Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I also rise in strong support of H.R. 4045.

Madam Speaker, the promises that we make to our young men and women and those who serve and have volunteered to put our Nation's uniform on should always, always be kept. And this important legislation does exactly that by assuring that nearly 50,000--tens of thousands servicemembers will receive the benefits that they, in fact, were promised.

In October of last year, the Department of Defense significantly changed the amount of earned time and leave time for our troops and began providing less time off for servicemembers after a long deployment. But in that process, they failed to take into account those reservists who were already deployed, including the 2,000 members of the Minnesota National Guard.

Madam Speaker, if we don't pass this legislation, members of the National Guard and the Reserve, including members of Minnesota's famed Red Bulls, will stand to lose approximately 27 days of leave that they were promised. They've already earned that leave.

Let's do the right thing. This is simple. This is straightforward. We need to keep the promises out there for our service men and women.

I want to applaud Chairman Kline. I want to applaud all the members of the Minnesota delegation for working together on something so critical and important and for sending a bipartisan message that we will stand behind our promises to our troops and our men and women in uniform.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Edina High School teacher Jackie Roehl for being named this year's Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Out of more than 300 teachers who were nominated, Jackie was recognized for her outstanding work in reducing the achievement gap. By using teaching methods that engaged different students from differing skills and backgrounds, she was able to teach her students more effectively and help improve test scores. After several years of researching teaching methods, surveying students as well as parents, Jackie and her team recently gained the approval to merge advanced placement classes and regular English classes into one course to make sure that all students she teaches are able to be challenged and are able to excel.

Mr. Speaker, Jackie has absolutely shown an incredible passion for her profession, for her students, and for her community. I congratulate her on her much-deserved recognition as she continues her success in teaching, in leading, and in inspiring Minnesota's youth.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the centennial of the city of Mound, Minnesota. And although this picturesque community was officially incorporated in 1912, its roots run all the way back to before the Civil War when the town was known as Mound City.

In the early days, Mound was a bustling business district on the shores of Cooks Bay, frequented by the street car boats which travelled Lake Minnetonka at the turn of the 19th century. In 1900, the railroad came to town, requiring the business district to move to where we see it today.

From a city which derives its name from Indian burial mounds, this vibrant community has not only flourished over its 100 years as a home to close to 10,000 Minnesotans--and this year being named Minnesota's Best Place to Raise Your Kids 2012 by Bloomberg Businessweek--but has also been home to many of Minnesota's innovative small businesses.

I'd like to congratulate Mayor Hanus, and all of my neighbors who call Mound home--Happy 100th!

Mr. Speaker, more and more American consumers are discovering a provision in the President's new health care law that prevents them from buying simple, over-the-counter medications using their health care savings accounts or their flexible spending accounts unless they first get a doctor's prescription.

Instead of walking into their local drugstores to use their HSAs or their FSAs, Americans are now forced to visit a doctor and pay a standard copay before finally receiving a prescription to buy medicines like Advil or Claritin. Does this sound burdensome? That's because it absolutely is.

Mr. Speaker, millions of Americans use HSAs and FSAs for their flexibility and portability, yet this new health care law is taking that away and is wreaking havoc on patients and also increasing burdens on physicians.

We need to repeal this onerous provision, and that's why I've introduced legislation that does exactly that, with bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the use of HSAs and FSAs on over-the-counter medicine practices, and I hope we'll all agree that individuals, families, patients, and doctors make the best decisions for their health care needs, not the government. It's time to do away with this onerous prescription requirement.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is tax day, and as Americans work to file their taxes by midnight tomorrow, they are reminded about how broken our Tax Code and our tax system really is, how burdensome it has become, how complicated it has become, and how it has not kept up with today's economy.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there are too many in Washington that always believe the answer is only to raise taxes rather than focusing on tax reform. Just a few weeks ago, the United States became the number one country in the developed world for having the highest corporate tax rate. This is something we should not be aspiring to. A new medical device tax is set to start next January that will be a hard-hitting tax on the American success story of medical innovation.

Mr. Speaker, we need a Tax Code that promotes hard work, achievement, innovation, and also savings and investment. Mr. Speaker, we need a Tax Code that is simpler and fair and more

competitive for all taxpayers so we can grow our economy and create jobs.

Mr. Speaker, the phrase ``it has never been done before'' has often been used as a deterrent for many of the world's firsts. But thanks to teamwork, discipline, and avid determination, the Providence Academy Lions girls' basketball team won the very first State championship in their school's history. So I want to congratulate Providence and recognize their hard-fought road to victory.

In an incredible game, the Lions erased a second half, seven-point deficit to take the win in the Minnesota AA girls' basketball State championship game, proving that it's not over until the final whistle blows.

When asked about the game, it was team member Mary Ann Healy who remarked: ``We all went out there as hard as we could.''

Mr. Speaker, these young student athletes truly extol the hard work and poise of champions. On behalf of all Minnesotans, I would like to congratulate the team, congratulate Coach Finley, the parents of these athletes, and the entire school as you celebrate your win.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Chair, the very foundation of our health care system is that relationship between a patient and their doctor. But the President's new health care law inserts government bureaucracy in the middle of that longstanding

relationship. One clear example of this is the establishment of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, this 15-member board of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats who will soon have the authority to dictate our Nation's Medicare policy by effectively deciding what health care seniors can receive. And since its inception, IPAB has been the focus of vocal and sustained opposition from doctors, physicians, and patients because it does threaten to reduce beneficiaries' access to treatments and services that are included in the Medicare program.

Madam Chair, the repeal of IPAB has strong bipartisan support. Given the widespread concern about the impact that IPAB will have to deny quality health care services, it's no wonder that about 350 organizations that represent veterans, seniors, employers small and large, as well as doctors and physicians and consumers in all 50 States, support its repeal. Although a majority of us here in Congress have registered our concerns about IPAB and support its repeal, it is the American public, including many folks from my community, who remain the most vocal about ending this program before it is implemented.

The American people have every reason to be worried about this IPAB board. The unchecked powers of IPAB have been explained by my colleagues already at length. Simply put, IPAB is a dangerous new government agency that will be made up of unelected bureaucrats with no oversight, no accountability, and no recourse for seniors to appeal any of IPAB's decisions. The decision-making, the deliberations, the meetings that IPAB hold do not have to be held in public.

Madam Chair, rather than endangering Medicare beneficiaries, we should be empowering them. Rather than making decisions behind closed doors, we should be having these discussions in public in our hearing rooms between doctors, patients, and consumers. Let's do the right thing and protect American seniors by repealing this overreaching provision.

Mr. Speaker, I want to rise today to congratulate the Eden Prairie boys Eagles swimming team and diving team on winning the Minnesota State Championship recently. The Eden Prairie Eagles earned more than 100 points over their two closest competitors that tied for second place.

A key relay team of Aaron Greenberg, Maverick Hovey, Mike Solfelt and Bryce Boston also set a new State record in the 200-yard freestyle relay, and they also took home first place in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Mr. Speaker, these student athletes have absolutely seen that teamwork builds character, confidence, and self-worth. It also teaches our young people the importance of working together to find common ground. Lessons such as playing competitively while also having respect for your opponent are lifelong and will make for absolutely strong, successful adults and future strong leaders.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Eden Prairie boys swimming and diving team.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Minnetonka girls high school hockey team on winning their second consecutive Minnesota 2A State title this weekend at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Mr. Speaker, after winning last year's championship in a nail-biting game, the Minnetonka Skippers this year defeated the Roseville Raiders 3 0. The first goal came early in the first period by defender Holly Korn, who scored on a power play. After that, forward Diana Drayaard followed up with a second goal late in the third period. And then finally, there was a third goal by junior Laura Bowman, who scored the final goal. Of course this victory could not have happened were it not for the outstanding goaltending of goalie Sydney Rossman, who blocked 23 shots in the shutout.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to congratulate all the girls on the Minnetonka Skippers hockey team, as well as their coaches. I also want to thank them and recognize their hard work, their training, their perseverance, and their commitment because it really paid off. We're proud of these student athletes, and so is our entire community.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, for most Americans, our busy lives make it difficult to reflect as often as we should upon the incredible sacrifices by those heroes who have answered the call to service throughout our Nation's history.

Today, I would like to take a moment to honor the service of one such hero from my home State of Minnesota. Minnesota native and World War II pilot Lieutenant John Teman flew missions in all the major battles in Europe. He flew through flak on the night before D-day in strategic spots over Europe behind enemy lines, and he repeatedly flew missions dropping supplies to the troops trapped at the Battle of the Bulge.

In recognition of his incredible service, John has been awarded seven Bronze Stars, three Air Medals, the Croix de Guerre twice, and on Wednesday he received France's highest recognition and honor, the Legion of Honor.

Madam Speaker, John epitomizes what it means to be a hero. I'd like to thank him for his service and congratulate him on an honor that's much deserved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Alf Larson, a Minnesota World War II veteran who survived the infamous Bataan Death March. Alf passed away just last week, on January 30, at the age of 93.

Despite experiencing one of the worst aspects of war, Alf kept his faith in the Lord. During his 41 months in captivity as a prisoner, Alf would read the New Testament and the Book of Psalms, which he kept hidden.

After the war, Alf returned home, got married and then reenlisted in the Air Force in 1948. He left the Air Force 6 years later, and came back to Crystal, Minnesota, and raised a family--his three children. Like most heroes, Alf insisted that he was just a regular guy who was doing his duty, saying, I'm not a hero. I was just doing my job.

Mr. Speaker, last week Minnesota and our Nation lost one of our greatest heroes.

To Alf and all the other veterans who serve our country admirably, I want to say thank you for your incredible sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, thank you and thank you Dr. Boustany for introducing this legislation.

I rise today as a co-sponsor of H.R. 3567, the Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act because at a time when millions of Americans are still out of work, and our economy is struggling to recover, we must take every step available to safeguard taxpayer dollars.

Madam Speaker, between January of 2007 and June of 2010 nearly $5 million in state-issued benefits were withdrawn from ATMs in California casinos alone.

We need to correct this problem, and H.R. 3567 does just that.

This provision requires all states to take steps to end this abusive practice, safeguarding taxpayer funds from abuse by ensuring that welfare funds are not accessed in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos--a practice which has been highlighted in news stories across the country.

This bill ensures all states take action to close this loophole. I note that this policy is the same as that introduced by Senators Hatch and Baucus, the Ranking Member and Chairman, respectively, of the Senate Finance Committee, so it has strong support in the other body as well.

Let's continue the momentum, pass this legislation, and prove to the American people that we are here to get things done in 2012.

Madam Chairman, I also want to rise in strong support of repealing this misguided CLASS Act. We knew from the start that the CLASS Act was fiscally unsustainable. But the President and those who supported the new health care law used this and inserted it as a budget gimmick to help pass the law. This new program was an illusion, an illusion that was crafted so government would start collecting funds long before it would pay anything out, making it seem as if it would raise revenue and save money. But in the long run it was obvious and it was clear the program would have disastrous effects.

The CMS Chief Actuary himself said that if implemented, the program would collapse. And after months of failed attempts, even the administration has finally admitted that the program was unworkable.

Madam Chair, Minnesota families and small businesses are tired of the smoke and mirrors coming out of Washington. Let's do the right thing today and repeal this terrible program, and let's focus on what's really important: putting Americans back to work. I want to thank my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee from Louisiana. He's a doctor, he's a physician, he's a leader in health care. Let's do the right thing and repeal this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is February 1, and I want to recognize the month of February as being American Heart Month. Contrary to popular belief, heart disease does not discriminate by gender. It is the number one killer of both men and women and accounts for nearly one-quarter of all deaths in the United States.

Every 34 seconds--every 34 seconds--someone in America is stricken by a heart attack, and every 60 seconds, someone in this country will die as a result of heart disease.

As cochair of the Congressional Wellness Caucus, this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart--pun intended, Mr. Speaker. Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk of heart disease. It's as simple as abstaining from tobacco, maintaining your body weight, eating healthy, and exercising every day, along with regular visits to your doctor. We should all do our part to raise awareness, staying healthy and staying heart healthy.