Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, rise today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battles at the River Raisin and pay tribute to the members of the United States Armed Forces who died during this conflict. For six days in January of 1813, U.S. soldiers fought against British forces for control of Michigan and the lower Great Lakes in a town formerly called Frenchtown, now known as Monroe.

The battle was the largest ever fought on Michigan soil. Out of more than 900 members of the United States Armed forces who fought in it, only 33 escaped death or capture. So many lives were lost that ``Remember the Raisin'' became the galvanizing battle cry for the remainder of the War.

The battlefield is a Michigan State Historic Site and has been placed on the National Register of historic places. In October 2010, the River Raisin Battlefield became part of the National Park System and remains the only National Battlefield Park representing the War of 1812.

Today I am introducing a resolution to commemorate the bicentennial of the Battles of River Raisin and to thank those who work so hard to preserve the significance of the battles for future generations. The collaborative efforts of the Monroe County Historical Society and Commission, the City of Monroe, the staff of the National Park Service and the Battlefield Visitor Center will assuredly result in a memorable remembrance of the anniversary this coming weekend.

I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battles of River Raisin and recognize those who gave their lives fighting for our country.

Article I, section 2:

``The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.''

Mr. Speaker, as the Representative of a district that recorded more than $2 billion in exports last year, I know full well the significance of expanding market access for American companies and ensuring that our businesses are competing on a level playing field. That's why I believe it's important to support passage of H.R. 6156, which will grant permanent normal trade relations to Russia.

This past August, Russia joined the World Trade Organization, giving its members full access to Russia's rapidly growing market, reduced tariffs, and ensured transparency when implementing trade measures. However, while foreign competitors are currently benefiting, the U.S. will not receive any of these benefits until Congress authorizes the President to grant Russia permanent normal trade relations. Simply put, American companies, workers, and farmers are being put at a competitive disadvantage.

Last year, my home State of Michigan exported $225 million worth of goods to Russia, despite many of its best products facing tough competition from foreign competitors. With this agreement in place, farmers and producers in my district will be assured of more predictable market access for their crops and agricultural goods, while manufacturers will enjoy reduced tariff rates for Michigan-made vehicles and equipment.

As a World Trade Organization member, Russia has agreed to comply with the rule of law. Though these reforms won't happen overnight, Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization requires their compliance with all of the organization's rules and duties. This includes addressing discriminatory practices, enforcing intellectual property rights, and increasing transparency. If it does not comply, members can enforce them through dispute mechanisms.

Of further importance, this legislation includes critical human rights provisions which will hold foreign officials accountable for gross human rights abuses and prevent them from entering the U.S. or accessing our financial systems.

House Republicans have worked tirelessly during the 112th Congress to advance pro-growth legislation which provides greater certainty for American companies and helps our Nation's businesses hire more American workers. We've made great gains in advancing trade interests for the U.S. and promoting new market opportunities for our companies.

An ambitious trade agenda must continue for us to successfully lower the unemployment rate and restore our place as the global economic leader, and I'm glad we have the opportunity to pass another part of that plan today. If we're going to jump-start our economy and get Americans back to work, we have to find ways to increase global market access for American companies and to advance economic freedom.

I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6371) to amend title 40, United States Code, to transfer certain functions from the General Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6371.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The bill before us will take a small yet important step toward greater efficiency in Federal construction contracting. For more than 80 years, Federal contractors have been required to pay workers the locally prevailing wage. Additionally, since 1961, those same workers have been entitled to one and a half times their basic rate of pay for every hour worked that exceeds 40 hours per week.

While the Department of Labor is obligated to enforce these laws, the Government Accountability Office has long been responsible for processing claims of workers being denied their appropriate wages. If a Labor Department investigation determines a contractor has not been paid the appropriate wage, the names of affected employees are sent to the GAO by the department. The GAO then ensures underpaid workers receive the compensation they are due. The GAO's responsibility in this process is purely administrative. The GAO makes no determination on the merit of each claim nor does it have the authority to question the judgment of the Labor Department. In fact, the GAO doesn't even directly deliver to workers their lost wages. Instead, that responsibility is vested with the Department of Treasury.

While claims processing was once routine business for the GAO, this authority has increasingly transitioned to the executive agencies charged with enforcing the law, such as the Department of Defense involving matters of military pay. Additionally, personnel changes within the GAO are making it more difficult for the agency to meet this responsibility. Key staff members have retired and more are expected to do so at any time. The GAO should not have to undertake this administrative burden any longer.

H.R. 6371 will transfer this payment authority from the GAO to the Department of Labor, thereby reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and ensuring workers receive their compensation in a timely manner. By reforming the claims process, we can remove redundancies and promote greater efficiency within the Federal Government. I urge my colleagues to support the Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act.

Before I conclude, I would like to take a moment to recognize a distinguished colleague who will soon be enjoying a well-deserved retirement. I wish she were with us this evening, but travel arrangements don't always work out as planned. Since 1993, Representative Lynn Woolsey has proudly represented the people of California's Sixth Congressional District. Her personal story has informed her work in public office, as well as inspired many of her colleagues on Capitol Hill, myself included.

I have had the opportunity over the last 2 years to work closely with Representative Woolsey on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and witness firsthand her passion for public service. While we may differ on a range of issues, no one can question her strong commitment to working families. I wish Representative Woolsey and her family all the best in the years ahead, and may they be long and filled with good health.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

The American people expect us to do all we can to promote better efficiency within the Federal Government. Washington allocates hundreds of billions of dollars each year on construction projects, affecting the lives of workers and employers across the country. We should never allow unnecessary bureaucracy to squander taxpayer resources or stand between workers and the wages they have earned. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6371, the Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

There has been 8 percent unemployment for 43 straight months. I think the record speaks for itself.

I come from the great State of Michigan, where a Governor, like a number of others in this great country, now is trying to do everything possible to undermine the malaise that is going on with lack of employment in this country because of the wrong approach to helping people with the dignity of work.

In the eighties and nineties in Michigan, we struggled with high unemployment. We struggled with a welfare system that was putting people really in servitude, and in many cases against their own will and their own desires. They wanted to work.

I still have at my home office copies of leaflets that were handed to people coming from other States to Michigan because it said you can cross the line and immediately get welfare assistance with no work requirements and no residency requirements. We struggled with that.

Then in 1994, under a Republican administration and through the efforts of many of us, we put through what we called ``workfare-edufare reform'' and promoted the dignity of individuals with an opportunity to work. We saw amazing results begin to take place not overnight, but almost. We heard testimonies of people who were formerly on welfare assistance saying, I didn't really think it would work, but I can now say on my own I am paying for my own way and my kids. I have got an education. I have got work now that gives me dignity. And I'm moving forward.

We've continued on with that. And now here, when Governors have asked for some flexibility with TANF--not asking for the removal of work requirements--we're going to do that. Well, I said ``no,'' and I'm glad our committee has said ``no,'' and we've moved forward with this resolution that speaks to the dignity and the value of individuals, but also of the work experience, the educational experience, and training for that.

We don't want to move backwards. We don't want to put further roadblocks in the way of achieving all that America and its dream can be. We don't have to. We can support a resolution like this. We can spur our President, this administration, on to doing the right thing for the right people. That's the American people, people that will work with dignity and achieve things for the future.

This country is great. Let's work together. Let's pass this resolution, H.J. Res. 118.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to commend Mr. William Paul Dillon, who has dedicated 40 years of ministry and service to Chicago's inner city.

Born into a family devoted to urban ministry, Mr. Dillon's grandfather and father both served as superintendents of the Sunshine Gospel Mission in Chicago, Illinois, a mission where I also had the opportunity to minister. At an early age, Mr. Dillon accepted Christ into his heart and began volunteering at the mission and working as a camp counselor. Though he did not feel a call to ministry, aspiring to work in the aviation industry for the hometown United Airlines, Mr. Dillon's father convinced him to attend Moody Bible Institute to better prepare him for a career as a Christian in business. Intending to only stay for a year, Mr. Dillon stayed for three and earned his diploma in 1965.

Mr. Dillon's time at Moody fostered an appreciation for the city. His studies took him to a startup church on the south side of Chicago, where he taught Sunday school and allowed him to develop his gifts for teaching and administration. Still intending to follow his dreams of working in the airline industry, he continued his studies and eventually earned a degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Murray State University.

Yet even with his MBA in hand, the Lord had a different plan for Mr. Dillon. A down economy meant few jobs in the airline industry, and he found work as the youth pastor of Salem Evangelical Free Church in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is here that Mr. Dillon grew to love the community and see the challenges faced by inner city youth. Equipped with little beyond his understanding of business, he and his wife, Sandy, started the Inner City Impact ministry to serve and disciple local youth.

Inner City Impact has grown over the years, from an initial focus on young children, to a full-fledged inner city mission that has put down roots in the communities that it serves. Over time, three churches have developed out of the efforts of Inner City Impact, along with high school outreach programs in Humboldt Park and Cicero. Now headquartered in the Logan Square community, Inner City Impact continues to serve some of Chicago's toughest neighborhoods through after school clubs, camps, leadership development programs and sports leagues.

In addition to his ministry work, Mr. Dillon is an author and frequent speaker on college campuses and to other Christian ministries. He also serves as president of People Raising, an organization which helps missionaries and Christian organizations fundraise. The Dillons attend Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church, and they have three grown children.

In 2005, Moody Bible Institute recognized Mr. Dillon for his service in naming him the Alumnus of the Year. As a fellow Moody alum, I believe this honor is well-deserved, as Mr. Dillon's life testimony captures the essence of

what it means to uncover the truth of God's Word and apply it to life.

Although Mr. Dillon has already dedicated four decades to ministry, from those early days on the sidewalks of Humboldt Park, to his current mission in Cicero, I am confident that the first 40 years are only the beginning, and that his work is not done yet!

I thank the gentlelady. I thank you for commanding this time to call attention to people, heroes of life like Father Frank Pavone.

Congressman Ron Paul, one of our colleagues, shared a poem with me on the floor one day. It caught my attention. It's called ``The Anvil'':

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith door, and heard the

anvil ring the vesper chime;

Looking in, I saw upon the floor old hammers, worn with

beating years of time.

`How many anvils have you had,' said I, `To wear and batter

all these hammers so?'

`Just one,' said he, and then with twinkling eye, `The

anvil wears the hammers out, you know.'

And so, thought I, the anvil called the master's Word, for

ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard, The anvil

is unharmed, and the hammers gone.

Father Pavone and others who command the interest in life understand the power of truth, the truth that comes with the Creator, a Creator who has designed life itself for good and for the best interests of all.

In our great document, the Declaration of Independence, it said:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are

created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain

unalienable, God given rights, among them, the right to life,

liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I would just refer back to the truth. Tonight, as we think about life and honor and organizations like Priests for Life and others who understand the truth that are contained in words like this, ``Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward''; of the prophet Jeremiah, of whom it was said, ``Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart,'' that's life before even the womb was open.

And then that beautiful psalm, Psalm 139, says:

For You formed my inward parts. You wove me in my mother's

womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and

wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows

it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was

made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the

Earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance. And in Your

book were all written the days that were ordained for me,

when as yet there was not one of them.

Father Frank, we thank you for your work and the Priests for Life. We thank all of those who stand for life.

Mr. Speaker, I thank this body for the opportunity to speak for the principle that God created life for a purpose, and we must adore it and continue it on.

Mr. Speaker, for the record, America's businesses and innovators do not need the administration mandating how they run their companies--yet it regularly does and in the form of burdensome and costly regulations. We all share in the responsibility to find the balance of making sure employees have the safest working conditions possible while allowing them to have a job to come back to every day. Burdensome, onerous regulations place such a heavy toll on businesses that hiring slows and they are forced to start cutting from their workforces.

Part of protecting employees' jobs is making sure that the business they work for is still able to grow and create more good-paying jobs for those in Michigan and across the country.

Over the course of this Congress, I have had the opportunity to speak with numerous small businesses, owners, and workers who state unequivocally that they'd rather Washington hand out less regulations and more certainty. According to a Chamber of Commerce small business outlook survey from earlier this year, nearly 80 percent of small businesses say taxes, regulations, and legislation make it harder for them to hire. That's because small businesses are forced to pay on average $10,000 per employee per year in order to comply with excessive regulations. The Small Business Administration has reported that when added up, those costs amount to $1.75 trillion annually, which is enough money for businesses to provide 35 million private sector jobs with an average salary of $50,000 per year.

Mr. Speaker, truly, the price of red tape is the loss of American jobs. Because of these regulations, the United States is also losing its competitive edge. According to the ``Global Competitiveness Report'' for 2011-2012, the U.S. fell to the fifth most competitive economy in the world. It is down from second place when President Obama took office in 2009. The reason stated by the report: more burdensome regulations.

I ask my Big Government colleagues: What's wrong with being number one? Regulations are important, and businesses should be held accountable for the safety of their employees. But how much is too much? So far this year, the Federal Register has run more than 40,000 pages of regulations that range from burdensome to downright ridiculous. It contains such provisions as multiple hospital claim reimbursement codes for injuries caused by parrots and burns from flaming water skis. We need regulatory reform that cleans up the system, removes duplicative regs, and wipes out burdensome and excessive rules.

My Republican colleagues and I in the House have passed dozens of bills to pull back the government's regulatory arm. We passed the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, or REINS, Act which would require both Congress and the President approve all major rulings created by Federal agencies. We also have passed rules that would discourage any regulation that will have an annual impact of more than $100 million, resulting in major increases in costs and prices, or impose a significant negative effect on competition and jobs.

This week, we'll vote on H.R. 4078, the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act, which would prevent any Federal agency from taking a significant regulatory action until employment has reached 6 percent or less. House Republicans remain committed to growing the economy and requiring congressional approval for any regulation that has significant impact on the economy or burdens small businesses and costs jobs.

We must stop allowing unelected bureaucrats to enact job-killing rules with no checks or balances. By preventing these kinds of job- hindering proposals, we can give job creators more certainty about what rules they can expect. Small businesses are our country's real job creators, creating seven out of every 10 jobs.

To protect these jobs and our country and Michigan, I'll continue to fight for less red tape here and in Washington, and more jobs in our homeland.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4157) to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from finalizing a proposed rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 relating to child labor, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4157.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to first thank my colleague from Iowa, Congressman Tom Latham, for introducing this very important legislation. Representative Latham is a long-time advocate for farmers and agribusiness, and his leadership in Congress is greatly appreciated.

According to a report on MLive.com, which is a new site from my home State of Michigan, parts of the country are experiencing the worst drought in more than 20 years. Jim Spink, a sixth-generation farmer from Michigan's Liberty Township, said:

It's going to be one of the years that separates those that

are positioned well financially and those that are not.

Unpredictability in the weather and harvest is not a new challenge for American farmers. Quite the contrary, it's a way of life. Farmers work each day under difficult circumstances, growing the food and resources necessary to power this Nation and this world. Often the presence of a son or a daughter working with his or her parents is important to a farm's long-term success.

Federal labor policies recognize the support youth provide to family farms by exempting farmworkers between 14 and 16 years of age from restrictions on agriculture activities. For decades, this exemption has applied to youth working on a farm owned or operated by the parent or an individual standing in place of his or her parent. With farmers facing a tough year with high temperatures and low rainfall, we should continue to support the ability for youth

to experience safe employment in American farming. That's why many were shocked when the Obama administration announced new rules that would make it difficult for young people to work on family farms.

Last September, the Department of Labor proposed regulatory changes that would negatively affect youth employment in agriculture, such as narrowing the parental exemption, restricting the rules of farm ownership, and prohibiting the use of certain equipment central to a farm's operation, even for young people who have received safety training through the Federal Services Extension program. The Labor Department even tried to prevent youth from working with non-toxic pesticides available at the local hardware store.

These proposed regulatory shifts fail to reflect the changes in farming that have occurred in recent years. We all want to keep young people safe from harm, especially when they work in an inherently dangerous environment. However, the administration's proposal would deny youth an opportunity to gain hands-on experience that is crucial to a farm's survival.

Throughout our history, farms have been handed down from one generation to the next through the knowledge a future farmer gained from working alongside his or her parents. Public policy should promote this great American tradition, not dismantle it.

Mr. Speaker, across the country, many farmers are struggling. While I recognize the Department has withdrawn its proposal for now, we owe it to these hardworking men and women to remove as much uncertainty as we can, especially the uncertainty caused by flawed government policies. I am proud to support the Preserving America's Family Farms Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa, the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Latham.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Duffy).

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to yield 1 minute to my colleague and farmer friend from Kansas (Mr. Huelskamp).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes, at this time, to a former rancher kid, rancher, and colleague of mine, the gentlelady from South Dakota, Kristi Noem.

Mr. Speaker, in a point of personal privilege, I would applaud my colleague and friend from Oklahoma for his comments.

The concept of ``trust, but verify'' is carried out here. We trust what has been said by the Department and the administration, but we verify with the action that we are taking today.

It gives me a privilege now to yield 2 minutes of time to a friend from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), a colleague who cares about people and their safety, and especially young people, as a medical doctor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes of time to my friend from New York, Richard Hanna.

Mr. Speaker, I'm privileged to yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).

Mr. Speaker, point of personal privilege: a family farm and a family farm sometimes isn't the same. If it's incorporated, it would come under this proposed rule initially, and for that reason we continue to offer this great piece of legislation. And that gives me the privilege to introduce another great farmer.

I yield 1 minute to my colleague, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate so much that we've had this time of debate. Again, trust but verify. This is a verifying opportunity. As has been said, the proposed regulation was pulled because of political challenges. The American people generally understand common sense, and this wasn't common sense.

When we see the cost of regulations in this country right now being $10,000 per employee, we add this to the impact on the farm family, those that have incorporated in order to carry on their business and ultimately carry on farming for generations, we see additional problems. So we want to make sure that this debate carries through and ultimately we don't have to do it again, but that we preserve the right to farm, we preserve the right to carry on the farming tradition, and the opportunity to train our young people to do something that is valuable long term and full of impact.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I yield the remainder of my time to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham).

Mr. Speaker, despite talk of political gridlock in D.C., Republicans and Democrats can agree on at least one thing--the economy is in rough shape. For the past 41 months, the unemployment rate has not gone below 8 percent, causing worry, uncertainty, and frustration for many families living in Michigan and across the U.S. But unfortunately, things can still get worse.

It's time for President Obama and the Senate to stop pushing their failed agendas and start applying commonsense policies that work. My Republican colleagues and I in the House have been listening to the American people and remain committed to policies that spur job creation, reduce costs, and restore power back to the people.

Last month's employment report showed that millions of Americans still are without a job and the unemployment rate is stuck at 8.2 percent. Meanwhile, the anemic job growth is even worse in my district where some areas show an unemployment rate of over 9 percent. Nationwide, the rate of ``real unemployment,'' which includes the unemployed, the underemployed, and those that want to work but have given up looking, now totals 14.9 percent. Making matters worse, the number of weeks it takes a worker to find a job has more than doubled since President Obama took office. Is this hope and change?

But it's not just the unemployment numbers which paint a grim picture of our economy. Government spending is out of control. With 84 days left in the fiscal year, the government has already spent its way into another $1 trillion deficit. Despite this out-of-control spending, the Senate hasn't bothered to pass a budget in more than 3 years. Since that time, the Federal Government has added more than $4 trillion to our national debt.

Families and businesses in my district and across the country know that they can't spend more than they make, which is why they create budgets and why they sometimes have to make tough choices to prevent them from drowning in debt. They get it, but sadly, their President and Senate still refuse to look at the facts.

But they also refuse to listen to the American people. According to the polls, Americans, and especially those in my district, are angry about having a government takeover of health care and the largest tax increase in history. Health care coverage is already too expensive for many families in my district, and this health care takeover

will not only make it more expensive, but put Federal bureaucracy between them and their doctor. On top of that, it will hinder job creators from hiring by requiring them to either offer costly government-mandated health insurance or pay a steep fine.

So far, my colleagues and I in the House have taken 30 floor votes to repeal, defund, and dismantle the law. After it's gone, we can start over with commonsense reforms that will return choices to the patients and not burden job creators with higher costs, new regulations, and more uncertainty.

It's obvious to the American people that the President's policies are failing and making the economy worse. Instead, they want the government to stop taxing them more, stop creating new harmful regulations, and stop coming between them and their doctor.

House Republicans have been listening. That's why we will continue to work on repealing this unfavorable and costly health care law. It's why we already put forth a balanced, responsible budget, and it's why we put together a plan for America's job creators to create an environment in which small businesses can grow and hire and where health care is affordable again.

Currently, there are 27 bipartisan jobs bills that have been passed by the House and are languishing in the Democrat-controlled Senate. My hope is that the President and Senate stop talking to the American people and start listening to them.

I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, my friends across the aisle decry the fact that we have now voted over 30 times to defund, dismantle, and repeal the law. But, Mr. Speaker, isn't it right to challenge a tool of destruction of the American health care system, the economy, and personal freedom of choice?

In Michigan the law has stifled economic growth and hiring and raised health care costs for everyone.

It would impose 21 new or higher taxes, 12 of which directly affect the middle class, workers and families. It would lead to a gross tax increase of almost $570 billion over 10 years. It will cost $1.8 trillion over the next 10 years, nearly double the original estimate.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has failed to decide what government-approved health insurance will look like, leaving employers uncertain about the future expenses and taxes they will face. White Castle, in a hearing just prior to this, has indicated they have held back on creating 400-plus new jobs because of this uncertainty.

As if the cost of jobs and the economy wasn't enough of a negative, ObamaCare also cuts $500 billion from Medicare to finance new entitlement programs. It reduces Medicare care itself. According to the American Medical Association, one in three primary care doctors already limit the number of new Medicare patients they take due to the cost. Once the law is fully enacted, CMS estimates that about 15 percent of Medicare part A providers will become unprofitable and drop out entirely, leaving seniors with fewer options.

Additionally, the President's handpicked 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board is even more troubling. Its purpose is to control future Medicare spending so that if Medicare grows beyond what is sustainable, the Board has the power to recommend cuts and ration care.

Rights of conscience violations are mandated in this bill. This must stop.

I recommend all my colleagues support the repeal of this bill in going back to a patient-centered approach that offers this health care system sustainability and care for our citizens.

I appreciate you yielding.

It is the CBO. Go to the Congressional Budget Office. They have directly stated that it would double.

Mr. Speaker, there is no joy in today's action; but the fact remains, 18 months after U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered, the Justice Department has failed to hold anybody accountable for the mistakes of Operation Fast and Furious.

As a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I have witnessed firsthand the stonewalling by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Holder. At every question, the Justice Department has refused to acknowledge what they know about the gunwalking tactics that led to Agent Terry's death. Most recently, they have hid behind the President's erroneous claims of executive privilege, an action the President denounced as lacking transparency when he was campaigning. The Department has stood in open defiance of Congress' moral and constitutional obligation to conduct oversight of this affair.

The family of Agent Terry deserves to know who approved Fast and Furious. They have the right to know who had the power to stop this program before he was murdered, and they need an explanation as to why the Department of Justice took 9 months to withdraw their false denial that they had ever let guns walk into Mexico.

To some on the other side of the aisle, it seems fine that the people who authorized this operation still work within the Department of Justice. I don't agree. They'd rather play politics than uphold Congress' right to investigate.

Today's vote is about accountability. It's about making sure another 2,000 firearms don't end up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. And it's about bringing closure to the Terry family.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and honor the memory of Brian Terry.

Rising health care costs remain a top concern for many Americans, particularly the Baby Boomers heading off into retirement and individuals with disabilities. However, one service in particular-- home companion care--has come under attack from the Department of Labor and faces a sharp rise in costs. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act provides exemptions for home care workers. And for more than four decades now, the exemption has helped seniors and individuals with disabilities maintain access to affordable in-home care.

Companion care workers play a crucial role for those who desire to remain independent, performing a range of everyday tasks like helping to prepare meals, opening the mail, providing light housekeeping, and even offering someone to talk with, which is immensely helpful. However, the greatest service these individuals play is providing families with a sense that mom or dad or their loved ones are not alone when we need to be away.

But in December of 2011, the Department of Labor introduced a proposal championed by President Obama to remove the companionship exemption from the Fair Labor Standards Act, a move which would virtually eliminate the current exemption. On top of that, it will raise costs for businesses and families and lead to reduced hours for home companion care workers. Even the Department estimates the cost of companion care under the proposed rule may increase by up to $2.3 billion over the first 10 years. It will be families and seniors and the disabled that will struggle to pay these costs out of their own pockets. These changes run in stark contrast to what Congress intended when it first established this important exemption nearly four decades ago. While I recognize the delivery of services has evolved over the years, the need to maintain access to affordable in-home care has not.

Seniors and the disabled in my home State of Michigan have been devastated by the fallout from this flawed policy. In 2006, Michigan made similar changes to the State law that the Department of Labor is currently considering. This was confirmed by a constituent in my home State who testified that his home companion care business, employees, and clients are worse off since the change went into effect. Seniors, those with disabilities, and their families are often unable to pay higher prices for the overtime requirement, forcing them to take on different caregivers throughout the day. This disruption to their schedule takes away the certainty of working with trusted caregivers. Many seniors and individuals with disabilities are then left with no choice but to leave their own homes because of the cost.

In response, I have introduced two bills to ensure seniors and individuals with disabilities keep their access to affordable companion care. Both bills will also prevent the Federal Government from interfering with decisions that should be made by families. The first bill, H.R. 5969, the Ensuring Access to Affordable and Quality Companion Care Act, will clarify that home caregivers employed by a third-party employer or living with the individuals receiving care continue to be exempt from the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The second, H.R. 5970, The Protecting in-Home Care From Government Intrusion Act, will stop the Secretary of Labor from finalizing or enforcing a proposed rule that severely narrows the Fair Labor Standards Act exemption for in-home caregivers.

If the Obama administration's proposal is not stopped, home care workers will lose hours and possibly their jobs. Seniors and those with disabilities will lose affordable care they want and need. This is simply a risk that we cannot afford to take.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Adrian City Band as they celebrate their 175th year of providing musical entertainment to the community of Adrian, Michigan.

The Adrian City Band is one of the oldest continuously organized city bands in the

United States, tracing their roots back to 1838. Under the leadership of director Jim Rice, the band of nearly 80 members recently kicked off their weekly summer concert series, which will feature eight performances with historical themes.

In spite of the down economy and tight city finances, the band members and leadership have continued the tradition without pay, while the community has supported the band through financial donations.

Community bands are an American tradition, and for decades, the Adrian City Band has offered a fine example of this civic pastime. The Adrian City Band will continue to entertain and impress with a series of eight concerts this summer at the Trestle Park bandshell, and they deserve recognition for their dedication and sacrifice in bringing entertainment to Southeast Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Paul and Sylvia Hollinger for their contributions and years of service to the Christian broadcasting community.

Both born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Paul and Sylvia graduated from the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago in 1958 and were married that same year. After starting a ``temporary'' job at the Christian radio station WDAC in July of 1961, Paul's role expanded from salesman to station manager, and eventually to partner in the WDAC Radio Company. Along the way, Sylvia served as chief encourager and critic, while assisting Paul as an editor and typist.

Beyond their roles at WDAC, the ``Voice of Christian Radio,'' Paul and Sylvia have contributed to the greater Christian broadcasting community through the National Religious Broadcasters organization. Ever-present at NRB national conventions, Paul and Sylvia developed sincere and lasting friendships with other station owners and broadcasters like David Jeremiah, James Dobson, and Joni Eareckson Tada.

From their stone farmhouse and farm in southern Lancaster County, Paul and Sylvia spent over four decades raising their two children and welcoming visitors. They are devoted grandparents to six grandchildren and eagerly await the arrival of their first great-grandchild. When not at work or home, Paul and Sylvia played an integral role in the life of Calvary Church of Lancaster. Since 1973, they have served in the capacity of Sunday school teachers, choir members, and on various church boards.

Paul is a past member of the Moody Alumni Board and I share his and Sylvia's passion for the Moody Bible Institute. I also commend them both for their unwavering commitment to upholding and defending the rights of the unborn. They have actively supported pro-life organizations and Sylvia hosts a weekly pro-life radio report titled ``Heartbeat.''

Today, Paul and Sylvia live in the Willow Valley retirement community where they continue to welcome family and guests, and together are writing a 70 year history of their church. Paul and Sylvia have led rich, dedicated lives to each other and for their Maker. To paraphrase a familiar verse in the Gospel of John, were all their stories written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.