I rise in support of repealing the Affordable Care Act and preventing Ohioans from having to deal with higher health costs, $1.1 trillion in tax hikes, and more government intrusion in their health care. As we near the full implementation of the health care law, it seems as though every day we receive more evidence that this law will increase health costs for ordinary Ohioans, place an enormous burden on Ohio small businesses owners--making it harder for those businesses to hire new workers--and insert more big government in between Ohioans and their doctors.

My district in northeastern Ohio is home to several medical device manufacturing companies which will be especially hurt by the health care law's onerous medical device tax. It's crucial we repeal this law and replace it with commonsense health care legislation. Jobs and affordable health care are at stake.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Sister Jacquelyn Gusdane for leading the House in prayer and for making this trip from Chardon, Ohio. It was a beautiful prayer, and it's an absolute honor to have her here today.

I first met Sister Jacquelyn at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School in Chardon, where she is the president and all three of my children attended high school. Sister Jacquelyn is a model of grace, compassion, and humility, and I feel very lucky to have had my three kids under her watch.

Sister Jacquelyn leads a life of service, volunteering at WomenSafe in Geauga County, at the Hospice of the Western Reserve, and countless other schools, organizations, and churches in northeast Ohio.

She's also taken her service beyond our borders, making a trip to the Holy Land, to Israel and Jordan, and traveling to China, Brazil, El Salvador, Germany, and many other nations.

At NDCL, under her leadership, this small parochial school has allowed many children of middle class families such as ours to enjoy their college preparatory education while becoming leaders in the community, all the while keeping true to the mission of living the truth through love.

Sister Jacquelyn, it's an honor and a privilege to have you here this morning, and thank you very much for leading the House of Representatives in prayer.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 75, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Personal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of a horrific day for all northeastern Ohioans. It marks the worst day of their lives for too many mothers, fathers, brother, sisters, friends, and family in Chardon, Ohio.

One year ago today, a shooter opened fire in Chardon High School, fatally shooting three students and injuring three others. These three children were cruelly taken from this Earth all too soon. They were loved by their families, embraced by their communities, and had their whole lives ahead of them.

As the county prosecutor at the time, I saw firsthand the grief and devastation that no parent should ever have to experience. Nothing will ever come close to replacing the love and happiness these children brought to their friends and family. Our community may never truly be whole again, but we must take every moment possible to honor these victims and pray for their families.

I would like to now take a moment of silence for Demetrius Hewlin, Russell King, Jr., and Daniel Parmertor. May God bless them and may God bless their families.