Floor Statements

When I entered public service, I promised I would never forget those Americans who built this Nation. They educated my generation, passing on a better, stronger country than they inherited.

Nearly 50 years ago, Congress passed Medicare, and President Lyndon Johnson signed it, with former President Harry Truman and Bess Truman sitting at his side. America promised that if you worked hard, we would not forget you in your golden years. We promised that health care bills would not drag seniors into financial ruin.

The Republican budget breaks that promise. It tells our parents and grandparents to fend for themselves, and it ends the Medicare guarantee. The promise that I made, that this country made, and that I demand this Congress uphold, is that we treat seniors like national treasures and not national burdens. The Republican budget fails that promise to America's seniors.

I rise today in strong opposition to yet another lame, shortsighted extension of our surface transportation system.

I thank Nick Rahall and Peter DeFazio for their staunch support of a real transportation-jobs bill.

This kick-the-can-down-the-road extension fails--it fails--to make progress in rebuilding America just at the time when our construction season is starting off this year. Our States and our local governments need certainty to invest, to plan, to build America's infrastructure; and this ninth--yes, ninth--short-term extension only extends the uncertainty this Congress has repeatedly created.

In a bipartisan fashion, by a vote of 74 22--rare in the Senate these days--they passed a responsible 2-year, 2 million jobs bill that is a better path for the American people and the economy. This includes an estimated 36,500 jobs in my home State of Missouri. The construction sector and especially our building trades have been particularly hard- hit by this recession, with 1.9 million jobs lost at the depth of the recession. Currently, there are 1.4 million unemployed construction workers. Let's put them back to work.

I sit on the Transportation Committee where, 6 weeks ago, the Republican majority passed out a completely partisan transportation bill for the first time in history. Their bill would kill over a half a million jobs and cut investments in 45 States and in the District of Columbia, and it was dead on arrival in this House. So it is no surprise that here, 6 weeks later, we have not seen any action on the floor, because there is no support for their job-killing proposal. Now we're delaying again with yet another extension instead of taking up a true compromise passed by our colleagues in the Senate.

I was proud to be an original cosponsor when the Senate bill was introduced in the House as H.R. 14, and it's time the House take up that bipartisan bill. Let's pass it. Let's send it to the President.

Infrastructure is a national and urgent priority, and this body needs to start treating it that way. Infrastructure is one of the few areas where virtually everyone except the isolated, out-of-touch Republican majority agrees on what we need to do.

From the Chamber of Commerce to the AFL CIO to everyone's transportation leaders back home, let's pass this bipartisan bill. Let's send it to the President's desk before the current transportation programs expire. It will bring the certainty that State and local governments need, that our construction industry, that our building trades are yearning for, are hungry for. They are hungry to go back to work.

I call on my colleagues to reject yet another short-term extension and pass H.R. 14, a 2-year, 2 million jobs bill to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and put Americans back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize William H. Schneider, a World War II veteran and devoted family man.

Born on August 9, 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri, he lived in North St. Louis for his first 50 years until moving to Florissant, MO where he spent the next 30 years of his life.

The son of military parents, Mr. Schneider honorably served our country during World War II. While in the U.S. Army during WWII, Mr. Schneider was in the Philippines on a Navy ship that was present at the Japanese surrender. At the end of his service, he was honorably discharged.

He took his work ethic to Complete Auto Transit, which was later part of Ryder trucking, where he worked for almost 45 years. He worked a variety of jobs over the course of his career, oftentimes working overtime to provide for his family.

And it is his family that will be his greatest legacy. He is known as a devoted and loving husband to his widow, Helen, and his current wife, Nita. His five children, twelve grandchildren, and five great- grandchildren have each known him as a caring and dedicated family man.

It is with great pride that I get to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Schneider today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lemay Fire Protection District Chief Neil J. Svetanics, who is marking his 50th year of fire service in 2012.

Neil Svetanics was born in 1940 in the Water Tower area of North St. Louis. He left high school early to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged in 1960. Mr. Svetanics became a member of the St. Louis Fire Department in 1962, where he quickly rose through the ranks. He was named chief in 1986, becoming the youngest chief in the department's history and the first to hold a college degree.

Mr. Svetanics held the position of chief for over 13 years, becoming the third longest serving fire chief in the St. Louis Fire Department's storied history. Under his leadership, the Department established a City/County Mutual Aid Policy, promoted a record number of minorities to leadership positions, and hired the department's first women members.

Mr. Svetanics was selected by the International Association of Fire Chiefs as their 1998 ``Fire Chief of the Year,'' and he retired from his post the following year. Chief Svetanics also received the 2001 Lifetime Contribution to the St. Louis Fire Department Award. In 2002, Mr. Svetanics became the Chief of the Lemay Fire Protection District, a position which he still holds today. To date, Mr. Svetanics has dedicated over 50 years of service to fire departments in and around St. Louis, the majority in positions of great responsibility.

Mr. Svetanics has dedicated much of his life to serving the St. Louis community, and has been deservedly awarded numerous honors from various organizations ranging from the public, the not-for-profit, and private sectors.

Mr. Svetanics is the President of the St. Louis Firefighters Memorial Statue Fund, the Founder and past President of the Baden Neighborhood Improvement Association, former Chairman of the United Way of Greater St. Louis Government Division, President of the St. Florian Society, a former member of the Board of Directors at the American Red Cross, and a member of the board of the St. Louis Backstoppers, the Mathews-Dickey Boys' Club, the Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross.

Mr. Svetanics is celebrating another anniversary this year along with his wife, Judy Spreng. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary in January with their wonderful family--children Maureen, Katie, Amy, and Lisa, four sons-in-law, and eight grandchildren.

I thank Chief Svetanics for his service to his family, community, nation, and to his beloved firefighters all over the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Mr. Speaker, on this two year ``check up'' of the Affordable Care Act, I'd like to share with you some real life examples of how this important legislation is helping Missourians not only stay healthier personally, but improve the health of their small businesses as well.

Last week I took part in a workshop for small businesses, to help arm them with solid information on how the Act can help their bottom line. Lew Prince is a co-owner of Vintage Vinyl, a St. Louis record store. It's a landmark. He's been in business for some 30 years and he's always provided health insurance for his employees. BUT, he said for the first time EVER, his health care costs went down, went DOWN to the tune of 25 percent. With the money he saved, he was actually able to give out a few raises, and he's hired a couple of new people.

The Act has also made a difference for the Wells Family. Sharon Wells and her husband Russell have dealt with inordinate expense for his medicine for Parkinson's disease for years. Thanks to the donut hole coverage provided in the Affordable Care Act, Sharon tells me they have more money in the household budget now for groceries and gas, maybe even a movie from time to time.

Even though these are just two small examples, they contribute to the overall ripple effect of the profound difference this law is making in real people's lives all over the country. In closing, when it comes to helping Americans be more healthy, the Affordable Care Act is precisely what Americans needed. Let's not do anything to interrupt this healthy course of action.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of International Women's Day. For more than 100 years, this important day has recognized the critical roles and contributions women play worldwide. International Women's Day reminds us of how far we've come and of how far we still need to go in order to achieve gender equality worldwide.

Women continue to face serious challenges across our globe, particularly with access to health care, education, and economic opportunity. Women also are overwhelmingly the targets of human trafficking and gender-based violence. Today, women and girls are disproportionately burdened by extreme poverty, making up 70% of the world's one billion people who live off less than $1 per day.

Here at home, we celebrate March as Women's History Month. The focus this year is ``Women's Education--Women's Empowerment'' which clearly reflects the goals of furthering gender equality worldwide. And it is no coincidence that one leads to the other. When women and girls have access to educational opportunities, their subsequent empowerment allows families and entire communities to flourish. And evidence shows that when these untapped agents of change are empowered to engage in the political process, governments are more effective and responsive to the needs of their people.

For real progress in women's rights, we must take a comprehensive approach to combat all barriers to women's equality--physical, psychological, educational, economic, and cultural. Let's use this International Women's Day as an opportunity to reignite our commitment to gender equality here at home and around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Bosnian people as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina's independence.

As a founding member and cochairman of the Congressional Bosnian Caucus and having the distinct honor of representing a growing, vibrant community of Bosnian Americans in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the largest Bosnian American communities in the U.S., I'm pleased to recognize Bosnian Independence Day with my constituents and the people of Bosnia.

Yesterday, our caucus cochair, Representative Chris Smith, and I had a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss progress and continued challenges in Bosnia. I'm encouraged that the elected leaders have begun to do what is in the best interest of their country: to form a government, to begin to pass laws that will help put Bosnia on a path to membership in NATO and the European Union.

In the face of tremendous challenge, Bosnia has made great progress over the past 20 years, but there is much more to be done.

Yesterday, I urged Secretary Clinton to continue active U.S. involvement in the country and to strengthen U.S. support for the Bosnian people as they embark on a wide range of needed reforms.

I'm proud to represent thousands of Bosnians in the St. Louis region. It's with great pride that I continue to stand with them today and offer a hearty congratulations on the 20th anniversary of independence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring the important issue of earthquake awareness to the attention of the members of the House.

February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri. My district lies within the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the nation's most active earthquake zone east of the Rocky Mountains. Every year there are more than 200 small earthquakes in this region and there have been earthquakes as strong as magnitude 7.0

in the past. These natural disasters aren't predictable so we must remain vigilant in our preparation for and awareness of the hazards associated with earthquakes.

This month I had the opportunity to speak with high school students from my district about what they are doing to prepare themselves for an earthquake. On February 7th they joined other students from 414 Missouri schools in the 2012 Great Central US ShakeOut. We discussed how the students can prepare their schools and homes for an earthquake and they told me about their experience practicing an earthquake drill. The safety of our children is of the utmost importance and schools play a key role during disasters so when they are well prepared the whole community benefits.

The Saint Louis University Earthquake Center is a world leader in the field of earthquake seismology. I had the opportunity to tour this facility and to learn about the groundbreaking research they are doing. As part of this year's Earthquake Awareness Month, Saint Louis University hosted a seminar entitled ``Earthquakes: Mean Business'' that focused on disaster preparedness and business continuity planning. The St. Louis Science Center also hosted an Earthquake Awareness Day to introduce our citizens to the science behind earthquakes.

I applaud the citizens and businesses of the St. Louis region for their vigilance in preparing for earthquakes and I encourage our continued investment in studying and preparing for these potentially devastating natural events.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the start of Women's History Month, which starts tomorrow. This month gives us all the opportunity to recognize the important and glass ceiling-shattering work women across our country and around the world have done and continue to do. Despite the tremendous progress that has been made over the past century towards gender equality, more still needs to be done.

Over the last 14 months, we've seen the rights of women come under attack again and again in this body. Though I firmly believe in encouraging healthy debate, the attacks that we have seen are an affront to the rights and health of women around this country. That's why I was so heartened by the recent compromise on contraceptive care. While I have deep respect for the religious and moral beliefs of all Americans, I am pleased with this compromise because these guidelines increase access to contraceptive services for women while respecting religious liberty. It protects the beliefs and health of all American women and families.

In the spirit of Women's History Month, I ask that we put an end to this partisan bickering and focus on achieving better women's health.

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I proposed a simple challenge to my constituents back home in St. Louis. I said: Tell me your ideas for creating more jobs and economic opportunity in 2012, and I'll compile them and not only take them back to Washington but work to turn your ideas into action.

I want to thank the over 600 Missourians I heard from, each offering many of their own commonsense solutions to help our economy continue to grow.

I want to share their message on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today. Their message was a clear consensus that we need to invest in our infrastructure, make things here in the U.S., bring manufacturing jobs back from overseas, educate and train our workforce for 21st century opportunities, and work together for the good of the country instead of pulling our country apart at the seams.

My constituents in St. Louis are deeply concerned that our communities will be left behind in this new global economy if we don't act now, right now, without delay.

As Joseph C. expressed best:

Missouri is a great State, but I'm afraid it will be left

behind, and manufacturing jobs will go elsewhere.

Chris K., from St. Louis, sent me an email saying:

What would help my personal economic situation and those of

many others would be a greater investment in our Nation's

infrastructure.

Joseph P., from St. Louis, commented:

Investing in our infrastructure and educational systems

will not only create jobs but will also result in long-term

economic benefits for the entire Nation.

Karen M. said:

We need to realize how important good carpenters, plumbers,

electricians, bricklayers, secretaries, and caregivers are in

the long scheme of things. We need to encourage and applaud

these jobs.

As Kevin N. put it:

We need to invest in infrastructure for communications and

transportation because public infrastructure is the greatest

catalyst for economic development.

To create jobs, Diane M. said:

I have long thought that the unions and small businesses

that require special skills should provide apprentice

programs to students, which would give hope and possibility

through real skills to thousands of students who would not be

exposed to these trades otherwise.

And Christine A. echoed this sentiment by saying:

I believe it could be helpful to increase job training

opportunities in our high schools.

We need to pull together to create economic opportunities across this country and for the good of the country. Marilyn B. wrote to me:

Personally, I'm really frustrated with both sides of the

aisle not being willing to work together for the good of all.

As a Member of Congress, I pledge to work with my colleagues to see that these great ideas from America's heartland are developed further. By working together and reaching across the aisle, I'm confident we can grow jobs and economic opportunity across this country.

I look forward to using these commonsense ideas to build a blueprint for putting our economy back on track, to turn these great ideas into action.

Mr. Speaker, on March 1, Medicare physician payments will be slashed by 27 percent, badly impacting seniors' access to health care. We must act now to make sure that doesn't happen.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to speak to World War II veterans from Missouri who visited Washington to see the memorial to their service. They spoke to me about how, during their crisis, Americans pulled together to meet the great challenges of their time. That's the can-do attitude we need now. We should stop using the lives and health of our seniors as political bargaining chips.

Plain and simple, paying doctors for doing their job, keeping seniors' access to health care should not be a partisan issue. It should be an American value we can all rally around.

I call on my colleagues to work together to keep access to Medicare services strong. That's an American value.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the hard work of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

They recently celebrated their 175th anniversary of serving those in need.

Dedicated to a mission of unity and reconciliation, nonviolence and peacemaking, the Sisters have worked tirelessly to make the St. Louis community a better place.

Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate 175 years in the United States.

Having arrived from France in New Orleans in March 1836, the first six sisters traveled up the Mississippi River to reach St. Louis.

They spent some time learning English and then opened their first mission in Cahokia, Illinois, in April, 1836.

On September 12, 1836, they moved into a log cabin in Carondelet, a small village south of St. Louis.

Today, the Sisters continue their social justice work in the Carondelet neighborhood in South St. Louis City.

They serve in a variety places and work in an array of areas, such as health care, child care, deaf education, youth ministry and adult education.

Our community, state, and country are beneficiaries of the mission and work of the

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and I am proud to honor them and their work today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I also want to add my voice to encouraging our chairman and ranking member to continue to work together to find that common ground. I know they have worked on this, but there obviously is more work to be done, and I want to encourage that. It is the only way we are going to get things done in this House.

I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their work on the committee and on this bill. I also want to thank the bipartisan High-Performance Building Caucus that I've worked with over the last several years that has helped bring focus on more efficient management and technology for our built environment.

The amendment that I offer here tonight will ensure that the Federal Government makes better decisions in the construction or leasing of Federal facilities, decisions that save taxpayer dollars. The U.S. Federal Government manages a large inventory of approximately 429,000 buildings, with a total square footage of 3.34 billion worldwide.

As we know, buildings are resource intensive, accounting for 40 percent of primary energy use in the U.S., 12 percent of water consumption, and 60 percent of nonindustrial waste. Federal facilities account for 0.4 percent of the Nation's energy usage. With such a large energy footprint and related costs, it is only common sense that the Federal Government fully understand both the short- and long-term cost of the construction and lease for a facility.

My amendment ensures that future construction and leased projects reflect the best use of Federal dollars and the greatest value for taxpayers. My amendment does this by requiring the use of life-cycle cost analysis in the design or lease of a Federal building where the project is receiving at least 50 percent Federal funding. Life-cycle cost analysis is the most accurate method for assessing the total cost of facility ownership. It takes into account all costs of acquiring, owning, and disposing of a building or building system. It is a whole picture assessment of a project instead of only looking at the immediate upfront costs.

This would provide valuable insight into the real long-term costs of a facility and encourage the construction or lease of the facilities that provide the best results for the lowest overall cost.

The process of life-cycle analysis makes for sound fiscal policy and increases transparency and accountability while allowing our building planners to account for the full long-term costs of projects.

Life-cycle budgeting ensures that we make the best decisions and get the most value when it comes to our infrastructure. We know that it can be marginally more expensive to construct an energy efficient facility, but over the long term, the same facility saves money in energy and water costs that actually make the building a better investment.

My amendment will ensure that Federal agencies have a complete picture and understand ongoing budgetary obligations when considering construction or leasing of a facility. Agencies should use this tool to consider the total cost of ownership of their buildings, including long-term operating life-cycle costs.

This amendment requires Federal agencies to use life-cycle cost analysis of the overall spending on design, construction, operation, and maintenance to reflect the best use of agency funds.

I thank my colleagues for recognizing the importance of this issue, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank the gentleman for his remarks.

The ranking member has asked to speak for the remaining time, so I would yield that 1 minute to our ranking member, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, January 28 at noon, Iraq war veterans will be honored by a returning heroes parade in downtown St. Louis. This is significant not only because these war veterans deserve this welcome home, but because St. Louis is the first city in the Nation to hold such an event.

The organizers are simply called the January 28 Group, a grassroots organization which launched a social network

campaign to raise awareness and money to stage the parade and a veterans' resource event to follow. The January 28 Group is partnering with St. Louis-based veterans service organizations, including The Mission Continues, which works to help veterans transfer their military leadership skills to civilian life.

They say Missouri is the ``Show-Me'' State, but this time the compassionate and patriotic people of St. Louis are showing the Nation just how quickly you can mobilize to give back to those who have given so much to our Nation.

I salute you all, and wish you success for the returning heroes parade at noon this coming Saturday, January 28, in downtown St. Louis.

Mr. Speaker, last week, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta declared an end to the war in Iraq, fulfilling President Obama's pledge to bring the war to a responsible close. This marks an important milestone for the U.S., and it symbolizes our redefined relationship with a sovereign Iraq.

Thanks to the resilience and bravery of our soldiers and civilian personnel, all U.S. combat troops in Iraq will be home by the end of the year. I want to congratulate them on being able to share their holiday seasons together again.

We also honor the memory of lost heroes, and we renew our commitment to ensure that our new generation of veterans receives the services and care we promised and the veterans earned.

At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, our commitments to help veterans is more important than ever to ensure they successfully transition their talents here at home for the good of our economy and our country.

On behalf of the Missouri citizens I represent, I wish our brave troops and all their loved ones a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year home on American soil.