Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on February 7, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Agricultural Act of 2014, the 5- year farm bill reauthorization that passed Congress with bipartisan support and reduces annual budget deficits by $16.6 billion over 10 years.

Industry professionals across my home State of Pennsylvania and nationally--including farmers, foresters, conservationists, researchers, and policy advocates--have praised the law as a historic improvement, the Federal agriculture policy that will improve land management, support key areas of economic activity, and bolster important investments in education and applied research.

Susan Benedict, an American Tree Farm System certified forest owner from State College, Pennsylvania, stated:

-As a Pennsylvania tree farmer, I can happily say this farm

bill was well worth the wait. With the promotion of new

market opportunities in the Biobased Markets Program and

green building markets, improved access to critical

conservation programs, and increased regulatory certainty

when protecting water quality of my forest's roads, this farm

bill is truly the best farm bill yet for forests. I applaud

conference committee members for championing strong forestry

provisions, such as the Biobased Markets Program changes, for

America's 22 million family forest owners.

Kenneth C. Kane, president of Generations Forestry in Kane, Pennsylvania, stated:

From the outside looking in, Congress displayed a level of

bipartisanship on the farm bill that has been lacking, which

is far better than the gridlock we have encountered. This is

a wonderful bill and a good final product from numerous

standpoints. From the standpoint of the Forest Service, this

bill gives Secretary Vilsack and Forest Chief Tidwell more

tools to actively manage forests, which is critically

important. Now that these tools are available, the Forest

Service must use them. This bill also offers our foresters

and private industry more tools to actively manage, so this

is also very important.

Barbara Christ, the interim dean of agricultural sciences at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, stated:

Agricultural policy impacts every American by advancing

food security for our Nation and beyond, including providing

for critical research and education programs. We are thrilled

that a new 5-year farm bill is now a reality. As a specialty

crop State, of particular interest to Pennsylvania is the

inclusion of the specialty crop research initiative. These

programs help keep our Pennsylvania farmers competitive in an

increasingly complex environment and help tackle the ongoing

challenge of feeding a growing population.

Robert Maiden, executive director of Pennsylvania's Association of Conservation Districts, stated:

The new Federal farm bill has many strong conservation

programs that are lifelines for Pennsylvania farmers. We

needed Congress to understand these points and ensure that

the importance of conservation efforts wasn't lost in the

final farm bill language. The final bill addressed our fiscal

challenges by understanding the necessity of reductions to

Federal spending while identifying the need to improve

conservation program efficiencies and improvements in program

delivery. The final bill will allow for cleaner water for

Pennsylvania waterways, resulting in healthier communities

and stronger economies.

The president and CEO of the Nature Conservancy stated:

Despite the polarized political climate and challenging

budget times, this farm bill would be one of the strongest

ever for conservation and forestry. The farm bill's

conservation provisions are practical, cost effective, and

provide solid ways for the government to collaborate with

individual landowners.

The president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation stated:

The long-awaited farm bill provides resources critical to

implementing conservation practices on the ground and making

good forest stewardship affordable. The improvements in the

new farm bill include stronger market opportunities for

forests, specifically with improvements to the Biobased

Markets Program, and a strengthened commitment to expanding

prospects for wood in green building markets, the fastest

growing market for wood products. It also includes strong

support for programs that combat forest invasive pests and

pathogens and provisions to increase forest owners'

regulatory certainty when protecting water quality.

Madam Speaker, it isn't every day that a broad cross-section of policy advocates and industry professionals find themselves on the same side of a given policy issue. Then again, it isn't every day that both parties actually work together for the good of the country and produce good public policy that improves the Nation's economic health, while at the same time, reforms government, and reduces spending.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as cochairman of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus to recognize National Career and Technical Education Month, celebrated each February.

National CTE Month recognizes the contributions that career and technical education programs make to the American economy, along with the important work being done by CTE professionals and teachers.

In today's competitive job market, high-paying, high-demand jobs require technical skills and training. CTE programs have been historically underutilized, yet, in an era of record high unemployment, these programs are the key to bridging the skills gap.

CTE Month is also a time for policymakers to ask, are we doing enough to ensure individuals have the skills that will lead to a family- sustaining job?

Now, I know my fellow colleagues in the Career and Technical Education Caucus share these concerns. I was pleased to learn that Senators Rob Portman of Ohio and Tim Kaine of Virginia have followed suit and organized the Senate CTE Caucus, and I look forward to working with them and my House cochairman, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island, as we continue to promote America's competitiveness through CTE programs.

Mr. Speaker, Penn State University's Lunar Lion Team will make history as the first-ever university-led space mission to the Moon.

This group of talented young minds is competing in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition to land a robotic spacecraft on the Moon in December of 2015. The mission, which the team began preparing in January of 2013, includes a launch onboard a commercial

space vehicle, a cruise through space for 5 days, landing, and a relaunch for a second landing on the Moon. The mission will then be used to send high resolution images, videos, and other information back to Penn State's mission control center.

To put this in perspective, only the U.S., Russia, India, Japan, and China have ever landed a craft on the Moon. Penn State looks to join this elite club next year.

The Lunar Lion Team includes Penn State science and engineering researchers as well as 80 undergraduate and graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and math programs, commonly known as STEM, as well as communications, business, logistics, computer science, and information technology, just to name a few majors.

The team will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in spacecraft design, construction, and operation. Not only that, Mr. Speaker, the team is learning skills necessary for public-private partnerships through collaboration with NASA and commercial space companies.

Like so many of the university's education research initiatives, it will also be used to support new innovations and research in the private sector, real world outcomes that will benefit not just students, but America's competitiveness.

Penn State's bold mission sets the stage for a resurgence of interests in space exploration among America's youth and demonstrates an exciting practical application of STEM education. The team is making great progress towards the mission. Prototype development is underway, and last month, the team commenced rocket testing.

As a Penn State alumnus and a lifelong resident of Centre County, I take great pride in the university and its long list of scholastic and volunteer achievements. The Lunar Lion Team adds another stellar achievement to that list.

The work at the university that has led to the formation and development of this program is another example of innovation and creative leadership on the part of the Penn State community.

As one of the only nonprofit groups working towards the Lunar XPRIZE, and the only university, those working on this Lunar Lion project in State College are truly doing something special.

Mr. Speaker, I want to offer my very best to the Penn State Lunar Lion Team as they continue this important work. Their community and the Nation are very proud.

Mr. Speaker, the Internal Revenue Service on Monday issued final regulations regarding the treatment of volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel under the employer mandate provision of the President's health care law, the Affordable Care Act. The agency determined that volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel will not be treated as full-time employees under the law, which I was pleased to hear.

Over 97 percent of Pennsylvania's fire departments and 90 percent nationwide are served by community volunteers. Today, by protecting these organizations from being defined as employers, they will no longer be forced to provide health insurance to their volunteers or face the threat of penalty, which would be devastating.

As a firefighter and EMS volunteer since 1983, I joined friend and colleague from Pennsylvania, Congressman Lou Barletta, along with numerous colleagues in the House, to force action from the IRS on this matter.

While this decision is long overdue, it is the right one. Our local emergency volunteer organizations now have the certainty knowing they will have the money to keep our communities safe. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this is just a small fix to a massive law that is imposing economic harm on millions of businesses and families. Our work remains.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Gareth

Prebble, a sixth-grade student from Mount Nittany Middle School in State College, Pennsylvania. Gareth has hopes of connecting what he refers to--and rightfully so--as the divide between the physically disabled and the rest of the population.

Young Gareth took a giant step towards this goal last month when he entered the Martin Luther King Commemoration Student Showcase essay contest. The contest, sponsored by Pennsylvania State University, is titled ``Reflect on Yesterday. Experience Today. Transform Tomorrow.''

Gareth, who has cerebral palsy, wrote about his life experiences: ``People often look at me and make assumptions based on my appearance.'' Gareth's essay evokes Dr. King's powerful message--for all people in this country to be treated with respect and dignity.

Mr. Speaker, Gareth went on to win this competition. I rise to congratulate him for his work and for having the strength and courage to share his story. In doing so, he is a role model for each and every one of us in how we, too, can transform the future.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery in St. Marys, which is located in Elk County, Pennsylvania, and is the oldest Benedictine convent in the United States.

The Benedictine Sisters, in concert with their federation, will close St. Joseph Monastery with the remaining 17 sisters moving on in the coming year.

For more than a century and a half, the monastery has grown and flourished. Through roles as teachers and school administrators, religious education teachers, hospital administrators, nurses, technicians, and dietitians, instructors and promoters of the arts, spiritual providers, citizens, and friends, the sisters have greatly impacted the community of St. Marys.

On February 23, 2014, St. Marys is hosting a communitywide celebration to honor and thank the Benedictine Sisters--both living and deceased--for nearly 162 years of service to the community and the region.

Today, I join with the community of St. Marys as we celebrate Honoring the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery Day, and offer thanks and appreciation to the sisters for their faithful and dedicated service to the Lord.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 58 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until, Monday, February 10, 2014, at noon for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO, issued a report stating the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, will slow economic growth over the next decade substantially more than previously predicted. According to yesterday's report, the Affordable Care Act could lead to 2 million fewer workers in the workforce between now and 2017, which is nearly three times as high as CBO's earlier predictions. What is even worse, this number is supposed to rise in later years to the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs by 2024.

According to The Hill newspaper:

The agency, CBO, also said employer penalties in the law

would decrease wages, and part-year workers would be slower

to return to the workforce because they would seek to retain

ObamaCare insurance subsidies.

We cannot afford more blows to jobs. We cannot afford more blows to the American workforce. We cannot afford more blows to our economy. We as policymakers should be focused on breaking down barriers to employment in order to increase wages.

Mr. Speaker, the administration better get better at explaining this law to the American people or start working with this body to repeal and fix it. The American people deserve better. The American people deserve jobs.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the House of Representatives passed the Agricultural Act of 2014, a 5-year farm bill reauthorization, with bipartisan support by a vote of 251-166. This farm bill is a big win for the Nation's economy and will support jobs across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, while making necessary reforms that will save taxpayers billions.

Mr. Speaker, not only does this bill deliver for taxpayers, it is good public policy. We spent over 4 years crafting the measure through dozens of hearings, audits, and other forums for public and stakeholder input.

The bill was produced by the House-Senate conference committee, upon which I served, that was charged with resolving the differences between the House- and Senate-passed farm bills. Throughout this process, members of the Agriculture Committee have proved that positive movement on important pieces of legislation can be achieved.

This bill repeals direct payments and limits producers to risk management tools that offer protection when they suffer significant losses. Under the measure, limits on payment are reduced, eligibility rules are tightened, and means tests are streamlined to make farm programs more accountable.

The measure provides historic reforms to dairy policy by repealing outdated and ineffective dairy programs. It supports small businesses and beginning farmers and ranchers with training and access to capital.

The agreement reauthorizes numerous research, extension, and education programs, including programs for land grant universities, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Agricultural Research Service.

This farm bill makes the first reforms to the food stamp program since the welfare reforms of 1996, while maintaining critical food assistance to families in need. It closes the heat and eat loophole that artificially increases benefit levels when States provide nominal LIHEAP assistance.

The bill also includes the Forest Products Fairness Act, a bill I introduced, which would open new market opportunities for timber and forest products by allowing them to qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred program. It contains language codifying the Forest Service's authority to categorically exclude noncontroversial day-to-day activities from the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, assessments. It provides certainty to the forest products industry by clarifying that forest roads and related silvicultural activities will not be treated as a point source of pollution under the Clean Water Act and will no longer be subject to frivolous lawsuits.

It improves the farm bill conservation title through the consolidation of 23 duplicative programs into 13. Overall, the package reduces deficits by $16.6 billion over 10 years.

Mr. Speaker, for family farms and agribusinesses in my home State that drive the economy with more than $68 billion in total economic activity annually, this bill is a big win. For individuals and families in my home State that are looking for that next job or a little more take-home pay, this bill is

a big win. For the families and individuals that rely on safe and affordable food every day, this bill is a big win.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill and get it to the President's desk for his signature. Americans deserve as much.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to welcome encouraging news from the Army on a problem our military has faced for over a decade, the increase of suicides.

It was announced today that, for the first time since 2004, suicides in the Army have decreased. In 2013, there were 150 suicides in the Active Duty Army, down 19 percent from the 185 in 2012. This is great news, but it is just a first step and a lot more must be done.

Mr. Speaker, even one soldier taking his or her own life is a tragedy, but 150 is still an epidemic, especially where one in five were never deployed. That number increases further if you include the Guard, Reserves, and other services. Not only must Congress do more to address this issue, this country needs to focus more on the overarching issue of mental health.

As this Congress moves forward, I will continue to work on this issue and intend to introduce legislation again dealing with mental health assessments during initial enlistments.

We must keep faith in the promise to take care of these individuals who stepped forward to serve our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this farm bill, and also to thank Chairman Lucas and Congressman Peterson for their leadership on agriculture.

As many of my House colleagues have already said this morning, this legislation is long overdue. This bill is truly worthy of its name, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, because of the historic reforms it legislates.

Overall, the bill repeals or consolidates about 100 programs. Along with sequestration reductions, it cuts mandatory spending by nearly $23 billion.

In the conservation title alone, we reduced programs from 23 down to 13. This change alone saves $6 billion, and I believe does so without undercutting the effectiveness of the needed programs.

We reform food stamps, and we do so through thoughtful, targeted changes, ensuring that those who truly need the assistance will receive it.

We finally get positive changes for our dairy farmers who work so hard 7 days a week providing milk for this Nation.

With the 2008 farm bill expiring nearly a year and a half ago, I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation and finally give our farmers and rural constituents the support and certainty they deserve.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won't take that much.

Overall, this farm bill also assures that all Americans have access to affordable, high-quality, and safe food.

Mr. Speaker, today the House passed a new 5-year farm bill reauthorization with bipartisan support. The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act will provide food security for our Nation's citizens, ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, high-quality, and safe food.

For my State of Pennsylvania and many others, the farm bill is actually a jobs bill. In Pennsylvania, we have approximately 62,000 farms, and agriculture supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. One in seven Pennsylvanians owes their job directly or indirectly to agriculture.

The dairy sector is our largest single contributor, with about 7,100 farms as of last year. Pennsylvania ranks fifth in overall dairy production among States, but Pennsylvania agriculture is very diverse. We have beef and cattle, mushrooms, corn, poultry, and so much more. Our forest products and timber industry is also critical in Pennsylvania and provides jobs and needed forest management.

This farm bill is critical in providing support and certainty to our farmers and rural communities in each of these areas. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee and as a supporter of agriculture in Pennsylvania, I was proud to support the passage of this important jobs bill.

Madam Speaker, when we needed bipartisan action to lower costs and improve health care, Congress passed the Affordable Care Act on a party-line vote.

Given the growing number of failures that have been revealed since the law's implementation began, it is time for Congress to work together to address the unworkable provisions for the good of the American people.

Fortunately, opposition to the ACA's flawed policy is moving beyond party labels. Last year, the Democratic-led Senate voted 79-20 to repeal the law's medical device tax. Since then, more and more Members of Congress recognize there are bigger problems.

Earlier in January, despite the Obama administration's vocal opposition to the efforts to boost consumer protections under the law, a veto-proof majority of Republicans and Democrats in the House voted to pass H.R. 3811, which would help secure personal information on the online exchanges.

Madam Speaker, the American people deserve bipartisan solutions.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 31, which is located in State College, Pennsylvania, Juniata Valley Council, Centre County, proudly within the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District.

With Troop 31 scheduled to celebrate this milestone on ``Scout Sunday'' this coming February 2, I want to offer my praise to the generations of young men who have given their all through service to others. Chartered by St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Boy Scout Troop 31 should take this time to look back on its many accomplishments.

This unit has awarded 170 Eagle Scout recognitions since it was founded, which is no surprise, considering that, in just the last 5 years, Troop 31 has racked up over 40,000 community service hours, giving back to the local community.

As the former president of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Council and a long-time scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop in the same county, it has been an honor for me to observe the success of State College Troop 31.

The adult leadership of Troop 31, including scoutmasters, assistant scoutmasters, troop committee members, merit badge counselors, and parents are to be congratulated for 100 years of molding boys into men through the principles and the values of Scouting.

The countless boys that have hiked the Scouting trail as members of Troop 31 have gone on to become productive members of their communities, leaders in business, and outstanding citizens.

This Scouting unit has exemplified the vision of Scouting founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell when he stated, ``It is the spirit within, not the veneer without, that makes a man.''

Mr. Speaker, Boy Scout Troop 31 deserves our praise and thanks for their service and sacrifice.

Congratulations on this historic milestone.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Jim Langevin and I serve as the cochair for the bipartisan Career and Technical Education, or the CTE, Caucus.

During the two previous Congresses, we worked to raise awareness of the importance of career and technical education. We have also led the charge to ensure that CTE programs receive robust funding.

For nearly a decade, CTE programs were largely marginalized, receiving level funding and even taking sizable reductions. The CTE Caucus, in turn, has advocated for maintaining funding levels for CTE programs. We are pleased that yesterday the House passed modest funding increases for CTE programs. This is a good start.

Mr. Speaker, with so many unemployed or underemployed in this country, it is time for us to take a more strategic approach to helping Americans get back to work. We can no longer afford to undervalue CTE. In fact, we will only succeed if career and technical education is an essential element of our strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I would like, as a point of personal privilege, a valued House staff member, Trudi Terry, is retiring before we return from this coming week's recess. I want to thank her for her service to this country.

Thank you, Trudi.