Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Army Specialist Arronn D. Fields.

SPC Fields, a 27-year-old native of Terre Haute, Indiana, lost his life in combat on May 21st in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, during an insurgent attack when his military vehicle received rocket-propelled grenade fire.

SPC Fields was assigned to the 381st Military Police Company, 81st Troop Command, Army National Guard located in Plymouth, Indiana. SPC Fields deployed to Afghanistan as a member of Task Force Guardian, a multi-unit military police force from Indiana.

Indiana lost a great citizen, who enlisted in the Indiana National Guard in 2006.

I would like to offer my most heartfelt condolences to SPC Fields' family and friends. His commitment to his fellow soldiers and the Indiana National Guard make SPC Fields a patriot. We are a grateful Nation and SPC Fields will be missed, but not forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Princeton, Indiana, located within my district. Princeton was recently named, one of two, Stellar Communities by the Lt. Governor's office in Indiana. The Stellar Community award, created in 2011, is specific to city revitalization projects.

The program is a partnership between multiple state agencies to help fund community renovation projects, and is the latest example of a state balancing a budget, without raising a penny in taxes--all while reaping the benefits of a surplus.

The downtown Courthouse Square in Princeton will be upgraded with new sidewalks, curbs, landscaping, and signage. The housing market will receive a much needed shot in the arm too. New loft condominiums and senior housing cottages are included in the plan.

Tourism will improve as well with restoration to old historic Courthouse Square building facades, and groundbreaking construction of a Bicentennial Plaza will only increase the foot traffic in the downtown area.

We've seen government grants work for several other Main Street projects across the country, and for the second year in a row, I'm honored that a city in my district will receive the chance to improve the quality of life for local residents. Lastly, I want to congratulate the Mayor of Princeton, Bob Hurst, for his excellent work on promoting a friendly economic environment in Indiana's 8th Congressional District.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this motion to instruct. The House needs to conference with the Senate and craft a long-term highway bill.

In MAP 21, the Senate bill, there is a provision that was offered by Senator Bingaman that provided disincentive to States and cities to consider partnering with the private sector for fear of losing a percentage of its Federal funding. This is only one of the many problems I have with the Senate bill.

In my State of Indiana, Governor Daniels made the bold move to enter into a public-private partnership for the Indiana toll road. Indiana received over $4 billion up front for the lease of this road. When the Governor announced this public-private partnership, Members of this body were critical of the decision, and some even claimed that it would never work.

Not only has it been successful for the Indiana toll road, but it has also resulted in over $6.5 billion invested in infrastructure projects throughout Indiana. After 30 years of planning, Interstate 69 in my district is being built connecting Evansville, the third largest city in the State, to Annapolis.

The Indiana toll road is a perfect example of how business and government can work together to address America's infrastructure needs. The Bingaman amendment ignores these types of successes, and rather than rewarding, States are putting the American taxpayer first and pursuing alternative funding for roads. It will punish a State and take away portions of their Federal funding. Under the Bingaman amendment, Indiana would lose $72 million. Nevada, I should point out, will lose $66 million.

In these challenging fiscal times, public-private partnerships represent an exciting option to many States to better leverage their Federal transportation dollars. Congress should take positive steps to encourage innovative financing strategies like public-private partnerships rather than penalizing them. The only way to fully address our Nation's infrastructure needs is to involve the private sector. The Federal Government can't do everything.

Building America's Future,

April 16, 2012.

Hon. John Boehner,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

The Capitol, Washington, DC.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Minority Leader, House of Representatives,

The Capitol, Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi: In order

to remain economically competitive, the United States must

have a modern 21st century transportation system. Goods must

move efficiently to market and people must reliably get from

their homes to their jobs or schools.

However, as you are keenly aware, transportation-funding

shortfalls are increasing at all levels of government, and

traditional funding sources are no longer keeping pace with

rapidly growing needs. As a result, states and cities have

had to increasingly look to innovative solutions, such as

partnering with the private sector (where appropriate) in an

effort to modernize their transportation networks. Now is

surely not the time to restrict the ability of states and

cities to innovate.

Yet, that is precisely what happened with the inclusion of

several harmful provisions in the Senate's transportation

bill (MAP 21). We are particularly concerned about language

that provides a disincentive to states and cities to consider

partnering with the private sector for fear of losing a

percentage of its federal funding; eliminates the option to

use Private Activity Bonds (PABs) to finance leased highway

projects; and changes the depreciation timetable for longterm

highway leases from 15 years to 45. Taken together or

individually, these provisions would have a chilling effect

upon future private investment in infrastructure, perhaps

even bringing it to a complete halt.

As the House continues to work on its multi-year

transportation bill, we urge you not to include any

provisions that would make it more difficult for states and

cities to continue to innovate and partner with the private

sector. In order to address our nation's enormous

transportation needs, states must rely on a variety of

options to fund and finance those needs. At a time when

federal funds are increasingly limited but needs are growing

exponentially, the last thing Congress should do is tie the

hands of governors and mayors by limiting the options

available to them.

Public private partnerships are not the solution to every

state's transportation funding challenges, but they are

certainly a piece of the solution.

Our own experience with public private partnerships in

infrastructure investment convinces us that the private

sector is looking for such long term stable investments and

that these partnerships must be a viable option for helping

to fund our transportation needs.

We urge you to protect the ability of states seeking

creative solutions to transportation funding challenges,

rather than creating roadblocks to leveraging state dollars

with private investment.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Bloomberg,

Mayor, City of New York.

Ed Rendell,

Former Governor, State of Pennsylvania.

Mitch Daniels,

Govenor, State of Indiana.

I recently conducted a survey on my Web site regarding gas prices because I wanted to hear directly from my constituents how higher gas prices are affecting their lives, and I received over 880 responses.

Henry, from Odon, Indiana, told me he owned a car wash, and when people are paying $40 extra for gas, they aren't paying for a car wash, affecting his small business and his employees.

Rob, from Lynnville, Indiana, lives in a rural part of the State. He and his wife are forced to drive over 30 miles to get to work. A $1 increase per gallon of gas can cost them up to $2,000 extra per year.

An overwhelming majority of responders believe we should expand our domestic oil production and become more energy independent. After paying $3.91 per gallon in Evansville, Indiana, last week, I agree.

Since President Obama has taken office in January 2009, domestic oil production has decreased by 7 percent on Federal lands. In January 2009, gas was $1.83 per gallon. It's an average of $3.86 per gallon today. Under this administration, they have risen over 100 percent, the highest for any President.

I urge the President and the Senate to act on the nine bills the House has passed to reduce energy costs and help reduce gas prices for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be removed as a cosponsor on H.R. 3697.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board, or the so-called IPAB; and I urge President Obama and our colleagues in the U.S. Senate to join us, the House Republicans, in saving access to quality care for America's seniors.

I've been a practicing physician for over 15 years, and I don't think I have seen anything potentially more detrimental to seniors' health care than the Independent Payment Advisory Board created under the Affordable Care Act. As has already been said, this group of 15 unelected Washington, DC, bureaucrats, appointed by the President, will be making decisions on the funding of Medicare with little oversight from your elected officials. This is not a partisan issue. Whether it's this President, the next President, or a President 20 years from now, no President should have the power to create a board with this much control over health care.

Doctors provide critical care to our Nation's seniors, but they also run a business. They have to receive proper reimbursement to keep their doors open or they will lose their ability to provide care for America's seniors.

The Affordable Care Act has already cut over $500 billion from the Medicare program, and then the President doubled down by proposing over $300 billion more in his budget. Medicare cannot sustain further cuts if we are to keep access for America's seniors.

Without any chance of judicial or congressional oversight, IPAB will become one of the most powerful agencies within our government.

I ask the American people: What part of the government operates this way? When people in Washington, DC, make decisions you don't agree with, you can vote them out of office, but when IPAB makes a decision, the American people most likely will have no recourse.

If the President and the U.S. Senate really are concerned about saving Medicare, which they claim to be, I urge them to get serious and work with us, because according to CBO, Medicare may be insolvent as early as 2016. We need to reform Medicare in order to strengthen and preserve it for future generations, and true reform is not continuing to cut funding of the program.

Again, I urge the President and the Senate to join us in eliminating

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of commonsense policies that will help create jobs.

I had the pleasure of meeting with one of my constituents, Jon David of Evansville, Indiana. Jon owns a small business, David Enterprises, an asphalt contractor and concrete supplier. He would like to expand his business, but onerous regulations are preventing him from doing it.

When I sat down with Jon, he talked about how EPA rules--such as emissions controls, dust regulations, the permitting process for oil refining, and wetlands designations on his property--these regulations, he tells me, are keeping him from selling his product and services that would allow him to expand his business and hire more employees. Instead, he spends his time dealing with regulations that increase his costs and prevent him from expanding.

The EPA under this administration should take note of how rules and regulations are hurting job creation. This is unacceptable. The House has passed bills to help out Jon and others like him, but the Senate has ignored them. There are 27 bills, at least, that we've passed here that we've sent to the Senate that would help Jon so he could quit spending his days fighting regulations so his business can survive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my most heartfelt congratulations to Commander Paul B. Spohn, United States Navy, for a distinguished career. Commander Spohn recently retired as the Commanding Officer, Naval Support Activity Crane, one of the many command posts throughout his career. I would like to especially recognize Commander Spohn for his leadership at NSA Crane, the world's third largest Naval Installation, based in Indiana's 8th Congressional District.

Commander Spohn began his 35 year career by enlisting in the Navy as a Boiler Technician in January 1977 and received his commission in June 1990 through the Limited Duty Officer Program.

His many achievements in academics and the Navy have made him an officer that all sailors and citizens should emulate. His dedication to our nation has spanned many decades and many posts and for that I would like to thank Commander Spohn.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate some great news for manufacturing in Indiana's Eighth Congressional District, my home. On January 17, the 3 millionth vehicle rolled off the line at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana. Approximately 80 percent of the parts for these vehicles were made here in America within a 300-mile radius of the plant. These vehicles are then shipped and sold both across this country and around the world thanks to the free trade agreements that Congress passed this year.

This plant began operations in 1996 and employs 4,149 people. I had the pleasure of meeting many of the Princeton team members last February, and I want to commend each of these employees for their hard work and dedication. I congratulate them on a job well done. I have no doubts that it won't be long until we celebrate another millionth vehicle made right here in the U.S.A. in my district in Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to light a problem that's facing my constituents in Clinton, Indiana. Feather Creek floods over 100 times per year, damaging the same homes year after year. In 2008, many of the homes filled completely with water, leaving only their roofs to be recognizable.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been working on the project for many years, including numerous environmental studies and surveys of the land, but the flooding does continue. The Army Corps, to their credit, held a town hall last week in Clinton, where they heard from over 300 residents about the damage this flooding has been causing them for decades. The estimated cost of the project is $900,000.

I do appreciate the willingness of the Army Corps of Engineers, specifically, Colonel Leonard, to meet with my staff and constituents, and I urge the Corps to remember what they heard in Clinton, Indiana, last week and complete the Feather Creek project as quickly as possible. My constituents deserve no less than a safe environment, free from the threats of yearly floods.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 501. As a cardiothoracic surgeon, I often worked through the holidays since, guess what? No one chooses when they have a heart attack. I did my job. I'm here today to do my job, and I'll work through the holidays if that's what it takes. We have 11 days to pass a tax relief bill along with the extension of unemployment insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and, finally, 11 days to prevent a 27 percent cut to Medicare that will put American seniors at risk of losing their access to quality health care.

Seniors rely on being able to see their doctors. This 60-day patch does nothing to create certainty for providers of seniors; in fact, it jeopardizes their care.

I support the bill we passed last week. I support this resolution. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on House Resolution 501.

Mr. Speaker, as a cardiothoracic surgeon, I stand here today to voice my concern about the impending cuts to the Medicare program. I implore the Congress to craft a multiyear fix to the SGR-- ideally, a permanent fix. This is a real threat to seniors across the country. Each year, the Congress continues to play politics with seniors' access to quality care. This must end.

Seniors, some of our most vulnerable citizens, may not be able to see the

doctors of their choosing if Congress does not address this issue. According to the AMA, one in three physicians is limiting the number of new Medicare patients they see, and one in eight doctors is no longer taking new Medicare patients. That's today.

What is more disturbing than these immediate cuts is the fast approaching insolvency date. This is a critical problem. Ignoring the insolvency date of 2024 puts our seniors' care at risk, once again, on an even larger scale than what we are facing today.

We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand. As a physician, on behalf of my patients, let's act now to protect the Medicare program and ensure access to quality care for America's seniors.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act.

In the last few years, the National Labor Relations Board has had a clear bias toward Big Labor in decisions and rulemaking. Although this bill addresses several onerous rules and decisions from the NLRB, I would like to focus on one in particular.

On August 26 of this year, the Board overturned decades--let me repeat--decades of precedent with its decision in the Specialty Healthcare case. By standing up today and voting for the bill before us, we can stop an out-of-control agency from causing irreparable harm to industries across the Nation. The Board has decided it will no longer determine if the interests of a bargaining unit are sufficiently different from other current units. This will encourage unions to create the smallest so-called ``micro-unions'' possible, and it could result in employers having to negotiate with multiple units within their own businesses. This undermines a worker's ability to make an informed choice about whether to join a union, and it may potentially fractionate the workplace.

H.R. 3094 reinstates the traditional standard for determining which employees make up an appropriate bargaining unit. This bill is about fairness for workers and employers. It returns the Board to the precedent that it has operated under for the last 20 to 30 years under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Returning to this precedent will provide certainty and clarity to workers and employers, and it will undo the biased behavior of the current Board.

I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Navy Captain Dianne Johnson.

For the last 36 years, Captain Johnson has loyally served our great nation.

Her dedication, on both active and reserve duty, is one that sailors and citizens should emulate. I know that her absence will be noticed by all those who served alongside her.

For myself, and all her colleagues at the Navy Operational Support Center in Indianapolis, thank you Captain Johnson; may you have a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement that is richly deserved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This is an opportunity for the Federal Government to keep our checkbook balanced, just as every American is expected to do.

The House passed a very similar amendment in 1995 when our debt was $4.86 trillion. Seventy Democrats voted for the amendment, including 11 of my current colleagues. I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to vote for this amendment now that our debt has tripled to over $15 trillion.

The President recently said in regards to balancing the budget, ``We don't need a constitutional amendment to do that. We don't need a constitutional amendment to do our jobs. The Constitution already tells us to do our jobs--and to make sure the government is living within its means and making responsible choices.'' Mr. President, I respectfully disagree. Washington, D.C., has not been able to make these choices and is not living within its means. I was elected by the people of Indiana's Eighth Congressional District to help us make that happen.

I'd also like to say that some of Mr. Hoyer's comments help us today to outline exactly why Washington, D.C., needs a balanced budget amendment. I thank him for pointing those reasons out. This is not a partisan issue, Mr. Speaker, it's an American issue.

I support this amendment, and I urge my colleagues today to vote ``yes'' on a balanced budget amendment.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore