Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2996) to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Network for Manufacturing Innovation and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2996, the bill now under consideration.

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

H.R. 2996, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014, or RAMI Act, strengthens a critical sector of America's economy: advanced manufacturing.

Thanks to Congressman Tom Reed from New York for his diligent work on this legislation and to the gentleman from Massachusetts, Joe Kennedy. I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith who worked with Mr. Reed and Mr. Kennedy and members on both sides of the aisle on our committee in order to reach a bipartisan consensus on this legislation.

A strong manufacturing base is fundamental to U.S. economic success and national security.

Manufacturing supports more than 17 million direct and indirect American jobs. This includes 12 million Americans--almost 10 percent of the workforce--who work directly for small, medium, or large manufacturing companies.

For the millions of Americans who are employed in manufacturing fields, what matters most is that the manufacturing creates good- paying, family-supporting, community-sustaining jobs.

Manufacturing is especially important to Indiana, as it makes up just over 28 percent of our gross State product, the highest in the country. Indiana also leads the Nation in manufacturing employment. In Indiana's Eighth Congressional District that I represent, I have seen firsthand the work being done at manufacturers such as Berry Plastics, Toyota Motor, and Alcoa.

The thriving manufacturing industry in the Eighth District is also thanks to universities like Vincennes University, the University of Evansville, and the University of Southern Indiana producing a talented and well-trained workforce through degrees related to advanced manufacturing and working closely with the manufacturing employers in the district. Ivy Tech statewide also supports this effort.

My district is also home to every coal mine in Indiana. Affordable energy from sources such as coal and natural gas are vital components in boosting production for American manufacturers and attracting others from across the globe.

The United States continues to have one of the largest, strongest manufacturing sectors in the world and has demonstrated its ability to adapt and innovate time and time again. But our leading position is not guaranteed. Competing nations have been ramping up their investments in research and development and taking decisive steps to equal and surpass the United States. For instance, the World Bank reports that China already has forged ahead in high technology exports, with about 28 percent of the global market, compared to 18 percent for the United States.

We need to take steps now to emphasize the strengths of American industry and shore up its weaknesses. With a limited government role, we can help our manufacturers to be competitive and ensure that American workers and their families reap the benefits of high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs.

This bill will help our advanced manufacturers to accelerate the pace at which new technology is converted into better manufacturing processes and improved products.

This legislation will help America remain globally competitive in manufacturing. It will ensure that new and innovative projects come equipped with ``Made in America'' on their labels.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize the ranking member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee. Mr. Lipinski has worked on this issue for many years, including the Manufacturing Competitiveness Act that is included in this bill.

At this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren), a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, who is another sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds again to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, a strong manufacturing base is fundamental to U.S. economic success and national security. Again, manufacturing supports millions of good-paying American jobs; and, for the millions of Americans who are employed in the manufacturing field, that is what matters most, good-paying, family-supporting, community-sustaining jobs.

I urge my colleagues all to support this legislation.

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

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 484, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this important motion.

Last year, I was honored to be a conferee on MAP-21, and I am proud of the bill our conference committee produced. Our Nation's transportation projects are being completed faster, and States like my home State of Indiana received more Federal funding than they had in the past.

With construction season under way, we need to ensure that every State can continue with their important summer construction projects. This legislation--this motion--is vital to keep thousands of Americans working to rebuild our aging infrastructure.

Funding our Nation's infrastructure should not be a political issue. We all agree that we need a long-term solution to fund our Nation's crumbling infrastructure, but today we need to approve this motion.

The proposal from our Senate colleagues contained an error in financing for their bill that only paid for funding through October, not December. The error came in over $2 billion short. Nobody plans even the smallest transportation project on a month-to-month basis, and we should not be providing funding on a month-to-month basis. The Senate bill is not a viable solution for our States.

I met with Indiana Governor Mike Pence this morning, who reiterated to me how important it is to continue to provide long-term funding for every State. The House bill is the only proposal that gives every State the opportunity to adequately plan through this construction season and into the spring. The House bill is the only solution that is going to keep people working to rebuild our Nation's infrastructure.

I thank Chairman Shuster for his strong leadership on this issue, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this motion.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5035) to reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5035, the bill now under consideration.

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

As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, I would like to thank the full committee chairman, Mr. Smith, the full committee ranking member, Ms. Johnson, and the subcommittee ranking member, Mr. Lipinski, for their bipartisan work on this bill.

This bill reauthorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology, also known as NIST. Whether contributing to the technology of the smoke detector or developing X-ray standards for mammograms, NIST has had a substantial impact on our Nation's scientific and technological developments, industry, and economy for over 100 years.

H.R. 5035 authorizes $850 million for NIST in fiscal year 2014 and $855.8 million in fiscal year 2015. This bill implements changes and updates to ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds during tight fiscal times, while still maintaining a competitive edge in the United States.

H.R. 5035 adds language to emphasize NIST's role in advancing our Nation's technological competitiveness and innovation ability, and enables more information sharing related to technological standards. Additionally, this legislation codifies NIST's outreach and education efforts.

Another critical program in this legislation is the Hollings Manufacturing Partnership, or MEP. This program provides assistance to small, U.S.-based manufacturing companies to help identify and adopt new technologies and manufacturing techniques.

This bill answers a need expressed by the manufacturing community and changes the existing cost share structure within the MEP program so that a 1-1 ratio of Federal and matching funds is held throughout the life of the center.

The bill also includes language to ensure centers are reevaluated and face a new competition every 10 years.

In my State of Indiana, Purdue University serves as the MEP of our region. Clabber Girl, a small business I visited in the Eighth District of Indiana, is a prime example of the important impact MEPs have on our economy. This manufacturer of baking powder, baking soda, and cornstarch has utilized Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program, which has assisted over 12,000 organizations and trained over 26,000 employees since 1986.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, as NIST is an agency critical to the advancement of the United States technology and scientific industries.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. I believe that this permanent extension is necessary to ensure the Internet remains accessible for all Americans.

Madam Speaker, the Internet economy is growing and changing every day, and this pro-growth legislation will support the vibrant online marketplace of goods and ideas by preventing State and local tax policies from creating barriers to access.

Americans use the Internet every day to communicate, to work, and to get an education. They shouldn't have to pay an unnecessary and unfair tax to do so.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for his work on this important bipartisan bill. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation.

Last year, I was honored to be conferee a for MAP-21, the highway bill, and I am proud of the bill that our conference committee produced and was subsequently signed into law. Our Nation's transportation projects are being completed faster, and States like my home State of Indiana receive more Federal funding than they had in the past.

We do need a long-term solution to fund our infrastructure. Today, however, we need to support this extension. This funding is critical for projects such as Interstate 69, which runs through my district.

With construction season underway, we need to ensure that every State can continue with the summer construction projects that are ongoing. This legislation is necessary to keep thousands of Americans working to rebuild our infrastructure--improving the flow of commerce and ensuring the safety of Americans as they travel.

I would like to thank Chairman Camp and Chairman Shuster for their leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Thank you, Chairman Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to work on this bipartisan effort to reduce the administrative burden placed on federally funded researchers.

Last year, in my new role as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, I participated in a university tour across the State of Indiana. This tour focused on federally funded research in the State of Indiana, and included Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Indiana State University, both located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana, both in Evansville, Indiana, and the issues of concern these higher education institutions have surrounding federally funded research.

Along with the input I received during last year's tour, we have also received feedback and input at various hearings the committee has held pertaining to this regulatory burden.

This legislation would establish a working group to review Federal regulations that affect these universities and others. The working group would be required to obtain input from stakeholders, including federally and non-federally funded researchers, higher education institutions, small businesses, and scientific disciplinary societies. The bill also requires a report on what steps are taken to carry out the recommendations of the working group.

I would like to thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Johnson, my colleague Mr. Peters from California, and my colleague Mr. Lipinski from Illinois for their work on the bill. I am hopeful this bipartisan legislation can see movement in the Senate and that, from there, we can help to alleviate some of the burden placed on our research universities so they can get back to the main goal of conducting basic science research.

Mr. Chairman, when I tour businesses in the Eighth District of Indiana and meet with Hoosier families, they tell me they are concerned about the enormous debt burdening our country.

Just like Hoosier families and businesses that have to make hard decisions when money is tight, Washington must do the same in order to sustain our role as the leader in the free world.

We are over $17 trillion in debt. It is clear Washington, D.C., has a spending problem, and there are two very different pathways to address this issue.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle would continue us on the failed status quo pathway of more spending, more taxes, and more debt. Their plan does not address the long-term drivers of our debt. It raises taxes on families who are already struggling to make ends meet and has no intention of balancing, ever. And it does nothing to protect and strengthen the Medicare safety net promised to our seniors. Put simply, their plan does not implement serious reforms necessary to put us on a path to a sustainable future.

Mr. Chairman, our budget has a different vision for America. Our budget plan saves $5.1 trillion over the next

decade, pays down our debt, and encourages a growing and healthy economy. Our plan expands opportunities for all Americans by focusing on higher education and job training. We encourage a simpler, fairer Tax Code that saves Americans thousands of hours spent every year on tax compliance. Our plan protects the social safety net programs by encouraging upward mobility and providing States with the flexibility to meet the needs of their residents.

One of the most important aspects of our budget plan provides Social Security and Medicare for our Nation's seniors. We preserve traditional Medicare for those in or near retirement, while also offering options for Medicare that strengthens this vital program so it is still around for future generations.

For these reasons, Mr. Chairman, I support the Ryan budget plan, which puts our country on a pathway back to prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation. Let's focus on schools in my district. Greencastle School Corporation was forced to cut the hours of 54 employees from full time to part time.

The Terre Haute School Corporation was forced to cut the hours of hundreds of employees. Many of them are bus drivers who are no longer allowed to provide transportation for afterschool activities.

Washington Greene County School Corporation was forced to cut the hours of 150 employees from 40 to 29 hours.

Eastern Greene County School Corporation announced that all of their employees who aren't receiving health insurance will have their hours cut to 28 hours a week.

Dubois County School was forced to reduce the hours for instructional assistants, cafeteria employees, and custodial staff.

Mr. Speaker, the vast majority of these employees already receive health insurance either through their spouse or other sources, and many of them have worked for their school corporation for many years.

School corporations don't have the luxury of raising taxes to pay for these provisions of the Affordable Care Act. They are not a major business that can raise their prices.

School corporations simply can't afford the Affordable Care Act. These Hoosiers work every day with students, and because of this provision in the Affordable Care Act, our students will suffer.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation. As a practicing physician for over 15 years, the majority of my patients were Medicare patients. I know firsthand how flawed the SGR is. By not repealing this flawed system, to remain in business, many doctors across America will be forced to limit the number of Medicare patients that they see, and many may refuse to see Medicare patients all together.

Failing to act or voting ``no'' on this legislation will limit seniors' access to their doctors. This will be especially dangerous in rural areas where there are already physician shortages. It is time we finally solve this problem and ensure that Medicare patients have access to their chosen doctors.

I urge my colleagues to stand up for all of the seniors in America and support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill.

Less than 6 months ago, the House passed my bill, which requires the Department of Transportation to address the issue of sleep apnea for truck drivers through a rule and not guidance, potentially saving the industry $1 billion. Unfortunately, our Nation's pilots and air traffic controllers are facing a similar arbitrary guidance issued by

the FAA, and we have brought a bill to the floor to protect them.

As a doctor, I know firsthand that sleeping disorders are incredibly serious and can be very dangerous. However, I also know that you can't diagnose any patient by a set of arbitrary guidelines and stereotypes. Like any major disease, it can only be diagnosed through proper testing and conversation with a doctor. Issuing guidance based on nonmedical factors on this issue for pilots and air traffic controllers will cause doctors to order unnecessary tests, driving up the costs of health care and potentially affecting our Nation's airline travelers.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Susan Elkington on her selection to receive a STEP Award from The Manufacturing Institute. As she is a fellow Hoosier and an inspiration to young women interested in technical careers, I am pleased to stand before this body of Congress to recognize her contributions to Toyota, the automotive industry, Indiana, and her community.

Manufacturing is revitalizing our economy and making America strong. Investments in manufacturing, particularly in automotive manufacturing, multiply across the economy, creating jobs and growth in other sectors. Manufacturing is the backbone of our Nation's middle class. Today's manufacturing offers competitive wages, is high tech, safe, and offers great growth opportunities for women. Yet, over 80 percent of manufacturers still cannot find the skilled workers they need.

Part of this skills gap is due to the lack of women in the industry. While women make up 50 percent of the U.S. workforce, they make up only 24 percent of the manufacturing workforce.

STEP Award Honorees, such as Ms. Elkington, are attracting more women to manufacturing careers by educating young workers. By telling the real stories of these women, we can inspire and encourage the next generation of women to join the manufacturing industry and pursue exciting and meaningful careers.

Ms. Elkington has provided leadership and expertise at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana in a variety of influential roles as she progressed to become Toyota's first female vice president of manufacturing for a vehicle assembly plant. She has been a key player in Toyota's success in Indiana from the beginning.

She joined Toyota as a manufacturing engineering specialist in 1998, serving on a team preparing for the start of production of Toyota Indiana's first vehicle, the Tundra full-size pickup truck. She rose through the ranks into the role of General Manager of Assembly and Stamping/Body Weld, where she oversaw numerous operations of Production, Conveyance, Engineering, Maintenance and new model preparation. She helped to plan and manage production of Toyota's Sequoia, Sienna, Highlander and the Highlander Hybrid models.

Ms. Elkington is committed to diversity and inclusion within manufacturing both at Toyota and in the State of Indiana. She recognized the absence of women in manufacturing early in her career. Consequently, she led Toyota Indiana's diversity and inclusion initiatives as diversity champion, and as Toyota's champion for the Society of Women Engineers.

I am thankful for the years of dedication and hard work by Susan Elkington, and I congratulate her for setting an example of professional excellence and advocacy of women in manufacturing, as well as her commitment to the greater community.

Thank you, Dr. Gingrey, and thanks again for having this time for the Doctors Caucus to talk about health care reform.

What I want to focus on in my brief time is the Republican alternatives that we have had all along. When the Affordable Care Act was brought to the floor, there was only one amendment allowed, and that was a ``motion to recommit'' amendment, and guess what, the Republicans had an alternative health care plan which we put forth.

Since that time, we have had multiple plans, almost 200 other proposals from Republicans, to reform the health care system in a patient-centered way. As a physician, that is what we want. We want this to be focused around the patient, not around Washington bureaucrats, not around decisions made here in Washington. We want patients to have access to quality affordable care. We want everyone to have that,

just like the Democrats say that they do, even though with their plan, the Affordable Care Act, in 2023 the CBO says 31 million people will still be uninsured, which is a fact that not a lot of people are looking at in the media at this point. But we have had all kinds of alternatives.

Dr. Tom Price has had a bill that he has put up many times, H.R. 2300, in this Congress. The Republican Study Committee in this Congress, led by Dr. Roe, has a very good health care reform proposal, and, again, along with almost 200 other proposals to reform health care.

So I want to dispel this myth that Republicans don't have alternatives to a near-government takeover of the health care system. As Congresswoman Ellmers just stated, that is the plan here. The plan is to have the government nearly control the system, and we can't have the government in health care because it doesn't work.

We are finding that out now with what is happening with the Affordable Care Act. Access is actually going to be inhibited by the Affordable Care Act. In some States, 80 to 90 percent of the people signing up for the Affordable Care Act are in the Medicaid program, a program already underfunded, a program already that is poor insurance that limits the very access to health care that we are all fighting for.

The exchanges, which are going to be overly costly, look at the deductibles you are seeing in some plans across the country, look at the price you are seeing on the monthly payments across the country. Again, over 5 million people had health care that they liked, but they have lost it. We may see 50 million people or so next year when the delayed employer mandate comes into place that was unilaterally delayed by the administration, I would argue, against the will of Congress because it was in the law and is in the law.

So I want to just focus on the fact that Republicans have alternatives. The GOP Doctors Caucus has been involved in all of these. I don't recall, but you probably can tell me, were you consulted in 2009, the doctors in Congress, when the health care law was passed? From what everybody tells me, no. The answer to that question is, no. If you were going to talk to anyone about what might be good health care reform, wouldn't you think you would actually consult with people that have been in the field practicing medicine for years--the doctors, the nurses, the other health care providers in Congress that could give you that firsthand experience that they have had in the health care system as part of the equation if you are going to do this right?

So, again, Republicans are for patient-centered health care reform. We realize that people were uninsured; we realize that the cost is too high. We want to bend the cost curve, get people insured by getting the cost of health care down and making sure that all of our patients have access to quality, affordable health care in a timely manner without Washington, D.C., government bureaucrats telling them what is a good policy, what is a bad policy and, I will argue, in the future telling them what is good health care and what isn't.

With that, Dr. Gingrey, I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Louise A. Anderson who at the end of this month will be retiring as Director of the West Central Indiana Area Health Education Center in my district.

A nurse by vocation, she has been passionate about ensuring that Hoosiers have access to quality healthcare in their communities by recruiting and training the next generation of healthcare providers. In addition to her professional engagements, Ms. Anderson remains a very active volunteer in professional and community organizations holding several board and committee positions at the local, state, and national levels. Her commitment to the citizens of West Central Indiana for the last three decades has been exemplary through her service as a provider, teacher, and educator. May we all live such a rich and distinguished life of service.

Mr. Speaker, as a physician, my goal is to make certain that every American has access to quality, affordable health care.

The President and congressional Democrats promised that you can keep your health insurance if you like it. Well, we learned yesterday that in my home State of Indiana, only 701 Hoosiers have signed up successfully for the Affordable Care Act, while over 108,000 Hoosiers have had their current plans canceled. I think the people of Indiana know this promise has not been kept.

Mary, from Evansville, Indiana, wrote to me about this very thing. She said:

Our insurance is excellent. I had a heart attack a year

ago. We met our deductible this year, but insurance has paid

for everything recommended, 2 months of cardiac rehab,

prescriptions, and even more surgery. My insurance and my

doctors saved my life, and now I am at risk of losing both.

On Facebook, Andrea wrote that she was able to extend her plan for her and her son till next December, then it

would be canceled. She went on to say, ``What happened to if you want to keep your health care, you can?''

And, finally, Allen summed up his frustration in one sentence:

I will not have insurance beginning January 1. End of

story.

Mr. Speaker, these are real stories that affect real people, hardworking families just trying to get by.

Mr. Speaker, we need to hold the President and congressional Democrats to their promise.