John Boehner

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. I also want to thank the whole House for its work to address the American peoples' concerns about jobs and our economy. All told, we have sent the Senate now more than 40 jobs bills, almost all of them in a bipartisan way. From the first day of this Congress, I have said our focus would be on jobs, and it has been, but also on that first day, you may recall that I addressed the House about the importance of our oath of office. I noted that it is the same oath we all take, that it makes no mention of party, it makes no mention of faction or agenda. The oath only refers to the Constitution and our obligation to defend it. Mr. Speaker, I said that with moments like this in mind. I said that knowing there would be times when we would have to do things we didn't come here to do, we didn't plan to do, and things that require us to consider interests greater than our own interests. I have to think this is why, on several occasions, members of the minority party have taken a similar step. In 2011, some of them filed litigation against the Vice President. They took similar steps in 2006, 2002, 2001, and so forth. Because this isn't about Republicans and Democrats--it is about defending the Constitution that we swore an oath to uphold and acting decisively when it may be compromised. No Member of this body needs to be reminded of what the Constitution states about the President's obligation to faithfully execute the laws of our Nation. No Member needs to be reminded of the bonds of trust that have been frayed, of the damage that has already been done to our economy and to our people. Are you willing to let any President choose what laws to execute and what laws to change? Are you willing to let anyone tear apart what our Founders have built? Think not only about the specifics of the oath you took, but think about how you took it: as one body, standing together. That is all I am asking you to do today, to act as one institution defending the Constitution on behalf of the people that we serve.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer and the significant role of Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio, now part of Miami University. In the summer of 1964, college students, civil rights activists, and volunteers joined together to advance the civil rights of African- Americans in Mississippi. The initiative, called the Mississippi Summer Project, was a comprehensive approach to educate and register African- American voters. Hundreds of volunteers assembled in June 1964 at the Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio for training, learning non- violent methods for dealing with potentially violent opposition. The memory of Freedom Summer lives on in the account of three brave participants--Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman--who lost their lives in the pursuit of civil rights. These young men departed Oxford, Ohio on June 20, 1964 to investigate a church fire in Mississippi and disappeared shortly thereafter. Burned remains of their car were found on June 23, 1964. The disappearance and deaths of Michael, James, and Andrew brought national attention to Freedom Summer and underscored the obstacles and danger that faced each participant. I am proud of our community and its meaningful role in Freedom Summer. Throughout 2014, Miami University is hosting a series of activities and events entitled ``Celebrating Freedom: Understanding the Past, Building the Future.'' On October 12-14, 2014, activists and leaders will reunite and join current Miami University students for a national conference to explore the enduring importance of Freedom Summer. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, it is important to remember this period in our history as more than just a passage in time. Our nation also heralded the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2. The 50th anniversary of these historic events is an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the Civil Rights Movement and to build on the work of the heroic leaders who came before us.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to recognize a special guest who is in our Nation's Capital today. Dr. Jessica Bienstock is the residency program director for the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In her career, she has delivered over 1,000 babies, and one of them is well known to all of us, and she is Abigail Rose Beutler, who of course is the daughter of our friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Washington. We are all familiar with Abigail's story and the odds that she overcame. If she is a happy, healthy miracle, then Dr. Bienstock is the miracle worker who helped give the gift of hope and life to this family. I think the whole House owes a debt of gratitude to her and to all of our doctors, nurses, and medical professionals.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Good morning. Good morning, and let me just say welcome back to all of you. It has been a long year since you were here last, but over the course of the year I think you all know we lost former Speaker Tom Foley. We lost our good friend Bill Young. And over the course of the last 6 months or so we have had a number of retirements, from Henry Waxman and George Miller, to Dave Camp and Doc Hastings, Buck McKeon, and my good friend Tom Latham. And so the institution, the institution is actually doing pretty well. I know from the outside people don't quite see that, but I think a lot of you know I am committed to an open process on the floor, amendments from both sides of the aisle. We have had a much more open process, and I think the result of that is we are beginning to see more bipartisan legislation. Last week we came to an agreement with the House and the Senate in a bipartisan, bicameral way on a job training and retraining bill to consolidate programs and make it easier for people to get the kind of training they need for the jobs that are out there today. And then when it comes to the appropriations process, we have been trying to restart this process over the last 3 or 4 years. Today on the floor I think we have got our seventh appropriations bill of the year. Of course, you know, our challenge is always across the Capitol, because they have done exactly none, no appropriation bills. But I do think it is important for us to get this appropriation process up and running in the way it should. It hasn't happened for the last 6 or 7 years, and I think we here in the Congress lose our ability to really direct spending as a result of that. But by and large, I feel pretty good about where we are. You know, it is an election year, so you all have a pretty good idea of what that means in terms of what happens around here. My big job is making sure we avoid all the potholes between now and election day, and there are some out there. But anyway, my job this morning is to just say hi to all of you, and welcome you back, and hope that you all have a nice visit here in your old home, the U.S. House. Thanks.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Awards recognize four avenues of individual growth--community service, physical fitness, exploration, and personal development--and how the fulfillment of these goals forms balanced and promising young citizens. In their pursuit of these goals, recipients of the Congressional Awards have gained new skills and greater confidence. For many, these projects will be the cornerstone for future endeavors, further enriching their lives and encouraging others to follow their lead. The recipients of the 2014 Congressional Awards set the finest example and demonstrate dedication to improving their communities and the Nation as a whole. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, it is my privilege to recognize the honored recipients of the 2014 Congressional Award Gold Medal--the highest achievement for America's youth: Nina Alerte, Evie Anderson, Divya Arya, Raja Atluri, Ellie Bakkedahl, Erin Barbeau, Amber Barron, Carolyn Beard, Bryan Bell, Jr., Melissa Benn, Lauren Bernard, Ryker Bierhuizen, Josiah Bierle, Trevor Boice, Kathryn Bolt, Madison Bowden, John Broadhead, Morgan Brownfield, Jon Brownfield Jr., Rebekah Broyles, Anna Bryant, Corey Buckley, Kinley Buckley, Madeleine Burrell. Benjamin Casstevens, James Cavenaugh IV, Puspa Chamlagai, Meenakshi Chatrathi, Lauren Christoffersen, Cade Chudy, Casey Coffey, Corey Coffey, Aaron Coon, Mackenzie Corson, Erica Coslop, Benjamin Crane, Christopher Crary, Adriana Culotta, Aleksandra Cvetkovic, San Da, Abigail da Silva, Soham Daga, Jenna Daniel, Kathryne Day. Michael Deng, Payal Desai, Suveer Desai, Pallavi Dev, Allison Diamond, Richard Donahoe II, Abigail Dorfman, Madailein Dubrosa, Laxmi Dulal, Bhaskar Dutt, Brianna Eisert, Jonah Elyachar, Luke Emmoth, Guy Erickson, Seth Evans, Derek Faraldo, Julia Filloon, Joseph Finelli, Sydney Fisher, Olivia Fogel, Breanna Foley, Emma Ford. Gabrielle Gafford, Rachel Gaines, Jocelyn Ganzert, Ghanashyam Gautam, Hari Gautam, Cynthia Gibson Staley, John Gillen, Tia May Goebel, Collin Goldstein, Stephen Grammer, Neha Gupta, Mahroosa Haideri, Jessica Halter, Jihun Han, Elizabeth Handen, Meghan Hanley, Loriana Harkey, Alexandra Harten, Jackson Hartley, Dhonovan Hauserman. Heather Hearn, Peter Hegland, Mikael Heins, Alex Hirst, Connor Hoehle, Charles Holmes, Eliane Holmlund, Camille Holt, Candice Holt, Abigail Hoyt, Caroline Hsu, Spence Hutcheson, Gian Christian Ignacio, Mukund Iyer, Vighnesh Iyer, Christopher Jellen, James Jendrusina, Lauren Jessen, Kyle Johnson, Gabriel Johnson, Sapphire Johnson. Ashna Kadam, Beda Kafley, Chandra Kafley, Homa Kafley, Sovit Kafley, Caleb Kammel, Srilakshmi Karuturi, Cimron Kashyap, Rachel Kelly, Matthew Kemp, Pau Khan Khai, Noshin Khan, Yong-Hyun Kim, Allison Koontz, Alexander Kriese, Tulasha Kuikel, Charlotte Kwon. Dalia Lache, Sarah Laper, Danielle Lecher, Justin Jinwon Lee, Jackie Lender, Jake Levy, Avery Lewis, Mackenzie Lewis, Angela Li, Richard Lindemanis, James Lindsey, Matthew Liscinski, Stephanie Liu, Matthew Lively, Katya Lopatko, Christopher Lopez, Alexander Louie, Angeline Low, Marcel Luhur, Cassie Lukasiewicz, Kathryn Lundgren, Kara Lunny, Danielle Lyle. Sakshi Mahajan, Nicholas Makos, Christin Manilal, Alexander Marchal, Katie Marshall, Melinda Mastel, Lauren Maunus, Christian Maurno, Sophia Mauro, Theresa McGrath, Jed McGuigan, Julia McKenna, Noah McRea, Patrick Meier, Max Meirow, Katie Mersereau, Nicholas Meyer, Katherine Meyers, Naw Mi. Brett Miller, Samantha Miller, Jeremiah Mitchell, Haleigh Monyek, Jennifer Morehouse, Natalie Moreno, Shelby Mosier, Harley Mueller, Casey Mulroy, Ariel Murphy, Emory Nager, Josephine Needs, Amira Nelson, Saraswati Nepal, Courtney Newell, Graham Novak, Zachary Oliver, Andrew O'Neill, Lesly Ortiz. Robert Page, Isabelle Paik, Grace Lee Pak, Jasmine Panton, David Park, Elizabeth Parker, Victoria Pavlock, Dane Pearson, Sydney Peavy, Sara Penka, Matthew Percival, Samuel Pfister, Gabriela Poveda Posada, Mark Powers, Jr., Tabitha Prescott, Patricia Purcell, Eduard Rainer, Swetha Ramamurthy, Stephanie Ramer, Nakul Rao. Robert Rasmussen, Hari Ravichandran, Emily Reed, Kate Reed, Courtlyn Reekstin, Alexandra Reich, Matthew Reidy, Bishnu Rimal, Angela Rogers, Scout Royce, Gili Rusak, Sovanak Sam, Hashani Samarasena, Morgan Scheibler, Alexis Schmid, Susanna Schriever, Alexander Schultz, Abhinav Seetharaman. Andrew Shafer, Aarthy Shah, Brittney Sheena, Devon Sherrerd, Priya Sheth, Jackie Shipman, Xavier Shiu, Ryan Sim, Haleigh Singer, Nina Sjostrom, Cheyenne Smith, Eleanor Smith, Rachel Smith, Reagan Smith, Danielle Snow, Leah Soloff, Julianna Song, Stephen Song, Katelyn Sorensen, Preetam Soundararajan. Katelyn Sparks, Ian Stafford, Selena Steinberg, Olivia Stogner, Andrew Stone, Sarah Stover, Govinda Subedi, Hannah Summer, Jasmine Sun, Van Ro Sung, Akilesh Tangella, Anselm Teather, Walker Thole, Nathaniel Tilp, Salvador Tinoco, Julian Tubello-Cassinari, Vikas Vavilala, Victoria Vega, Sadhvi Venkatramani, Sahaj Viradia. Go Khawm Vung, Nel Lun Vung, Elana Waldstein, Tony Wang, Christie Webb, Shannon Wedel, Gillian Wilkins, Stuart Wilkins, Madelyn Winchester, Carla Winsor, Christopher Wong, Soohyun Woo, Christina Xiao, Sharon Yang, Tony Yi, So Young Yoo, Robert Youel, Stefania Young, Daniel Yuan, Ana Zeneli.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Chair, I will have the Members know that the gentleman from Iowa has announced that this will be his last term in Congress. On behalf of the House, I want to thank Mr. Latham for his 20 years of service to the House, thank him for all those years of service on the Appropriations Committee, and thank him for being one of my best friends. Congratulations. (By unanimous consent, Mr. Hoyer was allowed to speak out of order.) Recognizing Representative Latham and Representative Pastor on Their Years of Service to the House

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Samuel Hickenlooper, Tyler Johnson, and Alexander Maurits for designing the 8th District of Ohio's winning application for the 2014 Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Competition, ``The House App Contest.'' The three Ross High School students developed a mobile app called, ``The Cryptographer,'' which allows users to teach themselves various types of digital encryption and decryption. Their entry was selected from many submitted throughout the 8th District of Ohio. Entries were reviewed by an independent panel of judges and evaluated based on innovation, appeal, production quality, and presentation. This year marked the first year of the Congressional STEM Competition. Established by this House in 2013, the competition is a nationwide event that engages students' creativity and encourages their participation in STEM education fields. Our first competition in the 8th District could not have been a success without this year's judges: Dr. James Kiper; Dr. Cathy Bishop-Clark; Mike Stahr; and Kurt Johnson. I would like to thank them for their service throughout this year's competition, and for their continued dedication to STEM education. Education in the STEM fields is critical to preparing America's students to enter a competitive global economy. STEM fields are the future of job creation in this country, and I appreciate how competitions and opportunities, such as the Congressional STEM Competition, encourage our young people to take on technical challenges that will help them develop proficiency in these areas. As I've said before, we can't have a strong economy without preparing the next generation to fill the jobs and drive the innovations that will keep America competitive. Again, congratulations to this year's winners and thank you to all who participated in this year's competition. I look forward to seeing what innovations next year's Congressional STEM Competition will bring.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, today we will take up the NSA reform bill. I rise today to thank Chairman Rogers, Chairman Goodlatte, Mr. Conyers, and all, in a bipartisan way, who have come to address this very critical reform at a time when America still is under the threat of terrorism. There is another group of people that I think it is appropriate to thank today, and that is the tens of thousands of Federal employees who work for these agencies that go out there every single day to help make America secure and Americans secure elsewhere around the world. Job well done.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I believe the whole House and the American people deserve to know how I came to the decision that brings us here today. On September 11, 2012, a terrorist attack on our consulate in Libya left four of our countrymen dead, including our Ambassador. Since that time, four committees of the House have been investigating these events, and those committees have done exemplary work. Chairman Issa, Chairman McKeon, Chairman Rogers, Chairman Royce, and all the members of their respective committees deserve our gratitude; but last week, a line was crossed in two places. First, it came to light that the White House did more to obscure what happened and why than what we were led to believe. Second, we now know that the administration defied a formal congressional subpoena. Our committees sought the full truth, and the administration tried to make sure that they wouldn't find it, which means they tried to prevent the American people from finding the truth as well. In my view, these discoveries compel the House to respond as one institution and establish one select committee, a committee with robust authority, a committee that will do its work while the House continues to focus on the people's priorities. I have asked the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy) to chair this panel. He is a well-respected Member of this body, and he has my complete confidence. I will convey to you what I conveyed to him. This doesn't need to be, shouldn't be, and will not be a partisan process. Four Americans died at the hands of terrorists in a well-coordinated assault, and we will not take any shortcuts to the truth, accountability, or justice; and we will not allow any sideshows that distract us from those goals. Our system of government depends on transparency and accountability, and either we do this well, or we face the terrifying prospect of our people having less knowledge and less power over their own government. We owe it to future generations to make the right choice. I ask all the Members of this body to reflect on this matter, and I ask you to support this resolution.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Charles W. Johnson III for his 50 years of service to the House of Representatives. Charles W. Johnson III was appointed as an Assistant Parliamentarian by Speaker John W. McCormack on May 20, 1964. After a 30-year apprenticeship, Charlie was appointed Parliamentarian of the House on September 16, 1994 and served in that role until 2004. He has served as a consultant to the Office of the Parliamentarian from 2004 to the present. Following his tenure as Parliamentarian, Charlie has devoted his considerable talents to scholarship--working on the precedents of the House and comparative parliamentary procedure. In 2010, Charlie and his British counterpart, Sir William McKay, authored a comprehensive examination of the U.S. House and the British House of Commons. That book entitled ``Parliament and Congress'' analyzes the constitutional background and procedural history of the legislative bodies of the United States and the United Kingdom. Charlie's editorial contributions are now represented in over 45 separate parliamentary works. In the most recent volume of the House precedents that bear his name, Charlie's commentary chronicled procedural changes under seven successive Speakers of the House. Charlie's expertise is recognized far beyond the halls of Congress. He has the unique distinction of testifying before three U.S. congressional committees, a U.S. federal district court, and a joint committee of the British Parliament. In 2011, Charlie was the first witness called by the prosecution in the perjury trial of star pitcher Roger Clemens. In 1999 and 2013, he gave evidence on parliamentary privilege to the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege of the British Parliament. Charlie's long-term commitment to international parliamentary exchanges was a driving force behind the creation of the House Office of lnterparliamentary Affairs in 2003. He has spent considerable time assisting emerging democracies through work with the House Democracy Partnership. His early efforts with the HDP in Kenya in 2006 were a model for legislative strengthening efforts that now encompass 16 partner countries. I want to thank Charlie for his exemplary service to the institution over his long and distinguished tenure.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Patti Alderson, who is being honored on April 11, 2014, by the Boy Scouts of America Fort Hamilton District for her service to her community at the ``Do a Good Turn Daily'' event. This recognition is awarded annually to an individual in the Butler County, Ohio, community who has demonstrated outstanding character and commitment to others. As a mother, caregiver, volunteer, and fundraiser, Patti has dedicated her life to the service of her family, friends, community members, and those in need. In 1999, Patti led a group of women to establish The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. At its founding, and in the fifteen intervening years, the Community Foundation has sought to respond to the needs of the community and provide a vehicle for volunteerism and philanthropy. Among its many initiatives, the Community Foundation has sent children to camp, established a high school-aged student philanthropy group, raised money for the local food pantry, and provided dental screenings to elementary-aged students in need. In 2010, seeking to help the local youth, Patti stepped in and led the initiative to establish a Boys and Girls Clubs of America in the townships of West Chester and Liberty, Ohio. With hard work and persistence, the Boys and Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty in 2013 became the grateful recipient of a $750,000 grant, allowing the center to become a reality. The Boys and Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty opened in March of this year and will initially serve approximately 400 students. I am very proud to call Patti Alderson my good friend, and I extend my most sincere congratulations to her. Her drive is unparalleled; her devotion to serving others is both unwavering and inspiring. Each day, many lives are touched by the initiatives that are the outgrowth of Patti's efforts. Thank you, Patti, for your passion and longstanding commitment to our community.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I know that the House shares my deep concern over the backlog of benefit claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is nothing short of a black eye for our government. This country has made promises that it is our duty to keep, and the House has acted to tackle this problem. Even so, reform won't get very far if it is carried out by managers who have proven that they are not up to the job. So we recently introduced H.R. 4031, the VA Management Accountability Act. This measure gives the VA Secretary the authority to fire and demote officials who aren't performing. The principle here is simple. When you are not getting the job done, you have got to go. At the VA, it has been quite the opposite. For all the incompetence we have seen and all the lives that have been lost, the evidence shows there has been no accountability. Only half-measures and little slaps on the wrist. At any agency that has fallen down on the job this would be unacceptable. But to have it happen in the health care system for America's veterans? I think it is shameful. The VA is failing our veterans and their families. It is time we hold these people accountable and get people in there who can fix this backlog once and for all. I am going to applaud Chairman Miller and the Veterans Affairs' Committee for their leadership. I am pleased this legislation has already picked up the support of several veterans' organizations. I would urge all of my colleagues to back this critical measure.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I know the whole House is paying close attention to the crisis in Ukraine. What is going on there is more than a cause for concern. It is a cause for action. America has a responsibility to stand up for freedom around the globe, and the House will work with the administration to support the Ukrainian people and confront Russian aggression. In fact, the House has already taken serious steps in this regard. For years, we have been pursuing an all-of-the-above energy strategy. It is part of our focus on the floor this week, in fact. Because developing our own resources doesn't just bring jobs home, it strengthens America abroad. Last month, the Energy and Commerce Committee released a report that says: By becoming a natural gas exporter, the U.S. can supplant the influence of other exporters, like Russia and Iran, while strengthening ties with our allies and trading partners around the world. The key word in that statement is ``can.'' We can supplant Russia's influence, but we won't, so long as we have to contend with the Energy Department's achingly slow approval process. As we speak, the administration is sitting on 24 applications for natural gas exports. It has approved just six in the last 3 years. Now, this amounts to a de facto ban that only emboldens Vladimir Putin, allowing him to sell large quantities of natural gas to our allies. The American people have seen the threat that Mr. Putin puts forward. They know something must be done. The President should do the right thing here and end this de facto ban, so that we can strengthen both our economy and our security here and abroad.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, this week the House will consider several measures to stop government abuse, especially when it threatens freedom and limits opportunity. The American people expect accountability, and every day the House is focused on carrying out responsible oversight. As an example, late on Friday, the Obama administration released a report that we demanded detailing the impact of the health care law and what it will do to employer-sponsored health plans. You may not have seen the report. It was released rather quietly on Friday afternoon, so I am going to enter it into the Record today. I urge every Member to read it and share it with your constituents. As you do, keep in mind that the White House promised that this law would bring down health insurance premiums by some $2,000 per family. Instead, according to the administration's own bookkeepers, premiums will go up for two out of three small businesses in our country. This amounts to about 11 million employees who are going to see more money coming out of their paycheck for their health insurance every month, and remember, these premiums will be felt not just by workers, but the small business owners themselves, making it even harder to create jobs. Another sucker punch to our economy. Another broken promise to hardworking Americans--and the only reason we even know about it is that the House demanded this transparency from the administration. That is why the House continues to focus on stopping government abuse and promoting better solutions for middle class families and small businesses. [From Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Feb. 21, 2014] Report to Congress on the Impact on Premiums for Individuals and Families With Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance From the Guaranteed Issue, Guaranteed Renewal, and Fair Health Insurance Premiums Provisions of the Affordable Care Act Introduction The ``Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011'' required this report to Congress on the impact of sections 2701 through 2703 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the premiums paid by individuals and families with employer-sponsored health insurance. Specifically, the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is to provide an estimate of the number of individuals and families who will experience a premium increase and the number who will see a decrease as a result of these three provisions. Section 2701 of PHS Act is titled ``Fair Health Insurance Premiums'' and requires adjusted community rating for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Specifically, premium rates in the individual and small group market charged for non-grandfathered health insurance coverage may only be varied on the basis of the following four characteristics: Individual or family enrollment. Geographic area--premium rates can vary by the area of the country. Age--premium rates can be higher for an older applicant than that for a younger applicant, but the ratio of premiums cannot exceed 3:1 for adults. Tobacco use--premium rates can be higher for smokers, but the ratio cannot exceed 1.5:1. Section 2702 of the PHS Act requires the guaranteed issuance of health insurance coverage in the individual and group market subject to specified exceptions. This means that insurers that offer coverage in the individual or group market generally must accept all applicants for that coverage in that market. Under section 2703 of the PHS Act, group and individual health insurance coverage must be guaranteed renewable at the option of the plan sponsor or individual, subject to specified exceptions. These three sections do not apply to grandfathered health insurance coverage. Background Prior to the passage of the ACA, the insurance products in the small group market were already required to be guaranteed issue and renewable under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). In addition, large group policies are not subject to section 2701 of the PHS Act. Self-funded plans are also not subject to the provisions analyzed in this report. As a result, large group and self- funded plans will be unaffected by the new rating requirements. Since these three specific ACA provisions will not have any significant effect on the premium rates paid by individuals working for large sized employers, the remainder of this report will focus on health insurance policies in the small group market. To help individuals with pre-existing conditions gain affordable insurance coverage, Sections 2702 and 2703 of PHS Act generally require guaranteed issuance and renewability of policies to any employer that applies for coverage offered in the applicable market within enrollment periods, regardless of the health histories of its employees or other prohibited factors. These requirements apply to all small group health insurance plans other than grandfathered plans (as defined by federal regulations at 45 CFR 147) beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Some analysts expect that these grandfathered plans will experience reduced enrollment as individuals leave for new plans that are not only cheaper due to lower administrative costs, but also offer more generous coverage, or leave for individual market coverage for which individuals may qualify for premium tax credits. Under HIPAA, all states currently have adopted guaranteed issue and renewal requirements for small group policies. The Chief Actuary was required to estimate the impact of these three specific ACA provisions--fair health insurance premiums, guaranteed issue and renewability--on the premiums for individuals and families with employer sponsored health insurance. Since fully insured small group policies are already guaranteed issue and renewal in all states, we expect there is no material net impact of these two ACA provisions on premium rates. As a result, the premium rate impact in the small group market is expected to result from only the new adjusted community rating provision in section 2701 of the PHS Act. Adjusted Community Rating for Small Employers This new adjusted community rating criteria is a change from the current small group market industry practice that existed prior to when these criteria take effect. Previously, issuers in most states could vary premiums by factors such as: health status of the group, group size, and industry code or classification. Smaller firms, and those performing high- risk work, or firms with sick employees, received significantly higher premiums than those with a lower risk group. In addition, they could be subject to large premium increases based on a new diagnosis for a single employee. The ACA created a new health insurance Exchange for small businesses called the SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program), to offer plans tailored for small employers with 100 or fewer employees. All health plans (other than those offered through the SHOP) will be subject to the premium rating requirements of section 2701 of the PHS Act. Beginning 2014, most individuals must obtain a form of minimum essential coverage or face a penalty. Individuals with income between 100 and 400 percent of federal poverty level (FPL) may be eligible for premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions on a sliding scale to help reduce the cost if the coverage is obtained through the Exchanges. There is considerable uncertainty as to whether small employers will decide to terminate their existing offer of health insurance coverage and send their employees to individual market Exchanges. Many factors may be relevant to their decisions. For example, the decision could depend heavily on the extent to which employees are eligible for a premium tax credit on the individual market Exchanges. Some expect that it would be cheaper for employees with income below 250 percent of FPL to buy coverage from the individual market Exchanges given the premium tax credits and cost- sharing reductions available at these income levels. Small employers with predominantly low-wage, part-time and seasonal employees may find it to their financial advantage to terminate existing coverage. Small businesses with 50 or fewer workers may find terminating existing coverage particularly attractive since they are not required by the ACA to offer affordable minimum essential health insurance coverage, and their workers have access to health insurance in the new Exchanges. Alternatively, it may be financially attractive for small employers with relatively healthy employees to continue to provide coverage but convert to a self-insured arrangement with stop-loss coverage. If such coverage becomes widely available, some analysts expect a substantial increase in self-insured small employers. However, small group employers will also have to consider employee resistance and administrative complexity to substitute alternative types of compensation for employer's health benefits contributions, which may encourage small employers to continue to offer insurance coverage on a tax- favored basis. Prior to 2014, insurers could set lower premiums for small employers with younger and healthier employees due to their low expected health care needs, and significantly higher rates for small employers with older and sicker employees with greater expected health care needs. The ratio of premiums charged between old and young ages was typically 5:1 or more, and could translate into much higher premiums for firms with older employees. In addition, gender could also be used as a rating factor. Before 2014, employers with more women of childbearing age were commonly charged higher premiums. The adjusted community rating under ACA prohibits the use of gender, health status and claims history as rating factors, and restricts the premium rating ratio for adults to between young and old ages. These changes are expected to further relieve the financial burdens for older and sicker individuals as coverage could become more affordable for them. However, for younger and healthier individuals, premiums could increase since health status is no longer permitted as a rating factor and the new age rating band is limited to 3:1 for adults, less than what insurers typically have used. Some analysts are concerned with the possibility of adverse selection, which prompts small employers with younger and healthier individuals to drop coverage or switch to other forms of coverage such as self-insurance, leaving the remaining risk pool with only the sickest individuals thereby raising premiums significantly. The propensity for adverse selection is mitigated by other ACA provisions that encourage small employers to offer coverage and premium stabilization programs in the fully insured market such as risk adjustment. For example, small employers with 25 or fewer employees whose average annual salary is less than $50,000 may be eligible for small business tax credit on a sliding scale if they contribute at least 50 percent of the total premium. Many analysts believe that these and other factors will help attract a broad and stable group of employers to reduce the negative impact on premiums and avoid the adverse selection problem. Estimates by Independent Modelers A number of independent modelers developed estimates of post-ACA premium rates and enrollment of small group coverage for a number of states and the country as a whole. For example, some of their findings are summarized below. Wisconsin--A study by Gorman Actuarial and Dr. Jonathan Gruber predicted that the small group market is expected to see relatively small premium rate increase--1.3 percent. Fifty-three percent of small group plans, or 63 percent of the small group employees, will experience a premium rate increase of 15 percent, while 47 percent of small groups or 37 percent of the employees will experience a 16 percent decrease. Most of the impact is due to elimination of health status as a rating factor. Maine--A study by Gorman Actuarial and Dr. Jonathan Gruber estimated that a large majority (89 percent) of small employers are expected to experience a premium rate increase of 12 percent on average, while the remaining 11 percent will experience an average premium rate decline of 17 percent. The impact is largely due to the elimination of group size as a rating factor. Ohio--A study from Milliman estimates that, before the application of tax subsidies, the small group premium rates are going to increase by 5 to 15 percent. National--Actuaries at Oliver Wyman examined the national impact on premium rates of adjusted community rating, guaranteed issue and renewal using a database of actual claims covering over 6 million people. They predict that the small group premium rates will increase by 20 percent. OACT Estimates This analysis focuses on the number of people with health insurance coverage through their employer whose premium rates are expected to increase or decrease as a result of the guaranteed issue, guaranteed renewability, and premium rating provisions of the ACA only. Other factors affecting rates such as changes in product design, provider networks, or competition are not considered. In addition, other provisions of the ACA, including the coverage expansions, the extension of dependent coverage to age 26, the individual mandate, and the employer mandate will impact the availability of coverage, the take-up of that coverage, and the premium rates charged to those who currently have employer-sponsored insurance, but those impacts are not included in this estimate. We prepared a more complete report on the financial effects of the ACA in 2010. As mentioned previously, the effect on large employers is expected to be negligible, therefore our evaluation examines the impact on employees of fully-insured small firms. In 2012, about 18 million people were enrolled in the small group health insurance market through employers with 50 fewer employees. About 8 percent of small firms offered a self- insured health plan, therefore about 17 million people received coverage in the fully-insured small group health market. These 17 million people will be affected by the new premium rating requirements contained in the ACA. Before the premium rating provision of the ACA took effect, firms with employees who had better than average health risks would typically pay lower premiums, and therefore, they were more likely to be the firms that offer health insurance. As a result, most of people with coverage in the small group market have premium rates that are below average. Based on our review of the available research and discussions with several actuarial experts, we have estimated that roughly 65 percent of small employers offering health insurance coverage have premium rates that are below average. Once the new premium rating requirements go into effect, it is anticipated that the small employers that offer health insurance coverage to their employees and their families would have average premium rates. Therefore, we are estimating that 65 percent of the small firms are expected to experience increases in their premium rates while the remaining 35 percent are anticipated to have rate reductions. The individuals and families that receive health insurance coverage from their small employer generally contribute a portion of the premium. For this analysis, if the employer premium increases, it is assumed that the employee contribution will rise as well. Similarly, if the employer premium is reduced, the employee contribution is assumed to decrease. This results in roughly 11 million individuals whose premiums are estimated to be higher as a result of the ACA and about 6 million individuals who are estimated to have lower premiums. There is a rather large degree of uncertainty associated with this estimate. The impact could vary significantly depending on the mix of firms that decide to offer health insurance coverage. In reality, the employer's decisions to offer coverage will be based on far more factors than the three that are focused on in this report so understanding the effects of just these provisions will always be challenging. Using their Compare model, RAND analyzed the impact of the entire ACA on small group premiums and determined that the effect would be minimal. Further, note that the number of affected individuals will be smaller in 2014 because (i) a number of small group plans were renewed early, and (ii) about half of the states have allowed extensions to their pre-ACA rating rules under the transitional policy announced by CMS on November 14, 2013. Summary The Affordable Care Act requires all non-grandfathered health insurance coverage in the individual and group markets to be guaranteed issue and guaranteed renewable. In addition, all non-grandfathered insurance plans and policies in the individual and group markets can vary premium rates based only on age, family status, geography, and tobacco use, and the variation in the age and tobacco use factors is limited. This new premium rating requirement will impact the premiums paid by individuals and families working for small employers who offer health insurance. Specifically, we have estimated that the premium rates for roughly 11 million people will increase and about 6 million people are expected to experience a premium rate reduction due to sections 2701 through 2703 of the PHS Act.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker and my colleagues, too many middle class Americans are out of work or worried about losing their job, and the House has passed dozens of bills to help them. More are in the works as we speak, including important legislation that fosters more trade and opportunities for growth. In Washington, it is often referred to as TPA, trade promotion authority. But around the country from our farms to our factories, this means jobs. It means making it easier for our workers--including the 1.4 million in Ohio whose jobs depend on trade--to be able to compete with China and the world's growing economies. This initiative has support from Members of both parties, including President Obama himself. Unfortunately, like many of our jobs bills, his party's leaders in the Senate are standing in the way. The President needs to use his bully pulpit as only an American President can and change their minds. He can do that today when he addresses Senate Democrats. I certainly hope and expect he will help us move this bill forward on behalf of American workers. Otherwise, all the talk about a ``year of action'' would appear to be just another broken promise.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, today in our country, far too many Americans have been unemployed for too long. Out of every 10 people looking for work, nearly four have been looking for more than 6 months. What for many families began as a crisis has turned into a reality, a new normal. That's why the House has passed dozens of jobs bills that would create a better environment for hiring and more economic growth. One proposal awaiting action in the Senate is H.R. 803, the SKILLS Act. Right now, if you want to acquire new skills to qualify for a good job, you are up against a job-training system that is a maze of overlapping programs and waste. The SKILLS Act streamlines and strengthens the system to make it more effective for those who need help. It reduces roadblocks for both job-seekers and employers trying to find the right candidates. While our economy has been changing, the way we help prepare our workers has not. With so many Americans still asking the question ``where are the jobs?'' it is clearly past time that we do this. Unfortunately, not only have Senate Democrats failed to act on this measure, their focus continues to be on improving unemployment. Our focus should be on improving employment, making it easier to create jobs and to boost wages. To help the nation's long-term unemployed, the Senate should passed the SKILLS Act as soon as possible.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, since 1983, the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and interact on issues of mutual interest. A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany for 10 days from June 28-July 6, 2014. During this 10-day exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat Members, Bundestag and Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic, and media agencies. A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States for 10 days from April 26-May 4, 2014. They will attend similar meetings here in Washington. The U.S. delegation is expected to organize and facilitate these meetings. The Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States, and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The U.S. delegation should consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States. Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to the United States and Germany such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events. In addition, U.S. participants are expected to plan and implement the program for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. Participants are selected by a committee composed of personnel from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State and past participants of the exchange. Members of the House and Senate who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated. Applications may be sent to the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, HC-4, the Capitol, by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize Dick Slagle on receiving the Middletown Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated his or her dedication to improving the Middletown community. For more than 50 years, Dick has been committed to Middletown, Monroe, and Trenton through his involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. A World War II Veteran and dedicated public servant, Dick has played an integral role in the betterment of the Middletown area. His service began in 1959 with the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president for 10 years. He then went on to work for Armco Steel in Middletown, Ohio, until he retired in 1985. During his retirement, Dick has served as interim president for the Chamber of Commerce for the following years: 1984, 2001 to 2003, and 2013. He had a vision for the Middletown community and worked with key leaders to develop strategies that will have a strong and lasting impact for years to come. As one of the founders and a former chairman of the Butler County Port Authority, he supported many important economic development initiatives for the region. The Atrium Medical Center, which supports more than 2,600 jobs within the region, is considered one of his largest and most significant projects. Dick is a highly respected individual in the community and continues to work on projects that will have a positive effect on the region. Without his hard work and dedication, I am certain that places such as the MADE Industrial Park, Miami University's Middletown Campus, Weatherwax Golf Course, and Shaker Run Golf Course would not exist today. It is no secret that Dick Slagle is a selfless individual who focuses his time and energy on his community. Without his guidance, I may never have entered into public office. He encouraged me and many others to pursue this path. I am very proud to call Dick Slagle my good friend, and I extend my most sincere congratulations to him. His drive is unparalleled and his devotion to serving others is inspiring. I am certain he has inspired others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, today in our country, too many families and small businesses are struggling. Unemployment remains high; wages are stagnant; prices for everything from gas to groceries are rising faster than paychecks. The middle class is getting squeezed, and the policies from this administration have not worked. Five years after the President took office, many Americans are still asking the question, Where are the jobs? Unfortunately, instead of helping to create jobs, the President is focused on making it easier to live without one. The House is focused on making it easier to find a job, to break the status quo, not to sustain it. We have passed dozens of bills that are sitting over in the Senate. Our focus is on ending this new normal, improving employment, not unemployment. The President says he wants to make this year a ``year of action.'' Sounds good to me. He can start by calling on the leaders over in the Senate to pass our jobs bills. He can start by approving the Keystone pipeline and the tens of thousands of jobs it will create. He can start by leading on trade promotion authority that will help employers and provide more employment in our country. And he can start by working with us on education and skills training to give people more opportunities. Let's make this a year of bipartisan action. I am sure the American people would welcome it.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, let me thank Chairman Ryan and his Senate counterpart, Democrats and Republicans, frankly, on both sides of the Capitol who worked hard to bring this agreement together. My colleagues, I think it is pretty simple. If you are for reducing the budget deficit, then you should be voting for this bill. If you are for cutting the size of government, you should be supporting this budget. If you are for preventing tax increases, you should be voting for this budget. If you are for entitlement reform, you ought to be voting for this budget. These are the things I came here to do, and this budget does them. Is it perfect? Does it go far enough? No, not at all. I think it is going to take a lot more work to get our arms around our debt and our deficit. But this budget is a positive step in that direction. It is progress. It is doing what the American people expect us to do. It is coming together and finding common ground. Stick to our principles, but find common ground. Again, I commend Chairman Ryan and Chairman Murray for their work, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this budget.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague from California, Ms. Eshoo, to honor the memory of Joseph A. Stewart, who passed away on December 6, 2013, after a full and enriching life looking out for others. Joseph was born on January 20, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey. He attended Seton Hall University, earning a degree in classical languages. He received his MA and PhD in human relations and social policy planning from New York University. His concern for the sick spurred a prolific career in health care that spanned more than 40 years, taking him everywhere from large academic medical centers to community non-profit hospitals. The first administrator of Cooperative Care at New York University Medical Center, Joseph went on to hold academic appointments at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Southern California. Joseph was also actively involved in his local parish, where he mentored new ministers. Monsignor Scott Daugherty of St. Anne and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Porterville, California, said Joseph ``was a great man, greatly respected by many.'' Similarly, Deacon Jim Deiterle said, ``He was a great man and had a great outlook on life. . . . He was so committed, so enthused with what he was talking about.'' Porterville Unified School District Superintendent John Snavely said of Joseph, ``What I admired about him is how quickly and how completely he embraced the community.'' Indeed, Joseph Stewart was a man who shared and spread every one of his passions--be it faith, education, or health care. He didn't just do a kindness for someone; he connected with them. He moved people. Joseph will be remembered as a friend, an educator, a mentor, and a leader. He will also be remembered as a brother to Michael, and a father to David, Brian, Charles, and Catherine. David serves as Policy Director in the Office of the Speaker, and has been a trusted advisor of mine for the last five years. Charles worked for the Senate Commerce Committee before assuming his current position as Communications Director for Ms. Eshoo nearly two years ago. Both of these gentlemen are held in high regard by colleagues and members of this body. Their outstanding service to this institution makes clear that Joseph's legacy is in the best of hands. To David and Charles, and to all their loved ones, we offer our prayers and those of the entire House of Representatives. Let us also offer our deep appreciation for the service of Joseph Anthony Stewart, and for all the good he did in a life of purpose and accomplishment.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, the American people work hard, and they have got a right to expect their elected Representatives to do the same. House Republicans are listening. To date, the House has passed nearly 150 bills this Congress that the United States Senate has failed to act on. Many of them would help our economy and boost job creation. Nearly 150 bills passed by this House have yet to be acted on by the Senate. These bills would do things like increase the supply of American energy and build the Keystone pipeline, roll back red tape and unnecessary regulations, provide for flexibility to working families, reform and improve job training programs, protect Americans from cyberattacks, help schools to recruit and keep the best teachers, delay the individual mandate and allow the American people to keep the health care plans that they would like, or to scrap the health care law that is wreaking havoc on our economy. Every single one of these bills has been blocked by Washington Democrats. The Senate and the President continue to stand in the way of the people's priorities. Now we are trying to come to an agreement on the budget and on the farm bill, amongst other issues that are in conference. Chairman Ryan and Chairman Lucas have made serious good faith efforts to Senate Democrats. When will they learn to say ``yes'' to common ground? When will they start listening to the American people?

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Thomas S. Foley, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, died on October 18, 2013. The House took several steps to honor the former Speaker. Following House tradition, the Speaker's chair on the rostrum was draped in black and the Speaker's gavel rested on a black pillow. Outside the House chamber, Speaker Foley's official portrait in the Speaker's Lobby was draped in black. On October 22, 2013, the House adopted House Resolution 383, expressing the condolences of the House upon his death. On October 29, 2013, a memorial service was held in Statuary Hall celebrating the life of Speaker Foley. The following is a transcript of those proceedings: (The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives) Speaker Boehner: Ladies and gentlemen, let us begin today by acknowledging a great friend of this institution, Mrs. Heather Foley. (Applause.) Speaker Boehner: Mrs. Foley, thank you for giving us this chance to try to express the depth of gratitude that we owe to Tom. An English poet once wrote, ``The noblest work of God is an honest man.'' Well, Tom Foley was that and more. A leader grounded in decency, in principle, he brought honor to himself, to his family, and to this House. He did all these things a public servant should do and, frankly, did many of them better than the rest. Ask any of his peers and they will tell you this, especially those who didn't share his politics. Listen to Bob Dole, who around the time Tom became Speaker called him ``a man of total integrity.'' Or ask Alan Simpson, who said, ``Tom can tell you to go to Hell and make you feel good about going there.'' And Henry Hyde, as fierce a conservative as they come, who said of the man, ``I wish he were a Republican.'' There's also this from President George H.W. Bush, ``Tom Foley represented the very best in public service and our political system.'' One class act tipping his hat to another. Yes, the span of Tom's service and his record is impressive, as is the sequence of his rise: Ag Committee chairman, majority whip, majority leader, and Speaker. But it was his sense of fairness, his port-n-a-storm bearing, that will always stand out for me. It's how he held this institution together at a very difficult time, and it's why those who come after us, who seek to know what it means when we use that phrase, ``man of the House,'' or just what it means to leave something behind, should look up the name Thomas S. Foley. Today, we gather in the old Hall, joined by Presidents, Vice Presidents, Speakers, and so many of our colleagues and diplomats that Tom served with and to reminisce about this man's service and a toast to his life. Welcome, and thank you all for being here. (The Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives) Reverend Conroy: God of Heaven and Earth, the work of Your hands is made known in Your bountiful creation and in the lives of those who faithfully live in Your grace. Today we especially remember the life and work of Tom Foley, son of the very proud city of Spokane. His commitment to furthering education in his own district, Washington's Fifth, is testified to by the Ralph and Helen Higgins Foley Library at Gonzaga University, his alma mater. It is named in honor of his parents, who clearly did something right in raising such a son. Tom Foley was a modest man whose impact on the public weal beyond his district far exceeded any projection of ego strength. May we all be inspired by his example to be men and women impelled to improve the lives and prospects of our fellow citizens while eschewing any honor or glory for ourselves, and as he did, do our part to increase understanding and respect across cultural divides. Be present with us this day, O God, as we mark his life and remember his legacy. Bless this gathering and comfort us as we comfort one another in remembering a great American and a genuinely good man. Amen. (The Honorable Norman Dicks, United States House of Representatives, Sixth District of Washington, 1977-2013) Mr. Dicks: Tom Foley was my friend, mentor, and colleague in the House of Representatives. I first met Tom Foley at the University of Washington Law School in 1965 during his freshman term. He was a brilliant young man with a warm and friendly smile. It was his intellect and love for this country that made him an outstanding leader. He served as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and worked hard on the farm bill and food stamp legislation. Bringing these two issues together allowed Chairman Foley to build support in the House for both. Tom believed in, and practiced, civility and bipartisanship. His view was that, after the elections were over, Democrats and Republicans should work together to deal with the national legislative agenda. Seeing Tom Foley's strong leadership qualities and belief in getting things done for the American people, Speaker O'Neill appointed Tom to be the majority whip. He was then unanimously elected to be our majority leader and then our Speaker in 1989. As Speaker, Tom worked closely with Bob Michel, the Republican leader from 1989 to 1995. They remained great friends after they left Congress. Later, President Clinton named Speaker Foley to be our Ambassador to Japan. As a staffer to Senator Warren T. Magnuson, I worked with Tom on the Spokane World's Fair in 1974. This project created dramatic change for Spokane, the largest city in the Fifth District. Tom was so proud to represent the people of the Fifth Congressional District for 30 years. He always thought this was his most important responsibility. It was a great honor for me that Tom Foley supported me in my campaign to Congress in 1976. I was then privileged to work with him and to receive his support as a Member of the House, and I will always thank him for being such a good mentor. We will always remember the legacy of Tom Foley. He believed in the Congress, and he believed that this institution could produce positive results for the American people. His loving wife, Heather, supported him throughout his career and took wonderful care of him during his long illness. May God bless you, Heather, and the entire Foley family. (The Honorable Jim McDermott, United States House of Representatives, Seventh District of Washington) Mr. McDermott: Good afternoon. I am Jim McDermott. I am a House Member from Washington's Seventh Congressional District, which is mostly Seattle. I knew Tom Foley for more than 40 years, and throughout that time, he was a wonderful friend and a sage mentor. In 1971, when I was a freshman State legislator, he took me out to dinner in Seattle and suggested I run for Congress. I was pleased by his regard for my career, but I knew better since I was a freshman legislator. So I rejected it and ran for Governor. I got creamed. Tom never said a word. Chastened, I returned to the legislature, determined to learn as much as I could about the realities of governing effectively and the challenges of the legislative role. When I finally ran for Congress in 1988, Tom was the majority leader of the House. As I arrived for my first term in 1989, Tom was about to become Speaker. I know now that he was about to become the last Speaker of the whole House. He believed that the Speaker was the Speaker for the whole House, and he lived that to his very core. Today many will note Tom's devotion to the House of Representatives and his learned knowledge of the history of this organization. Sitting down with Tom and letting him tell stories, you learned enormous amounts. He appreciated the role of the House in our balanced structure of government. He knew well the challenge of maintaining that fragile balance. So when he assumed the Speakership, he brought to it a scholar's depth of understanding and a disciple's passion. He led the House with fairness and comity, a style of leadership we haven't seen--we recently have looked for it--but we have not seen what Tom was able to do with both sides. Tom understood that the House could not perform its constitutional function without evenhandedness and respected the role of the minority. Tom was a Democrat, no question about it. He was very clear about why he was a Democrat. He believed in the legitimacy and the value of government. He knew that government's duty was to improve the lives of Americans, and he saw it as a noble obligation and worthy of one's very best efforts at any time. When he became Speaker, he abandoned none of these principles. He added to them a very nuanced appreciation of the role of Speaker, and his certainty that the leadership of the House required not a flame-throwing partisan but a measured, steady pilot enlightened by an unmatched knowledge of, and love for, the House of Representatives. Tom Foley's district was a sprawling, largely rural swath of eastern Washington state; yet its essentially very conservative voters reelected him for 30 years. They took an urban internationalist and sent him back again and again. They did so, and that was a persistent reaffirmation of his unshakeable integrity, his superb legislative skills, and his deep connection with the people of the Fifth District. He always started his speech by saying, ``My highest honor was to be elected Congressman from the Fifth District.'' I believe that the voters recognized him as a great American. We share that sense of wry Irish humor, but Tom's charm and wit were all his own. He was an extraordinary person and an irreplaceable friend. I am grateful to have known him. Rest in peace. (The Honorable John Lewis, United States House of Representatives, Fifth District of Georgia) Mr. Lewis: Mrs. Foley, bless you. There was a great minister, scholar, and abolitionist who lived in New England in the 19th century. His name was James Freeman Clarke, and he once made this statement: ``A politician,'' he said, ``thinks only of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.'' Speaker Tom Foley was a true statesman. He believed it was an honor to serve the public good, and he brought respect for the dignity of our democracy and the inspiration of our mandate as a Nation to every moment of his service. He believed it was our calling as Members of Congress to do what we could to preserve and help create a more perfect Union that has been in the making for almost 300 years. In all of my years knowing Speaker Foley and seeing him on the floor or in small meetings, I never heard this man, this good man, speak or say a bad word about anyone. I just have a feeling that he was one who believed, if you couldn't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all. As a leader, he believed he should build and not tear down, reconcile and not divide. He stood for the principles of diplomacy and mutual respect, even toward his opposition. He did not subscribe to the politics of personal destruction. He knew that his work as Speaker, as a representative of the great State of Washington or as a legislator was bigger than his own personal values and ambition. He wanted to leave a record of accomplishment that would have a lasting impact on our society for generations to come. When he left the Speaker's chair, it was the end of an era, a period, in our history. Maybe, just maybe, his passing at this moment in our history is just an elegant reminder of one simple truth: no leader is greater than the cause he serves, and when our lives are over, we will be remembered not for fame or fortune, but for how we helped or how we harmed the dignity of all humankind. I will never forget this prince of a man who led by example and struggled to turn the tide of partisanship in Congress back to constructive debate on the great issues. Every leader, whether in politics or in the larger society, but every leader in America could do well to take a page from Tom Foley's book. (The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the United States House of Representatives) Minority Leader Pelosi: Heather, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Mr. Vice President, how wonderful that Speaker Foley has two Presidents, two Vice Presidents, and the good wishes of President George Herbert Walker Bush that our distinguished Speaker quoted earlier. He could never probably have imagined that when he came to the floor on the first day to make his first floor speech. He said, ``Public service is a free gift of a free people and a challenge for all of us in public life to do what we can to make our service useful for those who have sent us here.'' Few fulfilled that charge with more courage, more conviction, more civility than he. I take great pride in the fact that he's the first Speaker to hail from west of the Rocky Mountains. He brought to Congress a fresh perspective and a powerful voice that would open doors of leadership to Members who represent the diversity of our country. His first campaign was legendary in its civility. Before the election was even over, his opponent, Congressman Walt Horan, released a statement calling the campaign the cleanest he had ever seen in his 22 years in office. In that spirit, when Tom Foley came to Congress and as Speaker Foley, he made campaign finance reform a priority. He sent legislation to the President's desk that would ensure that our democracy was a government of, by, and for the people. Unfortunately, we could not override the President's veto, but Speaker Foley's commitment to a just democracy and fair elections serves us as an enduring challenge to this day. Known for his ability to build consensus, Speaker Foley never compromised on the conviction to do right by the American people. When tragedy struck at the Fairchild Air Force Base Hospital in his district, this longtime defender of gun rights saw the need for sensible gun violence prevention laws. Speaker Foley brought that bill to the floor. He helped enact it--those bans--knowing that it would not be well received in his district. But he did what he believed, and he did it with courage. He matched that dedication to principle and courage with a gift for diplomacy. Nearly 20 years ago, I was privileged--I don't know why I was on the list, but I was invited to attend a special dinner at the British Embassy to honor Speaker Foley for his leadership. As fate would have it, President Clinton, that was the day that you announced that you were going to grant a temporary visa to Gerry Adams. Just a coincidence. Needless to say, the mood of the evening was tense. Speaker Foley, with his characteristic grace, reasoned that this step--no matter how disconcerting at the moment to them--was crucial to delivering an ever-elusive peace to Northern Ireland, Ambassador. That remarkable ability to build bridges across great divides would serve him well as Speaker and, later, as U.S. Ambassador to Japan--something he took great pride in, as I know you did, Mr. Vice President. His judgment was impeccable and was respected, and many of us benefited from it. For me, in September 2008, I attended a G-8 meeting of heads of Parliament, or Speakers--whatever they're called in their particular country. All of the participants were invited to lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. I immediately called Ambassador Foley, as I called Vice President Mondale, to ask what I should do. He replied, ``You must participate. You will be the highest-ranking American official,'' up until then, ``to lay a wreath at the memorial. You cannot say no.'' Now, that may seem easy now, but at the time, that was very strong judgment, as, again, the Vice President also gave me. Such is the nature of a great man who believed, above all, in the purpose of public service. It's about respect. Diplomat, leader, Speaker--Tom Foley was the quintessential champion of the common good. He spoke for the House he led and the country he so loved. In his farewell speech--I started with his opening speech-- in his farewell speech to the House, he said, ``Congress is the place where we come together to speak the voices of America and democracy, and it is the voice that is found to echo resoundingly throughout the world.'' Throughout the world. Heather, I hope it is a comfort to you that so many people mourn your loss throughout the world and are praying for you at this sad time. To you, Heather, and to the Foley family, thank you for sharing Tom with a grateful Nation. His voice will forever echo in our hearts, to all who strive to make a difference through public service. As we count our blessings as a Nation, we know that God truly blessed America with the life and leadership of Speaker, Ambassador, and leader, Tom Foley. (The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader of the United States Senate) Senate Minority Leader McConnell: Thank you all for being here. And, Heather, we honor you today. You were there all along, guiding and accompanying Tom across all the peaks and the valleys right to the end. We thank you for your spirit, your generosity, and your example, which enlivened this House, as well as your own, for many years. Welcome back. Now, given Tom's famous equanimity, it is somewhat ironic that he decided to run for Congress in the first place. He actually did it in a moment of anger. The day was July 16, 1964. The Beatles had just returned to Liverpool after their first U.S. tour. President Johnson had recently signed the Civil Rights Act and was on his way to a landslide victory against Barry Goldwater that November. And a 35-year-old Tom Foley was having lunch at the Spokane Club in downtown Spokane. A gifted lawyer from a prominent local family and a trusted aide to Scoop Jackson, Tom mentioned to the guys he was eating lunch with that he was thinking seriously about running for Congress--not this time, but the next time around. At which point, one of his lunch companions bluntly dismissed the idea out of hand and said: ``You'll never do it. You're like all young people. You think the party's going to come to you with a Tiffany tray and an engraved card and say, `Please, we humbly beg you, run for Congress.' And that isn't the way it happens. People get to Congress by wanting to run for Congress. You've got excuses this year, and you'll have excuses next year and the year after that.'' Well, Tom didn't like this little piece of armchair psychology one bit, and he was determined to prove them wrong. So he got up from the table, walked over to the library across the hall, stuffed himself into a phone booth, and called Western Union. Within minutes, a telegram had been sent to Senator Jackson back in Washington saying that Tom had just resigned his job and was headed to Olympia to file for a run. Then Tom called his bank and found out he didn't have any money. His cousin Hank had to loan him the filing fee. Oh, and the filing deadline was the next day. So Tom had no cash, no plan, and virtually no time. But he had the smarts. He had a sterling reputation. He had the backing of Senator Jackson. And now, he had the motivation. And he did it, and for the next three decades, Thomas Stephen Foley would devote his life to the people of eastern Washington's Fifth Congressional District--with grace, intelligence, wit, and a profound respect for others, including his political adversaries, and an abiding gratitude for the trust and confidence of the people he was elected to serve, from Walla Walla to Northport and all the wheat country and timber towns in between. Tom always looked the part. Even his classmates at Gonzaga High School called him ``the Senator.'' And I dare say that if most Americans were asked to conjure up in their minds the image of a Congressman, the man they'd like to see would be him. To most people, it seemed as though Tom were born to serve here. And in a remarkable 30-year congressional career, he proved they were right. He proved that he didn't just look the part, he knew the part, and he played it well. Tom and I weren't on the same side on most issues. His faith in government was, shall I say, a little more robust than mine, but we shared a deep respect for the institution and a belief that working with the other side, particularly at a time of divided government, is no heresy when it enables you to achieve some good for the Nation. That kind of comity is sometimes viewed as old fashioned around here, but that's never been true. The parties have always disagreed, but it hasn't kept them from working together from time to time to solve problems that we all recognize. Tom knew that. He practiced it. He took flak from time to time for being a little too friendly with Republicans, but I don't think he ever doubted the wisdom of his approach, even in defeat. As Tom often said, ``The first vote you need to earn is your own.'' It was a principle that served him very well, and it's one that I think says a lot about what the legacy of the gentleman from Spokane will be. We honor his service and his memory. May we draw all the right lessons from both. (The Honorable Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the United States Senate) Senate Majority Leader Reid: For 4 years, I served in the House of Representatives with Speaker Tom Foley. During the time I served there, he was the majority whip. I also served with the man who would succeed Speaker Foley as leader of the House, Speaker Newt Gingrich. Newt and I don't agree on too much, but when he wrote in last week's Time magazine that Tom Foley was a pragmatic man, a person of great integrity, and a genuine patriot, I couldn't agree more with Newt. This is what Speaker Gingrich wrote: ``I have nothing but fond memories of serving with Tom Foley. We worked together when we could, competed when we had to, and cooperated for the national interest as far as possible.'' I, too, have fond memories of my time serving in the House with Tom Foley. I offer my condolences to Heather who, as we all know, had a strong voice in the House, at least when I was there. She was tremendous, always there available to help us; and she was his greatest influence politically in his whole life. Tom learned his practical style of politics from his mentors, Senators Scoop Jackson and Warren Magnuson, who were both from the State of Washington. Speaker Foley gained his pragmatism from being a Member, as we've heard from Norm Dicks and others, as a Member and then chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, one of the Chamber's most bipartisan committees. But I credit much of Tom's down-to-earth demeanor to his Western upbringing. You see, he was the first Speaker of the House of Representatives to be born west of the Rocky Mountains. He cut an imposing figure. He was a big man physically and had this wonderful smile and great voice. He was always gracious to young Members like me. One day, when I reflect back, as we get a little older, and we've all had that experience, or most of us, you can't see like you used to, and somehow he didn't bring his reading glasses with him. And he was desperate. He had to read there. He was managing what was going on on the floor and he couldn't see. So I was the first person he saw, and he said, ``Find me some glasses. I don't care where you get them.'' And I wanted to adhere to his wishes, so I didn't care where I got them. Somebody left them laying on a desk, and I grabbed them, and he was so happy to get those glasses because, as has happened to all of us, he just couldn't see and he needed to see. Well, it was my honor and pleasure to find him some glasses to help him see that day. But a vision as to where the country needed to go he always saw clearly. (The Honorable Robert H. Michel, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, 1981-1995) Mr. Michel: Heather, members of the family and President Clinton, President Obama, and all my former colleagues and friends of Tom, all of you, it was my good fortune to have visited Tom with my former right-hand man Billy Pitts a few days before Tom died. I am so grateful to Heather for making that visit possible. We thought it was going to be just a visit of a couple of minutes, and it ended up we were speaking for an hour about the days gone by, not unlike so many others we had over a relationship of more than 40 years. We both were able to say our piece in an atmosphere of mutual respect, open- mindedness, and, most of all, trust. As I said in an article in The Post the other day, when Tom became Speaker, he suggested that we get together once a week, talk over the affairs of the House, one week in my office and the next in his, something that had never been done before. While we disagreed over policy and jousted with each other politically, the meetings were highly productive because underlying them was the faith and trust we had in each other. We could talk about anything, knowing that our discussions would remain private unless we decided otherwise. I don't think there is anything more important in the relationship between political leaders than trust. Never was that bond tested more than it was in January 1991 when I implored Tom to bring to the House floor a resolution that Steve Solarz of New York and I had introduced authorizing then-President Bush to engage in military action in Operation Desert Storm to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. I was convinced that Tom opposed military intervention, and I know that a good many of his caucus were strongly opposed as well. It was an exercise of political courage and personal decency for Tom to agree to bring the resolution up for an open debate and recorded vote under those circumstances, but he did. We had one of the most spirited, but civil and informative, debates in which I had been privileged to participate in all my 38 years in Congress. We prevailed in the final outcome that day, but I would have been proud of the House and proud of our Speaker regardless, because the House demonstrated to the world that it was truly a deliberative and democratic body. Tom and I always struggled to find common ground between our two sides. When there were issues upon which we could not agree, we could at least use common courtesy in the way we conducted our politics. That isn't just good manners; it is good politics. But win, lose, or compromise, the way we argue can be as important, in the long run, as the decisions we reach. I so admired Tom's grace and civility. I also admired his understanding and natural feel for the personality and the distinctive culture of the institution. He was so dedicated to its preservation and protection. Tom was chosen to lead the House in a very difficult time. Through it all, he was a gentleman of the House and a fair and honest broker and a worthy adversary. And maybe we both knew that our days were numbered. We were too conditioned by our personal and political upbringing to assume that we had the market cornered on political principle or partisan superiority. We knew, too, that there would always be a distinction and separation between campaigning for office and serving in office. We were, I guess, pupils of the old school. Tom knew that a House Member has three essential jobs: to deliberate, to debate, and to be effective. He knew that if we wanted to be effective in the House, you just can't go around shouting your principles; you have to subject those principles to the test of open debate against those who do not share those principles. But true debate is not possible unless the Golden Rule is applied, which simply means that you treat your fellow Members the way you, yourself, want to be treated. Tom believed in that rule, and he practiced it from the day he came to the House and all during his time as Speaker of the House. Tom Foley was proud to be a Member of this House. I share that deep pride in this great institution, and I guess that is one reason we were able to work together. We both saw the House of Representatives not as a necessary evil, but as one of the great creations of a free people. On our last day in Congress, on November 29, 1994, Tom did me the great honor of inviting me to the Speaker's podium to preside over the House while he gave his farewell remarks from the well. Incidentally, that was the first time in 40 years a Republican had been on that rostrum. When we stood side by side at the podium on that last day of the 103rd Congress, we knew that we were icons, I guess, of a bygone era. As we visited for the last time 20 years later, I think we felt good about that. We both took great pride in knowing we had made things happen, that we found good ways to solve difficult problems and make the House a working institution. Now Tom takes his place among the great public servants immortalized in this Hall of Statues. He is most worthy of a presence here. I know, because of his great love for this institution, that his spirit will dwell here forever. I only hope that the legislators who now walk through here each day, so consumed by the here and now, will feel his spirit, learn from it, and be humbled by it. That's what I have to say in honor of my dear friend, Tom Foley. (The Honorable William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States) President Clinton: Mr. Michel may be 90 years old, but he has the spirit of a man half his age and the wisdom of one 10 times his age. We thank him for his remarks. Heather, I thank you, and, Mr. Speaker, I thank you for giving those of us who worked with, knew, and cared about Tom the chance to be here today. I thank you, Heather, for all you did to make his work possible and better. Mr. President, thank you for being here, and Mr. Vice President, Vice President Mondale, and all the others who have spoken before me. Shortly after I was elected President, I invited Speaker Foley and Leader Gephardt to come to Arkansas to see me to tell me everything I didn't know that was about to happen to me, which Tom Foley proceeded to do in that calm, restrained, balanced, lyrical way. Tom told me not to be lulled by Bob Michel's friendliness, that he was a very tough adversary, but I could make a deal with him. He told me not to be intimidated, Mr. Speaker, by your bellicosity because you were a brilliant politician, but in the end, we would find a way to do business. He turned out to be right about both things. His leadership made possible things that mattered to me a lot. Being President is a matter of trying to do what you promised to do when you ran, trying to respond to legitimate impulses that are coming out of the political system across the range, and trying to deal with the unanticipated developments. And if you ignore any of them, you cannot prevail. And if you can't work with the Congress, it's very difficult. Tom Foley, therefore, was pivotal in our landslide victory for my economic plan and deficit reduction plan, because we won by one vote in the House. And that runaway victory was made possible by the Speaker and everybody else that voted for it. But also, we just celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave law, the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. They are now part of the pillars of our sense of common citizenship. Now, I have had Republicans and Democrats come up to me and tell me what a difference the family leave law made for them; young people who belong to both political parties who believed in citizen service and participated in AmeriCorps. He helped make those things possible, too. And one of the things that I always appreciated about him and marveled at how he could be brutally honest in the kindest way. It is true, as Leader Pelosi said, that he had a conversion of sorts on the whole question of assault weapons because of an experience he had, but he was very clearheaded. He told me when we succeeded, in no small measure thanks to the leadership of then-Senator Biden, and putting the assault weapons ban back in the crime bill, he said, ``You can leave this in here but there will be a lot of blood on the floor if we pass this. Many of us will not survive.'' I will never forget the argument I had with him. I said, ``Tom, I'm from Arkansas. Both my Senators voted for this. I'm still going to carry it next time.'' He said, ``Yeah.'' He said, ``In 4 years. It's the same thing with your economic plan. People will see that it works and people will see that they did not lose their guns and they still got to defend their homes and go hunting and be in sports shooting contests, but we all have to run before they know any of that. We have enough uncertainty now. If you put this in there, there will be a lot of carnage.'' And I thought he was wrong, but he was right. And he lost that election by 4,000 votes. I would be a wealthy man if I had a dollar for every time in the last 20 years I have found my mind drawn to that conversation. Was it worth his public service? We had 8 years of declining violent crime for the first time in the history of the country. We did prove that it did not interfere with people's Second Amendment rights, but the price was high. What I want to tell you is, appropriate today, that Tom Foley, as nice as he was, as civil as he was, as much as he loved his colleagues of both parties, was one tough guy. This is a man who took up martial arts in his sixties. Now that I am there, I respect it even more. He risked the broken bones and the torn ligaments and everything. He was tough and he walked clear-eyed into the House, and we put those votes together and the crime bill passed. And those of us who supported it at least think America was much better off as a result. But he knew that, even in the spirit of bipartisanship and compromise, being in public service and making difficult decisions was inevitable and not free, and he paid the price. Before I came here, I read all the letters that Tom Foley and I wrote to each other. That is a great thing about having a library. Somebody will dig that stuff up for you. Now, here is the one that means the most to me. It says the most about him. He loved being in the House. It hurts to lose anytime, but it really hurts if you're the Speaker, and he knew his district, it turned out, way better than I did, at least 4,000 votes better than I did. Bob Michel talked about what they did on November 29, 1994. This letter was written to me on November 16, 1994, signed by Tom Foley and Dick Gephardt and Bob Michel and Newt Gingrich, asking that the administration send to the lame-duck session of Congress the legislation to implement the general agreement on terrorism and trade which established the World Trade Organization which I believe has played a major role in lifting more people out of poverty in extreme circumstances in very poor countries, in the last 20 years, than anything else. He was, in short, dying inside, heartbroken, and he still showed up for work, and he still believed that the purpose of political service was to get the show on the road. I will never forget this letter as long as I live. Dick was hurt, too. He was going from majority to the minority, but Tom Foley had lost his seat in a district he loved. I talked to him about the wrinkles and curves of that district I don't know how many times. But he was doing his job. I asked him to go to Japan, just as I asked Vice President Mondale to go to Japan, for a very simple reason. After our wartime conflict, they became one of our greatest allies and one of the greatest forces for democracy and security and freedom and growth in the world. They had a tough time in the 1990s. They had their collapse well before we did, and I always believed that the rest of the world was underestimating the Japanese people, their brilliance, their creativity, their technology, their resilience, and I wanted them to know that America still cared. And when Fritz Mondale was there and when Tom Foley was there, they knew America cared. So I leave you with this. I think they had a good time there, and I think they enjoyed it. I know he did. There were seven Japanese Prime Ministers in my 8 years as President. We are not the only people that have turmoil. The best politician was Prime Minister Obuchi. Tragically, as a young man he had a stroke. He endured for 43 days after his stroke, and when he died I suppose in a busy world full of things to do, it was something of an anticlimax. I was appalled when I was the only leader of a major country that came to his funeral. But I flew all the way to Japan, spent 7 hours, so that I could go. I liked him, I admired him, and I thought he had set forth a direction that gave Japan the best chance they had to succeed until Mr. Mori took office. At the end of the funeral, young Japanese women appeared with trays of flowers, and in the site, his ashes were on a high wall that was totally made of flowers of the rising sun, and every person there, beginning with his wife, went up and bowed to his ashes and put a flower on the table until thousands and thousands and thousands of flowers were there creating a great cloud. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by one of his close allies, and the ally said this--Tom Foley and I stayed there for hours and then we went home and watched the rest of it on television until every person had put their flower there, a testimony to the importance of citizenship and believing in the institutions of your country. But the current Prime Minister said this of his friend, ``I wonder if he ever dreamed, and if my friend dreamed, I wonder what his dreams were. Whatever they were, I hope they have all now come true.'' I did not know Tom Foley well enough to know if he ever dreamed, or if he did, what he dreamed. But I know when he sat with me that day and watched that sacred experience, I saw the well of common humanity we all share across all of our interesting differences. He gave his life to our country, and I hope his dreams have all come true. (The Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States) President Obama: To Heather and the Foley family, to Tom's colleagues and friends, President Clinton, Vice President Mondale, former Speakers, and those who preceded me, I am honored to join you today to remember a man who embodied the virtues of devotion and respect for the institution that he led, for the colleagues that he served alongside, and, most importantly, for the citizens that he had the honor to represent. Unlike so many of you, I did not have the privilege of knowing Tom personally. I admired him from afar. But like millions of Americans, I benefit from his legacy. Thanks to Tom, more children get a head start on success in school and in life, more seniors receive better health care, more families breathe easier because they know their country will be there for them in times of need. And all of them--all of us--are indebted to that towering man from Spokane. I think, in listening to the wonderful memories that have been shared, we get a sense of this man, and we recognize his humility. He often attributed much of his success to good luck--and he may have had a point. Leader McConnell told the story about his first race. There were a couple of details that got left out. On the way to Olympia to file the paperwork for his first congressional campaign, apparently Tom blew out a tire, so he and some friends hitchhiked to a service station to get it fixed. And then, as they approached the outskirts of the city, they ran out of gas, so they pushed the car up the hill, coasting into town just before the deadline. And Tom went on to win that race by a resounding 54 votes. So there's no question that there may have been some luck of the Irish operating when it came to Tom Foley, as well as incredible stamina. But what led him to make history as the first Speaker of the House from west of the Rockies was not luck. It was his hard work, his deep integrity, and his powerful intellect, and, as Bob Michel so eloquently and movingly stated, his ability to find common ground with his colleagues across the aisle. And it was his personal decency that helped him bring civility and order to a Congress that demanded both and still does. Which brings me to a final point. At a time when our political system can seem more polarized and more divided than ever before, it can be tempting to see the possibility of bipartisan progress as a thing of the past--old school, as Bob said. It can be tempting to wonder if we still have room for leaders like Tom; whether the environment, the media, the way that districts are drawn, and the pressures that those of us in elected office are under somehow preclude the possibility of that brand of leadership. Well, I believe we have to find our way back there. Now, more than ever, America needs public servants who are willing to place problem-solving ahead of politics, as the letter that President Clinton held up indicates, as the history of the crime bill shows. We are sent here to do what's right, and sometimes doing what's right is hard and it's not free; and yet that's the measure of leadership. It's important for us who feel a responsibility to fight for a cause to recognize that our cause is not advanced if we can't also try to achieve compromise, the same way our Founders saw it--as a vital part of our democracy, the very thing that makes our system of self-government possible. That's what Tom Foley believed. That's what he embodied. That's the legacy that shines brightly today. On the last day that he presided as Speaker, Tom described what it should feel like to serve the American people in this city. He spoke about coming to work in the morning and catching a glimpse of the Capitol. And he said that it ought to give anyone a thrill, a sense not only of personal satisfaction, ``but very deep gratitude to our constituents for the honor of letting us represent them.'' And Tom never lost that sense of wonder. It's interesting--as I read that passage, what he wrote, the first time I visited Capitol Hill, Tom Foley was Speaker. I was a very young man and I was doing community work, and I remember seeing that Capitol and having that same sense of wonder. And I think now about Tom Foley being here, doing that work, and inspiring what might have ultimately led me to be interested in public service as well. When we're standing outside these magnificent buildings, we have that sense of wonder and that sense of hope. And sometimes the longer you're here, the harder it is to hang on to that. And yet Tom Foley never lost it--never lost that sense of wonder, never lost the sense of gratitude. What a privilege he felt it was to serve. And he never forgot why he came here--on behalf of this Nation and his State and the citizens that he loved and respected so much. And so, as a country, we ought to be grateful to him. And to Heather and to the people of the great State of Washington, thank you so much for sharing Tom with us. God bless Tom Foley. God bless the United States of America. Speaker Boehner: Mr. President and to all of our speakers, thank you for your testimonials. In keeping with tradition, at this time, I would like to ask Leader Pelosi to join me as we present Mrs. Foley with a flag flown over the Capitol on the day of the Speaker's passing and a copy of House Resolution 383, a resolution expressing the House's sincerest condolences. (Presentation made.) (Mrs. Heather Foley, wife of the Honorable Thomas S. Foley) Mrs. Foley: Thank you, President Obama and President Clinton. I so appreciate you coming to honor and celebrate Tom's life. Thank you, Norman Dicks and Jim McDermott, our wonderful friends. Let me acknowledge Congressman Lewis and former Congressman and Republican leader Bob Michel, who have both always been great friends to Tom and me. And of course, I thank Senator Harry Reid and Senator Mitch McConnell for traveling a long way from the Senate to the House to remember my husband. Also, I want to thank the Special Envoy from Japan, Minister Masahiko Komura and Ambassadors Sasae, Anderson, and Westmacott, plus the diplomatic delegations, for coming. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Speaker Boehner for making this memorial service possible. Without his caring and competent staff, this event would not have happened. When my husband was Speaker, we had about one person who handled this kind of work. The Speaker has been most gracious and helpful, and I applaud him for that. I want to say a few words about my husband. As you probably know, I worked for him for years as an unpaid staffer. I did not plan to do this when I married him in 1968. I was sort of wooed into being a volunteer for just a little while to see how things go, and I remained for the full time he was here. I should say that I stayed here unpaid, and that it was a great adventure. Every time I thought of leaving, he would suddenly assume a new position, and it was a great good fortune of my life to be along for the ride and to see what happened next. Early on, I discovered that my husband was a wonderful teacher. David Barner has written the nicest note about this, and I think he was right on the mark. I can look back and say that his father taught him about fairness, patience, and all the virtues everyone has mentioned today. There was a story that Tom's father, who was a superior court judge, could sentence you to death and you would thank him. But when I think back, and what I thought at the time is I'm not sure where his good judgment came from, how he understood the limits of power--and there are enormous limits to power--that we must all work together and how much courage he often displayed when defending what he believed was right. Some of it must have been the result of his Jesuit education and his experience as a debater. A friend of his is here who knew him and debated with him, and he told me that at 16 he was just a wonderful, great man, even though he was just a young man at that time. I never knew really exactly why he always knew the right thing to say and do. Perhaps it was his honesty and his resolve to keep his word. I don't know. I think back on our almost 45 years together, and I think of the long, long meetings that perhaps best displayed his ability to reason with people. One of them was in the late 1960s at Shadel Park High School in Spokane. Tom had accepted the challenge of a man whose name I think was Virgil Gunning who was opposed to any form of gun control, and he claimed that Tom was for every form of gun control. So Tom agreed to appear at this forum in this local high school, and Virgil ran ads in the newspapers and was able to attract--I think he also ran them on the radio and television--an audience of about 700 people. Tom stood on the stage for 5\1/2\ hours and answered all of Gunning's allegations with reasons that I never would have thought of. There were endless questions in the audience. There were bumper stickers waved about the Hungarians limited their guns and that's why they lost their freedom, something to that effect. I can remember Tom saying that he was not for repealing laws that limited a citizen's use of cannons and rockets, that he didn't think you were entitled to have a missile silo right there in the backyard of your house. At first, the audience was hostile, but at the end, Gunning made a fatal mistake. He asked everyone to stand up and then he pleaded for money to pay for the hall and the ads, and people who were already standing, they just walked out. I had spent a good deal of my life overseas at this time, and I was mesmerized to watch this. It wasn't like, you know, dealing with the Pakistanis or going to school there or living in Greece or Egypt, as I had done. It was something very different. I learned over the years, and I was able to see Tom reason with all kinds of people and with all kinds of interesting arguments. He could always see another side to something. I got to see him in action with Presidents and politicians on both sides of the House and both sides of the Capitol. He was somehow able to walk others through their demands and show them where they were asking too much and where they might be right. He was not afraid to take a position that a constituent or a colleague might oppose and explain why. I can remember the Pacific power administrator who came to get more goodies being told that it was time that the Pacific Northwest perhaps limited its demands and look in other directions to get more power. I'm sure they are still here asking for it, but anyway. But at the time, they agreed. He was a man of principle. He was not afraid to compromise. He believed there was honor in compromising. When he nearly lost the election in 1980, he did not retreat to the life he enjoyed as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, as many would have done. Instead, he became Democratic whip and started his climb up the leadership ladder. I was appalled. I had gotten used to his position as chairman, and I was on good terms with the staff. Suddenly, all of these people were going to lose their jobs. We couldn't take all of them with us to the whip office. The budget was not that large. So I got used to it, and then he moved up the ladder again and again. It would have been the easy thing to stay as chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and I should have known that this extraordinary man was destined for extraordinary things. I'm afraid I've kept you too long. Thank you so much for coming to salute the life of a great man. Thank you. Reverend Conroy: Dear Lord, as we close our time together, send Your Spirit of peace and consolation upon us, who mourn the loss of the honorable former Speaker of the House, Tom Foley. He was a glowing example, an icon of what it means to be a man for others. His decades of service to his home State of Washington, and to our great Nation, will be long appreciated by those whose lives are forever blessed by his life's work and dedication. May Your angels come to greet our beloved Tom, and may those who mourn him here be consoled with the knowledge that for those who love You, everything is turned to good. Amen.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, I have heard from many of my constituents over the last couple of weeks who are struggling mightily under the President's health care law. Ed from Hamilton is one of them. He and his wife recently retired but aren't old enough yet for Medicare. Their health care plan is being canceled. It is being replaced with one that will cost $500 more per month. Now think about that: $500 more per month every month for their new health care plan. Then there is Brian from West Chester, my hometown. He runs a small business, just like I used to. Brian has been told that his health care premiums are going to double. If that happens, Brian said to me he might have to close his doors. That means his workers are going to lose their plan and lose their job. Now, these are just two stories from my district in Ohio, and there are millions more of them all around the country. Premiums are going up. People are losing their coverage, and small businesses are being terrified. The President's health care law is hurting a lot of our constituents. If he is serious about helping them, he can start by making good on his promise and supporting the Keep Your Health Care Act. I would encourage every Member to help keep that promise and vote for this important bill.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, our message in the House has been pretty clear. We want to reopen our government and provide fairness to all Americans under the President's health care law. This law had a big rollout last week. It has been called an ``inexcusable mess,'' a ``rolling calamity,'' ``consumers will face dramatically higher rates,'' ``many remain locked out,'' ``surprise, premiums just went up,'' ``instead of making it easier for people to get health insurance, it will be a lot tougher.'' What a train wreck. How can we tax people for not buying a product from a Web site that doesn't work? How can you give big businesses a tax break and leave hardworking families out in the cold? This is why we need to sit down and have a conversation about the big challenges that face our country.