Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month and the outstanding work of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

It is hard to believe that just over 20 years ago pulmonary hypertension patients were given less than 3 years to live and no treatment options. Today, there are 14 FDA-approved treatments for patients with this rare condition, and they continue to live longer.

I am proud of the work of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and their volunteers and leadership over the past decade and a half, and I am glad to be a small part of it.

My inspiration was a 5-year-old patient named Emily, the daughter of my dear friend Jack Stibbs. Thanks to medical advancements, Emily graduated from Vanderbilt University and is leading an amazing life.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to continue to support critical research efforts to improve the lives of our PH patients.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month and the outstanding work the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) including the Lone Star Chapter of The Woodlands, TX, has done during the last sixteen years in the fight against the rare, debilitating disease known as pulmonary hypertension (PH).

PH was first brought to my attention by my friend, Jack Stibbs, whose daughter, Emily, had been recently diagnosed at an early age. Due to Emily's early diagnosis, she has been able to lead a relatively normal life and Emily has recently graduated college. However, not all patients are as fortunate.

PH is high blood pressure that occurs in the arteries of the lungs. The disease reflects the pressure the heart must apply to pump blood from the heart through the arteries of the lungs. As with a tangled hose, pressure builds up and backs up, forcing the heart to work harder and less oxygen to reach the body. PH symptoms generally include fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath with the severity of the disease correlating with its progression. If left undiagnosed or untreated, PH can lead to heart failure and death.

Investment in medical research and sustained scientific progress in this area has led to fourteen Food and Drug Administration-approved targeted treatment options for two forms of PH. When individuals are diagnosed with PH quickly and begin appropriate therapy, their prognosis and life-expectancy improve dramatically. However, it currently takes an average of two and a half years to receive a diagnosis and three quarters of patients have severe PH when they are finally diagnosed.

Without treatment, historical studies have shown a mean survival time of 2.8 years after diagnosis for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Patients with advanced PH cannot benefit as greatly from available therapies and often face dramatic and costly medical interventions, including 24-hour IV infused medication, increased risk for hospitalization and in some cases heart-lung transplantation.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing November as Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month and continuing to support federal activities that improve the lives of patients impacted by PH, including research programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and honor the life of a dedicated husband, father, mentor, and community leader from The Woodlands, TX: Joseph Michael Deffner.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Joe Deffner spent his early years in Louisiana before moving to The Woodlands and becoming a true Texan.

As a child, Joe was a member of the Saint Edward the Confessor Church Cub Scout Pack 496 in Metairie, Louisiana. Many years later, Joe imparted this love of scouting to his own three sons: Justin, Brett, and Jackson, who remained active in scouting throughout their teenage years.

Ultimately, Joe dedicated ten years of his life to the local scouting program at St. Simon and Jude's Catholic Church, in The Woodlands, TX, including a three-year stint as the Scoutmaster of Troop 204, one of the largest troops in the Tall Timbers District.

Devoted to the advancement and leadership development of his sons and the many scouts under his leadership, Joe personally led three scout trips to High Adventure Bases across the country, and under his guidance, thirty-two scouts attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America. Joe's hard work and dedication was rewarded in 2014, when he was recognized as the Tall Timber District's ``Outstanding Scout Leader''.

In addition to his community involvement, Joe built a successful career in finance. Highly respected in his field, Joe's career led him to work for industry giants, such as Citi Global Commodities, Amaranth, Enron Corp, and UBS. In 2013, Joe filled a new role as the Managing Director of HPS Investment Partners LLC in Houston, TX.

Joe's dedication to his wife, Lisa Bills, and his sons, Justin, Brett, and Jackson provides a stellar example of a loving husband and father--an example that deserves to be recognized and emulated by all who hear of his story. I am certain that Joe's entire family, including his mother and father, Mary and Joseph; his sister, Cheryl; his niece and nephews, Maia, Liam, and Aidan; his mother-in-law, Donna; and brothers-in-law, John and Eric will sorely miss his quick wit and lively personality.

It is my honor to join Joe's family, friends, and the entire community of The Woodlands, TX, to recognize Joe's lifetime of dedicated service. Joe passed away on November 7, 2017, and he will be truly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), a key architect of the tax reform plan, a leader and a champion for new business investment.

Mr. Speaker, I would note that a family of four in Massachusetts' First District will see a tax cut of nearly $2,000 under this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), one of our key leaders on the Ways and Means Committee who is really all in on growth and savings for America.

Mr. Speaker, I have a note that the average family of four in Michigan's Ninth District will receive a tax cut of over $1,700.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Holding), one of our key leaders on the Ways and Means Committee, who serves on the Tax Policy Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Holding) for his leadership on this issue, in particular, about international competitiveness for our workers. Residence-based taxation is an idea we should continue to explore. We will continue to work on this issue with him as leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the average family of four in the Fifth District of Georgia will see a tax cut of $1,484.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop), one of the new members of the Ways and Means Committee who has really been a leader for families, small businesses, and industry.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the average family of four in California's Fifth District will see a tax cut of $2,300.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Curbelo), who has been an advocate not only for Floridians but Puerto Rico and a number of our families and communities around the country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. I would note that families in Connecticut's First District will see an average tax cut of $3,858 and grow jobs by 11,000 jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Curbelo).

Mr. Curbelo, you and Resident Commissioner Gonzalez-Colon have been tireless advocates for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I appreciate the hard work you have done to help our fellow citizens on the island. I agree, this tax reform bill is a good first step, and I look forward to working with you on ideas to best serve the people on this island.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that families of four, the average family in Oregon's Third District, will see a tax cut of $2,200.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), who is the chairman of the Financial Services Committee and a dear friend of mine.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the average family of four in the Third District of Wisconsin will see a tax cut of over $2,000.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), who is the chairman of the Small Business Committee and a champion for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), one of the leaders of the Tax Policy Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci), one of our key members of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Rice), one of the key leaders of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant), a key leader on the Tax Policy Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry), our chief deputy whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding.

The intent of our tax reform bill is to achieve tax relief for individuals at every income level in every State.

I agree with the gentleman, there are still some areas where we will and can

make improvements. If the gentleman is willing to help us continue to move this process forward today, I am happy to commit to working with him to ensure we reach a positive outcome for his constituents to reconcile our differences with the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

So I note that constituents in the 18th District of Texas, the past speaker's district, that average families will see a tax cut of nearly $1,000, and Texas will grow 81,000 new jobs and see higher paychecks as a result of this tax reform bill.

We are proposing a Tax Code so fair and simple, 9 out of 10 Americans will be able to file using a simple postcard system. There is a fairness and equality for each American--knowing what each others' deductions are because we have exactly the same ones.

This simplicity, this fairness, these larger paychecks, this is what the Tax Cut and Jobs Act is all about.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to work with the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) on this important issue for the Alaska Native community. Under the tax bill, Alaska Native Settlement Trusts would be unintentionally subject to a higher tax rate.

I thank him for bringing this to my intention. I assure him that I will focus on this in conference as we finalize individual rate structures between the House and the Senate. I also look forward to working with him to advance the provisions of his bill in this important area.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this historic legislation before us today represents a crucial step to fulfilling our tax reform promise to the American people, but it is not the final step. We are Republicans. We believe the Tax Code doesn't belong to Washington. It belongs to the American people. We will continue to work to make it better and improve at every step of the way.

Before I make final remarks, I want to thank all of our Ways and Means Committee members who have done so much and worked so hard, as well as every Member of this House who helped make this opportunity real for the American people.

I also want to say how grateful I am to everyone at the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation and the House Office of the Legislative Counsel. Their careful analysis contributed so much to this bill.

Finally, I want to give special recognition to Barbara Angus, the chief tax counsel on the Ways and Means Committee, and all of our staff on the committee, who put their hearts and their souls and many sleepiness nights in the development of this bill. I can't thank them enough for their hard work and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives is, by its very design, the Chamber of Congress closest to the American people. Today, this House-- the people's House--will pass historic legislation to improve the lives of Americans nationwide.

For too long, this broken Tax Code has put the needs of the people second, propping up Washington's special interests at the expense of hardworking Americans.

For too long, this broken Tax Code has rewarded companies for outsourcing American jobs instead of encouraging them to create jobs here at home.

For too long, this broken Tax Code has eroded America's economic leadership around the world.

This country used to be the standard-bearer worldwide for competitive tax systems. Not anymore. Now the United States is barely a spec in the rearview mirrors of so many of our international competitors.

In our businesses, our workers, our Made in America products, which are the best in the world, are bearing the consequences of Washington's failure to act. That stops now, and it stops with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

With this historic bill, we will provide real simplicity for every taxpayer, we will deliver real fairness to every hardworking American, we will be more competitive than ever, we will win worldwide and here at home, and we will see better jobs and bigger paychecks in every community of this great Nation so people can keep more of their hard- earned dollars.

With this bill, we will deliver a new Tax Code built for a new era of American prosperity.

So to Washington's special interests, who are now being propped up by absurd carve-outs and loopholes, get ready to stand on your own. To our international competitors, who are now leading the pack, get ready to have some company. To the American people, who have waited years for tax reform, get ready for the tax relief you deserve.

Today, this House--the people's House--is taking action on the most transformational tax overhaul in a generation, and we are taking action today. It is time for this old, broken Tax Code to go. It is time to put the American people first.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our majority whip and a tremendous leader on tax reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), our majority leader and a champion for tax reform.

Mr. Speaker, no one man has plowed the field for tax reform for more years, more boldly, or more effectively than the Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 619, I call up the bill (H.R. 1) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1, the bill currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today the full House begins consideration of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, historic tax reform legislation that will revitalize our economy and provide lasting tax relief to Americans of all walks of life.

Over 30 years have gone by since the last overhaul of our Nation's tax system. In that time, our Tax Code has become one of the most complicated, unfair, and uncompetitive in the world. Today it is impacting nearly every aspect of Americans' lives, and not for the better.

The overwhelming complexity of today's system forces American taxpayers to spend billions of hours and billions of dollars every year just filing their taxes. Trillions of dollars in carve-outs and loopholes give favoritism to Washington special interests while hardworking Americans get nothing but frustration.

With some of the highest tax rates in the world for our businesses, we are seeing good-paying American jobs and manufacturing plants move overseas one after the other.

Today, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we change all of this. With this bill, we have an opportunity to deliver the most transformational tax overhaul in a generation. But make no mistake, this bill is not about us. It is not about Congress. This bill is about--for the first time in decades--providing the American people with a simple and fair tax system, so much so that nine out of ten Americans will be able to file using a simple postcard-style system. It is about finally rewarding hard work, growing jobs and paychecks, and allowing Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money to use on whatever is important to them.

So if you are one of the millions of Americans who is sick of today's Tax Code, you are going to see a remarkable difference. You will see the standard deduction doubled, increasing to protect more of every paycheck from taxes. You will have a larger child tax credit, providing more support as you raise a family and care for your loved ones. More Americans will get help raising their kids.

You will have peace of mind when it comes to life's most important investments because this bill preserves tax benefits to help you afford your home, to pay your property taxes, and put your kids through college.

So if you are a typical middle-income family of four making $59,000 a year, you are going to get a tax cut of nearly $1,200. More than that, you are going to enjoy the benefits of a strong, healthy, and growing American economy. You are going to see more jobs on Main Street.

With this bill, our small businesses will finally have low tax rates and a fair Tax Code that works with them as they grow and create jobs. You are going to see our larger businesses--our iconic American brands and our major manufacturers--win throughout the world and create new, good-paying jobs right here at home because, with this bill, we are going to have one of the most modern and one of the most competitive Tax Codes on the planet. That includes lowering our corporate rate from 35 to 20 percent, which beats many of our international competitors.

Not only are you going to see jobs stop leaving the United States, you are going to see our Nation become a 21st

century magnet for job creation and business investment.

With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the American people will see and help lead the way in launching a new era of Made in America innovation. In the end, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a striking alternative to the broken Tax Code we have today. It represents a bold path forward that will allow us as a country to break out of the slow-growth status quo once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, the American people have waited years--decades--for a fair, simple, and competitive Tax Code. Right now, in this moment, we stand on the doorstep of delivering the most sweeping tax overhaul since President Reagan's reforms in 1986. Like President Reagan back then, President Trump is now putting his full support behind this effort.

Let's pass this historic bill and take another step forward in delivering bold, pro-growth, pro-family tax reform for Americans throughout this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 10 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I will note that, in the district of my good friend from Massachusetts, the average family of four making $87,000 will see a tax cut of $2,032.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), chairman of the Tax Policy Subcommittee and a leader in the tax reform effort.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert), chairman of the Trade Subcommittee and a champion for working families.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from

Nebraska (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee and a champion for agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, Massachusetts will gain 24,000 jobs; families will see a $3,000 increase in their paychecks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), a key member of our committee and a leader in technology and employee stock options.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black), the chair of the Budget Committee who cleared the path for this progrowth tax reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan), one of the key members of our Tax Policy Subcommittee and a champion for working men and women.

Mr. Speaker, under tax reform, California will grow 111,000 new jobs, and paychecks will increase by nearly $3,000.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem), a champion of family-owned farms and businesses.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman's constituents in Virginia's District 11, with average household earnings of $136,000, with two kids, will see a tax cut of $5,008.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his leadership here.

Mr. Speaker, we will work together for a mutually accepted solution to make sure we exempt work colleges to use their endowments to provide tuition-free education.

Mr. Speaker, I would note that the constituents in California's 13th District, a median family of four earning $107,000 will see a tax cut of $2,589.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley).

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McKinley for his passion about making sure our smaller communities can revitalize and grow and about the role of the historic preservation tax credit in doing that. I commit to working with him and continuing to work with him on this issue because I know the importance of it.

Mr. Speaker, because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in the Fifth District of Massachusetts, a median household of four earning $143,000 will see a tax cut of $5,208.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), one of our key leaders on tax reform on the Ways and Means Committee.

Madam Speaker, I am proud the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for that family of four in Ohio, in the Ninth District, a $64,000 household, will see a tax cut of $1,284.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

Madam Speaker, I inadvertently cut the gentleman short. I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Will the gentleman yield?

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Turner and Mr. Davis for raising this important issue. On the committee, Representatives Meehan and Lynn Jenkins led the discussion and share your sentiments.

I have a keen interest in this issue. I will work with you toward a positive solution on tuition assistance in conference with the Senate.

Madam Speaker, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for families of four in Vermont, making $89,000, will see a tax cut of $2,030.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), one of our key leaders championing for small business.

Madam Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam) be permitted to control the balance of my time.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Madam Speaker, I thank both the gentlewoman and the gentleman for stepping forward and being such strong advocates for taxpayers in a State that taxes its families and businesses, I think, almost beyond belief.

Our goal in tax reform is to achieve tax relief for families and individuals across the country, regardless of where you live, and across all incomes, while, at the same time, unleashing the economic engine for American economic growth.

California, by the way, under tax reform, is the number one job creator under the new Tax Code.

So I agree with the gentleman and the gentlewoman. There are still some areas where we want to make and will make improvements in this bill. If they will work with us to continue to move this process forward, I am happy to commit to working with both of them to ensure we reach a positive outcome for their constituents and families as we reconcile our differences with the Senate.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, Washington is just hilarious.

Lawmakers back home tell everyone they are for tax reform, until it comes actually time to do it. Everyone says they want a fairer, flatter, simpler Tax Code, as long as you keep every special interest provision in this big, fat, messed-up Tax Code.

Everyone says they want to give people back more of what they earned and get Main Street businesses going, as long as you don't change anything in the Tax Code. As long as the lobbyists win and the American people lose, they are willing to talk about it.

House Republicans are actually acting on tax reform for the first time in 31 years.

In Washington, they sneer at that family of four back home making $59,000 a year. That is the average household. Under our tax reform, they pay $1,182 less that they keep in their pocket. Washington makes fun of that. That is real money for families.

A firefighter making $48,000 a year keeps over $1,300. That single mom working hard every day making $30,000 a year has a $700 larger refund than she gets today.

That Main Street startup business working I don't know how many hours, making $62,000 a year--that was my Chamber of Commerce member right there--in that startup business, they keep $3,007 more than they do today. Washington just laughs at that. But it is real money for real people.

In my district, a family of four making $90,000--two teachers--keeps $2,176 more every year of their life from this.

My friends on the Democrat side now worry about the debt. I remember the first year Democrats took control of the House, they doubled the deficit. The second year, they tripled it. The third year, it went to $1 trillion. It stayed that way until the American people gave the House back to Republicans.

They love spending money and raising the deficit when they let Washington grow, but when it is time to grow jobs and paychecks, all of a sudden they are worried about the debt.

The truth of the matter is we want to keep this debt and deficits going. Don't change anything. Keep this slow-growth economy, keep spending, and I guarantee you debts and deficits will grow.

We are talking about growing jobs, growing paychecks, and getting back to a balanced budget by getting this economy moving in a big way.

At the end of the day, it is time to end the status quo in Washington, D.C. Americans deserve a fair, flatter Tax Code, one that closes loopholes and ends special interest deductions so that Americans can keep more of what they earn, so their paychecks can raise and our businesses can compete and win anywhere in the world, especially here at home America.

It is time our jobs start coming back to America, rather than watching them go: our jobs, research, manufacturing patents, our headquarters. That era is over, and it starts with H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

We will continue this debate tomorrow, Madam Speaker, so we will continue to deliver tax reform and tax cuts for the American people.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on November 13, William M. Fly will celebrate his 100th birthday in a newly refurbished home thanks to the selfless efforts of volunteers from across the country, responding to the damages caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Over the course of a century, Bill, as his friends and family know him, has traveled the country and the world, but his home has always been in the State of Texas.

Following his graduation from the University of Texas in 1940, Bill joined the U.S. Army Air Force, where he served honorably as a First Lieutenant in the European Theater of the Second World War.

Upon completing his time in the service, Bill and his wife, Mary Beth, moved to Houston, TX, where he began a thirty-seven year career in the oil and gas industry. Despite moving to

New York City, Chicago, and St. Louis during his career, Bill and his wife of sixty-nine years returned to Texas in 1972, to settle in Harris County.

Blessed with four loving daughters, eleven grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, Bill and his loving wife lived together for another forty-five years, until Mary Beth passed away on May 13th, 2017.

In August of 2017, the flooding brought by Hurricane Harvey left over three feet of water in Bill's family home of over forty years, severely damaging his house and ruining irreplaceable mementos of his and Mary Beth's family.

In response to this tragedy, volunteers led by former Navy SEAL, Markus Luttrell and his wife, Melanie, rallied around Bill and made it their mission to rebuild his home by his 100th birthday.

Just two months after the effort began, people from across the country raised almost $90,000, $15,000 more than their original goal, to fund the recovery. Thanks to the tireless efforts of these volunteers, Bill will be able to return to his home by his birthday.

As he settles into his newly refurbished home to celebrate his 100th birthday, I join Bill's family, his friends, and his community to thank the volunteers who quickly returned him to his home and wish him a happy birthday as he begins his second century of life.

Mr. Speaker, with this budget, we have an opportunity to move forward on a major priority for the American people, which is delivering the first overhaul of America's broken Tax Code in more than three decades.

When you look, today, at the way America is taxed, it doesn't take long to recognize this is completely and utterly broken. You can see that it is so complex it forces millions of families and job creators to spend billions of hours and dollars each year just filing their taxes.

It is unfair. It gives wasteful Washington lobbyists loopholes and carve-outs to special interests by giving hardworking Americans nothing but frustration.

You can see that our Tax Code is miserably uncompetitive. That is why more and more of our American businesses and good-paying jobs are going overseas to countries with more modern and more competitive tax systems.

By passing this budget today, we can send a clear message to the American people: real tax reform is on the way. A ``no'' vote, as we heard from our Democratic colleagues, is to block tax reform and defend the status quo.

We are all working closely with President Trump as he leads this charge. Together, we have bold ideas to deliver more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks for all Americans this year.

I want to thank Chairman Black and the Budget Committee for all their hard work. I want to encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes''--vote ``yes''--on tax reform, and join me in taking an important historic step forward to deliver on our tax reform promise.

Mr. Chair, first, let me thank Chairman Black for her leadership on this remarkable budget.

When I ask my constituents from Texas about their biggest concerns for their family and the Nation's future, the overwhelming response is about the debt our country faces. Washington's spending just continues to grow too fast. Our national debt has topped $20 trillion, and without action, our great country is poised for a difficult and painful fiscal reckoning.

Today, with this budget, we have the opportunity to do something about it, the opportunity to tackle our Nation's fiscal challenges head-on with a strong, two-part approach.

First, this budget provides real fiscal responsibility. It balances within 10 years. It preserves and improves Medicare for the long term. It returns power to our State and local governments so they can do what is best for their communities, not Washington.

Now, these measures get us moving in the right direction, but fiscal accountability is only one crucial piece of the puzzle. If we want a healthier American economy for the long term, we need a growing American economy for the long term. That is why this budget by Chairwoman Black also lays the groundwork--the runway, if you will--for a once-in-a-generation pro-growth, pro-family, pro-middle class tax reform.

The House and the Senate are unified with President Trump in delivering a new Tax Code for a new era of American prosperity. We have released bold ideas to deliver more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks for the American people, especially our middle class families.

We are united in getting tax reform legislation to the President's desk this year, but if we do not pass the budget, tax reform doesn't move forward. So I would like to ask all my colleagues today on both sides of the aisle: Where do you stand? Are you content with an unsustainable national debt, a slow-growth economy, and a broken pro- Washington, pro-special interest Tax Code, or do you stand in support of fiscal responsibility and pro-growth tax reform that allows all Americans to keep more of their paychecks?

This is our time to show the American people we don't accept that slow-growth future.

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Black of the Budget Committee for her remarkable leadership in bringing this budget forward.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank Mr. Curbelo for his leadership in crafting this disaster relief package for our communities, and Chairman Shuster for his leadership on this bill as well.

I rise today not only on behalf of the people in my district in Texas who have been just hammered, but on behalf of everyone in Texas, Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Virgin Islands, who have been devastated by this fall's destructive hurricanes.

These are people who desperately need the support of our bill, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act. Hundreds of thousands of families have lost everything, even loved ones. This bill will help them begin to recover through meaningful, targeted tax relief they need now.

Earlier this week, as communities continued to be decimated by record-high wind gusts, flooding, and storm surges, regrettably, my House Democratic friends opposed this critical bill, putting politics above the very people they represent.

I stand here today to say we all have to do better. We have to show the Nation we can stand together in times of great tragedy to help each other and our neighbors, just as our people did in our district in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge support for this bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise to engage the gentleman from Kentucky in a colloquy.

Mr. Chairman, Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, CB&I, is a major international engineering procurement and construction firm with headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas, where I live. Their headquarters is a mere mile from my home.

The company employs nearly 34,000 people across the United States, and more than 1,000 people in the Eighth Congressional District of Texas.

CB&I built a world class petrochemical refinery in the Republic of Colombia for Colombia's state-owned company, valued at nearly $8 billion.

A commercial dispute has arisen as a result of construction of the refinery. And in an attempt to gain leverage, entirely unfounded and unprincipled criminal charges have been filed against current and former CB&I executives, both of whom are U.S. citizens.

Is it the intent of the committee, Mr. Chairman, that the Secretary of State should report to the Committee on Appropriations on any efforts by the Colombian Government to use its criminal process against any United States citizen to advance commercial or political objectives?

Is it further the intent of the committee that the Department of State should engage with Colombia to examine and report on allegations by United States citizens of procedural or substantive due process of law violations relative to commercial disputes?

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3178) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the delivery of home infusion therapy and dialysis and the application of the Stark rule under the Medicare program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3178, currently under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, improving and strengthening Medicare for the long term is a major priority for the American people and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle; but as we pursue this larger goal, we should not pass up opportunities to make smart, focused improvements that will help Medicare beneficiaries today. That is exactly what the Medicare Part B Improvement Act will do.

I introduced this bill with Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal, Health Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi, and Ranking Member Sander Levin. This legislation delivers targeted, immediate reforms to make Medicare work better for the American people, and it includes solutions from roughly one dozen Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

The Medicare Part B Improvement Act takes action on three primary goals: first, expanding access to high-quality care; second, improving efficiency in the delivery of care so that patients can better receive the care they need when they need it; and, third, easing administrative burdens on healthcare providers so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients.

Importantly, H.R. 3178 extends and improves Medicare home infusion services, which allow patients to receive personalized care in the comfort of their own home.

This legislation also extends an ongoing Medicare pilot program, the IVIG demonstration program, that allows patients with weakened immune systems to receive care in their homes.

This demonstration program carries a lot of meaning for me. I introduced it in 2012 as a direct response to the challenges facing patients with immunodeficiency diseases.

As I learned from Carol Ann Demaret, a constituent and friend of mine whose son David suffered from severe combined immunodeficiency disease, life with a severely weakened immune system can be an incredible struggle. For children especially, it can be a daily fight just to survive.

Allowing these vulnerable patients to receive treatment from the safety of their own home cannot only improve the quality of care, it can greatly enhance their quality of life. It can give a kid a real chance to be a kid.

In addition to these important provisions, this bill contains numerous solutions that will lower healthcare costs and increase access to high-quality, coordinated care for beneficiaries.

More than that, the bill is an excellent example of what we can accomplish through regular order. This legislation was approved unanimously by the Ways and Means Committee on July 13. It demonstrates how, working together, we can solve real challenges facing patients, families, and healthcare providers in our communities.

I would like to thank all the Ways and Means members on both sides of the aisle who helped craft the solutions in this bill. I would also like to recognize Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone of the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership and hard work in helping us move this bill forward.

The Medicare Part B Improvement Act takes targeted action to make Medicare work better for the American people. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), chairman of the Health Subcommittee, be permitted to control the remainder of the time.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life and faith of my friend, local Houston radio favorite, Michael ``Matt'' Patrick Ryan.

Matt came to Houston after stints in New York, Indiana, and Ohio. Boy, he just became a favorite of our region, his no-nonsense but so optimistic way of informing and entertaining us as host of KTRH Morning News and his syndicated afternoon show.

In September of 2015, Matt faced a new challenge--stage IV melanoma. He shared his struggle with us. Matt's battle with cancer ended last Sunday, July 9, but his inspiration is eternal.

So today, as a country, we all join Matt's family--especially his best friend and wife, Paula; children, Alexandra, Alanna, and Jake; his family, friends, and listeners in ``the Sandbox''--to recognize his lifetime of service, his courage, and his absolute faith in God.

We love you, Matt. You will be missed, friend.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the life and faith of my friend and local Houston radio favorite, Michael ``Matt'' Patrick Ryan.

Convinced at a young age that he was called to a life in the radio industry, Matt Patrick began his career by spinning records at a small New York radio station. After hosting radio programs in New York, Indiana, and Ohio, his career finally brought him to the great state of Texas in 2011.

Matt quickly became a favorite among his listeners with his no- nonsense way of informing and entertaining his audiences. A well-known name in Houston, Matt anchored the morning news on KTRH and hosted the syndicated Matt Patrick Show every afternoon on KPRC. For his talents in the ``theatre of the mind,'' Matt received national recognition as a two-time Radio and Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee.

In addition to his nearly 40-year career in radio, Matt was often a contributor on Fox 26 Houston, where he discussed politics and debated current events with local activists and public officials.

Matt's straight talking attitude and strong conservative values guided him through his broadcasting career and defined him as an individual. Never shying away from fighting for his beliefs, Matt's passion and dedication to defending the constitution inspired countless listeners, known as Patrick's Patriots.

In September of 2015, Matt faced a new challenge: he was diagnosed with stage IV Melanoma. True to his no-nonsense nature, Matt decided to share his struggle with his listeners, and on July 5th, his six year anniversary at KTRH, he announced that he had exhausted all standard of treatment options.

Following his announcement, his co-workers and radio listeners from across Texas joined together in an outpouring of support that Matt called ``breathtaking and humbling.''

Constantly supported by his best friend and wife, Paula; his children, Lexa, Alanna, and Jake; his sisters, Maureen Shell and Colleen Ryan Neubauer; his parents, John and Marie Drummond; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Cindy Parker; and his sister- in-law, Dawn Parker; Matt's unwavering moral compass and complete faith in God served as an example to his friends, his community, and his listeners.

It is my honor to join Matt's family, friends, and listeners to recognize his lifetime of service and his steadfast faith. On Sunday, July 9, Matt's battle with cancer ended. Matt's life was an inspiration to all who heard him, and he will be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize the life of a local icon: longtime Texas and Houston radio legend, Paul Berlin.

Spanning nearly seven decades, Paul's career in radio began after he won a local ``So You Want to be an Announcer'' contest at the young age of 17. Although a native of Memphis, Tennessee, Paul moved to Houston when he was 19, where he officially began his radio career as a local disc jockey at KNUZ Radio.

Paul's warm personality, jovial manner, and unique radio persona attracted fans from all genres of music, but his love of music went far beyond his radio appearances. As the owner of a string of nightclubs, Paul promoted concerts and dances hosted by legends such as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Nat King Cole, across the Houston area.

His passion for music eventually carried him overseas, where Paul toured U.S. military bases across Europe and brought the sounds of home to thousands of our young service members.

Over the years, Paul worked with music legends such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Mary Tyler Moore, and Sonny & Cher. However, he never stopped playing the music of local Houston singers, and he is credited with starting many songwriters' careers.

Before he retired in 2004, Paul went on to DJ at three other Houston stations. Six years after retiring, his love for music pulled him back into the radio business, and he returned to host a Saturday evening special at KSEV.

In 1998, Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2002, he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. Paul's storied career earned him many honors, such as the American Women in Radio & TV Media's Radio Personality of the Year and Marconi Award Nominee for Major Market Personality of the Year.

Paul was preceded in death by his precious wife of over sixty years, Nezzie. He is survived by five sons, Brad and his wife Patti, Glenn and his wife Sue, Bruce and his wife Dana, Craig and his wife Jamie, and Donald; nine grandchildren, Evan, Elise, Ross and his wife Melissa, Valerie, Denise and her husband Josh, Austin and his wife Cam, Paul, Carson, and Courtney; three great grandchildren, Samantha, Paige, and Tate; and many nieces and nephews.

Paul's formula for happiness, ``someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to,'' rings true today, and his love of music and dedication to his community made Houston a far happier place. On June 23, 2017, Paul passed away at the age of 86, and he will be sorely missed.