Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Father Solanus Casey and to celebrate his upcoming beatification on Saturday, November 18th. Father Casey was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, the son of Irish immigrants. Though he faced challenges in the early part of his life, Father Casey's love for God guided him to the priesthood. Thus, he joined the Capuchin Order and was ordained a simplex priest. On July 31, 1904, he celebrated his first Mass.

Father Solanus' journey took him to all parts on the country. He was assigned to monasteries in New York, Detroit, and most importantly Huntington, Indiana, where he served the Capuchin novitiate of Saint Felix. He was known for his kind demeanor, his ``attitude of gratitude,'' and his devotion to the Church and God. He served the people of Huntington with distinction from 1946 to 1956. Shortly after, Father Solanus passed away on July 31, 1957.

After years of research and advocacy by the Father Solanus Guild, Father Solanus will be recognized as another step farther along the path to Sainthood this weekend. I am particularly pleased that the Catholic Church is recognizing a man who touched so many lives in Northeast Indiana. Father Solanus still has a strong following to this day, and I would like to congratulate the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend for all of its efforts throughout the years to celebrate the life and memory of this generous man. I am excited to celebrate this momentous occasion with all of my constituents whose lives have been touched by Father Solanus and his ministry. Father Solanus Casey truly lived a noble, Christian life.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor of my time in Congress to serve on the House Armed Services Committee with Chairman Thornberry, and I am grateful for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act conference report.

As the most recently deployed veteran serving in Congress, I have seen the national security challenges facing our country, firsthand. While these challenges are not easily solved, this legislation represents a significant step forward.

Whether it is giving our troops a well-deserved raise, significantly increasing end strength numbers for each of the services, allowing for the continued transfer of excess defense articles to allies abroad who are in need, or funding our vital missile defense programs, this legislation begins the long process of rebuilding and reforming our military so we are ready for whatever comes next.

Mr. Speaker, my gratitude goes out to those serving both here at home and abroad, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from Florida for his continued efforts to support our veterans. As a proud member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, it is great to work on such a bipartisan committee with Ranking Member Walz and other members who care deeply about our American veterans.

Mr. Speaker, sadly, every single day 20 veterans take their own lives. In 1 year, the total is nearly as many people who live in my hometown of Columbia City, Indiana.

Veterans account for 18 percent of suicides, even though they are only 8\1/2\ percent of the total population. Our female veterans are 2\1/2\ times more likely to commit suicide than civilian women.

We can't allow this to continue. Just one veteran suicide a day is a horrible tragedy, let alone 20. Our veterans were vigilant in fighting for our freedoms. We must be just as vigilant in fighting for their needs. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today seeks to enable the VA's Veterans Crisis Line, or VCL, to be even more effective in this fight.

As has already been mentioned, since 2007, it has fielded nearly 2.8 million calls and 67,000 text messages. But there is no overarching approach to ensure the VA knows the effectiveness of the VCL in preventing future suicide attempts after the initial phone call or how well the crisis line connects veterans to the mental healthcare services of the VA. That is why, with this bill, we can harness the power of data analytics to improve the functionality of the VCL and the VA's mental healthcare services.

The VCL is a critical tool, and we must do everything we can to help it play as large a role as possible. We must ensure that our veterans who seek care can access it so that they can find a long-term solution to their difficulties. Mr. Speaker, we must ensure our veterans know they are not alone after the phone call.

I have spoken with veterans service organizations throughout this bill's progress. I thank them for their feedback and for looking out for our veterans.

I would like to thank Congressman Moulton, who was my lead on the other side of the aisle, for his work as a partner on this bill, as well, and for his dedication to our veteran population.

I would also like to thank the entire Indiana delegation from both sides of the aisle for cosponsoring this bill and showing the Hoosier State's strong commitment to preventing veteran suicide.

I ask my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4173.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roe for his hard work on behalf of our veterans as chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. I am very proud to serve on that committee under his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, because our veterans answered the call and served our country, we, in turn, must serve them and their families.

This commitment extends to assisting them in medical recovery, in successfully transitioning to the civilian workforce, and, just as importantly, in properly memorializing their lives when they are gone.

Current law provides memorial headstones for veterans and for their spouses and children when the remains of the deceased cannot be found. This can occur in unfortunate cases, such as a boating or a plane accident.

Public Law 105-368 provides headstones for spouses, and it was enacted in 1998. Public Law 109-461 provides headstones for dependent children, and it was enacted in 2006. Both groups are eligible for this benefit as of the date of enactment. However, as has already been said, it is unfortunate that these two laws did not go into effect at the same time, potentially opening the door for a parent to receive this benefit, but not a child.

Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 3656, would amend title 38 of the United States Code to provide for a consistent eligibility date for spouses and dependent children. The date for both would be set at the current date for spouses: November 11, 1998.

This bill is especially necessary for the few tragic cases in which a spouse and a dependent child both passed away in the same accident during a period when these two laws were not in sync. We need to correct this situation.

My legislation is a practical fix to take care of our veterans and their families, and to keep our commitment to them. Therefore, I ask my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 3656.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, four U.S. servicemembers were killed in Niger by Islamic militants. We thank these American heroes who paid the ultimate price for our country. Their service will never be forgotten.

As we learn more about this situation, many of my constituents have asked why American personnel are in Niger to begin with.

Today, we have U.S. servicemembers around the globe fighting or advising operations against ISIS, al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups on several continents. However, they are doing so under war authorization that Congress passed in 2001 and 2002, in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

Rather than continuing to fight ISIS under an authorization passed by Congress 16 years ago, it is time to pass a new authorization for the use of military force that is focused on present-day and future threats.

The authorizations passed by Congress in 2001 and 2002 are out of date. I have introduced new AUMF legislation that addresses the modern threats we face.

The Constitution grants Congress the power of declaring war, and we need to take that obligation seriously and debate these important issues. My bill is a good starting point.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday night, I had the privilege of attending the Allen County Right to Life's 20th annual Uniting Our City for Life Banquet.

The event was a wonderful time with fellow Hoosiers who share a common concern for the sanctity of innocent human life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. It also was a celebration of the fact that our culture increasingly is recognizing the value of human life.

A poll released last year found that a majority of young Americans support increasing restrictions that protect the unborn. Another recent poll found that 61 percent of Americans oppose using tax dollars to fund abortions. This

growing recognition that life is a precious and sacred gift is due, in large part, to the tireless efforts of organizations like Allen County Right to Life.

I want to express special thanks to Allen County Right to Life Executive Director Cathie Humbarger and Operations Director Abigail Lorenzen for all they do in northeast Indiana to promote life and defend the unborn.

I also want to congratulate Pat Miller on receiving the Daniel Award for pro-life commitment during Monday night's dinner. Throughout his career, he has been a consistent and compassionate voice for the cause of life, and there is no one more deserving of this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, the last time Congress passed fundamental tax reform, I was 7 years old. It is long past time that our broken Tax Code is fixed and our country gets back on a path to robust and sustained economic growth.

As we consider tax reform legislation, we should look to my home State of Indiana for inspiration. During my time as a State senator, Indiana lowered business taxes by nearly 50 percent, and rates are scheduled to fall even further in the coming years.

By 2022, the Hoosier State will have the third lowest corporate tax rate in the Nation. At the same time, Indiana has removed many special interest loopholes and carve-outs to make the system simple and fair for all Hoosier taxpayers.

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Indiana has the eighth best business tax climate in the country, a number that will only get better as tax rates continue to go down.

The results speak for themselves: Indiana has an unemployment rate below 4 percent, strong economic growth, a AAA credit rating, and a $1.8 billion surplus in the bank.

Lower taxes combined with simplicity and fairness--this is the model that we need to embrace if our country is going to return to sustained 3 percent and greater growth.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague for yielding.

I, too, rise today in strong support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill would prohibit any elective abortion attempt of an unborn child who is 20 weeks or older, the age at which research shows children are able to feel pain.

I think it is worth noting that this landmark legislation is projected to save between 12,000 and 18,000 lives each year. These are individuals who will become fathers, mothers, technological innovators, servicemembers, and hardworking contributors to our great Nation

Ten years ago, studies began to emerge proving that an unborn child is able to feel pain as early as 20 weeks post-fertilization. So as our Nation's understanding of fetal pain has become more advanced, protections for pain-capable unborn children have been signed into law in 20 States, including my home State of Indiana.

But that is not enough. Despite claims from many pro-abortion groups, late-term abortion is neither safe or, unfortunately, rare. As recently as 2014, it was estimated that 430 abortion facilities in the United States were willing to perform abortions on unborn children 20 weeks or older.

This sort of late-term abortion--at the point when the child can actually feel the procedure--will continue to happen without a Federal prohibition. Sixty percent of women, 56 percent of Independents, and 46 percent of Democrats support this sort of legislation. It has broad public support.

Let's ensure that all 50 States have protections for vulnerable pain- capable unborn children. I have advocated for these protections my entire career, from the State house in Indiana to here in the United States Congress.

That is why today I express my strong support for the passage of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, introduced by my distinguished colleague, Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona. I urge my colleagues tomorrow as well to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Trine University.

A recent article by ABC 21 in Fort Wayne recognized the accomplishments of the University.

There has been a school of engineering at Angola's Trine University since 1902 and if you think a small-town college can't leave its mark on the world, think again.

Within the walls of the university's Brock Center stands the Hall of Innovation, a hall of fame, really, honoring over two hundred Trine alums who have more than 900 patents to their credit and many of their inventions we can't imagine doing without. Robert Dietz, Class of '52, invented the ground fault circuit interrupter, that electrical outlet you find in bathrooms that keep you from being electrocuted. Ralph Freathy invented the record changer, the device that lets you stack records eight or ten high for continuous music. Robert Molitor, Class of '42, invented the modern golf ball and Charles Montagna, Class of '49, invented the loop the loop racetrack for Hot Wheels cars . . . many of us remember that. Speaking of cars, Daniel Wisner, Class of '54, invented cruise control.

``A good solution made by a good engineer that has lasted the test of time,'' says Innovation One director Jason Blume. ``The engineers that have walked these halls and this campus in northeast Indiana, they're worldwide in impacting the world in every way that we can.''

The Hall of Fame isn't restricted to men. Judy Scheftic, Class of '84, developed a method for purifying metals and Angie Mannon, Class of '87, figured out a better way to cool automotive turbochargers and superchargers. 208 brilliant alums are honored here, another 23 will be added during homecoming week

next month and many more after that no doubt. An impressive contribution to life on planet earth, made quietly and continuously in a bright little corner of 21 Country.

``If we look in the future this space is gonna be too small to have all the impact and innovation,'' says Blume. ``I don't know what we'll see in the next hundred years.''

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Design Collaborative, an architecture and engineering firm in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This year marks their 25th anniversary.

Since 1992, Design Collaborative, and its team of architects, engineers, interior designers, and graphic designers has created projects in northeast Indiana, with work focused on higher education, healthcare, and workplace design. Over the last few years, it has developed a strong portfolio in the design of spaces for financial, recreational, multi-family housing, and civic clients.

The company was founded by two architects and an engineer with dreams of improving people's worlds through the design of people-first places. Today, Design Collaborative employs over 60 people and is a model business for developing a culture and environment that attracts and retains talent to the region. They are also consistently and actively involved in the development of downtown Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. Their work has helped make the Fort Wayne region a destination to live, work, and play.

Over 25 years, Design Collaborative has designed thousands of projects in Fort Wayne and beyond, impacting clients in Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Design Collaborative has earned multiple honors, including the 2011 American Institute of Architects Indiana Chapter Distinguished Firm of the Year, 2015 Indiana Office of Small Business Entrepreneurship Companies to Watch, 2017 Professional Services Management Journal Circle of Excellence, 7-time Best Places to Work in Indiana, and multiple local and national design awards from organizations like the American Institute of Architects, American School and University Magazine, and Illumination Engineering Society.

Since its beginning, Design Collaborative has always believed that the true measure of a project's success is the positive impact it has on the lives of the people who use it. Design Collaborative truly believes in people-first places. Its goal is to make life better for the people who live, work, learn, heal, or worship inside the spaces they design.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the entire team at Design Collaborative on 25 years of improving people's worlds through design, and wish them another 25 years and more.

Madam Speaker, here in Washington, we are currently in the middle of an important debate on the Federal budget.

It is clear that dramatic changes need to be made in the way that taxpayer dollars are spent. We need to get our Nation's fiscal house in order.

As we consider important reforms, we would be wise to turn to my home State of Indiana. Last week, Indiana State Auditor Tera Klutz announced that our State currently has a rainy day fund of nearly $1.8 billion. Contrast that with a nearly $20 trillion national debt here in Washington.

As Auditor Klutz noted in a press conference last week: ``Hoosiers can rest assured that their government takes the task of managing taxpayers' money seriously. Just like people across the State live within their means, Indiana has worked hard to spend less than we take in, invest in our priorities, and retain resources in the event of an economic downturn.''

To get our fiscal house in order, we need more of this Hoosier common sense in Washington. The attitude and approach that has worked well in Indiana should be a model for the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the most influential legislators in the history of the Indiana General Assembly, Luke Kenley, who has recently announced his decision to retire after 25 years of service representing District 20 in the Indiana State Senate.

Senator Kenley was an invaluable resource and mentor during my 6 years of service in the State Senate, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from him.

Senator Kenley has established himself as a champion of physical responsibility and limited government. His accomplishments are too numerous to fully list here, but since 2009, he has led

the Senate Appropriations Committee, during which time Indiana passed five balanced budgets, cut taxes, invested in priorities, and built a substantial rainy day fund. And Senator Kenley has been the architect of our State's remarkable fiscal turnaround, and his impact on Hoosiers will be felt for generations to come.

With a national debt approaching $20 trillion, I think it is fair to say we could use a lot more of Luke Kenley's style of leadership here in our Nation's Capital.

I wish him well as he prepares to step down on September 30, and I thank him for his remarkable service.

Mr. Speaker, last week, as we celebrated our Nation's birthday, news broke that North Korea successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile.

The missile's estimated range would put Alaska within reach. Like all Americans, I am deeply concerned by this development.

North Korea's possession of an estimated 20 nuclear warheads and chemical and biological weapons makes it an urgent and imminent threat to the United States.

While there are no easy options, our country must do more to deter the Kim regime. I strongly support building our missile defense programs, which is a priority in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, which the House is considering this week.

I also support increasing sanctions against China and Chinese companies that support the Kim regime. At this critical time, all options, including military action, must be on the table. The threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea is too serious to simply maintain the status quo.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my strong support for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

As the most recently deployed veteran serving in Congress, serving in Afghanistan just 2 years ago, I know the national security challenges facing our country firsthand. While these challenges are not easily solved, this legislation represents a significant step forward.

I want to take a moment and specifically thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership and assistance to myself and other freshman members of the committee.

Working together with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the Armed Services Committee has crafted a bill focused on rebuilding and reforming the Department of Defense. By procuring what we need, fixing what we already have, and by being good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars by proposing new contract audit reforms, this bill begins the hard work of getting our Department back on the right track.

While we cannot control the existential threats facing our Nation, we must ensure those in uniform are ready to address those threats when necessary.

Moreover, as this week's tragic C-130 accident that claimed the lives of 16 servicemembers reminded all Americans, our servicemembers place their lives on the line each day.

From giving our troops a well-deserved raise to funding our vital missile defense programs, I believe this legislation begins the process of rebuilding and reforming our military so we are ready for whatever comes next.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership of the Republican Study Committee. It is one of the great honors that I have in this Congress to serve with him and others to advocate for conservative principles to move our country forward.

With a new Republican administration, many of the innovative ideas coming from this House now have a chance to become law and achieve real results for the American people. The contrast between this administration and the last one is most clear when it comes to prioritizing readiness for our Department of Defense and caring for our veterans.

As those veterans in Congress know firsthand, shortchanging readiness on the front end will have long-term implications in the years that follow.

We have the moral imperative to ensure that our young men and women who go into harm's way are never in a fair fight. We have an obligation to ensure that our forces are the best-trained, best-equipped, and best-led fighting force in the world. This obligation starts with prioritizing a stable and predictable budget and appropriations process.

Our leaders in the Department of Defense must be able to forecast and anticipate training needs, and that means ending the trend of continuing resolutions that offer neither good fiscal discipline nor the ability to plan that our military leaders desperately need.

Consider that two-thirds of our Army are not ready to deploy. Our Navy is smaller than it has been in 99 years, and our Air Force is the smallest ever and losing pilots at an alarming rate. These are not the marks of a ready force, and the work to rebuild must begin right now.

However, it is important to look at prioritizing the needs of our servicemembers holistically. Just as we would not send them into harm's way without the training they need, we have an obligation to care for the injuries they sustained when they return home. Our veterans deserve and have earned the highest quality of care and to have that care delivered in a timely and efficient manner.

Unfortunately, too often the VA does not have the power to remove substandard employees who are failing our veterans. The overwhelming majority of VA employees are hardworking and dedicated to their jobs, and it is simply not fair to these employees that the VA cannot hold substandard employees accountable.

But with a Republican President in the White House, our veterans will finally see real accountability in the VA with passage of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. With passage of this bill, there will be a new and expedited process to remove employees who are failing to properly serve our veterans, while maintaining the due process rights of VA workers, as well as their right to appeal.

It would also implement stronger protections for whistleblowers, ensuring that no employee is intimidated into silence.

Mr. Speaker, we now have a chance to make sure our Armed Forces have the means to protect our country and ensure all veterans receive the quality of care they deserve.