Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was absent for Roll Call vote No. 1 on the evening of January 8, 2018.

Had I been present, I would have voted Present on Roll Call No. 1.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to be a voice for Kansans who know our status quo Tax Code no longer works for them. They know it doesn't work when it favors special interests over individuals or when it causes Kansas factories to close, sending those jobs to other countries.

I rise today because Kansans know that without rejuvenated and sustained economic growth, we will never find the money to pay down our Nation's debt.

That is why I strongly support H.R. 1, which will close special interest loopholes and lower rates for everyone--not just the rich, not just the poor, but everyone.

Individuals in my district will see immediate tax relief with the doubling of the standard deduction and the child tax credit. We also lessen the financial burden of education by keeping important college tax provisions and expanding access to 529 savings plans.

On average, a family of four in my district will see a tax cut of just over $2,300 because of this bill.

A fairer, simpler Tax Code means every hardworking family will see the tax relief and economic growth this country rightfully deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Mr. Speaker, as a CPA and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, reforming our Tax Code has been a priority of mine during my entire service here in Congress.

Our current Tax Code is broken, and I have heard from thousands of Kansans in my district who are frustrated with the status quo.

This legislation will not only reform our broken Tax Code, but it will permanently lower rates for hardworking individuals, families, and businesses while retaining or expanding many popular provisions, such as the dependent care assistance program. It also includes strong safeguards that keep the wealthy from gaming the system in an effort to pay less than their fair share.

On average, this legislation will help provide tax relief for all income groups across the board. If you don't believe me, read the analysis from the Tax Foundation and the Joint Committee on Taxation. They agree.

While individuals and families receive a much-needed tax break, they will also notice that their wages are going up and more jobs are being created.

Just the other day, AT&T announced they will be making a substantial investment in the United States once we enact tax reform.

Folks are tired of the status quo. They are tired of a Tax Code that is confusing. Once figured out, you realize that it actually penalizes hard work and success.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act accomplishes our goals of ensuring that rates are cut for low- and middle-income Americans, simplifying the tax system and expanding American competition within the global economy.

This is a rare opportunity to enact the kind of legislation that our constituents need and deserve to grow the economy and put more money in the pockets of hardworking Kansans.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and the entire committee for their good work on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. The message from the Baha'i faith has been that of justice, unity, and peace. I am proud to join my Baha'i constituents in Kansas and those around the world to recognize the occasion of the Bicentennial Birth Anniversary of the Baha'I faith.

The Baha'i Faith first arrived in the U.S. over 120 years ago and now the Baha'is live not only in my state of Kansas, but in every state of our union. Wherever they may live, Baha'is champion the principles of their faith and strive to build a better world by being good citizens, serving their communities, as well as working side by side with others to promote the common good.

Our world would do well to follow the example of Baha'u'llah, as he was known for his charity, service to others, and known as a father to the poor. I am grateful for this opportunity to wish the entire Baha'i community the very best as they continue to be an example of common respect and service to their fellow man.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent for Roll Call votes No. 544 and 545 on the evening of October 2, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 1547, sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally; I would have voted in favor of H.R. 965, sponsored by Rep. Ann Kuster.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my constituent and friend Pam O'Toole Trusdale, on the occasion of her retirement as Executive Director of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM). Pam is a longtime resident of my district and lifelong Kansan, attending Parsons Senior High and Washburn University. She joined

NATM in 1998 and served as its Executive Director for nearly twenty years. Her leadership has enabled NATM to grow significantly from a small group of horse and livestock trailer manufacturers into a strong voice for trailer safety.

During Pam's tenure, NATM's membership has added more than 700 trailer manufacturers and component suppliers which collectively employ more than 419,000 American workers. NATM's staff has similarly grown over the years and the Association moved in 2013, to accommodate their growth in staff, to a new headquarters in Topeka, Kansas. Recognizing the importance of engaging in the legislative and regulatory process, Pam led the development of NATM's advocacy in Washington, D.C., which brings trailer manufacturers to visit Congress and federal agencies each year. In working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, she has helped facilitate education and communication about emerging issues. Pam has also worked to develop relationships with other industry groups and has helped create a strong coalition of advocates in the name of NATM's mission of improving trailer safety.

Among Pam's many accomplishments was the development of NATM's Compliance Verification Program, which brings NATM consultants to all trailer manufacturer member facilities biennially to ensure they have processes in place to build trailers in accordance with federal safety standards and industry best practices. Under Pam's leadership, NATM members voted unanimously to make this important program a requirement for membership in the Association. Beyond this program, Pam has overseen the development of additional technical resources and educational programming to help member companies continue to have the tools to comply with regulations as well as grow their own businesses.

In addition to her work at NATM, Pam is an active participant in the Topeka community. She has served on the Board of Regents at Washburn University, has been a leader with the Kansas Society of Association Executives and a member of the Stormont-Vail Foundation Advisory Board. Pam is the proud mother of three and grandmother of eight. I want to thank Pam for her tireless commitment to trailer safety, and years of service to NATM and the Topeka community. I wish her and Tom many happy years of retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Bob Dole Congressional Gold Medal Act, which recognizes Senator Dole's service to this great Nation as a soldier, legislator, and statesman.

As a kid growing up in rural Kansas, there were many times I could be found wearing a Styrofoam cap and a sandwich board in support of my Senator. I introduced this legislation, which calls for the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of Senator Bob Dole, and I am humbled to have the opportunity to honor him for his lifetime of service on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Throughout Senator Dole's life, he has consistently exemplified humility, hard work, and leadership. He was born and raised in a small town, Russell, in north-central Kansas. As a young man, he served heroically in the Army during World War II, where he was gravely wounded while trying to save a fellow soldier during a military offensive in Italy.

Senator Dole later went on to carry out one of the most storied careers in politics, where he set the record as the Nation's longest serving Republican leader in the United States Senate. He is seen as a political statesman who reached across the aisle for the good of the country. To this day, Senator Dole continues to serve his country and fellow man by fighting for our veterans and working to help curb child hunger and poverty.

Senator Dole's passion, dedication, and service to our country is a testament to his character and a great blessing to the State of Kansas and our Nation. He is not only an American hero, but a role model, mentor, and a dear friend of mine. There is no person I would rather see be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal than Senator Bob Dole.

Please join me in supporting this legislation to honor Senator Dole for his unwavering service to our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3178, the Medicare Part B Improvement Act of 2017, which includes my legislation, the Dialysis Certification Act.

Kansas currently ranks among the top three longest wait times for dialysis center surveys. The lack of manpower at the State administrative agency that contracts with CMS for these surveys has left some clinics waiting 2 years for a certification. This bill gives dialysis providers the opportunity to receive surveys and certifications from a CMS-approved third-party accreditor, much like hospitals are able to do now.

Those third-party organizations must demonstrate their standards are as good as or better than the standards used by CMS, and the Secretary must approve them.

I toured several clinics in my district last year, and I was frustrated to learn that a state-of-the-art clinic, necessary to fill a need in Topeka for ESRD patients, has been waiting 2 years for an initial survey, and a clinic in Pittsburg, Kansas, has been waiting for 250 days. Without these clinics, patients are forced to find clinics much further away, which, depending on the access to transportation, can be a barrier to treatment. That is unacceptable, and this problem will be easily solved by this provision.

I want to thank my cosponsor, Congressman John Lewis, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee chairmen for quickly moving this bill to the House floor for action. This provision will allow dialysis clinics across America to more easily obtain a survey so they may serve patients that depend on their care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1541, legislation that would strike a prohibition in the Fort Scott National Historic Site's enabling law that prohibited the incorporation of the structure known as the Lunette Blair blockhouse into the site's formation.

Fortunately, the blockhouse still sits right across the street from the historic site, where, under the future care of the National Park Service, it can remain on display in perpetuity without disrupting the grounds' antebellum view shed, successfully linking the site's frontier fort structures with the community's Civil War legacy.

Located in the historic town of Fort Scott, Kansas, the Fort Scott National Historic Site preserves the important story of the original frontier fort's role in nineteenth-century America. It serves as a physical snapshot of the pioneer days of westward migration of a young republic, from its initial construction 175 years ago, and portrays a figurative stepping-stone upon the prairie toward a transcontinental nation.

However, the story of the community of Fort Scott continues from that point on as the town grew around the shuttered fort of the same name. The community's history itself invokes the violent struggles of the era we all know as Bleeding Kansas and the conflicts of the Civil War.

After the U.S. Army demobilized Fort Scott in 1853 following the collapse of a permanent Indian frontier, private residents purchased the last of its property; the buildings of the old fort became the new town. Soon after, Americans of opposing sentiments, abolitionists, free-staters, and Border Ruffians alike, settled the area throughout the rest of the decade in turmoil. While the territory of Kansas ultimately became the free state of Kansas on January 29, 1861, violent conflict soon engulfed the entire nation.

During the Civil War, the Union Army militarized the town of Fort Scott to store Union supplies and to deter Confederate invasions into Southeast Kansas. The Union Army constructed many fortifications in the surrounding area, including four garrisoned blockhouses, or ``lunettes,'' fortified structures with designated names, such as Fort Lincoln, Fort Insley, Fort Henning, and Fort Blair, in order to house soldiers and armaments while protecting the town's approach.

While these structures successfully deterred such attacks, the U.S. War Department considered these four blockhouses as surplus property after the Civil War and sold them at auction to private individuals. The structure called Fort Blair, known locally today as Lunette Blair is the sole remaining Civil War blockhouse standing today.

Mr. Speaker, it is only through the diligent stewardship of the citizens of Fort Scott, Kansas, and their dedication to preserve the community's heritage, that the Lunette Blair blockhouse still stands after all these years.

Members of the Fort Scott community support the donation of the blockhouse to the National Park Service and this proposal is in line with the sites' overall mission: to tell the encompassing story of Fort Scott's role in westward migration and to demonstrate the community's contribution in preserving our Union during the Civil War.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate David Johnson of Lawrence, Kansas, for his commitment, leadership, and service to the State of Kansas and people struggling with mental illnesses everywhere.

As his tenure as CEO of the Bert-Nash Community Mental Health Center nears its end, and we reflect on his sixteen years serving as CEO, we celebrate the work he has done to positively impact the Lawrence community, Douglas County, the State of Kansas, and beyond.

David demonstrated national leadership as the CEO of a community mental health center by continuing to serve the ever-growing community of Lawrence, while facing the challenge of decreased funding. David has championed initiatives for mental health care such as the Mental Health First Aid grant program and was the person who first brought that program's need and impact to my attention. David has been such an effective national voice for this program that he was invited as a Congressional witness in 2014 to share with Members of Congress the need for the Mental Health First Act of 2013.

As one of the original fourteen people trained as Mental Health First Aid instructors in the country, David undoubtedly encouraged and inspired more people to get that training so they could help their family, friends and neighbors in their time of need.

David is willing to boldly lead on the issue of mental health care and advocate for the millions of Americans hiding in the shadows struggling with mental illness.

When it comes to our home State of Kansas, David has made his imprint through undertaking statewide efforts that help create new opportunities for people with mental illness and their families. These initiatives allow more people to discover and receive the care they need while their families are educated on ways to help their loved ones.

I extend my deepest appreciation to David Johnson for his service and commitment to the State of Kansas and while I am sad to hear of his retirement, I wish him and his family all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act.

Hardworking Americans who are paid hourly wages and work overtime should have the choice to receive the money or annual leave to spend how they choose. Under our outdated law, they don't have this choice today. This commonsense legislation will fix that and directly benefit workers and their families.

As a single working mom myself, I know firsthand the difficulties parents encounter when trying to balance work and family responsibilities. For hourly

workers having the voluntary option to take either money or more time with their families opens up a world of possibilities for folks to spend more time with their kids, run errands, or make appointments.

This is an option provided to workers in the public sector. Why wouldn't we want to give this option to all American workers?

I support this family friendly legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Bernadette Gray-Little for her unwavering leadership and service as the 17th Chancellor of the University of Kansas. As her tenure comes to an end and we reflect on her eight years as Chancellor, we celebrate the work Bernadette Gray-Little has done to positively impact the university, the state of Kansas, and beyond.

Chancellor Gray-Little has championed initiatives for the University such as the implementation of new admissions standards, prioritizing retention and graduation rates, and succeeding at growing the freshman class for five consecutive years. She has overseen the physical transformation of KU's campuses by securing support for new projects as well as major renovations for the university.

Additionally, she has demonstrated courage and compassion by leading university conversations on matters such as sexual assault, diversity and inclusion, campus safety, and the living and working environment on the university's campus.

When it comes to the state of Kansas, Chancellor Gray-Little has made her imprint through undertaking university efforts that would help in creating new jobs to spur economic growth, launching startup companies, developing corporate partnerships, licensing new technologies, and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among faculty, staff and students alike.

Chancellor Gray-Little demonstrated national leadership as a member of the board of directors of the Association of American Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. As a member on these boards, she played an important role on the national level as a strong advocate for higher education and the importance of research funding. We can see her impact as she led the university to new heights in research funding that will benefit people around the globe.

As Chancellor of KU, Bernadette Gray-Little made history as the first female and first African-American Chancellor in the university's existence. Chancellor Gray-Little has led the University of Kansas with strength and humility. She truly has been an inspiration to students, staff, faculty, and colleagues throughout the state and our nation.

I extend my deepest appreciation to Bernadette Gray-Little for her service and commitment to the University of Kansas and I wish her all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to congratulate my good friend and our new House colleague, Ron Estes.

I have known Ron and his wife, Susan, for many years. I can tell you, he is truly one of the nicest guys you will ever want to know.

Ron and I share a common bond, having served as State treasurers in Kansas, and I have watched him serve in that role well.

With a nation $20 trillion in debt, it is always nice to add a fellow conservative to Congress to help fix the debt and get our economy on the right fiscal track, which I know Ron is committed to doing.

He has dedicated his entire life to bold innovations and efficiency, reform, and problem solving in both the public and the private sector. Kansans in the Fourth District can be proud of their new Congressman, and I look forward to working with Congressman Ron Estes on behalf of Kansans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), our newest colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent for roll call votes 129 through 132 on the evening of March 8, 2017. I would have voted in favor of both votes which would provide for consideration of H.R. 725, the Innocent Party Protection Act. I would have also voted in favor of H. Res. 174 on ordering the previous question and providing for consideration of H.R. 1301, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017. Lastly, I would have voted against the motion to adjourn.

Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 129, YEA on Roll Call No. 130, YEA on Roll Call No. 131, and NAY on Roll Call No. 132.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent for roll call votes 133 through 137 on the evening of March 8, 2017. I would have voted in favor of H. Res. 174 which would provide for consideration of H.R. 1310, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017. I would have voted against roll call votes 134 and 135 to adjourn. I would have voted in favor of H.R. 1310. Lastly, I would have voted in favor of roll call vote 137 to adjourn.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 133, NAY on Roll Call No. 134, NAY on Roll Call No. 135, YEA on Roll Call No. 136, and YEA on Roll Call No. 137.