Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove myself as a cosponsor of H.R. 36.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our opportunity as a Congress to stop an unconstitutional action by the President and allow Congress to perform its constitutional responsibilities: to write and create the laws of this great land.

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution is clear. It is Congress' responsibility to write the law; the President's job is to simply enforce those laws.

Unfortunately, President Obama has initiated some of the largest executive power grabs in American history by unilaterally rewriting our Nation's immigration laws. These actions have ignored the will of the American people.

This week, the House will address those reforms and prevent the President and future Presidents from abusing that authority, breaking the law,

and ignoring the Constitution at the expense of resolving a national crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida for yielding, and I am grateful to be here today to support the Clay Hunt SAV Act.

Every day, 22 veterans take their own lives. We have all experienced this in our districts; I have as well.

On March 31, 2011, Clay Hunt was one of those 22 veterans that day who took his own life. Today, we honor Clay and his family with the Clay Hunt SAV Act.

Clay's story was one of bravery and dedication. He relied on the VA for care and received a 30 percent disability rating for PTSD brought on during his service. He appealed the rating and encountered a bureaucratic nightmare.

Clay had to wait months to see a psychiatrist at a VA Medical Center. Two weeks later, Clay took his own life.

Five weeks after his death and 18 months after filing an appeal with the VA for his PTSD rating, his appeal was approved.

Clay's story details the urgency that our Nation's heroes deserve. The Clay Hunt SAV Act will increase access to mental health care and improve the quality of care troops and veterans receive.

Together, we can change this system so that no other veteran ever has to endure what thousands of veterans have already gone through, including Clay.

I am honored to stand here today and am grateful to my colleagues. I urge support for this legislation.

Amendment VII:

``In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.''

I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, am pleased to stand here today to support the Save American Workers Act.

I also want to thank my colleague and fellow Hoosier, Representative Todd Young, for sponsoring this bill.

This bipartisan legislation would restore the traditional 40-hour workweek and help employers and employees. Right now, the Affordable Care Act defines full-time employees as those who work 30 hours or more a week, not the standard, more traditional 40 hours.

My district is the RV capital of the world. Businesses are ripe for growth. Expansion is on the horizon. They are afraid to hire and be forced to lay off if this 30-hour definition is not changed.

Our businesses, like the School City of Mishawaka that educates kids, need permanent relief from the burdensome and costly requirements of ObamaCare.

The Save American Workers Act will create jobs in my State and in my district for Hoosiers.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce a letter of support from the Precision Machined Products Association, which employs many machinists in my district--real jobs for real people.

Precision Machined

Products Association,

January 6, 2015.

Hon. Todd Young,

Longworth House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Young: On behalf of the Precision

Machined Products Association (PMPA), our members and the

roughly 100,000 employees nationwide in our industry, thank

you for your introduction of H.R. 30, the Saving American

Workers Act, and your continued efforts to address the issues

facing businesses manufacturing in America.

Like many other manufacturers and small businesses across

the country, we are concerned about the potential negative

impacts caused by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care

Act's 30-hour threshold for full-time employee

classification.

Manufacturing businesses, especially companies with fewer

than 500 employees, already face significant disadvantages

when competing with foreign manufacturers in the global

market and this ``30-hour rule'' is counter-productive to the

goal of expanding access to affordable healthcare for

employees of small businesses. Rather than providing

additional employees with healthcare, the 30-hour rule will

force employers to cut their part-time employees' hours in

order to prevent their healthcare costs from skyrocketing.

Your leadership and efforts to repeal the 30-hour rule and

standardize the definition of a ``full-time'' employee to 40

hours per week would save manufacturers like us from having

to reduce their employees' hours and, rather, would allow

them to invest in more employees and grow their businesses.

At such a crucial time in our nation's economic recovery, the

Affordable Care Act's incentive for businesses to cut their

employees' hours to avoid the ``full-time'' classification

and dramatic increases in healthcare costs will be damaging

to small businesses and to the employees' it purports to

help.

Thank you for your consideration and your leadership on

this issue on behalf of the metalworking industry.

Sincerely,

Miles Free,

Co-interim Executive Director,

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman and Representative Rodney Davis.

Today I honor the 54,000 veterans in my district and 20 million veterans across America who deserve the opportunity to have a job with the Hire More Heroes Act. The bill makes a change to ObamaCare and encourages small businesses to hire more veterans by exempting veterans as long as they already have health insurance.

Currently, the employer mandate under ObamaCare requires that all businesses with more than 50 employees provide health insurance to their employers or pay a penalty. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans last year was 6.6 percent, for those who served on Active Duty after 9/11 it was 9 percent. What saddens me about this is both of these percentages were higher than the national average of 6.3 percent.

No veteran in the United States of America should be jobless because of ObamaCare's employer mandate. Our brave men and women return from serving our Nation, return to civilian life while facing many challenges. Getting a job should not be one of them. This bill will ensure that employers can and will hire veterans and will not be penalized.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill. We must do everything in our power to ensure our finest men and women who come home have every opportunity we promised them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Jolly to recognize a wonderful organization in my district dedicated to helping children and adults with special needs, Hannah's House.

Many football fans know the name Charlie Weis. He has coached at the University of Notre Dame, New England Patriots, and the New York Jets.

What many of you don't know is he and his wife, Maura, are passionate about helping people off the field.

In 2003, Charlie and Maura founded Hannah and Friends for their daughter Hannah, who has global developmental delays. They wanted to find a way to inspire a special group of people with abilities different from the athletes that he coached. Hannah and Friends provides grants to low- and middle-income families who have children with disabilities.

Hannah and Friends is helping individuals with special needs every day to realize their potential and plan for their future and to achieve their own personal best.

I thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida, the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, every day, 22 veterans take their own lives. Many of us in this Chamber have experienced this in our own districts. This has been a tragedy in my district as well. Sadly, on March 31, nearly 3 years ago, Clay Hunt was one of those 22 veterans who took his own life at the age of 28.

An Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran and suicide prevention advocate, Clay

Hunt epitomized what it meant to have a life of service both in and out of uniform. Today, we honor Clay and his family with H.R. 5059, the Clay Hunt SAV Act. Clay's story was one of bravery and dedication to our country.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served on several missions to Iraq and Afghanistan. After his final deployment to Afghanistan, his unit returned in October of 2008, and he was honorably discharged from the Marines.

Here is the key: Clay relied on the VA for medical care and received a 30 percent disability rating from the VA for PTSD. After realizing his PTSD is what prohibited him from keeping a steady job, he appealed the 30 percent rating and encountered a bureaucratic nightmare, including the VA's losing his files.

Clay had to wait months to get in to see a psychiatrist at a VA medical center. When he finally did, he told his mother he would never go back. Two weeks later, Clay took his own life. Five weeks after his death and 18 months after filing an appeal with the VA for his PTSD rating, Clay's appeal went through. His PTSD rating was 100 percent.

Too little, too late.

Clay's story details the urgency our Nation's heroes deserve in care. If we are going to lower this incredibly alarming rate of suicides, we have to improve the access and effectiveness of mental health care available to our returning heroes, and this step is a step in the right direction. The Clay Hunt SAV Act will increase access to mental health care and improve the quality of care that troops and veterans receive.

Together, we can change this system so no other veteran or spouse or parent will ever have to do what thousands of veterans have endured, including Clay. We owe it today to do what we can do and to continue the fight for our veterans, for what they have endured, and give them nothing but the best.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Mrs. Penny Lukenbill, for her service and dedication to Marshall County and the State of Indiana for the past 15 years.

A resident of Plymouth, Indiana, Penny and her husband Kenneth have been married for 39 years. In 1981 they welcomed their son Adam who is now an attorney and partner in his father's law firm Lukenbill and Lukenbill. Eager to continue her own education, Mrs. Lukenbill received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Indiana University South Bend in 1995, where she graduated cum laude.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Lukenbill has displayed a constant commitment to serving Hoosiers of Marshall County. In 1999 she was elected to serve as the county treasurer, and held that position until 2007, when she was elected as the Marshall County Auditor. In addition to her duties as auditor, she served as president of both the Association of Indiana Counties and the Indiana County Treasurers Association. Mrs. Lukenbill's dedication to her community is evident from her past membership on the Plymouth Public Library Board of Trustees, Plymouth Park Board, and the Plymouth Industrial Development Corporation Board. During Mrs. Lukenbill's distinguished career in public service, she has received multiple awards and recognitions. In 2012, she received Outstanding County Auditor from the Indiana Association of County Commissioners and in 2004, she was awarded the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Public Servant of the Year.

These awards are just a small reminder of how much Mrs. Lukenbill's service has meant to the citizens of Marshall County. Her exemplary dedication to the community is seen in her service as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth and in leading past Lions Sight mission trips to Mexico.

On behalf of Indiana's Second Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Penny Lukenbill's service and her unprecedented community involvement throughout Marshall County.

Mr. Speaker, community foundations epitomize the philanthropic culture of the United States. Established in 1989, Community Foundation Week takes place from November 12-18th annually and honors the tremendous contributions of community foundations across our country. They hold a unique place in American society and provide hope and opportunity to millions of Americans. One hundred years ago, the world's first community foundation was established in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then more than 700 community foundations have been created in America inspiring millions of Americans to give back to this great country with their time, talent and treasure. Today, I would like to recognize the work of Indiana's community foundations that operate under the definitions supported by the National Standards for Community Foundations. Indiana is blessed to have a community foundation in every county, including 10 in my district: Unity Foundation of LaPorte County; Starke County Community Foundation; Community Foundation of St. Joseph County; Elkhart County Community Foundation; Kosciusko County Community Foundation; Marshall County Community Foundation; Pulaski County Community Foundation; Fulton County

Community Foundation; Miami County Community Foundation; and Community Foundation of Wabash County.

These foundations are a model for how philanthropy can inspire communities to come together in support of a common cause. In Marshall County, the Community Foundation, United Way, and economic development leaders are working together to address challenges and opportunities for economic growth such as the need for a more highly skilled workforce. Community conversations spearheaded by these organizations brought together local units of government, educators, private sector partners and nonprofit organizations and laid the groundwork for becoming a model region for Project Lead The Way. It was through this type of partnership that a $4.4 million matching grant pilot program was launched in 2014 that provides all K-12 schools, both public and private, in a five-county area with the opportunity to implement Project Lead The Way's rigorous, world-class STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and math. In addition to providing every student with access to PLTW, the project will help develop a robust talent pipeline for businesses and industries.

This is just one example of the extraordinary work of place-based philanthropy in local communities throughout the country. The spirit of generosity embodied by over 700 U.S.-based community foundations is a core American value. This week, I am honored to recognize these community foundations for their outstanding efforts.

Mr. Speaker, with a comprehensive nuclear agreement deadline less than a week away, the need to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon has never been greater. With its thousands of gas centrifuges, Iran now has the capability to enrich uranium to a grade suitable for use in nuclear reactors or to a higher grade suitable for use in nuclear warheads.

Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism and continues with heinous human rights abuses, oppressing freedom of speech, religion, and press, and more. Additionally, Iran continues to oppose our national security interests

and those of our key allies while oppressing their own people.

There is no question that a nuclear-armed Iran would dramatically change the balance of power in the Middle East and threaten freedom and peace for the rest of the world. It could also encourage other Middle Eastern nations to develop nuclear weapons on their own, further reducing our influence in that critical region of the world.

For us to be able to trust Iran, along with the rest of the international community, Iran must change their behavior. A real possibility exists that a deadline extension provides them with an opportunity to build a nuclear bomb. In light of this, the only real solution is to force Iran to make serious concessions and robust sanctions.

We must be especially careful about any decisions to lift or ease sanctions. Once lifted, sanctions cannot easily be restored. The risk of a miscalculation or a misstep in the weeks and months ahead is very real and grave, and the threat of nuclear war is catastrophic. If there is to be any hope of reaching a peaceful deal, and if Iran wants prosperity and success for its people, it must cooperate with the IAEA, stop its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, stop its sponsorship of terrorism, and stop its human rights abuses.

I appreciate the question from my friend from Colorado. I think that as we have served together in many of the committees, especially the Armed Services Committee, and we have looked at the map of that area, knowing that if the door is open to Iran, every single other country in the Middle East that does not have a nuclear weapon will aspire to do so. And let's not forget that in the middle of all of this chaos that is being created by Iran, and unlimited ways that cannot be verified of what they are doing because there is no cooperation whatsoever, let's not forget that our one and only ally that is sitting over there in the Middle East, they just had another terrorist episode of rabbis and American citizens killed. Worshipping in a synagogue is their first target. We know from all of the work that we have done in the committee during this Congress that the United States of America is their target as well.

So I thank the gentleman for yielding, and for the question.

For sure.

True. And let's not forget, given the culture right now in the Middle East and given what we are looking at right now with all of the other instability, with ISIL, with questions from this administration, with a strength-through-peace policy a long grasp away, and let's not forget that we have heard time and time again over just the few years that I have been in Congress, from our friends and our allies who no longer trust us--and we know that our enemies no longer fear us--that if we open that door to a nuclear Iran, we will never get back the threat of a nuclear bomb. I appreciate the question.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5404. This legislation will continue to protect millions of American veterans who swore to protect and defend this great Nation, including the 54,000 in my district who depend on the VA for care and support.

Earlier this summer, I served as a member of the VA Conference Committee. My fellow conferees and I were able to work together and again prove that helping vets is not political or partisan; it is American.

When that legislation was signed into law, I said it was the first step toward reforming the VA. Today's legislation is yet another step in the right direction. H.R. 5404 would extend the number of important veterans' service programs to vets in rural areas, homeless vets, vets with mental illness, all in an effort to improve their quality of life.

Of the 8 million veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, roughly 3 million live in rural areas. These vets live 30 or more miles from their nearest VA and must travel long distances to receive care. This legislation would give more funding to VSOs to drive their vets to doctors' appointments, increasing their access to care.

This bill also funds programs to help our homeless veterans get back on their feet and reduce the number of homeless veterans. It also helps to fund job training, counseling, and placement services for those vets so they can find a good-paying job. Additionally, and just as importantly, this bill also addresses suffering from mental health issues. This legislation will help fund programs to help vets with mental illness with greater outreach, rehabilitation services, care, and treatment.

Today is an important opportunity as Members of Congress to take another step forward towards meaningful reform and to take another step in the right direction. Today we stand together to help our Nation's heros. We owe it to our veterans to provide them with nothing but the best.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of H. Res. 644, for which I am a proud cosponsor.

This bipartisan bill condemns and disapproves the Obama administration's failure to comply with the lawful requirement to notify Congress before releasing individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay and expresses national security concerns over the effects of releasing five Taliban leaders and negotiating with terrorists.

Our constitutional system of checks and balances maintains a separation of powers that ensures Congress is involved in major decisions that affect our country's national security.

I have serious concerns when the President deliberately ignores Congress, negotiates with terrorists, and violates the law which requires that he consult with Congress before releasing detainees.

Those five Taliban leaders that were released are already responsible for the deaths of many Americans. In 2010, they were determined ``too dangerous to transfer'' by President Obama's own task force. One of the five had ties to Bin Laden himself. Another is wanted by the United Nations for war crimes.

Unfortunately, there is a good chance these five terrorists will return to their radical jihadist fight against America and against our Western allies. Nearly 30 percent of detainees reengage in terrorist activity after being released.

In any major decision of war and peace, Congress must have a say because the American people must have a voice. As we continue to face many tough decisions over how to best protect Americans at home and abroad, Congress should be an active participant in decisionmaking. I will continue to work hard to ensure our homeland remains safe from terrorist attacks.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of Mr. Merl Dean Swihart as he celebrates his 86th birthday. Merl is an extraordinary individual who has enriched the lives of many Hoosiers throughout Marshall County.

Merl was born in Argos, Indiana on July 7, 1928, to Ford and Faye Swihart, where along with his five siblings; spent their childhood working on the family's 80 acre farm. On the farm he helped raise livestock and tended to the crops. The values Merl learned while working on the family farm would have a profound impact on his future endeavors. Merl graduated from Argos High School in 1948. After high school Merl worked for two years at Indiana Metal and on his neighbor's farm. In 1951, Merl was called to serve his country and was drafted to the United States Marine Corps, where he served in Santa Ana, California at the Air Facility. In 1953, Merl was honorably discharged and returned to working for Indiana Metal and farming. Merl moved to Chicago where he used his G.I. Bill to further his education in agriculture at the Illinois School of Technology.

After several years in Illinois, Merl returned to Marshall County where he worked as a custodian and maintenance technician for Plymouth Community School Corporation for 36 years. Merl retired in 1993, and was awarded the key to the City of Plymouth for his dedicated service to the community. During his retirement Merl served as the Grand Marshall of Plymouth's Blueberry Festival Parade and generously donated his time and efforts to the community by mowing lawns, shoveling snow and volunteering to do handy work at the local church.

Throughout Merl's life, he has demonstrated a deep-rooted commitment to his family, friends and country. Our community owes a great deal of respect and gratitude to the incredible service of individuals like Merl who have devoted so much of their time to serve others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in celebration of Mr. Merl Dean Swihart's 86th birthday and admirable service to our great communities and nation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate a local small business for 50 years of great service to Hoosiers all over Indiana. Miller's Health Systems is known throughout the state of Indiana for providing excellent services in: assisted living, rehabilitation, and nursing home care.

The business started by Wallace and Connie Miller in 1964 as Miller's Merry Manor nursing home on the outskirts of Warsaw. After the company was taken over by their son V. Richard Miller, the company has expanded to over 30 Miller's Merry Manors and 10 senior living facilities. With the multitude of facilities Miller's Health Systems has today, they have grown to over 3,000 employees. Their mission statement speaks to the importance of the Miller's Health Systems employees enjoying the work they do and helping them grow. The company has helped this happen by having Miller's Merry Manor 100 percent employee-owned. The Miller's commitment to service and their core principles of passion, integrity, stewardship, growth, and adaptation have helped Miller's Health Systems withstand the test of time.

As the Representative for the many employees and facilities for Miller's Health Systems it is with great honor I recognize the 50th anniversary of this great business. With the leadership of the Miller family and the passion of their employees, I have no doubt there will be many more celebrations to come. On behalf of Indiana's Second District, I am proud to recognize the last 50 years of Miller's Health Systems and wish them many more.