Kristi L. Noem

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to clarify.

I firmly disagree with my colleague on the other side of the aisle who just talked about Social Security and Medicare. In fact, the economic statistics that have recently come back have talked about how the Medicare trust fund and how Social Security are actually doing better since we did this historic tax cut bill because more people are working. They are earning more money. They are paying into those programs, and those programs are more secure into the future because we did historic tax reform.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act--a key component of tax reform 2.0. I strongly support this legislation, because I worked on it for many years, but also because of the stories I hear across South Dakota every day.

I had, several months ago, a single mom of two kids come up to me. She is a bank teller. She told me that because of tax reform that her check is $80 bigger every 2 weeks. That meant that her 10-year-old son could get new basketball shoes this year instead of going out and trying to find some that were used from another student who had outgrown them.

I also had another woman from Platte, South Dakota, contact my office and tell me that because of tax reform and tax cuts--her family doesn't usually get much money. They don't make a lot of money. Their wages aren't great. But because of that bill, they have more money in their pockets today. It has made a huge difference in paying their day-to-day bills.

Mr. Speaker, there are dozens of other stories that I could tell you from folks across the State of South Dakota of the benefits of tax reform. Our energy costs have gone down. Our utility bills have gone down. Companies have paid increasing wages for families. They have also paid out bonuses. The tax cuts have been life changing for many in our State.

With that passage and with the passage of this bill today, we will have the opportunity to ensure the upward economic trajectory we have experienced because of a permanent culture of growth and stability that is rooted in the Tax Code.

So tax reform 2.0 is going to make sure that with the benefits families are enjoying today they will still be able to enjoy them long into the future. While no tax plan is perfect in everybody's eyes, I am optimistic that this package today will have a huge benefit for the people of South Dakota. Our Tax Code should help people, not punish them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of my legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Red Arndt for his many years of service to the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, as well as his lifetime commitment to bringing safe and reliable water to the rural corners of this country.

Born Lennis Arndt on May 1, 1948, he earned the nickname, Red, while in grade school from his full head of red hair. The name stuck, and most people only know him today as Red Arndt.

Red grew up in Springfield, Minnesota, about 90 minutes from his current hometown, Luverne where he first started working in 1989 as their public utilities director. Shortly after beginning his new position, Red heard about a proposal to bring water from the Missouri River in South Dakota to the surrounding states. A major undertaking with more people doubting the idea than supporting, Red saw the opportunity and potential, recommending to the mayor and city council that Luverne join and become one of the first members of the corporation that would later become the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System.

Seeing Lewis & Clark develop from conception to construction was a labor of love for Red, and a mission he fought hard to achieve. Red, one of only two original directors from 1990 still on the board, held a shovel when the ground was first broke in 2003. He has made over 60 trips to Washington, D.C.; many more to the state capitals; and has attended countless county, city and community meetings.

Fighting to get Lewis & Clark off the ground was just a starting point for Red. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the project, serving as the vice-chairman of the board beginning in 1994 until becoming the board chairman in 2006, a position he still holds. Lewis & Clark has experienced ups and downs during those years, yet under Red's leadership, over 200 miles of pipeline have been laid in the ground-- currently delivering much needed water to 14 member communities and reaching over 300,000 people across South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. He has seen over $470 million in funding to Lewis & Clark, including $57 million in advance funding from the three states.

Red's indisputable dedication was demonstrated when he participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the water treatment plant in August 2012, a mere two weeks after having open heart surgery. His fellow directors surprised him at the ceremony by presenting him with the Lewis & Clark Trailblazer Award, which is the organization's highest honor.

In May 2016, Luverne was finally able to celebrate their connection to Lewis & Clark, with Red reveling in taking the first swig of water. It was at this ceremony that the meter building in Luverne was dedicated in Red's honor. Red will be the first to acknowledge that this endeavor, benefiting generations to come in the tristate area, has been a true team effort. But, there is no question Red's vision for the future, dogged dedication and strong leadership have been a driving force through the years.

When he is not dedicating his time to Lewis & Clark, Red is a proud father of three boys (all sharing his red hair) and grandfather of three red-headed little girls. His family is his pride and joy. You will often find Red wearing a pin honoring his son who served in the United States Air Force.

As a dessert-first type of guy, Red lives life to the fullest, enjoying travel, fishing and numerous other outdoor activities in his free time, as well as hanging out in his ``man cave.'' I am grateful for his commitment to public service, his hard work on behalf of Lewis & Clark, and, more importantly, I am proud to call him a friend.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Red Arndt for his many great contributions and wish him the best as he continues to make the most out of the life God has given.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and his work protecting life in this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, taxpayers should not have to bear the abortion industry's financial burden directly or indirectly, and yet, every single year, the American people are forced to deposit $60 million into the bank account of Planned Parenthood, an organization that performs more than 300,000 abortions annually.

Now, I understand that this money cannot be directly spent on abortions, and we have been successful in protecting taxpayers from funding these procedures through the Hyde amendment.

But by subsidizing organizations like Planned Parenthood, which promote and perform abortions, taxpayers are propping up the abortion industry, and that is just not right. That is a burden that they should not have to bear.

I know some will try to claim this move as damaging women's health, but that is false. The President's decision will not take a penny from women's health.

Instead, it redirects those funds to clinics and centers that offer comprehensive life-affirming care to women from the moment of conception on.

And in many areas, health centers like this far outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics. For example, in my home State of South Dakota, there are six federally qualified health centers operating in 45 service sites, but just one Planned Parenthood center.

For decades, the abortion industry has tried to normalize this operation. But I want to be clear: Abortion is not healthcare, and it is not family planning either.

Abortion is the intentional ending of an unborn baby's life. There is nothing more fundamental to our society than our kids. Our founding documents speak on behalf of us and our posterity.

The American Dream itself rests on the idea that our children will have more opportunity than we do, and that is how America works.

And no matter how small they are, whether they are born or unborn, we should never stop passionately arguing for their life and their liberty.