Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an inspiring woman in my district, Mrs. Gail Kemler. Gail is celebrating her 100th birthday this month on October 28.

Gail has lived in Rochester, Michigan, since 1931, and has been an integral part of the city--through her steadfast volunteerism with the Rochester Board of Education; Daughters of the American Revolution, Stoney Creek Chapter; Rochester-Avon Historical Society; Rochester Lions Club; and Questers Organization.

Gail's longest tenure as a volunteer was with the Rochester Area Neighborhood House, an organization that she has helped from its inception. She remained a dedicated volunteer with the organization for over 50 years.

An active supporter of the Rochester Community Schools, Gail also served as a room mother and scout leader, and was one of the original PTA founders. She has been a member of the First Congregational Church in Rochester for over 85 years, and has served on the building committee, pastoral search committee, and board of trustees.

Gail and her late husband, Donald Kemler, have four children, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and four great-great- grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have such a selfless, giving, and inspirational woman in my district. Thank you, Mrs. Gail Kemler, for your service to the entire Rochester community, and happy 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an incredible constituent in my district, Richard Thelen.

Seventy-two years ago, Mr. Thelen was aboard the USS Indianapolis with nearly 1,200 others when it was hit by two Japanese torpedoes and sank within a matter of minutes. He and 318 men of the crew survived 5 days in the ocean surrounded by sharks without any food or drinking water. He defied truly remarkable odds.

After this ordeal, Mr. Thelen went on to finish high school and was honorably discharged from the Navy. He was a truck driver for more than 40 years and raised six children. Today, he is 89 years young, and it is a privilege to have him as a part of the Eighth District community.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform this body that I am prepared to introduce legislation to honor Mr. Thelen of Lansing, Michigan, and the rest of his shipmates, with the Congressional Gold Medal award.

As we remember the survivors of this terrible tragedy, those we lost, and the recent finding of the ship itself, we thank you, Mr. Thelen, for your valiant service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 106th National Day of the Republic of Taiwan (China), or the ``Double- Ten'' celebration. Since the signing of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the United States and Taiwan have forged a strong partnership based on our shared values of democracy, freedom, and rule of law.

Over the years, Taiwan's economy has developed into one of the most innovative and advanced in the world. Taiwan has also proved itself to be a model of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. The relationship between Taiwan and the United States is particularly strong when it comes to trade between the two countries, having created roughly half- a-million jobs in the United States. Taiwan's role and importance as a trading partner with the United States continues to grow every day.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to further strengthening our relationship to create even more prosperity for our two countries. I stand ready to work with this administration in order to do so.

Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding and for his hard work and leadership on this matter.

Madam Chair, I rise today to support H.R. 2824, which would reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. At its core, MIECHV improve the lives of families in at-risk communities, focusing on the first years of a child's life.

Like the chairman, I, too, have seen firsthand its successes. I recently traveled to a Nurse-Family Partnership facility, which is a nonprofit that arranges home visits from registered nurses to low- income, first-time mothers.

I had the opportunity to meet the nurses and the women who currently are enrolled in the program. NFP facilities transform the lives of vulnerable first-time moms and their babies, empowering them to build brighter futures and stronger families, none of which would be possible without MIECHV funding.

I am proud to note that, like my previous speaker, my home State of Michigan has already taken the initiative to invest significant funding for the NFP facilities and other organizations, in addition to MIECHV funds, to the extent that Michigan would now already meet the requirement proposed in the bill.

I am particularly thankful for the chairman's transparent engagement process within the committee, specifically, early on. I raised the concern that the addition of new evidence standards, along with substantial evidence standards already in place, might be problematic, and I wanted to ensure that home visitors were not overly burdened by data collecting so that they can care for the mothers and the babies.

Both of these concerns were addressed with the amendments contained in the chairman's amendment, and I want to thank Chairman Smith and Chairman Brady for their leadership in addressing these concerns and other concerns.

I want to thank the chairman for all of his hard work, and I want to join him and my colleagues in supporting H.R. 2824.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise about something near and dear to my heart. It is Patriot Week, which is going on this week.

In 2009, while I served in the Michigan Senate, we became the first legislative body to recognize Patriot Week. Since then, five States and countless private organizations have participated in celebrating the great Americans and our founding documents that ensure the cause of liberty. Sadly, American history is no longer a priority for our schools, and, as a result, we are now raising a generation, for the most part, who have no understanding or appreciation for our country's brave Founding Fathers and our profoundly important founding documents.

That is why I introduced H. Con. Res. 12 which encourages schools, government agencies, and private employers to pay tribute to great Americans from George Washington to Martin Luther King, Jr., during Patriot Week.

It celebrates our values enshrined in the United States Constitution and other founding documents from equal protection under the law to limited government, and it commemorates important events like the passage of the United States Constitution in 1787.

Patriot Week begins September 11 by honoring the brave men and women who died in the September 11 attack, and it ends September 17, our Constitution Day, by honoring those who risked everything to create our great Republic.

Mr. Speaker, we must take time to reflect. President Reagan once said: ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.'' We must do our part to preserve what makes this Nation great before it is too late.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Patriot Week resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and congratulate Crittenton Hospital as we commemorate its 50th anniversary in the Rochester, Michigan, community.

Over the past 50 years, Crittenton Hospital has faithfully dedicated itself to serving the Rochester area community and all of its citizens. Since opening its doors in 1967, Crittenton Hospital has expanded to meet the needs of a growing community while keeping pace with advances in healthcare technology and modern approaches to medicine.

The longevity enjoyed by Crittenton Hospital is a testament to its unique and enduring impact on our community. Its dedication to our residents ensures that Crittenton Hospital will continue to serve and care for patients for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Crittenton Hospital's 50th anniversary. I thank Crittenton Hospital for its commitment to the people it serves and to our entire Rochester area community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3178, the Medicare Part B Improvement Act. This bill would make specific improvements to Medicare Part B programs, like protecting access to orthotics and prosthetics for Medicare beneficiaries who need them.

In particular, a provision within this bill, spearheaded by Representative GT Thompson, Mike Thompson, and myself, would allow additional information provided by prosthetists and orthotists--the trained clinical experts who evaluate and fit the beneficiary--to be considered by Medicare to support documentation of medical necessity for orthotics and prosthetics.

This straightforward, bipartisan bill will improve the quality of life of beneficiaries, save jobs of orthotic and prosthetic suppliers, and provide a foundation to better meet the healthcare needs of our aging constituents.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3178, the Medicare Part B improvement Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an inspirational constituent and friend in my district, Sharon Lollio. Sharon is working tirelessly to plan a Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument in our capital city of Lansing.

This is important because Michigan remains one of the last States to have a law enforcement memorial, and Sharon is making it her mission to see that this important project does not fall by the wayside by raising awareness to the issue of violence against law enforcement and the importance of honoring the fallen through a permanent memorial in Michigan's Eighth District.

Once constructed, the memorial will be a place of quiet refuge for Michigan residents to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women who keep us safe.

We have lost many Michigan officers in the line of duty over the last few years, and we owe it to them, their families and friends, and the entire law enforcement community to honor them with this special tribute.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Sharon Lollio for her hard work raising the funds and awareness for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument. I thank Sharon for her enduring commitment to our men and women in blue and their loved ones.

I am grateful to all those who put their lives on the line to protect our community.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership on this matter.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in the ashes of World War II, bringing decades of considerable peace and prosperity. Still, there are powers today that wish to challenge the order from which millions throughout the world have benefited.

My amendment to the NDAA, amendment No. 98, is a straightforward and simple amendment. It would call on all NATO allies to fulfill their mutual defense commitments, secure national and regional security interests, and recognize our NATO allies who are achieving those objectives.

The underlying bill takes steps to strengthen our national defense on many fronts. It improves our overseas contingency operations, provides significant resources to rebuild our military, and increases funding for initiatives to deter Russian aggression.

My amendment builds upon those principles. As we begin to rebuild our military capability, it is time for our allies to do the same, especially when it pertains to our NATO alliance.

For far too long, the United States has shared an unequal financial burden in contributing to the global and regional security that NATO provides. With new challenges from an increasing belligerent Russian state, instability across the Middle East and North Africa, and emerging cybersecurity threats, it is time for all allies to honor their commitment and invest in defense spending.

In order for NATO to be completely effective, all NATO members must meet their GDP commitment for defense spending and investment. This is out of fairness--for our effort to evenly share this responsibility and fairness to American taxpayers.

My amendment calls on the President to demand that our NATO allies honor their mutual defense commitment they agreed to by committing 2 percent of their gross domestic product to defense spending and research and to secure their national and regional security interests. Only 5 of 29 member nations currently honor these commitments. While 24 NATO members fail to meet their NATO commitment, my amendment also recognizes the few NATO allies who actually achieve those objectives.

Full commitment from our NATO allies will make a notable difference in our effort to achieve peace around the globe. We must share equally the necessary burden of peace through strength.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an inspirational organization in my district, Habitat for Humanity of Livingston County, located in the Eighth District of Michigan.

This July, Livingston County's Habitat for Humanity is celebrating its 25th year of transforming lives by building quality homes.

Habitat for Humanity was incorporated within Livingston County in 1992, and since then, the organization is dedicated to many community and international service projects.

Over the past 25 years, Habitat for Humanity has made a positive impact on Livingston County, constructing and rehabilitating 18 homes for families in need within the community.

Livingston County's Habitat for Humanity also supports the services of Habitat International in its fight against homelessness across the world, providing monetary donations which funded and constructed an additional 15 homes worldwide.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Livingston County's Habitat for Humanity for its 25 years of service. Thank you, Habitat for Humanity, for your commitment to the people you serve and to our entire Livingston County community.

Mr. Speaker, we need to get back to the core values that our Nation embraced 241 years ago. That is why this year I have reintroduced my Patriot Week resolution, H. Con. Res. 12, which creates a national week of appreciation for the brave individuals, documents, and values that define our Nation's history to be taught in schools and honored in workplaces across America.

Patriot Week would begin on the solemn anniversary of September 11 and end with Constitution Day on September 17.

Mr. Speaker, our founding principles have been ignored and eroded. Society has seemingly lost interest in the longstanding history that made our country great.

As we approach Independence Day, we must reflect on who we are as a nation and how we can improve what is good for generations to come. America has become too divided, and we must get back to the core values that make our country great.

Just as immigrants learn the history of our country, high school seniors should be able to pass, at minimum, the same citizenship exam upon graduation. Ronald Reagan once said that ``freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.'' His words must serve as a wake-up call to every one of us today.

I urge my colleagues to support Patriot Week, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish our Nation a happy and safe Independence Day. We are grateful for all those who serve to keep us safe at home, in our Nation's Capital, and all over the world.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Phil Bertolini of Oakland County, Michigan, for his induction into the prestigious National Chief Information Officer Hall of Fame.

Recognized for his outstanding contributions to his field, Mr. Bertolini was selected as one of only nineteen inductees for the Class of 2017. This award is a testament to Mr. Bertolini's unparalleled ingenuity, his unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, and his dedication throughout twelve years of service to Oakland County.

Since becoming the head of Oakland County's IT department, Mr. Bertolini's application of new innovative technologies revolutionized the function of county government. Incorporating programs designed to increase government efficiency and communication, Mr. Bertolini and his team has received numerous honors and awards for their work. In 2012, he was recognized as a White House Champion of Change and has even had the opportunity to travel abroad as part of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Dedicated to the people of Oakland County, Mr. Bertolini has built his career on his devotion to serving others, and, understanding the responsibility and leadership required, he did not waiver in taking on this important Chief Information Officer role on behalf of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Bertolini's induction into the Chief Information Officer Hall of Fame is a great honor for not only him, but Oakland County and the great State of Michigan. He should be seen as an example of an ideal public servant, one who puts the needs of his community before his own.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude and congratulations to Mr. Bertolini as his hard work, service, and outstanding performance receives the nationwide recognition that it deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a national victim's compensation issue that must be treated with the urgency it deserves.

Nearly one year ago, because of the work of the Members of this body, $40 million was made available to a victim's compensation program for people who had contracted fungal meningitis as a result of tainted NECC steroid injections distributed in 2012, which resulted in convictions with multiple people. That money was delivered to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office 9 months ago, yet not a single claim has been paid.

Mr. Speaker, these victims, many of whom are from my district, need justice. We are nearing the 5-year mark of this terrible outbreak, and families across America need this Congress to continue to fight for them.

Against their own will, they became victims of this terrible tragedy, and they certainly do not need to also be victims of more bureaucratic red tape. Enough is enough. It is time to use these funds we secured and start compensating these victims.

I stand ready, willing, and able to help in any way I can, but I urge the officials in Massachusetts to treat this matter like the priority it truly is.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

I am grateful for this opportunity to speak on my bipartisan, bicameral bill, H.R. 1393, the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act.

Madam Speaker, the 10th Amendment gives States the freedom to set their own public policy. It is important, however, that they do so in a way that does not infringe upon the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, which gives jurisdiction over interstate commerce to Congress.

With our constitutional mandate in mind, at a time of rapid expansion in our workforce and an increasingly global and mobile economy, it is incumbent upon Congress to simplify and ease the complex burden that is imposed on interstate commerce activity.

In my 25 years as an attorney and a small-business owner, I am uniquely aware of the task of complying with the complexities of the various State income taxes, especially when you travel to another State for business.

The burden to comply is a particular burden to small businesses, as well as their employees, because they simply do not have the resources and cannot absorb the compliance costs. As a result, the current tax framework puts smaller businesses, the very backbone of our economy, at a substantial competitive disadvantage relative to larger businesses.

And complex reporting requirements punish the employees, too. The time and overall expenses that result from filing all of this paperwork is overwhelming, and, in many cases, financially devastating. It is all because they had the audacity to work outside of their home State.

Rather than driving profits back into their businesses and community by expanding payrolls and reducing the price of consumer goods, businesses are being forced to spend their hard-earned, scarce resources on complying with a menagerie of convoluted and ridiculous State income tax laws.

While crafting this legislation in committee, we heard a lot of anecdotal information and a lot of personal testimonials. In fact, we heard firsthand testimony from an employee, indicating that his employer had to file over 10,000 W-2s on behalf of their numerous employees, primarily because they had crossed State lines for work. He went on to tell us one of his coworkers had to file 50 W-2s--that is 50 W-2s--just for himself.

That didn't make sense to us, and it certainly doesn't make sense to most Americans. Imagine an individual, making less than $50,000 a year, having to file 10, 20, or even 50 W-2s. It is ridiculous, and it is unacceptable.

Madam Speaker, I am an ardent defender of the United States Constitution--in particular, the 10th Amendment--which delegates authority not granted to the Federal Government, to the States.

That said, the Constitution gives plenary jurisdiction to Congress relative to the regulation of interstate commerce, under Article I, section 8. It is, therefore, as in this case, the constitutional responsibility of Congress to identify and respond to an increasingly mobile and global economy and relieve it of unnecessary burdensome compliance requirements resulting from a patchwork of unique State income tax laws.

And that is why many groups that advocate on behalf of States, such as the American Legislative Exchange Council, agree with this legislation, because H.R. 1393 is the type of simple and streamlined interstate commerce regulation Congress should be enacting. In fact, there are more than 300 outside organizations that have encouraged support of this bill.

With the help of my colleague, Hank Johnson, on the other side of the aisle, our Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act is a carefully crafted, bipartisan, and bicameral measure that streamlines State income tax laws across the Nation.

It creates a uniform threshold, giving nonresidents 30 days to work in another State without being liable for that State's income tax. This simple and straightforward language ensures employees will have a clear understanding of their tax liability, and it gives employers a clear and consistent rule so that they can plan and accurately predict their tax liability, knowing the same rule applies for all States with an income tax.

It also means much less paperwork and reduced compliance costs for both States and businesses and their employees.

The goal of H.R. 1393 is to protect our mobile workers, and that includes traveling emergency workers and first responders; trade union workers; nonprofit staff; teachers; Federal, State, and local government employees; and much more. Any organization that has employees who cross State lines for temporary periods will benefit from this law.

I would also note that great care was taken with this bill to diminish the impact on State revenues. You heard testimony earlier relative to its impact on State governments. In fact, a 2015 study by Ernst & Young found that H.R. 1393 would actually raise State income tax revenues, while other States would only see a de minimis change.

With that said, I would like to take this time to thank all of the members of the Mobile Workforce Coalition who support our bill; Chairman Goodlatte and his world class staff for all of their work; my 57 colleagues who cosponsored this in the House; as well as Senator Thune, Senator Brown, and nearly half of the United States Senate who have cosponsored our companion bill.

Madam Speaker, as Congress continues to work on comprehensive tax reform to jump start our economy and to provide relief for American families and businesses, the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act is a great start to streamline the Tax Code and roll back unnecessary and costly administrative burdens.

With so much red tape interwoven in today's Tax Code, this bill is a commonsense way to cut through the clutter and simplify part of the filing process moving forward. Together, we can make our workforce the priority and help our small businesses grow and prosper.

Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1393.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our brave servicemen and -women who have put their lives on the line every day to protect us. Since the founding of our Nation, millions of Americans have proudly served and sacrificed in preservation of our democracy.

Our veterans have paid a tremendous price to defend our freedom, yet leaving the battlefield does not always mean their battles are over. It is, therefore, our duty as a nation to ensure that our servicemembers are properly and respectfully cared for when they return home.

Our veterans are real-life heroes living quietly among us. They are the patriots who were willing to give up everything--everything they had--for their God, their country, and for one another.

The Holy Scripture tells us, in John 15:13: ``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'' This weekend, let's call to mind all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is because of their valor, strength, and bravery that I stand here before you today. They selflessly put their lives on the line to fight for us, and I am proud to continue fighting for them.

Our men and women of the military represent the very best of America. On behalf of Michigan's Eighth Congressional District, we are eternally grateful for their service.

Happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.