Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot we disagree on around here. By now virtually every American knows that we disagree on ObamaCare. We ought not allow what divides us to stop us from coming together on issues where we all agree. There is nothing political about passing bills to help sick kids or pay our troops or open our national parks, or bills to help low-income women and children.

In recent days, the House has passed bipartisan bills to fund the areas of government like those I just discussed where we all agree. Each of these bills passed the House with dozens of votes from my Democratic colleagues. Each of these bills were unilaterally rejected by Senate Leader Harry Reid. The President has publicly declared that he will veto any of these bills if they reach his desk.

Let me repeat: the House in recent days has passed bills to help sick children, pay our troops, open our national parks and help low-income women and children. Dozens of my Democratic colleagues have voted for those bills. And the President and Harry Reid refuse to have them even considered. Why? It is awfully cynical to oppose helping people who are being hurt by the government shutdown, a shutdown, by the way, caused by the President's refusal to participate in the democratic process and negotiate.

Clearly, President Obama and Senator Reid are putting political leverage before the American people, and that is wrong. This shouldn't be about politics. It shouldn't be about the inside baseball games of Washington and who's going to win and who's going to lose in this debate; it should be about the American people. We have very big areas in which we disagree.

This is a time where that debate is coming to a head. Many of us believe the Federal Government is far too big. Many of us are concerned about a Federal Government that is $17 trillion in debt and robbing the next generation of their opportunity to live the American Dream. Many of us are concerned about ObamaCare and what it will mean to live in an America where government is in charge of 17 percent of our economy. Some on the other side of the aisle, disagree on each of those issues, but we do have areas where we agree. Common sense dictates that we would act on them.

I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue supporting these commonsense proposals, and I urge Senator Reid and the President to do the right thing and allow those bills to become law. The American people don't want a government shutdown, but they also don't want the President's health care law. It's time for both parties to listen to the people, work out our differences, and find a common way forward.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama is willing to negotiate with Syria's dictator. The President made a phone call last week to open negotiations with Iran's new leader. But yesterday, the President held a press conference in the Rose Garden to talk about why he's not willing to talk to House Republicans about ending this shutdown.

The President should follow President Kennedy's example. President Kennedy famously said:

We should never negotiate out of fear, but we should never

fear to negotiate.

If we talk, we can surely find a solution that reopens the Federal Government and protects the American people from ObamaCare; but we need the President and our Democratic colleagues at the negotiating table.

Mr. Speaker, good jobs are hard to find these days. The gap between America's highest- and lowest-income families is wider than ever. American workers are on unemployment longer than any time since World War II. A record 46 million Americans live in poverty.

What's the President's answer to these problems? He proposes driving forward on his prize achievement, ObamaCare, even though it is already erasing jobs and reducing the work hours of taxpaying Americans.

I have cosponsored a resolution to keep the government open and defund ObamaCare. House Republicans support these goals. We're going to defund ObamaCare and we're going to keep the government open at sensible spending levels.

Americans shouldn't have to suffer through this failed experiment any longer or have government operations held hostage by those unwilling to acknowledge that ObamaCare is not working. Let's hope the President and his Senate allies agree.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alexandra Bostic of Aurora, Indiana, and her parents, Noel and Jennifer Bostic, on Alexandra being selected as one of two national scholarship winners by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (the NIAAA). The NIAAA is an organization founded in 1977 to promote the educational value of interscholastic athletics through the professional development of its member athletic administrators.Alexandra was awarded the scholarship, from among entries from all 50 states, based on her academic achievement, athletic accomplishments, and her essay on how participation in high school athletics impacted her life. In Alexandra's essay, she talked about leadership, teamwork, and time management. She also discussed the value of work ethic, not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom.

These are all important skills that will give Alexandra an opportunity to become a very successful person, but Alexandra's thoughts about the word ``sportsmanship'' were most touching to me. A rival high school lost one of its players in an ATV accident, and Alexandra's team faced their rival the next game after the accident. However, that day, it was about more than sports. It was about coming together to honor the life of their fellow player, not as opponents, but as friends. As Alexandra said, ``this to me is the perfect example of sportsmanship.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Alexandra's achievement and the accomplishments of all her fellow student athletes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a young constituent, Leah Elizabeth Laudick of Greensburg, Indiana.

Leah was a beautiful young girl who enjoyed collecting rocks, chasing butterflies, and picking flowers. Leah loved being with her family whether it was playing basketball with her brothers or caring for her younger siblings. Leah's parents, Andy and Shelly Laudick, were both good friends of mine, and Leah's dad, Andy, was a fellow member of the Greensburg Pirates' varsity football team.

We mourn a life that ended too soon and pray for understanding and comfort for family members and those in our community who knew and loved Leah. While in times of turmoil we struggle to understand the unexplainable, may we find peace and joy in our religious faith and the memories of time shared with those we love.

I ask the citizens of the 6th Congressional District to join me in keeping Andy and Shelly, their sons Brayden, Luke, Reid and Nicholas, daughters, Lauren and Adalyn and the entire extended Laudick family in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the heroic efforts of a great Hoosier, Sergeant Sammy L. Davis of the United States Army. Sergeant Davis, then Private First Class Davis, distinguished himself while serving in a remote support base in Vietnam.

On November 18, 1967, Sergeant Davis' support base came under enemy mortar attack, and he was also threatened with a ground assault from across the river. Detecting a nearby enemy position, Sergeant Davis seized a machine gun and provided cover for his gun crew. But the enemy managed a direct hit. Ignoring warnings to seek cover, Sergeant Davis returned to the howitzer, which was burning furiously.

Although he was painfully injured by enemy mortar, Sergeant Davis relentlessly continued firing. Disregarding his injuries and his inability to swim, Sergeant Davis crossed the river on an air mattress, where he aided in returning three soldiers to the support base. Refusing medical attention for his own wounds, he joined another gun crew, firing at the enemy until they fled.

I am proud to honor and remember the extraordinary heroism of Sergeant Sammy L. Davis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sheriff Jeff Cappa of Richmond, Indiana.

My friend, Sheriff Jeff Cappa, of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office was recently honored as the Indiana Sheriff's Association 2013 Sheriff of the Year at the Association's annual gathering. Among his many accomplishments as Sheriff, Jeff returned the department to a true merit-based system for both hiring and promotions, created a 24-hour supervision of the jail and enforcement division, expanded medical coverage at the jail to full-time and around-the-clock service, and launched a strategic plan for the department.

Sheriff Cappa is known throughout the county and region as a Sheriff willing to work with the community to better serve its citizens. His working relationship with the county council and county commissioners is a testament to efficient local government. Jeff's outreach and leadership is a key to the continued growth, safety, and development of the communities throughout Wayne County.

I ask the 6th Congressional District to join me in thanking Sheriff Jeff Cappa and his team for their tireless effort towards increased public safety in Wayne County and in congratulating Jeff for his designation as the 2013 Indiana Sheriff's Association Sheriff of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Joe A. Raver, the incoming president and CEO of Hillenbrand, Inc., headquartered in Batesville, Indiana, in my congressional district.

Mr. Raver is the current president of Hillenbrand's Process Equipment Group and senior vice president of the company. Previously, he had been president of Batesville Casket Company. Joe had also served as vice president and general manager of the respiratory care division of Hill- Rom Holdings, where he first served as vice president of Strategy and Shared Services. Prior to joining Hill-Rom, Joe spent 10 years in a variety of senior leadership positions at Batesville Casket Company and Hillenbrand Industries.

For more than a century, the Hillenbrand companies have served as a staple in the Indiana and American corporate landscape, premiering innovative products in the funeral services, and process equipment industries. I have no doubt that Hillenbrand will continue to be a dynamic company that Hoosiers can be proud of with Joe at the helm.

I congratulate Joe on this new chapter in his life and wish him the very best as he takes the lead at Hillenbrand.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Kenneth A. Camp, President and CEO of Hillenbrand, Inc., headquartered in Batesville, Indiana, in my congressional district.

Mr. Camp was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Batesville Casket Company May 1, 2001, and as President, CEO and Director of Hillenbrand, Inc., March 31, 2008. Previously he had served as senior vice president of Hillenbrand Industries, Inc., and as vice president before that. Mr. Camp joined Hillenbrand in 1981, and has held various positions with both Hillenbrand and Batesville Casket. During the course of his career, Ken has had senior responsibilities in sales, marketing, human resources, manufacturing and logistics. From 1972 to 1978, Ken served his country as a commissioned officer and aviator in the United States Army.

The Hillenbrand companies have been a premier example of corporate success in Indiana by developing and producing innovative products in the funeral services, and process equipment industries. Ken's hard work and leadership within the company has been vital to that success.

Ken soon will retire from his duties leading this dynamic Hoosier company. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in thanking Ken for his long career and service to both his business and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Cerealine Manufacturing Co.,

the newest addition to the roster of the Indiana Historical Bureau's state historical marker series.

The Cerealine Manufacturing Company, founded in 1880, was an early producer of corn flakes and grew to prominence as the railroads opened national markets to Midwest producers. Founded in Columbus, Indiana, the Cerealine Manufacturing Co. produced up to 12,000 bushels of product daily, creating a corn flake that was the precursor to the famous cold breakfast cereal. The state historical marker honoring the company will be placed at the site of the original mill building, currently restored and serving as offices for Cummins, Inc.

I want to thank the Indiana Historical Bureau for its continued leadership in recognizing and commemorating significant individuals, organizations, places, and events in Indiana history. These roadside markers are familiar to all Hoosiers and visitors who pass through the State. With over 500 state historical markers in place, the Indiana Historical Bureau impresses on Hoosiers across the State the importance of our history and the promise of our future.

I ask the 6th Congressional District to join me in thanking the Indiana Historical Bureau for recognizing and publicly marking our shared history and the heritage of the Cerealine Manufacturing Company in Columbus, Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and extraordinary accomplishments of one of my constituents, James K. Baker of Columbus, Indiana.

James Baker became president and chief executive officer of Arvin Industries in 1981 and served until his retirement in 1998. During James' stewardship of the company, Arvin Industries was noted for its aggressive pursuit and success in building a globalized sales and supply infrastructure as the auto industry diversified globally in the 1980s.

In addition to building a Fortune 500 company, James served from 1990-1991 as the chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was a former chairman of the DePauw University Board of Trustees, his alma mater, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the 2003 Indiana Government Efficiency Commission. James was a strong advocate of education reform efforts and higher educational standards as a means of building and sustaining a global and competitive workforce in our communities across the State. I know Jim was particularly proud of his involvement as a Member of the Board of Trustees with the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, an Indianapolis charter school.

James Baker was my friend and an inspiration to people across the Hoosier State. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to keep his wife, Beverly, in your thoughts and prayers as we celebrate the life of James Baker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize George Washington Julian, honored as the newest addition to the roster of the Indiana Historical Bureau's state historical marker series.

George Washington Julian of Centerville, Indiana was a United States Representative during the Civil War. His legacy lives on through his moral convictions as he advocated for abolition, equal rights, and land reform during an era of discrimination. He demanded rights and freedom for slaves as an attorney in several historic fugitive slave cases and also supported freedom and equal access to public lands for immigrants and women. Julian was an extraordinary Congressman who helped shape our country into what it is today.

I want to thank the Indiana Historical Bureau for its continued leadership in recognizing and commemorating significant individuals, organizations, places, and events in Indiana history. These roadside markers are familiar to all Hoosiers and visitors who pass through the State. With over 500 state historical markers in place, the Indiana Historical Bureau impresses on Hoosiers across the State the importance of our history and the promise of our future.

I ask the 6th Congressional District to join me in thanking the Indiana Historical Bureau for recognizing and publicly marking our shared history and the legacy of George Washington Julian in Centerville, Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, the President's $30 billion excise tax on medical device manufacturers is bad for America. The tax is costing jobs, particularly in Indiana, and limiting patient access to lifesaving devices and therapies. We should not be putting American manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and forcing Americans to look beyond our shores for care simply to pay for the President's broken health care law.

There are more than 26,000 Hoosiers employed by the medical device manufacturing industry and thousands more whose jobs are supported by the industry. The Indiana General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for repeal of the tax. This House should pass H.R. 523, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, to repeal the tax, preserve patient access to care, and save these Hoosier jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, also known as the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act. I commend Chairman Kline; our Education Subcommittee chairwoman, Ms. Foxx; Ranking Member Miller; and others for their hard work and diligence throughout this process of getting this bill where it is today.

I am pleased that cooler heads have prevailed and Senate Democrats finally have agreed to the commonsense solutions proposed months ago by House Republicans and the President in his budget to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling. This is a good deal for 11 million students. The rates are better in this agreement. Students will save an estimated $1,500 in interest over the life of their college loans as a result.

Those beneficiaries include more than 200,000 students in Indiana alone, who will be taking out their student loans this year. It will help young people like John Houston, a Ball State University student and intern in my office this summer, who will be taking out student loans as he heads back to school this fall. Getting Congress out of the business of randomly setting interest rates is a good deal--both for students like John and taxpayers.

The bill will allow students to benefit from lower interest rates and prevent taxpayers from being forced to subsidize arbitrary rates set by politicians for political reasons rather than for policy purposes. Maybe most importantly, Mr. Speaker, this legislation shows that, even in a challenging partisan environment, Congress can come together and work on behalf of the American people to make their lives a little easier. I hope this agreement builds momentum for reaching bipartisan solutions to other problems that our Nation faces.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, last week's $19 billion bankruptcy by the city of Detroit should serve as a wakeup call for every American. Chicago, with a reported $19 billion unfunded pension liability, and Los Angeles, with an estimated $30 billion in debt, may not be far behind.

Each of these communities practiced the failed tax-and-spend policies of President Obama and the Left. While many progressive policies sound great in theory, both history and current events show these policies don't work in practice.

As Margaret Thatcher said decades ago:

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out

of other people's money.

We do it better in Indiana. It's not always easy, but Hoosier leaders balance budgets and live within their means. To build a better future, our country needs to follow that example and not Detroit's.