Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Simple Fairness Act and eliminate the individual mandate tax penalty under the Affordable Care Act for a year.

Many of my constituents in the 24th District of Texas have lost their health insurance and access to doctors they liked due to the President's healthcare law. The law is hurting millions of Americans.

The President has recognized as much, as he recently issued another delay that protects businesses from his employer mandate tax. In fact, the President has delayed provisions in his own healthcare law over 20 times in the past year.

It is simply not fair for the President to give businesses a one-year delay on the tax penalty, but not give hardworking individuals and families the same relief.

My constituents, and all Americans, deserve the same thing: fairness.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Simple Fairness Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Jon Reedy of Irving, Texas, on receiving the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association's (NSSGA) 2013 James M. Christie Safety and Health Professional of the Year award.

The award, established in 1987, gives national attention to an individual who contributes outstanding efforts to his or her company regarding healthy work practices. Mr. Reedy, Director of Environment, Safety, and Health for the South Region & Hanson Building Products, Lehigh Hanson, Inc., has been a strong advocate for a safe work environment and brought proactive changes to daily procedures, particularly in mining. His tireless efforts have led to many man-hours without workplace injuries among several facilities as well as reductions in compensation costs. He is a great asset to not only the company but the community as well. NSSGA President and CEO Michael Johnson stated that ``Jon's diligent work to boost safety and health performance is a great example of the aggregate industry's commitment to worker wellness celebrated by the Christie Award.''

Jon Reedy's receipt of this honor evidences his hard work and dedication to not only his company but his workers and community. Keeping a safe and healthy work environment is beneficial to all parties involved. It is an honor to represent such a distinguished and hardworking constituent in Congress and I look forward to seeing the results of that success in the form of safer workplaces in North Texas.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Jon Reedy on his award.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ron Whitehead the city manager of Addison, Texas, who is retiring today, February 28, after nearly 32 years of service for the Town of Addison and over a decade more in other Texas municipalities.

Mr. Whitehead was raised in Orange, Texas, where he learned about city management from his father who was a city councilman and mayor. He participated in student government and graduated Stark High School in 1967. After graduating from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, with a degree in Government in 1971, he started interning for the City of Beaumont and eventually became the assistant director of personnel. Mr. Whitehead began work as the administrative assistant to the city manager in Irving, Texas, in 1974 and in 1977 became the assistant city manager for administration. He earned his Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1980 and became the general supervisory assistant city manager in Irving the following year.

In June of 1982, Mr. Whitehead became the city manager of Addison and he has served that role until today. Over the decades, Mr. Whitehead helped Addison transform from a small town with a handful of businesses to a bustling center with approximately 1,600 registered businesses. In 1982 there were 200 family households in Addison, and today the population numbers 15,000. Today Addison has 260 full-time employees and an annual budget of $60 million. As city manager, Mr. Whitehead helped build up the modern city with multiple projects such as Wheeler Bridge, Addison Circle, Vitruvian Park, and the Addison Airport Toll Tunnel. The Dallas North Tollway came through Addison during his tenure as well. Future projects that the city will continue to develop include work on Addison Airport, a pedestrian connectivity effort, and underground utilities along Belt Line Road.

His long-standing passion for people, service, and making a difference have earned Mr. Whitehead many board positions and awards during his 32 years in Addison. In 2006 he received the Texas City Management Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009 he was named Metrocrest Citizen of the Year by the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, which represents Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Addison, Texas. He earned the William J. Pitstick Regional Excellence Award in 2013 and was commended for his strong commitment to regionalism and collaboration with neighboring cities with regard to transportation, services, art, and planning. Mr. Whitehead has also been the recipient of a distinguished alumni award from the University of North Texas, the L.P. Cookingham Award for Career Development from the International City Management Association (ICMA), as well as recognition from the ICMA on his 35th anniversary of municipal service. Among his roles in numerous associations, he has been particularly active in the Greater Dallas Planning Council, the North Texas City Management Association, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and the Metroplex Mayors Association.

Mr. Whitehead has been married to his wife Donna for 27 years and they have two daughters, Maxey and Lauren. Donna is an elementary school music teacher in Good Shepherd Episcopal School and also plans to retire soon. They are involved in church and civic activities, and intend to travel together in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Ron Whitehead on his 32 years of service as city manager of Addison and wishing him well in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the ``Taxpayer Right-to-Know-Act.''

The Taxpayer Right-to-Know Act would require all federal agencies to describe, in detail, all programs under their agency, their costs, the number of employees running each program, and possible duplication. Reports would be due each year.

Agencies would also have to publish performance reviews and improper payment rates. OMB would then analyze the reports for overlapping programs and provide concrete recommendations on how to reduce duplication and waste.

This bill would ensure greater transparency, enhance scrutiny of taxpayer dollars, and help deliver better value to the American people.

The Taxpayer Right-to-Know Act is about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and finding solution to right-size the government for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the ``Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act''.

Many of my constituents in the 24th District of Texas--some of whom were unfairly targeted by the IRS--have lost confidence in the impartiality of the agency.

Due to the political targeting scandal, my constituents are deeply skeptical about the IRS and angry at how they have been treated.

I fully agree with their concerns: the IRS has been blatantly too intrusive on my constituents' personal lives and of many other Americans around the country.

Americans should always be protected from unnecessary and intrusive questions about their political, religious, and social beliefs.

On behalf of my constituents, I respectfully urge members to help protect American taxpayers and vote for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the naming of U.S. Highway 75 in north Texas as the Sam Johnson Highway, after my friend and our colleague, Representative Sam Johnson. This Monday, over 200 gathered to attend the public sign unveiling ceremony in Collin County, Texas.

This highway is a major artery in the north Texas area. The recognition it now provides is fitting, but can never repay Congressman Johnson for his sacrifice and service for our country, first in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam wars, including 7 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

After returning and being reunited with his family, he put years of hard work into being an entrepreneurial homebuilder in his community. He went on to serve in the State legislature and now serves as the U.S. Representative to Collin County, which he calls home.

I am honored to work with him in this Congress and on the Ways and Means Committee. I would like to thank my friend from Texas, Sam Johnson, for his years of service to our communities and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize retiring Sergeant Ron Williamson for his many years of public service as a police officer with the City of Euless.

Ron began his career in law enforcement in the late 1970s when he served as a reserve officer for the Bedford Police Department. While serving the City of Bedford, Ron was promoted to Reserve Sergeant and was briefly employed as a Bedford Police Officer.

In 1980, Ron was hired as a patrol officer by the Euless Police Department where he served continuously until his retirement in February of 2014. Throughout his career with the City of Euless, Ron has accomplished many achievements such as obtaining the ranks of Corporal in 1991 and Sergeant in 1993. Additionally, Ron has served a decorated career earning over 40 personnel commendations, Police Officer of the Year in 1983, Supervisor of the Year in 1996, Life Saving Award in 1999, and the prestigious Blackie Sustaire Award in 2011.

Ron has a diverse background in law enforcement as evident in the following departments in which he operated. He served in the Patrol Division from 1980 to 1985, Criminal Investigation Division from 1985 to 1999 and 2001 to 2004, Community Service from 1999 to 2001, and Administrative Internal Affairs from 2004 to 2014. In each department listed, Ron has held a supervisory position. Ron has been an important leader in the Euless Police Department, and his guidance will be missed.

Ron has also earned a number of certifications and academic degrees within the field of law enforcement. The distinctions Ron has received over the years include the Basic Police Certification in 1980, Intermediate Police Certification in 1987, Dare Officer Certification in 1988, Advanced Police Certification in 1991, and Master Police Certification in 1999. In 1994, Ron graduated from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision; additionally, he completed Basic SWAT Operations Training in 1989 to become a supervising SWAT leader. Overall, Ron received over 2,600 hours of in- service training throughout his career.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Ron Williamson for his 34 years of public service as a Euless Police Officer.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the completion of the Valley Ranch Library's renovation project. The library has been serving the citizens of Irving, Texas, since 1996 with an amazing collection of books, educational programs, and meeting spaces for community groups.

The history of the Valley Ranch Library begins in 1996 when it established its operations in a rental space no larger than 10,000 square feet. Following its opening, the library quickly became one of the busiest branches in the Irving Public Library system.

In June of 2006, the City of Irving initiated the construction project of a new 26,000 square foot library at 401 Cimarron Trail. In less than two years, the Valley Ranch Library celebrated its new facility at the grand opening ceremony in October of 2007. The new library brought new features to the community such as additional study rooms, public computers, and a cafe. Of the entire constructed facility, 5,000 square feet was left unfinished for future expansion.

In September of 2012, the citizens of Irving voted on a bond sale to complete the Valley Ranch Library, and in October of 2013, the library renovation project began.

The library expansion included more community meeting spaces, increased shelving by 20%, defined children's areas for a more comfortable experience of all ages, and the addition of a digital media lab.

The Valley Ranch Library is the second busiest and next-largest branch in the Irving Public Library system, after the Central Library. The library's surrounding community is composed of families focused on education; consequently, the library operates to meet and exceed the community's demand for educational resources and programs. The programs are often filled to capacity and patrons are known for maximizing their 50-book limit every three weeks.

Since the establishment of the facility in 2006, the Valley Ranch Library has grown significantly as demonstrated by the following statistics. The library has grown 72% in visitation, 26% in items checked out, 44% in collection size, 40% in reference requests, and 87% in public computer usage.

I am extremely appreciative of the City of Irving and the Irving Public Library system for continuing to address the needs of the community by enhancing the quality of their infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating the City of Irving and Irving Public Library on the completion of the Valley Ranch Library's renovation project.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize retiring Lieutenant John Williams for his 31 years of public service as a police officer.

John graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1972 with a Bachelor's Degree in Management. In the following year, he earned his Basic Police Certification and shortly afterwards joined the Arlington Police Department as an officer where he served for four years. Following his service in Arlington, John served as an officer for the Odessa Police Department for two years.

Aside from being a police officer, John has been the owner of several successful businesses including a bowling center and custom harvesting operation.

In 1988, John was hired as a patrol officer by the Euless Police Department. Throughout his career with the City of Euless, John has accomplished many achievements such as obtaining the ranks of Sergeant in 1992, Lieutenant in 1999, and the supervisor roles of the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations, Jail & Property Operations, Internal Affairs and the Traffic Unit. Aside from his promotions, John has been honored with 35 police commendations and nominated ten times as Supervisor of the Year, which he won in 2005.

John has also earned a number of certifications and academic degrees within the field of law enforcement. The distinctions John has received over the years include the Intermediate Police Certification in 1975, Advanced Police Certification in 1990, Breath Test Operator Certification in 1991, Police Officer Instructor License in 1992, and Masters Police Certification in 1996. In 1992, John graduated from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision; additionally, he graduated in 2000 from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute Command School. At both institutes, John obtained high honors for his academic achievements. Overall, John has received over 3,000 hours of in-service training throughout his career.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking John Williams for his 31 years of public service as a police officer.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize retiring Captain Steven Eskew for his 34 years of public service as a police officer.

Steven graduated in 1977 from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Following his graduation, Steven worked for the Department of Public Safety in Raytown, Missouri, and as a security officer in the private sector.

In 1980, Steven was hired as a patrol officer by the Euless Police Department. Throughout his career with the City of Euless, Steven has accomplished many achievements such as obtaining the ranks of Criminal Investigator in 1985, Sergeant in 1989, Lieutenant in 1993, and Captain in 2011. Aside from his promotions, Steven has been honored with 12 personnel commendations, Distinguished Service Award in 1984, Police Officer of the Year in 1985, and Supervisor of the Year in 1991.

Steven served as the Department Armorer for many years. Additionally, he has held the positions of Tactical Commander, Internal Affairs Officer, and Firearms Instructor.

Steven has also earned a number of certifications and academic degrees within the field of law enforcement. The distinctions Steven has received over the years include the Basic Police Certification in 1981, Intermediate Police Certification in 1982, Advanced Police Certification in 1986, Tactical and Sniper training in 1986, Firearm Instructor Certification in 1995, and Master's Police Certification in 1995. In 1989, Steven graduated from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision; additionally, he graduated in 1994 from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute Command School. At both institutes, Steven obtained high honors for his academic achievements. Overall, Steven received over 2,600 hours of in-service training throughout his career.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Steven Eskew for his 34 years of public service as a police officer.

Mr. Speaker, next week will mark forty-one years since the United States Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade. Since that time, millions of lives have been lost to legalized abortion in the United States, and it is fitting to recognize them at this unfortunate landmark.

This is also a time to renew hope as millions of Americans continue to advocate for the respect due all human life and many state governments across our country are working to embrace the right to life. Here at the federal level, many of my colleagues and I have cosponsored legislation that would help in these efforts. To that end, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which passed the House and would limit abortion after the age at which evidence shows that an unborn child can experience pain. I have also cosponsored H.R. 1091, the Life at Conception Act, to legally define human life as beginning at conception, and H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act, to protect the freedom of conscience for healthcare professionals who do not want to participate in abortions.

Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the approaching anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I urge my colleagues in both houses of Congress to advance and pass these and many other bills that defend the fundamental right to life, without which all other rights are impossible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Christopher Miller, a constituent of mine from Southlake, TX, on studying the Arabic language in Meknes, Morocco, under the Critical Language Scholarship Program.

The Critical Language Scholarship program was established in 2006 as part of the National Security Language Initiative. This interagency effort was formed with recognition of the need for our future diplomatic and intelligence personnel to learn languages such as Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Chinese. It provides an intensive regimen of study at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels for both undergraduate and graduate students. The program goes beyond just language and provides cultural experiences by immersion in the host country.

It was a pleasure to receive the U.S. State Department's announcement that one of my constituents, Christopher Miller, had successfully participated in the Critical Language Scholarship Program this past summer. Acceptance is highly competitive, and so I commend his studying Advanced Arabic in Meknes. Christopher's success is a testament to dedication, skill, and hard work; and I look forward to his accomplishing great things in any endeavor that he pursues in life.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Christopher Miller on his studies in the Critical Language Scholarship Program.

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which operated its first commercial flight on January 13, 1974. More than a massive facility, DFW is an economic and development engine that has transformed the course of North Texas in the past four decades.

Ground was broken for DFW on December 11, 1968, with Dallas Mayor J. Erik Johnson and Fort Worth Chamber President J. Lee Johnson III leading their respective cities in the joint venture. Four years prior, the Civil Aeronautics Board sought for the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth to choose a site for a new airport to service them both. Ultimately, a space that lay seventeen miles from either city's core was chosen in an area covering parts of the cities of Coppell, Euless, Grapevine, and Irving.

DFW has a unique history in aviation. At a 1973 dedication ceremony one year before its general opening, it was the first airport in the U.S. to welcome the landing of a supersonic Concorde. Supersonic service between DFW and Europe was then inaugurated in 1979 with the parallel landings of two Concorde jets. American Airlines, today the largest airline in the world, made DFW its first hub in 1981 and invented the modern ``hub and spoke'' route system there in 1982. In 1989, Atlantis, piggybacking on a modified Boeing 747, made DFW the first commercial airport to host a shuttle landing.

The 1990s saw significant expansion, including the addition of a seventh runway in 1996 and the first of four runway extensions starting that same year. To this day, DFW is the only airport in the world with four paved serviceable runways longer than 4,000 meters. In 2005, the Skylink rail and the international Terminal D were added. DFW now hosts fifty-nine international destinations, twenty-five of which were added in the last three years; and its 11.1% growth rate in international traffic in 2012 (and even more in 2013) was double that of its U.S. peers.

DFW serves 200 destinations and is the fourth busiest airport in the world in terms of aircraft movement. It ranks eighth in passenger traffic at 60 million per year, or 164,000 per day. It is also the second-largest in the U.S. in terms of physical space, with approximately 18,000 acres (larger than the island of Manhattan). It moves 645,000 tons of cargo per year. Its parking spaces alone are staggering at 40,000. Ultimately, according to the University of North Texas, DFW airport is responsible for adding $31.6 billion to the economy annually and for 148,000 jobs. Even that is only part of the story.

The population of the Dallas/Fort Worth area has grown from 2.5 million to 6.7 million in the 40 years since DFW airport opened. This telling growth has come with a boom in the size and quality of life in the two namesake cities and also for numerous nearby suburban cities, many of which are in the 24th District of Texas. Several major corporations--including American Airlines, Fluor, Kimberly Clark, and Exxon Mobil, to name a few--located their headquarters in the area for the strategic and logistic boon that DFW offers from its prime position between the coasts. Manufacturing plants, entertainment venues, conferences, and businesses of all types have sprung up over the years as a result of the airport.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, as well as the vibrancy that it has brought to the 24th District in which it sits, and in thanking the countless people of all trades, services, and professions who have made this economic engine possible.

Mr. Speaker, due to my plane flight to Washington, DC being canceled yesterday, I was unable to vote for the Quorum Call of January 7, 2014. Had my flight not been canceled, I would have answered the Quorum Call as ``present.''

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life and service of Lieutenant General Wilson A. ``Dutch'' Shoffner, USA, Retired, of Colleyville, Texas, who passed away on January 3, 2014, at the age of seventy-five.

Lt. Gen. Shoffner, born in 1938 to Fred and Jewell Shoffner, was originally from Ryan, Oklahoma. He attended Cameron State Agricultural College (now Cameron University) where he participated in ROTC, Phi Theta Kappa, and the Student Government Association; and later graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961. Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Army, and was commissioned in Field Artillery in 1967.

In his thirty-two years of service, which included the Vietnam War, Lt. Gen. Shoffner commanded the 214th Field Artillery brigade in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, the 3rd Infantry Division in Wurzburg, West Germany, and the Combined Arms Command at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His many positions also included being the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations in Washington, DC. He earned his third star and the rank of Lieutenant General in 1991. Lt. Gen. Shoffner had also received a Bronze Star and a Distinguished Service Medal, which is awarded for exceptional performance in a duty of great responsibility.

After retiring from the Army in 1993, Shoffner became Vice President for Product Development at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, Texas. In 2003, he retired from that position but continued to volunteer at community organizations and speak to ROTC cadets at Cameron University. He is in the alumni hall of fame at both Cameron and Oklahoma State University.

Lt. Gen. Shoffner was recently preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Beverly, of Lawton, Oklahoma. Together they had two sons, Al and Andy, He is survived by four sisters--Myra, Jean, Joan, and Judy--and three grandchildren--Kristin, Lauren, and Austin.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in remembering

and honoring Lieutenant General Wilson and his thirty-two years of admirable service to the United States.