Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the clean CR, and go to conference on a budget so that we can end this irresponsible shutdown of the United States Government and restore the people's government.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to H.J. Res 59, the clean continuing resolution that would end this unconscionable government shutdown.

I want to thank my colleague from Arizona, Congresswoman Sinema, for bringing us together this evening on this truly critical issue in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak directly to the men and women who have served this country. To those of you who have borne a decade of war and to those of you who have endured the psychological scars that these wars have brought, scars from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, I know that your wounds and you know that your wounds cannot always be seen. But you also know and I know too that they're real.

I implore you to consider the grief and loss, the sadness that your families will feel if you are no longer with them. They love you. They want you to live. I implore you, suicide is not the answer.

For 32 years, I worked in the field of mental health services. I know from the many, the thousands of success stories that mental illness, post-traumatic stress, and emotional issues are treatable. You can recover.

If you are hurting and need help, it is there for you. It is there in your friends, in your family members, and it is there in the professional services offered in your community and at the Veterans Administration.

If you learn that someone is contemplating suicide, you have a responsibility to intervene. Let them know how much they mean to you. Help them get the services they need. It is everyone's responsibility to stop this terrible tragedy that is occurring every single day. As has been said already, 22 men and women who have served us in uniform are committing suicide when they return home to civilian life.

You each deserve the full resources of this government and of your communities and of your friends, and it is there for you.

Here in Congress, I am very pleased to say that while we talk a lot about gridlock and we talk a lot about not getting things done and the lack of bipartisanship, this is one issue on which we are truly in a bipartisan coalition. We are fighting for you to make sure that you get the support and the help and the gratitude that you deserve after serving our country so bravely.

Just this week, I was deeply honored to welcome Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth to my district. When I think about the greeting that she received when we went to the University of Arizona from the veterans who saw her courage, I knew that she was an inspiration not only to them but to veterans all over the country, a great model of someone who has been through so much and yet has found a reason to live and to serve our country.

We went to the Veterans Center at the University of Arizona, where veterans were helping other veterans not only deal with the transition back into civilian life and into school life but also to deal with the emotional issues that they have as they make that transition.

Help is there. It is there for each and every one of you who have served us so well. And I implore you, look for the help. Give the help.

This is everyone's responsibility to reach out to the men and women who have served us and to extend a helping hand and to get them to the services that they need. They can and will be treated. And treatment will, in fact, help them succeed. And they will, in fact, go through this terrible time that they're dealing with when they contemplate suicide.

I want to thank the gentlelady from Arizona once again for bringing us together to talk about this very important topic to all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed to it in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, Arizonans know only too well the horrific effects wildfires have on our communities.

In July of this year, our State was devastated by the Yarnell Hill fire that swept across 8,400 acres of land in 15 days, killing 19 brave firefighters from the Granite Mountain Hotshots. They died in the line of duty doing one of the hardest jobs in firefighting. This tragedy will leave physical scars on Arizona for many years to come and emotional scars that will last forever.

These fires are not unique to our beautiful State. Every year, communities across our Nation battle wildfires that destroy their land, their homes, and their livelihood and too often take lives. The brave men and women that we send in to fight these wildfires put their lives on the line to protect us.

A decade ago this summer, another devastating fire swept through the community of Summerhaven in my district. It destroyed 350 homes and businesses. That area will not recover fully for centuries.

Two summers ago, my district in southeastern Arizona endured the Horseshoe Two fire. On May 8, 2011, this fire started on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains near the community of Portal. The fire continued to burn steadily, heading to the northwest; and on June 8, the fire reached the Chiricahua National Monument, burning into the southeast corner of the park. In late June, the fire was finally contained, but by then 223,000 acres within the Chiricahua Mountains had burned.

We were lucky that summer in southeastern Arizona that there was no loss of life. We did not lose one firefighter.

This motion to recommit is very straightforward.

It ensures that we provide our firefighters with the most advanced equipment, including air tankers, communication gear, and personal safety equipment.

As the father-in-law of a firefighter, this issue is both a personal one and one of great importance to the people I represent, to Arizona, and to many communities across the western United States. I think about my son-in-law, Jason, going off to work and my daughter at home with our two grandchildren, one of whom is barely 1 year old. I also think of each brave man and woman across our Nation who leaves a wife, a husband, a son, or a daughter every day to do the same.

We owe our firefighters an eternal debt of gratitude for their courageous work, and we also owe them the best resources to protect them as they put themselves in harm's way in trying to save lives, homes, businesses, our land, and our forests.

This is the final amendment to this bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me and stand with our firefighters by supporting this motion to recommit.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, because of the proposed sequestration cuts, the Air Force is considering the complete retirement of entire fleets of aircraft, including the A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is unsurpassed in its ability to provide close-air combat support for our troops on the ground.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the A-10 performed one-third of the combat sorties. One Army commander told me that whenever he heard the Warthogs overhead, he knew that their day was going to get better.

The A-10 is a multi-role plane that assists in combat search-and- rescue operations, escorting helicopters through the toughest combat zones. Its wings and electronics package have been completely refitted so that its mission can continue for at least another 15 years.

Sequestration is a disgrace. I never supported it, and I implore my colleagues to work with me to end it. Our national security and the protection of our servicemembers in combat areas must be paramount as we fund the Department of Defense.

Mr. Speaker, we must stop the irresponsible sequestration cuts and keep the A-10 flying.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors or TAPS assists families of our Armed Forces who have lost their military loved one. TAPS is a resource that provides 24/7 tragedy assistance based on a framework of peer-to-peer emotional support. Their programs fill the crucial need of connecting survivors with survivors to provide comfort, compassion, healing and hope in time of need.

For nearly 20 years, TAPS has provided essential support to more than 40,000 military family members and those assisting them. TAPS successfully builds on the experience of survivors by connecting them as peer-mentors to other grieving family members in similar circumstances.

However, connecting survivors is just the beginning. TAPS continues its outreach and support through grief seminars, camps for kids and physical events. The TAPS network in not a one-time liaison but a continuing support framework that provides continuous compassion and assistance to families as they grieve.

Ms. Bonnie Carroll founded TAPS in 1994 after she tragically lost her husband in 1992, Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, in a military plane crash. Sensing an unfilled need, Ms. Carroll established TAPS to ensure surviving military family members have the necessary resources to cope with their loss. Since then, Ms. Carroll has dedicated her life to supporting our surviving military families. Ms. Carroll and all of the TAPS volunteers are deserving of our highest thanks and honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Benson Unified School District on the high honor of being named Arizona's top performing school district.

The Benson School District serves 1200 students in the community of Benson as well as other areas across San Pedro Valley. Their mission is to provide a safe and welcoming learning community that prepares students to be competitive and productive citizens.

The success of Benson Schools comes after years of commitment to proven instructional practices and a strong academic curriculum for their students. This dedication has led to the accolades we celebrate today.

This distinguished recognition is testament to the hard work and dedication Superintendent David Woodall, the school board, and the dedicated staff and teachers of the district. I am proud to represent these outstanding schools in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, due to attending a classified briefing on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, I missed one recorded vote on September 9. I would like to indicate how I would have voted had I been present for that vote.

On rollcall No. 448, H.R. 2052, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2013, I would have voted ``yea'' to direct the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to conduct an interagency review of and report to Congress on ways to increase the global competitiveness of the United States in attracting foreign direct investment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Vail School District on the high honor of receiving a ``Straight A'' report card from the Arizona Department of Education. This is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Vail School District was founded over one hundred years ago as a one-room schoolhouse in the middle of a ranching community at a water stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Over the last century, the district has grown to serve a population over a four hundred square mile area in southern Arizona. It currently serves twelve thousand and continues to expand, with an eighteenth school under construction.

The Vail community has shown strong support of its schools, staff, and teachers. This has played an important role in helping the district achieve its remarkable success.

The mission of the Vail School District is to provide parents with safe and nurturing school communities where their children can obtain a quality education. Such a dedication to proven instructional practices and great care for the students has led to the accolades we celebrate today.

This success would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership of Superintendent Calvin Baker; the school board, Claudia Anderson, Randy Kinkade, Margaret Burkholder, Jim Coulter, and Debbie King; and the dedicated staff and teachers of the district. I am proud to represent such an outstanding public school district which is a model of what can be accomplished by providing an environment and education that prepares our children for future success.

Mr. Speaker, due to airplane mechanical difficulties, I missed two recorded votes on July 30. I would like to indicate how I would have voted had I been present for those votes.

On Rollcall No. 375, H.R. 21542, the WMD Intelligence and Information Sharing Act, I would have voted ``yea'' to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish weapons of mass destruction intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security.

On Rollcall No. 376, H. Con. Res. 44, I would have voted ``yea'' to authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to request approval of an amendment that will support citizens of our great Nation who desperately need and deserve our assistance.

I am talking about our Nation's homeless veterans. At a time when our country needed them, they answered the call, personally sacrificing for the greater good--for our greater good.

My amendment will increase funding for housing vouchers by $1 million, and it is offset by a reduction in the Administrative Support Office's budget.

We owe these men and women more than just a debt of gratitude. We owe them our unflagging support commensurate with their level of service, equal

to their sacrifice for you and for me and for all Americans who enjoy the freedoms that these veterans have protected.

Unfortunately, too many veterans still lack the necessary resources to keep a permanent roof over their heads. This, I hope we all agree, is completely unacceptable.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that approximately 62,000 veterans remain homeless. That is 62,000 members of our Armed Forces who made an unwavering commitment to stand in the breach for this Nation, for freedom, for democracy, and the values that are the foundation of the United States of America.

According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, nearly one-third of chronically homeless people are veterans. The men and women who put on the uniform of our Armed Forces took a solemn oath to do what we asked them to do, and they should not go without in their time of need.

When our soldiers came home from Vietnam they were subject to despicable insults and, even worse, did not receive the supports we promised them. Thousands of them make up the homeless population in our country today. This was a national disgrace, and we must do better for them and for the new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are coming home every day. We must not allow them to become yet another homeless veteran.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs has a commendable goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015, it is shameful to even let one single veteran become homeless.

In my home district in Tucson, the city is working to ensure that veteran homelessness is eradicated permanently. I applaud and support those efforts, but more can and must be done across my district and the Nation.

If my amendment is adopted, it would increase by $1 million the amount available to veterans for housing vouchers. It is offset by a reduction of $1.5 million from the HUD Administrative Support Offices.

While this amendment will not solve the issue of veteran homelessness, it is a small and important first step that we can take to show our commitment to our veterans.

We cannot continue to fail these men and women who have so bravely served this Nation. It is not a Democratic or a Republican issue; it is an American issue. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Barber

Amendment No. 6: Page 68, line 19, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $1,500,000)''.

Page 69, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced

by $1,500,000)''.

Page 71, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $1,000,000)''.

Page 80, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $1,000,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, due to attending the memorial for the 19 firefighters who died fighting the wildfire in Yarnell, Arizona, I missed 20 recorded votes on July 9, 2013. I would like to indicate at this point how I would have voted had I been present for those votes.

On rollcall vote No. 308, H. Res. 288, I would have voted ``yea'' On Ordering the Previous Question to begin consideration of the bill (H.R. 2609) making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.

On rollcall vote No. 309, H. Res. 288, I would have voted ``yea'' On Agreeing to the Resolution for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2609) making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.

On rollcall vote No. 310, Journal, I would have voted ``no'' on approving the Journal.

On rollcall vote No. 311, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to strike the section of the bill that would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from updating guidance concerning federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

On rollcall vote No. 312, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to strike the section that would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from changing the definitions of ``fill material'' or ``discharge material'' under the Clean Water Act.

On rollcall vote No. 313, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase renewable energy, energy reliability, and efficiency by $245 million and to decrease Weapons Activities by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 314, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability and Efficiency by $31 million and reduces Departmental Administration by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 315, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to reduce Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $9.8 million and transfer the same amount to the Spending Reduction Account.

On rollcall vote No. 316, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $50 million and decrease Weapons Activities by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 317, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to reduce Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $4.75 million and transfer the same amount to the Spending Reduction Account.

On rollcall vote No. 318, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``yea'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $1 million and decrease Departmental Administration by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 319, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to reduce the Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency and Fossil Energy Research and Development by $1.5 billion collectively, and transfer the same amount to the Spending Reduction Account.

On rollcall vote No. 320, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``yea'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $10 million and decrease Departmental Administration by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 321, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $15 million and decrease Weapons Activities by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 322, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $15.5 million and reduce Weapons Activities by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 323, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $20 million and reduce Weapons Activities by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 324, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Renewable Energy, Energy Reliability, and Efficiency by $40 million and reduce Weapons Activities by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 325, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to decrease Nuclear Energy by $25 million and increases Office of Science account by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 326, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to reduce Fossil Energy Research and Development and Weapons Activities by $127 million collectively and increase Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy by the same amount.

On rollcall vote No. 327, H.R. 2609, the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I would have voted ``no'' to increase Office of Science account by $500 million and decrease Weapons Activities by the same amount.

I am deeply discouraged that as we face the impending doubling of interest rates for student loans that House leadership will send us home tomorrow without a solution.

More than 7 million students, former students and their families in the United States, including more than 450,000 in my home State of Arizona, rely on these loans to help pay for college. Federal student loans are a critical tool for ensuring that educational opportunities remain open to as many Americans as possible.

Higher education is a critical economic engine for my State and for the Nation. Workers age 25 and older, with a bachelor's degree, we know, earn 63 percent more than those with a high school diploma. These differences will only increase as the world economy becomes more competitive and technologically advanced.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stay here, not go home tomorrow, but stay here and work together to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling in 4 days. D-day is July 1, and we must act now to support the aspiring young Americans to get their college educations.

I rise tonight as the father of two strong and accomplished women and as the grandfather of three grandchildren in order to speak against H.R. 1797, which will come before the House tomorrow, in which we will be asked yet again to put government in charge of a woman's private medical decisions.

We must protect the right of every woman to make her health care decisions with her doctor without interference by politicians in Washington. Only she can decide what is best for her and her family. This is an issue of personal liberty. The Supreme Court ruled more than half a century ago that Americans had the right to make their own choices about reproductive health. Yet, once again, we will debate a new piece of legislation to limit the rights of women.

I will oppose H.R. 1797 tomorrow, and I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same--to stand up for women and to oppose the latest attempt to intrude into their most personal health care decisions.