Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1242 entitled, ``400 Years of African-American History Commission Act.'' As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I worked with my colleagues to pass this act in the House and look forward to the Senate also passing this bill. I believe it is important for all citizens of the United States to recognize the unique history, sacrifices, and remarkable contributions that African Americans have made to build our great nation.

I am invigorated by this legislative intention to identify and educate the public on the arrival of Africans and their role in building this great country. It is equally important to understand the generational impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States. While there have been many successful and inspirational African Americans with enumerable contributions, we must address ongoing racial disparities in employment and education by focusing on achieving six universal milestones for success.

These six universal milestones include:

1. Entering school ready to learn;

2. Reading at grade level by third grade;

3. Graduating from high school ready for college or career;

4. Completing post-secondary education or training;

5. Successfully entering the workforce; and

6. Reducing violence and providing a second chance for returning citizens.

I applaud the many organizations actively working to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by African Americans. In my community of the 2nd Congressional District of Nebraska, I appreciate the efforts of Willie Hamilton, president and founder of Black Men United. He is a true grass roots leader. In addition, I want to highlight some other organizations, and work ongoing in the district I serve to implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people. These organizations include Urban League of Nebraska, The START Center, the Omaha Empowerment Network coordinated by Willie Barney, Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership, 100 Black Men of Omaha, Malcom X Foundation, Operation Youth Success, Members of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership, the efforts by the City of Omaha through the Black Male Achievement program previously coordinated by Cameron Gales. Like all complicated issues facing Americans, we need this type of strong community support along with smart bipartisan legislation to address any problem.

As the African-American History Commission develops programs, I hope they will consider inspiring communities to continue building partnerships between local organizations, government, businesses and foundations. This will connect young African American men and women with support networks, mentoring programs, and the skills training they need to succeed in the classroom and in the workforce. While we learn from and celebrate the past, we must also look to a much brighter future for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Texas for yielding to me.

I just want to take a few moments to thank the House for the work they did recently on H.R. 1242, and I want to urge the Senate to take action on this bill as well.

So I rise today in support of H.R. 1242, entitled 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act. I am a cosponsor of this legislation. I worked with my colleagues to pass this act in the House, and I look forward to the Senate also passing this bill.

I believe it is important for all citizens of the United States to recognize the unique history, sacrifices, and remarkable contributions that African Americans have made to build our great Nation.

I am invigorated by this legislative intention to identify and educate the public on the arrival of Africans and their role in building this great country. It is equally important to understand the generational impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination have had on our United States.

While there have been many successful and inspirational African Americans with enumerable contributions, we must address ongoing disparities in employment and education by focusing on achieving six milestones for success. These milestones include: entering school ready to learn; reading at grade level by third grade; graduating from high school ready for college or career; completing postsecondary education or training; successfully entering the workforce; reducing violence and providing a second chance for returning citizens.

I applaud the many organizations actively working to address these opportunity gaps faced by African Americans. In my community of the Second Congressional District of Nebraska, I appreciate the efforts of Willie Hamilton, president and founder of Black Men United. He is a true grassroots leader.

In addition, I want to highlight some other organizations and work that is ongoing in the district I serve to implement a coherent cradle- to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people. These organizations include: the Urban League of Nebraska; the START Center, that is run by my friend, Julian Young; the Omaha Empowerment Network, coordinated by Willie Barney; the Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership; the 100 Black Men of Omaha; the Malcolm X Foundation; the Operation

Youth Success; members of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership; the efforts of the City of Omaha through the Black Male Achievement Program, previously coordinated by Cameron Gales, another friend of mine.

Like all complicated issues facing Americans, we need this type of strong community support, along with smart bipartisan legislation to address these problems.

As the African-American History Commission develops programs, I hope they will consider inspiring communities to continue building partnerships between local organizations, government, businesses, and foundations. This will connect young African-American men and women with support networks, mentoring programs, and the skills and training they need to succeed in the classroom and in the workforce.

While we learn from and celebrate the past, we must also look to a much brighter future for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate May as National Foster Care Month. I also welcome those currently in and alumni of our foster care system, along with our supporters, who are visiting Capitol Hill today.

Foster Care Month is a very small way to acknowledge the youth that are a part of the system, along with all of those who make an enormous difference in their lives. This month is about improving the foster care system and providing support to the individuals who selflessly make this system work.

The success of our country depends upon the well-being of our youth today. We know, through much social research, that family stability is directly linked to less behavioral and academic problems. We have the duty as a nation to empower all children so they can have the same sense of promise and possibility as any other, regardless of their circumstances.

National Foster Care Month is a time to celebrate the selfless men and women who embrace children in the foster care system and recommit to helping more youth find permanent families so they can, too, experience stability and the freedom to fulfill their limitless potential.

Mr. Speaker, the foster care system has always and will always be near and dear to my heart. My wife, Angie, and I adopted two children, Austin and Jessica, then 8 and 9, respectively, through the foster care system.

The idea that children belong in stable families is not only one of the most bipartisan issues I have the privilege of working on, but it is one that is important to me and dear to me. Nothing is more important to a child's upbringing and long-term success than a loving and stable home.

The bedrock of the American story is a strong and supportive family. We must do everything we can to care for all of our youth so they can be free from harm and set up for success so that they might pen our country's unwritten future.

Today I have the honor of being shadowed for the day by Kimberly Grosse of Omaha, Nebraska. Kim was in foster care for 8 years. Starting off in a group home, she was later placed at Boys Town, where she graduated from high school.

Kim currently works as a communications specialist, dispatching medical EMS helicopters. She also volunteers her time as a court- appointed special advocate for kids currently in the foster care system. Kim, like so many other alumni of the system, pays it forward with her dedicated support. She is a shining example of determination and perseverance in all aspects of her life. I know that this young lady has an extremely bright future ahead.

I also appreciate my colleagues from both sides of the aisle-- Representatives Karen Bass, Diane Black, Trent Franks, Jim Langevin, Brenda Lawrence, and Tom Marino--for their leadership in the Foster Care Caucus. I am grateful to fellow Members who help advocate for this important cause.

Now, let's continue to embrace the spirit that every child matters and continue to work toward providing all of our sons and daughters an equal opportunity to lead productive and fulfilling lives, not limited to anything but their hopes, dreams, imagination, and perseverance. I salute all of those who are supporters of the foster care system.

I also just want to add, I know, firsthand, when you see your foster children grow to be healthy, successful, independent, and loving adults that you gain a tremendous sense of satisfaction and thankfulness.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. Chairman, it was an honor to be able to have a bipartisan game out there and have a good time.

Soccer keeps children in shape. Thousands and thousands of our kids get to play this every year. We also stay in shape. It also teaches them teamwork and how to follow the rules, and they become better citizens.

I had to do an ibuprofen this morning.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1970, the Kerrie Orozco Act. This coming Saturday is the 2-year anniversary of the death of the Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco, who was killed while serving a warrant to a convicted felon and known gang member. May 20, 2015, will forever be a somber day in the Omaha metro area.

Every day all across the country, first responders put their lives on the line to protect citizens. When Officer Orozco was killed, her husband, Hector, was going through the process to gain U.S. citizenship, and her death put a halt to it. He has an enormous responsibility as a single parent, and we owe it to Kerrie to ensure that her family is provided the same protections they would have had if this unfortunate situation had not occurred.

H.R. 1970 would give many of our first responders peace of mind to know that, even in death, their surviving loved ones can continue the immigration process. This legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow for the surviving family members of a fallen U.S. citizen first responder to be naturalized upon compliance with all requirements.

Current law allows for surviving family members of the U.S. military killed in service of our Nation to continue with their citizenship application. H.R. 1970 will simply extend that privilege to first responders. We owe it to Officer Orozco and other fallen first responders to honor their memory by passing H.R. 1970.

I look forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to give our first responders the peace of mind they deserve as they head out the door each day to serve our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 14 through 20 as National Police Week. I stand in support of those who put their lives on the line day in and day out for the protection of those within the State of Nebraska and all over the United States.

My district is home to two sheriff's offices, a large urban police force, numerous community police departments, the Nebraska State Patrol, and a handful of Federal agencies. They have unique differences in their responsibilities, yet they are strikingly similar in how they function. The different shapes of the badges they wear on their chests proudly proclaim their distinct alliance to their home agency, but it is also a symbol that binds them all together into one brotherhood.

These gallant law enforcement professionals are driven to serve the public of their jurisdictions. They protect the life, limb, and property in their assigned patrol areas during their long hours for which they have this solemn duty. To those on the front line of our safety, it is not about the pay, the hours, or the conditions they work in. What is of importance to them is the satisfaction of making the world a better and safer place. They are the thin blue line that stands between us and some of the darkest parts of our society.

When one of these brave individuals puts on the uniform and departs their home for the streets, they are not worried about their own safety. They know their fellow officer has their back when needed. At great personal sacrifice, they are pained by missing the baseball games or recitals of beloved children, the birthdays and the holidays that they have worked instead of being home with their family.

I, like so many other members of the military, have a very personal connection and appreciation for those who choose this profession. I spent nearly 30 years in the military, and much of that time was deployed with combat forces protecting our freedoms overseas. The men and women in the military uniform depend on those back home in the blue uniform.

Like so many others in the military, when I was overseas, I left my wife and children in the U.S. As a five-time former commander, I can tell you that the fastest way to negatively affect a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine within a combat situation was to have them worry about their family back home. Our great police officers allow the military to be a success. I am in awe of the dedication that each officer displays daily. When our military is reunited with their family after a deployment, they can relax knowing their fellow public servants provide a shield of protection.

This is a profession that takes a different type of individual: someone who is consistently putting their life on the line, someone that I have always looked up to, and a group of individuals that I cannot thank enough for the blanket of security they provide.

There are members of the law enforcement community who serve, retire, and move on with their lives. Eventually they go home, lay down their badge in retirement, but they will no longer miss those family functions and events. These professionals have the gratitude of the constituents of my

district, and I want to thank them for their dedication to protect and serve.

I would like to honor some of these courageous people who have long, distinguished careers or who have recently retired: Sergeant Joe Eaton from the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office, 38 years and retired; Sergeant Troy Kister, Omaha Police Department, 29 years and retired; Captain Kevin Pokorny, LaVista Police Department, 32 years and retired; Deputy Stephanie Squiers, Sarpy County Sheriff's Office, 32 years and retired; Sergeant Don Voss, Sarpy County Sheriff's Office, 39 years and will soon retire; Deputy Dennis Yeaman, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, 42 years and still serving, nearing retirement.

I want to thank these officers and all others for their service and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I am often asked, as a 30-year, retired military officer, to pay tribute to our law enforcement and to compare. And what strikes me is I used to operate or train in the safety of home, but we would deploy into harm's way. Our law enforcement, every single day, put themselves in harm's way. So we love our law enforcement, we respect them, and we thank them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan effort to protect victims of nonconsensual sharing of intimate media in the Armed Forces and to hold those who engage in this dishonorable practice accountable under the military law. This is a bipartisan effort, and I appreciate that. It should be. This is a terrible thing that we have to fix.

I am a five-time commander. I was on the front lines fighting this as a commander. I court-martialed those who abused others. I proudly did so. I was recognized as having the best Sexual Assault Response Program in the Air Force back in 2008 and 2009.

Also, I am proud to stand here in this bipartisan effort as a husband, a father of a daughter, and a grandfather of three little granddaughters. We have got to do better, and we stand in this together to make a difference.

Last month we observed Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I spoke to the body on the obligation we share as elected leaders to support those who have been victims of sexual violence and exploitation. It is, therefore, fitting that we continue this campaign by turning our good words into legislative action. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for inviting me to speak on this subject.

As members of the Armed Forces, we are taught the values of honor, integrity, loyalty to our Constitution, to our flag, and to the Republic for which it stands. From our earliest days in uniform, we are also imbued with an unbreakable commitment and trust in each other as warriors and teammates. These are not abstract concepts of quaint notions of a bygone age. Rather, they are the foundation of combat readiness and competence under fire. Mr. Speaker, I submit these ideals are the very essence of our strength of arms as a nation.

That is why when someone in our midst betrays this trust and dishonors our code, the consequences go far beyond an individual act of depravity. It strikes at the heart of our core values and threatens the foundation of our combat readiness. And when the victims of these crimes perceive they are condoned by the very institution they serve, the damage is greater still.

That is why Congress has an obligation to act and to remove any doubt that those who traffic in intimate pictures of their teammates and wrongfully share them not only violate the bonds of human decency, but are breaking the law.

That is why I am proud to stand in a bipartisan effort and also with Representative McSally and colleagues on both sides of the aisle as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2052, the PRIVATE Act, to amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the wrongful broadcast of intimate visual images. This is important to change the UCMJ. It will protect the victims of this crime, hold those who engage in these acts accountable, and make absolutely clear--zero doubt--to every member of the Armed Forces that such conduct is unacceptable and will be prosecuted under the law.

Those of us in the House who have served in uniform and have been entrusted with the responsibility of command know firsthand the importance of disciplined adherence to standards and of creating a climate of mutual trust that treats all members with dignity, fairness, and respect.

For those of us who have fought to enforce our laws and protect the victims of all forms of sexual assault and exploitation in the military, this is not just what is right; it is also very personal.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my fellow Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle in support of this important legislation, support for our military, support for our culture, support for the defense of our country. I thank those who are leading the effort tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to congratulate the USA Team on winning gold at the Bocuse d'Or culinary competition in Lyon, France.

I would also like to recognize one team member, Harrison Turone, a Nebraska high school graduate. Harrison grew up in Omaha. During his high school career, he enrolled in the Omaha Public Schools Career Center culinary program where he received college credits to the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha.

In addition to his academic pursuit of the culinary arts, Harrison worked at many restaurants in our area and in California. He then moved to New York to train with Chef Mathew Peters for the USA Team selection for the Bocuse d'Or while working at Per Se restaurant.

After winning the team's selection and the honor to represent the United States, Peters and Turone moved to Napa Valley to train for a year for the Bocuse d'Or competition. The Bocuse d'Or is a prestigious culinary competition that is held in Lyon, France, every 2 years. It is named after the well-renowned French chef Paul Bocuse. He is recognized as the father of the modern French cuisine and has been awarded ``Chef of the Century'' by the The Culinary Institute of America.

While fighting Nazi Germany during World War II, he was shot in the chest and treated at a U.S. Army hospital. He was given a transfusion of blood that saved his life.

The United States competed against 23 other countries in the Bocuse d'Or and won. This was the 30th anniversary of the competition, and it marked the first time the United States took home the gold.

I send my congratulations to the entire team and a special congratulations to Harrison Turone. You represented your team and our State admirably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the need to support those who have been victimized by this terrible crime.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will experience sexual violence, and 7 out of 10 sexual assault cases are committed by someone who the survivor knows.

Nearly 50 percent of female survivors will experience PTS, or post trauma stress, and per the Rape and Incest National Network, only 2 percent of those offenders will spend jail time or be convicted of a felony.

Sex trafficking is a prevalent problem, and according to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders. Of those numbers, 80 percent are female and half are children.

Sex trafficking occurs when someone uses fraud, force, or coercion to cause a commercial sexual act with an adult or cause a minor to commit a commercial sexual act.

Thus, victims of sex trafficking are also victims of assault. They are threatened, taken from families and loved ones, and forced to commit acts they would not do on their own free will.

These statistics demand action. I personally know victims of sexual assault, and I have tackled it head-on while as a commander. I started this journey when I was a commander at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

When I arrived there as a new base commander in 2008, the allegations of sexual assault were too high. I implemented a two-step solution to address the problem.

First, all rape accusers, if willing to testify, would have their day in court, have their day to say what happened to a jury.

Second, those convicted of rape would have their names and prison sentences distributed widely around the base. Our rates immediately improved. This program was later ranked by the Air Force as the number one sexual assault response program--the number one in the Air Force. So I take this issue seriously.

I recently met with Courtney, a constituent in my district in Omaha, who was sexually assaulted while serving as a marine. She shared her story with me, including how she was treated after reporting the rape. And what she told me greatly disheartened me. I could not believe that someone who proudly served in uniform was basically ostracized by the very people she served with.

She felt persecuted and ignored for daring to report an assault that should not have occurred, from simple acts of being ignored to having her belongings thrown out of the barracks in black trash bags by her fellow servicemen.

Courtney was not only a victim of assault, but a victim of repeated backlash from superiors and colleagues. Courtney developed PTS because of not only the assault, but how she was treated for reporting the assault.

In my district office is Makayla, an intern who at the young age of 15 was molested by her father. Makayla's parents were divorced, and one weekend when she was alone with her biological father, the horrendous crime took place.

She would live in fear for the next 2 years until, finally, by the grace of God, she told her mom what happened. The days following were a whirlwind, from giving testimony to telling her grandparents what their son had done to her.

The lives of both women will never be the same. However, they both know and both knew that God would turn their trauma into triumph.

Makayla is now a college student at the University of Nebraska Omaha and shares her story at colleges, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations all over Nebraska. After graduating, she wants to work in politics to change the policies surrounding sexual assault cases.

Courtney is also speaking out and has started a blog on social media sites detailing her journey to recovery and sharing her story so others know that they are not alone.

She also will be staying in touch with me about potential legislation and ideas to help those who are victims of sexual assault in the military.

There are many in Omaha who deserve recognition for the work they do every day to combat sexual assault and human trafficking to help victims. The Women's Center for Advancement helps victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. They have a hotline that victims can call and make that their first step in getting the help they need.

Project Harmony offers victims of child sexual assault the opportunity to take forensic interviews instead of having to appear in court, which can retraumatize the victims.

The Coalition on Human Trafficking is training staff at hotels and motels to be able to identify possible victims of sex trafficking. The goal is to provide the awareness training to all hotels within a 50- mile radius of Omaha, and to date they have trained over 85 locations.

Finally, we can't forget the members of law enforcement who work tirelessly to catch those responsible for sexual assault and human trafficking. Without them, there would be so many more victims who would still be abused, assaulted, and traumatized.

And while there are law enforcement and others dedicated to stopping these assaults and human trafficking, there is more that could be done.

Earlier this month I joined my colleagues as an original cosponsor on H.R. 2052, also known as the PRIVATE Act, which would amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to provide harsher penalties to anyone who engages in what is known as revenge porn.

The Violence Against Women's Act of 1994 also helps provide some justice. This act used Federal funds to help investigate and prosecute sex offenders and establish the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice, a program we must continue to support.

Finally, I have agreed to cosponsor H.R. 1035, the Extending Justice for Sex Crimes Act of 2017, which amends the statute of limitations for a victim of human trafficking or a Federal sexual offense to seek and recover damages.

This bill sets a 10-year statute of limitations from the date the victim discovers the offense or injury and not when it occurred to file a civil action. It also extends the statute of limitations for a minor victim to file a civil action for 10 years from the date that the victim turns 18. Currently it stands at 3 years.

Sexual assault and exploitation is a social problem and a crime. We need to step up and assist with prevention of these acts, prosecute the perpetrators, and provide the provisions for resources for victims.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the more than 48 million Americans who have currently reached retirement age. Shockingly, a significant number of Americans have saved nothing for their retirement. While retirement is often viewed as an issue for older Americans, today's economic realities mean that saving for retirement needs to start earlier than ever before. With rising healthcare costs, longer life spans, a burdensome tax code, and a reduction of pension offerings, more Americans than ever before are shouldering the burden of financing retirement entirely by themselves.

The first week of April has annually been proclaimed as National Retirement Planning Week. Under the leadership of the National Retirement Planning Coalition, we are all being urged to rethink what we believe we know about retirement planning. Despite developing trends, the National Retirement Planning Coalition hopes to help guide all Americans towards securing a dignified retirement through holistic planning.

Mr. Speaker, there are steps we all can take to achieve financial independence in our retirement years. We now have the opportunity to renew the national conversation on the importance of preparing and protecting retirement. I encourage my colleagues to support legislation which will help their constituents prepare for a dignified retirement.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 85.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the past and future of the United States Navy, the strongest and the best Navy in the world.

On this day, March 27, President George Washington signed an ``Act to Provide a Naval Armament'' authorizing the construction of six frigates, which includes the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat.

The passage of the Naval Act of 1794 was, in part, a response to threats to American merchant ships from the Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean. 223 years later, the men and women of the U.S. Navy continue to protecting the goods and information we transport via ships and undersea cables to our overseas trading partners.

This includes securing the resources and services we import to fuel our industries. Paraphrasing Admiral Jonathan Greenert: the mandate of the Navy in modern times is to be in the right place, at the right time, ready and able to respond.

The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review signed by then-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel--may I add a Nebraskan--states that in order to support this mission, we need to ``continue to build a future Fleet that is able to deliver the required presence and capabilities and address the most important warfighting scenarios.''

In that light, I look forward to the commissioning of the USS Omaha this fall, and to congratulating the crew of the newest addition to the United States naval fleet.

The USS Omaha, LCS-12, is an Independence-class littoral combat ship, and the fourth ship to bear the name USS Omaha. It is a chain dating back to the commissioning of a sloop-of-war in 1869. The last USS Omaha was a nuclear attack submarine that served in the Navy from 1978 to 1995.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, a great source of intelligence, the ship is the sixth in line of Independence-class littoral combat ships with a futuristic trimaran design that sits high above the water.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work once compared it to a Klingon Bird-of-Prey ship in the movie ``Star Trek.'' The ship was christened on December 19, 2015, by Susie Buffett.

The ship's Latin motto is derived from its namesake, the city of Omaha, Nebraska. It translates to ``Courageously in Every Enterprise,'' which denotes her crew's willingness to brave any future endeavor.

While I am very proud of the future crew of the USS Omaha, I am equally proud of the members of the Nebraska Navy League and their counterparts for supporting the Navy's missions, their personnel, and their families. In an effort to strengthen the connection between the USS Omaha and the citizens it serves, the Nebraska Navy League has committed to bringing several members of the crew to our community each year. This endeavor helps to enhance the morale of the Active Duty personnel and their families, but it also helps to inform the American public of the importance of a strong United States Navy.

The people in the Second Congressional District are proud to have a fantastic new ship bearing the name of Omaha. It honors our community and the many men and women from Omaha and the surrounding metro area who proudly serve in the United States Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Wisconsin for organizing this. He is a wonderful freshman Member of the class.

I rise today in support of congressional term limits.

In 1846, when then-Congressman Abraham Lincoln was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, he was part of a freshman class that made up one half of the 35th Congress. In other words, half of the Congress were new Members when he got elected. Today, in the 115th Congress, our freshmen class of 55 Members make up less than 20 percent of this body. But here is a more stark number.

In the last election, 97 percent of House incumbents won reelection-- 97 percent. Only 3 percent of the challengers defeated an incumbent. I was fortunate to be one of the exceptions to these overwhelming odds.

Since Abraham Lincoln, our country has grown, this institution has grown, and so has the length of time Members stay here. As a person who is new to Congress and is new to politics, I can tell you the reason why congressional favorability ratings are now at 8 percent. Our constituents feel that we have lost touch. The longer we stay here in Congress and don't cycle back to our home districts, the more out of touch we are perceived.

To restore America's trust in Congress, we must institute term limits. Our Forefathers intended the House of Representatives to be an arm of government closest to the people, and to be the purest embodiment of a representative democracy. Members of the people's House were to come from different walks of life and careers to better shape the direction of our great country. Members of Congress were to feel obligated to serve by a sense of civic duty rather than a desire to pursue a career in public office. We have lost sight of this intent.

The American people deserve new ideas from new faces here in Washington. This is the principal reason why I am here today with this great honor bestowed on me from the people of Nebraska's Second District. Congressional term limits would ensure that we send more successful farmers, successful teachers, business leaders, doctors, nurses, and veterans to Washington so that we can address problems with a firsthand perspective. We need more people in Congress who were successful prior to becoming a politician. We need to restore this House as the people's House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Health Care Act.

ObamaCare has failed, and we need to replace it. It has made health care inaccessible for many of the Americans it was created to help. Our premiums have skyrocketed, small business growth has been stunted as it can't expand due to health care regulations, and employees have seen their hours cut. Individuals are forced to purchase healthcare coverage they do not want.

Over the past 2 years, I have met with many Nebraskans in my district. I keep hearing about the broken promises of ObamaCare and the tight stranglehold this law has created for the American people. I have heard from a young mother who had to pay for the whole bill of the delivery of her child. The ACA plan she was on had a $12,000 deductible, and that plan didn't help her one cent.

Another citizen from Omaha, Jeanine, was happy with her healthcare insurance for decades. Five years ago, she was paying $323 a month and was satisfied with the coverage she had. Four years ago, she was told by her insurance company that she would have to pay more because she would need additional coverage, like maternity coverage, even though she was past that stage in her life. Two years ago, that insurance plan of Jeanine's jumped to $690 a month--double.

However, her health insurance company had another policy under ACA which she could switch to. She did so for $150 a month with a $550 credit. At least, she had that plan until her insurance company dropped that ACA policy and sent Jeanine searching for another policy. Now Jeanine is on an ACA policy that covers her primary doctor but not her dentist or her pharmacy. All Jeanine wants is a healthcare plan that fits her needs. She does not want the Federal Government telling her what coverage she must purchase.

Imagine for just a second that you have been happy for decades with a product you use, and one day the government comes in and tells you that you don't know what is best for you. They force you to pay more, and in return you get something that doesn't work. ACA is like the government telling you that you need to buy an expensive, fast, shiny sports car with all the bells and whistles, when all you wanted was a less expensive economy car to get you around town. But later you find out that that fancy sports car is actually a lemon.

That is exactly what happened to Jeanine and countless other Americans when ObamaCare forced them to coverage they did not want or need. This is more than a failed system. It is wrong to the core, and this is what the American Health Care Act is designed to fix.

The American Health Care Act is a step in the right direction, and we are fulfilling our promises to repair the problems that ACA has left us. This legislation repeals major flaws of ObamaCare, such as employer and individual mandates, letting individuals choose what coverage is best for them. Under this bill, health savings accounts will be expanded and will give tax credits for those who buy their own insurance to give them parity with those who get employer-provided coverage tax free. These are things that I campaigned on and promised to fight for, and they are in the bill.

The bill also gives States more control over their healthcare policies, allowing for patient-centered health care and getting the Federal bureaucrats out of the discussion. The American Health Care Act, instead, allows for individuals to choose the health insurance plans based on their needs and budget, allowing for Americans to have greater access and to find a health plan that is right for them. The CBO shows that it is going to lower those premiums by 10 percent. Now, Nebraska had a 51 percent increase last year, Mr. Speaker. This plan is going to lower premiums by 10 percent.

The American Health Care Act will reduce the deficit and cut taxes. According to Monday's CBO score, this bill will reduce the Federal deficit by $337 billion and lower taxes by $883 billion. That is good for America.

Finally, the American Health Care Act does this and yet preserves affordable insurance for those with preexisting conditions and maintains a safety net for those who cannot pay premiums. These are things that I also promised to fight for, and they are in the bill.

I look forward to working with my fellow House Members on both sides of the aisle to deliver the best law for the American people. We are going to be debating this bill for the next few weeks, and we are going to make it better.

I am proud that this Congress and the Republican leadership have made a commitment to passing this legislation in an open and transparent process. This is a good first step toward fixing the mess of the ACA.

Before we vote on this, I encourage my colleagues and the American people to carefully read the bill so they can find out what is in it. Unlike ObamaCare, we don't have to pass this to find out what is in it. We know now.

This is a great step forward, a patient-centered, doctor-supported healthcare system that gives power back to the States and gets the bureaucrat out of our healthcare decisions.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize a dedicated public servant from Nebraska. Sara Woods' contributions to our community as an educator, volunteer, and leader serve as a model for current and future generations across our Nation.

Mrs. Woods has lived a life of service and inspiration impacting the community with her dedication. Throughout her educational career, she has encouraged her students to be engaged learners. Sara was crucial in the creation of many service organizations whose purpose is to equip, train, and encourage young leaders to serve their communities. She currently serves on the boards of several nonprofits in Omaha and works to improve conditions for youth, women, and the homeless.

In recognition of her service, she received the University of Nebraska Omaha Chancellor's Award in 2005 and the YWCA Women of Distinction award in 2009.

Sara now oversees the operation of the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center. She was involved in the creation and development of this institute, which works to combine great ideas and organizations with the boundless energy of the University of Nebraska Omaha campus.

Mrs. Woods has helped cultivate the same passion for service in others and fostered stronger bonds within our community and beyond. We would do well to adopt her inspiring passion for public service.