Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to recognize the hard work and success of Mr. Thomas Anders, Miss Rebekah Steelman, and Mr. Blake Reeves. These three young people recently represented Lancaster High School and our community in a statewide competition hosted by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Their dedication and skill earned them first place in Entrepreneurship and the opportunity to compete in the national competition this June.

Mr. Anders, Miss Steelman, and Mr. Reeves displayed impressive planning and design capabilities in their project: developing a new restaurant. From the floor plan and the menu, to licensing and local laws, no detail was overlooked. Couple their meticulous planning with their vision and creativity, and it is easy to see how they surpassed their competitors.

The success of these students showcases the importance of ensuring all students have access to enriching educational experiences that maximize individual achievement and potential. I want to thank Mr. Anders, Miss Steelman, and Mr. Reeves, as well as all those involved in FCCLA, for demonstrating the value in bridging the gap between school and the workforce.

In addition to their prize and the opportunity to compete against students from across the nation, Mr. Anders, Miss Steelman, and Mr. Reeves have each been awarded a scholarship towards their studies at Sullivan University in the fall. I am confident that their entrepreneurial skills will be put to good use in all future endeavors, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish.

I am honored to represent such young, hardworking, and zealous students in the U.S. House of Representatives. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Thomas Anders, Miss Rebekah Steelman, and Mr. Blake Reeves, and wishing them the best of luck in their upcoming competition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the incredible contributions of international students at our colleges and universities.

During this time of year, students all over the United States and the world are beginning to make decisions about where they will attend college. As they begin to make these decisions, I would like to express my support for international students, and the value they add to our institutions of higher education, and our country as a whole.

Nationwide, only 2 percent of U.S. students study abroad every year. This makes it even more important our colleges and universities have a diverse student body, so our students can learn about different cultures.

In my district, there are nearly 1,500 international students enrolled in both the undergraduate and graduate level at Ohio University, and over 6,000 at The Ohio State University. These students contribute to a wide variety of our academic programs, including STEM subjects. Moreover, when they return home, they become informal ambassadors when sharing their positive experiences in our country.

I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the incredible value international students add to our country.

Mr. Speaker, as co-chairman of the House Civility and Respect Caucus, I want to talk about something that people aren't talking about today.

There is a movement called the walk up movement, where a lot of kids around this country are taking action. They are walking up to the kid who sits alone and asking him to join their group. They are walking up to the kid who never has a voluntary partner and asking them to be the partner. They are walking up to teachers and saying, ``thank you.'' They are walking up to people and just being nice.

Civility and respect is for everyone. It makes a difference in our lives. There are a lot of people recognizing a lot of things today, but I just want to recognize, today, that the walk up movement is constructive, it is helpful, and it is going to change people for the better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to recognize the centennial of Upper Arlington, Ohio. Since King and Ben Thompson formed the Upper Arlington Company and purchased the original 840 acres, Upper Arlington has been a hub of activity in Central Ohio, reminding us of much of our nation's history and entrepreneurial spirit.

In 1913, the Thompson brothers saw the value of the Country Club District--as it was originally named--and believed it to be the ideal location for a residential community. The brothers were not alone in their assessment, and their efforts were temporarily halted in 1916 when the National Guard employed the area as a training camp, Camp Willis. Despite this, they persisted, and the village was incorporated in March of 1918.

Following its incorporation and based on its strategic location east of Columbus, the area grew rapidly in its earliest years. In the 1920s, Upper Arlington reaffirmed its commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit, and the Mallway business district was developed. Professional office spaces and retail businesses sprung up along Upper Arlington Avenue.

Today, Upper Arlington remains a wonderful place to work, live, and raise a family. I am grateful for the leadership of Mayor Kip Greenhill, the Members of the City Council, and all of the neighbors and friends who have maintained Upper Arlington's strong commitment to community.

I am honored to represent this city, where the core values of our nation are exemplified. This is a place with a Cherished Past and a Golden Future, and I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the centennial of Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Lancaster, Ohio.

From its founding in 1918 in the parlor of the New Martens Hotel, countless members of our Lancaster community have been called by the Club's motto ``Service above Self,'' to spread goodwill to their neighbors. The impact of this organization throughout the 15th District is immeasurable; like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples are far- reaching.

Over the past century, the Lancaster Rotary Club has been involved in numerous initiatives and projects benefitting not only their community, but the furthest corners of the globe. From supporting local students with a scholarship fund that honors the late Dr. Jacob Sims, to fundraising for PolioPlus and supporting the development of Operation Smile, the Lancaster Rotary Club has made the Fairfield County community and the world a better place.

Today, the Lancaster Rotary Club works to foster cultural understanding and bring people together. Each year, the Rotary hosts and helps to subsidize foreign exchange students who attend Lancaster area high schools, and promotes Group Study Exchanges between international Rotary Districts. I am extremely grateful to all those involved for their continued efforts.

Again, I wish to congratulate President David Uhl and the entire Lancaster Rotary Club upon this historic milestone, and convey my most sincere appreciation for their ability to place ``Service above Self.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4296, sponsored by my colleague Blaine Luetkemeyer. This bipartisan bill makes important corrections in the bank capital requirements for operational risk. Under the legislation, regulators would continue to be able to consider the bank's operational risk, but would do so in a forward- looking manner.

Currently, financial institutions are required to hold risk-based capital, even for discontinued activities and products. Accounting and the capital markets often use the concept of pro forma financials, which means you consider the ongoing operations, or the way that it would look if it looks like it is today, going forward. This bill would institute that same approach for regulators to use pro forma operational risk, so they wouldn't have to continue to charge a capital charge on operations that have been discontinued.

I think the chairman made a great comment about you don't buy home insurance on a home you have already sold. My colleague, Mr. Luetkemeyer,

during the markup of this bill, talked about how the Basel Committee has revised this specific capital requirement several times, but it is still a work in progress. This legislation is just a commonsense change to make sure that banks are not charged capital charges against things that they aren't doing anymore.

This approach will free up capital that is needlessly on the sidelines and put it back in reach of America's job creators. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4296.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the career and accomplishments of Mr. Clarence Page, as he receives the prestigious W.M. Kiplinger Distinguished Contributions to Journalism Award from the National Press Foundation.

For fifty years, Mr. Page has been a consistent and authentic voice for our nation, and has earned the respect of his peers and his audiences as a reporter, editor, syndicated columnist, author, and commentator.

Born in Dayton and raised in Middletown, Mr. Page found his passion early in life. He began working as a freelance writer and photographer for the Middletown Journal and the Cincinnati Enquirer when he was just seventeen years old. His work propelled him to Athens in order to pursue a bachelor of science

in journalism at Ohio University, and his alma mater named him Alumnus of the Year in 2015.

The accolades of Mr. Page hardly stop there. In 1972, he was serving as a reporter and assistant editor for the Chicago Tribune and participated in a Task Force series on vote fraud that earned a Pulitzer Prize. His work was again honored with a Pulitzer Prize in 1989, this time, for Commentary.

Mr. Page's contributions to our nation are immeasurable. Tackling issues from race to vote fraud, he has never shied away from the difficult stories. Rather, he has approached each with ``good humor and humility,'' as the National Press Foundation astutely stated.

He is incredibly deserving of this honor, and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Clarence Page, and thank him for his unwavering commitment to the free press and the truth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to recognize the bicentennial of Perry County, Ohio. Since German settlers first made their way to Southeastern Ohio from Pennsylvania, Perry County has exemplified many of our nation's core values.

From its foundation, Perry County has preserved our proud tradition of military service, its first residents choosing to name the area for Oliver H. Perry, a hero of the War of 1812. Today, there are over 2,700 veterans living in Perry County, all of whom have made tremendous sacrifices to preserve our freedoms.

For the past 200 years, the overwhelming characteristic of the people of Perry County is the compassion they hold for one another and their determination to do what is right and just. In the 191h century, residents worked diligently in support of the Underground Railroad. Today, the people of Perry County refuse to have their communities destroyed by the opioid epidemic, and are uniting to support their neighbors and find paths to healthy, productive lives.

Much like the kindness of its citizens, the natural beauty of Perry County is unparalleled. From the picturesque landmark of Buckeye Lake, to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, there is a steep appreciation for the scenic landscape of the County, as described in Clement L. Martzolff's poem, ``The Beauty of Our Hills.''

There is beauty in these hills of ours for him with eyes to

see;

There is beauty smiling at us from the meadows broad and

free;

There is beauty in the woodlands; there is beauty 'long the

brooks;

There's beauty in the violet light as it gleams through leafy

nooks.

And a beauty out of heaven over all the landscape rills

When the sun shines down upon these Perry county hills.

Today, Perry County remains a beautiful place to work, live, and raise a family. I am grateful for the leadership of the County Commissioners, James O'Brien, Ben Carpenter, and Dave Freriks, and all of the neighbors and friends who have maintained Perry County's beauty and history.

I am honored to represent this county, where community, faith, 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 on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Chillicothe, Ohio.

From its founding at the Clinton House Drug Store in 1917, countless members of our Chillicothe community have been called by the Club's motto ``Service above Self,'' and desired to spread goodwill to their neighbors.

The Club initially focused its energy on supporting the efforts surrounding World War I, such as the sale of Liberty Bonds, but soon was able to expand its efforts to improve other communities. In the early 1920s, the Chillicothe Rotary Club was essential in installing clubs in Ironton, Portsmouth, Washington Court House, Wellston, Circleville, Jackson, Lancaster, Logan, Nelsonville, and Greenfield. The impact of this organization throughout the 15th District is immeasurable; like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples are far- reaching.

Over the past century, the Chillicothe Rotary Club has been involved in numerous initiatives and projects benefitting their community. From purchasing books for the Chillicothe Public Library in the 1940s, to supporting the building of a YMCA facility in the 1960s, fundraising for PolioPlus in the 1980s, and building a handicap accessible shelter house in the 2000s, the Chillicothe Rotary Club has made our Southern Ohio community a better place.

Today, the Chillicothe Rotary Club hosts an annual Pancake Day, supports students and advisors involved with Junior Achievement of Ross County, and provides many scholarships to area youth. I am extremely grateful to have all those involved for their continued efforts.

Again, I wish to congratulate President John O'Connor and the entire Chillicothe Rotary Club upon this historic milestone, and convey my most sincere appreciation for their ability to place ``Service above Self.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the career of Ms. Elaine Roberts, as she retires from service as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

For over a decade, Ms. Roberts has served as the first-ever CEO of a combined aviation authority. She was named to the newly-created position in January of 2003, and has utilized her experience as an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.), and the past Chair of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

Ms. Roberts' leadership has guided the Authority during a period of expansive growth, including the merger of two airport authorities, more than one billion dollars in airport infrastructure development, and historic improvements at the John Glenn Columbus and the Rickenbacker International Airport facilities.

Ms. Roberts is a true coalition-builder. She successfully brought stakeholders across the federal, state, and local levels, along with the private sector, to develop the Rickenbacker Intermodal Facility. Her efforts to transform Rickenbacker into a leading center for trade led to her nomination and selection as a 2015 White House Champion of Change in Transportation.

Her contributions to the Central Ohio community and local economy are immeasurable. International and domestic freight operations--served by rail, highways, and international activation--helped to provide a livelihood for over 20,000 residents in the region.

Ms. Roberts will be missed by her colleagues and fellow aviation executives, but I join the Ohio delegation in wishing her all the best as she begins a new chapter in her life and pursues future endeavors. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ms. Elaine Roberts on her invaluable service to the residents of Ohio, and the aviation industry at large.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for everything he is doing to lead this bill on the floor today. I would like to also thank the ranking member from Minnesota for his good-faith effort and his work. We worked in a collaborative way to address his concerns.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank my colleague from Columbus, Joyce Beatty; and my other colleague from Columbus, Pat Tiberi, for their work in a bipartisan fashion for making this bill better, helping this bill pass the House. I hope we can get it passed in the Senate here shortly as well.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak today in support of the bill that will designate the National Veterans Memorial and Museum being built in Columbus, Ohio, as America's National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum will serve as a civic landmark to honor, connect, inspire, and educate all Americans about the service and sacrifice of our Nation's 22 million veterans. It will be the only public museum of its kind that exists for the exclusive role of sharing the experiences of veterans across all eras, conflicts, and branches of military service.

You might ask: Why would we want to do this in Columbus, Ohio?

Well, first and foremost, Ohio has the sixth largest veterans population in the United States, and it is easily accessible to almost anyone in the United States. We are within a 10-hour's drive of almost 60 percent of the veterans in the United States.

I believe that it is going to be a great opportunity to have not everything in Washington, D.C., but have it out in the rest of the country.

Ohio is a great place of military history. Ohio was recently selected to be the future home of the United States Veterans Affairs National Archives in Dayton, and that will make sure that military records dating back to the Revolutionary War are kept there.

Ohio is the birthplace of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and that is one of the earliest adopted veterans service organizations.

This museum will also be, and is, supported by veterans service organizations around the country, and we want to thank them for that.

A lot of veterans have worked hard to make that happen. For example, Colonel Tom Moe, a Vietnam veteran and a POW who flew 85 missions, is leading Veterans' Outreach for the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and he is part of the Veterans' Advisory Committee working closely with the VSOs across the country to make sure this museum is truly a national reflection of veterans and their stories.

Additionally, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation is managing this project. They are a 501(c)(3) that will operate, fund, and manage the museum, led by a national board of directors, including veterans, veterans service organizations, and the families of America's veterans. This 501(c)(3)'s mission will remain focused on ensuring that the museum conveys the reverence owed to our veterans of yesterday and today, as well as tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Roe for his leadership in this legislation and allowing this to go through regular order through the Veterans' Affairs Committee. There were hearings. It was a collaborative process, and we worked to address some issues from the other side of the aisle. We worked in a good-faith effort.

I think we came up with a good solution that ensures that this museum will have the highest standards and will be representative of the national designation in a way that we can all be proud of.

I am convinced that both the minority and majority staff wanted to make this museum the greatest it can be, and I want to thank them for all their efforts.

We were able to hear from VSOs testifying in support of this museum that included The American Legion, the VFW, the Paralyzed Veterans of America. I believe that through their testimony and our work, there was a lot of great information that was exchanged, and we are excited to move forward with the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

One last point is that this museum was funded with private donations. It requires no Federal funding to open the doors. I believe that is another competitive advantage.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz, Chairman Bilirakis, the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and, most importantly, my co-lead and colleague on this effort, Joyce Beatty and Pat Tiberi from Columbus.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 2434, the College Transparency Act. I want to thank my good friend from Michigan, Congressman Mitchell, for his leadership and bipartisan work on this very important bill.

This time of year, parents and students are beginning to make important decisions about higher education for the next school year.

Unfortunately, there is little information available about what can be expected from the large investment in a college or a university. This legislation will enable students and families to make informed choices about their education after high school.

The College Transparency Act will provide actionable, customizable information for students and families as they consider college and universities by accurately reporting on student outcomes, such as enrollment, completion, and postcollege success across colleges and majors.

Most importantly, this information will tell students how other prospective students have succeeded at an institution and help point them toward schools best suited for their unique needs and desired outcomes.

The current college reporting system is overly burdensome on institutions, yet it provides little practical information for students and families due to significant gaps in college data reporting.

Additionally, the data collected only reports graduation rates for students who begin as full-time students and finish at the same institution, leaving out successes of part-time students and

any student who transfers and completes a degree at an institution other than where they started. With more than half of bachelor's degree recipients attending more than one school and nearly two-thirds of community college students starting part-time, we have to ensure that these students count.

One example of this impact from my alma mater, The Ohio State University, is a veteran named Tami. Tami returned to school to complete her social work degree after her military service. She completed an associate of arts degree at Columbus State, a community college, and transferred and eventually graduated with a social work degree from The Ohio State University. She had a 3.9 grade point average in the classroom and excelled in her two-semester field placement at the university's Office of Military and Veterans Services.

Under this system, Tami's success story would not count toward Ohio State success. Under the new system, it will. Today, the system would not count Tami because she started at one school and transferred to another school. Under the legislation that Mr. Mitchell is working on and that I am talking about today, Tami would count again.

We need to make people count again. Tami served our country. Tami got out of the military, came back, went to school part-time, then transferred schools, went to school full-time, and completed her practical experience. Under the current reporting system, Tami doesn't count.

Let's fix that. That is what this bill would do. Under the updated system, institutions would securely report privacy-protected student level data to the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES. NCES would be responsible for presenting summary information on a user- friendly website for students and families, while securely storing student information.

This legislation will help countless students and families make better decisions about where to go for higher education, where they should attend.

I want to thank Congressman Mitchell and Congressman Polis for introducing this important, bipartisan legislation that will help so many students and families, students like Tami.

I hope we can roll up our sleeves, work together, and get this bill passed. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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 Clinton County's most distinguished citizens, a woman who devoted her life to the service of others, Ms. Virgene Webb Peterson.

Born in 1924, Ms. Peterson spent nearly all 93 of her years working to improve the lives of her Clinton County neighbors by undertaking one of the most noble of all professions: teaching children. From the onset of her career at Kingman Township School in 1943, to her retirement from Denver Place in 1993, thousands of students passed through her classroom, and each one left motivated by Ms. Peterson's love of learning.

To attempt to quantify Ms. Peterson's impact is impossible. She has inspired generations of engaged citizens with her example of kindness, stewardship, and civic participation. In addition to being one of the longest-serving teachers in the State of Ohio, she volunteered her time and talents to countless organizations including the Leadership Clinton Youth Collaborative, Chester Friends Meeting, the Clinton County Retired Teachers Association, the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, the Mt. Pleasant Grange, Young Mother's Club, Progress Club, and Turning the Corner.

Like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples created by Ms. Peterson's life and work are far-reaching. Her legacy will live on in the memories of those who knew her and loved her: her son, Jay, and daughter, Bunny, and their spouses, Cindy and Ed; her grandchildren, Adam, Maggie, Heath, Amanda, and Curt; her greatgrandchildren, Owen, Ava, and Aubrie; and the rest of her extended family.

Clinton County is undeniably a better place because of Ms. Virgene Webb Peterson, and I am honored to celebrate her life and legacy.

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment would transfer funding for the Private Enforcement Initiative at HUD to the Administrative Enforcement Initiative. The amendment does not change the top line appropriation.

I believe the Fair Housing Act must be strongly enforced, and I believe this is best accomplished by strengthening HUD's Administrative Enforcement Initiative and enhancing the role of State and local agencies in finding and punishing bad actors.

The Private Enforcement Initiative has been abused by some nonprofits that are more interested in winning attorneys' fees than finding and punishing bad actors. The cost of these frivolous lawsuits ultimately is transferred onto low- and middle-income Americans in the form of more expensive rent and housing, worsening our country's affordable housing crisis.

I don't believe this is fair or what was intended under the Fair Housing Act. I believe there is a better way to more strongly and effectively enforce fair housing protections, a similar amendment passed 2 years ago, and I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, in some jurisdictions there are many abuses. ``60 Minutes'' had a great story about this. Other media outlets have featured the abuses as well.

The gentleman argues that, gee, we can't do this in the appropriations process. We do limitation amendments every day. Limitation amendments are germane and effective controls that we have in place and we are allowed to put in place on these spending programs.

I simply believe that the administrative enforcement initiative is more effective and will use the money to better help low- and moderate- income Americans.

I disagree with the gentleman, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I would direct the gentleman, Mr. Chairman, to a GAO report on this very program that talks about these abuses, and I hope he takes a serious look at it.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of an incredible leader from my home State of Ohio but also for the United States: Congressman Ralph Regula. He was a teacher, a patriot, and a veteran. He served during World War II in the United States Navy. He had been a schoolteacher and a school principal, and he devoted his life to public service.

His career in government began with service in the Ohio house of representatives and the Ohio senate before he came to Congress in 1972. For nearly four decades in Congress, Congressman Regula became known as a leader who was willing to reach across the aisle to get things done-- to compromise--both on Capitol Hill and with the White House. He worked to pass legislation that helped his district and the American people.

His spirit of bipartisanship carried throughout his career when he remained an outspoken advocate, even in his retirement, for bipartisanship. He was truly an example of how to get things done.

Through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, he served as an important advocate for Ohio, including funding for the Cleveland Clinic and support for the Great Lakes. He was the quintessential example of what it means to be a public servant.

Mr. Speaker, my thoughts go out to his wife, Mary, and the rest of his family.