Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Garrett for organizing this Special Order today to shed light on what has been going on in Iran not just the last couple of weeks, but, really, since 1979.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out for the good people of Iran who are protesting against an oppressive regime that has imposed tyranny on them for nearly four decades. Scores of people have been arrested and some killed for daring to speak out against their government.

Mr. Speaker, they have good cause. For far too long, the authoritarian terrorists of Tehran have pursued an aggressive military buildup and a massive police state that oppresses its people.

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, their leaders have chosen global and regional conflict instead of promoting a healthy domestic economy and peaceful relations with their regional neighbors. I could spend a long time highlighting the litany of basic human rights violations of the regime as well, but the Iranian Government's malfeasance, public corruption, and betrayal to their citizenry needs to be brought to light on the world stage.

Mr. Speaker, as recently as last year, in the State Department's annual Country Reports on Terrorism, Iran was once again identified as the foremost state sponsor of terror. The crime and terror Iran spreads are conducted at the expense of ordinary Iranians whose taxes go everywhere but to themselves and their prosperity.

The unemployment rate is over 12 percent, according to the World Bank, and youth unemployment is staggeringly high. And all of this, despite Iran being rich in natural resources and having potential for having a great economy.

Two years ago, the U.S. entered a deal in hopes of encouraging a more peaceful Iran, not to mention passing along billions in direct cash payments to them.

Furthermore, if that wasn't enough, it has been recently reported that the Department of Justice, under President Obama, abandoned a massive international narcotics investigation against one of Iran's international terrorist clients, Hezbollah, just to not upset the Iranian regime during the negotiation of the nuclear deal.

That is right, Mr. Speaker. Hezbollah is not just in the global terror business; it is a transnational criminal organization that is a major global drug trafficker, including right here in the Western Hemisphere and Latin America.

For anyone who has not read the recent article in Politico Magazine, titled, ``The Secret Backstory of How Obama Let Hezbollah Off the Hook,'' it is worth your time. You will learn how Hezbollah is operating throughout Latin America and, indeed, facilitating the transfer of drugs into this country.

Despite all of their contrition and dealmaking, the Iranian regime has

not changed. This perilous regime is still exporting and smuggling weapons to its clients in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Hezbollah and Iran continue to threaten Israel, among other nations, and are still a destabilizing force throughout the Middle East.

After all of the Iranian regime's terror, crime, and corruption, do you think the Iranian people would have benefited from this?

Mr. Speaker, all you have to do is turn on the TV to see the Iranian people's answer, and it is obvious that they have had enough. This kind of tyranny does not belong anywhere, especially in the 21st century.

The everyday people in Iran want the same thing the average American wants: freedom to live without fear of their government, to live and work in peace, to be with their loved ones, and to worship as they see fit.

The good people of Iran are standing up to tyranny, and we should stand with them. I want those protesters seeking freedom from oppression to know that we are with them, that the American people are with them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Garrett, again, for organizing this Special Order on this very important topic.

Mr. Speaker, today, we remember the life of Robert ``Bob'' Wilmers, a visionary, successful business man, loving father and husband, who passed away this past Saturday.

In 1983, he became Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank and held those positions until his recent passing. Under his leadership, M&T grew from $2 Billion to $120 Billion in assets in 35 years. He saw the bank's reach grow from Buffalo to Maryland and the D.C. area, as well as Pennsylvania. Through it all, he never lost touch with his customers.

Bob's annual letters to shareholders were legendary and he was critical of over regulation that hurt regional banks.

His even handed, steady analysis will be missed. In addition to his successful career, Bob shared a deep commitment to the city of Buffalo, New York through his charitable giving and service to the community.

He was fiercely loyal to his work and bettering the community, an example we can all learn from. I extend my condolences to his family and friends. He leaves a large void that will be felt for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Today we move away from a trickle-down government redistribution economy to one that is bottom up, organic, and growing. While the trickle-down government of the last 8 years was great for Washington and the 1 percent, it did little for the rest of the country.

Today we turn the tide and put money back in the pockets of hardworking taxpayers and Main Street businesses. This bill gives immediate relief to moderate income and middle class families.

A single mom earning $41,000 with one kid will see a tax cut of $1,300, while a family of four making $73,000 will get more than $2,000 back.

The questions are: Will we vote together and put this money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans? Or will we keep that money here in wealthy Washington, D.C.? Will we vote together to level the global playing field for America's businesses and end the unfair status quo that sends American companies and jobs overseas?

It is an easy choice, Mr. Speaker: vote ``yes'' on this bill and let's make America prosperous again.

Mr. Speaker, not only was western Pennsylvania hit by a flurry of snow this past weekend, but by great pride in high school football. This past Saturday, my hometown Quaker Valley High School football team won the State championship trophy in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A division.

With preseason rankings that would merit them as underdogs and a new coach that stepped in just before the start of the season, the Quakers tackled their way into history. They defeated their opponents handily by 17 points.

Mr. Speaker, these State champions are to be commended for their grit and perseverance. It was an excellent game to cap off an outstanding season.

Congratulations to Coach Jerry Veshio, the entire coaching staff, and the players who are excelling in this western Pennsylvania tradition.

Congratulating Pine-Richland High School Football Team

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, in front of a crowd exceeding 2,000 people at snow-covered Hersheypark Stadium, western Pennsylvania's Pine-Richland Rams charged victoriously into the history books.

With a 41-21 victory, the Rams won the State championship in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A division. Indeed, it was an unforgettable win that cemented their exceptional State championship season.

Congratulations to Coach Eric Kasperowicz, the entire coaching staff, and the players for excelling in this great western Pennsylvania tradition.

Well done, Rams. Your dedication and hard work has made Pine-Richland High School and all of western Pennsylvania proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3971, the Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act, and I thank Representative Tenney for her hard work on this piece of legislation.

At the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, we often talk about right-sizing regulations. If we want to have a robust financial system that balances smart regulation and consumer protections with the need to make capital available to American consumers, we need to consider targeted opportunities to tailor requirements to fit the size and nature of the financial institution. Representative Tenney's legislation does just that.

This Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act directs the CFPB to exempt creditors with $25 billion or less in assets from certain costly escrow and impound requirements on loans secured by a first lien on a consumer's principal dwelling. These requirements are especially burdensome for community financial institutions. They often force institutions to pass increased costs on to their consumers. This can drive business away from small banks and credit unions which are already suffering from overregulation and other economic challenges. As a result, in some cases, community financial institutions have exited the mortgage business altogether. This does not help consumers, and it further imperils our shrinking number of community banks and credit unions.

This bill offers a targeted, reasonable fix so that these institutions can continue to serve their customers. This is smart. It is reasonable. It is common sense, particularly for those who understand how overregulation from Washington, D.C., has hurt consumer choice.

I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor Army Colonel Edward J. Swanson, a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our nation. After 30 years of exemplary service, Colonel Swanson will retire from active military duty in December 2017, leaving behind a legacy that will continue for generations to come.

Colonel Swanson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Chemical Corps upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in 1988 and has served with distinction throughout his career. After completing the Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Germany, followed by the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, CO.

Since joining the Acquisition Corp, Colonel Swanson has served as an instrumental and dependable leader. He deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in April of 2011, and served 13 months as the Security Cooperation Division Chief. Following this deployment, he successfully led Project Office for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) for four years. His career culminated as the Chief of Staff for Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, a position he was handpicked to fill.

Colonel Swanson has performed at the top of his profession throughout his career and truly is an American patriot with the utmost character. He has spent his career ensuring that soldiers and their families are taken care of, as well as the safety and security of our nation. He has left a positive impression on every organization he has served.

With profound admiration and respect, we pay tribute to the accomplishments and sacrifices that he has made for our nation. We thank Colonel Swanson, and his children, Benjamin and Abbie, for their unwavering support. It is my honor to recognize them and wish them peace and happiness in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act.

As the vice chairman of the Financial Institution Subcommittee and the cosponsor of this legislation, I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Representative Barr's bipartisan bill--and I really appreciate the comments from Mr. Scott, my colleague from Georgia on this bill--will remove misguided barriers that block access to affordable manufactured homes while preserving consumers' protections.

It is important to keep in mind that the challenge of finding affordable housing is not exclusively an urban problem. Housing affordability is a challenge in many rural areas, including parts of my district.

Manufactured homes can be a solution to this affordability challenge. They can give many low- to moderate-income families the chance at homeownership.

The fact is, Mr. Speaker, the current regulatory environment is taking competition out of this market to the detriment of consumers.

Nationwide, 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes. In my State of Pennsylvania, manufactured homes comprise almost 5 percent of the housing stock. Manufactured homes account for 73 percent of all new homes sold under $125,000, and the average income of a manufactured home purchaser is less than $40,000 per year.

The manufactured housing business also sustains thousands of families. Sixteen thousand workers in Pennsylvania are employed in this industry. Unfortunately, the misguided rules from Washington threaten to choke off access to manufactured housing.

The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act will address these harmful rules that are making manufactured homes unaffordable for perspective customers while preserving important consumer protections. It is important to keep in mind that the Truth in Lending Act and State consumer protection laws will still apply after enactment of this legislation.

Representative Barr's bill is narrowly focused, common sense, and a bipartisan effort to target a specific challenge facing perspective purchasers of manufactured homes. The bill will preserve access to this affordable option for millions of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this rule and the underlying bill.

As the vice chairman of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee and a cosponsor of this legislation, I want to underscore the impact that passing the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act would have on hardworking Americans.

We all agree that we should work to ensure that everyone can afford a safe place to live. Representative Barr's bipartisan bill will remove misguided barriers that block access to affordable manufactured homes while preserving consumer protections.

In many parts of this country, manufactured homes represent a cost- effective and customizable housing option. It is important to keep in mind that the challenge of finding affordable housing is not exclusively an urban problem. Housing affordability is a challenge in many rural areas as well, and manufactured homes can be a solution.

This is an industry that offers millions, including many rural Americans with moderate incomes, a chance at home ownership. In fact, nationwide, 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes.

In my State of Pennsylvania, manufactured homes comprise almost 5 percent of the housing stock. Manufactured homes account for 73 percent of all new homes sold under $125,000. The average income of a manufactured home purchaser is less than $40,000 per year.

The manufactured housing business also sustains thousands of families. Sixteen thousand workers in Pennsylvania are employed in that industry.

Unfortunately, misguided rules from Washington, D.C., threaten to choke off access to manufactured homes. When Washington bureaucrats sought to implement Dodd-Frank, they put forward rules that led some manufactured housing retailers and sellers to be considered loan originators. They also expanded the ``high-cost loan'' definition and swept many manufactured housing loans into that category.

The increased restrictions, liability, and stigma that accompany these designations have led many in the industry to cut back on lending. As a result, fewer hardworking Americans will be able to afford a quality manufactured home for their families.

The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act will address these harmful restrictions that are making manufactured homes unaffordable for prospective homeowners while preserving important consumer protections.

This bill clarifies that a manufactured home salesperson is not a loan originator unless he or she is being compensated by a lender, a creditor, or a mortgage broker. It also adjusts the high-cost mortgage designation thresholds so that many manufactured housing loans are once again not included.

It is important to keep in mind that the Truth in Lending Act and State consumer protection laws will still apply after the enactment of this legislation.

Representative Barr's bill is a narrowly focused, commonsense, and bipartisan effort to target a specific challenge facing prospective purchasers of manufactured homes. This bill will preserve access to affordable housing for millions of American families.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge support for the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act and this rule.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for his remarks regarding Officer Shaw.

The Book of Wisdom teaches that ``the souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them.''

The family and friends of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Police Officer Brian Shaw today must trust in that Scripture as they continue to grieve his loss.

Officer Shaw was only 25 years old when he was taken in an act of senseless violence, but in his short life, he learned a great deal, and what he learned allowed him to give even more.

Brian Shaw knew his vocation, to serve as a police officer and, as he said, to make a difference. His former supervisor, Frazer Township Police Chief Terry Kuhns, recalled that when Brian gave that answer during his job interview, he knew he meant it as he looked in his eyes and his smile.

Perhaps what Chief Kuhns saw in Brian were virtues our world desperately needs more of: authenticity and sincerity. Those virtues contributed to what New Kensington Police Chief Jim Klein described as Brian's incredible passion for his work.

To Brian's parents and family, you raised him right. May Brian Shaw, a just man, evermore rest in the hands of God.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying legislation.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act we are considering today is the culmination of years of work, years of listening to the concerns of hardworking taxpayers at home, and several elections where the people spoke out for relief from a broken, special-interest laden Tax Code.

Here are the questions we need to be asking today:

Are you tired of the status quo?

Do you think we can do better than the slowest economic recovery since the Great Depression?

Do you want a healthier economy that creates the opportunities that offer you a real chance to get ahead, puts more money in your pocket, and helps you fulfill your American Dream?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is for you.

As I travel across my district, I hear story after story from families with nothing left over at the end of the month, who are struggling to save for retirement, pay off loans, or simply make ends meet.

It doesn't have to be this way. There is a better way.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix this. We can act now to put more money back into the hardworking taxpayers' pockets, make American business more competitive, and create a much healthier economy.

Americans have toiled under a broken Tax Code filled with loopholes and special interest carve-outs for far too long. This legislation--the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act--is a giant step for everyday Americans looking to get ahead.

This is for the family of four, making $59,000 a year, who can save $1,182 a year in taxes. This is for the single mom, making $30,000 working night and day to support her two children, who will also save more than $1,000 a year in taxes.

Our legislation doubles the standard deduction, so people won't have to itemize their tax returns. It expands the child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600 and provides a $300 credit for adult dependents living at home. It will create more jobs in Pennsylvania and raise Pennsylvania's families' incomes.

It will bring dollars back to America to be invested in American companies with American workers. It will empower the people of America who want to get ahead, and it will lessen the power of Washington, D.C.

Vote for freedom, vote for prosperity, vote for this rule and this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Mr. Thornberry, and the committee for their diligent work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this NDAA conference report. I applaud this bill's goal to improve the readiness level of our military which has been depleted of critical resources after many years of defending this country.

Not only does this legislation begin to rebuild our forces, it includes a long overdue pay raise for our troops.

I applaud the bill's reforms to improve the military healthcare system and make sure taxpayer resources are used appropriately.

I especially want to highlight the current situation in Afghanistan, which needs drastic improvement. Shoring up Afghani security forces is only part of a short-term solution. We need a long-term strategy that brings stability to Afghanistan as well as the entire region. The NDAA directs Secretary Mattis to develop such a 5-year strategy. This is a good step, and I urge the military to continue thinking long term.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this report.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the 21st Century Flood Reform Act.

I commend my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee for their hard work on this important bill, and I urge all Members to support its passage.

As we all know, this hurricane season brought flooding and devastation to many parts of the country. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria added even more debt to the National Flood Insurance Program, leading to a taxpayer bailout of $16 billion. That is $16 billion taken from the pockets of hardworking Americans. Unless Congress passes the 21st Century Flood Reform Act, we will, once again, have to bail out this program.

The NFIP, as it currently operates, is structurally unsound. This bill will help to prevent future bailouts by authorizing the NFIP to build up its reserves. It will also prioritize mitigation efforts and encourage the NFIP to engage in actuarially sound practices.

Of course, this effort is not solely focused on taxpayer protection. Homeowners, too, will benefit from the 21st Century Flood Reform Act.

This bill crucially fosters the development of a private market for flood insurance. This will provide consumers with better options and more competitive prices.

My own State's former insurance commissioner testified in front of our committee last year in support of this idea after seeing benefits of private sector involvement. Commissioner Miller said:

``In Pennsylvania, competition is proving to be good for consumers. . . .''

``We are finding in many cases that private carriers are willing to offer comparable coverage at substantially lower cost than the NFIP.''

Mr. Speaker, this is good for the people of western Pennsylvania and it is the right policy for homeowners across the country.

I also want to thank Chairman Duffy for incorporating my amendment concerning Amish communities into the final bill. The Amish and similar religious communities have a tradition, informed by their religious obligations, of paying for community losses through mutual aid societies. My amendment to this bill accommodates those communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Jobs, jobs, jobs. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act.

Whose side am I on? The tens of millions of folks who don't have jobs out there who want job opportunities. We know from some studies that, over the last 8 years of wrong regulation, 650,000 small businesses have not been created. That means 6\1/2\ million jobs, 6\1/2\ million people who are not paying Medicare tax, and 6\1/2\ million people who are not paying Social Security tax. We need these people in the game, Mr. Speaker, and this act can help them get into the game.

This is an important piece of pro-jobs legislation, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Emmer, for introducing it.

We all want our economy to become vibrant once again so it can generate opportunity and prosperity for all Americans. Unfortunately, regulatory burdens--both new and preexisting--often get in the way of raising capital and building a business.

At hearing after hearing at the Financial Services Committee, we have heard from financial institutions that are unable to lend to small businesses or are afraid to do so. We have also heard from businesses that cannot find the capital they need to expand or to retool. All of this has an impact on jobs and wages as well as on our overall economy.

The Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act is a targeted, commonsense bill that will make it easier for small businesses to access capital that they need to grow.

Specifically, H.R. 2201 will permit businesses to issue a limited number of securities to individuals with whom principals have a preexisting relationship. This would include family and friends who are often early investors in startups.

Businesses will only be able to issue a small amount of securities-- $500,000 a year--but that is a step in the right direction toward helping businesses that need funding.

This is good policy that will make it easier for small businesses to get off the ground, grow, and add jobs.

At the same time, this bill ensures that our regulators can continue to police fraud and abuse, and to do so aggressively. On that point, there is no ambiguity. Fraud is illegal, and it will not be tolerated or excused.

Again, I strongly support the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act. It is good for the economy and good for hardworking Americans. It is good for jobs, jobs, jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday marks Veterans Day, a day on which we honor and cherish heroes like Lewis Villa from Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania.

Nearly seven decades ago, Mr. Villa, a graduate of Aliquippa High School, followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers by enlisting in the Army. He joined the 456th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion of the 82nd Airborne and eventually became an Army Ranger assigned to 1st Company, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad of the Airborne Rangers.

He deployed in 1950 to Japan, and then Korea, where he was captured by communist Chinese forces and spent 28 months in a prisoner of war camp.

After returning home, Villa became a mailman, where he met his beloved late wife, Helana, and had two children.

Lewis Villa is a treasure of the Aliquippa community, and he rarely fails to land a joke, and always lights up a room with laughter. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to him as well as to all our veterans.

Happy Veterans Day, and may God bless them and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Huizenga for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger) for leading on this important legislation.

I rise today to express my support for the Clarifying Commercial Real Estate Loans act.

The Financial Institutions Subcommittee has spent a significant amount of time analyzing the state of bank lending. Not surprisingly, aside from loans from major banks to major corporations, we found that bank lending in today's regulatory environment is weak. We need to jump-start our economic growth once again, so we are going to need to find ways to address some of the unintended consequences of the rules coming out of Washington, D.C.

The high volatility commercial real estate loan designation is one such feature that has inhibited growth and opportunity. The complexity and ambiguity of HVCRE makes it hard for banks to comply. This drives up borrowing costs for real estate developers and prevents entrepreneurs from engaging in the types of activities that create jobs and opportunity.

This legislation will bring clarity and common sense to HVCRE requirements, and I ask that my colleagues support the Clarifying Commercial Real Estate Loans act, which is important legislation.