Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to overstate the threat posed by ISIL. Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan Ryan Crocker recently stated:

I call it al Qaeda version 6.0. They are far better

organized, equipped, and funded. They are more experienced

and more numerous, and, for the first time since 9/11, a

determined and capable enemy has the space and security to

plan complex, longer-range operations.

We are presented few good options in confronting ISIL. However, failing to confront this brutal terrorist group is not one of them.

The combat component of this strategy must be executed by local forces. Yesterday, the House passed a bipartisan resolution that reinforces this principle. The measure authorizes neither U.S. troops in a combat role nor additional taxpayer funding.

It does allow the Department of Defense to seek to reprogram existing funds for training, and it also includes new oversight provisions to ensure the administration's plan is managed within the confines of the law.

Mr. Speaker, this action is a step forward in helping the region take on and defeat ISIL, which is fundamental to U.S. national security.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Constitution Day, which is celebrated today, September 17. On this day, we commemorate the day our Framers, 39 delegates from 12 States, signed our Nation's charter at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787.

Mr. Speaker, the Constitution is more than just a document; it is the enduring structure of our Nation's government. It is a distinctive system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and protection of freedoms that has defined and guided our Nation since its founding.

Today we reiterate the values of freedom, justice, and opportunity that have provided America with generations of prosperity. Today we honor the Framers of our Constitution and the principles they put forth more than 227 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, the future of our Nation is strong if we continue to hold these principles dear.

Happy Constitution Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Clean Water Act, which was passed in 1972 and was designed as a State and Federal partnership.

The law's success can be attributed to the recognition that States have the primary responsibility of regulating and protecting waters within their individual boundaries. For the past four decades, this framework has served to improve pollution control and continues to be supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.

Unfortunately, a recent proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency, commonly known as the Waters of the United States, would undermine this partnership and intrude upon State and local prerogatives related to land use and planning, environmental stewardship, and economic growth.

This past week, the House passed with bipartisan support H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act. Now, this legislation prohibits the Federal Government from moving forward with this misguided proposal and protects our farmers, our landowners, and local municipalities by upholding the Federal-State partnership that has yielded success in protecting our environment and enhancing water quality.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize our Nation's case managers and the role that case management plays in our health care and our social services sectors.

October 12-18 marks National Case Management Week. During this time, we recognize the contributions case managers make each and every day and the role that they play in educating individuals about their health care options across the continuum of care.

While all too often overlooked, case managers are critical in improving health care outcomes for individuals across the country, promoting quality health care for patients.

As we continue to look at ways to improve health care delivery in America, let us not forget the role case managers play in cost- effective outcomes for patients.

Today, I offer my thanks and praise for our Nation's case managers. During

this upcoming National Case Management Week, let us all recognize the value that case management brings to the health care arena.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 years, the House of Representatives has advanced bill after bill to grow our economy.

The House has passed legislation to keep our small businesses growing through smarter regulations. We have passed legislation to increase wages and expand job opportunities. The Senate has failed to act.

The House has passed legislation to make energy more affordable for American families and to keep the country on a path to energy security. The Senate has failed to act.

The House has passed legislation to require the U.S. Forest Service to increase timber production on national forest lands and better manage those national treasures.

We have also advanced legislation to modernize the Endangered Species Act, promoting science-based decisionmaking and improving species recovery while protecting our economy. The Senate has failed to act.

The House has passed a series of reforms to improve the President's health care law, including a repeal of the harmful 2.3 percent medical device tax. The Senate has failed to act.

The American people deserve better, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our veterans.

This weekend, I will have the great honor to join the 2014 Hometown Heroes Celebration in Wayne Township, which is Clinton County, Pennsylvania. The focus for this year's celebration is honoring those from the Vietnam war, and will also include paying tribute to our veterans from the Korean war and World War II eras. We will honor these local heroes for their service and their brothers in arms, including those who didn't make it home or gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Each day, especially on September 11, we are reminded of the many threats posed to America and its citizens. We are also reminded of how blessed we are to have brave men and women who have, for generations, served their Nation and laid their lives on the line in protection of our freedoms.

Mr. Speaker, we owe those who have served and are serving in uniform our unwavering support and thanks, and today I offer my sincere praise for the veterans of Wayne Township and the surrounding areas. You are our hometown heroes, and you deserve as much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Suicide Prevention Day, which is recognized on September 10. Suicide is a tragedy that touches more of us than most might realize. It is also a great challenge for our military.

In addition to an alarming suicide rate, half of all soldiers who tried suicide first attempted it before enlisting, according to recent Army studies, and a large percentage had never been deployed in a combat role.

Today, as we draw attention to the issues and prevention strategies that might save just one life or more, I am proud to say the House in May passed bipartisan legislation that would improve the military's approach to suicide detection and prevention.

While currently the Department of Defense does a thorough physical assessment for military recruits, no similar mental health evaluation is performed.

H.R. 4305, the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act, will bring mental health to parity with physical health through the enforcement of a mental health assessment for incoming military recruits.

On Suicide Prevention Day, I am calling on the Senate to pass this important legislation. Our servicemembers deserve as much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an important and timely field hearing that was put on today by the House Natural Resources Committee in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, titled, ``The Northern Long-Eared Bat: The Federal Endangered Species Act and Impacts of a Listing on Pennsylvania and 37 Other States.''

Today's oversight panel heard from witnesses representing a number of economic sectors on the harmful economic impacts of this wrongheaded designation proposal.

Mr. Speaker, no one can deny the primary challenge facing the northern long-eared bat, which is a disease known as white-nose syndrome, and there is a consensus that we must learn more about this great threat. However, it is imperative that we get the science right and strategically address the root cause of the apparent population losses rather than restrict a large area of the economy and activities that have no bearing on slowing or reversing this disease.

The Endangered Species Act is far from perfect and has generated many unintended and harmful consequences. Unfortunately, the proposed designation for this particular species is yet another reminder of how this law must be improved and modernized.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to celebrate the most recent of many bills produced by this House, the Republican-led House. This one is H.R. 3230, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation will begin the process of reforming the Veterans Health Administration and instituting great accountability across our veterans' health system.

Being the father of an Army soldier and having worked for 30 years as a health care practitioner, my heart broke when I first heard of the disturbing revelations of gross misconduct and dysfunction at the VA.

Fortunately, with the passage of H.R. 3230, we have moved one step closer to restoring the trust of our veterans. This legislation will afford greater and timelier access to cost-effective care services, while bringing necessary changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, Mr. Speaker, this is just the first step, and more needs to be done to fulfill the commitments we have made to these brave men and women.

I want to thank the chairmen of the House and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees for their commitment to overcoming political differences and finding common ground.

Mr. Speaker, the situation on our southern border and the influx of unaccompanied migrant children is both tragic and alarming.

As the House and Senate debate this matter, it's important for us to recognize several areas of discussion that demand our attention.

To start, Mr Speaker, we know this influx has been building for some time and that over the last several months it has grown at an even faster pace.

Before 2009, the flow of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border was less than 10,000 per year.

These numbers have increased dramatically over the last few years. While recent estimates over the past month appear to indicate the flow is subsiding, we remain on pace to exceed 90,000 children for 2014.

We also know that more than 90 percent of all these children come from just three countries--El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

While economic conditions in this region have been poor for quite some time, they have not significantly changed in the last few years.

We also know that a law passed in 2008 with the best of intentions-- the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization--is making it more difficult to return unaccompanied children to their families.

Unlike illegal immigrants from Mexico, who are required by law to be processed and promptly returned home, the 2008 law guarantees minors from these countries a court date and mandates extensive assistance for temporary relocation as they wait out their pending appeal.

We also know that a large number of these individuals evade attending these proceedings, and that ultimately, few minors are sent home. In fact, most are able to stay for years, and a large number remain permanently.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data, only 1,669 children were deported in 2013 despite more than 26,000 apprehensions.

These statistics are stunning, Mr. Speaker.

There is no wonder that according to interviews conducted by the Department of Homeland Security that more than 90 percent of these children expect they will be able to stay in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, what's even more concerning is how many of the Obama Administration's policies have not helped the current crisis.

For example, the President's 2012 policy for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals gives these families hope that they might receive some sort of amnesty. This policy not only is detrimental to the rule of law and an overreach of executive authority, but it also sends the wrong signal.

Mr. Speaker, all of this is a stark reminder of just how flawed the President and Senate's immigration reform bill is. Granting amnesty to 11 million illegal immigrants would merely serve to reinforce the perceptions that if you come to the U.S. illegally you will be rewarded--and not only with a hearing, but full legalization. This does not help the current situation, to say the least.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, billions in new spending as the President has requested will not reverse the perceptions of a lenient enforcement environment in the U.S.

Alternatively, what we do know is that this administration--and every administration--must do more to secure the border.

What we do know, Mr. Speaker, is that we must do more to stem this migration influx, which should include changes to the 2008 trafficking law.

What we do know, Mr. Speaker, is that we must do more to leverage our relations with Central America to support the expedited return of these children in a humane fashion.

What we do know Mr. Speaker, is that we need the White House to enforce the laws, better secure our border, and to put aside political games and actually start working with Congress in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, the situation on our southern border and the influx of unaccompanied migrant children is both tragic and alarming. Even more concerning is the lack of leadership coming from the White House.

We also know that a law passed in 2008--the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization--has further complicated the administration's response. The law guarantees minors from Central America a court date and assistance for temporary relocation as they wait out their pending appeal. Unfortunately, a large number of these individuals evade attending these proceedings. Few minors are sent home, and most are able to stay for years, if not permanently.

The current situation is a stark reminder of just how flawed the Senate's immigration reform bill is. Granting amnesty to millions would merely reinforce the perception that, if you come to the United States illegally, you will be rewarded. Unfortunately, billions in new spending will not reverse the perception of a lenient enforcement environment in the United States.

What we need is for the White House to enforce the laws, secure the borders, and put aside political games and start working with Congress in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the House will be advancing solutions to some significant issues that are facing this Nation.

Among those, I rise today to discuss one of those, a piece of legislation set for consideration by the House later this week, H.R. 4315, the Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act. It is a package of reform bills that will modernize and improve the Endangered Species Act.

In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was first enacted to protect and recover key domestic species that are under threat of distinction. Although the ESA was written with the best of intentions, areas of the law hinder, rather than enhance, our ability to effectively manage ecosystems and conserve species as initially intended. Today, the law is failing, failing to achieve its primary purpose of species recovery and has only a 2 percent recovery rate.

In April, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced this package of bills through committee with support from both sides of the aisle.

As a member of the House Endangered Species Act Working Group, which developed the findings and recommendations for these proposals, I encourage my colleagues to support these reforms that promote greater transparency and accountability under the Endangered Species Act, while ensuring the ecological and economic needs of our local communities are being met.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this legislation.

H.R. 4315 is an important first step in reforming the Endangered Species Act, and undertaking long overdue.

This legislation is about three things: increasing government ransparency, requiring better state and local data and input, and limiting excessive payments for lawyers who sue the Federal government under ESA.

First, the bill requires the Federal Government to publish on the internet and make publicly available the data that was used to make the determination that a species should be considered for listing under the

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Nation's military chaplains. It was 239 years ago this week, at the behest of George Washington, that the Army Chaplain Corps was created by the Continental Congress. These brave men and women, who serve in each branch of the military and are from all faiths and denominations, have served in every one of our Nation's wars.

Today I would like to acknowledge one of our Nation's military chaplains, Captain Mike Cerula, who is from Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania, and is currently serving with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg.

Chaplain Cerula deployed to Iraq in 2011 and was previously acting brigade chaplain for the 411th Engineer Brigade. Military chaplains, like Chaplain Cerula, represent some of the best this country has to offer.

A favorite Bible verse of Chaplain Cerula's is from James 5:16, and I quote: ``The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.''

We thank you, Chaplain Cerula, along with all of our military chaplains, for your service, your sacrifice, and most importantly, your work to support the spiritual strength and wellness of those who serve in uniform.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and to call on Congress to come together and pass this important bill so that our troops have the support they need to succeed in the field and so that our military commanders and policymakers have the certainty they need to conduct our Nation's national security affairs.

This year's NDAA has already been voted on by the House, passing with bipartisan support.

In addition to keeping troops adequately equipped and trained, this year's legislation also includes a piece of legislation called the Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members Act, or MEPS Act, which is a bill I introduced that will help our military move toward a more comprehensive and effective approach to suicide prevention and detection.

While our military has made great strides to address issues of mental illness, it is tragic events such as those at Fort Hood that remind us we must do better.

Madam Speaker, I am calling on the Senate to move forward on this legislation so that we can fulfill our commitment to those who serve in uniform. They deserve as much.