Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor an extraordinary citizen of my district, my State, and of this great nation. On Christmas Day, Mr. Jack Murray of Elmira, New York, will celebrate a milestone in his life; his 90th birthday.

Mr. Murray's life and career exemplify selfless and tireless commitment to his neighborhood, his community and his noble profession of public education. Jack is the son of the late major league baseball great 'Red' Murray, one of the notable stars on the roster of the New York Giants in the early years of the 20th Century. Mr. Murray followed in his father's athletic footsteps through a decades-long career of promoting good health and fitness as a physical education teacher within the Elmira City School District. He was a laudable fixture in the public school system of his community for over thirty years, and his work touched the lives of thousands of young people in a supportive and positive fashion.

Likewise, Jack Murray has been recognized over the years by his neighbors in Elmira as a highly regarded figure in his community. Jack is described as a gregarious and well-regarded friend to many and a man of gentle, companionable warmth whose inherent sense of dignity and personal grace have left him a uniquely beloved man.

It is important that we honor such individuals for their devoted and generous work, for their community leadership and for their service on behalf of their neighbors. People like Jack Murray make our communities better places through their efforts and by their example. It is a true pleasure for me to participate in some small way in the celebration of this happy and significant day in Mr. Murray's life. I join with his friends, neighbors and former students in offering best wishes and good health for many, many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Dave Edwards' retirement from public office following more than four decades of service. Mr. Edwards, formerly the Department of Public Works Superintendent of the Town of Caneadea, officially retired at the end of September.

Mr. Edwards' impact on my district is truly difficult to quantify as he has influenced countless aspects of the community. Dave Edwards has served on the Allegany County Fire Service Advisory Board for five years and is currently a member of the Allegany County Volunteer Fireman's Association where he is Chairman of the Memorial Committee. He has also played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Houghton Volunteer Ambulance Service, Inc. into the thriving corporation that it is today. This passion for service drives him to be a strong advocate for the maintenance and preservation of his community's fire fighting history.

Mr. Edwards' impact on the district has also been felt by the Caneadea Boosters Organization. He assisted with raising funds to repair the old steel-framed bridge within the town and has been a proud supporter of the Allegany County Republican Women's Club's 50/50 raffle for many years.

Perhaps most importantly, Dave Edwards is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife Linda have been married for thirty-four years and have one daughter, Stacey. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Dave Edwards while serving the constituents of the Southern Tier and I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, what we have before us is an opportunity to send a message across America that there will be no special treatment in Washington, D.C. for Members of Congress and Washington insiders.

It is only fair that what we do is that we treat everyone equally under the law. That is what we're dealing with here today, Mr. Speaker. What we are talking about is if the President of the United States has said to Big Business, you get a pass for 1 year under ObamaCare, all we're saying is if it's good for Big Business, it's good for Americans and that every individual in America should be treated the same.

I'm asking my colleagues to join me. Don't vote to protect your own self-interest and this special contribution under ObamaCare that Members of Congress get. Treat us equally. Treat us the same. It is only fair that we keep this government open and we keep the law of the land intact for everyone equally.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear as to what we did tonight.

We sent a request to the United States Senate to simply treat all Americans equally under ObamaCare. We sent a request to the Senate to keep the government open. Because the President has chosen to give a pass to Big Business for 1 year, we are asking to give that pass to American individuals for 1 year.

The law isn't ready. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle know it's not ready. Why can't we just treat American citizens-- individuals--the same as our President, who, by his executive order, has said Big Business should get a pass?

Most egregiously, why wouldn't you agree with us that Members of Congress should not be treated any differently under the law? You know the truth, to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker: Members of Congress are getting special treatment under this law because of what Harry Reid and the President did through the OPM. Our contributions for our health insurance premiums as we go into the exchanges are different and are not allowed to every other American citizen.

So what we stood up for tonight was a simple request: we will keep this government open, but let's just treat American citizens no differently--no special treatment for Members of Congress, American citizens no different than Big Business.

Why don't you join us. Why don't you join us in those commonsense reforms by which Americans across the country are saying, We don't want this law. It's not ready to go.

At a minimum, just treat us the same as Big Business America. Treat us the same, and don't give Members of Congress--yourselves--to my friends across the aisle, special treatment under the law.

That simple agreement would have kept the government open, and I hope that you will heed that fundamental call for fairness. Yet you turned your ear to the American people. In the U.S. Senate, you turned a deaf ear to the American people and said we are going to continue the status quo and that somehow we in Washington, D.C., should be treated differently.

I reject that message. I reject that notion. I stand for equality for all Americans.

I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

I came here today on the floor of this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, and I just dropped the Fair CR. And what the Fair CR says is, let's listen to the American people. Let us delay ObamaCare for at least 1 year.

The President has already given business a pass for 1 year. Why is it fair that individuals and hardworking taxpayers have to be subject to this mandate?

Also, what's fair is, why are there special exemptions for Members of Congress and employees and staffers here in Washington, D.C.? You've got 300 million other Americans that have to be subject to this law.

It's just not right. It's just not fair. It's time to keep the government open but do what's right and listen to the American people and take care of this unfair policy that the administration knows needs to stop.

Mr Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Howard Flats Farm in Hornell, New York. As agriculture is a foundational part of our American heritage, I am honored to recognize such a longstanding farm family. Agriculture is an important industry for New York as well as the country as a whole, providing a stable, safe food supply. It is essential to recognize the milestones of those families who have made substantial contributions to the economic vitality of the Empire State.

The diversified farming operation at the Howard Flats Farm, owned by Phil Bennett and his wife Juanita Bennett, includes a log home and nearby camping site that is rented as lodging during hunting season and throughout the year for recreational activities. Mr. Bennett is an active Rotarian and Farm Bureau member. He and his family also volunteer their time to many of Howard's community events and activities.

The farm has been in the Bennett family for five generations and is now managed by Phil and Juanita's son, Jay Bennett. Howard Flats Farm totals around 700 acres and is the home to an average milking-herd of 150 cows. The farm has and continues to change and expand with time and is poised for success for many years to come.

With great pleasure, I acknowledge the success of this exceptional family and its contributions to the local and State economies, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy the success it has experienced thus far.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of David G. Rich, who left a lasting impact on the 23rd District of New York. After fighting a courageous battle against cancer, David, of Falconer, New York, passed away July 11, 2013, in the presence of his beloved high school sweetheart and wife, Cindy, as well as his friends and family.

Following graduation from Falconer Central School in 1961 and the completion of bachelor's, master's, and superintendent's degrees at the State University of New York at Fredonia, David enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as a first lieutenant in Vietnam, First Air Cavalry Division, until he suffered critical wounds in action in 1968. After his honorable discharge, David taught Social Studies at Cassadaga Valley Central School from 1970 to 1998. During this period, he volunteered as an adviser for the student council, the junior and senior classes, the chess club, and he contributed to the production of school plays. David's long tenure at Cassadaga allowed him to positively impact the lives of generations of students.

David's community involvement stretched beyond his devotion to Cassadaga students. He served as a Distinguished President of the Kiwanis Club of Falconer and went on to work as the Lieutenant Governor and Foundation Coordinator of the Southwestern Division of New York Kiwanis. David also volunteered in other clubs and organizations including the Falconer American Legion, the Eastern Star, the Travel Club of Herons Glen, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. With an exceptional affection for animals, David was also considered a ``Legacy of Love'' member of the Chautauqua County Humane Society.

Through his dedication to others, David G. Rich made his community a better place. Although David will be greatly missed, his legacy will continue for generations to come. I am proud to honor him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sgt. Justin R. Rogers, a brave soldier and devoted family man who served our country for the past five years in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Rogers was only 25 years old when he passed away in Bagram, Afghanistan on June 28, 2013. He leaves behind his wife, Stefanie, daughter, Nateli, and his mother and stepfather, Teresa and Stan Vicki, who reside in Sgt. Rogers' hometown of Barton, New York.

Sgt. Justin Rogers enlisted in the Army in 2008 following his graduation at Tioga Central High School. While attending Tioga Central, Rogers was a standout athlete and leader, captaining both the football and wrestling teams. He utilized these leadership skills in his career as a soldier, earning multiple awards during his service including, two Army Achievement Medals and an Army Good Conduct Medal.

Sgt. Rogers was devoted to his country and planned on making the Army a career. A few weeks before his death, he had reenlisted to serve another three years as a horizontal construction engineer with the 101st Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Today we remember the commitment and dedication of Sgt. Justin Rogers. He selflessly served his country to protect our freedom and it is imperative that we honor his sacrifice.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment. I would like to thank the chairman for his support, as well as my colleague from New York (Mr. Owens) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley) for their work on this issue.

I am proud to support the underlying legislation, the Student Success Act, that removes the one-size-fits-all Federal Adequate Yearly Progress mandates that are strangling local school districts and forcing teachers to ``teach to the test.'' While testing is an important part of a school's assessment, we can all agree that additional measures such as graduation rates, involvement in advanced classes, or extracurricular activities are also important indicators of where students or a school district stands in their efforts to educate our Nation's children.

A student should not be measured only by their ability to succeed on a test. This amendment would allow State and local education agencies to use multiple measures when it comes to these assessments. State and local educators should be encouraged to base academic achievement systems on these multiple measures. No Child Left Behind's mandate on success has consistently shown that schools are being mislabeled and subsequently punished based on testing scores alone. That's just not fair.

This amendment also gives States further flexibility to include parameters of their choosing in their accountability systems to better measure school success. Together, we can better care for our children and encourage their success in school.

I am pleased to be offering this amendment with bipartisan support and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment. I would also like to thank the chairman, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the School Superintendents Association for their support on this effort.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, at this time I'd like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my good friend from West Virginia, (Mr. McKinley).

Mr. Chairman, at this point in time I would just ask that my colleagues join me in this commonsense amendment that allows the local communities and local school districts the flexibility to consider multiple measures in determining whether or not a school or student is succeeding or failing in our Nation's school system.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today and ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in this employer mandate relief because what is happening here first of all is the President is unilaterally ignoring the law of the land, and he's not going to be President forever. So when a President of a different party, my party, is in that office, I hope they remember the action taken today. And I'll put it to the American people that it makes sense for us in this body to require the passage of this legislation so the President's power is put in check.

As to the individual mandate, Mr. Speaker, this is just fair. If we're going to relieve the burden on employers, then we need to relieve the burden on hardworking taxpayers and families across America. To me, it's just not right. It's fair to both pass this employer mandate relief bill as well as the individual relief bill that accompanies it later for discussion.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment involving the Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup programs for America.

What I seek to do with this amendment is to increase this line by $19 million. I recognize the hard work of the subcommittee and of the subcommittee chairman in addressing the fiscal needs of our country and in reducing the overall spending in this appropriations bill. In regard to this line in particular, it is presently scheduled, as proposed, to be reduced by $42 million. I recognize the fiscal crisis that we face in America, but this amendment reestablishes $19 million to that line because it is a wise investment.

It is a wise investment because of sites such as that in my district, the West Valley Demonstration facility, which is dealing with the issue of non-defense environmental waste cleanup. By reestablishing this $19 million, it has been reported to our office that, essentially, what we will save in the long term is approximately $262 million over the next 5 years. That is because of the positive steps that these facilities have made. With a significant reduction in spending, as proposed by the subcommittee and under the proposed legislation, that positive progress will cease, and what we will end up doing is making larger investments over a longer period of time to recover and clean up this nuclear waste that is at these facilities across America.

I would like to note, Mr. Chairman, that we have worked in a bipartisan manner on this bill. My colleague from New York, Brian Higgins, has helped our office, working hand in hand with us on this effort--as well as with Mr. Matheson from Utah and Bill Johnson on our side of the aisle--to try to come together and just make a wise, commonsense investment while recognizing the fiscal difficulty that we face across America.

I applaud our subcommittee chairman for the work that he has done in regard to this bill, and I ask our subcommittee chairman to support this amendment as well as for all fellow Members on both sides of the aisle to stand with this amendment in a commonsense way in order to save taxpayer dollars in the long term and, at the same time, get rid of a true problem, which is this non-defense nuclear waste that is now located at facilities across America. With that, I ask my colleagues to support the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Reed

Amendment No. 12: Page 3, line 4, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $1)''.

Page 25, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $18,956,000)''.

Page 28, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $9,478,000)''.

Page 31, line 1, after the second dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $9,477,999)''.

Offered By: Mr. Reed

Amendment No. 13: Page 25, line 14, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(increased by $18,956,000)''.

Page 28, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $9,478,000)''.

Page 31, line 1, after the second dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $9,478,000)''.

I thank the gentleman from North Dakota for yielding and bringing this important issue to us today to have a conversation on.

I am a firm believer in the all-of-the-above approach to our energy needs of America. Making energy in America domestically will lead to us being energy secure. It's about energy independence. It is about developing our resources, both fossil fuels in the short term and mid term, but always keeping an eye on the alternatives and renewables for the long term so that we create a portfolio of an all-of-the-above that will ensure that America's national security is taken care of when it comes to our energy needs.

Being from New York, I spent a lot of time dealing with the issue of natural gas development and the Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale formations. I can share with you many stories from farmers as I went through the northern tier of Pennsylvania, which is just over the border from my district in Corning, New York. And I remember one story in particular. I went to a family farm that I was invited to go to by an individual in my district who was opposed to natural gas development. However, when I arrived at that farm, I met with her father, and I sat at her father's living room table and had a conversation about what this meant to that family farmer.

I can tell you what I heard really resonated with me. Because what I heard was, I know that my daughter is opposed to this. She's concerned about the impacts on our farm and that type of thing. But I can assure you I've owned this farm for generations, and I'm going to make sure that my land is protected and it's done right and it's done safely. But what I'm also doing is I'm taking the royalty payment, the cash payment from that resource, and I'm putting her daughter through college.

Think about that, ladies and gentlemen across America. We have spent trillions of dollars on the war on poverty and hardworking taxpayer dollars to try to get people out of poverty--most of the time by educating them. And here you have a gentleman who is going to use a resource that he owned, a property right that he owned, and was empowering the next generation with a college education that that individual did not have to pay for and didn't come out of college with $50,000, $70,000 worth of debt. That's a game-changer when it comes to the war on poverty, in my opinion.

I appreciate the gentleman's comments from before. Because when we talk about this issue, we also have to look at it from many different aspects. And it's not just about being an economic resource in regards to the resource itself but being a resource that re-powers America, as I cochair the Manufacturing Caucus here in Washington, D.C., that gives us the power to start building things here in America again and selling it overseas. That's the America I want to stand for.

If we're going to melt steel, if we're going to have that industrial revolution of the 21st century that I believe we can have, we're going to need power sources to do that. And you can't melt steel, in my opinion, with just windmills and geothermal and solar panels. They have a role in our energy portfolio but you need those fossil fuels that we have been blessed with to come online to provide the power, the utility, and the energy to do what needs to be done in order to build it here and sell it there. So I appreciate the gentleman bringing this issue to the forefront.

And one last point I will stress. As I represent the 23rd Congressional District in New York, we are going through the process of seeing two main coal-fired plants be shut down. And I'm hopeful. We're doing our work in Dunkirk, New York, and Lansing, New York, on the other side of the district, to stand for repowering those power generation facilities with natural gas, as the applications are pending in Albany.

With this war on coal that just came out yesterday from the White House, if you shut down those plants, what I'm concerned about is my taxpayers that I care about in Dunkirk and Tompkins County and Lansing are going to see their real property tax bill go up anywhere from 50 to 60 percent. Those are hardworking Americans that are already under the burden of a tax burden that comes out of Washington, D.C., by way of income taxes. But there are also tax burdens in our States. And one of those primary tax burdens is the real property tax bill.

I'm hearing from seniors, I'm hearing from people across the district who say, Tom, I can't afford it anymore. And you shut down a power plant, and you take away that tax base from my people, the remaining taxpayers, who most of the time have been there for generations, will see their real property tax bill go up 60 percent. That's thousands of dollars. And in this day and age when people are struggling, why would we commit ourselves as a Nation to a policy that would put a higher burden on their back? I don't get it.

I think we should have an open conversation about doing all of the above,

recognize where those energy sources are in the portfolios, and then we join hands, we come together, and we develop that comprehensive energy policy that we say, This is good for America, both short term, mid term, and long term. And let's get it done. And that's where those of us on this side beg our colleagues on the other side to join us in this effort. And we want to do it safely, we want to do it responsibly. We respect our environment. But we're going to do it in a commonsense way, looking at it from the perspective of hardworking taxpayers of America, not through the lens of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.

With that, I appreciate the leadership that the good man from North Dakota has exhibited on these issues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Terry Button, a resident of Rushville, New York and the 23rd Congressional district that I am proud to represent. Terry is an owner-operator truck driver who has spent decades in the trucking industry; he personally understands the challenges facing the freight and trucking industry present in America today.

Terry is the owner of a one-truck operation and deals firsthand as the broker, shipper, and receiver of all of the loads he moves. He is a hay farmer who has spent years involved in the selling and shipment of agricultural goods and his combined knowledge of farming and trucking places him in a very specialized field of experienced individuals. Terry sits on the Board of Directors of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, an organization dedicated to upholding the rights and operational standards of truck drivers. In that capacity his knowledge of the trucking industry makes him an invaluable resource for mapping out the future of freight movement.

Recently, Terry was selected by the Secretary of Transportation to be a member of the National Freight Advisory Council (NFAC). The NFAC was established to ensure that all stakeholders in the freight industry would have a voice in shaping freight policy for the 21st century. I applaud the Secretary for selecting an established and successful businessman like Terry for this important role and further acknowledge the important position he will play as a member of the NFAC.

I am honored to congratulate Terry on his recent selection to be a member of this important panel and look forward to working with both Terry and the Department of Transportation as we move forward establishing freight movement policy for the coming years. Terry's knowledge of the freight industry will prove to be a powerful and insightful tool for policymakers and I am proud to officially recognize him here today.