Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, while meeting with Kansas farmers during wheat harvest, I visited with a family where one spouse farmed full time and the other worked from

home, an increasingly common arrangement, especially in the tough farm economy we have today. But at the moment, a reliable broadband connection is out of their reach.

To keep and grow these jobs in our rural areas, we must make smart infrastructure investments that connect our rural residents: investments that don't duplicate what private enterprise has done, and investments that will carry far into the future.

For most businesses, including agribusiness, broadband services allow companies to access the global electronic marketplace. For consumers, broadband allows people to connect via social media, to download apps and stream videos, and to manage everything from a bank account to a college application. Beyond just access to resources, building out broadband in rural areas increases the quality of life for most citizens and promotes job creation and economic development.

As you think about infrastructure and technology, Mr. Speaker, and as the Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade hears testimony on the topic this week, I encourage my colleagues to keep in mind the value of our small rural telecom providers that connect rural Americans with the rest of the world and make every effort to connect rural consumers and businesses with a wide array of services.

Mr. Speaker, the House will take up the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Education supported by career and technical education programs are vital to addressing gaps in workers' skills and employee needs. Employers across the Nation and in my district in Kansas continue to stress the need for well-trained workers, often citing the lack of workers as a key constraint for their own growth.

Luckily, there are great educational programs in my district. I am so proud that many community colleges and technical colleges offer 2-year degrees in technical education that lead to high-paying, steady jobs across Kansas.

About 30 FFA students recently visited me on Capitol Hill. They talked about their desire to enter a wide array of careers and trades. Their pride in the work they are pursuing is contagious. H.R. 2353 seeks to align CTE programs and in-demand industries, while allowing local programs more flexibility to address the needs of local labor markets.

The bill further highlights the importance of employability skills to student access. Career and technical education is foundationally important to economic growth and innovation. These are the jobs that sustain our economy. We must always keep this curriculum at the top of our minds as we look to preparing our students for success and our economy for stability.

I look forward to voting in favor of H.R. 2353 and ask my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, more than 3,000 soldiers with the Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are headed home to Fort Riley this month after a nine-month deployment in South Korea.

Also, known as the ``Devil'' brigade, these soldiers have been stationed in South Korea since October of last year. During their deployment, these American soldiers have trained closely with their South Korean partners, deterring North Korean hostility and providing security in the Korean peninsula. Their service is invaluable.

These Soldiers and families sacrifice greatly during deployment. As the ``Devil'' brigade begins their journey back to Fort Riley, may I be the first to thank them for their service and say, ``welcome home.''

Mr. Speaker, more than 3,000 soldiers with the Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are headed home to Fort Riley in my district this month after a 9-month deployment in South Korea.

Also known as the ``Devil Brigade,'' these soldiers have been stationed in South Korea since October of last year. During their deployment, these American soldiers have trained closely with their South Korean partners, deterring North Korean hostility and providing security in the Korean Peninsula. This service is invaluable.

These soldiers and families sacrificed greatly during their deployment. As the Devil Brigade begins to journey back home to Fort Riley, may I be the first to thank them for their service and say ``Welcome Home.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment and recognize an important piece of legislation that is scheduled for a vote on the House floor today, the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.

This bipartisan legislation will reform the VA by allowing the Secretary to fire underperforming employees, ensure appropriate protections for whistleblowers, and authorize the Secretary to directly appoint folks to critically important positions that need filled quickly. This legislation has already passed the Senate, and I look forward to its passage in the House, and to send it to the President for his signature this week.

Those that serve our Nation are honored heroes. Unfortunately, the VA bureaucracy hasn't always provided the care, respect, and honor they deserve. I look forward to this vote and to bringing our valued veterans one step closer to the care they deserve.

Kinsley, Kansas, Summer Food Service Program

Mr. Speaker, last weekend I was honored to join the Kinsley, Kansas, Summer Food Service Program at the Kinsley-Offerle Junior-Senior High School. It always makes my day when I walk into a room filled with children I delivered in the past decade and their moms.

Like those programs in communities in my district and around the country, these folks serve free breakfast and lunch, and the program is sponsored by the school district. It is great to see this local partnership, this community coalition coming together to help their children.

We live in the most prosperous country in the world, where we have annually produced a tremendous abundance of food, yet it continues to amaze me that we have the level of hunger that we do, especially among our own children.

Good nutrition is too important for the development of these young minds not to ensure, through the communities and programs like these, that they are well fed. Whether you are in the largest ag-producing district in the country, like mine in Kansas, or a city on the coast, we have no excuses.

I thank programs like these for their role in raising a healthy generation.

National Teachers Hall of Fame

Mr. Speaker, in the last 2\1/2\ centuries, 119 of our Nation's educators have tragically lost their lives while serving both their students and their communities, a terrible sacrifice they didn't expect when they followed their calling to help our young people.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia State University, in my district, built a memorial honoring those who have lost their lives while pursuing their educational calling. Founded in 2014, the memorial was built to honor those who had taught students, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, and has now been expanded to honor fallen educators at all academic levels.

While the National Teachers Hall of Fame is regionally recognized, our country still lacks a national memorial for those that have lost their lives while serving our students. By recognizing this memorial, we don't have to spend a dime of Federal funding, but we have a place to remember these men and women.

I have introduced a bill, H.R. 2711, that will do just that. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, or the ``Big Red One.''

From their heroic start, the 1st Infantry Division has played a vital role in our Nation's history, serving in almost every American war since 1917. Today, the Big Red One has over 5,000 soldiers deployed worldwide, with an additional 10,000 in my district at Fort Riley. They are preparing to deploy in support of ongoing operations.

Since 1917, more than 13,000 soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We honor those who have worn the patch of the Big Red One and those that do so today. I cannot be more proud of our troops at Fort Riley. I am honored to represent them. I thank them all for their service.

Mr. Speaker, during Military Caregiver Month, I would like to recognize a population of heroes who often remain in the shadows: military caregivers.

Currently there are over 5 million military and veteran caregivers in the United States. This number continues to grow as our troops abroad place themselves in harm's way.

I recently sat down with one of my heroes, Senator Elizabeth Dole, who shed a light on this important population. While she spent time with Kansas Senator Bob Dole at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in 2011, she noticed the many caregivers around her and the unique challenges that they face. Following this discovery, she established a foundation to raise awareness and serve as a resource for these hidden heroes.

I am a proud member of the Hidden Heroes Caucus, which raises awareness and develops legislation in support of caregivers. I urge my colleagues to join this wonderful congressional caucus of hidden heroes.

Stroke Awareness Month

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke is the Nation's number five killer, the second leading cause of dementia, and one of the leading causes of long-term disability.

During this important month of awareness, we in Congress must realize that we have a chance to make a difference. The FAST Act would expand access to telehealth-eligible home stroke services under Medicare.

I have personally witnessed one of Kansas' greatest victories in healthcare, where my alma mater, Kansas University Medical Center, led the Kansas Stroke Collaborative, where, through telemedicine, we have saved thousands of lives and prevented literally hundreds--perhaps thousands--of long-term injuries as well.

The American Stroke Association says that 80 percent of strokes are preventable, and the more strokes we end, the more lives we will save.

Strokes kill more than 133,000 Americans annually. We can bring that number down, and I hope my colleagues will join us in that effort. As a physician, I know how important and, in many cases, how necessary these services are. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation and always remain open to innovative solutions in the medical industry, like telemedicine.

Eradicating Polio

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about something very near and dear to my heart: the efforts to eradicate polio.

Truly, Mr. Speaker, we are this close to ending polio. Once a widespread global epidemic, it is now only endemic in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

When I was district governor of Rotary just a few short years ago, we were reporting 17 to 18 cases per year. And I am so excited that we have only had 2 reported cases this year.

There is one organization that has led this charge, though many have helped, but Rotary has led this since 1979, literally vaccinating over 2.5 billion people in 122 countries.

As a former Rotary district governor, I spent some time this past weekend at Fort Hays State University celebrating Rotary and all we have done, including the celebration of international students and the peace awards that they receive through our scholarships.

There is no cure for polio. It is preventable by a very simple vaccine. It is vital that we aid these last handful of countries, get us over the finish line with these resources, and end our fight against polio so we can tell future generations: Like smallpox, polio is no longer in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give a very personal thanks to our men and women in uniform during this National Police Week.

I was raised the son of the chief of police and the head of the fire department of El Dorado, Kansas, for some 25 years. In that time, he taught me discipline and values. He taught me there was right and there was wrong, that some things are black and white in the world, and my father represented what the law was in my community.

Today, I celebrate this week with him and the men and women who served with him who gave me a deep respect for the rule of law and those who serve daily to uphold it. Certainly, I am the person I am today because of what my parents taught me, my family, and the community, and they still do to this day.

I can remember growing up and the first day my dad brought home Rene, our trained police dog, and how that dog became part of our family, a very gentle dog until one morning, we were playing football in the backyard, and one of my friends tackled me. We watched that police dog climb a 6-foot-high fence to come to my rescue.

I remember my dad pulling people from fires. I remember riding in the back of an old Jeep that was overhauled from an Army Reserve to fight prairie fires and grass fires, something I am sure that kids wouldn't be allowed to do today. My dad took me to the firing range time and time again, and I would watch my dad shoot 25 rounds into a small circle the size of a quarter week after week, training to do his job right. I remember him getting called out to domestic disturbances and crime scenes. I remember him disarming people with weapons time and time again, putting his life on the line.

But it is just not my family, Mr. Speaker. Families across the country have loved ones who serve our communities, States, and country.

Earlier this week, President Trump gave a great message: ``No one asked these selfless men and women to enlist in this righteous cause or to enroll as foot soldiers in the eternal struggle against crime and violence. They joined the cause because their hearts were big and full of amazing courage.''

Mr. Speaker, I salute the men and women in uniform and thank them for their service.

Mr. Speaker, today, as we celebrate Small Business Week, I rise to recognize, commend, and stress the importance of small businesses of this country.

I have the honor of serving on the House Small Business Committee every day, and I am reminded that small businesses are the pillars and the cornerstones of the American economy.

The National Small Business Association recently met in our Nation's Capital. They communicated to me their biggest concerns were health care and government overregulation. That is why we believe doing nothing with health care is not an option. That is why this Congress must strive to end the overburdensome regulation this government does to kill jobs.

All across Kansas, and this country, small businesses are driving economic opportunity, innovation, and growth. This week, and every week, we must keep their contributions at the forefront of our decisionmaking.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of April as the Month of the Military Child. I have the

utmost respect for the families of the military's men and women; specifically, the children of our Nation's military, who are the bedrock of military families. These children make sacrifices-- relocations, new schools, and the absence of a parent on deployment-- and they deserve our gratitude.

Due to the unique circumstances the children are put under, I stand before you today to commend the children of those currently serving in my district at Fort Riley in Kansas, and the children of those serving around the Nation. I call on my colleagues to provide continued support of our military children and families whose sacrifice is not always recognized, but certainly is revered.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to

voice my support of the HONEST Act. This legislation gives independent scientists a fair chance to validate the studies EPA uses to make regulations. As someone who has made a career in science, I know that determining anything less is unwise and unscientific.

Whether you are studying a new oncology drug or EPA regulations, transparency and the ability to reproduce and share these findings are some of the basic tenets of science. Costly regulations that impact American citizens and Kansas farmers should be based upon data that is available to independent scientists and the public.

Let's continue to be a voice for the people with sound, transparent, scientific regulatory policy.

Mr. Speaker, Kansas voters sent me to fix health care. Doing nothing is not an option. I cannot sit here idly while the ACA destroys and bankrupts America's healthcare system.

This bill eliminates nearly a trillion dollars of taxes. This bill eliminates funding for Planned Parenthood. This bill will save many hospitals in Kansas from closing by increasing funding for Medicare patients. This bill allots $100 billion for high-risk pools. This bill specifies another $15 billion specifically for maternity coverage, which is near and dear to my heart; newborn care; mental health care; and substance abuse disorders.

Mr. Speaker, this is the best bill that we can get through this process. I am excited to be part of it. This is the first chapter of a new book, with many more chapters to come. We will fix health care.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and celebrate National Agriculture Day.

I proudly represent the largest agriculture-producing district in the country, the big First District of Kansas. In my home State, it is Kansas Agriculture Month, a month to celebrate our State's largest economy.

Today is an opportunity to remind my colleagues of the hardworking Americans who produce the bounty of American harvest and livestock. The food that sustains them doesn't originate in a grocery store.

Let us remember as we move forward with regulations and with trade policy that there are families with generations of history on their farm or ranch who face the consequences of every decision. They feed America and our economy.

This day and every day, we are grateful that God made a farmer.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with people like my colleague, Dr. Drew Ferguson, from Georgia.

I am so proud to stand tonight with the President of the United States. I know that tonight Mr. Trump is speaking loudly on behalf of our healthcare bill. Mr. Trump is ready to take the fight on with us who feel like we need to move this health care forward.

I am not sure how many of you grew up without power steering in your vehicles, but if you know anything about the lack of power steering-- and I think back to the tractors I drove growing up, and that tractor, you could not turn that wheel until you started the tractor moving--or if you had a Ford truck or a Dodge truck or a Chevy truck and it didn't have power steering, you couldn't turn that truck until it started moving.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to get this bill moving. We have to move health care forward. I am so tired of the rhetoric of repeal and replace. I am telling you, my constituents sent me here to fix health care. Forget the political rhetoric. I am ready to fix health care. I am ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Republicans, with Democrats, with people down the aisle, across the aisle, and with our President to get this healthcare bill passed.

Unfortunately, ObamaCare has failed. When this first came about, I was so excited. I was hoping that this would be a healthcare bill that would work. But, unfortunately, it is true that this healthcare bill is dying very quickly.

One-third of counties across this country no longer have a provider to take care of the exchange. My own State of Kansas is down to one provider. Today, even more insurance companies are bailing. This bill is dying. Doing nothing is simply not an option, Mr. Speaker.

As I visited with thousands of patients over the last several years and thousands of my constituents, they said there are several things that they thought were important that we save from this healthcare bill, the Affordable Care Act, and I think we have done just that:

Number one, we have protected the preexisting issue conditions;

Number two, we are letting children stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26;

Number three, we are ensuring that women are not charged more for health insurance just because they are a woman; and

Number four, we protected the doughnut hole and kept it closed for Medicare.

So I think we have saved the best things of the Affordable Care Act.

So what have we removed? Mr. Speaker, we removed almost $1 trillion of taxes. This is the most significant entitlement reform in our generation, the most significant entitlement reform since the 1960s started Medicaid.

What can we expect out of this bill?

We expect premiums to decrease by 10 percent.

We expect to start reprioritizing Medicaid moneys. I want to make sure, Mr. Speaker, that we prioritize Medicaid moneys for those who need it the most: those with disabilities, children, and the elderly. And I want to make sure these people are at the front of the Medicaid line rather than at the end of the line.

This country cannot afford to give Medicaid to able-bodied Americans. We need to prioritize the dollars that we have for those that need it the most.

Mr. Speaker, we spent $580 billion last year on Medicaid. We are on our way to spending $1 trillion on Medicaid if we don't do something soon. This country cannot afford to spend $1 trillion on Medicaid.

Mr. Speaker, these are only the first steps of bending the cost curve downward for health care. We have to do more than just this bill. There are going to be more steps.

I have complete faith in Dr. Tom Price, our new HHS Secretary, that he will be deregulating health care, which is the most regulated business in the country right now. Give Dr. Price 60, 90 days to deregulate medicine and start encouraging competition, and we will start bending this cost curve downward.

We need to empower free markets. We need to empower States to have more local control. We are expanding healthcare savings accounts, but there are many more things we need to do. This is just the start of healthcare reform.

This is the first chapter of a new book on healthcare reform. There are many more chapters to go. I cannot wait to improve health care, to improve quality and start driving the cost curve downward.

Mr. Speaker, thank you so much for allowing me the time to stand shoulder to shoulder with our President, as well as with Dr. Drew Ferguson, who is representing the State of Georgia so proudly. I am so proud to be called his freshman colleague.

Mr. Speaker, as a physician, I know firsthand ObamaCare

is in a death spiral. Now we are on a rescue mission. The President and our replacement bill repeals the ObamaCare mandates and taxes, but preserves three important protections:

One, we don't allow denying coverage or charging patients more with preexisting conditions.

Two, we don't allow insurers to charge women more for being women.

Three, we allow children to stay on their parents' plan until age 26.

Going forward, we bend the cost curve downward by decentralizing health care, promoting competition, and expanding HSAs. We make health care more affordable by providing tax credits, creating value pools, and more judiciously redirecting Medicaid dollars back to those who need it most: children, elderly, and those with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize and congratulate Specialist Susan Tanui, the 2016 Army Soldier-Athlete of the Year.

Specialist Tanui currently serves the soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas, as a dental assistant.

During her time in service, she has exemplified the Army's seven core values--loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage--through her dedicated service, which is exemplified by her numerous decorations and awards.

In addition to serving the U.S. Army, Specialist Tanui is currently pursuing a degree at Liberty University, represents the Fort Riley Division running team, the All Army team, and the U.S. Armed Forces as an Army athlete.

She has also represented the U.S. Army in the U.S. Track and Field National Cross Country Championships in 2015 and 2016 and hopes, one day, to compete in the Olympics.

I commend Specialist Tanui's accomplishments, her outstanding character, and look forward to witnessing what she will do in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, we are so proud of Specialist Tanui, the soldiers of Fort Riley, the home of the Big Red One.