Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote today because of a serious illness in my family. Had I been present, I would have voted:

Rollcall #59--YEA

Rollcall #60--AYE

Rollcall #61--NO

Rollcall #62--NO

Rollcall #63--NO

Rollcall #64--AYE

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for votes on February 2, 2015 because of a serious illness in my family. Had I been present, I would have voted:

Roll Call #51--Yea

Roll Call #52--Yea

Roll Call #53--Yea

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote today because of a serious illness in my family. Had I been present, I would have voted: Roll Call #54--Yea; Roll Call #55--Yea; Roll Call #56--Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote today because of a serious illness in my family. Had I been present, I would have voted: Roll Call #57--Nay; Roll Call #58--Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for votes on January 27-28, 2015 because of a serious family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on roll call votes #46, #47, #48, and #50. I would have voted nay on roll call vote #49.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Before I start, I want to say a few things about my good friend Chris Smith. Of the 435 of us who serve here in the House of Representatives, no one in this body has been a stronger voice for life than Chris. Chris, thank you. Hopefully one day we will see this egregious law overturned. Your perseverance over now four decades is exemplary. Thank you so much.

Mr. Speaker, as an OB-GYN, I have personally delivered over 5,000 babies, and I strongly support the sanctity of life. Using technology like the 3-D ultrasound has given us a window into the womb that shows the unborn child as a living, breathing, feeling human being. I have looked through that window with my own eyes literally thousands of times, and I have seen human development occur from the earliest stages of conception. When you see a heartbeat at 26 days post-conception, already dreams are being developed by that mother and father about what this baby will be in their lifetime. I have been fortunate enough to experience that three times, and it is a wonderful feeling to know that this little person is going to be your child and grow up to be who knows what. All of the way through birth we see this, which strengthens my conviction in the right to life.

Life is a precious miracle from God that begins at conception. It is our responsibility and privilege as legislators to protect those who do not have a voice. I will always fight for life because it is my conviction that we are all unique creations of a God who knows us and loves us before we are born.

Tonight we mark one of the most tragic, misguided Supreme Court cases in our Nation's history: Roe v. Wade. Since 1973, more than 50 million babies, as has been stated here numerous times, have been denied the most basic right in this country, protected by our Constitution, which is the right to life. We must make our laws consistent with our science now and restore full legal protections to all those who are waiting to be born. If government has any legitimate function at all, it is to protect those, the most innocent among us.

For over 30 years Congress has prevented taxpayer-funded abortions. Unfortunately, this door has been reopened with the passage of ObamaCare, the largest expansion since the pivotal Roe v. Wade decision was made 42 years ago. Members who stand here before you today pledge themselves to protect those without a voice, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure this promise is kept. It is only by making good on this oath that we can expect to restore the trust that the American people have in their own government, and in doing so, ensure that the door to taxpayer-funded abortions remains closed.

Let me just tell a brief story I was telling Congressman Smith before we came onto the House floor. Over 25 years ago, my partner delivered a baby, and I will just say ``Smith'' for privacy purposes. Baby Smith weighed about 1 pound 6 ounces over 25 years ago. Well, the chances of that baby surviving were minimal. Baby Smith got down to less than one pound. I went by the intensive care nursery and saw this tiny baby that I thought would never make it. Well, Baby Smith did make it, and I was on a trip to Walmart with my kids one day, and there was this youngster there with a pair of glasses on, just like his doctor had. He was 2 years old, and he was doing like any other 2 year old--he was knocking everything off the shelf at Walmart. Wouldn't it have been a shame--and we are aborting babies much larger than Baby Smith--and Baby Smith is alive and well today, thriving in our country and being a productive citizen in this country.

As a father and a grandfather, I am privileged to be here on the House floor tonight with other legislators fighting for the rights of the unborn.

Chris, thank you, and I thank my colleagues. God bless each and every one of you.

``. . . he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.''

Section 4:

``The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Save American Workers Act. I am pleased that the first vote we are going to do is a bipartisan bill of the 114th Congress.

Everywhere I go, I hear concerns about the lack of jobs and the need for job creation. Tennessee's unemployment rate is far too high at 6.8 percent. We have got to do everything we possibly can to encourage employers not only to create jobs but to maintain the jobs they currently offer.

Employers are already struggling to make their budgets work in an uncertain economy, and we know that these employers will have to respond one of two ways, either by cutting hours or by hiring fewer workers. It is already happening. Public school systems in my State and community colleges across the country are cutting hours or are reducing class sizes taught.

I have spent my entire adult life as a physician, taking care of people from all walks of life. I want every American, including those with preexisting conditions, to have access to affordable medical care.

That is why I have worked in Congress to develop patient-centered solutions that help people afford health care, like the American Health Care Reform Act. In the meantime, we must do what we can to protect the American people from the unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act.

That is why I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the multiemployer pension reform act contained in the underlying bill. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen and, in some cases, save retirement benefits for more than 10 million Americans who are enrolled in a multiemployer pension plan. Let's say that again: this legislation will save retirement benefits.

While many multiemployer plans are in strong financial shape, the number of financially-distressed plans is a cause for great concern. Among these troubled plans is the Central States Pension Fund, covering 410,000 participants, which PBGC projects will become insolvent in the next 10 years.

PBGC's own finances are in dire straits. A report released by the PBGC just last month shows that its multiemployer program has a deficit of more than $42 billion, an alltime high. The

agency also believes that there is a 90 percent chance it becomes insolvent by 2025 without change.

Taken together, these financial challenges pose a clear and present danger to the retirement of those who receive those benefits from PBGC and those who expect the PBGC to serve as a backstop if their pension plan fails. It is not a question of if the worst will happen for some of these plans; it is only a question of when.

The proposal before us today is a product of six subcommittee hearings over 4 years, countless hours of discussion and debate between management and labor, and thoughtful negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

This legislation will give pension plans the tools to save themselves without a taxpayer bailout. For those plans that are beyond repair, this proposal will strengthen the PBGC's finances to help ensure that retirees continue to receive a benefit.

What we are asking of these plans is hard. If there were some other way to resolve this problem without a taxpayer bailout, we would have pursued it, but there is not another way. We have to do what is necessary to protect the retirement benefits for those Americans who earned them.

Businesses and unions alike understand this. That is why the Kline- Miller proposal is supported by companies, including Kroger, Nestle USA, as well as labor unions, including the UFCW, SEIU, and North America's Building Trade Unions.

I commend Chairman Kline and Ranking Member Miller for their tireless efforts on this issue. They have shown all of us that bipartisan compromise for the greater good is possible.

I also want to thank Ed Gilroy and Andy Banducci and the rest of the staff on both sides of the aisle for the long, hard hours they have logged on this effort.

This desperately-needed pension reform is good for workers, it is good for retirees, it is good for business, and it is good for America.

I encourage my colleagues to strongly support this.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1434) to designate the Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate bill, S. 1434.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of S. 1434 which would name the Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.

Following completion of the Army ROTC program at Kansas State University, Lieutenant General Seitz served with distinction in World War II. Lieutenant General Seitz participated in the invasion of Italy and the Battle of the Bulge as one of the youngest battalion commanders of the war at the age of 25. After the victory in Europe, Lieutenant General Seitz remained in the Army commanding at many levels, culminating with command of the 82nd Airborne Division.

During his service, Lieutenant General Seitz earned the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the French Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor.

After Lieutenant General Seitz retired, he settled in Junction City and served the Fort Riley community. He would greet deploying and returning units from Iraq and Afghanistan at all times of the day, and he mentored young officers and noncommissioned officers stationed there.

Beyond this service, he also volunteered his time with the Boy Scouts of America, Rotary International, and the Association of the United States Army.

In recognition of Lieutenant General Seitz's service to both his country and his community, naming the Junction City CBOC after him is a fitting and

appropriate honor. It is my pleasure to support S. 1434, and I am grateful for the leadership and support of Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, Senator Moran, and the entire Kansas delegation. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1434.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and, once again, I encourage all Members to support S. 1434.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 229) to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the ``Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 229.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of S. 229, which would name the VA Medical Center located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Corporal Crescenz was the only Philadelphia native to earn the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam war. His posthumous award of the Medal of Honor resulted from an act of heroism in the Republic of Vietnam on November 20, 1968.

Reading from Corporal Crescenz's Medal of Honor citation:

In the morning, his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched

force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of

fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the two point men,

halting the advance of Company A.

Immediately, Corporal Crescenz left the relative safety of

his own position, seized a nearby machinegun and, with

complete disregard for his own safety, charged 100 meters up

a slope toward the enemy's bunkers, which he effectively

silenced, killing two occupants in each.

Undaunted by the withering machinegun fire around him,

Corporal Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third

bunker, which he also succeeded in silencing, killing two

more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of

advance for his comrades.

As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was

able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and complete its

mission, defeating the enemy.

Corporal Crescenz's bravery and extraordinary heroism at

the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of

military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his

unit, and the United States Army.

Naming the Philadelphia VA Medical Center after this American hero is a tribute to his legacy and to all residents who served with our Nation during the Vietnam war.

It is my pleasure to support S. 229, and I am grateful for the leadership and support of Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, Senator Toomey, and the entire Pennsylvania delegation.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this hero by supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Pat Meehan, my friend.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Michael Fitzpatrick, my friend, to speak on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I will close by saying I can't think of anything more appropriate than naming this VA medical center after this Medal of Honor winner. I am a Vietnam-era veteran, lost a lot of friends in the war in Vietnam. It is difficult for me to even talk about it. I can't think of anything more appropriate than naming this great medical center after this hero from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support S. 229.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2921) to designate the community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 310 Home Boulevard in Galesburg, Illinois, as the ``Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 2921.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2921, which would name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic at 310 Home Boulevard, Galesburg, Illinois, as the Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

We are here today to honor the life and service of the late Congressman Lane Evans by naming the new VA community-based outpatient clinic in Illinois after him. Congressman Evans represented Illinois' 17th District for more than 20 years, was a champion of veterans' issues throughout his time in Congress, and served as the ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for a decade.

Congressman Evans passed away this year, at the age of 63, following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. One way to honor Congressman Evans is to recognize his legacy of service to veterans in the community. It is in that thought that we believe naming this facility after him is a fitting tribute.

It is my pleasure to support S. 2921, and I am grateful for the leadership and support of Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, Senator Durbin, and the entire Illinois delegation. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great public servant by supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my good friend, Chris Smith from New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support S. 2921.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, more and more Tennesseans, and more and more Americans, are expressing concern about the affordability of health care. Even though more people have insurance, they are struggling with growing deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.

To put a finer point on it, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that one in three Americans are having difficulty paying their medical

bills, while the National Foundation for Credit Counseling reports 64 percent don't have $1,000 to cover an emergency expense. According to Kaiser, deductibles have increased 50 percent since 2009.

During October, I was made aware of one innovative approach to bridge the affordability gap when I toured Holston Medical Group, one of the largest, multi-specialty physician practices in the southeastern United States and located in my district. Holston is partnering with a company called CarePayment to try to help ensure their patients can afford care recommended by their doctor.

Through its partnership with CarePayment, Holston patients can spread medical payments over 25 months or more at zero percent APR, without impact to their credit score. Everyone is eligible, regardless of income or employment status. This program helps patients afford their bills, and it also helps hospitals reduce their bad debt. For example, Holston has reduced its bad debt by 85 percent. That's significant, particularly when you consider that hospitals are seeing more and more of their bad debt coming from patients who have insurance.

This program removes financial concerns so patients can focus on their recovery. I was told one story about Betty, a constituent from Bristol, Tennessee, who injured her shoulder and needed physical therapy, but couldn't afford treatment. She enrolled in Holston's CarePayment program, finished therapy and pays just $25 a month. She says she couldn't have had the treatment if Holston didn't offer the financing plan.

As a physician, I know what can happen when patients delay care. And delaying treatment is more likely when they don't have the money to pay.

The partnership between CarePayment and Holston is increasingly necessary as costs continue to be shifted. With uncertainty about the long-term feasibility of the ACA, partnerships like these may be helpful in ensuring patients can continue to receive the care they need.

Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks today to recognize Coach Ken Sparks of the Carson-Newman's Eagles football program on becoming number 6 on the NCAA's all-time career wins list with 324 victories. As a member of this distinguished group, Coach Sparks has helped set the bar for athletic excellence in our corner of East Tennessee. This recognition stands as a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Over his 35 year career at Carson-Newman, Coach Sparks has led the Eagles to five NAIA championships and 24 playoff appearances. Personally, he has attained many awards including the12-time SAC Coach of the Year, the 2002 Division II Coach of the Year, and was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

In addition to his successes on the field, Coach Sparks has also devoted his career to the development of his players within the community. Serving as mentor to countless young athletes, he has instilled the values of hard work and perseverance into those playing for him. Coach Sparks has served as an inspiration to our community and has impacted the lives of those around him.

I thank Coach Sparks for his service to Carson-Newman University and our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hobe and Sue Williams for their service to the people of the great State of Tennessee.

Hobe and Sue founded the Daily Bread Community Kitchen in Morristown, Tennessee, in November of 1994 in response to what they saw as a growing need for feeding the poor. Upon opening, the Daily Bread managed to feed around 50 people a day.

Today, the nonprofit feeds over 350 people a day, every day except Sundays, and has just renovated their building, providing them with an even greater opportunity to serve their east Tennessee neighbors. Twenty years later and staffed with 150 volunteers, the Daily Bread continues to provide for those most in need.

At age 89, Hobe Williams, with his wife, Sue, by his side, have no immediate plans to retire and continue to work hard for the people of east Tennessee. East Tennessee is a better place to live and our community is stronger because of the dedication of people like Hobe and Sue Williams.

God bless you, Hobe and Sue, for your service and friendship, and I wish you all the best with the newly-renovated building.