Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer a commonsense, one- word amendment to H.R. 4012, the Secret Science Reform Act.

My simple amendment adds the word ``online'' to the disclosure requirements found in this legislation.

The Congressional Budget Office has determined that my amendment would not score and would not affect direct spending or revenues. My amendment is supported by the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Lamar Smith. My amendment also has the support of the sponsor, Mr. Schweikert. I would like to thank both the chairman, Mr. Smith, and Congressman Schweikert for their efforts on this legislation and for their support of my amendment.

As a result of my simple, good governance amendment, the EPA will be required to make all scientific and technical information relied upon for rulemaking available online before proposing or finalizing new regulations.

I strongly support H.R. 4012, and I am proud to cosponsor this commonsense bill offered by my good friend and fellow Arizonan, David Schweikert. The underlying bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to utilize actual science when formulating regulations, and it requires that the science be made available for peer review and reproduction.

A recent poll from the Institute for Energy Research found that approximately 90 percent of all Americans support making studies and data utilized by the Federal Government available to the general public. By the way, the general public is not stupid. The intent of the bill is transparency, and I believe the best way to accomplish that goal is to require this information to be posted online.

For far too long, the EPA has used secret studies and so-called ``peer reviews'' from biased sources to justify regulations that fit their job-killing agenda. Not only does this practice result in a lack of transparency, it also leads to hundreds of thousands of jobs being destroyed across the country by unreasonable and unnecessary regulations.

A requirement similar to my amendment was adopted by this body when the House passed H.R. 4315 this past July. A provision found in H.R. 4315 required that data used by Federal agencies for Endangered Species Act listing decisions be made publicly available and accessible through the Internet.

Finally, H.R. 4012 protects personal and confidential information and has a provision that makes clear such information will not be disclosed as a result of this act. My amendment would not conflict with such policy.

Again, all my simple, one-word amendment does is require that the scientific and technical information requirements in the underlying bill be posted online. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of my commonsense amendment, and I urge the passage of the underlying bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am a scientist and I am a dentist, so I understand both science and HIPAA.

Provision 2 of section 2 of H.R. 4012 protects personal and confidential information and has a provision that makes clear such information will not be disclosed as a result of this act. My amendment would not conflict with such policy.

So you are telling me that President Obama and members of the Democratic Party can yell and scream for the last couple of weeks about the need to make all information available for free at the same speed to everyone on the Internet, the net neutrality issue, but you all have a problem with making the science about which the APA justifies the regulations available online for peer review and reproduction?

Wow, we are really the party of secret science. Can we all say ``Jonathan Gruber''? And do videos count? This is an absurd objection from an administration that claims that they were going to be the most transparent administration in the history of this country.

I yield to my friend from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert).

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Yuma County, Arizona. Established in 1864 as one of the four original counties of the Territory of Arizona, Yuma County has been a cornerstone for Arizona commerce, agriculture, development, and culture throughout its history.

Celebrating 150 years since being formally organized, the area of Yuma County has a history which extends back much further. It is a history closely intertwined with the long and deep Colorado River which stretches along the county's western border. Not only did the Colorado bring the area's first European visitors--Spanish explorers who sailed up the river in 1540 and discovered a thriving Native American village on its banks--it also has served as the lifeblood for the region's commerce and agriculture.

Yuma County leads the state and is third in the nation for vegetable production. In fact, Yuma County is the ``winter lettuce capital of the world'' and supplies 90% of our country's lettuce between November and March. The County is also the world's top producer of gourmet Medjool dates.

Yuma County has influenced the culture and identity of Arizona and the United States: the gradual taming of the Colorado River which unlocked some of the world's best agricultural harvests, the famous Yuma Territorial Prison which housed some of the frontier's most nefarious criminals, and the booms and busts of bountiful ore and mineral mines that populated the desert. These are the stories of the Wild West that have shaped the independent and determined spirit of the County and its proud residents.

From its original Native American settlers to its Wild West days to its rich agricultural history, Yuma County's story is an integral part of the American identity. On November 10, 2014 we celebrate 150 years for Yuma County; let us look forward to 150 more.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak in strong support of H.R. 4315, a commonsense package comprised of four bills that seek to update and improve the Endangered Species Act.

These bills make commonsense changes that increase transparency, save taxpayer money, ensure local involvement in species conservation and the designation process, limit the hourly rate attorneys can charge the taxpayers for Endangered Species Act lawsuits, and require the Federal Government to make available to Congress and the public any data it uses to determine which species to list as endangered. All of these are common sense.

Mr. Chairman, for far too long, the Federal Government has been making listing decisions based on secret and pseudoscience, including studies that do not allow for peer review of the underlying data.

Even more troubling is the fact that attorneys have been making millions of dollars based on frivolous lawsuits associated with the Endangered Species Act, and the Federal Government doesn't even know how much money has been paid out.

It is time to update the Endangered Species Act that involves America, is accountable to America, and is a win-win for everybody concerned.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer one final amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for the fiscal year 2015.

Let me first say that I am especially grateful to Chairman Crenshaw and Ranking Member Serrano for working with me on my variety of amendments to this bill. They have been exceptionally cooperative and congenial. I would also like to thank the staff of the Financial Services Subcommittee. They have also been very courteous and cooperative with my staff.

My final amendment to the bill seeks to effectuate a policy of accountability in government. Historically, the IRS has never been liked by the American people. The agency takes our hard-earned wages and enforces the Internal Revenue Code.

I would argue that the power wielded by this agency is matched only by the Department of Defense because, as we all know, the power to tax is the power to destroy, and although no one ever liked the IRS, most Americans quietly trusted them.

They trusted that the agency was enforcing the law with fairness and impartiality and were beyond reproach in terms of political pressure. That trust has not only been questioned, it has been annihilated.

This year, House Republicans have gone above and beyond to hold this President and his lawless administration accountable for their actions and inactions, and this is another opportunity to act rather than to speak.

My final amendment to the bill follows in the footsteps of another that I cosponsored and supported in the MilCon-VA Appropriations Act just a few weeks ago. This amendment would prohibit bonuses or performance awards to be paid to senior executive employees at the IRS.

The saying goes with great power comes great responsibility. The IRS is responsible for administering tax laws fairly and justly. They have failed at that responsibility, and they now must be held accountable. Senior management should never have let this happen.

Moreover, they should not be given performance awards in the wake of one of the largest scandals in recent history. Giving out bonuses is ludicrous and amounts to a slap in the face to the American public.

I would also like to quickly note that I appreciate the committee's inclusion of a provision, section 112, in the bill. That section prescribes that, before a bonus may be awarded to an IRS employee, an assessment of the employee's conduct, in addition to a mandatory check for back taxes or delinquent taxes, must be performed and taken into account.

As a duly-elected Member of Congress representing hundreds of thousands of Arizonans, I cannot, in good

conscience, allow any sort of bonus to be awarded to senior management at this rogue agency.

As long as I remain a Member of this body, I will seek to ensure that this policy becomes law each and every fiscal year. It is my hope that this amendment will ultimately be signed into law and that no bonuses at all will be awarded in the next fiscal year.

None should have been given this last year, but Commissioner John Koskinen decided to dole out bonuses anyway, despite the anger he knew it would cause. Overall, my hope is that this amendment will incentivize one of these senior executives at the IRS to come forth with copies of Lois Lerner's magically vanishing emails.

Should that day come and should the Congress and the American people receive closure to this scandal, I will cease my efforts to prohibit these awards, and the IRS may begin the process of rebuilding the trust it has so blatantly violated.

This agency has shown contempt for the American taxpayer, and the ensuing outrage at the IRS has been bipartisan. When the House voted on House Resolution 565 to demand that Attorney General Eric Holder appoint a special counsel to look into the scandal, 26 Democrats voted to support that measure.

As I mentioned with my last IRS amendment, if you disapprove of the IRS leaking tax information about the President's political opponents, then support my amendment.

If you disapprove of the IRS targeting conservative groups for their political beliefs, then support my amendment. If you disapprove of the IRS ignoring congressional subpoenas, then support my amendment.

If you disapprove of this agency stonewalling Congress, destroying evidence, and lying to the American people, then support my amendment. Finally, if you disapprove of IRS senior executives receiving bonuses for their failures, then support my amendment.

Again, I thank the chairman and ranking member for their continued work on the committee.

I will certainly yield to the chairman.

I thank the gentleman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4185) to revise certain authorities of the District of Columbia courts, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

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

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

This legislation, introduced by Ms. Norton, would provide increased flexibility to the District of Columbia courts and related entities.

Among other provisions, H.R. 4185 would allow the D.C. courts to collect outstanding employee debts or overpayments, and authorizes its executive officer to purchase and provide uniforms for employees whose responsibilities warrant wearing uniforms.

The bill authorizes the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency to develop and operate incentive programs for sentenced offenders, such as vocational and educational training, and it allows the Public Defender Service to accept volunteer service.

I want to thank Ms. Norton for all of her work on this bill, and I urge all Members to support this.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 451) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 North Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Beach, Florida, as the ``Richard K. Salick Post Office''.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 451, introduced by my colleague, Representative Bill Posey of Florida, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 North Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Beach, Florida, as the Richard K. Salick Post Office.

Richard Salick was a devoted and charitable member of his community in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Salick was an

internationally-renowned surfer who competed on both the U.S. and world surfing teams in the 1960s and 1970s.

Tragically, Salick was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1973, but he persevered and was able to touch the lives of everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He became a tireless advocate with the National Kidney Foundation, to assist their efforts to support patients and to raise money for their care.

Salick founded the National Kidney Foundation Surf Festival in 1986, which donates its proceeds to the National Kidney Foundation.

Mr. Salick passed away at the age of 62 in 2012.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Florida (Mr. Posey).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 606) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 815 County Road 23 in Tyrone, New York, as the ``Specialist Christopher Scott Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 606, introduced by Representative Tom Reed of New York,

would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 815 County Road 23 in Tyrone, New York, as the Specialist Christopher Scott Post Office.

Army Specialist Christopher Scott was from Dundee, New York, and was proud to serve his country as a military police officer in Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, Scott made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

On September 3, 2011, he was killed in Kandahar province during an insurgent attack. Scott is survived by his parents, brothers, grandparents, and his fiancee.

At the time of his death, Scott had been scheduled to return home in 12 days to be married to his fiancee, Tory L. Oden. Specialist Christopher Scott was just 21 years old.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from the State of New York (Mr. Reed).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 606 and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2223) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the ``Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building''.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2223, introduced by my colleague Representative Dan Benishek of Michigan, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office.

Elizabeth Kinnunen emigrated from Finland to the United States in 1903. She operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan, with her husband and had 11 children.

During her life, Mrs. Kinnunen endured a devastating and unfathomable loss: two of her sons died while in service to our country. Her son Eiso was killed at the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, and her son Raymond was killed in Korea in 1952.

Mrs. Kinnunen passed away in 1974. Mrs. Kinnunen's sacrifice and the sacrifice of thousands of others just like her and their continued perseverance illustrate the courage and indomitability of the American spirit.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from the State of Michigan (Mr. Benishek).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 2223, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3534) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 113 West Michigan Avenue in Jackson, Michigan, as the ``Officer James Bonneau Memorial Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3534, introduced by my colleague, Representative Tim Walberg of Michigan, will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 113 West Michigan Avenue in Jackson, Michigan, as the Officer James Bonneau Memorial Post Office.

Police Officer James Bonneau served in the Jackson Police Department in Michigan. While he was responding to a domestic disturbance call, he was shot and killed on March 9, 2010. A veteran with 2 years on the police force, he was loved and respected by his community. Officer Bonneau was 26 years old when he died doing his duty for his community and his country.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from the State of Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3534, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4355) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 B Street in Perryville, Arkansas, as the ``Harold George Bennett Post Office''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4355, introduced by Representative Tim Griffin of Arkansas, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 B Street in Perryville, Arkansas, as the Harold George Bennett Post Office.

Harold George Bennett was born in Thornburg, Arkansas, in 1940 and joined the Army in 1957 at the beginning of the Vietnam war. He continued his service when he volunteered to serve in South Vietnam as a Special Forces adviser. In late 1964, he was captured after a fierce firefight. After his capture, Bennett was a prisoner of war for 179 days. He was executed by the Viet Cong on June 25, 1965, after injuring an enemy soldier after his third escape attempt. Bennett was 24 years old when he died, and he was the first American POW murdered in Vietnam. His remains have never been returned to the United States, but his bravery and perseverance will be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Griffin), my distinguished colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4355, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2802) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the ``Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office''.

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 the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2802, introduced by Representative Todd Rokita of Indiana, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office.

America as a nation is indebted to those who have risked their lives to preserve the freedoms that each of us holds so dearly. This post office dedication in the county seat of Covington will remind the citizens of Fountain Valley of sacrifices made by its men and women in service of their country. Additionally, naming the post office after the Fountain County veterans honors the families and loved ones who made the unimaginable sacrifice of parting with, and for those still worrying about, cherished loved ones serving overseas.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as many minutes as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita), a distinguished colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3027) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 442 Miller Valley Road in Prescott, Arizona, as the ``Barry M. Goldwater Post Office''.

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 materials on the bill under consideration.

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

I rise today as the House considers a piece of legislation I introduced, H.R. 3027, which would rename the postal facility at 442 Miller Valley Road in Prescott, Arizona, as the Barry M. Goldwater Post Office.

As we know, Barry Goldwater was a businessman turned statesman who served five terms in the United States Senate and was the Republican nominee for the Presidency in 1964.

He served Arizona and our Nation with honor and integrity for decades. Leading up to the 1964 Presidential election, he earned the moniker ``Mr. Conservative'' for being so influential in the revival of political conservatism. After the 1964 election, he returned to the Senate.

Because of his experience as a senior officer in the Army Air Force Reserve, he took particular interest in national security issues, serving as the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1981 to 1985 and then serving as chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1985 to 1987.

He was instrumental in crafting the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, which was the mechanism which brought about one of the most important Defense Department restructurings in U.S. history.

To honor Barry Goldwater's service to this Nation, I have sponsored this legislation which the House is considering today. The entire Arizona delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, are cosponsors of the bill, and for that, I thank each one of them.

It would be a fitting tribute to an honorable Arizonan, one who served this Nation in so many ways. I thank each of my colleagues for their support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

This is a fitting tribute for the citizens of Arizona and particularly those in Yavapai County--and specifically Prescott, Arizona--who want to pay tribute to one of our great Senators in Arizona history, Barry Goldwater.

He had a love affair with Arizona, from the Grand Canyon to its people, its indigenous people from the different tribes, to his way of communicating the art of conservatism to people across the country.

It is a paying tribute that we look to Barry Goldwater to honor us with his name on the post office in Prescott, Arizona.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3085) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3349 West 111th Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``Captain Herbert Johnson Memorial Post Office Building''.

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 materials on the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 3085, proposed by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3349 West 111th Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the Captain Herbert Johnson Memorial Post Office Building.

Fire Captain Herbert Johnson was an outstanding member of Chicago's fire department, proudly serving the city and its people for 32 years as a firefighter. Tragically, Johnson passed away on November 2, 2012, while battling flames in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.

A decorated firefighter, Johnson earned the Illinois Medal of Honor in 2007 for the rescue of several children from a burning apartment. Captain Johnson was only 54.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3085, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4416) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 161 Live Oak Street in Miami, Arizona, as the ``Staff Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza Post Office Building''.

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

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

H.R. 4416, introduced by Representative Ann Kirpatrick of Arizona, would redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 161 Live Oak Street in Miami, Arizona, as the Staff Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza Post Office Building.

Staff Sergeant Mendoza was born in Arizona in 1922. Mendoza entered the United States Army in November of 1942, at the outset of the U.S.'s entry into World War II. Mendoza was a highly decorated soldier. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his action on Mount Battaglia in Italy on October 4, 1944, where it is said he broke up a German counterattack on his own. Mendoza also served with distinction in the Korean war. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Mendoza earned a number of other medals and the Bronze Star. Staff Sergeant Mendoza passed away in 2001.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for acknowledging all the members of the Arizona delegation for looking forward to the post office in Miami to be looked at in fond remembrance of ``the Arizona Kid.'' It is fitting that today is an Arizona day for post offices here on the House floor.

With that, I ask all Members of Congress to pass H.R. 4416, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2291) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 450 Lexington Avenue in New York, New York, as the ``Vincent R. Sombrotto Post Office''.

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 the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 2291, introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 450 Lexington Avenue in New York, New York, as the Vincent R. Sombrotto Post Office.

Vincent Sombrotto was born in Manhattan in 1923. Mr. Sombrotto was a longtime advocate for postal workers. He joined the National Association of Letter Carriers in 1947 and served as its 16th president from 1978 to 2002. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 89.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.