Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue I deeply care about, and that issue is the affordability and ability of students across America to get a college degree.

Mr. Speaker, as we face this impending student interest loan cliff on July 1, I want to share with you and with the American public a personal story.

I'm the youngest of 12. I have eight older sisters, three older brothers, and my mother and father made a commitment to each other that each and every one of us would get some sort of college degree or advanced degree.

My father passed when I was 2, and there were six of us left in our household that my mother had to raise on her own. I went to college, went to law school, and I watched in her eyes the fulfillment of that promise that she and my dad made to each and every one of us.

Now, not all of my siblings went to law school. One got a vocational degree cutting hair, who now works in Arizona. I have the law degree, and there's a whole mix in between.

As we deal with the issue of student loan interest, we need to make sure that we stand for the students and that we stand for the next generation, because a college degree and a higher educational pursuit will arm those young men and women for generations and empower them to control their own destiny in their own hands.

So I come today on my side of the aisle and say to my colleagues, thank you for joining us in passing a bill in the House that would avert the interest rate spike that will be coming up on July 1. I ask my colleagues to join me and to demand that the Senate take action.

As you see, Mr. Speaker, the Senate has failed to pass a piece of legislation in the Senate to avert this fiscal cliff to our students across America. To me, Mr. Speaker, that's just not right. That's just not fair. We need to do better. And what we need to do is to pass a reform out of this body and out of this Congress that takes the student out of this political theater that has become the student loan interest spike every year that we have to deal with.

The proposal in the House, to me, makes sense. It's a commonsense, market-based approach that will lower interest rates on 70 percent of the loans that students receive in going to college and advanced degrees.

I ask the Senate and I ask my colleagues to continue to join us to put pressure on the Senate to say enough is enough. We care about students. Let's address this issue so that they don't see that interest rate spike that is coming over the horizon and say to the White House, Sign this legislation once and for all that removes the students from the political debate that this issue has become.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize fallen Owego Firefighter Captain Matt Porcari. Captain Porcari belonged to the Owego Fire Department for 18 years before his tragic death while actively responding to a mutual aid fire call in Newark Valley, New York. He was 34 years old and leaves behind a wife Christina, two children and three step-children.

Captain Porcari was a dedicated volunteer in the department who began his service at age 16, serving as a mentor and friend to newer members. His caring nature extended beyond the Owego community, demonstrated by his assistance to the Long Beach Fire Station following Hurricane Sandy and by his efforts to organize a trip to pay tribute to the fallen firefighters in Webster, New York. In addition, Captain Porcari led the Croton Hose Company #3 in the Central New York Hose Racing Championships and was a member of the youngest team to win a CNY Championship in 1995.

Captain Porcari's legacy was honored this June at the Owego Fallen Firefighters Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held in honor of Captain Porcari and other fallen Owego firefighters. The monies raised at the tournament will support scholarships for Owego Free Academy's graduating seniors pursuing careers as first responders. Additional monies will go to the development and maintenance of an Owego Fire Department training facility.

Today we honor Matt Porcari's sacrifice. Let us remember every day the price paid by true heroes such as Matt.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a prominent and active New Yorker who passed away June 9, 2013. Charles H. Joyce of Andover, New York was a dear friend to many in the 23rd District.

Charlie worked in the oil and gas industry from the age of 14, rising to become President of Andover Oil, a company he built after his retirement from Otis Eastern Service, Inc. Considered an expert in the energy industry, he received an honorary membership in the Pipe Line Contractors Association for his outstanding contributions to the industry. Additionally, he was a long-time member of the New York State Oil Producers Association and served as President from 2008 until his passing.

Charlie dedicated himself to responsibly preserving the land he worked with, receiving many awards for his commitment to conservation. His passion for philanthropy led him to help countless others in Allegany County. He donated his time to numerous community groups, including the Andover Lions Club, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Wellsville Elks Club.

Our communities are enriched and improved by citizens like Charles H. Joyce and I am honored to commemorate his contributions. He was an outstanding member of our southern tier community and it is right that we honor his legacy here today in the official record of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charlotte and Bill Winkky as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Married June 23, 1963, Charlotte and Bill have spent the majority of their lives residing in Horseheads, New York. Their devotion to each other and to their community is truly commendable.

Charlotte, a German immigrant, came to the United States with her mother after World War II. She lived in Newburgh, New York before attending the State University of New York, Cortland, where she met her husband Bill. They have been together ever since.

Both Charlotte and Bill served as public school teachers for the Horseheads Central School District for over 30 years. Bill also coached football, wrestling, swimming, and track at Horseheads. Although the couple has retired from teaching, they continue to give back to their community. Charlotte plays an active role in the American Cancer Society, and she and her husband contribute to several other non-profit organizations, including the YWCA and Tanglewood Nature Center. Bill currently serves as the Supervisor for the Town of Veteran.

Charlotte and Bill Winkky have set an admirable record of devotion to each other, their family, and their community. I am honored to congratulate Charlotte and Bill on their milestone of 50 years together and it is only proper that they be officially recognized here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sriram Hathwar, a resident of Painted Post, New York. Sriram, a seventh-grader at the Corning Alternative School for Math and Science, placed third in this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. This thirteen-year-old stands as a representative of the bright young minds of the 23rd Congressional District of New York.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and longest-running educational promotion, with the purpose of helping students build the foundations for English language skills they will use all their lives. Only 281 spellers out of 11 million won regional bees to advance to the national level, and Sriram rose up through the ranks to place in the top three. He has competed at the national level four times, and his performance this year has placed him at his highest ranking thus far. Sriram has not taken his eye off the prize, though, as he plans to compete in the bee again next year, his final year of eligibility.

I am proud to have students like Sriram in my district. His accomplishments show the brilliance set to come forth from this district in the future, and I am honored to recognize him today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a truly courageous young woman, Jillian Dagon Andolina. Jill, 26, passed away on May 11, 2013 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with leukemia. She always carried a bright smile with her and was an inspiration for her parents, Dr. Richard and Molly Andolina, and for all those in our community who had the fortune of meeting her.

A resident of Arkport, New York, Jill graduated from Arkport Central School in 2005. She received an associate's degree from SUNY Alfred before continuing on to SUNY Geneseo where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2009. The diagnosis of leukemia interrupted her plan to acquire a master's degree in November of 2010.

Despite this setback, Jill persevered through chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants to remain an active member of the community. She was a member of the Hornell Association and the Arkport American Legion Post 1248 Auxiliary. The Hornell Humane Society and Relay for Life were also graced with her time and efforts.

Jill Andolina will be missed by all, but her legacy will continue to inspire. She touched the lives of hundreds of people and her spirit and determination motivate each and every one of us every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May 19-25 as National Emergency Medical Services Week. The goal of this important week is to encourage safety and to honor the dedication of those who provide day-to-day lifesaving services. Though this honorary title may only last a week, the highlighted message should be recognized throughout the entire year.

This year's theme is ``EMS: One Mission. One Team.'' This powerful theme serves as a reminder that emergency providers work selflessly each and every day to aid those in need whenever the call may be heard. Though the titles may differ--paramedics, first responders, firefighters--they all strive to improve the communities in which we live and work.

One does not have to look past the recent tragedy in Boston to fully understand just how important emergency medical services are in our daily lives. The heroes on that dark day were ordinary citizens who rose up in the face of tragedy to treat the dozens of wounded runners and innocent bystanders.

It is my hope that everyone takes a moment to thank those around them who perform these live-saving services. They are America's true everyday heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frank E. Berrish, who has served as CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union for 38 years. Mr. Berrish, who will be retiring April 30th, 2013, has overseen the financing of over $500 million in capital projects and has developed the Credit Union from $24 million in assets to $3.2 billion in assets. Visions Federal Credit Union has had a positive impact on businesses and customers in Upstate New York, much of that reputation can be attributed to Mr. Berrish.

In recognition of Mr. Berrish's service to the Credit Union, he has been inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders on Capitol Hill. Mr. Berrish is only the second New Yorker to receive this national honor.

I am proud to recognize Frank E. Berrish for his dedication to Visions Federal Credit Union and Upstate New York. It is a privilege to have such a successful business in my district and I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize Mr. Berrish today.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Iowa for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the underlying bill.

Before I make my comments, I would just ask my colleague, a good friend of mine from Maryland, we have an opportunity today to send a signal to America that we have a bicameral, a Senate-passed bill, and here in the House we are considering a bill that will address an issue that needs to be addressed on behalf of American citizens. Let us start here on a bipartisan fashion to solve the problems for hardworking taxpayers and worry about D.C. over those concerns of the people back home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the underlying bill because I have heard from my constituents, in particular, the city of Ithaca in upstate New York, where a contract tower is going to be closed. And what this bill does is it restores that funding on a commonsense basis where that contract tower--my sincere hope and belief--will be preserved and go forward. That will preserve the safety of my air- traveling public out of that airport and also the local economic opportunity that it represents for the city of Ithaca.

I'm proud to stand here today and say, because of bipartisan efforts, we worked together to solve this issue. Let's pass this bill and move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to give the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, and Department of Transportation, DOT, flexibility to use unobligated funds to ensure the safety of our nation's air transportation system and American travelers. Specifically I rise to affirm the intent of this legislation that grants the Secretary of Transportation the ability to use unobligated balances of the Airport Improvement Program account to prevent the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers and halt the furloughs of air traffic controllers.

Maintaining service at all contract air traffic control towers is inherent to the authority given in this legislation to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system. Over the past seven weeks, Congress has seen a swell of reaction to the FAA's decision to furlough and lay off hundreds of air traffic controllers across the country. In my district in New York, it was announced that the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport control tower would be closed. Since this announcement, residents, local businesses, and employees at the airport have flooded my office with feedback that this closure will have serious safety and long-term economic impacts in the region.

Many Members of Congress as well as industry representatives who utilize our nation's general aviation system have expressed grave concerns over the closure of contract towers and furloughs of air traffic controllers, both of which contribute to the overall safety of our nation's air transportation system. The inaction of the Department of Transportation to request sequester reprogramming authority and maintain some level of service at all contract towers is unacceptable and has led to the need for this legislation. The safety and efficiency of our skies have been put at risk and it has become incumbent upon the Congress to direct this authority to the Secretary of Transportation.

I look forward to working with the FAA and DOT to ensure that the Ithaca Tompkins control tower, as well as the other 148 towers across the country, remain up and running to ensure our skies are safe.

I so appreciate the gentleman yielding time, my good friend from Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I join this conversation tonight coming at it from a perspective of being the chair of the Natural Gas

Caucus and cochair of the Manufacturing Caucus here in Washington, D.C., caucuses that have cochairs on a bipartisan basis, where we're working together to try to figure out how we can become energy independent, but more importantly, Mr. Speaker, what this issue represents for the average American family.

What this represents, when we are developing domestic energy sources such as the natural gas boom across America that's coming out of our shale formations and our tight sands formation when it comes to oil, what this represents to manufacturing is it puts American manufacturers in a competitive position so that they can invest in manufacturing facilities here on American soil.

So what does that mean? What that means to every man, woman, and child out there in America right now is that we are sitting on the precipice of a manufacturing renaissance in America. This competitive edge that we are getting from developing our natural gas and oil resources here in America means that we're going to build plants. They're going to be putting people back to work for today and tomorrow and for generations to come.

We need to build things in America. That's what this represents. We have a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers: by 2025, we are talking 1 million manufacturing jobs.

There should be no dispute in this Chamber to join hands to make sure we develop the energy resource in a safe and responsible manner, but develop it for the sake of creating those jobs that put food on people's tables, put a roof over their heads, and take care of families for generations to come.

I appreciate my good friend from Colorado yielding the time to me today. I just have to say, American energy means Americans' national security, and it means American prosperity for Americans of today and tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Francis J. Savage. A resident of Olean, New York, Mr. Savage served

his country admirably across the world for the better part of two decades as a member of the Foreign Service and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Mr. Savage's career in the Foreign Service began with an assignment in Iceland in 1950, but he was subsequently transferred to Marseilles, France where he met his wife, Doreen. The two continued to serve across the world, specifically Greece, Trinidad, Tripoli, and Libya.

Following his tenure with the Foreign Service, Mr. Savage began to work for the USAID. It was during this time that his work took him to Vietnam as a Provincial Representative. Tragically, Mr. Savage was mortally wounded at the My Calm bombing in 1965. To honor his sacrifice, President Lyndon Johnson posthumously awarded Francis Savage with the Secretary's Award at the White House with his surviving wife, Doreen, and two children in attendance.

It is with great privilege that I announce Francis J. Savage will be honored on May 3, 2013, Foreign Affairs Day, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. Mr. Savage's service and sacrifice to this great nation deserves such recognition and I am proud to represent the district Mr. Savage once called home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ray Miller, who has served as a volunteer member of the Dundee Fire Department for 58 years. Mr. Miller has completed seven terms as fire chief, during which he has demonstrated unequivocal dedication to the fire service and the entire Dundee community.

In recognition of Mr. Miller's service to the fire department, he has been honored with the Dundee Fire Department's Fireman of the Year Award six times. Mr. Miller also received the Yates County Roger A. Ribble Memorial Award in 1998 for his ``dedication to the fire service, embracing its traditions, and training its future members.''

It is evident that Mr. Miller leads by example. Year after year, he leads the fire department in number of responses, ambulance calls, and extra work details. He provides an example for other members to follow, and inspires younger members to train and perform to the best of their abilities. Mr. Miller is well-known and respected throughout the community, and he is held in the highest regard by his fellow firemen. Anyone who knows Mr. Miller will attest to his character, work ethic, and countless contributions to the community.

I am proud to recognize Ray Miller for his dedication to the fire department, and the invaluable contributions that he has made to the Dundee community over the past 58 years. It is a privilege to have a man of Mr. Miller's reputation in my district and I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize him today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Oklahoma for organizing this important topic and this conversation tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I believe in an America that is fair. I believe in an America where the rules are simple, so that hardworking taxpayers in America understand what those rules are, and they're not subject to the jeopardy of violating the rules because they're too complicated.

I believe in an America where it's not judging a person by whom they know but, rather, who they are. And, Mr. Speaker, why I start my conversation with those beliefs is because we need to apply those beliefs to getting rid of this broken, complicated Tax Code that we have in America. What we have is a Code that is not simple, that is not fair, that is way too complicated. That's why I believe in going through commonsense tax reform for the purposes of coming up with a simple, fair, and reasonable Tax Code so that people can fill out their own taxes.

As my colleague from Oklahoma rightfully points out, people are spending billions of dollars on tax preparers, third parties, and millions of hours--that can otherwise go to their businesses or to their families--to fill out a tax return that they can't understand because the rules are too complicated.

Also, we have to end what we came here to Washington, D.C., to do, my colleague from Oklahoma and myself of this freshman class in November, 2010, and that is having our country under the control of the special interests and creating those loopholes in the Tax Code that go to narrowly tailored people because of whom they know.

We want a Tax Code, I want a Tax Code, and I know my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee want a Tax Code that promotes growth, that promotes economic opportunity, that promotes the opportunity for us to be competitive on the world stage. Because when America competes on a world stage in a competitive market, we win. We have the best workers. We have the best technology. We have freedom. We have the rule of law. We need to do commonsense tax reform for the purposes of putting us in a position where we can create the jobs today and for generations to come, because we will then create a fair, level playing

field that allows us to start building things in America, allows us to put people to work for generations to come.

So I appreciate my good friend from Oklahoma bringing this issue to the forefront and having this conversation tonight, and I know he's bringing forth a copy of the Code and the regulations. And all you have to do is look at that colossal piece of paper, or reams of papers, books of papers, 70,000 pages of statutory tax and regulation. We in America can do better. We as House Republicans demand us to do better. And we will do better under the leadership that House Republicans are doing in the Ways and Means Committee and as a Conference to make sure that we end up with a Code that is simple, fair, and no longer riddled with loopholes, big government handouts, big government subsidies. That's the principle of tax reform for the Republican side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sriram Hathwar who, this May, will compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee for the fourth time in his scholastic career. During his first attendance in 2008, Hathwar notably became the youngest speller in the history of the event but was eliminated in the preliminaries. He performed increasingly better in 2009 and 2011, finishing sixth in 2011.

Sriram, a 12-year-old from Painted Post, New York, attends Corning's Alternative School for Math and Science. This year marks his sixth time contending in the Regional Spelling Bee, but it came with a new challenge: his younger brother. Out of 40 contestants, Sriram came head to head with his 10-year-old brother, Jairam Hathwar, in the final round. The last two standing flawlessly spelled out words such as ``liquesce'' and ``flexuosity'' for three rounds, until Jairam stumbled on ``jicama.'' Sriram then clinched the regional title with the word ``mobiliary.''

The National Scripps Spelling Bee, run on a not-for-profit basis by the E.W. Scripps Company and local spelling bee sponsors across the country, is the longest-running and largest educational promotion in the United States.

Sriram will compete live on ESPN in the 88th National Scripps Spelling Bee from May 28th-30th in our nation's capital. I wish him the best of luck in May.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Elmira College women's ice hockey team, winner of the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championship. Led by the strong play of goaltender Taylor Steadman, who posted her 11th shutout of the year, the Soaring Eagles skated to a 1-0 victory over Middlebury College on March 16.

Under the leadership of head coach Dean Jackson, the Soaring Eagles finished the season with a remarkable 24-5-1 record. This marks the third time that Elmira College has captured the National Championship since its women's ice hockey program was established in 2002.

The unrivaled success of the Elmira College women's ice hockey team is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches. The months of practice and training culminated in the highest level of success that an athletic team can achieve, being crowned as the national champions. This team is a source of pride in Elmira and across my entire district, and I am honored to recognize their great athletic accomplishment.