Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Winston ``Win'' Wallin: businessman, philanthropist, pioneer and one-of-a-kind Minnesotan.

Born in Minneapolis in 1926, Win, like so many in his generation, served in the military during World War II. After two years as a Navy pilot, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.

Following graduation, Win began a long and industrious career with Pillsbury, rising through the ranks to Chief Operations Officer.

In the mid-80's, Win left Pillsbury to head a little-known, struggling medical device company based in Minnesota, named Medtronic. Win's leadership and determination, changed the face of Medtronic. Today it is the world's largest medical device company.

Although Win brought great success to the companies he led, his life cannot simply be measured in their bottom lines, but rather in the countless lives he touched through his philanthropic endeavors.

Win was a true believer in empowerment through higher education. Since 1986, Win and his wife Maxine have helped over 3,000 high school students make the dream of a college education a reality through their Wallin Scholarship.

While Minnesota will never be able to replace Win, his legacy lives on through the lives he has touched and the state he has made better through his presence.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 658 (H.R. 6540) my flight was delayed due to weather and had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, our number one priority in Congress should be enacting pro-growth policies that will put Americans back to work and get our economy back on track.

Sadly, in the past 2 years, this body has done very little to accommodate the record high unemployment that this country has faced. And this tax bill before us today will give us an opportunity to finally change that, because in just 2 weeks our country's small businesses will see a huge job-killing tax increase imposed upon them.

Now, we all know small businesses have been the backbone of our economy for a long period of years. They have served as our Nation's top and chief job creators, generating nearly 7 out of every 10 new jobs created. But according to the National Federation of Independent Business, small business optimism is still at a recessionary level, and only a net 4 percent of firms are even planning to create new jobs. Stopping these tax increases on January 1 will add jobs to the economy.

On the other hand, imposing these job-killing tax increases on our small businesses is only going to further delay an economic recovery that has been denied to the American people. So we must act now to prevent this from happening.

This bill also has a significant impact on our Nation's families. Voting against this bill will lead to a nearly $100 tax increase on every hardworking American family every single week. These are families that are already struggling to make ends meet in tough economic times, and increasing taxes on them is only going to make matters worse.

Mr. Chairman, this bill is not perfect. Would I like to see these tax rates made permanent? Yes. Would I like to see the spending provisions and portions paid for? Yes. But well over 80 percent of this bill is tax relief. It prevents income tax rates from increasing; it prevents the alternative tax from hitting more middle-income families; it preserves the child tax credit; and it prevents the marriage penalty from being put in place.

Unless we act, on January 1 we will see job-killing taxes. But tonight, and today, we will have an opportunity to support American families and the small businesses that employ them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my distinguished colleague from Minnesota, the Dean of our delegation, Chairman Jim Oberstar. For nearly four decades, Chairman Oberstar has been faithfully serving the Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota in this great body.

From humble beginnings, Chairman Oberstar worked to put himself through college in the Minnesota Iron Range mines. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the college of St. Thomas, he began his tenure in Congress as a congressional staff member. To his final post in Congress as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Oberstar has committed his life to public service and serving the great State of Minnesota.

A native of Chisholm, Minnesota, Congressman Oberstar has proudly served the people of Northeast Minnesota for 18 terms, the longest serving Member of Congress from Minnesota.

In his four years as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Oberstar has been instrumental in keeping America moving. From his efforts to create more cycling and hiking paths to his work on aviation and aviation safety, Chairman Oberstar has done remarkable work in Congress. His knowledge of transportation issues will be a great loss to this body.

He leaves a strong legacy as his name will be forever tied to important highway, airline and rail safety legislation. His passion for intermodalism is unmatched.

As Chairman Oberstar departs, I will miss his knowledge of all things historical and his linguistic talent, specifically his love for French Creole, a language which he picked up while studying in Haiti after college.

In the few short years I have been in Congress, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Chairman Oberstar as a fellow Minnesotan. Chairman Oberstar is leaving some large shoes to fill. His wisdom, guidance and expertise will be greatly missed and I thank him for his service to our great State.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Minnesota's Children's Hospital and Clinics for being named a ``top hospital'' by the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Not long ago, I had a chance to visit Children's, and I saw firsthand how their commitment to improve patient safety is second to none. Their many safety initiatives have helped patients achieve one of the lowest rates of hospital-acquired infection in the Nation, and their use of electronic medical records has helped further reduce complications and improve patient care.

Minnesota has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to health care. From life-saving technologies and medical technologies to continually striving to create the most effective and efficient health care system, our hospitals have earned a reputation for excellence and innovation in health care. Congratulations to Minnesota's Children's Hospital and Clinics, and thanks for your tireless efforts to provide your patients with the best possible care.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Wayzata High School football team on winning the Minnesota State high school championship this year. Sophomore Chad Underhill ran for a remarkable four touchdowns, leading the top-ranked Trojans to a 31-14 victory over Rosemount. The victory gave Wayzata their fourth State championship.

Wayzata's perfect season included an overtime victory over last year's State champions in the final game of the regular season and a very gutsy victory over Minnetonka, converting a two-point conversion to win the game with no time left on the clock. In the playoffs, the Trojans held their opponents scoreless for 15 straight quarters.

Wayzata's State championship continues an outstanding tradition of football excellence at Wayzata High School. Since the year 2000, Wayzata has now produced an NFL Pro Bowler in running back Marion Barber, a Butkus Award winner in linebacker James Laurinaitis, and four State championships.

Congratulations to the student athletes, the parents, and the coaches at Wayzata High School.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that as Diabetes Awareness Month comes to a close, we must continue to work together to protect future generations from this disease.

Cases of diabetes among Americans is growing at an alarming rate. Today, nearly 24 million children and adults suffer from this disease, that's nearly one in every three Americans, and another 57 million Americans are at risk.

Madam Speaker, in addition to the alarming number of people affected by diabetes, the costs associated with this disease are far too great. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total cost associated with diabetes care costs approximately $174 billion annually.

With health care costs rising and the number of diagnosed diabetics at an all-time high, we must work to prevent diabetes through education and awareness, as well as work to lower the cost of care associated with this disease.

Mr. Speaker, Americans donate their time and resources to charitable organizations not only because of their generosity, but because they know that these actions will help enhance our communities, improve opportunities for our children, and create higher standards of living for our neighbors.

As our economy continues to stagnate, we need to do all that we can to help these charities who provide services for communities all over this country.

That's why today I want to remind my colleagues that January is fast approaching, and that means the largest tax increases in American history are just around the corner. With the traditional season of giving well under way, tax uncertainly is causing individual and corporate charitable donors to think twice before opening their wallets; and that's, in turn, worrying many charities across this country in their greatest time of need.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that this Congress take action and address this issue on behalf of all Americans.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this week's YouCut winner.

Mr. Speaker, how long are the American people supposed to wait before this Congress will take action that will positively change the economic prosperity for our citizens? Our country cannot simply continue down its current path of fiscal recklessness.

The most recent Congressional Oversight Panel report found that the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the TARP bailout program, has not been effective in meeting its statutory obligations. Last year, I offered legislation that would have repealed the Secretary of the Treasury's ability to extend the TARP bailout program. It would have saved taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars at that time. I thought, as did many of my colleagues, that there was no reason to continue throwing good many after bad in a program that wasn't working. Unfortunately, and nonetheless, Congress failed to act and the administration extended the TARP program for another 10 months.

As of this month, $80 billion in funds have yet to be dispersed. By voting against the previous question today and for this week's YouCut winner, tens of billions of dollars that are now going to programs that do not work, including more taxpayer money for AIG, can be stopped. People are absolutely tired of Washington's bailouts.

Mr. Speaker, some will say that the TARP program will end in just a few

days. But what you will not hear is that the Congressional Budget Office will certainly say and has said that they now estimate that the Federal Government will spend between $4 billion and $7 billion next year and the year after that and the year after that and the year after that. So, sadly, taxpayers will be stuck with that tab. So when will the bailout stop? We can and we must do better. Americans deserve better.

I urge Members to end the TARP program once and for all.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to rise in support of my colleague Mr. Miller's bill to amend the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, but I'd also like to point out the irony is that we are here on the floor the day after, of course; the President signed the bill just 1 day ago.

You know, this bill would allow construction, land development, and other land loans to be included in the program, which is important, and I commend Mr. Miller's efforts to make sure that all small businesses will be eligible under this program.

I appreciate also what my colleagues are also trying to do, but I do believe that if we're really going to be focused on helping the small business community, we need to bring some certainty to the market and to the economy for them. Right now many small businesses are struggling with the uncertainty, not knowing what regulations this Congress is going to come up with next on health care or on cap-and-trade legislation; and most importantly now, rather than additional bailout programs, I do think we need to be talking more down the road, hopefully tomorrow, about extending the tax cuts rather than having tax increases that will take place on January 1.

So that hostile business environment also is going to hurt the small business community, but I commend the gentleman for his work on this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in strong support of H.R. 6058, the Wounded Warrior and Military Survivor Housing Assistance Act, and I also want to thank my freshman colleague for offering his support of this measure and cosponsorship as well.

A few weeks ago, I had the unfortunate honor of meeting the widow of a serviceman who had graduated from high school in my hometown of Eden Prairie and someone who had served in Afghanistan. And since she was in Washington, D.C. for her husband's burial at Arlington National Cemetery, she'd asked to come and meet with me so she could share some of the challenges that she was facing in the midst of her crisis. She had an exhaustive list of concerns, actually, that she was trying to juggle through in the midst of the ceremony taking place for her husband.

At the top of her list, the top priority was essentially wondering how she was going to be able to pay her mortgage now that the family was no longer receiving any income, and the monthly burden of her mortgage was something she had never really had to think about during her husband's entire military career, which had gone on for a long time.

While there are certainly many current provisions in law that try to help people remain in their homes when they come upon some difficult financial problems, I believe that these programs should take into account the special needs of survivors, of dependents, and those with service-connected injuries. That is why I introduced the legislation, the Wounded Warrior and Military Survivor Housing Act with Mr. Minnick. This legislation directs the Secretaries of HUD and the VA to make sure that their housing programs do indeed address the needs of survivors and dependents as well as those who have those service-related injuries.

Mr. Speaker, these are families that have made great sacrifices. These are families that have basically allowed the rest of us to enjoy, and all Americans to enjoy, the freedoms that we have, more freedoms that are unprecedented ever in human history. The least we can do, I think, is recognize those special needs and make sure that we are giving them tools to help them adjust to the changes now that have taken place in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I would appreciate support for the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just simply want to thank both the staff of the Financial Services Committee as well as the House Veterans Affairs Committee for all their work in this legislation and putting this together. I hope we can pass this bill to help all the families of our service men and women.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to take a moment to recognize September as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month. PAD is a very dangerous and increasingly common illness that affects approximately 9 million Americans every year. Yet a recent study showed that only 25 percent of people are even aware of its existence.

That's why I have introduced House Resolution 1438, which aims to promote increased awareness and diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease to address the high mortality rate of this treatable disease. PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become restricted or clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs. This can result in muscle pain, disability, amputation, and even death.

In addition, it is often an early warning sign that other arteries, including those in the heart and brain, may also be blocked, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Madam Speaker and fellow Members, we must take the proper steps to curb this increasingly dangerous and deadly disease.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Greenwood Elementary School in Plymouth, Minnesota, for being designated as a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School. Greenwood earned this great distinction under the direction of now retired principal Ginny Clark, and is now being led by Brad Gustafson.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program acknowledges public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students have excelled or have made great progress academically. This program is highly effective in promoting and identifying strong leadership and teaching practices.

Though, it is truly the dedicated students, teachers, faculty, and parents who make Greenwood the great learning community that it is, and I am proud to represent such wonderful people here in Congress. We must continue to support such programs like this and recognize our great schools.

Congratulations, Greenwood Elementary. You truly are a Blue Ribbon School.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud President Obama for recently making an important commitment to completing a free trade agreement with South Korea.

Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner in terms of two-way trade and the sixth-largest market for U.S. agricultural goods. A free trade agreement with Korea will grow business and create jobs here in the United States.

And, Madam Speaker, the time for action is now. The European Union has recently completed a trade agreement with South Korea, and Canada is working on one as well, while the United States has continued to sit on the sidelines. We cannot continue to let America fall behind by withholding approval for crucial trade agreements while other countries move quickly to finish their trade deals.

Exports mean jobs. A trade agreement with Korea is the right policy to boost our economy and boost exports. I stand ready to work with my colleagues and the President to pass a free trade agreement with Korea.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based CIGNA company for winning the 2010 ``Wellness by Design Award'' from Hennepin County for the third consecutive year. CIGNA, a national health service company, earned the Platinum award-- the highest level of award possible.

Cigna, which employs nearly 1,200 hundred people, provides health coaching programs for tobacco cessation, weight loss and stress, and a nationally-recognized employee assistance program.

Hennepin County--which comprises most of the Third Congressional District--honors business and schools with Wellness by Design awards for fostering safe and healthy work and learning environments.

CIGNA's selection as a Wellness by Design award winner is a tremendous example of a company that has taken the initiative in providing employees and customers alike with a safe and healthful place to work because it results in better outcomes for everyone involved.

I congratulate CIGNA on winning this award and look forward to honoring them again in 2011.