Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding.

I rise today to commemorate one of America's heroes, United States Army Sergeant Joseph P. Collette of Lancaster, Ohio.

Sergeant Collette gave his life in the service of our Nation on March 22, 2019, while serving in Afghanistan with the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group.

Serving with the United States Army was a goal for Sergeant Collette. On September 11, Sergeant Collette was only 11 years old, but on that tragic day he felt the call of service. It is that bravery, selflessness, and commitment that Sergeant Collette will be remembered for.

A man of many talents, he loved sharing his passion for cooking with others and challenging his friends to paintball matches and Pokemon battles.

He loved spending time outdoors, but he loved nothing more than spending time with his friends and family, and his legacy will live on in their memories.

As a brigadier general in the Ohio Army National Guard, I have been privileged to serve alongside men and women like Sergeant Collette. I can say without a doubt that Lancaster, Ohio, and our Nation is a better and safer place as a result of his service.

I am honored to celebrate his life and legacy, and my heart goes out to his entire family.

This country needs to recognize heroes like Joseph Collette, so I hope that we all will take a moment of silence to recognize the life of Joey Collette.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to honor and commemorate a husband, a father, a brother, a son, and a hero. United States Army Specialist Joseph P. Collette, of Lancaster, gave his life in the service of our nation on March 22, 2019.

At age 29, Specialist Collette was fulfilling a goal he had held for over a decade: to deploy with the United States Army. As his soulmate and wife, Caela, tells it, following the tragedy of September 11, her husband felt the call to serve. As his time with the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group was coming to an end, he desperately wanted to go on deployment.

It is that level of bravery, selflessness, and commitment for which Specialist Collette will be remembered by both his loved ones and community. He was a genuine, laid back, funny young man who was beloved by many.

A man of many special talents, he loved sharing his passion for cooking for others and challenging his friends in paintball matches and Pokemon battles. He loved spending time outdoors including running, snowboarding, and four-wheeling. But his priority in life was spending time with his friends and family.

Like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples created by Specialist Collette's life and work are far-reaching. His legacy will live on in the memories of those who knew him and loved him: his wife, Caela; his children; Blair and Cody Collette; step-children Lena and Aria Scott; his parents, Joey Collette, and Theresa Mecionis and step-father, Jim Wickline; his siblings; Anthony, Camille, and Nicholas; and the rest of his extended family and loved ones.

As a Brigadier General in the Ohio Army National Guard, I have had the distinct privilege to serve alongside outstanding men and women like Specialist Collette. I can say with absolute certainty that Lancaster, Ohio is undeniably a better place because of Specialist Collette, and our nation is a safer place because of his service. I am honored to celebrate his legacy, and I encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in extending deepest condolences to his family, and in honoring his supreme sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the life and legacy of one of Upper Arlington, Ohio's most distinguished citizens, a man who devoted his life to the service of others, Mr. Theodore Joseph ``Ted'' Staton. His commitment to good, ethical governance cannot be understated, and he made a lasting impact on my city, Upper Arlington.

An incredibly passionate and hardworking man, Mr. Staton valiantly offered his skills to Ohio serving as a City Manager for the City of Upper Arlington since 2011. He displayed strength and tenacity throughout his leadership positions on the Executive Board of the League of Women in Government, the Upper Arlington Community Foundation Board of Trustees, as the Chair of the Central Ohio Mayors and Managers Association, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Mr. Staton successfully led these organizations gracefully though both prosperous and challenging times. He continuously propelled Upper Arlington's community towards a bright and successful future.

To attempt to quantify the impact Mr. Staton made is impossible. He was a firm believer in the value of good, ethical governance. Due to his proven track record of these values, Mr. Staton was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Mentor Award from the International City/County Management Association; 2018 Upper Arlington Stewardship Award, and 2018 Ohio City Manager's Association Award for Career Achievement. His legacy will live on in the memories of those who knew him and loved him: his wife Carol; two sons, Paul and Bennet; and his extended family and friends.

As a dedicated public servant, community leader, family man, friend, and mentor Mr. Staton consistently seized upon new opportunities to enrich the lives of others. He enhanced the teamwork and collaboration with every organization he joined. Upper Arlington, Ohio is undeniably a better place because of Mr. Staton and the tremendous life of public service he lived, and I am honored to celebrate his legacy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's Fifteenth Congressional District and join with my colleague, Mr. Ruppersberger, to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

Since its inception in 1979, the National Association of Bond Lawyers has worked diligently to advance the integrity and knowledge of the municipal market. Through the education of its members and other public finance stakeholders, the Association has aided countless communities in finding creative financing opportunities to reach their goals.

As Co-Chairs of the House of Representatives Municipal Finance Caucus, we appreciate the Association's continued commitment to education and the expertise its Members are able to provide relating to legislation, regulations, and rulings affecting tax-exempt bonds and taxable bonds, as well as court and administrative proceedings. These bonds are a crucial funding source for the critical infrastructure that spans our nation, delivering essential services and uniting millions of Americans.

United by a common goal and working for the public good, the Association has been an important partner for Congress, industry partners, and federal regulators. Never straying from its core mission, education, the forum the Association provides has led to advancements in the field of public finance for the past four decades.

We wish to congratulate President Dee Wisor and the entire Executive Board, and the dedicated Members across the country, as they commemorate this milestone on February 5, 2019, and encourage our colleagues to join us in wishing the National Association of Bond Lawyers many more years of success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of Millersport, Ohio's most distinguished citizens, a man who continues to bring smiles to others, Mr. Donald G. Jewell.

An incredibly intelligent and hardworking man, Mr. Jewell valiantly offered his skills in service to our nation as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the United States Air Force. He earned the rank of Master Sergeant and received the Bronze Star during World War II. His commitment to his fellow soldiers cannot be understated, as he still reflects fondly on their success and dedication.

Mr. Jewell has been a fixture of our community since 1945. In that time, he has helped make Millersport a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. An important contributor to our local economy, he owned a gas station and managed the Midland Screw Factory. Moreover, from his time on the village council to the founding of the Sweet Corn Festival, he spent his days diligently working to improve the lives of his neighbors and bring smiles to their faces.

Most importantly, Mr. Jewell has built a wonderful and fulfilling life in Millersport with his late wife June by his side, surrounded by his son, Edwin; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

He is an exemplary citizen and Millersport is undeniably a better place because of Mr. Donald G. Jewell, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in wishing him a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the 70th anniversary of one of Ohio's premiere educational institutions: Ohio Christian University.

The true story of this University is growth. From its humble beginnings on East Ohio Street in Circleville in September of 1948, the University quickly grew beyond its location, and moved to its current, 40-acre home on U.S. Route 22. In recent years, that growth has continued, with adult degree programs offered online, and satellite campuses in Chillicothe, Columbus, Dublin, Lancaster, Washington Court House, and Wilmington.

While its consistent expansion is impressive, the most important ``growth'' is the growth of the students who attend Ohio Christian University. With a Christ-centered, biblically-based, ministry- motivated curriculum, University students grow into capable and well- rounded leaders who are ready and able to ``serve effectively in the church and society.''

As Ohio Christian University enters this new decade, there are already ambitious plans in place to continue its growth. From fostering ``an academic and community environment'' to preparing ``world-impact societal leaders,'' this is an institution that is not content with the status quo, and I applaud the continued efforts of Dr. Jon S. Kulaga, Dr. Hank Kelly, the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students.

Ohio Christian University is an essential thread in our Ohio tapestry, and I am grateful to have it as a committed partner in our community. I encourage my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ohio Christian University on its 70th anniversary, as well as wishing the entire community a happy Homecoming.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 2327, a bill originally introduced by Representative Ron DeSantis of Florida, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the birthday of one of Fairfield County, Ohio's most distinguished citizens, a man who continues to devote his life to bringing smiles to others, Mr. Nelson Lee Trimmer.

Mr. Trimmer has been a fixture of our community for a century. From his lifelong membership with the Trinity Evangelical United Brethren Church and his established career as a mechanist and small business owner of Millersport Garage, he has built a wonderful and fulfilling life in Millersport surrounded by his wife, Pauline, two children, Nelson and Pamela, their ten grandchildren, seventeen great- grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Beyond his career as a machinist, Mr. Trimmer holds a deep appreciation for antique cars, which he is always willing to share with others, as evidenced by his founding of a Hot Rod Club for local youth and his continued involvement with the Lancaster Old Car Club.

Perhaps what is most remarkable about Mr. Trimmer is his commitment to serving all those around him. As a member of the Army Air Corp, he served our nation in the Second World War, and as Mayor of Millersport, he spent his days diligently working to improve the lives of his neighbors. Moreover, there was never a need that went unnoticed by Mr. Trimmer. He dedicated his free time for over three decades as a volunteer member of the Millersport Fire Department and delighted local children as he and his beloved dog, Bootsy, drove the school bus.

Mr. Trimmer is a ray of sunshine who brings smiles to everyone he meets. Millersport is undeniably a better place because of Mr. Nelson Lee Trimmer, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in wishing him a very happy 100th birthday as he celebrates on September 1, 2018.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Bishop Irinej, from the Serbian Orthodox Church, for offering today's prayer.

We are at the 100-year anniversary of when President Woodrow Wilson raised the Serbian flag in a show of support for the Serbian people. That symbolic act of solidarity is remembered today, and I think it is really important.

Since 2006, my home State of Ohio has worked closely with the Serbian Armed Forces through the Ohio National Guard State Partnership Program. Soldiers from the Ohio National Guard and the Serbian Defense Forces have worked together on deployments and training. We have also worked together to construct schools, carry out humanitarian missions, and provide healthcare.

On this anniversary of the U.S.-Serbia cooperation, I look forward to another 100 years of friendship with Serbia, and Ohio stands ready to lead the way.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 6311, and more specifically, I rise to support bipartisan language to make flexible spending accounts flexible.

While 44 percent of Americans have access to flexible spending accounts, flexible spending accounts have not been flexible. There are two problems:

Under ObamaCare, flexible spending account contributions were capped at $2,650. And while the average American spends more than $5,700 in out-of-pocket healthcare costs, it is just not enough.

The second problem is flexible spending account rules make people use it or lose it at the end of the year, and they can't roll over their money. They have to spend it on things they don't need or they have to lose that money.

Our bipartisan solution solves those problems by doing two things:

First, it increases the limit on FSA accounts by a multiple of three to $7,950. And I did the math for the ranking member. That total would be, over 3 years, if you wanted to save $50 a week, you could accumulate $7,950. Obviously, that would be if you weren't using it, so it would probably take longer than that to accumulate that kind of money. But, again, that is well over the average of $5,700 of out-of- pocket expenses that the average American has.

And, by the way, while flexible spending accounts are accessible to people, one of the reasons people like them is they make out-of-pocket expenses more affordable for individuals because those contributions are pretax dollars.

The second thing our bipartisan language does is it allows the balance to be rolled over at the end of the year up to that $7,950 limit. The rollover provision keeps people from losing their money or making healthcare expenses that are wasteful at the end of the year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the flexible spending account language and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to recognize the bicentennial of Plain City, Ohio. Since Dr. Isaac Bigelow first made his way to Central Ohio from Pennsylvania, Plain City has exemplified many of our nation's core values.

In the early 1800s, the few residents of Pleasant Valley began to witness change and growth for their town. From a single log building on Post Road known as Travelers Inn and

two stores run by Dr. Bigelow himself, a truck line railroad eventually spurred sustainable and quick growth for Pleasant Valley, which officially became Plain City in 1871.

Moreover, from its foundation, Plain City has played an important role in American history, originally planted within the Virginia Military District to support veterans of the Revolutionary War. Today, there are over 500 veterans living and working in Plain City, all of whom have made tremendous sacrifices to preserve our freedoms.

For the past 200 years, the overwhelming characteristic of the people of Plain City is the compassion they hold for one another and their determination to do what is right and just. In the 19th century, residents worked diligently in support of the Underground Railroad. Today, the people of Plain City strive to create a ``family-oriented community that works cooperatively to promote outstanding quality of life, securing a sustainable environment for future generations while preserving [their] unique heritage and character.''

Today, Plain City remains a beautiful place to work, live, and raise a family. I am grateful for the leadership of the Village Council Members, Jody Carney, Kerri Ferguson, Sherry Heineman, Darren Lee, Shannon Pine, and John Rucker, Mayor Darrin Lane and all of the neighbors and friends who have maintained Plain City's beauty and history.

I am honored to represent this county, where community, integrity, and freedom are celebrated not just in recognition of the 200th anniversary of its founding, but each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 899, the Veterans Providing Healthcare Transition Improvement Act.

I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), for helping me, being the lead Democrat on this. This is bipartisan and bicameral legislation. Senator Hirono is the sponsor in the Senate. We are the sponsors in the House.

But, Mr. Speaker, it is great to have a veteran in the chair today. Mr. Speaker, as a brigadier general in the Ohio Army National Guard, I know firsthand the incredible sacrifices that our veterans have made in the service of our country. We owe it to them to provide them time when they come home to deal with the things they need to work on, their medical and other conditions.

In 2015, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act was signed into law, which was great. It gave sick leave to people that are newly hired Federal employees, rather than waiting on that leave to accrue, if they had a disability rating, a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent of more. Unfortunately, that bill did not extend those benefits to title 38 employees.

Those are VA employees, like physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists. They are healthcare providers themselves. It is no small number of employees. In fact, as we sit here, there are over 14,000 vacancies in title 38 jobs. That means up to 14,000 people can benefit from this bill.

Again, it is bipartisan. It is a simple change that allows these title 38 veteran employees to get leave to deal with their wounded warrior conditions rather than waiting for that leave to accrue over time. It is a bipartisan bill. I thank Mr. Takano for that.

A lot of veteran organizations have supported it: the National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists, the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, the American Legion, the VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Association of the United States Navy, American Federation of Government Employees, National Federation of Federal Employees, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, AMVETS, and the Federal Managers Association.

I thank the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the gentleman from North Carolina, the gentleman from Maryland, and the chairman from South Carolina for their hard work on this. I also want to thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) for their expertise as they worked through this bill. I thank the sponsors of the Senate legislation, and I thank Representative Takano for joining me in this important effort.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Indiana, the Chair of the House Ethics Committee, for putting together this Special Order so we can talk about what is going on with tax reform.

Mr. Speaker, the numbers don't lie. Tax reform is growing our economy and providing more opportunities for all Americans. It has been just over 6 months since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, and we are already seeing results.

First and foremost, our economy is growing at nearly 4 percent, a remarkable number, despite the Congressional Budget Office's pessimistic prediction of only 1.9 percent growth.

When I started in Congress in 2011, unemployment was 9 percent. Due largely to our tax reform and regulatory reform, our business community is now creating jobs. Unemployment has fallen to 3.8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an 18-year low.

Moreover, not only are businesses hiring, but they are reinvesting in their employees. They are giving Americans more money in their pocket. In fact, 4 million workers and counting have received bonuses and seen more money sent to their 401(k)s, and 90 percent of Americans have more money in their paychecks as a result of tax reform.

I am seeing the benefits across my district, with companies such as Nationwide Insurance, R+L Carriers, eCycle, and Fifth Third Bank giving bonuses, pay raises, and raising contributions to retirement.

These benefits are real and make a tangible difference for hardworking families in the 15th District and it has given them an opportunity to reinvest in their future.

The economy is booming, and people are noticing. Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high. We are seeing wage growth, a pay raise for the American worker, for many of them for the first time in 10 years.

We were also told that the tax bill would hurt the housing market; however, home prices are surging. According to the S&P, the home price index has increased 6.5 percent.

The statistics and stories go on and on, but, Mr. Speaker, you just can't deny the numbers. Tax reform is working for the 15th District, it is working for the State of Ohio, and it is working for America.

What I have heard from some of my constituents: Carolyn in Grover City, who is a budding entrepreneur, is using her tax cut to start a small business. Tamela in Amanda says that it just helps her breathe easier having a little extra money in her pocket, knowing that the government is taking a little bit smaller bite. She has got a little bit more money to make things balance.

It has only been 6 months since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act took effect, and I look forward to seeing how Ohioans and Americans continue to benefit.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman for all of his work to help with this bill.

I speak today on behalf of myself and my colleague Mr. Engel in support of our evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction bill, H.R. 5272.

The opioid epidemic is hurting communities all across this country. In 2016, 174 Americans overdosed per day. Ohio had the second highest death rate in the Nation. Overdoses killed 4,329 people in Ohio, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

For the past 5 years, I have held a roundtable on drugs and opioids in my district with stakeholders, including law enforcement, treatment professionals, government officials, and community leaders from all around. A common concern I have heard in these roundtables and that I hear consistently in my district is that treatment programs exist, but many are not delivering on their promise.

Healthcare professionals and those on the front lines have continuously told me about the lack of evidence-based treatment for those suffering from addiction and substance use disorders, and that can lead to unsuccessful results.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40 and 60 percent of individuals who suffer from drug addiction are known to relapse. It is often estimated that the rehabilitation programs are only about 30 percent effective, although nobody knows the true number. That is why Representative Eliot Engel and I have introduced bipartisan legislation to require grants from the Department of Health and Human Services to treat mental health and substance abuse be awarded to entities that are able to demonstrate that they use evidence-based practices.

Throughout the process of pushing for this, I had conversations with SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about what they have been doing under the 21st Century Cures Act to promote and enhance evidence-based practices.

The 21st Century Cures Act created a National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory under SAMHSA and tasked it with promoting evidence-based practices through leadership and coordination, data collection, and reviews of current programs and activities. The policy lab has set out to begin this monumental task, and our legislation will make it even better.

Working with the majority and the minority committees' staffs on the Energy and Commerce Committee and working with SAMHSA, Representative Engel and I brought forward a bipartisan amendment to our original bill which, instead of placing a requirement on funds, requires SAMHSA to issue guidance to grantees that will help promote funding of evidence- based practices through the policy lab. I think this language will be positive.

It further requires SAMHSA to issue guidance on how to best replicate promising and effective treatments and programs so that future programs and grant applications can take advantage of the lessons learned and best practices.

More importantly, SAMHSA must issue guidance to grantees on how to articulate their rationale for why they should receive Federal funds. I think putting this responsibility on the shoulders of grantees will ensure that more local treatment programs are looking at medical journals and SAMHSA's own policy laboratory for evidence-based practices that will make our treatment more effective.

As I have talked to people affected by the opioid epidemic at our roundtables and people who have come into my office, too many of them have been let down by treatment programs that didn't work. People want their lives back. They want their jobs back. They want their families back. They want their future back. This bill that Representative Engel and I have put together will help them in that journey.

If we can take treatment programs and take them from 30 percent effective to even 50 percent effective, millions of Americans will get their lives back, get their families back, and get their jobs back.

This bill, I think, is a moral imperative, and I want to thank Congressman Engel. I want to thank the majority and minority staffs from the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work. I want to especially thank the chairman for his work. I also want to thank SAMHSA. They were a pleasure to work with through this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill will make a big difference in the lives of Americans and help make sure that those impacted by the opioid epidemic and other drug addiction will get treatment that gives them their lives back.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the life and legacy of one of London, Ohio's most distinguished citizens, a man who devoted his life to the service of others, Mr. David Eades.

Mr. Eades nobly and proudly served his community as an elected official for the majority of his life, first as a city councilman for a decade, then as the city's longest-serving mayor, retiring after 24 years.

To attempt to quantify Mr. Eades' impact is impossible. He shepherded a period of tremendous growth for London, as the population increased by over 2,000 citizens, and he always fought for what he believed was best for his neighbors. Known to spar with the city council, he pushed for major infrastructure reforms that eased daily life for the citizens of London, and helped to secure major grants to improve residential housing in the city. He had big ideas and never shied away from the work that might be required to bring them to fruition.

Like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples created by Mr. Eades' life and work are far-reaching. His legacy will live on in the memories of those who knew him and loved him: his children, Greg and his wife Barb, Marc, Amber and her husband Lawrence, and Megan; his eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and the rest of his extended family.

London, Ohio is undeniably a better place because of Mr. David G. Eades and the tremendous life of public service he lived, and I am honored to celebrate his legacy.