Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, the recent developments in our diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons have been among the most promising in history.

In the interim, Iran has agreed to stop enriching uranium above the necessary level for energy production, dilute its existing stockpile, and allow unprecedented access to its nuclear facilities.

During the next 6 months, the administration and the international community will continue working toward a more comprehensive, verifiable agreement that enforces prevention and advances peace in the region. Already there are devastating consequences for Iran if it does not comply with the agreement.

The progress achieved thus far demonstrates that diplomacy is working. Congressional action now could jeopardize that progress, undermine the diplomatic process, and weaken our Nation's position in future negotiations.

As an American first, but also as a Jewish American, I strongly support Israel's security and our Nation's commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

I also fully support advancing peace and stability in the Middle East through diplomacy whenever possible.

Madam Speaker, we are in the midst of a historic opportunity to prevent nuclear proliferation in Iran, but it is fragile. Congressional interference at such a sensitive time is a high-risk, no-reward proposition.

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago today President Johnson launched the war on poverty, giving rise to some of the most successful antipoverty programs in our history, including Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance, and Head Start.

Five decades later, eradicating poverty remains a moral imperative. It encompasses health and well-being, education, employment, and access to opportunity.

We have made progress. In 1967, nearly 26 percent of Americans lived in poverty. Today that number is 16 percent. Programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which gives working Americans a ladder into the middle class, have helped us make that progress.

Today, in Congress, our commitment to ending poverty is in question. Because of Republican opposition, more than 18,000 Kentuckians and 1.3 million Americans are without a critical safety net as they continue to search for work. As a result, our economy lost $400 million last week alone.

Unemployment insurance is one of the most effective ways to transition those who lost jobs back into the workforce. In 2012, it helped 2.5 million Americans work their way out of poverty.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues today to recommit themselves to eradicating poverty and support an immediate extension of unemployment insurance.

I thank the gentleman from Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very meaningful day. Like so many other things in our lives, there are certain times, certain events that you always recall where you were when they occurred. And I remember very well that Saturday when I was at lunch with a group of friends and received word that Gabby had been shot. I remember later in the day not too long after that when the reports were actually that she had passed away. I remember the feelings I had then.

Fortunately, she did survive, but the emotions of that day live with me, and, unfortunately, they are reinforced too many times. They have been reinforced at Newtown and in Aurora. And even before the Gabby Giffords shooting in Tucson, they were reinforced in my community of Louisville, Kentucky, where a disgruntled employee shot, with an assault weapon, a number of coworkers in the Standard Gravure printing plant that prints the Courier-Journal. I remember also a mass shooting at Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky, one of the first school shootings.

Unfortunately, the list continues to grow. Many of these inexplicable shootings are committed with weapons that are designed only to inflict massive casualties. And after Newtown, I spoke out the next day in saying actually that I was sorry that I had not spoken out on a regular basis, that I vowed at that point, as Gabby has vowed every day of her life over the last 3 years, to make it a mission to try and create saner gun laws in this country. Even in my State of Kentucky, with a very, very long and significant gun culture, vast majorities of our citizens believe that we ought to have universal background checks, and yet we have not been able to make any ground in that effort.

I think most people realize that in that Gabrielle Giffords shooting that Jared Loughner, the perpetrator, was actually wrestled to the ground when he had stopped to reload because he did not have a 30- capacity magazine. He had a lesser capacity magazine. And yet we can't deal with, again, these weapons and magazines made to inflict damage on many, many people.

I can't help but think that a lot of the frustration with Congress, with

this government, throughout the country is not a function of our inability or unwillingness to work the will of the American people. As we remember now this tragedy of 3 years ago and also remember the incredible work of Gabby Giffords over these last 3 years in trying to create a saner approach to guns in this country, it is important that we recognize that we do have an obligation to respond to what the American people want us to do. And if we would take simple steps, sane steps and logical steps, like requiring everyone who purchases a weapon in this country to undergo a background check, then maybe our approval rating, maybe the confidence and the credibility of government will improve slightly.

So it is an honor to stand here on the floor and to pay tribute to a friend, a colleague, and a great American who continues to fight for her country and our citizens and to urge all of us to think about what she has stood for over the last 3 years and rededicate our efforts to improving the lives of and the security of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, last weekend in Louisville, the world- famous Twin Spires of Churchill Downs glowed orange in support of something the hallowed track knows well, a champion.

The DeSales High School Colts of Louisville's South End entered the State championship on a streak of dominance, posting six shutouts, and holding opponents to just 9.4 points per game. When they lined up against Newport Central Catholic to play for the title on Saturday, the DeSales defense hadn't allowed a point in 2 weeks.

Fueled by three touchdowns from all-time leading rusher Dylan Byrd, two passing scores from quarterback Nathan Roush, and a defense anchored by middle linebacker Matt Bouchard, the Colts overcame a tough opponent 34-26, taking State for the first time in school history.

The title caps a remarkable 14-1 season for the Colts, who became only the second South End team ever to win State.

For DeSales Head Coach Harold Davis, the title run offered a nice symmetry. Davis was a senior safety on the 1981 DeSales team, one of only two others in school history to play in the finals.

The debate over the best Colts team in school history will continue back home, but there is no question this year's team now stands at the top. They might have been outsized through much of the playoffs, but they were never outmatched or outplayed.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to join all of Louisville in honoring the DeSales Colts, Kentucky's 2013 Class 2A High School football champions. Go Colts.

Mr. Speaker, for the past 130 years, Family & Children's Place has been a leader in providing support to Louisville-area families living in crisis and developing national models for service to improve children's academic performances and home lives.

Family & Children's Place was established in 1883 to help feed, clothe, and shelter families in need. Since then, it has evolved to meet new needs and challenges facing children and families affected by abuse, neglect, and violence.

The organization was among the first in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to recognize the growing problem of child abuse and neglect, and responded by doubling its efforts to ensure at-risk families and those affected have the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive in a safe environment. It has continued to play an instrumental role by establishing the only comprehensive child-friendly treatment and evaluation center for sexually-abused children in the Louisville region.

Nationally, Family & Children's Place has created model programs to help teach parenting skills to first-time parents, improve academic success rates for children, reduce the incidence of drug abuse, and ensure stable housing and self-sufficiency for families at risk of homelessness.

Today, Family & Children's Place serves a 17-county region encompassing Louisville, Southern Indiana, and the surrounding area. Last year alone, the organization provided assistance to more than 6,500 children and family members, and was able to end the cycle of child abuse for another 1,200 children.

Mr. Speaker, as Family & Children's Place embarks on its 131st year of remarkable service, I am confident it will continue to strengthen our community by inspiring and empowering others through its exceptional work.

Congratulations to Dan Fox, CEO of Family & Children's Place; Pam Darnell, President; Bill Meyer, Chairman of the Board; and to all the employees and volunteers on 130 years of dedicated service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, the prior speaker's prayers are about to be answered.

Mr. Speaker, my State of Kentucky is a national model for how the Affordable Care Act can make our constituents' lives more secure and their businesses stronger. I would like to share one story. Will Russell is the owner of Why Louisville, a small independent business in my district that specializes in locally designed clothing and art. The father of a 1-year-old, he also has a preexisting condition that led insurance companies to deny him coverage for the past 15 years.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, beginning January 1, Will and his wife and son will be covered under a plan they found on Kynect, Kentucky's health insurance exchange. Will estimates his family will save $300 a month. Add that to the peace of mind that comes with knowing he will never face medical bankruptcy and the threat of losing his thriving business just because he didn't have access to insurance.

He has been so pleased with the ease and affordability of Kynect that he is now exploring coverage for his employees for the first time through the State's small business exchange. Mr. Speaker, Will's story is one among millions of Americans who are finding expanded care through the Affordable Care Act. To quote Will:

It's going to be a new day for my family, for me, and so

many people just like us in Kentucky and throughout the

country.

Mr. Speaker, opponents of the Affordable Care Act in Congress have spent the past few weeks reveling in the problems of the Federal exchange Web site, healthcare.gov.

In my State of Kentucky, where we have created our own exchange, we have had tremendous success. As of last week, nearly 415,000 people had explored the Web site and assessed their options. More than 42,000 are now enrolled in health plans, many of them for the first time; and 843 small businesses have begun applying for coverage for their employees, with 309 of them already able to offer coverage to their workers.

We are 6 weeks into a 6-month open enrollment period, and while the failures of the Federal health care Web site are frustrating, they are far from fatal. The true danger to the more than 42,000 Kentuckians who have gained coverage under the law--and the hundreds of thousands more who will--is what opponents of the law are proposing in its place: a return to the broken system that failed tens of millions of Americans each year.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and the American people to keep a healthy perspective. We did not enact the Affordable Care Act to launch a Web site. We did it to ensure that every American has access to affordable, quality care, and we should all work together to accomplish that goal.

Mr. Speaker, while I hope today is the last day of the senseless government shutdown, I want to share a part of a letter from one of my constituents, Lindsay Smith, a medical student and 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force's Health Professions Scholarship Program.

She writes:

On October 15, I woke up anxious. I took a shower, ate

breakfast, and right before I left for class, I held my

breath and checked my bank account--no deposit.

I am not getting paid during this ridiculous government

shutdown game of chicken. Today, I got to call my electric

and cell phone providers to ask for an extension of my mid-

month bills. Ensuring I eat has become the most pressing

issue in my life.

I wish more than anything that I could share my story with

those Members of Congress who are keeping this stupid

shutdown charade going. The Affordable Care Act has passed

all three levels of government. That's how democracy works.

Because our elected representatives couldn't think about

the big picture and in light of the Republican Party agenda

to block anything and everything coming out of the Oval

Office, thousands of Federal employees and non-Active Duty

military members are having to make the choice between eating

and paying bills.

The pettiness is messing up people's lives, the people who

support and defend you. You should be endlessly ashamed of

yourselves.

Thank you, Lieutenant Smith, for letting us know and for reminding us of the impact of our actions on real lives.

Mr. Speaker, the last thing Congress needs is more special interest candidates who don't answer to the American people; and yet this morning, the Senate minority leader and his big money allies in the Republican Party once again asked the Supreme Court to give billionaires more influence on public policy through our elections. If this effort succeeds, individuals would be permitted to give as much as $3.5 million each to candidates and parties next year in addition to the already unlimited amounts they can spend independently.

It should go without saying that the number of people who are able to contribute on this scale is minuscule, but the ranks of those who would be affected by this deluge of money cannot be overstated. It is simply not possible to turn up the volume on the already amplified voices of a few wealthy donors without drowning out the millions of Americans already struggling to be heard.

The fact is we will never have a fair and balanced budget or a more equitable tax system while the well off and well connected are allowed to control Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the Republic the Framers intended. When they created Congress and when the people approved the 17th Amendment, appointing themselves the electors of the Senate, they wanted to ensure government was accountable to the people it serves. The more we undermine campaign finance laws, the further we get from that fundamental principle.

Mr. Speaker, today I have the distinct privilege of recognizing and celebrating Actors Theatre of Louisville on its 50th anniversary season. As the state theater of Kentucky and a force of tremendous influence on the national stage, Actors Theatre has long been a source of pride and distinction for the people of our community and the Commonwealth.

Since its formation in 1963, Actors Theatre has transformed from a scrappy collective headquartered in a tiny downtown loft to one of the nation's premier artistic institutions and a staple of the city's downtown revitalization. Its world-class collection of theatre artists and administrators have introduced more than 400 new, original plays into the American theater canon, and they continue to defy even the highest expectations.

Actors Theatre also hosts one of the most exciting, innovative, and inspiring festivals in America. The Humana Festival of New American Plays is one of the precious few institutions in American arts where new work can meet its full expression, and where creativity is rewarded with the appreciation of our great city.

Whether it is debuting Pulitzer Prize-winning plays or 10-minute shorts, Actors Theatre remains a preeminent player in American drama and an unparalleled cultural asset for our community.

On behalf of the Third Congressional District, I wish Actors Theatre continued success and look forward to another 50 years of inspiring performances.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my friend from Florida for his kind remarks.

It was a wonderful competition. I would like to blame redistricting on the reversal of fortune that we've had over the last 2 years; but I can say in all honesty that it was a phenomenal competition and, more importantly, it was a very civil and friendly competition with a great deal of mutual respect and a great deal of humor and fun in a day that was documented last night on Golf Central on the Golf Channel. As my friend said, the most important thing is that we are raising money for a very important charity that has done phenomenal work throughout the country.

I want to congratulate the Republicans for retaining the cup and congratulate my own team for a valiant effort. I must remind everyone that we didn't lose, we tied, and that we will get back at it next year and try to steal that cup from the Republicans where it rightfully belongs.

Once again, thank you very much to the Republican team. Thanks also to the sponsors, and primarily to The First Tee for the great work that they do.

Madam Speaker, literacy is the foundation for success in every aspect of our economy and society.

Research clearly demonstrates that a literacy-rich environment starting in early childhood is a critical prerequisite for high school graduation, college success, and career readiness; but according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, two-thirds of all fourth and eight graders do not read at a proficient level. Underachievement in literacy at all educational levels contributes significantly to our Nation's high dropout rate, which costs the country hundreds of billions of dollars and squanders the potential and contribution of each student who drops out.

That is why today, along with my colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), I am introducing the Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation Act. The LEARN Act provides a strong Federal investment for States and localities to develop and implement comprehensive literacy plans for children from birth through the 12th grade.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the LEARN Act in order to help ensure today's students are prepared to lead the workforce of the future and to keep our Nation at the forefront of the global economy.

Mr. Speaker, when women succeed, our economy grows, our communities prosper, and our Nation thrives. And yet, 50 years after President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, some in Congress seem content to let the pay gap between men and women continue.

Back in 1963, women earned 59 cents on average for every dollar a man took home. President Kennedy called that ``unconscionable.'' Meanwhile, about 1 in 10 mothers were their family's primary breadwinners. Five decades later, the number of female breadwinners has quadrupled. And yet women take home only 77 cents for every dollar a man earns for the same job. In 50 years, we've made 18 cents of progress.

Congress hasn't updated the Equal Pay Act since President Kennedy signed it into law. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen that law, adapt it to a much different American workplace than what we had in the sixties, and put us back on a pathway to pay equity in the workforce.

Equal pay isn't just a women's issue--it's a family issue, it's an economic issue, it's a community issue, and it's also an issue that Congress has ignored.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Paycheck Fairness Act and help guarantee equal pay for equal work.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall 179 on final passage of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, my vote was incorrectly recorded as ``yes.'' I intended to vote ``no.''

Madam Speaker, as the reckless across-the-board cuts in Federal spending known as ``sequester'' continue, I want to share a letter I received from my constituents, Leslie and Brian Tucker:

After being robbed by our home lender during the mortgage

modification fiasco, my wife took a job with Jefferson County

Public Schools and turned it into a career. She earned a

certificate in childhood development and went to work at

Duvalle Learning Center in Early Childhood Education as an

assistant. After hard work, she rose to a lead teacher

position.

I am a union steel worker with bad insurance. We have three

children together--the youngest is 13 months, the oldest is

16 years old. My wife recently was diagnosed with

hyperthyroidism and will require an expensive procedure to

fix it.

The news of her sequester-caused layoff hit us especially

hard, as it seems every time we get ahead a step, something

knocks us back down.

Middle class life now requires two incomes. Without my

wife's job, we will undoubtedly end up drawing some sort of

assistance. If Congress can fix travel delays with the stroke

of a pen, then helping my wife and the other teachers in

Louisville being laid off should be a walk in the park.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to listen to the Tuckers and end sequestration.