Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Congress debates another extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or TANF.

While TANF remains a vital program to millions of Americans, and I support an extension, I am disappointed in my colleagues across the aisle for not taking the opportunity to discuss much-needed reforms to TANF, which are long overdue. In fact, since the program began in 1996, TANF has had only one true reauthorization and has been simply extended 38 times, including four times in the last 2 years since I have been in Congress.

Today, we debate another extension until September 30. However, another extension does not allow us to discuss proposals to reform TANF to help Americans get jobs needed for an independent and prosperous life.

Unlike my colleagues, Republicans have put forth such a proposal called the JOBS for Success Act. The bill expands services to connect people receiving TANF with tailored skills training and jobs. It also allows States to fund apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs, and it expands funding for work-related transportation costs and childcare. In return, the JOBS for Success Act strengthens accountability for securing a job and maintaining it.

These commonsense reforms are needed now more than ever. Under our new Tax Code, our booming economy has more jobs than workers for the first time in history: 7.5 million job openings versus 5.8 million unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now is the time for people to get the support and training they need to take part in this historic economic recovery.

Reforming TANF in Congress should be a great first step toward this goal. I know this because I have seen how reforms to TANF can help those in need.

In my home State of Kansas, we allowed TANF dollars to go to the JAG program, which helps at-risk high school students graduate and get a successful career path. In Kansas, JAG has a 91 percent graduation rate and 80 percent employment rate, both above the national average for JAG students.

This one statewide reform is an example of the potential that exists if we come together to look at potential national reforms to TANF and to help families in need and give them the support they need.

Unfortunately, it appears that my colleagues across the aisle are okay with simply kicking the TANF can down the road for the 39th time without discussing the JOBS for Success Act or offering any sort of reform proposal.

As we debate this extension bill, I continue to call on my colleagues to work with us on reforming TANF and developing a full reauthorization bill, not just continuing to kick the can down the road.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the SECURE Act. It is an overall good policy that will encourage Americans to save for retirement.

I am pleased that this bill makes it easier for small businesses to join together and offer retirement plans for more Americans. It allows graduate students and home healthcare workers to save more for retirement.

It includes a policy change to help Gold Star families. It also includes a fix to the taxation of children's unearned income that will support American Indian Tribal youth and encourage them to pursue a college education, similar to the legislation that I helped introduce with my colleague from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Finally, this bill will allow 529 plans to be used to pay for student loans and apprenticeship programs.

As a former State treasurer of Kansas, I oversaw a 529 plan and understand the importance of expanding these plans for our families. That is why I am disappointed that the manager's amendment removed good policy from this legislation that would have allowed 529 plans to help be used for expenses for K-12 education and to help special needs children.

Earlier this year, my Republican colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee entered good faith negotiations with Chairman Neal and our Democratic colleagues to craft this bill. As a result, Republicans and Democrats on the committee unanimously voted for the SECURE Act in April.

However, since that time, the other side of the aisle played politics with this legislation when it was before the Rules Committee and removed those additional 529 provisions that were originally included to help special needs students. So, while I support today's bill and the policies that are still included, I sincerely hope that, moving forward, we can stop playing politics with good pieces of legislation and work in a bipartisan manner and negotiate in good faith to produce legislation that will help the American people.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, if this unanimous consent request cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and the majority leader to immediately schedule the Born-Alive bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the musical accomplishments of Barry ``Bones'' Patton.

When traveling near Winfield in south central Kansas, there are two sounds that one might hear: cattle and bluegrass.

Winfield--home of the nationally recognized Walnut Valley Festival for bluegrass and acoustic music--is where Barry Patton uses cattle rib bones to create unique music that has put him on the world stage. His exceptional talent earned him the nickname Barry ``Bones'' Patton.

Refining his craft since the age of 13, Patton told KAKE-TV in a 2006 interview that he'd been encouraged to ``carry that tradition on of bone playing because it's really an old lost art.'' And that's precisely what he's done.

The art of playing bones finds its roots in ancient history, from Mesopotamia and Egypt to the Roman Empire and ancient Greece. The instrument--often associated with folk music--takes the simple remains of an animal and turns it into a complex rhythm that takes skill and practice to perfect.

The fact that Patton can play bones well in both hands makes the sound of his music even more impressive.

Representing the United States at the Fleadh by the Feale music festival in Abbeyfeale, Ireland, Barry ``Bones'' Patton competed in their International Bone Playing Competition and earned the title of best bone player in the world on May 6.

I want to congratulate Patton on his international recognition and ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating his bona fide success.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski) for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I want to mention that I, too, rise today in support of H.R. 1759, the BRIDGE for Workers Act. This technical correction bill builds on the progress we made in last year's budget act to provide reemployment services to help get more people back to work faster and easier.

While the intent of last year's law was to allow job counselors to consult with unemployed individuals as soon as possible, oftentimes implementation of the law led to this happening only in cases where unemployment benefits were set to expire.

Today's bill realigns reemployment services and eligibility assessment with the original intent of their mission to assist unemployed individuals as soon as possible to get people back to work.

I know, in my district, case managers at the Workforce Centers of South Central Kansas provide a critical service connecting people with jobs or skills training to further their careers.

At a time when our economy is growing at historic rates and we have more job openings than ever before, the work these centers provide is extremely important to help make sure all Americans can participate in this economic revival.

I want to thank my fellow Ways and Means Committee members for working to bring this bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Kelly, for bringing this to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1957, the Taxpayer First Act. This bipartisan bill redesigns and modernizes the IRS for the first time in 21 years and focuses on improving the agency's service to taxpayers.

As the only former State treasurer in the House, I understand the need for the country's tax administration agency to adopt a mission of customer service and to help taxpayers retrieve information, resolve issues, and make payments.

This bill accomplishes these goals in several ways. First, it establishes an independent appeals process so that taxpayers are treated fairly. It provides for easier electronic submission of tax return forms, and it strengthens the IRS ability to combat identity theft. It also requires the agency to submit to Congress plans to further improve efficiency and customer service.

Altogether, the Taxpayer First Act provides needed, commonsense, and overdue reforms to the IRS.

I thank my fellow Ways and Means Committee members for working to bring this bill to the floor.

Today's vote is a culmination of several years of work and numerous hearings and discussions, including passing this bill in the House during last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 50th anniversary of the skid steer loader.

On April 3, 1969, CASE Construction Equipment began manufacturing its skid steer loaders for the first time in Burlington, Iowa.

In 1974, CASE moved its skid steer manufacturing operations to Wichita, Kansas.

In 1999, CASE and New Holland merged to form CNH Industrial, but the skid steer manufacturing operation remained in Wichita.

Today, the Wichita site employs nearly 500 people who research, design and manufacture the skid steer loaders for use all around our country and throughout the world.

From agriculture to construction, the skid steer has become an iconic fixture in many industries and is another example of how products grown and manufactured in south-central Kansas impact our world.

I am hopeful that through free and fair trade policies, companies like CNH Industrial can continue to grow and thrive in my district of Kansas and throughout the country.

On this 50th anniversary, I congratulate all of the hard-working men and women of CNH Industrial in Wichita on this milestone and wish them many more decades of success and growth.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 144.

Mr. Speaker, on March 21, our country and the world celebrated World Down Syndrome Awareness Day.

This afternoon, I am happy to lead my colleagues in recognizing this important day and all of the contributions individuals with Down syndrome make each day to families, businesses, schools, and communities. From brothers and sisters to employees and businessowners, to artists and models, people with Down syndrome have an incredible impact on every part of society. They deserve our support, understanding, and full acceptance.

Thankfully, there are many groups and programs that have made it their mission to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

As Kansas State treasurer, I advocated for passage of the Federal ABLE Act and led the effort to implement it in Kansas.

It is kind of one of those things that, several years ago, I didn't necessarily expect that I was going to be standing here today; so I was going through the process of how do we lobby, how do we make sure that a good program gets passed through the Federal legislative process that benefits so many people, and then having to take that initiative in my home State of Kansas and work through the legislature and making sure that we implemented it to help people's quality of life and enable them to live the lives that they wanted to live and make it more beneficial for them.

This important law created tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities to cover expenses like healthcare, education, housing, and transportation. It is important for parents raising a child to be able to help provide their care.

Obviously, the concern on the part of parents is that, over years, particularly as the parents age, they want to make sure that their children, in some cases when they are in their adult life, are able to enjoy the life that they want and the life that they deserve. A program like ABLE is able to help make that dream come true.

These programs are similar to the 529 college savings programs, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The ABLE accounts

give people with Down syndrome and other disabilities the opportunities to live the life they deserve.

The Kansas ABLE Act went into effect in January 2017. I was proud to be part of that effort because it is the right thing to do.

In Congress, I have been humbled to work with organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society to build upon the progress of the ABLE Act. Last year, I was honored to receive the 2018 National Down Syndrome Society Impact Award and look forward to supporting the mission in this Congress.

This year, I am also honored to be on the honorary committee for the AcceptAbility Gala, hosted by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, an annual event in Washington, D.C., that supports lifesaving research and medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome.

Back home in Kansas, I am also inspired by groups like the Arc of Sedgwick County, which supports individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome.

Just as each of these groups, among numerous others, supports those with Down syndrome, it is my hope that, in Congress, we can do the same thing.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to discussing this more today, but, at this time, I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stauber for those comments.

Mr. Speaker, it is important for us, as Representatives, to actually stand up for what we think is important. Obviously, as parents, we all care about our children. We want to make sure they get the best opportunities that they can, and, as elected Representatives, one of the reasons I ran for office was to make sure that we could have an impact and make sure that we could make a difference in people's lives.

When I look at the role of the Federal Government, one of the things that is most important for us is making sure that we can help those individuals live out the life that is embedded in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence and having the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, people having that opportunity to live and enjoy all the blessings of this great country.

We can talk a lot about different issues, and there are, obviously, lots of us here in the Halls of Congress who want to talk about some of those issues. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my good friend, who wants to weigh in on this subject as well.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

It is tremendous to be able to work with representatives like him that have a goal to focus on: how do we make life better? How do we provide opportunities for individuals?

You touched on a sad part in society today where so many people seem to think that it is right that just because of some particular trait that the parents don't necessarily like, that they are able to kill individuals because of that through abortion.

When we are talking about Down syndrome and awareness of that, you know, it is a sad fact that we have got to address this issue. We have got to address that extreme discrimination that some individuals that want to impress upon those people who may have Down syndrome even before they have a chance to live a life.

In the United States, two-thirds--67 percent--of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome while in the womb are aborted.

In Europe, it is even worse. In France, the rate is 77 percent. In Denmark, it is 98 percent. And in Iceland, it is nearly 100 percent, where late-term abortions are allowed if the baby has a deformity, which includes Down syndrome, to quote a CBS News article.

In a society where Down syndrome individuals can have a wonderful quality of life and pursue their dreams, this discrimination needs to be brought to light.

We live during a time when there is so much medical innovation, so many opportunities, so many brilliant things that our doctors are developing, we need to make sure that we capitalize on that innovation, make sure that we allow people the opportunity to live a full life and live the opportunities that they enjoy.

This innovation, unfortunately, has been used by individuals to determine the sex, determine if the child is healthy, determine if the child has certain traits; and in some cases, for positive reasons, to determine whether there is some medical necessity to operate while in the womb to make sure that that individual--that child--enjoys quality of life.

However, we need to make sure that that testing process never gets corrupted, never gets used in a discriminatory way, and it is never used to justify abortion.

It is a sad fact that we are seeing so many things being talked about in the abortion arena nowadays, and so many people beating that drum.

We have got to stand up, you know, in our country. We want to be able to stand up for people's rights and we want to be able to stand up for the opportunities for babies to live and have the opportunity to live a life that we all will enjoy as well.

I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my fellow colleague, the opportunity to speak and talk about this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Babin, and I appreciate those words.

Mr. Speaker, we, as fellow colleagues, have such an important role trying to work on how we bring forth those American principles and opportunities for everybody.

In recent months, we have seen politicians from States around the country embrace late-term abortions and openly discuss infanticide. Individuals with Down syndrome would be among the most severely impacted by these tragic policies.

To help respond to that, my colleagues and I have repeatedly called to bring forward the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor for a vote.

This straightforward bill would require healthcare practitioners to give the same care to a child who has survived a botched abortion just as they would any other newborn child.

Apparently, the bill has 182 cosponsors.

Unfortunately, a vote on the bill has been blocked 21 times now by the majority.

However, as we rise to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day, I call on my colleagues to consider this bill and any other one that would protect life and support those with Down syndrome.

There are 250,000 people in America with Down syndrome. They live healthy, productive, happy lives, just like you and I do, and want to have the same hopes and dreams and goals.

We need more awareness of what a diagnosis of Down syndrome really means. It means that a child simply has an extra chromosome and that nothing else about their life is different from you or me.

They have so much to contribute to this world, and they deserve that chance.

Last year, I had the chance to meet David Egan. David is a fellow working for the National Down Syndrome Society, and previously worked for the House Ways and Means Committee.

When I met him, he told me how much he wanted to help others with Down syndrome accomplish anything they wanted to do, just as he has done in his own life and career.

I am inspired by people like David, and I want to thank my colleagues who join me today for this Special Order recognizing World Down Syndrome Day.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with Congress to support those with Down syndrome, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 3 o'clock and 54 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Wichita State University President Dr. John Bardo, who sadly passed away on March 12, 2019. In his 7 years as president, Dr. Bardo's devotion to education and Wichita State was unsurpassed as he led the university in a bold direction that benefited students and the entire Wichita community.

Dr. Bardo's tenure was not his first job at the university. In 1975, Dr. Bardo, then an assistant professor of sociology, met his wife, Deborah.

When Dr. Bardo returned to Wichita State as president in 2012, he said: ``We came home . . . to reposition this university as a key driver of the future of Wichita.'' From developing the Innovation Campus and WSU Tech, to increasing online courses, research, and dorm space, his leadership accomplished that goal and set the university on a path to be a nationwide leader in education.

Last July, Dr. Bardo was invited to come testify before the House Education and the Workforce Committee about Wichita State's leadership in innovation. As a member of the committee at the time, I will never forget the pride Dr. Bardo showed for the university and our community.

I know Shockers are better off because of his leadership, passion, and vision.

I ask my colleagues to join me in praying for the Bardo family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

You know, those numbers are just shocking, as you related, in terms of how it would devastate the American economy and American families.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to add my voice in opposition to this so- called Green New Deal.

You know, this outrageous proposal would be a massive government takeover of every facet of our daily lives. From how we eat, to how we travel, this so-called Green New Deal calls to replace every building and car in America within 10 years. It would cost up to $93 trillion. That would cost every American household an extra $65,300 per year.

That might be crumbs in New York and California, but it is not in Kansas, where the average family income is $56,422.

If the crushing tax increase on every family isn't bad enough, the plan also calls for an eventual end to air travel.

As representative of the Air Capital of the World, clearly, this is alarming.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, aviation is responsible for 91,300 jobs in Kansas and has an economic impact on our state of $20.6 billion.

Grounding air travel would decimate jobs in Kansas, just as the entire Green New Deal would devastate the economy of our country.

The only thing this proposal accomplishes is exposing the priorities of politicians who are determined to increase taxes and expand government to impose their agenda on every family, farm, and business.

Kansans know how to protect our environment and quality of life without being told to do so by government officials in Washington, D.C., and I stand with them in opposing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Newhouse for leading this special order.

Madam Speaker, I was not present for Roll Call vote No. 44 on H.R. 676. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I was not present for Roll Call vote No. 45 on H.R. 328. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the first and most fundamental right guaranteed to every individual--the right to life.

This week marks the 46th anniversary since the tragic ruling in Roe v. Wade. In that time, more than 60 million lives have been lost to abortion.

That's 60 million babies who were never given the chance to fulfill their potential as a future doctor, farmer, artist, or Member of Congress.

Last year the House made significant progress to protect life through the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and by urging the Trump administration to update Title X guidelines so that tax dollars for family planning services don't go to abortion providers.

I was proud to help lead that effort in the House, but I know we can't stop there.

That's why I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans from Kansas and throughout our country who are arriving in Washington this week to stand for life.

We know that research has proven what pro-life Kansans have already known--that is life is precious and it begins at conception.

As a proud father of three and a Kansan, I stand in support of fellow Kansans and Americans who are a voice for the voiceless.

I want to thank Congressman Smith for organizing this Special Order.