Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in strong support of the IMPACT Act, H.R. 4994. In particular, I would direct my comments tonight in regards to the provisions that deal with hospice care in America. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Levin, a friend who has stood with

us in regards to this act, and I echo his support and request for support for its passage this evening.

When we drafted the Hospice Opportunities for Supporting Patients with Integrity and Care Evaluations, otherwise known as the HOSPICE, Act, I was glad to bring those issues to the forefront in the debate that has been incorporated in the IMPACT Act tonight.

To me, hospice care is the right thing to do for our fellow Americans that face those hard decisions as we deal with health care at the end of our lives.

To me, the HOSPICE Act and the provisions in the IMPACT Act go to ensure that there is quality care when it comes to hospice care for our fellow Americans.

These reforms are necessary. They are the right thing to do, and they will ensure that hospice in America is done in a quality, well- conducted manner for all of our fellow Americans.

I would like to thank my coauthor on this, Mr. Mike Thompson from California, with his bipartisan support, and with my colleague on the other side joining us in regards to these reforms to hospice care across America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time for me to address you this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act that we have authored and submitted for consideration today.

But as we speak about the details and before we speak about the details, I want to take a moment to thank a few people. I would like to thank my good friend from Massachusetts. Joe Kennedy and I started on this effort many months ago. We went through the process, and we are here tonight after lengthy negotiations, deliberations, and input from many stakeholders from all across America. With his diligent hard work standing with us, I am proud to call him a friend this evening as we consider this legislation for passage.

I would like to thank Chairman Smith of the Science Committee for standing firm and leading on this issue, as well, as well as the subcommittee chairman, my good friend from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon), as well as the ranking members, Johnson and Lipinski, of the Science Committee and the Appropriations Committee, and Chairman Hal Rogers.

Mr. Speaker, I am excited about this legislation. When I came here to Washington, D.C., in 2010, I came here to do something. This is the kind of legislation--bringing parties together, Democrats, Republicans standing together in a concerted, directed effort--to get policy adopted that will grow the American economy and put people back to work.

We hear the term many times, and heard it tonight again: jobs. Well, Mr.

Speaker, this legislation will accomplish that. But on top of that, this legislation is designed to the heart of advanced manufacturing in the United States of America. These are the great innovations of tomorrow that we are taking from the concept phase and putting into the commercial phase.

And how are we doing that? With a united vision, a united plan, Democrats, Republicans, coming together to stand for workforce development, for identifying those technologies that are emerging that we can put as a priority on the national stage to create the jobs of today and tomorrow, because at the end of the day that is what this is all about. This is about building it here to sell it there. It is about building those products that generations before us envisioned but just couldn't get to the finish line. This is a concerted effort that will take that technology innovation from the shelf and put it in Main Street America so that hardworking taxpayers will have an opportunity for this generation and the generations to come.

I applaud this legislation, I applaud this effort. As we do this, let us recognize that we came together to pay for this legislation tonight, fully offset, the program and priority that we are putting together through this RAMI legislation.

Now, I look forward to the Senate and their efforts to hopefully take this legislation up. Things I hear today and tonight are very positive on that front. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to act quickly to create and pass this legislation that will provide for generations to come.

We have created an opportunity here to create American jobs. It is time for us, as we did many times before, to come together, solve America's problems, and put this type of legislation on the President's desk--which all indications are that he will accept and sign--and get American manufacturing back on its feet so that it builds products for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of an ``all-of-the-above'' energy approach for our nation's future. By taking this fair and reasonable approach to domestic energy exploration and production, we can properly care for the energy needs of families and businesses in New York, and across the country, while promoting American jobs, boosting national security and taking care of the environment.

Last year, 13 percent of electricity in the United States was produced from renewable sources, ranking us second in the world. This development has improved environmental quality while providing power to our nation's homes and businesses. Since I care about our fellow Americans health, this is the right thing to do. Additionally, the growing use of alternative and renewable fuels lower imports of foreign energy, improves our national security by reducing foreign energy consumption, and creates jobs for families across the country. In addition, clean natural gas development is bringing with it job growth and revitalizing manufacturing in towns and cities across America.

We can create jobs, provide quality energy to American businesses and families, care for the environment and support national security if we, as a nation, focus on an ``all-of-the-above'' energy approach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the decorated careers of Chief Terry Schnell and Captain Kurt Ireland of the Olean Police Department. Longtime members of the department, Chief Schnell and Captain Ireland have a combined 68 years of dedicated service to the Olean community.

Terry Schnell joined the Olean Police Department in 1982 and rose to the rank of chief in 2006. Throughout his 32-year career, Chief Schnell earned the trust and respect of his fellow officers, city leaders, and citizens. During his time with the Olean Police Department, Chief Schnell completed training at the FBI Academy, learning advanced skills and strategies that have positively benefited the department. Throughout his tenure as chief, Mr. Schnell repeatedly fought to secure necessary funding and support for the police department. His career exemplifies the values outlined in the department's mission statement, serving with ``integrity, common sense, and sound judgment.''

Kurt Ireland joined the Olean Police Department in 1977. He spent the majority of his 36-year career with the department's patrol division, earning promotions to sergeant in 1993 and captain in 1998. While holding these leadership positions, Captain Ireland managed the daily operations of his unit and established department procedures. Captain Ireland was a responsible, dedicated, and hard-working officer who served his community with the highest level of integrity.

I congratulate Chief Terry Schnell and Captain Kurt Ireland on their retirement from the Olean Police Department. We owe these men a debt of gratitude for their combined 68 years of service to the Olean community. Their impressive careers in law enforcement and numerous contributions to our community improved quality of life and made Olean a safer place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of international adoption. Adoption is an important building block that contributes to strong and loving families for children and parents alike.

I recently met with a family from my congressional district which adopted a young girl from Nepal. The family experienced a great deal of difficulty throughout the adoption process, as evidenced by the numerous administrative roadblocks they encountered. However, the family persevered through the adversity and eventually completed the adoption process, welcoming a new daughter into their family.

The family's dedication to providing a better life for an orphan born into poverty on the other side of the world exemplifies the spirit of international adoption. The family's perseverance is a symbol of hope for the thousands of children living in orphanages around the world who yearn to become part of a loving and nurturing family. No matter the country or continent, children in each corner of the globe deserve to be part of a family.

As Americans, we should take every opportunity to offer a helping hand to those who are less fortunate. Today, there are thousands of orphanages with a growing number of children waiting to be adopted by a loving family that will provide sustenance, support, and stability. By providing these underprivileged children with the American ideals of hope and opportunity, we not only brighten their future, but America's future as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the decorated careers of Chief Tony Schnell and Captain Kurt Ireland of the Olean Police Department. Longtime members of the department, Chief Schnell and Captain Ireland have a combined 68 years of dedicated service to the Olean community.

Tony Schnell joined the Olean Police Department in 1982 and rose to the rank of chief in 2006. Throughout his 32-year career, Chief Schnell earned the trust and respect of his fellow officers, city leaders, and citizens. During his time with the Olean Police Department, Chief Schnell completed training at the FBI Academy, learning advanced skills and strategies that have positively benefited the department. Throughout his tenure as chief, Mr. Schnell repeatedly fought to secure necessary funding and support for the police department. His career exemplifies the values outlined in the department's mission statement, serving with ``integrity, common sense, and sound judgment.''

Kurt Ireland joined the Olean Police Department in 1977. He spent the majority of his 36-year career with the department's patrol division, earning promotions to sergeant in 1993 and captain in 1998. While holding these leadership positions, Captain Ireland managed the daily operations of his unit and established department procedures. Captain Ireland was a responsible, dedicated, and hard-working officer who served his community with the highest level of integrity.

I congratulate Chief Tony Schnell and Captain Kurt Ireland on their retirement from the Olean Police Department. We owe these men a debt of gratitude for their combined 68 years of service to the Olean community. Their impressive careers in law enforcement and numerous contributions to our community improved quality of life and made Olean a safer place to live.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.

I want to start my comments today by focusing on the merits of this proposal and then by offering some comments in response to my good friend from Michigan in regards to the budgetary concerns that he articulated in his opening remarks.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is a commonsense bill that is the right thing to do for America. It is the right policy because what we are doing with the America Gives More Act of 2014 is putting in our tax policy provisions on a permanent basis that are going to provide for enhanced charitable giving in America. That is the right thing to do. We care about Americans, especially fellow American citizens. In times when they need it the most, we are going to stand with them. Our tax policy under this provision would be made permanent to encourage fellow Americans to help Americans. To me, it makes sense. It is a fundamental question of fairness, and it is a fundamental question of: Do we care about our fellow citizens in their time of need?

I have one piece of legislation in this underlying bill in particular that I wanted to articulate, and I want to thank my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee who are going to speak after me in regards to their individual pieces of legislation that make up this America Gives More Act of 2014. That provision that I am going to talk about is the Fighting Hunger Incentive Act.

Essentially, all we are doing under the Tax Code is recognizing that we are going to treat all businesses, all people the same across America when it comes to their excess food inventories--be it in their restaurants, expanded to farms--so that our farmers can be in a position to give that food that otherwise would go into a landfill to the people who need it most: fellow hungry Americans.

To me, that makes sense, and that is where we have supported this legislation. It has come out of the committee, and it has gotten bipartisan support. Groups across the country took out an ad in our local paper here today, and they support this effort to not have food go to a landfill but to go onto the tables, onto the plates of fellow Americans who need it most. That is why this legislation is the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, I heard my colleague talk about the concern about the deficit. I share that concern, but the question that has to be answered is: Why have these extenders historically been renewed on a temporary basis without an offset? It is because it is the policy of the Tax Code that we are trying to make permanent here. Prior Members of Congress-- and the President, himself, when he was in the Senate--supported the extension of these extenders without an offset because it was good policy. It is the right thing to do, and I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this legislation.

I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding, as well as my colleague from Maryland for his support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 606, to rename the post office at 815 County Road 23 in Tyrone, New York, after Specialist Christopher Scott.

Mr. Speaker, Specialist Scott gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country on September 3, 2011, at the young age of 21 years old, and I am honored to recognize him here today.

A 2009 graduate of Dundee Central Schools, Christopher was an engaged student who was active on both his school's football and track teams. In addition, he was the only male cheerleader on the varsity squad. Outside of school, Chris was skilled in martial arts and was an avid member of the Spencer Van Etten Coon Hunting Club.

It was Specialist Scott's dream to serve his country as a military policeman, and he enlisted shortly after graduating from Dundee. He was assigned to the 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and he was ultimately deployed in July of 2011. His fellow soldiers commended him on his leadership and constant professionalism.

Tragically, Mr. Speaker, he was killed September 3, 2011, while on patrol in Afghanistan, just 2 weeks before he was to return home to be married. The news devastated his tight-knit community of 1,500 people.

His service and heroism earned him numerous awards and decorations, which include the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal, and Combat Action Badge.

Specialist Scott personified patriotism, giving the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. The least we can do is to pay tribute to his bravery and dedication by naming the Tyrone Post Office in his honor to help preserve his legacy as one of New York's true heroes for generations to come.

I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the courage and bravery of three constituents: Ryan Johnson, Dustin Potter, and D.J. Quinten.

On June 20, 2014, a 14-ton carrier truck crashed into Simeon's on the Commons, a popular restaurant in Ithaca, New York. Upon witnessing the crash, Ryan, Dustin, and D.J. immediately sprang into action. Despite the obvious risk, these men put their lives in harm's way to help those who were in even greater danger. Before the first responders arrived at the scene of the accident, these men rushed into the smoking building to provide assistance to the multiple victims who had sustained injuries.

Sadly, the crash took the life of Amanda Bush, a 27-year-old from Lansing, New York. I extend my deepest condolences to Amanda's friends and family, especially her fiance and 14-month-old daughter. I am amazed by the outpouring of support that the Ithaca community has shown in response to this tragedy. Hundreds of friends and neighbors attended the memorial service for Amanda and made financial donations to a fund benefitting Amanda's family.

In total, seven people were injured as a result of the crash. I am confident that the heroic actions of Ryan, Dustin, and D.J. saved lives. We owe a collective debt of gratitude to each of these individuals for their selfless actions and willingness to assist their neighbors in a critical time of need.

I am proud to recognize Ryan, Dustin, and D.J. and I hope their actions will serve as an inspiration to others throughout Tompkins County and New York's 23rd Congressional District.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that will provide an additional $4 million in funding to the nondefense environmental cleanup line of the subject bill by diverting money that otherwise would go to the D.C. bureaucracy and putting that money on the front line to this critical piece of necessary work that needs to be done across the country.

I would offer, Mr. Chairman, that this amendment supports public safety and health.

I recognize, Mr. Chairman, that we are operating in tough fiscal times, and I appreciate the work the subcommittee has done on appropriations by going through this bill in a very thoughtful and methodical way. It has offered a good piece of sound legislation.

However, I would ask that this amendment be considered and supported by my colleagues because what it fundamentally will do is provide the necessary resources for nuclear waste cleanup sites around the Nation and ensure that these dollars are spent at a level that recognizes the priority of these efforts to our country.

In our district, I have a site called the West Valley Demonstration Project that is one of these types of sites. I have heard from many of my constituents--the West Valley Citizens Task Force, in particular-- that spend and devote a tremendous amount of time to this facility and this effort of cleaning up these nuclear waste sites across the country, and in particular the West Valley Demonstration Project site.

The information I received, Mr. Chairman, is that there is a need for consistent funding in this area, because if there is not, the long-term capability and the long-term cost to our country to clean these sites up significantly is increased because of the lack of consistency in the funding necessary to go through this tremendous remediation and restabilization efforts at these nuclear sites.

I am also pleased, Mr. Chairman, to rise with support on a bipartisan basis, working with Congressman Higgins, my colleague in New York, as well as Mr. Matheson, who has joined us in these efforts to recognize across the country that this is a priority level type of effort that needs to be done for our nuclear waste sites across the country.

I yield to the gentleman from Idaho.

Reclaiming my time, I appreciate the gentleman's support of that effort.

With that, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins).

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I thank the subcommittee chairman for the support on this amendment. I thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle for joining us in this effort, and I ask that we support this amendment and move forward.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Reed

Amendment No. 20: Page 23, line 5, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(increased by $4,000,000)''.

Page 26, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $4,000,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I write to inform you that I was unable to be on the House floor for votes on June 25, 2014 related to H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act (rollcall No. 359). Had I been there, I would have voted in support of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence of Pioneer Middle School in Yorkshire, New York. The school was recently designated a ``School to Watch'' by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Pioneer Middle School was one of only 118 schools from across the country to receive this outstanding distinction.

The Forum uses rigorous criteria of requirements and achievements to select the recipients of this highly esteemed honor. Academic performance, developmental responsiveness, and social equity are among the factors used to grade each school. Schools that receive this prestigious distinction must display a strong ``sense of purpose'' and maintain a ``trajectory toward excellence.'' Pioneer Middle School continually meets and exceeds each of these requirements and it shows in the students and their mentors.

Earning this award speaks to the dedication of the administration and faculty to providing students with the highest level of academic excellence. I would like to specifically recognize the principal of Pioneer Middle School, Melissa Prorok, for going above and beyond in facilitating a positive academic experience for each student.

Once again, I commend Pioneer Middle School on this notable achievement. I am confident that the excellence displayed by the teachers and administrators will continue to develop strong academic foundations for their students, paving the way for them to achieve success throughout their academic careers. I am proud of the positive impact this school is making on students and its community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extensive and highly decorated career of a constituent, William ``Bill'' Gallow. Mr. Gallow has dedicated his life to serving his neighbors throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions of New York.

Mr. Gallow served as a Combat Infantryman in the United States Army during World War II, under the command of General George Patton. Upon returning home, Mr. Gallow began working with the Arnold Ambulance Service, a volunteer EMT position that he held for over 25 years. In 1963, he embarked on a remarkable 60-year career with the Van Etten Volunteer Fire Company. During his tenure, Mr. Gallow held the positions of Chief, President, Secretary, Trustee, and Senior Medic. In addition, he passed down his knowledge and expertise to other first responders by teaching courses at academic institutions, training facilities, and the New York State Fire Academy.

Bill Gallow exemplifies selfless service and true leadership. His generosity and willingness to assist anyone in need has earned him the highest level of respect within the Van Etten community and throughout all of Chemung County. He consistently goes above and beyond through his volunteer work and community service. Mr. Gallow has served as a medic at the Special Olympics and the Susan B. Komen ``Race for the Cure'' on multiple occasions. In recognition of his excellent and selfless service, he was awarded the Southern Tier Regional Emergency Service Award in 1997 and the Richard Habbershaw Community Service Award in 2007.

I commend Mr. Gallow for all the great work he has done at the Van Etten Volunteer Fire Company and throughout his community. He is a selfless and generous individual who has made countless positive contributions to New York's 23rd Congressional District, and I am proud to recognize him today.

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3765, to rename the post office at 198 Baker Street in Corning, New York, after Specialist Ryan P Jayne.

I am so pleased to have the support of my colleague from North Carolina, as well as my good friend from Massachusetts, coming together in a bipartisan manner to recognize, in a very special way, the ultimate sacrifice that Specialist Jayne provided for our family, for our country, and for all of us as he gave, at his young age of 22 years of age, the ultimate sacrifice, and we need to honor and recognize it here today.

As has been stated, Corning, New York, is my hometown, and Specialist Ryan Jayne was a 2008 graduate of Corning East High School, a high school I went to.

Ryan was an exemplary student and was awarded the Judi McCort Memorial Scholarship for his courage, hard work, and responsibility. Following high school, he went to our local community college, Corning Community College, before enlisting in 2010.

Serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, Specialist Jayne was tragically killed by an IED alongside two fellow New Yorkers, two of his fellow New York soldiers that were standing with him at the time of his death. At the time of his death, he had accrued over 2 years of service with the U.S. Army.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, I was there at the memorial service at Corning East High School auditorium, and in the stadium. His death was felt throughout our entire community, but he is remembered as a passionate young man, a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, as has been mentioned, and one who loved truly spending time with his family and friends.

We honor and remember Specialist Jayne for his sacrifice and the sacrifice of his family, actions of heroism that we will never, ever forget.

Naming the post office in Corning, New York, after Specialist Jayne is the

least we can do here in this body and in this Chamber this evening to honor Specialist Jayne's bravery, his service, and his love of our country, and for a love of his community, Corning, New York, that he called home.

So I encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, let's come together, let's do what is right, and stand with Specialist Jayne this evening and recognize the courage, the sacrifice that he provided to all of us.