Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in anticipation of an auspicious day in Canadian history, the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Canada's Founding Father, Sir John A. Macdonald of Ontario, on January 11, 2015.

Sir Macdonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada and a significant figure in the development of the British North America Act that gave rise to the birth of Canada as a nation on July 1, 1867. As one of the founders of the great nation of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald's importance to the American people should not be overlooked.

The Canadian people have much in common with us. They are independent, resilient in the face of adversity, and proud of their history. We share many of the same values and have chosen repeatedly to face the problems of the world together. Whether in matters of security, law enforcement, environmental protection or commerce, Canada has long been a partner and friend to the United States.

Our relationship with Canada is based not only on a long history of shared cultural values and experience, it also encompasses one of the closest economic partnerships in the world amounting to $1.2 trillion in trade, tourism, investment and other activities. U.S.-Canada trade alone supports an estimated 8 million jobs here in the U.S. and millions more across the border. Canada is also the largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States. Our neighbors to the north maintain a substantial investment in the success and growth of the U.S. economy and American businesses of all sizes.

The City of Kingston is hosting a national commemoration service on Sunday, January 11, 2015 marking the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald.

Thank you, Mr. Garamendi.

Mr. Speaker, this is a difficult decision, a difficult choice, and likely one that does not have a good or better outcome than what we can propose today. I think the American people need to understand that, as we act today, many of us do with reluctance.

I will vote in support of Mr. McKeon's amendment, but I do so very reluctantly. I have fear that what we face is a situation in which we will arm folks who subsequently will take negative action against us; however, when weighing the consequences of taking no action, as many of my colleagues have indicated, I think we have no choice but to move forward as this amendment is recommending and the President has requested.

I also believe that we are taking back in Congress power that has drifted over many years to the President, irrespective of what party he is in--or she may be in, in the future--and I think that this is an important constitutional step that we should all support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gary Ralph VanCour. For many years, Mr. VanCour has given his time and energy to promote his community and encourage its success.

Mr. VanCour has served for the past seven years as Co-Chair for the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration Committee, working diligently to promote the Commemoration and ensure that it continues to be an event of the highest quality. As a member of the War of 1812 Bicentennial Council: Lake Champlain Region, Mr. VanCour has worked with the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau to promote heritage tourism for the region.

Mr. VanCour is also a retired Social Studies teacher and Department chair for the Beekmantown Central School District in New York State. He served as President of the New York State Social Studies Supervisory Association and is currently the Town of Beekmantown Historian. He is widely respected for his work in the field of education, having led efforts to align the Beekmantown Central School curriculum with New York State Social Studies Standards.

Mr. VanCour is a father and grandfather as well as a musician and community volunteer. Each of us can learn from his extraordinary dedication to serving his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sara Louise Stevens Booth and Christopher ``Kit'' Henry Booth for their extraordinary community service.

The Commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh began in 1997 as a weekend event and this year will take place during sixteen days. It is an event that captures the interest of history buffs, authors of history books, children and adults of all ages.

Kit and Sally Booth, people that I have known for well over thirty years, have been the prime movers for the development of this exciting historical event in our community. It now provides concerts, the Children's Old Time Village Fair, offers dances and authentic food from the period, all of which appeal to not only those interested in the historical importance of the Battle of Plattsburgh but those just interested in having a fun weekend.

The historical highlight, of course, is the reenactment, which helps to demonstrate the importance of the Battle of Plattsburgh to the outcome of the War of 1812. The entertainment is highlighted by a parade and includes notable bands including the Navy Band, a thirty piece brass band from Coberg, Ontario and approximately ten bagpipe bands.

All of this was made possible through the hard work of Sally and Kit, both in terms of the work that they have done themselves, which has been in and of itself enormous, but also their leadership in inspiring numerous volunteers to participate. This year we again expect numerous volunteers working over the course of sixteen days to make this event a success.

In honor of the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Plattsburgh, there will be two nights of fireworks and a local physician has created a musical play which will have five performances in the newly renovated Strand Theatre.

The economic impact of this event is demonstrated by the American Bus Association's recognition of it as one of the top twenty themed events in the country as well as the many vendors and tourists who now attend the event. The Commemoration Committee has purchased five thousand buttons over the last several years which are sold as evidence of admission to all the venues for $10, raising well over $50,000 to support this event.

Sally and Kit will be serving their final year as the Co-Chairs after dedicating seventeen years to the development of this event. Their commitment has been outstanding and represents only one of the many community services that they have performed over their lives in Plattsburgh.

Kit Booth is a father and grandfather who also served as an Alderman for Ward 1 in the City of Plattsburgh, as a Clinton County legislator and as a member of the United States Armed Services during the Korean conflict. In addition to his work in Commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh, he volunteers at CVPH Medical Center, is an active member of the Rotary Club and is an accomplished wood carver.

Sally Booth is a mother and grandmother who has is a talented and creative writer and artist, a member of the League of Woman Voters and serves as a board member for the Kent Delord House Museum and as a Docent for the Rockwell Kent Museum. She is widely respected for her many years of volunteerism, serving on countless boards and volunteering for numerous organizations in the community.

The Booths owned Booth's Gifts for many years and provided a great service to the community as local entrepreneurs.

Kit and Sally Booth have made immeasurable contributions to the Plattsburgh community and deserve recognition and high praise for all they have done and continue to do, and we hope will continue to do for their community for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dorothy Parks. I had the honor and privilege of working with Ms. Parks in Plattsburgh, NY for more than 30 years. She works hard every day, diligently and happily performing the tasks she is assigned.

This month will mark her 50th year at the firm where we both worked, she having started there on July 13, 1964. During her five decades at the firm, Ms. Parks earned the respect of all who came to trust and depend on her, including myself. She has guided many new staff and young lawyers, teaching us the ropes, if you will, with a smile and a gentle hand.

While working for the firm, Ms. Parks raised four children and now has six loving grandchildren for whom she is a dedicated grandparent.

Ms. Parks' employer, Stafford, Piller, Murnane, Kelleher and Trombley, will be recognizing her successful 50 year career later this month with a celebratory luncheon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dorothy Parker. I had the honor and privilege of working with Ms. Parker in Plattsburgh, NY for more than 30 years. She works hard every day, diligently and happily performing the tasks she is assigned.

This month will mark her 50th year at the firm where we both worked, she having started there on July 13, 1964. During her five decades at the firm, Ms. Parker earned the respect of all who came to trust and depend on her, including myself. She has guided many new staff and young lawyers, teaching us the ropes, if you will, with a smile and a gentle hand.

While working for the firm, Ms. Parker raised four children and now has six loving grandchildren for whom she is a dedicated grandparent.

Ms. Parker's employer, Stafford, Piller, Murnane, Kelleher and Trombley, will be recognizing her successful 50 year career later this month with a celebratory luncheon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the upcoming Shen Yun Performing Arts presentation at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, New York on April 27, 2014.

Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe performances incorporate Chinese dance, ethnic folk dance, and story-based dance, accompanied by an orchestra mixing modern and traditional Chinese instruments. These performances incorporate large groups of dancers presenting traditional vignettes spanning several millennia of Chinese history. Dancers wear ornate costumes and make use of a variety of props, while performing in front of a projected backdrop.

As the largest Chinese music and dance ensemble in the world, Shen Yun offers an opportunity for cultural and artistic enrichment this month at historic Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Clarkson University women's ice hockey team for winning the 2014 Women's ``Frozen Four'' NCAA Division I National Championship.

The Clarkson University women's ice hockey team also led the nation with the fewest goals allowed per game (1.12) and a top-ranked penalty kill of 92.5 percent. Their efforts earned them an impressive 31-5-5 record and the first NCAA Division I national championship in the history of Clarkson University athletics.

Numerous players on Clarkson's championship team were recognized for their individual achievements. Three players, forward Jamie Lee Rattray, defenseman Renata Fast, and goalie Erica Howe were named to the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, with Rattray also recognized as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Several days before the championship, Ms. Rattray was recognized with the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. According to the USA Hockey Foundation, selection criteria for this award include outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness, and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.

Clarkson players also led the nation in several categories this year. Ms. Rattray finished the season leading in total points with 66 and in power-play goals with 10. Erin Ambrose led among defensemen with 50 points, 14 goals, and 36 assists. Clarkson goalie Erica Howe compiled the lowest goals against average, 1.10, and the most shutouts with 14.

This championship is an historic achievement for Clarkson University's women's ice hockey team. While I was unfortunately unable to attend the championship game, the team's success serves as an enduring example of what can be achieved through great teamwork and a shared commitment to excellence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Women's Ice Hockey Team of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh for winning this year's NCAA Division III National Championship.

Winning their third national title was the capstone on a remarkable season. The team finished the season with a record of 28-1-1, setting a new school record for wins and tying the NCAA Division III record. The team also set records for fewest goals allowed in a season (19), fewest goals allowed per game (0.63) and lowest goals-against average (0.63).

The team included three American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All Americans: Sydney Aveson, Allison Era and Shannon Stewart. Ms. Aveson was also recognized with the AHCA Laura Hurd Award for the Division III Women's Hockey National Player of the Year.

In his 11th season with the team, Head Coach Kevin Houle was named the AHCA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, his second in a row and fifth during his coaching career.

Let me also add that I attended the championship game with my wife and two friends. It was exciting to be part of such an enthusiastic crowd cheering on these tremendous student athletes.

With their record-setting season, the SUNY Plattsburgh Women's Ice Hockey Team has earned the enduring support of thousands of loyal fans in their region and a special place in NCAA history. The great character these players have shown makes them worthy examples for young athletes across northern New York and throughout the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to focus the Nation's attention on the residents of Adams, New York. Adams is a small village located near Interstate 81 and about forty minutes south of the U.S.-Canadian border. The residents of this town recently demonstrated why small towns like those dotting the North Country are what give America its strength.

Recently, a major storm featuring bitter cold and as many as four feet of snow closed I-81, a major artery for travelers and trucks, and stranded about 150 people in Adams. According to local news reports, this town rallied around their unexpected guests. About 100 volunteers headed to the town's firehouse to brew coffee and assemble cots. Local businesses donated nearly 2,000 sandwiches and slices of pizza. Around 40 families opened their homes so their visitors had a comfortable place to sleep.

One story in the Watertown Daily Times said the town's residents used social media to help find places for the stranded truckers and travelers to spend the night. Other fire halls in the area also accommodated stranded travelers and the local chapter of the American Red Cross helped supply cots.

In another article, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported Adams resident Mollie Bangs, who is 93, and her caregiver Michael Smith hosted a family from Quebec who were on their way home from Florida. Most of the family spoke only French and none had winter clothing. Ms. Bangs and Mr. Smith lent them winter clothes and entertained them in Ms. Bangs' home.

The stranded travelers pitched in too. The Post-Standard told of how a stranded soldier from Fort Drum in Watertown, NY named Jesse Brown helped shovel four feet of snow at the home of Kathy Sheley, the Adams resident who took him in.

Many communities across the country would be crippled for days by the volume of snow the area received. The town's fire department worked with a local pharmacy to bring medicine and supplies to those in need. Crews of State and local snow plow drivers and New York State Troopers worked around the clock. The local and State workers were able to reopen the highway for the stranded travelers just a day after the storm hit.

Mr. Speaker, cynics have said that our Nation is losing its sense of community. I submit this story as proof to the contrary. Please join me in recognizing the residents of Adams, the local fire and public works departments, the American Red Cross, the New York State Troopers serving in the North Country and the employees of the New York State Department of Transportation whom it is my privilege to represent in Congress for their selfless actions during this recent storm.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed to the bill.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

This motion to recommit very simply exempts veterans and Active Duty servicemembers from the reporting requirements of the underlying bill.

We celebrated Veterans Day 2 days ago with much thanks and praise. Now we propose to punish those very same folks whom we praised. Under the guise of transparency, H.R. 982 requires quarterly reports of claims and payouts made against asbestos trust funds, which provide remedies to victims of asbestos exposure while allowing companies to continue to operate. A strict set of fraud prevention steps already exists when seeking an asbestos claim. In fact, a 2011 GAO report did not find any evidence of overt fraud during its examination of asbestos trusts.

Mr. Speaker, 30 percent of asbestos victims are veterans. Let me repeat that: 30 percent of asbestos victims are veterans. The reporting requirement created by this bill will delay claims payments to these men and women who have served their country and are now suffering from deadly diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, because of asbestos exposure. Victims of mesothelioma typically only live 4 to 18 months after diagnosis. This final amendment will ensure we do not unnecessarily delay a claim to a veteran with just months to live.

In addition to the delayed payment of claims, the personal information required to be submitted in these quarterly reports poses a serious threat to privacy by forcing asbestos trust funds to reveal, on a public database, personally identifiable information about asbestos victims and their families. Why would we subject a gravely ill veteran battling a disease like cancer to the additional risk of identity theft?

This motion to recommit very simply exempts veterans and Active Duty servicemembers from the onerous and invasive reporting requirements of the underlying bill. These heroes have sacrificed for our Nation. Join me in protecting their privacy and ensuring their asbestos claims are paid before death.

We will punish those whom we praise, and that is simply unacceptable. I urge support for this final amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I had to tend to a personal matter in Plattsburgh, NY. Consequently, I was not able to return to Washington, D.C. in time to vote on H.R. 2189, a Bill to Improve the Processing of Disability Claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs (rollcall No. 561) and H.R. 2011, the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act (rollcall No. 562). As a veteran and representative of thousands of other veterans, making sure the men and women who served our Nation have access to the care they deserve is one of my top priorities. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted ``yea'' for both bills.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh Student Association.

Since its modern founding in 1963 under then-President Martin Mannix, the SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association has enhanced student life by developing quality services, engaging programing, and enjoyable activities on campus. In doing so, the Association has succeeded in its vision to be an active and visible

resource for students and the greater college community. Today, the Student Association gives voice to the concerns and interests of students through its support of more than 80 campus clubs and organizations.

SUNY Plattsburgh prepares students from across New York to compete in a rapidly-changing global economy. By fostering the values of scholarship, diversity, and inclusion on campus and in the greater community, the Student Association has contributed immeasurably to the university's mission.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating all current and former members of the SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association for reaching this milestone, thanking them for all their contributions to the Plattsburgh community, and wishing them all the best in years ahead.

Thank you, Congresswoman Sinema. I appreciate the work you've done in bringing a bipartisan group together to address this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that we understand a number of things. In my district, particularly upstate New York, there are 48 attempts at suicide every year. The hotline which was addressed before receives 137,000 calls, on average, annually, and that is statistics gathered from 2007-2012.

That number, and I'll repeat this again for any veteran out their listening today, is (800) 273-8255.

How many of us have known someone who has committed suicide and have thought to ourselves: I didn't see it coming. How could I have helped?

We hear that constantly when we talk to the families of those who have committed suicide.

The New York Times reports that being a veteran increases your risk of suicide double, so you have two times a greater risk of committing suicide if you have served your country.

I urge all of us to stay alert, to make sure that we are focused on watching those amongst us who may show signs of suicide, and it is incumbent upon Congress to provide the funding to defeat this terrible disease.

In my district, a young man committed suicide, who came from Glens Falls, who was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in Watertown, New York. He was a skilled Blackhawk mechanic. And the theme that I mentioned before was repeated by his friends and coworkers: I didn't see it coming. How could I have helped?

We say thank you to our veterans by oftentimes saying thank you for your service, but do we provide the service to them that they deserve? We do not nearly enough, and we should.

Thank you, Mr. Paulsen. Thank you, Mr. Matheson. I appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight.

In my district, we have the opportunity to continue to support jobs that pay an average wage of $46,500, which in my area is an extraordinarily high wage. It employs 19,645 folks and generates $913 billion in wages. As we look around at what we are attempting to accomplish--and I would note, as many of the other speakers have, in a bipartisan fashion--it is to continue economic growth, to continue innovation, and to allow us to be globally competitive.

This tax is one of those items in the health care bill which clearly needs amendment. There are any number of areas where I concur that it needs amendment. Certainly, virtually every significant piece of legislation which we have passed in the last 100 years has required amendment and modification. That is simply the reality that we all live with. Any of my business friends who embark on a new product development adventure or a new marketing adventure will have to tweak it. They'll have to change it. They'll have to modify it. That is simply a fact of life.

I'm very pleased that this matter has been brought before Congress in a bipartisan fashion. In fact, at last count, there were 261 cosponsors, a sufficient number to bring this to the floor for a vote.

I would urge that this bill be moved. I think it's extremely important that we eliminate this tax. It will allow for, I know, growth in my district and I suspect growth in jobs in many other districts throughout the United States.

Again, I thank my colleagues for working in a bipartisan fashion, and I look forward to working with them in many other ways to improve the welfare and job opportunities for all Americans.