Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of The Ohio State University Marching Band. Their outstanding innovation and halftime shows were recently featured in a national commercial for the Apple iPad that aired during the Super Bowl.

Since being founded in 1878, the all-brass and percussion Marching Band at Ohio State has led the way by creating new techniques and utilizing innovative technologies. Their iconic Script Ohio has in recent years been joined by animated formations that seem to float across the field.

Recently the Band gained more national prominence as their performances have garnered a lot of attention on YouTube. The Band's halftime show on October 6, 2012, celebrated many popular video games including Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and The Legend of Zelda, and has received over 16 million views.

For the 2013 season, the Band began using iPads to learn formations more quickly and more effectively, while saving money and paper. Seniors Ryan Barta and Charlie King deserve recognition for the idea, while the Band's director, Jon Waters, deserves credit for embracing it. The project would not have been possible without support from Ohio State's Digital First Impact Grant and its Office of Energy and the Environment. As a result, the 2013 season saw many halftime shows grab national headlines, with tributes to Hollywood and Michael Jackson receiving over 16 million and almost 10 million views respectively. Their use of cutting-edge technology while honoring the Band's traditions has made it a well-respected part of Buckeye Nation.

As an alumnus of the band, I am proud to extend heartfelt congratulations to all those who have helped The Ohio State University's Marching Band--The Best Damn Band in the Land--continue to be such a complete and resounding success!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and achievements of First Sergeant David Bradley, United States Army-- Retired, on the occasion of his passing from this life to the next.

David was a linchpin of the central Ohio veterans community for more than thirty years. In 1983, Dave took his first major steps in veterans advocacy as the Executive Director of the Vietnam Veterans of America-- Department of Ohio. Over nine years in this position, he became a distinguished advisor throughout Ohio as a valued member of the Ohio Veterans Employment and Training Council and the Ohio Job Training Council. In 1991, he began his tenure as the Director of the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission and gave immeasurably to the service and care of hundreds of thousands of central Ohio's veterans.

I am extremely honored to play a small role in recognizing the life and accomplishments of such a uniquely dedicated public servant. Dave generously gave his time and energies to the many organizations and projects that have grown to shape the central Ohio veterans community. His leadership in these capacities was recognized by the Ohio Department of Veteran Services when he was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2012. I personally partnered with David on many projects, including advocating for the construction of the Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, Ohio. This facility stands, in part, as a testament to David's relentless work to better serve the veterans of Columbus and the surrounding area. His tireless efforts embodied the devotion and honor of our nation's military, and his service to central Ohio reflected the very best of what we the people demand from our public servants. His wisdom and indefatigable drive will be sorely missed in our communities, and I will miss his advice and counsel.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I thank David Bradley for his sacrifices for our nation and his unrelenting service to our community. I offer my deepest sympathies to his family. Their sense of loss at this time is shared by many of us who knew and loved David Bradley, and he will be dearly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize senior editor Joe Hallett of The Columbus Dispatch upon his retirement.

For nearly four decades, Joe has been chronicling the political happenings in Ohio. He began his career at his hometown paper in Wauseon, Ohio. He then moved on to The Toledo Blade where he spent 15 years and later joined The Cleveland Plain Dealer where he served as chief political writer and Statehouse reporter. In 1999 he came to The Columbus Dispatch as its political editor. Now as senior editor and chief political writer, he has coordinated The Dispatch's coverage of presidential elections since 2000, including both parities' political conventions. Both the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists have named him Ohio's best political writer, recognizing him as a mainstay in Ohio's press corps.

Upon his retirement, long-time readers will certainly miss his straight-forward, no-nonsense style. But his strength wasn't just thoughtful analysis and skilled political reporting, whether somber or jovial, his columns made people and places come alive. His reports from Haiti detailing the desperation of mothers literally feeding their children mud pies and the despair of Port-au-Prince's slums also described the feelings of hope that ran deep in the hearts of people he met. His summer staple, a column about his annual fishing trip, let readers figuratively join him on his expeditions, catching walleye and northern pike, cooking shore lunches, playing poker and ribbing with his friends as this virtual focus group dissected Ohio politics. While he is moving on to the next phase in his life, Joe will never stop doing what he loves: asking questions and analyzing current events and their impact on Ohioans.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I would like to wish Joe the best of luck and thank him for his devotion to political reporting, and the great state of Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life achievements of Gordon B. Zacks.

Expressing how much Gordy has meant to Central Ohio and the nation is an impossible task. As a fellow graduate of The Ohio State University, as an admirer and as a friend of this remarkable person, it gives me great pleasure to add my personal appreciation and commendation.

Gordy served with distinction as an advisor, confidant, and friend of U.S. presidents to help change the political landscape of the American Jewish community and improve U.S. relations on behalf of Israel and its neighboring Arab states. Gordy worked with three U.S. presidents and five Israeli Prime Ministers, and his political involvement reached its highpoint during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidencies. Gordy declined an ambassadorship in the Reagan-Bush Administration and a Cabinet post during the Bush-Quayle Administration in order to serve as unofficial advisor and confidant to Vice President and subsequently President Bush. He met privately with Vice President and then President Bush on a monthly basis to discuss Israeli/American relations, the Middle East peace process, Soviet Jewry, Ethiopian Jewry, and the political landscape of the American Jewish community.

Blessed with true ambition, Gordy is also a brilliant businessman who catapulted R.G. Barry Corporation from a small family firm into an international footwear industry leader. He joined the Columbus, Ohio- based company in 1955 and became president in 1965. He was elected CEO of the company in 1979 and retired in 2004. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the company. Today, R.G. Barry is the world's largest marketer and supplier of at-and-around-the-home comfort footwear for men, women and children, under the brand name of Dearfoams.

Gordy's book Defining Moments--Stories of Character, Courage, and Leadership profiles remarkable leaders who have made the world a better place. Gordan Zacks has built his own legacy of leadership and integrity--the benefits of which have accrued to his family, his friends and all those who are privileged to know him.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I would like to thank Gordy for his devotion to the great state of Ohio and to all of the communities that have benefitted from his invaluable contributions.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 600 (final passage of H.R. 1965) I was unavoidably detained and did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jenell Sullivan for her outstanding dedication and service to the State of Ohio.

Jenell has proudly served the Republican Caucus in the Ohio House of Representatives for over 25 years. She consistently displays high ethics and standards in her job and acts as a role model and counselor for her fellow colleagues. One of Jenell's outstanding achievements has been managing the Page Program, where she has developed many of our young professionals into the leaders they are today. Additionally, Jenell has served as a Fiscal Assistant in the Administrative Office, and she administered the Employee of the Quarter and Take Our Children to Work Day Programs.

I am extremely honored to play a small role in recognizing the career of such as well-respected and appreciated public servant. It is only fitting that her friends and colleagues recognize Jenell's impact on the Ohio House by naming a new award after her: The Jenell Sullivan Page of Distinction Award. This prestigious award will honor pages who meet the highest quality standards that Jenell has displayed throughout her tenure in the Ohio House.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I thank Jenell Sullivan for her spirit and unrelenting service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Dr. E. Gordon Gee upon his retirement as president of The Ohio State University.

Expressing how much President Gee has meant to The Ohio State University and the many students and faculty who have benefitted from his unwavering commitment to higher education is an impossible task. As a graduate of Ohio State, as an admirer and as a friend of this remarkable person, it gives me great pleasure to add my personal appreciation and commendation.

For over three decades, Dr. Gee has held more university presidencies than any other American. Prior to his resumption of the presidency of Ohio State on October 1, 2007, Gee was chancellor of Vanderbilt University from 2000 to 2007 and president of Brown University from 1998 to 2000, of Ohio State from 1990 to 1998, of the University of Colorado from 1985 to 1990, and of West Virginia University from 1981 to 1985. In 2010 Time magazine rated President Gee one of the top ten college presidents in the United States.

Upon his retirement, Dr. Gee will leave behind a legacy that will permeate throughout Ohio and across the country for years to come. While he is moving on to the next phase in his life, Dr. Gee will never stop doing what he loves: inspiring students and contributing to enhancing the quality of higher education.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I would like to wish Dr. Gee the best of luck and thank him for his devotion to Ohio State, the great state of Ohio and all of the communities that have benefitted from his invaluable contributions.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote number 203, amendment number H. AMDT. 121, I mistakenly voted ``aye.'' I intended to vote ``no.'' Later in the same vote series, I voted ``no'' on a similar amendment, H. AMDT. 129, rollcall vote number 206.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague Congressman Steve Stivers and I are pleased to congratulate James Gilbert upon the completion of his service as president of the Fraternal Order of Police.

For the past six years, the citizens of the Greater Columbus area and the law enforcement officers of the Columbus Police Department have received unparalleled service and leadership from Jim Gilbert. His dedication has been illustrated through his many hospital visits to every officer injured in the line of duty and his commitment to personally coaching officers through the emotional process associated with using their weapons in the line of duty.

Jim Gilbert's talents are so well respected that even the most contentious issues between his membership and the city of Columbus have been resolved with no disruption to department operations. His tenure saw no layoffs of personnel in spite of hard economic circumstances. He has often been called upon to aid other officers and/or their families in tragic circumstances and received great praise for his attention to the needs of injured or fallen comrades.

The Fraternal Order of Police will miss Jim Gilbert's presence and influence, but will continue to rely on his continued service as a patrolman in his new assignment. His legacy will remain with the officers he has mentored, and Franklin County residents can rest assured knowing their streets will be under his watch as he returns to his duties as an officer.

We offer our best wishes to Jim Gilbert and his family during this transition in his career.

May he enjoy many years of success and happiness as he continues his service protecting our communities in the Columbus area.

Let's review real quick here for everybody. We have a fiscal cliff occurring at the beginning of next year--12 short days. That means taxes go up for everybody who pay taxes and across-the-board spending cuts. The Democrat alternative, the Levin bill, was rejected on a bipartisan basis earlier this year. Our preferable bill has been rejected in the Senate. The Speaker and the President have been talking, but the President hasn't been serious. Not a dollar for cuts and a dollar for revenue.

Today is an attempt to try to save most Americans, Mr. Speaker--99.8 percent of Americans--from seeing their taxes go up. Three-quarter of a million small business owners will see their taxes go up if this plan isn't passed versus the Levin bill. Those three-quarter of a million small business owners employ many, many tens of thousands of people in America who are the middle class.

The bill before us is a comprehensive bill. Mr. Speaker, it gives us certainty. In the Ways and Means Committee we've heard testimony after testimony from business owners, Give us certainty. The Democrat alternative is a year. It's not even comprehensive. It doesn't even include the estate tax. We'll be right back here again December of next year for the 1-year patch. This gives us certainty. This gives employers certainty. This gives jobs creators certainty. It gives Americans who pay the alternative minimum tax certainty that they won't ever pay it again.

Mr. Speaker, this is the right medicine for 99.8 percent of Americans to prevent them from seeing their taxes go up on January 1. And it gives us an opportunity the next session of Congress to provide comprehensive tax reform that will simplify our Tax Code, that will give us even more certainty, and more competitiveness to our employers so the middle class can grow and prosper and we can improve our economy.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials for the Record on the topic of the Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, we from Ohio would like to recognize and thank for their service five departing Members from the Ohio delegation. Congressmen Steve Austria, Dennis Kucinich, Steve LaTourette, Jean Schmidt, and Betty Sutton will end their service with us at the end of this year. Over the next hour we would like to, as Republicans and Democrats, thank them for their service.

I would first like to recognize my colleague from central Ohio, Congressman Steve Stivers, for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a privilege to recognize one of the more famous members of our delegation because he is the Speaker of the House. Our leader, Mr. Boehner, is recognized.

I would now like to recognize the gentleman from Urbana, Ohio (Mr. Jordan).

The next gentleman is not a member of the Ohio delegation, but an honorary member of the Ohio delegation. I certainly enjoy working with him on the Ways and Means Committee; he's a delightful man to work with. The former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Rangel, is recognized.

(Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I would now like to recognize one of our new Members who is returning for his second term from northeast Ohio, Mr. Jim Renacci.

It's a real pleasure to recognize the dean of our delegation, the pride of Toledo, Ms. Marcy Kaptur.

I would like to recognize the gentleman who represents the district that borders Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky from northwestern Ohio to southern Ohio, the gentleman from Marietta, Bill Johnson, a new Member of our Congress who just got reelected to a second term.

Thank you.

It's a real pleasure to recognize the gentlelady who represents the bulk of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, soon Akron and some of Summit County, as well, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, a neighbor to Mr. LaTourette and Mr. Kucinich.

It is a real pleasure to introduce the gentleman of whom you were just speaking, Congresswoman Fudge, one of the five Members who will not be back with us next year, Mr. Steve Austria, who I had the pleasure of having a district next to.

Thank you, Steve Austria. It has been a real pleasure working with you.

I got to know Steve when he came to the Ohio legislature, actually. I was in the Ohio House, and he soon left and went to the Ohio Senate, and then rejoined us here in 2008. We always used to joke around that Steve Austria was going to be a heck of a lot less maintenance than Dave Hobson, his predecessor; and he certainly was.

We've enjoyed working with you. You've been a great member of the Appropriations Committee. You have continued to serve the people of Ohio well. You had a great career in the Ohio Senate, and you helped pass some pretty critical legislation, including the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. So we wish you well. We wish you and Eileen and your three boys much success in the future.

It is a real pleasure to introduce another departing Member who also was in the legislature before she came here. Unfortunately, I didn't have an opportunity to serve with her; she came just as I was leaving.

When I think of Jean Schmidt, and it has been said before, I think of her faith and I think of marathons because she is an amazing marathon runner. She just completed her 97th marathon in October. And she's obviously a really proud grandma to two young grandsons, and it is a pleasure to recognize the gentlelady from southwestern Ohio.

Thank you, Jean. We wish you and Peter well in the next door, in the next chapter.

Five--five departing Ohioans, and I get to go last. It's been an honor to serve with all five of them. They leave a big void, Mr. Speaker. Steve Austria, Jean Schmidt, Betty Sutton--much has been said about all of these five.

I actually knew Betty before I knew the other four. She and I were part of the freshman class of the Ohio class of Representatives in 1992, and we served 8 years together in the Ohio House. Obviously different political parties, but you knew right away that Betty was bright, tenacious, and she was a fighter for her beliefs. We rarely agreed on issues. We got to see each other again when she got elected in 2006 to replace Sherrod Brown, who got elected to the U.S. Senate.

I know her career's not over. It began in the Barberton City Council, Summit County Council, and the 8 years she served in the House. I know she is going to continue to serve in some capacity, and I wish her and her husband, Doug, the best as they move on to the next chapter of their life.

Dennis Kucinich, I first knew Dennis, he didn't know me, when he was the boy mayor of Cleveland and I was growing up in Columbus. He obviously made a lot of headlines around the State as mayor. I still call him ``Mayor'' today. I first got to know Dennis when he was in the legislature of the Ohio Senate and I was in the Ohio House in the early 1990s. He then got elected to Congress in 1996. I got to know Dennis better when I was elected here.

And obviously, a lot has been said about Dennis. A lot has been said about Dennis, about his passion. The wilderness comment was perfect, Jean. He obviously is a man who will continue his mission in other ways. He ran for President. He wasn't shy about it. He has strong beliefs, beliefs that are different than mine, but again, someone you could call a friend.

And finally, last but not least, the man who has a different quality than the rest of the four, and what I mean by that, he was the only one of the five who wasn't a legislator before he came to Congress, he was a prosecutor, Steve LaTourette. And ironically, if you talk to Members of the House, they would say he was a legislator's legislator even though he was never a legislator before he got here, which is amazing.

Steve LaTourette is a contrast in so many different ways, and you heard so much about him here tonight in terms of the work he did in such a bipartisan way. But he could be as partisan as they came. In fact, as I think of memories from down on the floor, back in--I don't know what year it was--2007 or 2008, maybe it was 2009 or 2010, Steve came up with this game show idea about the lack of substantive work that we were doing on the House floor when we were in the minority and the Democrats were in the majority.

And it was funny, but, boy, was it pointed, and it could be absolutely true.

But then again, you just never know where Steve was going to be. You could be on the House floor and here he is defending Jim Traficant on the House floor, a Republican defending a Democrat. And if you ever need a lawyer, you want Steve LaTourette to be your lawyer because he gave an incredible performance that one time.

But he was a guy that was our dean. He was our dean of our delegation because everybody could go to Steve

with an issue. Whether it was an appropriations issue, whether it was an internal issue, whether it was an issue for Ohio, he's a guy who would give great advice, and he would work to get an answer for the problem.

So whether it was the Appropriations Committee or--the Transportation Committee, where he served much of his career, was an area where he knew more about transportation, and transportation issues, then anybody in this town. He was just a walking encyclopedia on transportation issues.

It's pretty hard for a Buckeye to talk about a University of Michigan graduate this way, Mr. Speaker, but it's going to be a big void for this House for all five, but especially for Steve LaTourette, who has really given his heart and his soul for 18 years to trying to make this body and our Nation a better place for our kids and for our grandkids.

It really didn't matter who you were or what you were about or if you had an ``R'' or a ``D'' by your name with respect to Steve. If he believed in your cause, he was your partner, and he was going to do everything within his power to make sure that cause, that issue was going to be solved. He didn't always win, but he surely went down swinging every time he took that cause up.

This place will not be as good as it has been without Steve LaTourette, Jean Schmidt, Steve Austria, Dennis Kucinich, and Betty Sutton.

Mr. Speaker, it has been great knowing these folks. I am pretty sure that all of them we will see again in one capacity or another. I know, Steve, that we will see you and Jen and Henry and Emma soon.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I think our hour is up. We have no more speakers. It's been a pleasure. It's been a privilege, an honor to serve with all five of these men and women.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic and is a serious problem facing this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 30 years. In 2011, 15 percent of high school students in my home state of Ohio were obese. Children and adolescents who are obese are more likely to continue this trend as adults, and obese adults are much more at risk for health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer.

Childhood obesity is an issue that affects the whole nation and needs to be addressed for the future of our children. Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually to treat obesity-related medical conditions, and as a growing number of adolescents are not able to pass a physical fitness test to serve in our nation's military, it has become a national security threat as well.

As a co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Childhood Obesity, we are working to identify, discuss, and promote policy ideas to address this epidemic. Everyone has a role to play in finding a solution--parents, families, communities, schools, and local governments.

In Central Ohio, valiant efforts have been made to not only promote healthy eating and physical activity, which have been proven to lower the risk of becoming obese, but also to find other innovative ways to address this issue. The Ohio State University (OSU) is spearheading a number of research initiatives to explore how biological processes appear to play a large role in influencing the risk for obesity. This research is helping us to better understand the causes for obesity so that we can work towards a meaningful solution.

There are many programs at Nationwide Children's Hospital in my district to tackle the problem of obesity. I share their belief that an important approach to addressing adult obesity is beginning with children. One program, the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition, focuses on programs for the home, school, and community to ensure the development and promotion of healthy lifestyles. The hospital has also played a role in establishing the Ohio Healthy Weight Outcomes (OHWO) coalition, which is a public-private partnership that is currently implementing an obesity prevention and treatment project in a low- income neighborhood in Columbus. Their goal is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in 5th graders by 10 percent in five years.

Across the country families, schools, communities, and organizations like OSU and Nationwide Children's Hospital have all made strides in addressing the obesity epidemic. However, much remains to be done, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress as well as with my constituents in Central Ohio to find solutions to lower the rate of childhood obesity.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins).

I yield myself 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Maryland is attacking two Republican plans that are not our plans. The gentleman knows that, for instance, the proposed territorial system that we have proposed is not a pure territorial system, for instance; it has anti-abuse rules. And we can broaden the base by getting rid of deductions and credits without impacting middle class taxpayers.

I yield, with that, Mr. Speaker, 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), the new acting chairman of the Income Security Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Berg), a member of the Ways and

Means Committee and a distinguished member of the Select Revenue Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, could I ask how much time each side has remaining?

With that, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield 3 minutes to another distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Select Revenue Subcommittee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed).

Mr. Speaker, with that, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock), a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for your leadership. You have done more to advance the cause for comprehensive tax reform and stopping tax increases on Americans than anyone in America, and we certainly appreciate your leadership.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois reminded us that after the election in 2010, the President of the United States said, in this economy, we cannot let tax rates go up for any American because the economy was too weak.

Well, today, ladies and gentlemen, the economy is weaker than it was in December of 2010. In fact, it's been weaker the last 4 months than it was, with little hope that it will get better soon.

Ladies and gentlemen, Americans are long overdue in having comprehensive tax reform. They want it, 9 out of 10 Americans. Nine out of 10 Americans now use a tax preparer. My father, a retired steelworker, my mother, a retired seamstress, use a tax preparer.

And ironically, Mr. Speaker, my father came to America, my mother came to America for a better life. And when I got my first job, my first job at McDonald's, when I was 16 years old, my dad said, Son, we have a really crazy Tax Code that doesn't encourage you to save, that doesn't encourage you to invest. And you know what? You're going to save a little bit of that paycheck because it's the right thing to do, even though we have a crazy Tax Code.

Well, my immigrant dad today thinks we have even a crazier Tax Code than we did back in the early 1980s, and it's time that we change that. The process in this bill will force people in this town to do what we haven't done for over 25 years, and that's fix the Code.

There's been talk on this floor about small business owners. I was a realtor. I had small business income. I didn't employ anybody. I'm proud of what I did.

But there's a guy that I know. His name is RJ. He's a small business owner. He would be impacted tremendously, and so would his 50 employees, if we allowed his taxes to go up on January 1.

Or William, a small retailer who hires people. He would see his taxes go up.

Ladies and gentlemen, House Republicans believe that jobs are created not in Washington, D.C., but by entrepreneurs and risk takers throughout America. And there are two roads that we can choose to go down. And this chart couldn't be better in showing everybody out there those two roads. One road leads to danger. One road leads to a failing and falling economy with 700,000 jobs to be lost. We don't want to go down that road. We've seen too much misery already.

No, Mr. Speaker, the road that we want to go down, led by our chairman of our committee, is the one to the right, now hiring, in green, with a million new jobs, not created in Washington, but created by people like RJ and William, entrepreneurs, risk takers and, ladies and gentlemen, people like

my dad who came to America with nothing, who understand that hard work and risk taking should be rewarded, not penalized.

That's why, today, the process that this bill puts in this motion will lead us finally to say to the American people, yes, we heard you, loud and clear, and we're going to simplify our Tax Code. We're going to simplify it for every American taxpayer so we can have an economy that creates jobs, doesn't pick winners and losers, and, ladies and gentlemen, gets us to a place where we have a Tax Code that people like my mom and dad don't have to go hire a tax preparer to do their taxes.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The President said throughout the debate of health care and since, if you like what you have, you can keep it. Employers have told us that's simply not true. The President said, throughout the debate and since on the health care bill, the mandate is not a tax. A couple of weeks ago, the Supreme Court disagreed and said the mandate was a tax.

Today, in this Capitol, there was an executive with White Castle, a company headquartered in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, a family-owned, family-run business with almost 10,000 employees, which has been providing health insurance to their full-time employees since 1924. And he testified today that the bill is a tax and that it will impact their ability to provide health care to their employees. Their health care may be too generous, and they'll be taxed. Their health care may not be generous enough, and they will be taxed. Furthermore, he testified that White Castle will not expand. They've put on hold expansion of 400 to 500 jobs that would be created with their expansion beyond the 12 States they're in.

One day I got a call from another employer, in my district, with 48 individuals. He had just come from his tax preparer, who told him not to expand his business--not to expand his business. He provides health care to his employees. But he was told not to go over 50 because he'd have to comply with the Federal Government and the Federal bureaucracy, new rules, new taxes, and new regulations. ``And we're supposed to grow our economy,'' he said to me, ``Pat. We're supposed to grow our economy, the private sector?''

Ladies and gentleman, CBO estimated that this bill will cost 800,000 jobs by 2021. This is not a commonsense bill that became law. Let's repeal the bill and replace it with provisions that will expand access and affordability.

Mr. Speaker, I honor the life and work of Lou Mitchell on the occasion of his passing from this life to the next.

Lou Mitchell's connection to central Ohio reached back several generations and his roots ran deep in our community's soil. His family has lived and contributed to our area for generations. For example, his great-grandfather graduated from Dennison University after returning from his service in the Civil War.

Irrespective of his family's illustrious history, Lou strived to place his own stamp on the place that helped shape him. As a very successful businessman, he could have lived anywhere he wished. He wished to live in central Ohio. He wanted to live among people like himself--people who enjoy and respect hard work and honest dealings. He wanted to give back to the people and community that gave him an education, a career and common sense values.

Lou did give back in many ways over his life. As president of the Board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Ohio, a member of the Boards of the Ohio Historical Society Foundation and I Know I Can, and a Denison University Life Trustee, his wisdom and spirit influenced the direction and missions of these agencies. Lou gave to causes dear to his heart such as the Licking County YMCA, where the Mitchell Family YMCA Recreation Center was dedicated in 2005, his beloved Dennison University to build the Mitchell Athletic and Recreation Center in 1994, and the non-profit organization he started known as ``A Call To College Program,'' which provides college scholarship money to Newark High School students. In addition, he privately helped countless individuals who he learned had experienced setbacks in life such as large medical bills or educational expenses beyond their means. He did not seek publicity or notoriety for these acts; he did them because he could and he believed it was right.

I offer my deepest sympathies to his family. Their sense of loss is shared by many of us who knew and loved Lou Mitchell. His legacy will stand as an example for all, and he will be dearly missed.