Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I claim time in opposition, although I am not opposed to this amendment.

Madam Chair, first off, I thank Representative Foster and also his acting chief of staff, Samantha Warren, for the great work on this and for working along with two of the people on my staff, Kevin Dawson and Brendan Fulmer. It is this type of collaboration that proves to the American people that we can do things together and do them right.

Everything the gentleman just said, it really rings true with me.

My father was 86 years old when we had to admit him into the hospital for some work to be done. As I was sitting there visiting with him one morning, the nurses brought in his medication.

He said, ``What are you giving me?'' The nurse said, ``Well, this is what the doctors prescribed for you.'' So he said, ``Could I have the chart at the end of the bed, please?'' The nurse said, ``Why would you want that chart?'' He said: ``Because what you are giving me today is something I can't take. If you look at the chart, you will find out that I am right, and what you are giving me is wrong.''

I thought it was amazing that an 86-year-old man knew enough to look at what he was being given without just saying, ``Fine, if you think I should take it, I will take it.''

When we look at what is happening today, we are at a point right now where there is no reason for us to be having these problems.

According to the 2016 study that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster) talked about, healthcare executives say that misidentification costs the average healthcare facility $17.4 million per year in denied claims and potential lost revenue.

Without the ability for clinicians to correctly connect a patient with their medical record, medical errors have needlessly occurred and lives have been lost. These are situations that could have been entirely avoidable had patients been able to be accurately identified and matched with their records.

This is a problem that is so dire that one of our Nation's leading patient safety organizations, the ECRI Institute, named patient misidentification among the top 10 threats to patient safety.

There is no reason for that to occur, not today, not in this world, not with what we have available to us.

Passing the Foster-Kelly amendment and removing this outdated ban would help bring our healthcare system into the 21st century, improve patient safety, and save millions of dollars.

I would hope that every Member shares the same concerns that the gentleman and I have and that we make sure to look at what is available to us in the 21st century to make sure these types of mistakes don't happen. We have the ability to do it. Why hold back?

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Brady for yielding. I am so used to calling him chairman, but I look across the aisle to my great friend Richard Neal, who is chairman right now, and I thank him so much for bringing this up today.

Madam Speaker, I enter into the Record a letter in support of the SECURE Act from AARP.

Madam Speaker, this is an unusual day. In many cases, it is providential, as we look on the eve of the time that we take to honor our fallen war dead.

Some people confuse it with the beginning of summer or the opening of our swimming pools. It has nothing to do with that.

But the fact that we can talk today about the SECURE Act--and when you talk about ``secure,'' what does ``secure'' mean? It means giving you certainty, making you assured, and making something reliable, something dependable, something that is fixed, something that is established, and something that is solid and sound.

What we are doing today is acting in the best interests of the American people. We are doing it in the people's House at a time when the rest of the Nation looks at us and asks, ``Isn't there anything they can do together to help the American people?''

When I go home, I say, yes, there is. I have a great friend from Wisconsin, Ron Kind, and we feel the same way. I talked with Mr. Brady about it, and we feel the same way. I have talked with Mr. Neal about it, and we feel the same way.

Today's effort is adding security in retirement years for every American, the opportunity to go into those golden years with a little gold in their pockets so that they can get through it, giving them peace of mind in being able to lay their heads on the pillows at night feeling safe and secure, knowing that they have prepared for their retirements.

There are many other pieces to this bill. We have talked about the provisions to the Gold Star program. So if something was wrong, we made it right.

The 529 programs give people the opportunity to actually save and allocate money for the education of their children.

It may not be in a 4-year college. Maybe it is a vocational opportunity. But it is there. It is their money, and they should be able to use it the way they want to use it.

I just said earlier about it being providential, and I mean that sincerely. There will be a few times today that the American people will look at us and say: They really have our best interests at heart. They really go to work every day thinking that they are not representing themselves but representing us, the American people.

When I look at this piece of legislation, I know how hard we worked with the chairman to get it through in the past sessions. We almost got it there but didn't quite get it there.

Madam Speaker, I say to Chairman Neal, we are getting there. We are getting there. And I say to Mr. Kind, we are getting there.

I just think that it is such a fantastic opportunity to show the American people who we really are and what we really do and where our hearts really lie.

There are so many people who worked on this. Also, the staff. I thank Kara for doing the work that she has done. I always call her my girl Friday. In our office, Lori Prater. They all work so closely together. I wish the American people could see the camaraderie, could see how well we work together, and could understand that our concerns and their concerns are the same.

I am saying today that the SECURE Act gives us that opportunity. The time for the American people and retired people is just beginning, and we have blue skies and strong winds on our backs.

Madam Speaker, I wish everybody the best Memorial Day ever, and let's not forget our fallen heroes.

Mr. Speaker, for over 100 years, America's railways, roadways, runways, and rivers were the envy of the entire world. Now they are emblems of a past time that requires significant upgrades to support our current needs. They not only allow us to participate in a global economy, but allow us to dominate that economy.

First, let me note that American infrastructure is made up of the following: 4.1 million miles of public highways, over 600,000 bridges, 140,500 miles of railways, 11,300 miles of public transit systems, 25,000 miles of navigable waterways, 250 water ports, and 19,500 airports.

Much of that infrastructure is decades old and in dire need of repair. For too long, America has stood by and allowed our once world- leading infrastructure to crumble.

Our competitors have not only caught up with us, but, in many cases, have surpassed us. Countries like China and India spend billions on new roads, new rails, and ports, while we have allowed ours to decay.

America still has the most dynamic, innovative, and diversified economy in the entire world, but we must rebuild our Nation's infrastructure to remain competitive.

Our taxpayers already pay enough in taxes, so we have to find ways to pay for these infrastructure improvements. It is imperative that we do so without putting a heavier burden on our hardworking American taxpayers.

That is why I have worked on legislation over the years, with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, that uses a combination of public and private funds to fix our public works. By working together, we can rebuild our Nation's infrastructure by harnessing the private sector's capacity for innovation and investment, rather than raising taxes.

I would like to outline some of the legislation that I am talking about, which I believe is just the type of outside-the-box thinking we need to achieve those goals.

Today, Earl Blumenauer and I introduced the BUILD Act. This legislation raises the Federal statutory cap on private activity bonds that can be issued by or on behalf of State and local governments for qualified highway and freight improvement projects from $15 billion to $20.8 billion. In short, it allows State and local governments to enhance their capacity to finance surface transportation projects through private-public partnerships.

As more of our Nation's infrastructure requires critical investment and improvements, we must find ways to reinvest in our roads and rails without burdening our hardworking American taxpayers. This bill will help finance improvement projects at a minimal cost to taxpayers with a maximum impact on America's roads, bridges, and rails. This is a jobs bill.

I joined with Chairman DeFazio, Ranking Member Graves, Representative Napolitano, and Representative Westerman to introduce H.R. 2440, the Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act. This bipartisan bill ensures the harbor maintenance trust fund is used for its intended purpose, and that is maintaining our federally authorized harbors.

Erie, Pennsylvania, knows that our airports badly need this support. The Port of Erie is part of our economic lifeblood. For decades, cargo ships have had to light load because of a lack of dredging, significantly increasing the cost per unit for shipped goods.

People ask: What do you mean by light load? What I mean by that is they cannot load to their full capacity. They are light loading so the ships can navigate through areas that have not been dredged in years.

Our Nation's 59 busiest ports are available less than 35 percent of the time. Conditions of our midsize and emerging harbors are far worse.

Currently, there is over $9 billion sitting in the harbor maintenance trust fund. This money has come from the users of those assets. They have put that money in for the express purpose of thinking that it was going to be used to improve the ports that they used.

Over the next decade, there is going to be an additional $24.5 billion in revenue that will be collected by the harbor maintenance tax. This bill provides for the investment of approximately $34 billion for our Nation's coastal and inland harbors over the next decade without raising one dime in taxes for our hardworking American taxpayers. This money will provide for dredging of all Federal harbors to their constructed widths and depths.

Because of developments like the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2016, larger container ships will increasingly call upon our Nation's ports, and dredging is necessary if they are allowed to have access to these ports. Our goal is to guarantee that our Nation is competitive in the global economy of the 21st century.

Also with Earl Blumenauer, I introduced the Public Buildings Renewal Act. This bipartisan legislation will spur private investment in public building infrastructure throughout the United States by creating $5 billion in private activity bonds for the improvement of government- owned public buildings.

In every small town or city in America, the conditions of our public schools, our public hospitals, our universities, and our police and fire stations are deteriorating because of delayed maintenance. We just haven't been able to afford to do it.

With State and local budgets becoming increasingly tight, capital investments in public buildings have fallen by the wayside. For example, the average public school building is at least 40 years old, and the current backlog of maintenance and repair projects adds up to more than $45 billion, annually, in unmet funding needs.

The Public Building Renewal Act aims to unlock private sector capital for the public sector's benefit. The public buildings that house vital services for Americans must be maintained and improved.

We have also dropped the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy Act. Representative Blumenauer and I introduced this bill just recently.

The short line rail industry operates on nearly 50,000 miles of railroad track in 49 states. And is part of the origination or the termination of one out of every five cars, railroad cars, on the national railroad system.

Short line railroads serve the most vulnerable part of the rail network. Small towns and small businesses who would have otherwise been cut off from the national network, are now served by the short lines.

Unfortunately, though, as the freight rail industry has evolved, many short line railroads and smaller communities have been abandoned.

This removes a critical first- and last-mile link between producers, consumers, and export opportunities in large and small communities across America.

Since it was first enacted in 2005, the 1- or 2-year increment extensions of the Short Line Railroad Maintenance Credit provided limited certainty for short line railroads to make investments in their infrastructure.

Our legislation delivers confidence by making the short line railroad maintenance credit permanent while also applying it retroactively to tax year 2018.

The short line railroad maintenance tax credit is responsible for more than $4 billion of investment in privately held short line railroads across America.

The tax credit requires the short line railroad to invest $1 dollar for every 50 cents in credit up to a credit cap of $3,500 per track mile.

In 2015 alone, 2,140 rail miles were improved.

5.27 million railroad ties were replaced; and the short line industry invested nearly 25 percent of their revenue on infrastructure improvements.

These investments ensure that more than 10,000 rail companies can rely on safe, efficiently and economically competitive transportation for their products.

Also, I would like to talk just a little bit about the GAIIN Act.

During the last Congress, I introduced a bipartisan bill with a broad coalition from the Republican Study Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the House Freedom Caucus.

This legislation has the potential to help fund critical infrastructure projects in the Nation's poorest communities while simultaneously paying down on our national debt.

The poorest areas in our country have been routinely overlooked or are in dire need of infrastructure improvements that will facilitate economic growth and self-sustainability.

Reviving these forgotten cities and breathing life back into these towns throughout America is both a moral and economic imperative that uniquely unites all lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Selling some of the $2 trillion of nonperforming debt and lease assets held by Federal agencies on the open market would be a good strategy for a down payment on infrastructure improvements.

The GAIIN Act will do that and reduce our debt without asking taxpayers for one more penny of their money.

Half the proceeds from these sales will be put into projects and communities below the poverty line and directly lead to jobs and economic growth where it is most needed.

Also, the contractors doing this work in these communities would be required to hire people who actually live there, to help build these products and projects.

Imagine the generational pride that will be created when fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers tell their children and grandchildren, ``We rebuilt this community for you.'' It lasts for generations, and it is a pride that you can't just stop thinking about how good it is for our country.

Now, the other half of the revenue we collect would go to debt reduction. And this is a private-sector solution to a public-sector problem, and another huge win for America.

It is time for us to come together as a Nation to keep America on its path of greatness.

This is not a red State or blue State issue. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a red, white, and blue American issue.

We must make sure American infrastructure allows our people to compete in the global economy now and in the future. In an economy that we not only participate in, but that we dominate, that America takes its rightful place in the world when it comes to what we are able to do.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the President's rescission of the onerous regulations unleashed our economy, and we are seeing the best job numbers that we have seen in over half a century.

Now, in order for that success to be sustained and long-term, it is incumbent that we upgrade our infrastructure.

So I call on all my colleagues to work together and come up with creative solutions to pay for these very necessary improvements and to support the bills I have outlined today.

America's best times lie in front of her, not behind her. And once again, it is Yankee ingenuity that will lead us to the top again and we will become that country that others long to belong to and become a part of.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 9.

Madam Speaker, if we are really going to speak about what makes sense, what doesn't make sense, or what does have a relevance, let's not forget about who bears the brunt of the cost of what we are talking about. It is hardworking Americans.

I find it interesting that we talk about: Well, do you know what, you guys did stuff the last time that prevented us from getting amendments in, so we are following along with the same thing. I have great respect for the chairman of the Rules Committee, but I have to say that if the whole purpose of this is what I think it is, then I would like to go back to the actual beginning where this should have been treated as a treaty and it should have gotten the advice and consent of the Senate. Why did President Obama not do that? Obviously, he did it because he couldn't get the advice and consent of the Senate, so he decided to do it this way.

If our whole job in coming to the people's House is to defend the American people, then we need to take a real long look at what it is that we are trying to defend. This bill today is a messaging bill, there is no question about it.

If you look at the damage that could be done to the American people-- I am talking about the American people now, not a philosophy that is out there, not an agenda that is out there, but I am talking about hardworking Americans: a loss of nearly 400,000 jobs--this is according to the Heritage Foundation--an average manufacturing loss of over 200,000 jobs, a total income loss of more than $20,000 per family, a GDP loss of over $2.5 trillion, and increases in household electricity expenditures between 13 percent and 20 percent. The biggest offenders in the world are China and India, and they aren't part of this so- called agreement.

If we are really concerned about protecting the people who sent us here to be their voice, then we ought to look at what their voice is and who bears the burden of a philosophy, a failed philosophy, that has no chance of working itself into law. We know that, and yet today we will come here, and we will rail against something that isn't really on the list of what the American people have the greatest concerns over.

The people who I represent back in Pennsylvania, they thank me every day for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act because it has reduced their utility bills.

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

Mr. Speaker, today exemplifies what this body is supposed to be about, the people's House acting in the best interest of the people. Republicans and Democrats have come together to pass the Taxpayer First Act, landmark legislation to reform the IRS so it better works for every single American.

I am honored to have coauthored this bill with my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis). I thank the gentleman for his commitment to the taxpayers and for working with me on a great achievement for the American people.

We all work for the American people, whether you are sitting in this House, or whether you are a member of some agency. And we look at the 80,000 employees at the IRS, and we know that they work with an $11 billion budget which is supplied by hardworking American taxpayers. It should work in their best interest.

Over the last 2 years, the Ways and Means Committee and various subcommittees held hearings and other events to discover what is working, and what isn't. As we looked at redesigning the IRS, we focused on improving the relationship between our taxpayers and our government.

Both sides agree that the IRS should prioritize taxpayers' rights and that it should be a resource and not an adversary to the American people.

This bill will achieve those goals. Americans will interact with an IRS that carries out customer service like we do in the private sector; improved support with services online, in person and on the phone will finally become a reality.

Gone are those days when you would walk into a business and there would be a complaint department. Instead, it has been replaced by customer service. The IRS is going to be a customer service agency. Let's look at what this legislation will do.

First, to achieve the mission outlined above, the agency's quality service motto will no longer just be a motto that rings hollow. The bill requires the IRS to adopt commonsense, private-sector-like customer service standards; things as simple as a callback option so Americans aren't stuck on hold for hours on end.

Secondly, we are overhauling the IRS' enforcement tools so families and small businesses don't have property unfairly seized. The Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to due process and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. Our legislation prevents outrageous enforcement abuses to protect taxpayers from unfair seizures.

Third, the Taxpayer First Act recasts the IRS as our tax administrator rather than simply an enforcement agency. It is more than a semantic difference. It would change the culture at the agency for the better.

Another way it will protect taxpayers is by creating an independent appeals office. This will give taxpayers a fair and impartial review of disputes they may have with the IRS.

We also took note of the fact that it shouldn't take a Freedom of Information Act request to see what evidence the IRS is using against taxpayers in those disputes. This legislation will make sure you can see your individual case file when resolving a dispute with the agency.

Lastly, we are revamping the IRS' outdated and ancient technology which will better position the agency to proactively combat cyber threats. IRS employees are forced to use technology that is outrageously outdated; some of it dates back to the 1960s.

This bill provides accountability to the IRS for the billions in funding it is given for IT each year. That accountability extends to protections against cyber threats. We must ensure that taxpayer information is safe and that refunds are not at risk to thieves. This legislation strengthens the IRS' partnership with States and the private sector to combat those threats.

Taken together, these reforms will greatly benefit Americans each year during tax season and end disputes with the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1957, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Rice).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

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

I thank Mr. Lewis so much. I can't tell the gentleman what an honor it is to be on the floor with him today in the people's House, working on legislation that benefits every single American, something he has done all his life. To be here with Mr. Lewis today and to get this done is incredible.

It has often been said that, if you do the right thing for the right reasons, good things happen. Wouldn't it be great today if all of our colleagues come together to do the right thing for the right reason, for the right people: our hardworking American taxpayers.

This is an incredible day for America to look at the people's House and say this was a day when both Democrats and Republicans came together to do the right thing at the right time, for the right people.

It has been an incredible honor, and I want to thank the staff. As we know, it is the staff that does so much work and puts in hour after hour after hour to make this a success. I can't thank them all enough for what they have all done. It has been incredible work. It was done not just in the best interest of the Congressperson for whom they work because, more importantly, they work for the American people.

It is always great being with Mr. Lewis, especially on a day like this. It has been an incredible day for the American people, to prove to them that, in Washington, D.C., the people's House is doing that, working together for them, bringing us together as a body, a legislative body, something that they have been looking for and looking to and saying: Why can't you all just get together and do the right thing? Today is the day that that is going to happen.

I thank Mr. Lewis so much for working with us and getting this done, and, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this important legislation to the floor.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 88, a comprehensive package that in many ways will help millions of American families save more of their own money for their future.

Among H.R. 88's many important features is a section that includes key elements of three retirement savings bills that I have been proud to introduce and champion over the last 2 years.

One of those bills, the Family Savings Act, stood as one of the three main pillars of Tax Reform 2.0, which passed this House with bipartisan support in September. With H.R. 88, much of that bill, along with my bipartisan Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act and bipartisan Rightsizing Pension Premiums Act, is one giant step closer to becoming law.

In short, this package is a wonderful gift at Christmas for all Americans, and it cannot come soon enough.

Americans should be able to rely on three main sources of retirement income to ensure full financial security during their retirement years: first, Social Security; second, personal savings; and third, employer- sponsored savings plans.

Now, when it comes to that third source, an alarming number of Americans do not have access to an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. Among those who do, a recent study found that 42 percent of them have less than $10,000 in their plan.

Combined with the fact that more than 60 percent of Americans don't have enough cash to cover a $1,000 emergency expense, the passage of today's package is especially critical.

Specifically, H.R. 88 will make it easier for small employers to pool together and offer retirement plans to their employees. This would help bridge the divide between the benefits that large employers might offer to their employees and those that smaller employers only wish that they could offer.

Overall, this will help ensure that the next generation of Americans doesn't outlive its savings.

I have to tell you, one of the things that I remember so clearly as a child growing up is my mother and dad saying to me: The one thing we never want to be to you kids is a burden.

I thought to myself, my gosh, my mom and dad are worried about being a burden to my brothers and sisters, after all they have done for us?

What we are trying to do is make up for that. The Greatest Generation, they are telling us they don't want to be a burden to the next generation. How American is that? That has nothing to do with Republicans and Democrats. That has to do with who we are as Americans.

This H.R. 88 accomplishes a lot of those goals, but I have to tell you, a secure retirement for every American should not be a partisan issue, and we know it is not. So, today, let's come together as a unified body and send this bill to the Senate, for the sake of every American's peace of mind during this season of peace.

Before I conclude, I also want to highlight the railroad track maintenance tax credit for the short-line railroads and the extension of the biodiesel tax credit. Each of these actions will directly support economic growth and job creation in rural communities

across America.

As I look across to the other side, I think we are all the same. I can remember, as a child growing up, sitting down and making up a list and sending it off to the North Pole, telling Santa Claus everything I wanted. But I can remember coming down on Christmas morning, and I never got everything I wanted, but I was really thankful for everything I got.

Mr. Speaker, this is bipartisan. This is who we are. If we cannot secure the future for those who have done so much for us, what are we doing here?

This is a wonderful opportunity for us to act at a time of year when it is much more important to give than it is to receive.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1084, I call up the bill (H.R. 6757) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage retirement and family savings, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6757, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume and thank leadership for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 6757, the Family Savings Act, which will make it easier for American families and individuals to save for their future, whether it is retirement, education, or healthcare, helping them to make sure that they are keeping more of their hard-earned income, more of their own money, and planning for their future.

This bill will also help local businesses provide retirement plans to their workers and help workers participate more in all those plans.

Now, according to the Department of Labor and the Federal Reserve, about 69 million American workers have formal retirement plans, which, together, have almost $14 trillion in savings for them.

This bill will incentivize hardworking American taxpayers to continue to put away more of their own money for their future.

One of the things I remember so clearly from growing up is my parents talking to us all the time and saying: The one thing we never want to be for you kids is a burden. We never want to be a hardship for you as we go into our senior years.

I thought to myself at that time: How could anybody look across the table at people who had worked so hard, had come through the Great Depression, had come through World War II, had come through the Korean war, had gone through all kinds of difficulties and had always provided for us and think that? How in the world could they ever think that they would be a burden to me or to my brothers and sisters?

It was unimaginable for me, but that is what they thought. That is what they worried about. They never wanted to be a burden to anybody.

Just think about that for a minute. That generation, often described as the Greatest Generation, was telling us, the next generation, that they never wanted to be a burden.

What we are talking about today is relieving the burden on the next generation by making it easier for people to go into their retirement feeling that they have enough income to actually enjoy their golden years.

H.R. 6757 would allow for every American worker, at all income levels, to save money in universal savings accounts, in which those earnings would be tax-free and could be taken out at any time without a penalty. How unique to be able to take your own money out and use it without being penalized by the Federal Government.

It would also allow Americans to use their 529 plans to pay for costs associated with home schooling, apprenticeships, just like they now can for primary and secondary schools thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

And if one sibling has more money in a 529 account than he or she needs, another sibling can use some of that money to help pay down their student loans.

This bill would allow younger taxpayers to take out some of their own money in their retirement account without penalty when they have a new baby or have an opportunity to adopt a child. This way, younger Americans will feel secure in starting to save for their retirement, knowing that the money could still be there for them at one of the most expensive times in their lives.

H.R. 6757 would also make it easier for small employers to pull together and offer retirement plans to their team, to the folks they work with, their associates. This would help bridge that divide between what benefits large employers might be able to offer to their employees but smaller employers may only wish to be able to do but really can't.

The bill also allows for older Americans to continue saving in their IRAs if they choose to continue working in their later years, and it allows them to keep their own money in their IRAs if those accounts are relatively modest.

For those workers who want their savings accounts to be in conservative investments, such as annuities, this bill reduces the cost of doing that.

Finally, this bill would also help our brave men and women in the Reserves put away more of their retirement by letting them contribute the maximum amount to their military retirement accounts while also contributing to a retirement account from the private sector.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you why we are really here today. We are really here today because of the overwhelming success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It has worked. It is incredible, the growth in our economy.

The number one priority from the beginning of everything we did was about pro-growth legislation that actually made it easier on hardworking American families. You know what, despite what you may hear and the rattle from the other side, it worked, and it is working every day. We can see it in every measurable event of what is happening in America.

Thanks to tax reform, middle-income families in western Pennsylvania and across America are seeing bigger paychecks, more take-home money. How

odd that we allow them to keep more of their own money. That is just who we are as Americans.

Democrats have chosen to distort this success. Republicans are choosing to secure the success by making the tax cuts for middle-income families permanent. We keep hearing: Yeah, yeah, but you are not really taking care of them.

The idea that we use identity politics every day in every way in this House is absolutely deplorable. Tax reform 2.0 is all about that. The truth of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is its success.

The saddest part of it all is not one of our Democratic colleagues voted for it. For that, they will continue to distort the future and use identity politics.

Mr. Speaker, I think we have other people who want to talk on this, but for now, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I remind my friends on the other side that a rising tide lifts all boats. There happens to be 6.9 million jobs now looking for somebody to fill them.

And when we talk about going into retirement, could we please stop trying to divide, divide, divide America? Could we please start being the United States of America instead of the divided States of America?

Every single American benefits from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That is the fact. I am sorry you didn't sign on for it. We are going to give you a second chance today to show your true colors, which needs to red, white, and blue, not just blue.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup).

Mr. Speaker, I share my colleague's concerns over the debt. In fact, I started to really become alarmed with it under the Obama administration when we went from being $10.6 trillion in debt to nearly $20 trillion in debt. I just wonder, where were you when this was going on? And why was there not any alarm sounding then?

But again, it is just politics masquerading as fiscal discipline.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), a good friend of mine.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the hero of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to engage in a colloquy with the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, one topic that has been discussed in the context of the savings and retirement bill is the level of premiums paid to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the PBGC, by rural electric co- ops and by charitable organizations.

I know the Ways and Means Committee included a study that was intended to provide information relevant to the proper level of PBGC premiums. That study was removed by the manager's amendment.

Could the chairman provide some insights about how this issue will be resolved as we move forward?

I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, as always, for his insights and his clarity, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I include in the Record a letter from AARP in strong support of H.R. 6757.

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to be here in the people's House on the floor hearing two differing views of America. I really appreciate about putting the jam on the lower shelf. We have actually put it on the table with the lid off so that every single American has benefited.

I know that sometimes we look at things, and people are entitled to their own opinion, but what they are not entitled to are their own facts. The fact is that, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, every single American has benefited.

This is not just about Democrats and Republicans; this is about Americans. I am hoping that Americans are watching what is going on here right now, where the game plan is always: If we can divide them, we can win. If we don't have any facts, let's just come up with anything and throw it out there and think that maybe the way we use the Gruber effect in the healthcare plan, we are going to rely on Americans not to really look beyond what is going on.

Well, I will tell you what. In every segment of our society right now, we are seeing the lowest unemployment in

history. It doesn't matter if these are hyphenated Americans--I don't know why we have to be this way, because I look at people as being red, white, and blue Americans, not White, not Black, not tan, not yellow. I am talking about red, white, and blue Americans, the same people who provide every single penny to run this marvelous government of ours.

And now what we are proposing today is to allow these same hardworking people the opportunity not to have to rely on a government program, but to be able to rely on their own hard-earned savings. What an incredible, unusual idea to come out of this House.

Look, we know that it is absolutely crucial that, as more and more Americans enter their golden years, they have the security and peace of mind to enjoy those years and not have to worry about whether they have saved enough money. We should be doing everything we can to help them save more of their hard-earned money--it is their own money, by the way--for themselves and for their families. H.R. 6757 does that by giving every single American the tools that he or she needs to help them save for their future and to save for their retirement.

I have heard today the tax sham. I have heard today about growing deficits. I have heard today about the rich, the elite, the people who have private boats, and the people who have jets. But what I haven't heard today is how this incredible piece of legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, has increased and how our economy has taken off.

Now, you can say anything you want, and I understand why you are upset. Not one of you could vote for this. So if you couldn't vote for it and you couldn't be part of the team that won, what you have to be now is the team that says: Do you know what? We could have done it better.

My question is: Where the heck were you in the previous administration? Where were you in all those years when the debt grew from $10 trillion to $20 trillion?

Now, all of a sudden, the light comes on: Oh, my God, the debt is increasing. It is these doggone Republicans. Do you know what they are trying to do? They want hardworking American taxpayers to be able to keep more of their own money. That is just not the way Washington works.

I thank God every day that I didn't start off as a local politician, then move into a county position, then move into a State position, and then wander into D.C. using that same philosophy that we are going to put this on the backs of our taxpayers. We never tell these people that the hand they feel in their back pocket is the government taking their wallet out. Then we decry this fact that: Oh, my goodness, how could we ignore the debt?

Thanks for waking up. Where were you when it was $10 trillion? Why did you let it get to $20 trillion before the bells went off?

Look, there is so much in this bill that just makes sense. This bill was not crafted for Democrats. It wasn't crafted for Republicans. It was crafted for Americans, hardworking Americans, who put all their life into a job, who look forward to retirement. We are giving them that opportunity not to rely on some government program that may or may not be there when they reach retirement.

We are telling them: Do you know what? You get to keep more of your own money now. You get to put it away in a lot of pretax opportunities. You get to know that you can draw down on some of that money without being heavily taxed for needing it.

And while we decry all these inequities, and when we continue to divide Americans and say, ``It is always about the rich; it is always about the elite; it is all about those who have more than you do,'' that is not what it is about. It is about helping every American get to retirement.

Good Lord, how did we get to this position? How did we get to this point in America's history that we will pick and choose and we will decry anybody who has been successful and always label them as the rich, the elite, these horrible, horrible people who have done so much with their life. They just don't deserve that.

Well, do you know what? This is America. There are more stories in this country and throughout our history of people who started with absolutely nothing but an opportunity, an equal opportunity, not guaranteed an equal outcome, but guaranteed an equal opportunity.

What we are doing today is guaranteeing for every hardworking American out there that they can put more of their own hard-earned money into a retirement plan that serves them.

Now, every time we come on this floor, I hear this: divide, divide, divide. We can't possibly be the America that 1.4 million of our fellow citizens died to protect. No, no, no. This is not about America's future. This is about midterm elections. We are more worried about getting reelected than changing the direction of this country.

I would ask my colleagues on the other side, look, I know you are sorry you didn't vote for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That is why you throw it down all the time and say this is horrible. What did happen is that we are giving you another chance to hop on this train.

I have only been here 8 years, but I will tell you what. I have heard enough in 8 years, coming from the private sector where you have to make it on your own every single day. You have to make payroll. You have to put food on the table and a roof over the heads of your children.

I don't want a government program that does that for me. I want a government program that allows me to save my own money, take less of my hard-earned money and allow me to save for my wife, for my kids, for my grandchildren, and for my great-grandchildren.

That is what this is all about today, Mr. Speaker. It is plain and simple.

One group thinks that the whole idea of government is to make each and every citizen rely on them and depend on them for their very existence. We are offering a chance for every single American--I don't care where they are from, I don't care the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, or how they vote. What I do care about is that they can go into their retirement knowing that their hard-earned money over the years is going to be accessible to them.

That is what this is all about. I am hoping America is watching.

I will go back to what I said in the beginning. I remember very clearly my mom and my dad sitting there and saying: The one thing we pray for is that we are never a burden for you and your brothers and your sisters.

And I will repeat what I said today. I could not believe that the people who raised me, who fed me, who clothed me, who gave me a future, thought that somehow they would ever be a burden to me, my brothers, or my sisters. The one thing I know that they were sure of: They could save on their own, and they could get ready for their future and for their retirement years.

That is all we are trying to do today. We are trying to make sure that every single hardworking American gets to keep more of his or her money for their own retirement without the government taking advantage of them.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I do still have the passion to bring this forward, and I have the passion and I have the belief that, if you can get beyond politics and talk about people, that you can come to a conclusion that this is a solid bill that helps our fellow Americans go into their retirement.

I know that is in your heart. I know you can't speak it sometimes because we are so polarized. Isn't that a shame?

But I will say this. Today we have the opportunity, and what you can show it on--there will be a big screen up there. It will have everybody's name. And you can put a green ``yes'' on there, which says: I am voting for America's future. I am voting for America's retirees. I am voting to make people have peace of mind. Or you can put a red up there and say: Do you know what? I would have voted for it, but it wasn't our bill. And if it is not my bill, if it is not my party's bill, I can't vote for that because there is an election coming up and we have got to polarize this.

Mr. Speaker, I know I am out of time, but I am not out of breath, and I will tell you what, I am sure as hell not out of passion. I know what this country means for everybody, and we are making it possible for them every day in every way.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize one of my constituents from Western Pennsylvania, Mrs. Elizabeth Lampkins. Elizabeth has been employed with the Shenango Valley Urban League since 1974 and has served as the director of the Woman, Infants, and Children program (WIC) since 1978. Elizabeth has spent the past 44 years selflessly serving others and building a legacy that is absolutely admirable. Although her successful career is coming to an end as Elizabeth is retiring, her efforts will continue to benefit the community for years to come.

Elizabeth is the beloved widow of Marion Lampkins, as well as a proud mother of three and a doting grandmother to five. In 1961, Elizabeth graduated from Choffin School of Practical Nursing and received additional certification from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. In 1974, following a life-threatening illness, Elizabeth began volunteering at the former Community Medical Education & Screening Center in order to help them create a program to address Sickle Cell.

After just one month of volunteering, Elizabeth was hired as a secretary and from that point forward she continuously advanced the program and her career. Elizabeth worked her way up from volunteer to secretary to counselor to coordinator and, ultimately, all the way to director. Being appointed as the Director of the WIC & Sickle Cell program was the start of the most rewarding endeavor of Elizabeth's career. She proudly took on the leadership role and always maintained her focus on ``service first,'' which earned respect and admiration from colleagues at the Shenango Valley Urban League.

The Shenango Valley Urban League, which is proudly celebrating their 50th anniversary, is an organization that welcomes, empowers, and encourages all citizens and provides vital services to those in need. Elizabeth is the oldest employee at the Shenango Valley Urban League in both age and tenure, and she has proudly served under every Executive Director or President since the inception of the organization. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has worked tirelessly to advance the WIC program and ensure it continues to prosper and provide. In every role, in every effort, Elizabeth has displayed unparalleled integrity, dignity, and strength.

In addition to her loyalty to the WIC program, Elizabeth has actively participated in various civic organizations and advisory boards, making community service an integral part of her life. Elizabeth's expertise and participation has been beneficial to the following: Prince of Peace Center, Teen Parenting Advisory Board, United Way Budget Panel, Minority Health Advocacy Committee, Pennsylvania WIC Association, Mercer County Children & Youth Services, Mercer County Family Centers, and Mercer County Comprehensive Health Planning Council.

Due to her noteworthy accomplishments, Elizabeth has been honored by many, including the Shenango Valley Urban League, National Urban League, Pennsylvania Association of WIC Directors, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Shenango Valley Women's Auxiliary. Furthermore, Elizabeth is an active member of the Second Baptist Church in Sharpsville where she has participated in various committees, choirs, circles, and also served as financial secretary and Sunday school treasurer. In every role, in every effort, Elizabeth has been an exemplary public servant and leader.

Elizabeth has been a catalyst for improvement throughout the community and her passion and dedication deserves praise. She is a leader in the truest sense of the word and a role model for those who are privileged to know her. Elizabeth has set a standard of excellence and generosity that will inspire others for generations to come and it is my honor to congratulate her on a distinguished career and a well- earned retirement.

Therefore, on behalf of the 3rd Congressional District, the State of Pennsylvania, and this nation, I would like to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to Elizabeth Lampkins--an extraordinary individual, a noble public servant, and a true Community Champion.

Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Black Family Foundation of Erie, Pennsylvania.

The foundation was established in 1993 by a very distinguished constituent of mine, Mr. Samuel P. ``Pat'' Black, III, and his late father, an Erie legend, Mr. Samuel P. Black, Jr., who passed away in 2001 just 4 months shy of his 100th birthday.

According to its mission statement, the foundation exists to fund systemic change.

It proudly focuses on strategic nonprofit investments throughout Erie County that leverage resources for the greatest gains in social progress.

Its vision is profound and very ambitious. It exists:

To promote continuous improvements in the quality of life around the globe by investing in projects that offer a high probability of not only transformational value, but also sustainable change.

Over the course of its respected history, the foundation has funded nonprofit programs and organizations in the areas of health and welfare, entrepreneurial education, homelessness, environmental sustainability, economic initiatives, and technology initiatives.

Specifically, the organization has supported such initiatives as the creation of the Elizabeth Lee Black School at the Barber National Institute. This is an approved private school that offers state-of-the- art educational programs to children ages 3 through 21 with autism and intellectual and physical disabilities.

Over the last 15 years, Mr. Black and the Black Family Foundation have also supported hundreds of students through scholarships at Penn State's Behrend College and at Mercyhurst University.

In the last decade alone, the foundation has donated more than $13 million throughout the Erie community and to worthy organizations around the world.

To Mr. Black and his family, we say: Happy anniversary, and may God bless you for all that you do to help bless others.

Mr. Speaker, obviously we live in alternative universes.

Mr. Speaker, America is winning again, and before we embark on the August recess, let's take into account what just 18 months of unified Republican government has meant for the American people.

According to the IMD World Competitive Center's 2018 rankings, the United States of America has overtaken Hong Kong as the world's number one most competitive economy thanks to faster economic growth and a supportive atmosphere for scientific and technological innovation. Our entire stock market is hovering around all-time highs.

Our national unemployment rate has reached its lowest level in 18 years. Female unemployment has reached its lowest levels since 1953. That is over 65 years ago. Black and Hispanic unemployment have reached their lowest levels ever.

More than 3.7 million new jobs have been created since President Trump took office, including 358,000 new jobs in manufacturing. In contrast, more than 16,000 manufacturing jobs nationwide were lost in 2016, the year before President Trump took office.

In 2017, an average of 16,333 manufacturing jobs were created per month; and last month, 26,000 new manufacturing jobs were created, bringing it to a total of 358,000 new jobs in manufacturing since President Trump's inauguration in January of 2017. And it continues to grow today.

The U.S. currently has 6.6 million job openings. It is at an all-time high. There are now more job openings than there are job seekers in the United States for the third straight month. In May, new hires rose to 5.75 million. That is the highest level in 17 years and the second highest level on record. An all-time high of 155.6 million Americans now have jobs.

Now, back home in Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District, which is soon to be its 16th Congressional District, the unemployment rate has dropped significantly in all seven counties. In Erie County, unemployment is now at an 18-year low, and in Crawford County, it is at a 42-year low. Wages for workers in Pennsylvania and across America have grown steadily by almost 3 percent over the past year and are continuing to climb.

Jobless claims, which are also known as unemployment benefit filings, have reached a 48-year low. That is half a century. Customer confidence has reached its highest level since 2001. Job market confidence and small business confidence are at their highest levels ever.

Since President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December of last year, businesses have created more than 1.3 million new jobs for American workers. And thanks to the tax cuts, more than 650 companies and counting are reinvesting billions of dollars into their businesses and have given more than 4.5 million American workers and counting major bonuses or pay raises or benefit increases.

In my home district, this has included employees for NexTier Bank, Erie Insurance, PNC Bank, Walmart, Starbucks, McDonald's, Chipotle, Home Depot, the National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, and many more. Nationally, more than 100 United States utility companies have lowered bills for customers in 48 States. Since February of this year, 90 percent of American wage earners have been opening bigger, less taxed paychecks with more take-home pay.

In my home district, the average tax cuts for individuals is $1,230. For families of four, it is $2,427. Those are hardly crumbs. In over 10 years, households will enjoy an average of more than $18,000 in take- home pay, and these are dollars that they have earned and now they get to spend it the way they want to as opposed to sending it to the government for the government to spend it the way the government would like to.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has also established the brand-new opportunity zones, a program to incentivize private investors to make long-term investments in communities that have faced economic hardships, which means even more jobs are on the way. The New York Times has called this provision the first substantial Federal attempt to aid those communities in more than a decade.

Mr. Speaker, in every measurable way, all Americans are better off now than we were just 2 short years ago. In every measurable way, America is winning again.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for including my bill, H.R. 6305, the Bipartisan HSA Improvement Act of 2018, in H.R. 6199, the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act.

This important legislation expands access to and enhances the utility of health savings accounts, also known as HSAs.

My legislation gives employers more flexibility to offer quality healthcare in the setting that is best for them, like onsite or retail clinics. Employers around the country are offering innovative ways to deliver healthcare to their associates, and this provision makes sure that individual health savings accounts can utilize these same services.

It also fixes the spouse penalty by allowing individuals to make health savings account contributions if a spouse has a flexible spending account, while preventing double-dipping in tax benefits.

Lastly, it makes it easier for people to save for their healthcare by streamlining the conversion of other tax-preferred accounts to health savings accounts.

Ultimately, this bill modernizes healthcare delivery and gives employers the freedom to innovate and improve their employees' health.

I am also very pleased to see that the PHIT Act was included in this package. I strongly support adding more of an emphasis on exercise and wellness to build a healthy American population.

We spend an incredible amount of money on healthcare but very little on maintenance, like exercise and wellness, before we get sick. The PHIT Act will better incentivize healthy lifestyles.

Mr. Speaker, we are trying to improve healthcare for all Americans.

This means giving consumers a choice in their healthcare by incentivizing wellness and exercise. This is a preemptive effort to build a healthier, stronger America and the freedom to design insurance products that work best for them.

If you want to keep healthcare costs down, let's just make sure people are healthier. That is the best way to do it.

And do you know what? I really like this debate because we talk about how the deficit has grown. And for my colleagues on the other side, I wasn't here at the time, but I watched the deficit grow in the beginning of the Obama administration from $9 trillion to $20 trillion, and I am glad that, finally, somebody has awakened to the fact that we are working with huge deficits.

Now, this bill was passed by the Ways and Means Committee in a bipartisan fashion, and I want to thank my friend Earl Blumenauer for working on this issue.

This issue is extremely important for the 175 million Americans who get their health insurance from their employer. I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of H.R. 6199.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4952) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and submit a report on the effects of the inclusion of quality increases in the determination of blended benchmark amounts under part C of the Medicare program, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4952, currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill, H.R. 4952, the Improving Seniors Access to Quality Benefits Act, will allow us to take a deeper look at how the Medicare Advantage benchmark cap is affecting people across the Nation. I have been working with Mr. Kind and other Members to address this inequity that affects seniors in high-quality plans across the country.

The Medicare Advantage program was designed to give seniors a choice in their healthcare and utilize the private

sector to provide better care and benefits. Medicare Advantage plans receive a capitated payment rate to cover the patient's total cost of care. In order to encourage quality, seniors enrolled in high-quality plans receive a quality bonus payment that goes directly to seniors in the form of reduced cost sharing or extra benefits.

The Medicare Advantage program is very popular and has been working well for many years. In my district in western Pennsylvania, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage. Nationwide, Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown to 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. That number is even higher with 48 percent of the Hispanic and 38 percent of African American Medicare beneficiaries choosing Medicare Advantage.

Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act implemented a cap on payments to Medicare Advantage plans. This misguided benchmark cap policy has penalized approximately 5.8 million American seniors being denied important benefits like care coordination, vision, dental, and wellness programs.

This issue has cost seniors in my district and across the country millions of dollars in benefits that they are entitled to. We talk often about paying for value in the Medicare program, and this policy undermines that goal.

The benchmark cap is clearly a problem, and we need more information on it. The Improving Seniors Access to Quality Benefits Act requires the Secretary of HHS to analyze and report to Congress on the impact of including quality bonus payments in the Medicare Advantage benchmark cap. It also establishes a sense of Congress that this issue undermines the goal of delivering high-quality care in the Medicare program.

It is my understanding that the Department of Health and Human Services has limited secretarial authority to make this change on its own. I hope to work together with the Secretary on policies such as this to encourage high-quality plans for seniors.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation has broad support from many stakeholders, including America's Health Insurance Plans, the Better Medicare Alliance, the Healthcare Leadership Council, Meals on Wheels America, the National Minority Quality Forum, the Alliance of Community Health Plans, and many others.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, July 13, 2018.

Hon. Greg Walden,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Walden: I write to you regarding H.R. 4952,

the ``Improving Seniors Access to Quality Benefits Act'' the

Committee on Ways and Means ordered favorably reported that

was also referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

I ask that the Committee on Energy and Commerce waive

formal consideration of the bill so that it may proceed

expeditiously to the House Floor.

I acknowledge that by waiving formal consideration of the

bill, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is in no way

waiving its jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in

those provisions of the bills that fall within your Rule X

jurisdiction. I would support your effort to seek appointment

of an appropriate number of conferees on any House-Senate

conference involving this legislation.

I will include a copy of our letters in the Congressional

Record during consideration of this legislation on the House

floor.

Sincerely,

Kevin Brady,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that the ACA's benchmark cap negatively impacts more than 40 percent of counties across our country. The Improving Seniors Access to Quality Benefits Act will require the Secretary to fully evaluate the impact of including quality bonus payments under the benchmark cap on our seniors residing in these counties.

This bill was brought through the committee process in a bipartisan fashion. Now on the floor, I strongly recommend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of H.R. 4952 to ensure seniors are not missing out on additional healthcare benefits or reduced cost sharing as a result of the ACA's benchmark cap.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents from Butler, Pennsylvania, Mr. Ed Kirkwood. This Friday, July 20th, Ed will be retiring following over 34 years of commendable public service.

Ed has proudly served as the Butler Township Manager for the last 10 years. In this role, Ed oversaw the day-to-day operations of

Butler Township while spearheading various projects and serving as the administrative officer of the township. Prior to this position, Ed spent over 18 years managing the City of Lower Burrell--Where he made a positive and lasting impact that can still be felt today.

Throughout his tenure, Ed has displayed an admirable work ethic and a sincere desire to make a difference. His stewardship of Butler Township has resulted not only in continued prosperity of its businesses and residents, but also transformed the overall professional environment. Local officials have a direct impact on residents through a number of capacities, which Ed realized and cherished. Regardless of the situation or circumstances, Ed always remained resilient and kept the township on the right path--Focusing on the best interests of the people he felt privileged to represent.

Though he made a career for himself in public service, Ed still managed to give back to his community as a volunteer. He has participated on a number of boards and served as a member of numerous committees, continuously striving to make a difference and better the lives of others. Ed participated in the committees that were formed to rewrite and modernize both the First and Third Class Township Codes, which eventually granted cities legal authority to operate in an efficient manner.

In addition, Ed was the Director of the ``U-Comp Board'' which was developed to assist municipalities and authorities across the state with unemployment solutions and assistance. Ed served on the Little League Board of Directors for nearly 20 years and volunteered as a mentor for individuals who committed first time offenses.

Ed's decades of service prove him to be a leader in every sense of the word. I am grateful to represent such a service-minded individual who has been both honorable and effective. Under his management, Butler Township has flourished while residents and business have been enriched.

Ed is the epitome of a devoted public servant and his strong leadership has provided a solid vision for Butler Township. His unique people skills, thoughtfulness and integrity have resulted in many years of professional and invaluable service for which he will be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ed Kirkwood for his lifelong dedication to public service and for all of the work he has done to better the community. Furthermore, I ask that my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in congratulating Ed on his well-earned retirement and wishing him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of a reputable business headquartered in my hometown of Butler, Pennsylvania: Hunter Truck Sales.

Hunter Truck Sales is a family owned and operated, authorized dealer of Peterbilt and International heavy-duty trucks and is one of the largest heavy-duty truck commercial providers in the Northeast.

Hunter Truck is a staple of the community, and their success over the last 80 years confirms that the American Dream is alive and thriving in Pennsylvania and throughout the whole United States.

Hunter Truck Sales is a name that has been synonymous with reliability since its founding in 1938. The business was started by Homer Hunter. Homer opened a small service station in the rural town of Eau Claire, Pennsylvania, and quickly developed a reputation for his unparalleled commitment to trucking solutions with personalized sales, service, and parts.

With hard work and unwavering dedication, the company has continuously grown and was eventually awarded a new truck sales franchise from International Harvester, followed by earning a Peterbilt heavy-duty truck franchise.

Homer, along with his brothers, created a customer-centric business that focused on teamwork, trust, accountability, and integrity. These very values led the company to its many achievements, and they remain at the core of the Hunter Truck Sales today, which is now owned and operated by the third generation of the Hunter family: Jeff Hunter, Dave Hunter, William Hunter, and Nancy Hunter-Mycka.

Hunter Truck currently operates 20 locations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey, and proudly employs nearly 1,000 people. Keep in mind all this started with a small service station and a family with big dreams and great work ethic. It is families like the Hunters who help local economies flourish by establishing successful business practices that can be sustained for multiple generations.

While the services provided have evolved and the scope of the business has expanded, Hunter Truck remains fully committed to both their customers and the communities they call home.

As a leader in the heavy-duty truck industry, Hunter truck has invested in its workforce and in unique technologies that align with their mission, which is to build long-term relationships that reflect value, integrity, and teamwork by providing their customers with excellent parts, service, and products.

It is truly an honor to recognize the Hunter family and Hunter Truck Sales for their pioneering spirit in the demonstration of core American values. I encourage them to continue on what they have built with absolute pride--not boastful pride, but pride in knowing what Mr. Hunter started in 1938 has flourished and has provided so many jobs for so many people for so long. It is an incredible tribute to the way Americans think.

Small businesses are the backbone of this country, and Hunter Truck Sales is truly an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage the gentlewoman in a colloquy on the importance of the Butler County workforce to Federal background investigation operations. The National Background Investigations Bureau has approximately 1,500 employees and contractors in Boyers, Pennsylvania, which is in my district, who handle the intake and processing of Federal background investigations.

As you know, the NDAA last year split the NBIB between the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Defense. This misguided move would have disrupted operations and negatively affected the critical workforce.

I applaud the Trump administration for announcing last week that it will be keeping the NBIB intact and shifting it entirely to the DOD. This action will keep all background investigations under the same agency and will retain economies of scale to efficiently perform these critical operations.

On Monday, I met with the DOD officials responsible for the transfer. They assured me that there are no plans to move any jobs outside Butler County. This is good news for my constituents, but more communication is necessary.

These 1,500 people perform an incredible service to our Nation, and these jobs are critical to Butler County. This workforce has the expertise and experience to perform this sensitive work that keeps our Nation secure. Any efforts to reduce backlog in background investigations must utilize this talented and hardworking workforce.

Chairman Granger, would you agree that the NBIB workforce in Butler County is integral to our country's background checks operations?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her dedication to this issue. It is important to not lose sight of the significance of this workforce to my district.