Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise in strong opposition to the further Republican attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act.

The administration recently announced that due to logistical issues they were delaying the employer mandate for a year. I do not support this measure, but it is within their authority to do it.

However, the decision of the Department of Treasury does not justify delaying the implementation of other portions of the law. Implementing this law is too important for America's well-being and their economic security to delay it. Low-cost, high-quality health care is right around the corner. If we delay the individual mandate, the risk pools will be skewed so that the coverage is less affordable for those who choose to purchase it.

Delaying the employer mandate will have a higher impact on States like mine that are refusing to expand Medicaid. If an employee makes between 100 percent and 133 percent of the Federal poverty level, they will receive no Medicaid, no subsidies, and now employers won't have to cover them for another year.

I am told that this is a small number, but in a district like ours, which has the highest rate of working uninsured in the country, this is a big problem. Up to 260,000 individuals in our district who lack health insurance will have access to quality, affordable care without fear of discrimination or higher rates because of a preexisting condition.

Our country has waited too long for real health care reform--coverage that our industrial competitors and partners provide. I oppose both these bills.

Madam Chair, I represent areas of North and East Harris County and Houston, including a large portion of the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel. Water development projects at the Army Corps of Engineers are critical to our economy and to our safety. We rely on flood control and dredging projects in the Houston / Harris County, Texas area. Flood control projects protect lives and property every year in our district. However, without adequate Army Corps money, necessary maintenance and new projects will be neglected putting our area at risk.

The Energy and Water Appropriations bill is important to us. This bill needs to provide more funding for the Army Corps.

The Port of Houston is the largest foreign tonnage port and the largest petrochemical port in the country. In fact, it moves the second largest amount of cargo in the country, as 8.5% of our nation's cargo moves through the Port of Houston. The commerce that occurs at our port is critical to our nation's energy and chemical sectors and to our country's ability to trade and move goods throughout our country. It is a port of national significance, but has not received the attention that is necessary to answer the challenges we face in the near future.

Despite the national importance of our port, it is facing a dredging crisis.

The President's budget request funded dredging at the Port at around half the actual need. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill doesn't even get us to the President's request level. Infrastructure is a key component of commerce and it is time the House of Representatives starts passing legislation recognizing this important fact.

Additionally, by cutting New Starts completely, this bill prevents funding for a vital project in Houston that will explore widening and deepening the shipping channel to the Turning Basin. This funding is critical to preparing our Port for the years ahead.

In 1998, the Federal Government and the Port of Houston invested $700 million over the course of years, to deepen and widen the Ship Channel. An investment we have benefitted from tremendously.

As the years have passed silt has settled and reduced the draft in the channel significantly. Today, only a small portion of the channel is dredged to its proper depth across the entire width of the channel. That is astounding. Our nation's investment is rapidly deteriorating. Currently, the Houston Ship Channel is dredged to a depth of 43 feet, but it should be 45 feet. The Panama Canal is expanding and when it is completed, the Port of Houston should be at a minimum of 45 feet and we could take advantage of additional depth.

As we confront the dual challenges of adopting policies that create jobs and reduce the debt, funding for dredging projects is an item that, while costly, will have more of a positive impact on our economy than a negative impact on our deficit. The Texas Transportation Institute performed a study and determined that a direct economic impact of the loss of 1 foot of draft is $373 million. The majority of this impact is lost business opportunities due to light loading of non- containerized vessels. As the dredging crisis at the port continues to worsen, the opportunity cost will quickly increase.

The time to increase our investment in our infrastructure is now. We can't wait until the economy improves because strengthening our infrastructure is integral to growing our economy.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 353, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Personal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Doug Rogers and his 24 impressive years of service as the executive director of the Association of Texas Professional Educators. His many years of service to Texas education and his career leading ATPE are to be commended--it represents the highest level of enthusiasm and dedication to the educators and students of the State of Texas.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Rogers attended North Texas State University, where he earned multiple education degrees and certificates. Rogers served as a teacher and administrator for nine years in both elementary and secondary schools. He began his service with ATPE in 1981, spent two years with the Texas Association of School Boards, and rejoined the ATPE staff before accepting the position of Executive Director in June of 1989.

During Mr. Roger's tenure, the membership of ATPE has more than doubled, reaching its highest enrollment at 116,000 members, and is today the leading educators' association in the State and the largest independent association for public school educators in the Nation. The ATPE Foundation was established in 2000 and has since benefitted more than 23,000 Texas school children. ATPE recently honored Mr. Rogers by naming its office building in Austin, Texas, the ATPE Rogers Building.

Mr. Speaker, this month Mr. Rogers will retire after a long and distinguished career serving educators and students in Texas. While his time as Executive Director of ATPE may be coming to an end, his impact on the association will long remain. I would like to thank him for his many decades of service to Texas education and wish him a ``splendid'' retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2231, The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act and H.R. 1613, The Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act.

H.R. 2231 directs the Interior Department to develop a new five-year offshore leasing plan that makes available for oil and gas exploration and development at least 50% of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production, and it creates a nationwide revenue sharing system so coastal states will receive a share of the federal royalties. It also requires that drilling be allowed off the coasts of California, South Carolina and Virginia and statutorily reorganizes the Interior Department agencies that oversee offshore leasing and permitting, safety inspections and revenue collection.

While I do not agree with some of the environmental provisions in this bill, I support it because it is a message bill about the importance of accessing our offshore resources. While leasing and permitting has come back some since the Deepwater Horizon accident, it is not back to the level it was before the spill. Additionally with the President reneging on certain areas originally contained in his 2012- 2017 Five Year Offshore Leasing Plan, our future access over the next decade is extremely limited. We need to open new offshore areas up for production instead of producing on the same lands we have for decades.

H.R. 1613 would approve the February 2012 agreement between the United States and Mexico concerning transboundary oil and gas reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. It also provides guidelines that the administration must follow in implementing all future transboundary hydrocarbon agreements.

H.R. 1613 is different than H.R. 2231 in that it is not a message bill. It gives the State Department the authority it needs to move forward on an important negotiated agreement with Mexico so that our respective countries can jointly develop in the Gulf of Mexico. I am hopeful we can get this bill to the President's desk for his signature soon.

Mr. Speaker, Members, I rise tonight to honor a man that I'm proud to call a good friend and a mentor, John Dingell. Recently, John became the longest-serving Member of the Congress, serving for 57 years, 5 months, and 26 days, surpassing the service record of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd.

John has a storied career in the House of Representatives, and you'll hear a lot about that tonight and already have. He has served with 11 Presidents, congressional icons like Speaker Sam Rayburn from Texas, and had the opportunity to vote on landmark legislation like the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

He is the ultimate legislator for both Michigan and for America. He's also played an integral part in groundbreaking legislation, like the creation of the Medicare program, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Air Act, just to name a few.

I always think of him as chairman, though. Since 1996 I've been fortunate to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, with John as our committee leader for much of that time. While most associate John's leadership on the committee with his tenacious government watchdog activities, I saw a leader that did not fall victim to the partisan politics that define

the current House, but instead epitomized what we are here to do--the people's business.

He's a true legislator. It has truly been an honor to serve with him and learn from him, and, most importantly, to call him friend. He has a partner in his wonderful wife, Deborah, and a friend who, like my wife, Helen, allows us to serve our respective districts.

John, I look forward to continuing our friendship and our work together.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support H.R. 2289, introduced by Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX).

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to rename the section heading of provisions relating to the individual retirement accounts (IRAs) of married individuals as the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA.

Senator Hutchison, from Texas, along with Senator Mikulski, co- authored the now 15-year-old law that allows homemakers to make the same deductible contributions to their IRA as salaried workers. The Spousal IRA was one of Senator Hutchison's proudest achievements while in Congress.

I thank Senator Hutchison for her years of service to the U.S. Senate. I believe this is a fitting tribute for her championing of this issue. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2289 to honor Senator Hutchison.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of extending the 3.4 interest rate on Stafford Student loans to protect students from seeing their interest rates double on July 1, 2013. As the cost of higher education continues to climb and total student loan debt eclipsed credit card debt for the first time, the consequences of inaction are unacceptable. We need to be making college more affordable for all students, not putting it further out of reach.

As an advanced degree becomes more and more of a requirement for well paying jobs, it is vital that low interest loans be available so that students can access an affordable college education. Approximately 60 percent of students take out loans to attend college and increasing the cost of borrowing will prevent millions from being able to obtain a degree.

H.R. 1595, the Student Loan Relief Act of 2013, is a clean extension that would freeze the 3.4 interest rate on Stafford loans for two years. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation to prevent a crippling hike in rates and give Congress time to find a true long-term solution to student loans and college affordability that is worthy of our nation's young people.

A strong middle-class, well educated workforce and the opportunity for upward mobility are the building blocks of a thriving economy. To maintain and strengthen each, every student must have the opportunity to pursue higher education, not just the privileged few.

College educated students are the future engine of our country, and anyone who wants to pursue a post-secondary education should have the opportunity to do so without going into crushing debt. I urge my colleagues to stop rates from doubling and extend the current interest rate of 3.4 percent.

Madam Chair, today I rise to oppose the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act plan to cut SNAP funding by $20.5 billion over the next ten years

The need for food assistance has increased dramatically during our nation's economic slump. Texas's rate for food insecurity is 27.6%-- more than one in four Texas children is food insecure.

The impacts to Texas would be devastating, including 171,000 immediately off of SNAP and the elimination of almost 500 million meals from hungry Texans. In Harris County alone, more than 27,000 children, seniors, and their families would lose SNAP benefits; more than 76 million meals would be eliminated; and the Harris County economy would lose almost $175M in lost food retail dollars.

Meeting the need for food assistance is especially critical for our most vulnerable citizens--pregnant and nursing women, infants, children, and seniors for whom the consequences of hunger and poor nutrition are

the most severe. It is critical that we maintain support for the charitable food system and funding for SNAP.

I have been a strong supporter of SNAP in Congress to help those who are food insecure during their time of need. Our office works closely with the Houston Food Bank, the largest in the Country, and the Texas Food Bank Network to help end hunger in America.

I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by my good friends, Congressmen Royce and Engel. This amendment would cripple the Food for Peace Program, our Nation's premier foreign aid program, and endanger tens of thousands of jobs in agriculture and the maritime industry.

Since 1954, Food for Peace has enabled the United States to play a leading role in responding to international food assistance needs and ensuring global food security, reaching more than 3 billion people in 150 countries.

In 2012 alone, the Food for Peace Program shipped million of tons of American food aid abroad aboard dozens of U.S.-flagged and crewed ships.

Food for Peace also helps maintain our domestic merchant marine by ensuring a steady flow of American cargo shipped by Americans on U.S.- flagged ships. Unfortunately, many benefits from the Food for Peace Program are being threatened by this amendment, which would redirect 45 percent of the program's budget to send direct cash payments overseas with little accountability, scant transparency, and no benefit to U.S. farmers and merchant marines.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1151, a resolution in support of one of our nation's closest friends in the Asia-Pacific Region, Taiwan.

This resolution directs the State Department to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly.

The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations and has consistently reiterated that support.

In 2004, this Chamber voted, with my support, legislation in support of Taiwan's efforts to gain observer status to the World Health Organization. Those efforts finally succeeded in 2009 when Taiwan was included in the International Health Regulations (IHR).

For decades, Taiwan has been a key security, economic, and political partner for the American people.

Taiwan has been one of America's biggest trading partners for many years--the 11th largest in 2012--purchasing nearly $25 billion worth of American goods that year.

Taiwan is also a global leader in information technology, telecommunications, and other knowledge-based industries.

Most significantly, Taiwan is becoming a beacon of democracy for the Chinese people after their successful, open elections in 2008 and 2012.

It is important for this Chamber to continue its support of the Taiwanese people and enhance Taiwan's standing in international bodies.

I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me and vote in support of America's partner in peace and prosperity, Taiwan.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the bill, H.R. 1797.

At a time of enduring economic troubles we should not bog down the House of Representatives with this type of legislation. I know my Republican colleagues are sincere in their pursuit to end abortions after 20 weeks and probably before 20 weeks too. We've heard their concerns, but they're just plain wrong.

The decision to have an abortion is a private one. It should be made by the patient, in consultation with her physician, her family, and faith leader, if she chooses. Congress has no place micromanaging the practice of medicine by deciding what medical procedures are appropriate and at what time. We should not be intruding on the privacy and medical decisions of individuals.

The right for a woman to make her own medical decisions has been rightfully upheld by our courts. Those of us in this chamber may not believe that abortion is moral or right and we are free to disagree with those who seek abortion. We have already stated numerous times that federal funds may not be used to provide the procedure.

But, we must end this pursuit to erode access to types of healthcare we do not like. It will drive women to much less safe alternatives and criminalize doctors who wish to provide a safe environment. We should not go back in time.

Instead, it is time for us to really tackle the issues that confront our country: growing our economy, achieving comprehensive immigration reform, and putting our Nation on the track for prosperity for years to come.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment (#63), to the National Defense Authorization Act, which would require the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps to provide free Internet access for servicemembers serving in a combat zone.

This amendment comes as a response to several servicemembers from our district who, while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, found the distribution and pricing of recreational Internet usage for servicemembers to be unequal and exorbitant.

For the vast majority of our nation's servicemembers serving overseas, the Internet has become the best means to communicate with spouses, children, parents, and other loved ones. It is the key link to staying connected with home and provides a much needed boost in morale for our nation's warriors who have had to endure multiple tours of duty in some of the most difficult terrain in the world.

It is imperative that as the people's elected representatives, we make sure that this important service is provided to those who have answered the call of duty and are putting their lives in harm's way at the lowest cost for our servicemembers.

For situations in which the local security environment does not allow for recreational Internet usage, this amendment provides for a temporary waiver.

I ask for my colleagues to stand with our servicemembers and their families and vote in support of my amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 244 final passage, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the Houston firefighters who lost their lives and were injured battling a deadly five-alarm blaze.

Every year, our Houston Firefighters Pension Board holds a memorial service to honor all firefighters, but especially those who gave their lives in the service as firefighters. I have attended many of those services over the years.

Last Friday, May 31, the deadliest fire in the 118-year history of the Houston Fire Department broke out in southwest Houston. Unfortunately, four brave firefighters lost their lives performing their duties. Captain Matthew Renaud, Engineer Operator Robert Bebee, Firefighter Robert Garner, and Firefighter Anne Sullivan tragically fell during the fire. Many firefighters were injured, including Engineer Operator Anthony Livesay, EMT Robert Yarbrough, EMT Foster Santos, Engineer Operator and Paramedic Marcus Hernandez, and Captain William Dowling. These firefighters were injured and died trying to save people in a motel unit.

Our hearts and our prayers go out to their families and friends. Being the grandson and nephew of a family of Houston firefighters, I understand the sacrifice their loved ones made. We shall never forget their heroic efforts to keep us safe.