Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the problem of excessive government.

The United States of America, the land of the free and the brave, a country created to provide everyone an equal opportunity to survive and thrive, has now become the regulation Nation.

In my travels across the great State of Minnesota, I have met and talked with people from all walks of life: farmers and manufacturers, teachers and entrepreneurs, community bankers and credit unions, and they are all crying out for relief from the excessive, overly burdensome, and duplicative regulation that is stifling growth and stealing opportunity.

For the past 8 years, opportunity in America has been under attack by regulations and unelected regulators from Washington. If every American is to have the opportunity to pursue the American Dream, this must end. That is why policy reforms such as the REINS Act are so important.

Under this vital legislation, any major rules from a Federal agency will require congressional approval. This is a great step to end the regulation Nation. We in the people's House must continue to work together to make life easier for the American people, not more difficult.

In the 115th Congress, we must--and we will--work with the incoming administration to roll back excessive and unnecessary regulation so that American families and businesses not only survive but can once again thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the first time in the 115th Congress to recognize the brave servicemen and -women who tirelessly defend our great Nation.

Every day, our men and women in uniform make tremendous sacrifices to protect the many freedoms we enjoy both at home and abroad. They spend time away from their families, miss birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals, and are frequently required to put themselves in harm's way to fight for this great Nation.

In particular, I would like to recognize Jason Braun, who will be deploying to the Middle East in the coming

days. A Minnesota resident, Jason is a member of the West Metro Fire- Rescue District and is a dedicated husband to my director of operations and scheduler, Kate Braun.

I want to thank Jason; his wife, Kate; and all of the members of our Armed Forces and their families for their continued sacrifice and service to our country. Their dedication to freedom is what makes this country great. I wish all of our servicemembers overseas a safe and speedy deployment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the House for passing America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015. I want to thank Congressman Tiberi, Chairman Ryan, and leadership for their work to pass this important piece of legislation.

If we want the United States to continue as the most productive economy in the world, we need to modernize our Tax Code. Allowing businesses to plan ahead and allocate their resources will generate wealth, jobs, and a higher standard of living for everyone.

Making section 179 of the Tax Code permanent is one way we can do this. Section 179 enables companies to accelerate depreciation of new and used equipment that is purchased and put into use during the same year. This expensing can stimulate business investment by reducing the cost of capital and increasing cash flow.

Investing in the future of America is critical to long-term growth and economic prosperity for all. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Fighting Hunger Incentive Act of 2015.

Roughly one in 10 Minnesotans live in poverty. Sadly, this means that many Minnesotans, including children, lack access to the food and resources they need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

This morning, I had an opportunity to tour and make sandwiches at Martha's Table, an organization here in D.C. that reaches more than 18,000 people through their programs. I saw firsthand the need for legislation like this.

This legislation will permanently extend the enhanced charitable deduction for all businesses that donate food to charities and food banks. This will encourage more businesses to chip in and help in the ongoing fight against hunger.

We have an obligation to help those around us, and this is a nonpartisan, bipartisan way to make a big difference.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 90th birthday of Walter Grotz of Delano, Minnesota.

Born on February 10, 1925, Walter is a World War II veteran with a remarkable life of service, both to his community and to his country.

Shortly after graduating from Delano High School in 1943, Walter was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force. When his plane was shot down over Germany, he spent 6 months as a prisoner of war of the Nazis.

After surviving this brutal experience, Walter came back to Minnesota, serving as Delano's postmaster until his retirement 34 years later. ``Freedom is a very special thing,'' he reminds Delano students through his scholarship essay contest. ``You take it for granted because it's always been there and always will be.'' But will it?

Thank you for your service, Walter. Happy birthday.

I thank the gentleman from Texas, Representative Brady, for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the urgent health needs of this Nation. I asked my constituents to share with me how ObamaCare has affected them, and I want to share a few of their stories with you today.

Troy, from Norwood Young America, wrote that his family's premium went up and coverage went down, drastically affecting the cost of his son's hearing aid.

Brian, from Albertville, said his wife's mental health clinic has steadily lost clients due to regulations.

Today, Congress will vote to get rid of this fundamentally flawed and unworkable law, but this cannot be for show. It is not enough for Congress to simply be against ObamaCare. We need to offer alternatives. By offering market-based, consumer-focused reforms, we can find real solutions, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to get it done. It is time to stop playing party politics with the public's health.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Kristi Noem and Congresswoman Ann Wagner, for their leadership here tonight.

Nearly a year ago, Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria kidnapped more than 200 teenage girls with the intent of selling them off into slavery. This crime against humanity sparked international outrage, but a distracted world soon turned their attention and their backs on these young women.

Unfortunately, this was not an isolated tragedy in some faraway nation. We are in the midst of a global crisis. On every continent and in every nation, millions of human beings are sold and enslaved, forced into labor and prostitution against their will.

In the United States alone, hundreds of thousands are trafficked by transnational drug cartels and criminal organizations. The Justice Department estimates there are more than 200,000 children across the U.S. at risk of trafficking.

Human trafficking is a $30 billion per year enterprise, with thousands trafficked annually. This is not just an American problem, but there is work that we can do at home to combat this growing problem.

Congress must do everything within its power and authority to ensure that resources and judicial tools are being used to improve prosecutions, protect victims, and prevent future trafficking. Thankfully, we are not starting with nothing.

One way we can combat trafficking is through safe harbor laws that have been instituted across the country, including my home State of Minnesota. I would like to thank my colleague, Senator Amy Klobuchar, for her leadership on protecting victims and assisting prosecutors by forwarding safe harbor laws at the national level.

Her leadership, with the support of countless others--including especially my colleagues John Kline and Eric Paulsen--comes from an ongoing effort from everyday Minnesotans looking to make an impact and rescue young men and women trapped in the sex trade.

There is also an existing network of organizations that provide services to victims of trafficking that are both life altering and lifesaving.

In my district, three such organizations stand out. Breaking Free and Heartland Girls' Ranch help women escape sexual exploitation through housing, mental health support, and education. The Link, in Carver County, provides support programs to youth and families to combat homelessness and works with at-risk children to help them reach their full potential.

Organizations like these are vital in the fight against trafficking. They make a real difference, and their efforts should be celebrated.

Congress will take important votes tomorrow to streamline agency processes and responses, improve the effectiveness of grant awards, and expand the scope of outreach and child protection initiatives.

To our collective shame, the tragedy of human trafficking persists. The words spoken tonight and the votes cast in this Chamber tomorrow cannot merely be symbolic gestures. They must be followed by action and constant vigilance. Our children deserve nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, on the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I stand with my colleagues in defense of innocent human life. My wife and I were blessed with seven beautiful children, each with their own unique gifts. Since Roe v. Wade, more than 56 million unborn babies have been robbed of the chance to reach their true potential.

Our Nation's role as a defender of the rights to life and liberty erode with each innocent life that is taken. This is not a partisan issue or a judgment of others. But we must never stop defending the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, in an era where common ground can be hard to find, I am honored to serve with the men and women dedicated to the protection of these most basic of liberties.

Amendment VI:

``In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, . . . ''

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Keystone pipeline, which will safely move 300 million barrels annually, strengthen our economy, continue to decrease our dependence on Mideast oil, and support thousands of jobs.

This body has shown tremendous leadership on this issue and last year passed bipartisan legislation to approve Keystone for the ninth time. Today, with strong support from unions, businesses, and the American people, we must pass it again.

I am grateful for Representative Cramer, Chairman Shuster, Chairman Upton, and the leadership for their work on this vital legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Keystone pipeline and on behalf of the people of Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District. I am honored and I would like to thank my constituents for the opportunity to serve as their representative.

I am a proud supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline, which will be an efficient and safe means of transporting up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil from Canada to the United States daily. The construction of this pipeline will support thousands of jobs and increase our GDP by nearly $3.4 billion. Keystone will continue to reduce our dependence on Mideast oil. In the fastest growing region of Minnesota, this pipeline will alleviate rail and road congestion currently plaguing cities like Anoka and Elk River. This pipeline will also bring stability to our energy system and help stimulate growth in our economy.