Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, each year since 1999, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform releases a Schools to Watch list to identify high-performing schools across the country. According to the stated criteria, each school on the list is academically excellent, developmentally responsive, and socially equitable.

This list is well-respected and highly exclusive. That's why I'm proud to say that Highland Hills Middle School in Floyd County, Indiana, is a new entry to the list this year. This recognition is well deserved and reflects the hard work and determination of the administration, the teachers, and especially the students of Highland Hills and the entire New Albany Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation.

As policy makers at every level of government continue to look for ways to improve our educational systems, we would all do well to look to models like Highland Hills Middle School for guidance.

Mr. Speaker, our nation has a long history of honoring our veterans. Even today, we reserve the highest levels of respect for our fellow Americans who served our country bravely in battle. And while many of us personally know some who served in one, or perhaps, two wars, it's exceedingly rare to find an individual who wore the uniform in three separate wars. In fact, in my home state of Indiana, there are only two such veterans alive.

One of them, Robert Hyatt of Franklin, Indiana, will soon celebrate his 90th birthday. A veteran who served as a medic in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, he recently told a local news station that he'd still be serving in the military today if his health permitted. It's worth noting that along the way, his military service put his health at risk: He was shot in the leg during World War II and stabbed in Korea.

So as he and his family prepare to celebrate his 90th birthday, I wanted to take some time today to wish him well and honor his service to our country. Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to all our veterans, but especially to veterans like Robert Hyatt who answered the call of duty every chance they got.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Keta Sodrel.

Keta, who passed away 1 week ago today, was married for 47 years to Congressman Mike Sodrel, who represented Indiana's Ninth Congressional District for several years. I know I speak for countless Hoosiers in paying our respects to Keta and offering our thoughts and prayers to Mike and his family.

If you talk to anyone who knew them, you will quickly learn that Mike was able to serve our district with distinction because of the love and support of his wife. Keta, I am told, was a model congressional spouse because she loved southern Indiana, she loved the Lord, and she loved Mike deeply.

Most of us who serve in this body are only able to do so because of the same sort of love and support from our own spouses. As we all remember the Sodrel family during their time of loss, may Keta remind us of the loving, loyal, and invaluable service and sacrifice our spouses make for our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to elaborate on the chairman's retort to what we just heard about criticisms pertaining to this law.

Number one, this law is inherently unfair. Trying to finance health insurance for some Americans by cutting hours and wages for other Americans is just, frankly, not what we should be doing as a country. The Save American Workers Act would actually save most workers from a potentially massive loss in hours and wages, and I will walk the gentleman through that momentarily. It will also cause fewer workers to be directly impacted by this employer mandate.

Very briefly, let us start with saving most workers from a potentially massive cut in hours. Under current law, if you work between 40 to, say, 45 hours and your employer happens to not offer you employer-sponsored health insurance, you are in the minority. An employer is incentivized to offer these typically higher-wage, higher- skilled workers employer-sponsored health insurance, and that is why so many do. It is part of our normal functioning labor market.

So if one were to be moved hypothetically from 40 hours down to 29 hours, they would lose roughly $270 a week or $14,000 a year, according to the American Action Forum.

Under the Save American Workers Act, these 40- to 45-hour workweek individuals would no longer be at risk of such a massive cut in their wages or their hours.

Let's take someone working 30 to 35 hours, just above that new full- time employment threshold in ObamaCare. They tend to be lower-wage hourly workers, according to the Hoover Institution, and let's assume they had no employer-sponsored health insurance. There are 9.8 million Americans who fall into this category. They are vulnerable to a cut in their hours and wages.

Were one to move from 35 hours a week down to 29, they would lose on average $148 per week, or $7,694 a year--again, according to the American Action Forum.

Under the Save American Workers Act, these individuals, 30 to 35 hours a week, would no longer lose any hours or wages, just reinforcing the point that the good chairman made.

Well, this is why I introduced the Save American Workers Act. Let's restore the 40-hour workweek that so many people worked so hard to put in place, that has long been understood to be the gold standard of the workweek in this country.

Over the past few years, I have witnessed a strange phenomenon in our country. In Indiana, we have seen local school corporations announce they will limit the hours of substitute teachers, classroom assistants, cafeteria workers, custodians. We have seen retailers limit the hours of their cashiers. The list goes on and on, from hotels to manufacturers to colleges and universities.

I guarantee that every Member of this body back in their district has heard similar stories. This is happening because of the new 30-hour definition of full-time employment.

Now, there is no good reason to do this, other than, perhaps, to arbitrarily set this new definition of full-time employment to fund the massive cost of this national health care bill. It has ignored decades of practice in the labor market reality of our 40-hour workweek. It has distorted that market.

As a result, the Hoover Institution estimates that as many as 2.6 million American workers are at risk for lost hours.

Now, it is not just the lost hours that should concern us. Again, it is the lost wages. An employee losing 10 hours a week is also losing an entire week's paycheck each month. An employee going from 35 to 29 hours is seeing a 17 percent pay cut, courtesy of ObamaCare.

The people most affected by this provision are the people who can least afford it--89 percent of them do not have college degrees, 63 percent of them are women. Perhaps, ironically, it sounds a lot like the people ObamaCare was supposed to help.

CBO analysis indicates that it comes at the expense of up to $105 billion in cash wages. Now, I defy anyone to say that it is fair to expand coverage to a half-million people--that number from the CBO--on the backs of 2.5 million people who can't afford it. How fundamentally inefficient is the health care system that potentially requires the loss of over $200,000 in cash wages for each person it insures.

I authored H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act, to help these hardworking Americans. And I introduced this bill jointly with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), who happens to be a Democrat. He, too, realizes that ObamaCare is littered with serious unintended consequences that need to be addressed.

In the Senate, we have seen a similar version of this bill introduced in a bipartisan manner.

Now, this isn't a Republican or a Democrat issue; this is a serious solution to a very real problem facing American workers.

I urge all my colleagues to support the Save American Workers Act.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you so much for this opportunity to try to advance legislation to improve the Nation's health care law in a bipartisan fashion.

You know, I don't understand the visceral resistance to trying to lighten the load on our Nation's hourly workers. The wage earners, the people who need it most--our cafeteria workers, our substitute teachers, our people at retail centers all across the country--they are the ones during this still-recovering, seemingly dormant recovery for so many of my constituents, they are the ones who are demanding these sorts of changes.

Much has been made of the evidence here. There is plenty of evidence in every congressional district across the country that people are hurting on account of this 30 hours is full time provision in the Affordable Care Act. And this all comes before the employer mandate had kicked in, and it has followed in the recent days since it officially kicked in on January 1.

This was just implemented. It will be amazing to see the evidence come in, should we not change the definition of full-time employment up to 40 hours, once people figure out that they are going to be paying a big old tax for not buying every single employee above that 30-hour threshold government-sanctioned health insurance.

More evidence: there are over 300 groups that have associated themselves with this legislation and ask that we pass it. Among those groups is the More Time for Full Time coalition, which includes such groups as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association, Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Grocers Association, the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association, the Michigan Restaurant Association.

For more examples, I will enter this document into the Record.

More Time for Full Time,

January 6, 2015.

Hon. Mitch McConnell,

Senate Majority Leader,

Washington, DC.

Dear Leader McConnell: The More Time for Full-Time

Coalition (www.moretimefor

fulltime.org ) greatly appreciates your steadfast support for

restoring the traditional definition of full-time employee to

40 hours per week and urges you to move Senate consideration

of legislation to do so as early as possible in the 114th

Congress.

Many employees are being hurt by lost wages and hours

because the 30-hour-per-week definition in the Affordable

Care Act is forcing employers to restructure their workforce

by reducing their employees' hours to alleviate the burden of

compliance. Harmonizing the definition of full-time employee

in the ACA with the traditional 40-hour definition would

benefit both employees through more hours and income, and

employers now able to focus on growing their business and

creating jobs rather than restructuring their workforce.

In this is not addressed soon, our country will experience

significant workforce disruptions and individuals as well as

companies will lose valued workforce flexibility. We urge you

to work in a bipartisan way to restore the traditional

definition of full-time employment by changing the Affordable

Care Act's 30-hour-per-week definition.

Many Americans are drawn to part-time jobs with flexible

hours to suit their personal needs. Further, employers with

variable-hour workforces and flexible scheduling have been

appealing and critical for students, single parents, and

other individuals struggling to balance various obligations

and commitments. This critical flexibility will be lost if

employers are forced to abandon current practices in order to

avoid significant financial penalties.

Aligning the law's definition of full-time employee status

with current levels would help avoid any unnecessary

disruptions to employees' wages and hours, and would provide

significant relief.

Thank you for considering our concerns and for your

leadership in addressing a fundamental challenge employees

and businesses face in implementing this law.

Sincerely,

National Associations: American Hotel & Lodging

Association, American Rental Association, Asian American

Hotel Owners Association, Associated Builders and

Contractors, College & University Professional Association

for Human Resources, International Franchise Association,

National Association of Convenience Stores, National

Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Theatre

Owners, National Association of Truck Stop Operators,

National Club Association, National Council of Chain

Restaurants, National Grocers Association, National

Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, Society

for Human Resource Management, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

State and Local Associations: Adirondack Regional Chamber

Commerce (NY), Alabama Grocers Association, Alabama

Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance, Alaska Chamber (AK),

Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association, Alaska Restaurant &

Hospitality Alliance, Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber (NY),

Alexander City Chamber of Commerce (AL), Ames Chamber of

Commerce (IA), Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce (NM), ARA of

Alabama, ARA of Arizona, ARA of Arkansas, ARA of California,

ARA of Colorado, ARA of Connecticut, ARA of Florida, ARA of

Georgia, ARA of Idaho, ARA of Illinois, ARA of Indiana, ARA

of Iowa, ARA of Kentucky, ARA of Louisiana, ARA of Maine, ARA

of Maryland, ARA of Massachusetts, ARA of Michigan, ARA of

Montana, ARA of Nebraska, ARA of New Jersey, ARA of New

York, ARA of North Carolina, ARA of Ohio, ARA of Oklahoma,

ARA of Oregon, ARA of Pennsylvania, ARA of Tennessee, ARA

of Vermont, ARA of Virginia;

ARA of Washington, ARA of Wisconsin, Arizona Food Marketing

Alliance, Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, Arkansas

Grocers and Retail Merchants Association, Arkansas

Hospitality Association, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce

(AK), Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce (OH), Associated

Industries of Massachusetts, Inc. (MA), Baltimore Washington

Corridor Chamber of Commerce (MD), Bangor Region Chamber of

Commerce (ME), Barrow County Chamber of Commerce (GA), Beaver

Dam Chamber of Commerce (WI), Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

(FL), Brownsville Chamber of Commerce (TX), California

Grocers Association, California Hotel & Lodging Association,

California Restaurant Association, Campbell County Chamber of

Commerce (WY), Cape May County Chamber of Commerce (NJ);

Carolinas Food Industry Council, Catawba County Chamber of

Commerce (NC), Central Chamber of Commerce (LA), Central

Delaware Chamber of Commerce (DE), Chester County Chamber of

Business and Industry (PA), Clearwater Regional Chamber of

Commerce (FL), Cobb Chamber of Commerce (GA), Colorado Hotel

& Lodging Association, Colorado Restaurant Association,

Committee of 100 Louisiana (LA), Connecticut Food

Association, Connecticut Lodging Association, Corning Area

Chamber of Commerce (NY), Council Bluffs Area Chamber of

Commerce (IA), Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce

(MN), Delaware Restaurant Association, Delaware State Chamber

of Commerce (DE), Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (CO), Des

Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IL), Dublin-Laurens

County Chamber of Commerce (GA);

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (VA), Florida Chamber of

Commerce (FL), Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Fox

Cities Chamber of Commerce (WI), Fresno Chamber of Commerce

(CA), Fullerton Chamber of Commerce (CA), Galesburg Area

Chamber of Commerce (IL), Garrett County Chamber of Commerce

(MD), Georgia Food Industry Association, Georgia Hotel &

Lodging Association, Georgia Restaurant Association, Glendale

Chamber of Commerce (AZ), Goshen Chamber of Commerce (IN),

Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce (CO), Grand Rapids

Area Chamber of Commerce (MI), Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

(TX), Greater Burlington Partnership (IA), Greater Durham

Chamber of Commerce (NC), Greater Flagstaff Chamber of

Commerce (AZ), Greater Green Bay Chamber (WI);

Greater Louisville, Inc. (KY), Greater North Dakota Chamber

of Commerce (ND), Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (AZ),

Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce (RI), Greater

Shreveport Chamber of Commerce (LA), Greater Springfield

Chamber of Commerce (VA), Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce

(KS), Greece Chamber of Commerce (NY), Hardy County Chamber

of Commerce (WV), Harford County Chamber (MD), Harlan County

Chamber of Commerce (KY), Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

(PA), Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Hotel Association

of New York City, Inc., Hotel Association of Washington DC,

Hueneme Chamber of Commerce (CA), Idaho Lodging & Restaurant

Association, Idaho Retailers Association, Illinois Chamber of

Commerce (IL), Illinois Food Retailers Association;

Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, Illinois Restaurant

Association, Indiana Chamber of Commerce (IN), Indiana

Grocery and Convenience Store Association, Indiana Restaurant

& Lodging Association, Iowa Chamber Alliance (IA), Iowa

Chamber Alliance

(IA), Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Iowa Restaurant

Association, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (TX),

Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce (NC), Jefferson

Chamber of Commerce (LA), Kansas Food Dealers Association,

Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association, Kentucky

Association of Convenience Stores, Kentucky Chamber of

Commerce (KY), Kentucky Grocers Association, Kentucky

Restaurant Association, Lemoore Chamber of Commerce (CA),

Licking County Chamber of Commerce (OH);

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (CA), Loudoun County

Chamber of Commerce (VA), Louisiana Association of Business

and Industry (LA), Louisiana Hotel & Lodging Association,

Louisiana Restaurant Association, Louisiana Retailers

Association, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce (TX), Maine

Innkeepers Association, Maine Restaurant Association, Maine

State Chamber of Commerce (ME), Marshall Area Chamber of

Commerce (MN), Maryland Chamber of Commerce (MD), Maryland

Hotel & Lodging Association, Maryland Retailers Association,

Massachusetts Food Association, Massachusetts Lodging

Association, Michigan Chamber of Commerce (MI), Michigan

Grocers Association, Michigan Lodging and Tourism

Association, Michigan Restaurant Association;

Mid-America Grocers Association, Mid-Atlantic Hispanic

Chamber of Commerce (MD), Minnesota Grocers Association,

Minnesota Lodging Association, Minnesota Rental Association,

Minnesota Restaurant Association, Miramar Pembroke Pines

Regional Chamber of Commerce (FL), Mississippi Hospitality

and Restaurant Association, Missouri Grocers Association,

Missouri Restaurant Association, Mobile (AL) Area Chamber

of Commerce, Monroe Chamber of Commerce (LA), Montana

Chamber of Commerce (MT), Montana Lodging & Hospitality

Association, Montana Manufacturing Council (MT),

Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce (IL), Myrtle Beach Area

Chamber of Commerce (SC), Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &

Industry (NE), Nebraska Grocery Industry Association,

Nebraska Hotel & Motel Association;

Nebraska Restaurant Association, Nevada Hotel & Lodging

Association, New Hampshire Equipment Rental Association, New

Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association, New Hampshire

Restaurant & Lodging Association, New Jersey Food Council,

New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce (NJ), New Mexico

Restaurant Association, New York Hospitality & Tourism

Association, New York State Food Merchants Association, New

York State Restaurant Association, Newberry County Chamber of

Commerce (SC), Nome Chamber of Commerce (AK), North Carolina

Chamber (NC), North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging

Association, North Carolina Retail Merchants Association,

North Country Chamber of Commerce (NY), North Dakota Grocers

Association, North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce (SC),

North Shore Chamber of Commerce (MA);

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (KY), Ohio Chamber of

Commerce (OH), Ohio Grocers Association, Ohio Hotel & Lodging

Association, Ohio Restaurant Association, Oklahoma Grocers

Association, Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association, Oklahoma

Restaurant Association, Orange County Business Council (CA),

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, Oshkosh Chamber of

Commerce (WI), Overland Park Chamber of Commerce (KS), Oxnard

Chamber of Commerce (CA), Ozark Empire Grocers Association,

Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce (CA), PennSuburban

Chamber of Greater Montgomery County (PA), Pennsylvania

Chamber of Business and Industry (PA), Pennsylvania Food

Merchants Association, Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging

Association, Portland Chamber of Commerce (TX);

Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce (ID), Rensselaer County

Regional Chamber of Commerce (NY), Retail Grocers of Greater

Kansas City, Rhode Island Hospitality Association, Rochester

Business Alliance (NY), Rocky Mountain Food Industry

Association (CO/WY), Rome Area Chamber of Commerce (NY),

Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce (OR), Rowan County

Chamber of Commerce (NC), Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce

(UT), Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce & Convention--

Visitor's Bureau (CA), Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of

Commerce (CA), Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce (PA), Simi

Valley Chamber of Commerce (CA), South Baldwin Chamber of

Commerce (AL), South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging

Association, South Carolina Retail Association, South

Dakota Retailers Association Restaurant Division, South

Padre Island Chamber of Commerce (TX), Springfield Area

Chamber of Commerce (MO);

State Chamber of Oklahoma (OK), Tempe Chamber of Commerce

(AZ), Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association,

Tennessee Hospitality Association, Texas Association of

Business (TX), Texas Food & Fuel Association, Texas Hotel &

Lodging Association, Texas Rental Association, Texas

Restaurant Association, Texas Retailers Association, The

Business Council of New York State, Inc. (NY), The Chamber of

Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada (NV), The Greater Cedar

Valley Alliance & Chamber (IA), The Greater Hartsville

Chamber of Commerce (SC), Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce (LA),

Tucson Metro Chamber (AZ), Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of

Commerce (FL), Utah Food Industry Association, Utah Hotel &

Lodging Association, Utah Retail Merchants Association;

Valley Industry & Commerce Association (CA), Vermont

Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Retail and Grocers Association,

Virginia Chamber of Commerce (VA), Virginia Hospitality &

Travel Association, Virginia Hospitality & Travel

Association, Virginia Retail Merchants Association,

Washington Food Industry Association, Washington Lodging

Association, West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce (TX),

West Virginia Chamber of Commerce (WV), West Virginia

Hospitality & Travel Association, West Virginia Oil Marketers

and Grocers Association, Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce

(IL), Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce (KS), Wilsonville

Area Chamber of Commerce (OR), Wisconsin Grocers Association,

Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association, Wisconsin

Manufacturers and Commerce (WI), Wisconsin Restaurant

Association, Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Association,

Wyoming Restaurant & Lodging Association, Yuba-Sutter Chamber

of Commerce (CA).

Why wait? We know we are headed off a cliff here. This is a fiscally irresponsible provision within the Affordable Care Act. Who would imagine that we would try to insure 500,000 additional new workers at the expense of up to $105 billion in cash wages? It is unfair. We ought not try to finance health insurance for some Americans at the cost of hours and wages for other Americans.

And finally, the Save American Workers Act will remedy these defects in the current law, resulting in zero workers who work 40 or more hours being put at risk of a possible massive cut in their hours and wages down to 29 hours. And it will enable those who work 30 to 35 hours to no longer be at risk of cuts in their much-needed hours and wages.

For those reasons and so many others, I just encourage my colleagues to have an open mind here and work with us for the good of the country to improve our Nation's health care laws.

Mr. Speaker, throughout the Hoosier state, many small towns and cities take pride in their locally owned businesses. These small shops often have storied pasts and are unique for their high quality services and homey appeal. It is businesses like these that are the backbone of Indiana's economy.

One such business is Badger's Shoe Repair located on East Main Street in New Albany, Indiana. Currently owned and operated by Ron Badger, Badger's Shoe Repair has been providing high quality shoe and leather service repair since its opening by Ron's father, Morgan Badger, in 1940. There is much history in this store, finding its start during a time of shoe rationing in World War II. Many small shoe repair stores have come and gone since that time yet Badger's has remained a staple of the community.

For nearly 75 years, customers from all around the region have come to Badger's for not only its fine craftsmanship but also for the outstanding customer service. Each customer receives the highest quality of care and service while Ron also offers that unique Hoosier hospitality.

Ron Badger took over the family business in 1974 when his father retired after 34 years. At the age of 35, Ron gave up his career in clerical work to become his own boss and take over his father's store. Ron has stayed true to the old ways of shoe repair, using the same techniques and equipment that his father did. This high-quality work and personal attention to detail has attracted some elite clientele, including boots used at the world-famous Churchill Downs.

Unfortunately, Badger's Shoe Repair will be closing on December 31st of this year for the last time. After many years of hard work, Ron Badger has announced his retirement. I would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge Ron for his unique contribution to the Hoosier community.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Ron Badger on all his wonderful accomplishments. His family owned store's success serves as a shining example for many small business owners throughout Indiana and the rest of the country. I know that his family and community are proud that he kept Badger's Shoe Repair open and successful for so many years. His hard work and Hoosier charm will surely be missed in the New Albany community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to briefly highlight an issue that I wish had been resolved this week, but unfortunately the President's veto threat of an unfinished tax extenders compromise caused this bill to remain fallow.

Under the current outdated Tax Code, LNG, liquefied natural gas, is applied the same excise tax as other fuels despite producing different energy outputs per gallon. This results in LNG users facing disproportionately higher excise tax rates than their diesel counterparts, creating a perverse inequality that artificially hinders the attractiveness of LNG as a transportation fuel.

So a truck fueling with domestic clean natural gas at Sellersburg, Indiana's LNG truck stop pays 70 percent more tax than its diesel counterpart across the street. An LNG-powered river tug fueling up at one of Ohio's river ports will, instead of paying the proposed 29 cents per gallon fuel tax for inland waterways, pay nearly 50 cents per gallon. This disparity needs to be addressed.

There has been some constructive movement by Representative Thornberry. I applaud that effort and hope we can address this matter next year during the debate on the highway trust fund.

Mr. Speaker, Indiana's economic engine is driven by Hoosier innovation and entrepreneurship. Our state's small businesses are a source of pride for towns and cities across the state for the high quality goods and services they provide and the jobs they support. One such small business is the Roberts Tree Farm.

Each year, Americans look forward to Christmastime as a season that brings back memories of family and long-held traditions, as well as offering the promise of creating new memories with our loved ones. The look and smell of a freshly-cut pine tree is something I and others will always associate with the holiday season. Every year, hundreds of families around the state rely on Roberts Tree Farm of Seymour, Indiana to help keep these traditions alive.

Located on 25 acres owned by the same family since 1852, Roberts Tree Farm has been in operation for four decades. Working out of an authentic log cabin that originally housed Roberts Grocery Store, Jerry and Libby Roberts offer services that keep customers coming back year after year.

Jerry oversees the planting and maintenance of thousands of trees throughout the year, taking special care to ensure that they grow to become full and healthy. During the farm's business hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting in late November, the Roberts provide much more than just rows of mature trees to choose from. Customers are driven around the grounds on a wagon, provided help in cutting and loading their favorite tree, and even get to enjoy Libby's home-made cookies along with a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider.

Family-owned small businesses are the backbone of Indiana's economy. However, Roberts Tree Farm is about more than just dollars-and-cents: They have helped make the holidays special for one generation after another. I wish the Roberts family--along with all the other holiday themed Hoosier small businesses--all the best, and most importantly, a Merry Christmas!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Monroe Lodge 22 F. & A. M. in Bloomington, Indiana.

I want to congratulate this organization on their 175th year rededication. I appreciate the fellowship and community participation these Freemasons have facilitated during their tenure in Bloomington.

These Freemasons are outstanding citizens of the Bloomington community and deserve our respect and admiration. Their membership boasts a diverse range of people including professionals, students and retirees. The values they uphold serve as an example to their local community. Years of service, religious piety, leadership, and outstanding morality compose the statutes to which all Freemasons adhere. By necessitating hard work and commitment to values, the Freemasons create a hierarchy of accomplishments which inherently build character and contribute to the local community.

As the longest standing institute of fraternity, the Freemasons provide a model of citizenship unlike any other. I am proud to support the Bloomington Masonic Lodge for its many years of encouraging brotherhood among men, and I look forward to applauding the Bloomington Masonic Lodge for their future endeavors. Finally, I join the Bloomington community and Freemasons everywhere in congratulating them on this landmark rededication and reaffirmation of service and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 4, the Jobs for America Act.

The undeniable fact is the U.S. House has passed more than 40 individual jobs bills, sent them to the Senate, and

they remain untouched by the Democratic majority leader.

Many of the jobs proposals included in this broader package, H.R. 4, have bipartisan support and include commonsense ideas like extending the section 179 tax benefits for small businesses, helping our veterans get back to work, and a repeal of the medical device tax.

Medical device companies, in particular, play an integral role in my home State of Indiana and our economy--more than 71,000 jobs and $44 billion in personal income on account of the industry--and I hear every day how this tax has stifled innovation and led to a decrease in jobs for my fellow Hoosiers.

In 2013, 79 Senators, many of them champions of ObamaCare, took a symbolic vote to eliminate that tax. I hope that the Democrat- controlled Senate will move beyond political symbolism--and for many, political self-preservation--and vote to repeal this tax on innovation, job creation, and patient care.

Finally, I am pleased that two pieces of legislation which I authored are included in H.R. 4. The Save American Workers Act, which is also bipartisan, would simply change the definition of full-time employment within ObamaCare from 30 hours back to the traditional definition of 40 hours.

Now, 40 hours is what everyone agrees is full time, so let's not further harm small business employees, school cafeteria workers, adjunct university professors, and other hourly workers with this arbitrary change in the definition of ``full time.''

Also included is the REINS Act. This bipartisan bill aims to relieve much of the regulatory burden on our Nation's small- and medium-sized businesses and on all Americans who benefit from affordable goods and services.

The legislation ensures that, when unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in Washington enact rules and regs that impact our economy, these regulations will be voted on by Congress to ensure that your elected Representatives are held accountable for the laws our constituents are subjected to.

I respectfully urge the American people to take a very close look at H.R. 4 and to demand that the Democratic-controlled Senate bring these bills up for consideration so we can enable people to get back to work and see their personal incomes grow.

Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, I rise today to recognize the US Medical Soccer Team. The Congressional Soccer Caucus mission is to encourage legislation, activities and events that promote soccer and issues affecting the greater soccer community, toward encouraging healthy and active lifestyles among America's youth.

The US Medical Soccer Team is an organization comprised of practicing physicians from around the country who share a passion for soccer, medical education and community service. They represent the United States in the World Medical Football Championships, which is an annual World Cup-style soccer tournament comprised of similar physician teams from around the world. On July 6th, the US Medical Soccer Team will kick off their fifth year of participation in this tremendous event, taking place this year in Natal, Brazil.

The US Medical Soccer Team formed in 2010 by connecting physically active physicians who love the game of soccer. While their time on the soccer field has been an incredible experience, the growing focus of the organization has been community service. As active physicians, the US Medical Soccer Team is passionate about reaching out to underserved youth around the United States through their outreach program ``Healthy, Fit and Smart''. This program, focused on fitness, nutrition and education, is a fun and interactive way for the team to convey the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle while educating about careers in science and healthcare. The soccer brought the team together, but the outreach has enriched their lives and fostered strong connections to numerous community centers and organizations around the country.

In the summer of 2015, the US Medical Soccer Team is honored to host the World Medical Football Championships in Long Beach, California. This event will bring over 400 physicians from around the world to the United States for a week of athletic competition, medical education, and community outreach. The US Medical Soccer Team is confident this event and the organization's expanding efforts, both on and off the field, will be a source of pride for our nation.

I urge all Americans to recognize the US Medical Soccer Team and wish them luck on the field as they head to Brazil to compete this summer in the Physicians' World Cup and support them off the field in their continued outreach efforts with underserved youth advocating for fitness, nutrition and education. As physically active doctors, they ``walk the talk'' and encourage other colleagues and their patients to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, my home state of Indiana takes great pride in creating an atmosphere conducive to small business innovation and entrepreneurship. When locally owned businesses are given the opportunity to succeed, families, workers, and the surrounding community all benefit. Once such example is Polly's Freeze, a popular ice cream shop just outside of Georgetown, Indiana. Polly's Freeze is a classic tale of American entrepreneurship. Elmer and Polly Gleitz purchased an abandoned filling station with the intention of restoring the facility and reopening it. After some consideration and a clever suggestion from Polly, the Gleitz family abandoned those plans and decided to turn the property into an ice cream shop and food stand. Sixty-two years later, Polly's Freeze stands as a model for excellent service and delicious ice cream that attracts large crowds all season long.

After opening in 1952, Elmer and Polly ran the business for several years until they passed it on to their children George, Donna, and Delores. Donna and her husband Paul continued the tradition until their retirement in 2009. Subsequently, Polly's was left to Penny Bodner, an employee of thirty-two years and friend of the family. The business is now under the direction of Cara and Mike Rothrock, also longtime employees, who are dedicated to sustaining Polly's reputation for quality products and service in a family-friendly environment.

From all across southern Indiana, residents can identify the iconic neon Polly-the-Parrot sign resting just to the side of Highway 62. It serves as a guide to Hoosiers who are looking for some good food or a cool treat on a hot summer's evening. Polly's has long been the gathering spot for youth sports teams who stop by after games to celebrate with Polly's famous upside-down banana split or their legendary orange sherbet. Polly's also provides patrons with a variety of food items such as the Pollyburger and their ground beef barbecue--a secret recipe known by only a few employees. Kids and adults alike are attracted to Polly's for its comfortable 1950's-like atmosphere, creating the perfect place to reconnect with old friends or even make new ones.

Polly's Freeze has become a landmark in Southern Indiana, exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit that has built this great nation. For over six decades, Polly's has provided generations of loyal patrons with lasting memories, as well as great food and cool treats. I would like to congratulate Polly's Freeze for their dedication to both their customers and the community--and I wish them continued success for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Neyland Clark, who has recently resigned from his post as the superintendent of the South Harrison Community School Corporation after 18 years of exemplary public service. His resignation marks a milestone in a career dedicated to education, including 26 years as a superintendent and more than four decades as an educator.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Clark has been bestowed many accolades and awards that objectify the passion and expertise that he has brought to the field of education. In just the past few years, Dr. Clark has been conferred an honorary degree from Indiana University Southeast, awarded the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) ``Excellence in Educational Leadership Award,'' and honored as the ``District VIII Superintendent of the Year'' by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents.

Dr. Clark is known in the education world as a capable leader and tireless innovator. Dr. Clark's successes have spanned a wide variety of issues, from combating racism in schools to balancing budgets while also raising teacher salaries. Dr. Clark's district became the first school corporation in the state of Indiana to establish an in-house professional development center in schools. These examples are more evidence of the relentless passion and knowledge Dr. Clark has brought to our education system over the past four decades.

Despite all of the praise, Dr. Clark remains a characteristically humble Hoosier, saying ``There is no magical story for being successful; it is a good, old-fashioned southern Indiana work ethic [that paves the path to success].'' Dr. Clark's work ethic, dedication, and knowledge will be missed as he moves on to new endeavors. Dr. Clark serves as an inspiration for anyone who seeks to make a positive difference in the public sector.

The 9th District of Indiana thanks him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman and his team. Congratulations to the Democrats.

The Republican side fought hard. We had a late surge, and we came up short by one goal, but this was for a greater cause than ourselves, promoting the sport of soccer among the youth of America; and I, too, would add: Go USA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4457, America's Small Business Tax Relief Act.

I want to thank my colleague, Pat Tiberi, for his hard work on this initiative, which is vital to the small businesses and farmers across my district.

I would be remiss if I didn't respond to the last speaker's comments, the distinguished gentleman from Maryland who, with a straight face, indicated that this card, his card, was a vehicle for fiscal responsibility when, consistently he has confused this card with this card, a credit card.

We have continued to rack up debts, over and over again, and we have not engaged in growth-oriented public policy, and that is what this bill is intended to do.

This bill increases the amount a small business taxpayer may immediately deduct when she buys operating materials for her business.

The ability of small businesses to immediately deduct the cost of qualified investment in the year purchased, rather than having to recover the cost through depreciation over several years, has been essential to the survival of thousands of firms over the past decade.

Higher expensing limits will encourage businesses to invest in new computers, tractors, and other types of business equipment and grow.

Such investment will have, of course, important second-order effects--economists tell us this--on the economy as these purchases are magnified throughout the nation.

The version of section 179 we are considering today expired at the end of 2012, and since then, back home I have heard from a parade of constituents, businessowners and workers alike, about the need to restore the provision.

I have heard from Indiana NFIB, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Manufacturers Association, Indiana Farm Bureau, and countless individual businesses and workers, and I am glad we are working in the House, hopefully on a bipartisan basis, to help unleash the ability of our Nation's small businesses to grow.

These small businesses are the engine of American job creation. They create roughly three out of five American jobs that have been created over recent years. And one critical means of supporting American small businesses and working Americans is through business tax incentives like section 179.

This is a proven success. It has proven itself over the last several years. And it is evident that these small businesses are one bright spot of job creation, personal opportunity, and upward mobility during these troubled times.

I support this commonsensical bill that is going to help small businesses grow and restore a measure of hope and opportunity to rank- and-file Americans during these troubled times.

I would like to thank Chairman Tiberi for his important work in offering this legislation.

I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reconsider their partisan reservations to supporting this measure.

Madam Chair, I rise today first in recognition of the great professional public service offered by Chairman Wolf. I appreciate that so much.

I also rise in support of H.R. 4660, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that he and his staff have worked so hard on.

This important measure provides funding for a number of vital agencies, of course one of which is the Office of the United States Trade Representative. This approps bill provides funding for the USTR to continue advocating on behalf of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, and to continue enforcing existing free trade agreements. More specifically, funding USTR will help protect intellectual property rights abroad.

Now, I continue to maintain very serious concerns with Canada's misapplication of internationally recognized patent standards, which appears to violate their international obligations, and it is having a real economic impact on innovative American companies.

I appreciate that the USTR has expressed serious concern about these practices in last year's Special 301 Report, given Canada's continued failure to bring its patent standards in line with international obligations and best practices. Accordingly, I strongly urge the elevation of Canada to the Special 301 Priority Watch List in 2014.

IP is one of the main engines of the United States' innovative economy. Approximately one-third of U.S. jobs and 60 percent of our exports rely on IP. With more than 95 percent of the world's population living outside of the United States, strong IP protections are essential to future U.S. economic growth and competitiveness.

Funding USTR will ensure a continued enforcement of existing free trade agreements while furthering future U.S. economic interests through negotiation of TPP and TTIP.

I would like to, again, thank Chairman Wolf and his staff for their important work in putting together this approps bill.