Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Christopher Haberland, a resident of Herndon, Virginia, who is a recipient of the 2013 Critical Language Scholarship.

The Critical Language Scholarship Program was established in 2006 by the Department of State as part of an effort to train American young people in languages that are critical to our nation's global interests. For three months, attendees are immersed in an intensive cultural environment that teaches a new language, new culture, and new sense of self. The CLS program is remarkably competitive; in 2013 nearly 4,000 students from around the country applied, but only 597 were accepted. Due to his impressive academic success, I am proud to say that Christopher Haberland was one of those chosen.

Participants in the Critical Language Scholarship Program do more than simply enrich their own understanding and appreciation of a foreign culture. Their deep understanding of these critical regions ensures that our nation has capable individuals that can work on issues vital to the interests of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Christopher Haberland, and in wishing him heartfelt congratulations on his achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Tuesday, February 11, as National Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) Day. This day highlights the importance of the AAP credential, as well as celebrates the achievements and contributions of AAPs nationwide.

The AAP credential is the standard of excellence in ACH payments competency. AAPs are recognized payments industry experts on subjects ranging from the NACHA Operating Rules to sound risk management practices, and as such, are highly regarded by financial regulators and examiners. They play a key role in the individual organizations they serve and the greater industry as a whole, imparting knowledge and supporting practices that help ensure continued confidence in ACH payments and the safety, security, and reliability of the ACH Network.

The ACH Network, administered by NACHA--The Electronic Payments Association, provides for the efficient exchange of direct account-to- account payments for consumers, businesses, and governments. Annually, it processes more than 21 billion electronic payments--including more than 5 billion Direct Deposit transactions--totaling almost $37 trillion. Through their expertise, AAPs help safeguard the quality of the ACH Network and the billions of transactions that flow through it. To be awarded the AAP credential, individuals must pass a comprehensive exam, which is administered by NACHA each fall. The exam tests an individual's knowledge of a variety of subjects including the NACHA Operating Rules, the ACH Network and other payments systems, technical and operational ACH requirements, risk management, and payments-related regulations. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the more than four thousand AAPs nationwide by recognizing today as National Accredited ACH Professional Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Grace Meng, a resident of Vienna, Virginia, who is a recipient of the 2013 Critical Language Scholarship.

The Critical Language Scholarship Program was established in 2006 by the Department of State as part of an effort to train American young people in languages that are critical to our nation's global interests. For three months, attendees are immersed in an intensive cultural environment that teaches a new language, new culture, and new sense of self. The CLS program is remarkably competitive; in 2013 nearly 4,000 students from around the country applied, but only 597 were accepted. Due to her impressive academic success, I am proud to say that Grace Meng was one of those chosen.

Participants in the Critical Language Scholarship Program do more than simply enrich their own appreciation of a foreign culture. Their deep understanding of these critical regions ensures that our nation has capable individuals that can work on issues vital to the interests of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Grace Meng, and in wishing her heartfelt congratulations on her achievements.

Mr. Speaker, the debt ceiling suspension expired last week, and Secretary Lew says that Treasury will only be able to ensure that the U.S. meet its commitments through Feb. 27. Sadly, some in the House Majority still find it difficult to accept that Congress should actually pay its bills, buying into the myth that not raising the debt ceiling will somehow slow government spending.

My colleagues fail to acknowledge that the deficit, as CBO recently reported, fell by more than a third in the first three months of FY14, and CBO predicts it will continue to shrink and stabilize at around 4% of GDP. Last week, the Business Roundtable lamented that Congress's inaction fosters continued uncertainty, increases borrowing costs, and dampens hiring.

The Speaker told reporters that he does not want to play chicken again with the full faith and credit of the United States. So let's have a clean vote on the debt ceiling and put this behind us. It's time to roll up our sleeves and tackle the real challenges facing our nation and start putting people back to work.

Mr. Speaker, my friend from Illinois is right. There is a decline in American leadership, but it is not overseas--not at all. It is here at home.

Since the 1970s, American workers have seen their wages fall or stagnate. The wealthiest American incomes, however, have increased fourfold. Even after 40 years of economic growth, today's generation takes home less than its grandparents did, and high school graduates make 40 percent less than their predecessors did four decades ago.

This problem ought to elicit bipartisan concern, yet many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have shown little or no interest in the consequences of our country becoming so sharply divided by wealth. For many of my Republican colleagues, even talking about it is uncomfortable. It is time to realize that all too many Americans-- hardworking Americans--are falling behind.

From 1979 to 2007, wages for the top 1 percent grew 156 percent, while the bottom 90 percent of us saw our wages grow only 17 percent. Since 1983, 75 percent of the growth and wealth has been captured by the top 5 percent, while the bottom 60 percent actually suffered a net decline. By 2010, nearly all middle- and low-income families have made the same hourly wage they did in 2000, despite having raised productivity during that time period by 22 percent. That is not how it is supposed to work. Worse, median family income was 6 percent lower. But this lost decade only caps a trend that has been going on in this country for over 30 years.

In what might be the most telling portrait of how middle- and low- income Americans are being shut out of the

new economy, Bloomberg recently reported that 95 percent of wealth generated since the Great Recession went to the richest 1 percent--95 percent went to 1 percent. In real terms, 9 out of 10 people control less wealth than they did before the crash.

In 2012, the top 10 percent of earners took home more than half of the U.S. total income. This is the highest level ever recorded. Income and wealth haven't been this concentrated since before the Great Depression, and we are beginning to rival the gilded age of the late 19th century.

A recent Gallup poll shows that the concerns about inequality have moved beyond academia and into the public consciousness. According to Gallup, two out of three Americans are dissatisfied with income and wealth distribution in the United States, including 54 percent of all Republicans and 70 percent of Independents. The same poll found that many Americans now worry about their ability to find future opportunity, and only 54 percent believe that one can get ahead by working hard. What does that say about the American Dream?

Justice Louis Brandeis once said:

We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated

in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.

Letting a generation of Americans remain underemployed, underpaid, and despairing about their future creates a dangerous cycle of economic and social destruction, and it damages democracy. Nations whose citizens believe that the game is rigged against them are not beacons of democracy. Civic culture corrodes, and space opens for divisive and extreme politics. We have seen that here at home. The new Pope, Pope Francis, recently lamented that the world's inequality is quietly undermining social and political institutions. He gets it.

Last week, the President highlighted how our Nation's wealth and income gaps have become too large to continue to ignore. Congress cannot continue to stand idly by. I urge my colleagues to consider the many bipartisan proposals that would jump-start growth for all Americans. We need to be investing in this country's crumbling infrastructure. My own Put America Back to Work Act, which would reauthorize Build America Bonds programs, would give local government another tool to jump-start the economy and infrastructure projects.

Generations of Americans, starting with our Founders, made their way to America's shores, attracted by the promise of opportunity and the belief that, through hard work, they could get ahead. Unfortunately, that dream is at risk today.

I urge my colleagues to join all of us in preserving opportunity for all Americans, and prevent our Nation from becoming a nation of stark divide between the haves and the have-nots.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague.

As the cochair of the Green Dogs of the SEEC Caucus, I rise in support of this amendment and proud to cosponsor it.

The bill before us purports to be about expanding opportunities for sportsmen on Federal lands, yet it fails to recognize the significant effect climate change will have on such opportunities. For example, what will climate change mean for hunters who are forced away from parks because of drought or threat of wildfire? As we witnessed this year, wildfire seasons are now longer, larger, and longer-term than ever before because of climate change. The migratory patterns of ducks and, for that matter, the patterns of fish, to name just two species, are also being negatively affected.

What will climate change mean for anglers who find streams drying up and killing fish? Last September, Montana officials closed the Blackfoot River--not the Secretary, they did--the iconic backdrop for the book and film, ``A River Runs Through It,'' to protect fish from the stress of low-level river flows.

Mr. Chairman, if we really want to protect and expand outdoor recreational opportunities, shouldn't we understand what climate change will mean, not only for hunters, but for the affected wildlife and their habitat?

I urge my colleagues to support this simple, commonsense amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Grace Meng, a resident of Vienna, Virginia, who is a recipient of the 2013 Critical Language Scholarship.

The Critical Language Scholarship Program was established in 2006 by the Department of State as part of an effort to train American young people in languages that are critical to our nation's global interests. For three months, attendees are immersed in an intensive cultural environment that teaches a new language, new culture, and new sense of self. The CLS program is remarkably competitive; in 2013 nearly 4,000 students from around the country applied, but only 597 were accepted. Due to her impressive academic success, I am proud to say that Grace Meng was one of those chosen.

Participants in the Critical Language Scholarship Program do more than simply enrich their own appreciation of a foreign culture. Their deep understanding of these critical regions ensures that our nation has capable individuals that can work on issues vital to the interests of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Grace Meng, and in wishing her heartfelt congratulations on her achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Christopher Haberland, a resident of Herndon, Virginia, who is a recipient of the 2013 Critical Language Scholarship.

The Critical Language Scholarship Program was established in 2006 by the Department of State as part of an effort to train American young people in languages that are critical to our nation's global interests. For three months, attendees are immersed in an intensive cultural environment that teaches a new language, new culture, and new sense of self. The CLS program is remarkably competitive; in 2013 nearly 4,000 students from around the country applied, but only 597 were accepted. Due to his impressive academic success, I am proud to say that Christopher Haberland was one of those chosen.

Participants in the Critical Language Scholarship Program do more than simply enrich their own understanding and appreciation of a foreign culture. Their deep understanding of these critical regions ensures that our nation has capable individuals that can work on issues vital to the interests of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Christopher Haberland, and in wishing him heartfelt congratulations on his achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the Fairfax County 2013 Land Conservation and Tree Preservation and Planting Awards.

Fairfax County is considered one of the best counties in the nation in which to live, work and raise a family. One reason for this designation is the innovative environmental protection policies that have been implemented by the County and embraced by its business partners. I was pleased to have led that effort during my tenure as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. These awards recognize the following developers, designers and site superintendents who have excelled in their stewardship of the environment:

Land Preservation Awards:

Large Commercial: Jennings Toyota

Owner: Jennings Business Park, LLC

Small Commercial: MTPD District II Substation and Training Facility

Owner: Washington Metro Area Transit Authority

Large Single Family Residential: The Reserve at Timber Lake

Owner: Winchester Homes, Inc.

Small Single Family Residential: Leatherland Property

Owner: Palisades Development at Telegraph Road, LLC

Special Project: Timber Ridge at EDS Park Facility

Owner: Timber Ridge at Discovery Square, Inc.

Linear Project: Timber Ridge at EDS North--South Collector

Owner: Timber Ridge at Discovery Square, Inc.

Best Protected Environmentally Sensitive Site: Jennings Toyota

Owner: Jennings Business Park, LLC

Best Protected Environmentally Sensitive Site: Huntley Meadows Park Wetland Restoration Project

Owner: Fairfax County Park Authority

Outstanding Engineering Firms: Walter L. Phillip, INC for Jennings Toyota

Outstanding Superintendent: Garen Khoranian for Huntley Meadow Park Wetland Restoration Project

Outstanding Contractor: S.W. Rodgers for Jennings Toyota

Outstanding Developer/Owner: Jennings Business Park, LLC/Jennings Toyota

Outstanding E/S Inspectors of the Year: Mike Ernst, Gary Cook, and Mark Evans

Outstanding E/S Plan Reviewers of the Year: Walt Hamilton, Laura O'Leary, and Greg Rodgers

Tree Planting Awards:

Project: Clemyjontri Park

Developer: Fairfax County Park Authority

Project: Lee Highway and Nutley Street

Developer: Washington Property Company, LLC

Project: Oakton Library

Developer: Fairfax County, DPWES, Capital Facilities

Tree Preservation Awards:

Project: Huntley Meadows

Developer: Fairfax County Park Authority

Project: Roseglen

Builder: Stanley Martin Homes

Project: The Reserve at Stone Hill

Builder: Winchester Homes, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating these honorees. Fairfax County and its residents have benefitted greatly from the collaborative spirit that is represented by these awards today, and I thank each of the awardees for their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Herndon High School Marching Band for being selected to participate in the 2013 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade and for receiving Grand Champion honors in recognition of their outstanding performance.

Known as ``The Pride of Herndon,'' the Herndon High School Band is the oldest established high school band in Fairfax County and has been a part of Northern Virginia since 1947. Since its founding, the band program at Herndon High School has grown from that original group of fifteen musicians to more than 200 instrumentalists comprising the following ensembles: Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, all currently under the direction of Ms. Kathleen Jacoby.

The National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day was established by an Act of Congress on August 23, 1994 to commemorate the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Day Parade, which began in 2011, honors the survivors, veterans, active duty military and their families, and most especially the more than 2,400 members of U.S. Armed Services who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Each year, one high school band from each state that bears the same name as an American battleship or other vessel that was attacked at Pearl Harbor is invited to participate in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. This year, The Herndon High School Marching Band was chosen to represent Virginia. While in Hawaii, the Pride of Herndon toured the USS Arizona Memorial, performed in front of the USS Missouri, met with World War II Veterans who survived the Pearl Harbor attack and served as Virginia's official ``ambassador'' to the parade. Following the parade, a three-judge panel designated the band as Grand Champions for the quality and appropriateness of its performance.

The band's participation in this event would not have been possible without support of the Herndon High School Band Parents Association and the Herndon High School community, including the Herndon Rotary which raised more than $15,000 to help fund the cost of the trip.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Principal William Bates, Band Director Kathleen Jacoby, and the Herndon High School Marching Band on this tremendous achievement and in commending them for their roles in honoring and paying tribute to our Greatest Generation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the 2014 Prince William County Human Rights Commission Awards.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) implemented the Human Rights Ordinance January 15, 1993, formally establishing the Human Rights Commission. Two years prior, the BOCS formed the Human Rights Study Committee to explore the needs of a community that was growing in population and diversity. An exhaustive effort that included numerous committee meetings and public hearings identified a strong community desire for a human rights ordinance and an agency to enforce it. The Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discriminatory practices based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, or disability, as well as in the consideration of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit, in Prince William County.

The BOCS approved the ordinance in September 1992 to ensure that ``each citizen is treated fairly, provided equal protection of the law, and equal opportunity to participate in the benefits, rights, and privileges of community life.'' Residents enlist the services of the commission if they feel their rights have been violated in the areas of employment, fair housing, credit, education and public accommodation.

In celebration of Universal Human Rights Day, the Human Rights Commission recognizes individuals and organizations that promote the principles of human rights in Prince William County. It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the recipients of the 2014 Prince William County Human Rights Commission Awards:

Vicky Castro

Father Gerry Creedon

Doreen Dauer

Cydny A. Neville

Sam Sanders

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the recipients of the 2014 Prince William County Human Rights Commission Awards. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to these honorees for their efforts to safeguard our most basic rights and remind us of our common humanity. Let us use their example to rededicate ourselves to the fight against inequity and injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Competition hosted by the Prince William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and its Education Foundation.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left an indelible mark on our nation in his pursuit of civil rights through civil dialogue. Despite the violence perpetrated against Dr. King and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King responded with reverent oratory and nonviolent resistance to condemn the injustice of social inequality. His legacy is one of tolerance and steadfast commitment to principled and peaceful communication.

Contestants in the MLK Youth Oratorical Competition pay tribute to Dr. King's legacy with their ability to exercise the strength of the spoken word. This skill will serve them well as they seize future leadership opportunities and forge the personal relationships necessary for effective community engagement and organizing.

I congratulate and applaud the following contestants in the 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Competition:

Middle School Contestants

Morgan Foster: Manassas Park Middle School

Ayesha Khursheed: Graham Park School

Emmanuel Murphy: Parkside Middle School

High School Contestants

Jacob Gonzalez: Thomas Jefferson High School

Norman Jones: Stonewall Jackson High School

Issac Mensah Yeboah: Osbourn Park High School

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for recognizing the benefit that Dr. King's teachings bring to the development of our youth. We lay the foundations of a more tolerant society when we nurture the ability to engage and communicate with one another in a way that respects our common humanity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, and to congratulate the 2013 award recipients and incoming 2014 officers and board members.

The Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department (DLVFRD) is 1 of 12 volunteer fire departments in Fairfax County, and since its founding in 1942, it has provided lifesaving, fire suppression/prevention, and emergency medical/rescue services to the residents of the Dunn Loring area and the surrounding community.

Currently, the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and Ladies Auxiliary operates from Station 13 on Gallows Road and boasts 80 active members. Alongside career firefighters, these brave volunteers contribute more than 29,000 hours each year to enhance public safety for the approximately 22,000 citizens of Dunn Loring.

Each year DLVFRD recognizes those volunteers who have excelled in service and commitment, and it is my honor to enter the following names of the 2013 honorees into the Congressional Record:

Firefighter of the Year--Adam Nielson

EMT of the Year--Houmam Ali

EMS Rookie of the Year--Robert Seoane

Robbie Allen Award--Terri Fisher

Distinguished Service Award--Kenneth Kubiak

Distinguished Service Award--Lisa White

Spirit Award--Jason Trautman

Robert J. J. Seoane Award--Houmam Ali

Special Recognition Award--Anna Gradishar

Special Recognition Award--Aria Khodabakhchian

President's Award--Kenneth Kubiak

The following individuals are also being recognized for their years of service to the Department:

40 Year Service Award--David Banks

15 Year Service Award--Shawn P. Stokes

10 Year Service Award--Keith Edgemon

10 Year Service Award--Carrie Toreno

5 Year Service Award--Michelle Mallek

5 Year Service Award--Erin Keating Hudiburgh

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the 2013 award recipients and in commending the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department for 71 years of service. I also extend my personal thanks to the outgoing DLVFRD officers and trustees for 2013 and to those who will serve in those roles for 2014. All these brave men and women deserve our highest praise for their dedication to public safety, and to each of them I say: ``Stay safe.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Antioch Baptist Church on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary and to commend the Church for its continued commitment to our community.

Founding Pastor John Q. Gibbs prayed with a small group of four others for more than one year while planning the Church, seeking guidance and strength from the Almighty. The first worship service was held at the Salvation Army Chapel on January 8, 1989, and three people came forward to be baptized during this inaugural service. From these humble beginnings, under the leadership of Pastor Gibbs, the congregation and ministries of Antioch Baptist Church grew and the first sanctuary was built.

After the passing of Pastor Gibbs in 1995, the Reverend Marshal Ausberry, Sr. was selected to lead the congregation. The Church has continued to grow, serving as a warm, loving, and welcoming spiritual home. The Church has expanded its reach into the community through multiple ministries that reflect diverse and compelling needs. Thanks to strong support from its members, Antioch is able to offer services for Nursery, Children and Youth Ministries, as well as Christian Education, Family Life, and Discipleship Ministries to promote a Christian life. The Church has also become a contributing partner to local homeless prevention efforts, and it has programs to provide outreach to the sick and elderly as well as to those who are incarcerated. Antioch Baptist Church also partners with the Fairfax County Government in foster care and adoption efforts, and I was honored to nominate Antioch Baptist Church as the 11th Congressional District's 2011 Angel in Adoption in recognition of its tremendous work for children in need. The congregation's generous ministry activities extend well beyond the community to reach those in need in faraway places such as Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Haiti, where it provides aid, comfort, and religious support.

Throughout the years, Antioch Baptist Church has become an integral part of Fairfax County through its foundation in faith and its commitment to the community. Thanks to its steadfast leadership under Pastors Gibbs and Ausberry and the dedication of its congregation, Antioch Baptist Church is leading by example, strengthening our community by working together and helping our neighbors in need.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Antioch Baptist Church for its dedication and commitment to its Christian values and in wishing them continued success in the next 25 years and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague for those eloquent remarks.

Mr. Speaker, the famed English poet Alfred Tennyson once wrote, ``Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come.'' Indeed, let's hope that this is the spirit that greets us here in the start of the second session of the 113th Congress. Having ended last year on a high note with the passage of the bipartisan budget agreement, we should resolve to keep that momentum going in this new year.

Our first order of business should be delivering on the bipartisan accord reached before the holidays. Thanks to that agreement, we, for the first time, will replace a portion of the indiscriminate cuts of sequestration with a more balanced approach. That is particularly important in communities like my own in northern Virginia which were disproportionately affected because of their strong ties to the Federal Government.

Next week's anticipated appropriations package will increase Federal investments in research, innovation, and transportation. That, in turn, will help unleash business investments and create jobs, which have lagged due to the sense of uncertainty fueled by the political brinkmanship here in Congress. Until those dollars produce results, we need to work together to extend the current safety net, specifically, unemployment insurance and nutrition assistance, to make sure we are not leaving our friends and neighbors behind.

We have made significant strides pushing down the unemployment rate to 7 percent, its lowest point in 5 years. We have added more than 8 million jobs in the past 4 years nationwide. That is still 1.3 million short of the number that were there before the Great Recession.

Equally important, 40 percent of the unemployed are long-term unemployed, 2 years or more. This structural unemployment has been devastating for those individuals and their families in their respective communities. That is why extending emergency unemployment benefits is so critically important. This is a lifeline that families rely on to keep food on the table.

More than 1.3 million Americans, including 9,000 in my own home State of Virginia and another 39,000 in the Speaker's State of Ohio, have already lost benefits because of Congress' inaction. Thousands more will see their benefits cut in the coming months. I remind my friends on the Republican side of the aisle that both unemployment insurance and nutrition assistance provide an immediate and tangible boost to our local economies. Pulling that assistance back now would be devastating in its effects and would undercut the economic momentum we have worked so hard to build these past few months.

Every dollar in assistance provided to the unemployed generates $1.64 in the local economy, and similarly, every dollar provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

has a multiplier effect of $1.79. These programs have helped keep generations of families out of poverty even while income inequality is growing worse.

A recent report shows that nearly half of the Nation's schoolchildren now qualify for free and reduced lunches. Those children, who come from low-income homes, account for more than half of all of the students in 17 States, mostly in Republican districts in the South and the West, I might add. A decade ago, just four States reported a majority of their schoolchildren eligible for free and reduced school lunches.

While I and many of my colleagues remain hopeful that the House will extend these vital supports, we are disheartened to see that the very first legislative action scheduled by the House majority in this new year is a return to the cynical attack on the Affordable Care Act. Ironically, just this week, the actuaries for Medicare and Medicaid released a report showing that in the 4 years since the adoption of the Affordable Care Act, for the first time ever, national health care expenditures have grown at the slowest rate since the government began collecting that data 50 years ago. The growth for insurance premiums in particular has slowed more than 60 percent, which equates to real savings for real workers, real families, and for our government.

I want to work with my Republican colleagues to ensure proper oversight and accountability for the Affordable Care Act, but let's hang up this tired routine of trying to chip away or outright repeal these essential benefits and protections for families.

One of our Republican colleagues was quoted in the paper this week as saying, ``A lot of Republicans think the big, bipartisan deal was the budget agreement'' last year. Working together in a bipartisan fashion is not a limited exercise. It is what our citizens expect of us each and every day.