Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Thank you, Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member

Bishop, for your assistance with this amendment.

I rise to offer an amendment that will protect veterans with diabetes.

Specifically, this amendment will ensure the VA continues to offer diabetes patients a variety of glucose monitoring supplies through the competitive bid process.

Mr. Chairman, almost 25 percent of veterans in the VA health care system have diabetes, compared to about 8.3 percent of the general public. As a result, diabetes care places a significant cost burden on the VA's budget, accounting for almost 4 percent of the overall VA health care budget and costing almost $1.5 billion annually.

Presently, each of the 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or VISNs, competitively bid for monitoring devices and test strips. This competition is good for the patient, and it is good for the marketplace, allowing the VA to utilize significant purchasing power. Because of this competition and the competition in the non-VA market, vendors are pushed to reduce costs and to innovate.

VA physicians rely upon the patient to be a partner in disease management and treatment. Therefore, it is critical for patients and caregivers to be comfortable with the devices they use so they can best monitor the disease, resulting in better health outcomes.

As a member of the VA Committee, I learned recently the Department of Veterans Affairs is actively considering a national contract with a single provider for diabetic supplies. While this may sound like a good idea initially, both the House and the Senate, under the leadership of both Democrats and Republicans, have consistently agreed this is not prudent.

Sole sourcing could dramatically increase costs and deny patients the ability to use devices they are most comfortable with. The cost to reeducate and retrain patients and caregivers throughout the VA population would be significant.

Finally, because of the size of the VA diabetes population, a sole- source contract would likely reduce the number of vendors for future competitive contracts and also reduce innovation.

I urge my colleagues to support passage of this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address H.R. 1872, the Budget Accounting Transparency Act. While the current accounting methodology for federal credit programs does not fully capture the financial risk assumed by the Federal Government, I am concerned that the fair-value estimates required by this legislation could over calculate the risk of default, potentially resulting in an overestimation of the costs associated with certain federal credit programs. I will be following this legislation and any methodological transition to fair-value estimates closely.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Save American Workers Act. ObamaCare redefines full-time employment as 30 hours per week, rather than the traditional 40 hours per week, and mandates that any business with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees must provide health insurance. If these businesses do not provide insurance, they face a tax penalty.

My district is ripe for job growth. Indiana's manufacturing industry is booming. Yet, as I travel throughout the district, I speak frequently with business owners afraid to expand due to this rule.

Other Hoosier businessowners will be forced to lay off employees if this 30 hour definition is not changed. Women are disproportionately affected. Sixty-three percent of those most at risk of lost hours in my district are female.

The Save American Workers Act will unleash job creation by repealing this 30 hour definition and replacing it with the traditional 40 hour definition.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

I thank the gentleman from New York for organizing tonight's discussion on this important topic.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I rise today to say ``no more'' to sexual assault. This tragic epidemic impacts every community. Most of us know at least one sexual assault survivor.

In my area, a report released by Saint Mary's College, found an alarming number of Hoosier girls affected by acts of sexual violence. Indiana ranks second out of 46 States for the highest number of rapes among female high school students, and this is unacceptable. 14.5 percent of Indiana's female high school students and 5.2 percent of Indiana's male high school students have reported being raped. This shocking number only accounts for those attacks that are reported. As we all know, most assaults go unreported.

Since joining Congress, I have worked to put an end to sexual violence. Working with the House Armed Services and the House Veterans' Affairs Committees, I have authored and supported a number of provisions aimed at combating the growing number and the epidemic of military sexual assault trauma.

Today I call on my colleagues to raise awareness of about sexual assault and how we can all work together to prevent it, to respond to it, and to say ``no'' to sexual assault together.

I thank the gentleman from New York for this opportunity to join you in saying ``no more'' to sexual assault.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3826. I appreciate Congressman Whitfield's leadership on this commonsense bill. I am proud to be an original cosponsor.

This bill addresses President Obama's sweeping proposed rule for new power plants, which set the mediation standard so strict that the creation of a new coal-fired power plant is virtually impossible.

Indiana is the backbone of manufacturing in America, but manufacturing depends on affordable energy. More than 80 percent of Indiana's electricity is coal-powered, and electricity rates in Indiana are expected to rise 32 percent by 2023, partly due to these EPA regulations.

If President Obama is able to implement his radical environmental agenda, energy prices could skyrocket, having a devastating impact on economic growth and job creating and hurting Hoosiers trying to pay their bills.

This bill provides a commonsense way to protect our environment by setting emission standards that are actually achievable.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to pass additional bipartisan Iran sanctions legislation. While we are all hoping the diplomatic efforts to address Iran's nuclear program are successful, Congress must not neglect its responsibility to be prepared for all outcomes.

Changes to Iran's nuclear programs have been minimal thus far, and Iran continues to assert that it will not dismantle its nuclear facilities. In fact, Iran's Supreme Leader himself has predicted that diplomatic talks ``will lead nowhere.''

Iranian state television continues to air documentaries showing simulated attacks on Israel and on American forces as well. Passage of additional sanctions will demonstrate to the Iranian regime that the American people will not be swayed by empty rhetoric or a disingenuous commitment to peace.

Congress must stand together and reinforce our diplomatic quest for disarmament with the legislative tools necessary to support this goal.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Officer Derek Dieter who retired from the South Bend Police Department after 39 years of service. Officer Dieter served the SBPD in multiple roles, including uniform patrol, narcotics, and twenty years in S.W.A.T.--where he spent ten years as a team leader. Officer Dieter, in addition to his law enforcement duties, also serves his community as a Councilman and Vice President of the South Bend City Council. On February 24th, he will be honored by his fellow councilmembers with a resolution for his extensive service to the South Bend Community.

Officer Dieter's work has also been recognized over 200 times by multiple interests, including the St. Joseph County Prosecutor, the Mayor, the City Council, and his fellow citizens of South Bend. In the community, Officer Dieter worked tirelessly to keep our children safe, advocating for increased security in our schools and working to keep drugs off the streets.

I am honored to recognize Officer Dieter's accomplishments and exemplary commitment to community during his service in the police department. On behalf of Indiana's Second District, I am proud to recognize Officer Derek Dieter for his 39 years of protecting the people of South Bend, and I wish him a very happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a frigid winter in the Hoosier State. Subzero temperatures and arctic conditions have forced school closings, travel bans, and challenges for the business community. The demand for propane and home heating fuel is at an all- time high.

As a result, Federal officials declared a state of emergency for the Midwest, lifting hours of service limitations for motor carriers to ensure consumers can steadily receive home heating fuel. But this waiver only remains in effect until February 11, 2014.

Today, I led a letter with Hoosier lawmakers to the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting that the emergency exemption be extended. Winter weather is unpredictable, but if we are ready to act, we can alleviate this stress for our families. This simple extension is a commonsense way to provide some much-needed relief for Hoosiers as we weather this harsh winter.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to cosponsor this legislation to enact much-needed consumer protections for healthcare.gov.

It is unfair that the Department of HHS launched healthcare.gov without performing a complete security control assessment. Installing the necessary safeguards for the exchanges should have been the administration's top priority.

Now Congress has an opportunity to pass a law that simply requires HHS to notify consumers within 2 business days if their personal information is unlawfully accessed or stolen. In a digital world, Americans deserve to know their information is compromised so they can immediately take action to protect themselves.

Last summer, I traveled my entire district in Indiana to notify and to make aware cybersecurity issues and steps to avoid identity theft. Hoosiers in Indiana, especially seniors, shared with me frightening stories about fraud and scams. They need to know that healthcare.gov will not contribute to the cybersecurity dilemma. This is the kind of representation they deserve in Congress.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense law to safeguard our personal information.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, January 7, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather. Had I been here for the quorum call (rollcall No. 1), I would have voted ``present.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this National Defense Authorization Act.

This year's act includes historic reforms to address the growing epidemic of military sexual assault that is shamefully tarnishing the reputation of our Armed Forces. I want to thank Representative Loretta Sanchez for assisting me with a bipartisan provision that extended whistleblower protections to victims to ensure they cannot be retaliated against for reporting sexual assault. This commonsense measure will create an environment for safe reporting and encourage victims to come forward without fear of retribution within their own ranks.

Passing the NDAA with these critical reforms is a step in the right direction toward eradicating the horrific problem of military sexual assault in the military. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and quickly sign it into law so that our servicemembers have whistleblower protection. I urge my colleagues to vote for this NDAA.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, December 10, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather and missed two rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both rollcall 630, the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act, and rollcall 631, the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act.

Thank you, Mr. Roskam, for your leadership on the issue and for the opportunity to speak about this issue tonight.

Mr. Speaker, in his State of the Union address on January 24, 2012, President Barack Obama said:

Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent

Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no

options off the table to achieve that goal.

On March 4, 2012, President Obama again stated his desire to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. He said:

Iran's leaders should understand that I do not have a

policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from

obtaining a nuclear weapon.

On October 22, 2012, President Obama said of Iran:

The clock is ticking . . . and we are going to make sure

that, if they do not meet the demands of the international

community, then we are going to take all options necessary to

make sure they don't have a nuclear weapon.

Fourteen months later, the clock is still ticking, and Iran is now closer to acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

Now that world leaders have reached an interim agreement on Iran's illegal nuclear program, we must be able to verify compliance and demand that any final deal completely dismantle Tehran's existing nuclear program.

There are three reasons this is imperative and for the international community to demand the suspension of nuclear enrichment:

First, Tehran must stop all enrichment activities because Iran is in noncompliance with the highest form of international law:

Iran is in direct violation of mandatory U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding them to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing. By not requiring Iran to abide by multiple U.N. resolutions, we are rewarding bad behavior.

We are signaling to the entire world that we are not serious about preventing the spread of nuclear weaponry;

Second, a nuclear-armed Iran threatens our national security. The threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is not something that is just talked about in the Halls of this Congress. Every time I am home, I hear the fears of Hoosiers who worry about how acts of terrorism might impact gas prices, food prices, and the well-being of loved ones. Since 1984, our government has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. The State Department has characterized Iran as the ``most active state sponsor of terrorism'' in the world. Iran has provided weapons, training and funding to terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Shiite militias in Iraq, who are responsible for the murders of hundreds of U.S. servicemembers and innocent civilians;

Third, a nuclear-armed Iran threatens to further destabilize an already volatile region: If Iran is allowed to further pursue its nuclear ambitions, the region--highlighted by perpetual conflict in places like Iraq, Syria and Yemen--will become more destabilized. Furthermore, a nuclear-armed Iran will jeopardize the safety of our allies and partners in the region, like Israel.

I believe--now more than ever--the United States must renew our unbreakable commitment to Israel and her inherent right to self- defense.

Iran's continued violation of U.N. and International Atomic Energy Agency restrictions have only given the world good reason to question Iran's willingness to abide by any future international agreement.

Mr. Roskam and Mr. Speaker, I call on the President to remember his words to the American people about preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and I urge the President to use all tools at his disposal, including additional sanctions, to persuade Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to cosponsor the Keep Your Health Plan Act to make sure individuals can keep the health care plans they like and need.

I have asked Hoosiers in the State of Indiana to share their stories with me about their experiences with ObamaCare. The stories are shocking.

Kathryn from South Bend got this letter from her insurance company stating that her plan will be canceled. Her monthly payments will increase from $186 per month to $329 per month--nearly double.

Kathy from Elkhart is a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. Under ObamaCare, she now has to pay over $1,200 a month just for her own coverage.

Barton, a small business owner, said his group premiums will increase up to 80 percent this year.

These are serious problems causing incredible hardships for the very people we represent.

It is time to work on commonsense reforms that will lower health care costs and improve the quality of care for our constituents.

If we work together, we can get it done.

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to recognize the organizational partnership between the Church of Jesus Christ Latter- Day Saints and the Boy Scouts of America. This year marks the 100th anniversary of their partnership that enriches the lives of over 300,000 young men each year across the country. I am pleased that Northern Indiana will join the nationwide celebration as the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day and the Boy Scouts of America Saints reflect back on a century of achievement and success fostered through this special bond.

There are more than 32 Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and Boy Scout of America organizations in the Second District involving all levels of scouting, including Eagle Scouts. Their presence has certainly contributed to strong leadership skills and personal growth for the Boy Scouts, in addition to helping countless others in our communities.

The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and Boy Scouts of America organize a myriad of activities, such as mentoring youth and volunteering in local events. This partnership also reaches out to the less fortunate and host educational outdoor experiences for our communities. As a result, over 1,000 Hoosier Boy Scouts make important strides to enrich their faith and garner lasting leadership skills each year. There is no doubt that these fine young men will be the leaders of tomorrow, finding positive ways to shape our society. It is a privilege to congratulate the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and the Boy Scouts of America as they celebrate 100 years of partnership.