G.K. Butterfield

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise in recognition of the 130th Anniversary of the Town of Princeville, North Carolina--the oldest town in the United States incorporated by African Americans. Princeville is located in Edgecombe County in my Congressional District and was originally known as Freedom Hill when it was founded at the close of the Civil War in 1865 by newly-freed slaves who sought protection in the Union Army encampments there. Following the departure of the Union soldiers, many of the former slaves stayed behind and formed a free community in Freedom Hill. The settlement grew and was incorporated on February 20, 1885, as Princeville in honor of Turner Prince, a former slave who used his carpentry skills to build many homes in the free community for his family and others who sought refuge there. The Town of Princeville and its residents have endured much over its 130 year history. Whether it was racial prejudice, social and economic isolation, or Hurricane Floyd that nearly destroyed Princeville, the Town and its proud residents remain resilient and dedicated to building for the future. Today, the Town has well over 2,000 residents and continues to grow. The Town of Princeville serves as a symbol of the self-determination, endurance, and fearlessness of the African Americans who braved the unimaginable horrors of slavery to reclaim their lives and build a lasting community for future generations. Today we celebrate Princeville's incredible survival and its unique place in African American culture and United States History. Princeville's story deserves recognition so that the historical and social significance of the Town and the unwavering spirit of its people are widely known. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating the Town of Princeville, North Carolina for 130 years of perseverance and for being a symbol of African American strength and resilience.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, Wednesday marked the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp on January 27, 1945. An estimated 1.1 million people, mostly of Jewish descent, lost their lives there between 1940-1945. The seventieth anniversary occurs at a pivotal time. The recent terrorist attacks carried out in France demonstrated that anti-Semitism still exists as the world witnessed the senseless killing of people solely based on their religion. The senseless attacks in France remind us of the dark days of World War II when so many lost their lives because of their religion or ethnicity. We must never forget the atrocities that occurred at Auschwitz and elsewhere during the Holocaust. The human race must never again let such unspeakable events take place. Racism, prejudice, and anti- Semitism must not be allowed in our societies and must be stopped wherever they occur. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembrance of the lives lost at Auschwitz. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the magnitude of this anniversary and the significance that it plays in our world today.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise with Congressman Price to recognize the head coach of Duke University men's basketball team on becoming the winningest Division I men's basketball coach in our Nation's history. Coach Mike Krzyzewski's 1,000th career victory came Sunday afternoon in New York City at Madison Square Garden against the Red Storm of St. John's University, a thrilling second half game. Over his 35 years as their head coach, he has led the Blue Devils to four NCAA Division I championships, 13 ACC tournament championships, and 12 ACC regular season championships. People like Grant Hill, Johnny Dawkins, Shane Battier, and even my son-in-law, Dahntay Jones, all honed their skills under the watchful eye of Coach K and went on to successful careers in the NBA. Coach K is a four-time Olympic gold medal winner--in 1984 and 1992 as Team USA's assistant coach, and in 2008 and 2012 as its head coach. In his most recent book, entitled, ``The Gold Standard: Building a World- Class Team,'' Coach K has said leading Team USA to gold was one of the ``most gratifying experiences'' of his life. Mike Krzyzewski's accomplishments are impressive by any measure. Perhaps most impressive, though, is his work off the basketball court. In addition to supporting countless charities over the years, he and his wife, Mickie, founded the Emily Krzyzewski Center, named in honor of his mother. The center mentors school-aged children to prepare them with the skills needed for college and beyond. When asked what he would like to be remembered for, Coach K said: ``Just the fact that I'm an honest man, a truthful person, and somebody who cares about people, not just himself.'' Coach K serves as an inspiration to so many around the Nation and the world. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Coach Mike Krzyzewski on his historic 1,000 victories.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, today it is with a heavy heart that I rise to commemorate the life of Mr. Carl Russell Long, a passionate leader, public servant, and trailblazer who played baseball in the Negro League and later went on to become the first African American to integrate the Carolina League. Mr. Long will be greatly missed in his community of Kinston, throughout our great state of North Carolina, and by his fans across the country. Carl Russell Long was born May 9, 1935 in Rock Hill, South Carolina to William Long and the former Ella Griffin. In 1952, he joined the Negro League and began playing in the outfield for the Birmingham Black Barons and a number of other teams until joining the Kinston Eagles in 1956 where he became the first African American to play in the Carolina League. During his career, Mr. Long played for at least eight baseball teams and had more than 1,600 at bats. He had 57 home runs and a .275 batting average. In 1956, he was named the Carolina League's All-Star and was also recognized as the League's RBI leader. After retiring from baseball, he returned to the City of Kinston where he continued to be a trailblazer. He became Lenoir County's first African American Deputy Sheriff and, in 1970, became the first African American detective to work for the county sheriff Carl Long was a member of the Negro League Players Association and in 2003 was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was one of only a dozen former Negro League players who were invited to the White House to meet President Barack Obama. Mr. Long leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years, Ella Long, two children, Sotello and Cynthia Long Hightower, two grandchildren, Latoyha Polk Washington and John Polk, and one great-grandson Breylan Polk. Mr. Speaker, Carl Russell Long was a loving husband, father, and public servant. His untimely passing will surely be felt by all of those whose lives he touched. He will forever be missed but never forgotten in the City of Kinston, across North Carolina, and by baseball fans everywhere.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Welch for yielding time. Let me also thank Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings for bringing my bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5142, a bill that I introduced that will designate the post office in Rich Square, North Carolina, as the Chief Joseph E. White, Jr. Post Office Building. Every Member of the North Carolina House delegation has cosponsored my bill, and I ask my colleagues to join me in passing it today. Joseph Edward White, Jr., was born on January 12, 1939, in Hertford County, North Carolina, in the town of Ahoskie to Joseph White, Sr., and the former Emma Jane Collins. In 1957, at the age of 18, Mr. White enlisted in the United States Navy and bravely served our country for the next 20 years. After he retired from the Navy, Mr. White and his wife, the former Joyce Risper, moved to Northampton County and settled in the town of Woodland, North Carolina, which would ultimately become home for them and for their three children: Cynthia, Cheryl, and Terrance. Mr. White found his calling in law enforcement and began his career with the Woodland Police Department in 1980, where he served as an officer and ultimately as chief of police. He later moved to the Northampton County Sheriff's Office and served as a deputy sheriff and also worked as a corrections officer at Odom Correctional Institution, located just outside Jackson, North Carolina. In 1999, Mr. Speaker, Mr. White became the chief of police for a small town but a town rich in legacy, the town of Rich Square. Sadly, Chief White's stellar career in law enforcement that saw him ascend to the position of chief of police of two North Carolina police departments was tragically cut short. After just a year of serving as police chief for the town of Rich Square, Chief White was savagely killed in the line of duty. On the afternoon of Sunday, July 16, 2000, Chief White was on duty and was alerted that a vehicle had filled up at a gas station but left the station without paying. Chief White spotted the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. It was during the stop that Chief White's .45-caliber service weapon was wrested away from him by the man that he had stopped. The man used Chief White's own weapon against him tragically, ending his life just 5 months before his retirement. It took nearly 3 years, but the man that committed this atrocious crime was identified and he was arrested in Lafayette, Louisiana, on May 1, 2003. He was sentenced to life in prison on September 12, 2005. Chief White, a brave veteran and dedicated public servant, a beloved husband, colleague, and friend, lost his life in the most tragic of ways, but his memory will live on forever. Naming the post office in Rich Square in Chief White's honor is but a small symbol by a grateful Nation for his life that was dedicated to serving others. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Chief Joseph E. White, Jr., by voting ``aye'' on H.R. 5142.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Mr. Luke P. Martin, Jr. who will be honored on Thursday, September 18, 2014 in New Bern, North Carolina for his rich and unique family history and his commitment to his community by having the day forever named in his honor. Luke P. Martin, Jr. is 97 years old and the surviving son of an escaped slave who became one of the first men to enlist in the Union Army's First North Carolina Colored Volunteers during the Civil War. Mr. Martin's father, Private Luke Martin, Sr. escaped slavery in 1863 near Plymouth, North Carolina and found his way to New Bern where he joined what became the 35th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops. A statue of Private Martin, Sr. is currently displayed in the North Carolina Museum of History as an enduring reminder of the approximately 200,000 African Americans who fought during the Civil War. Private Martin's 1861 Springfield rifle and a Confederate Calvary sword acquired by Private Martin when he courageously fought and was wounded in the 1864 Battle of Olustee can also be found there. After fighting in the war, Private Martin settled in New Bern where he became the third pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church and was regarded as a well-respected civic leader. Private Martin died in 1917, the same year his son, Luke, Jr., was born. Luke P. Martin, Jr. was born on July 11, 1917, making him one of Craven County's oldest living residents. He continues to live in the home built by his father in the 1890s. Mr. Martin was the lead Master Mason in the restoration of the historic Tryon Palace in the early 1950s, and supervised the construction and brickwork on more than fifty major buildings throughout the southeast. He taught vocational classes for over 20 years at Pamlico County High School putting his considerable talents into teaching others. At 97 years old, Mr. Martin still works as a funeral assistant for Oscar's Mortuary, as he has since the business opened its doors in 1954. He and his late wife, Inez, reared seven children including their son Frederick, who was killed while serving our country in Vietnam on February 28, 1968. He is a lifelong member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, where he holds the distinction of being the congregation's oldest and longest-serving trustee, having served in that capacity for more than sixty years. Mr. Speaker, Luke Martin has spent his life as an active and engaging member of his community. He has built upon the courageous sacrifices his father made so long ago, and I am happy to participate in the celebration of Luke P. Martin, Jr. Day. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Luke P. Martin, Jr. and the Martin family for their contributions to the city of New Bern and our Union.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mrs. Henrietta Hatton Clark, a beloved and respected constituent from Vance County, North Carolina who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday, September 14, 2014. Mrs. Clark is a pillar of her community and is highly respected by all those who know her because of her unwavering commitments to God, her family, her church and the community and state she has called home her entire life. Mrs. Clark was born on a farm in Vance County, North Carolina on September 14, 1914. She was the youngest of six children and was adventurous at an early age. She attended elementary school in Vance County and went on to graduate from Henderson Institute which was operated by the Northern Presbyterian Church. Following Henderson Institute, Mrs. Clark attended what was then Winston-Salem State Teachers College, now Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Equipped with her teaching degree, Mrs. Clark set out to make the world a better place one child and one classroom at a time by inspiring children to dream big and work hard. She taught in Vance County, North Carolina Schools for several decades and shaped generations of young minds. She often told her students, ``You can achieve any position if you study, work hard, and believe in yourself.'' Mrs. Clark's passion and drive did not stop when the school day ended. She was incredibly active in her community. She led voter registration initiatives and was an inspirational leader during the Civil Rights Movement. She served on important committees that made recommendations for state judicial appointments which empowered her to help diversify the Bench. She also served as a Board Member for several community organizations and was a longtime member of the Vance- Granville Community College Board of Trustees. Mrs. Clark remains a very active member of Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church in Henderson, North Carolina. The church and its members have been a persistent source of joy, peace, and happiness throughout Mrs. Clark's truly remarkable life. Likewise, members of her Church and residents of the Henderson and Vance County community hold Mrs. Clark in high esteem and are honored to know her. Mr. Speaker, I ask my House colleagues to join me in sending warm regards and in wishing Mrs. Henrietta Hatton Clark a very happy birthday.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, we only have 24 legislative days left in the 113th Congress, yet the Republican majority has failed to pass any meaningful legislation. The last 2 years have been wasted with partisan rhetoric and legislative initiatives that amount to nothing more than talking points. House Republicans have made this the least productive Congress in recent memory. They have waged a sustained war against low-income citizens by blocking commonsense legislation that would raise the minimum wage and restore emergency unemployment insurance. They continue to oppose efforts to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. For the first time in the history of our Nation, they are pursuing a frivolous lawsuit against the President at taxpayer expense, and I continue to fume about that lawsuit. Republicans seem proud that this prestigious body has been labeled the Do-Nothing Congress. For the past 2 years, Democrats have repeatedly called on the Republicans to tackle a pro-jobs, pro-middle class agenda. Democrats have consistently put forth proposals that would grow jobs, provide workers with a living wage, and fix our broken immigration system. Instead of working with Democrats to bring about the change supported by the majority of Americans, Republicans have refused to act. Instead, the Republican majority has spent the 113th Congress appealing to the fringes of the Republican Party. They wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars trying to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. They held hearing after hearing after hearing to pursue conspiracy theories about Benghazi at the expense of our Nation's delicate work in a volatile region. And for the first time in the history of our Republic, the Republicans voted to sue the President of the United States for delaying a health care mandate that they themselves have long opposed. My Republican colleagues, Mr. Speaker, routinely walk away from key discussions and negotiations, failing to lead, but worse, failing the American people. They have, however, succeeded in making this Republican-controlled House one of the least productive and most divided in our Nation's history. In the Senate where 60 votes are needed to pass any bill, Republicans have also been successful in blocking important proposals that have the overwhelming support of the American people. As a result, Americans' confidence in Congress has fallen to less than 10 percent. The American people desperately need their elected representatives to come together to advance policies that benefit our citizens. The American people don't care about Republicans or Democrats. They care about us working to improve their lives, but Republicans insist on driving us further apart. Instead of doing the work we were elected to do, House Republicans have scheduled another 5-week break beginning in October. I guess obstruction must really be exhausting to all of them. There is so much work that remains to be done. I pray my Republican colleagues hear me. Now is the time to work the will of the American people. That is what we were sent here to do. I urge the majority to end this Congress on a high note. Cancel the 5-week break. I am serious. Cancel the 5-week break. I can handle it if you can handle it. Let's raise the minimum wage, reform our immigration system, and ensure equal pay for equal work. It is what the American people expect and deserve.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. First, I want to thank you, Mr. Lowenthal, for those kind words and thank you for your leadership. Thank you for yielding time today and for working very hard to bring this important resolution to the House floor. I also appreciate the work of the Natural Resources Committee chairman, Doc Hastings, and Ranking Member Pete DeFazio, and you, Mr. Young, for considering this resolution expeditiously and for seeing that it was favorably reported by the committee. Also, let me thank Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut, who used to serve in this body and now serves in the United States Senate, for introducing a companion bill in the Senate. His support is critical, and I thank him for his commitment to this important issue. I hope that the Senate will act as expeditiously and in as bipartisan a fashion as has the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 120, a bill that I introduced that will formally approve the location that was selected by the Administrator of the General Services Administration of a memorial that will recognize the thousands of slaves and free persons of color, or as historians sometimes refer to, free Negroes, who fought for independence during the American Revolution. Federal law requires, Mr. Speaker, that the location for the memorial identified by the Administrator of GSA be formally approved by Congress within 150 days of receiving the recommendation by the GSA Administrator. The memorial that will eventually be constructed to honor tens of thousands of slaves and free people of color who helped to secure American independence during the Revolution will be a fitting tribute to their heroic actions that helped shape the very foundation of our Nation. For generations, historians estimated that at least 5,000 African Americans--both slave and free--fought for American independence. Revised estimates now show more than 10,000 brave men joined the fight. At least 252 of these patriots came from North Carolina, and at least 109 of those came from my congressional district, the counties of Bertie, Chowan, Craven, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, and Perquimans. The president general of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution wrote of the brave souls who fought for freedom when they themselves were not free that ``they deserve special recognition in order to help better educate our country.'' In 2008, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution published landmark research containing the names and communities of these African American patriots. The research is continuously updated with the discovery of new heroes. Scores of African American men and women have been accepted by heritage societies that had not been previously open to their membership. The desire to honor these brave men and their descendants in a permanent and meaningful way had long been championed by a distinguished Member of this body who has since passed away, Congressman Donald Payne, Sr. Congressman Payne introduced authorizing language as far back as 2005. After Congressman Payne's death, I have worked to get this effort to the finish line, guided by his words that ``this memorial is an important chapter in the reclamation of African American history.'' There are over 2 million descendants of these Revolutionary War patriots nationwide. This eventual memorial will show the Nation, and it will show the world, Mr. Speaker, that the sacrifices and heroic efforts of African Americans--both slave and free--who took up arms to secure America's independence are not forgotten. It will permanently affirm what we know to be true: these patriots and their service to our then-infant Nation will forever be of preeminent historical and lasting significance to our country that they fought to create. Again, I thank you for the time, Mr. Lowenthal.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, with the stroke of a pen 49 years ago today, several weeks after I finished high school, then-President Lyndon Johnson signed into law two of the largest and most important health-related programs the country had ever seen, Medicare and Medicaid. Those programs were created nearly half a century ago because our Nation's leaders saw, time and time again, the hopelessness of people who had no way to provide the most basic level of health care for themselves and their families. It was President Harry Truman who initially conceived of a health care safety net for struggling Americans. Nearly 70 years ago, Truman said: ``Millions of our citizens do not now enjoy good health. Millions do not have security against the economic effects of sickness . . . and the time has arrived for action to help them get that protection.'' Since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, no achievement has been as significant and consequential as the Affordable Care Act. In addition to providing affordable health insurance, to some for the first time ever, the ACA has also provided for significant expansion of states' Medicaid programs so that individuals with incomes less than 138 percent of the poverty level could finally have access to basic care. A Supreme Court case would make Medicaid expansion voluntary. Now, nearly half a century after Medicaid was created to help the least among us, 24 States in this country, 24 States believe it best to disenfranchise millions and deny them access to Federal dollars they rightfully deserve by not expanding their programs. States that have refused to expand point to the increased costs as a main reason for their decision. But, Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has committed to pay 100 percent--that is, 100 percent of the cost of expansion--for the first 3 years and then 90 percent beyond the first 3. Nationally, the States would see only a 1.6 percent increase in their share of Medicaid spending, a 1.6 percent increase to provide health care for millions of deserving individuals. The benefits of expansion far outweigh the costs. In my home State of North Carolina alone, expanding Medicaid will save the State more than $65 million over the next 8 years and would benefit its economy by adding nearly $1.5 billion to the State's revenue. It would not only help to save jobs, but help to create them, too. That is just in North Carolina. And this same scenario is playing out in nearly half of all the States in our country. The cost of not expanding is simply too great. Pungo Hospital, located just outside of my congressional district in Belhaven, has closed its doors, closed its doors because North Carolina refuses to expand Medicaid. The decision by Governor Pat McCrory and the Republican-led State legislature has cost a woman her life. Portia Gibbs was 48 years old. She had a heart attack and died on her way to the nearest open hospital, which was an hour away. Providing care to the sick and injured is a moral imperative that Harry Truman saw nearly 70 years ago when he first spoke about it. Congress and President Lyndon Johnson believed caring for the least among us was a moral necessity when Medicare and Medicaid were passed and signed into law. At the signing ceremony 49 years ago, former President Harry Truman said of the people that would benefit from Medicare and Medicaid: ``These people are our prideful responsibility, and they are entitled, among other benefits, to the best medical protection available. We don't want them to have any idea of hopeless despair.'' That was President Harry Truman. In response to Truman, President Lyndon Johnson said improving the health of all Americans ``calls upon us never to be indifferent to despair. It commands us never to turn away from helplessness. It directs us never to ignore or to spurn those who suffer untended in a land that is bursting with abundance.'' Those elected officials standing in the way of Medicaid expansion should simply reflect on President Johnson's words. In a country that has come so far--so far--Americans who struggle financially deserve better than that. They deserve better than to have their elected officials tell them that their worth in this world is tied to their ability to afford health insurance.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1010, the minimum wage increase, to jump-start the middle class, instead of this partisan lawsuit attacking President Obama.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, hasn't it been the tradition of this House that the Speaker yields to Members who want to make unanimous consent requests during the course of debate?

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the resolution authorizing the Speaker to bring a legislative branch lawsuit against the President. Never before in the history of the Congress has there been institutional litigation between two coequal branches of government-- never. Don't my Republican friends understand that the House's acting alone cannot by itself enforce a legislative enactment? It must be bicameral. This resolution will establish a precedent unknown in our jurisprudence. It is an abuse of power. It will threaten the separation of powers principle and the checks and balances that we have long cherished in this country. Do you want the judiciary to become the arbiter of disputes between Congress and the President? Our branches are coequal. Do you really want to cede to the courts the authority to resolve disputes between the branches? Would you want the President to sue the House for missing a budget deadline? Where does it end? How do you plan to pay for this litigation? This resolution would give the Speaker a blank check to pay legal costs and expert costs, which would add to the deficit. I call on House Republicans to talk to objective legal scholars, to read the literature and court decisions, to protect the integrity of our Federal system, and to reject this dangerous legislation. This is a very sad day in the House. I know what you are doing, and the American people know what you are doing. You are using this legislation in your constant effort to discredit President Obama. Every day that President Obama has occupied the Oval Office, you have attacked him. You have attacked his ideas, and you have attacked those who surround him and his Cabinet. You are denying the American people a functioning government. I sincerely believe that you are trying to set the stage for a despicable impeachment proceeding should you hold the majority in the House and gain the majority in the Senate. Shame on you, House Republicans. Shame on you. I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule and on final passage.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues know, I spent 30 years in a courtroom, one-half of those as a judge, including 2 years on the North Carolina Supreme Court. I have taken particular interest in House Resolution 676, and I have spent considerable time researching the standing of the House to initiate litigation against a President or Department heads or Federal agencies to seek ``appropriate relief for failure to act in a manner consistent with the duties of the executive branch.'' Never before, Mr. Speaker, in the history of the Congress, has there been ``institutional litigation'' between two coequal branches of government--never. There have been prior cases involving individual Members of Congress who have alleged that their vote had been nullified by Presidential action, but none of them succeeded. This bill will clearly authorize institutional litigation between the legislative and executive branches--unprecedented, Mr. Speaker. The Republicans have chosen to proceed with a one-Chamber resolution. The Affordable Care Act, I remind you, was a two-Chamber enactment. The House, as an institution, as a subset of the Congress, Mr. Speaker, cannot by itself enforce a legislative enactment. It must be bicameral. This misguided and politically-motivated resolution will establish a precedent that is unknown in our jurisprudence. It is an abuse of power on the part of House Republicans. If this bill passes and this Republican-controlled House initiates a lawsuit without Senate authorization, it will threaten the separation of powers principle and the checks and balances that we have long cherished in our country. I ask my colleagues: Do you want the judiciary to become the arbiter of disputes between the Congress and the President? Do you really want to cede to the courts the authority to resolve disputes between the branches? If you set this precedent, then, in the future, the House or the Senate, acting alone, could simply allege a constitutional violation against the President and get its day in court. Well, what happens if a President is unhappy with the House or with the Senate? Could she just allege a constitutional violation and have the courts settle the dispute? If this precedent is established, will the House be able to sue the Senate or the Senate sue the House? Where does this end? I call on my Republican friends to talk to objective legal scholars and read the literature and prior court decisions, protect the integrity of our Federal system, and reject this resolution. Finally, I ask the proponents of this legislation to tell me two things: Tell me, what relief are you asking the court to impose? I suppose your answer would be, well, we want the court to tell President Obama that he lacked authority to extend the employer mandate. Why are you upset about that? I thought you didn't like the employer mandate. Well, tell me, how do you plan to pay for this frivolous litigation? Under this resolution, Mr. Speaker, the Speaker of the House will have unbridled discretion to pay legal costs and expert costs. I did not know that the House of Representatives has the authority to pass a bill that will require unbudgeted spending that will add to the deficit that you constantly bemoan. How much will this litigation cost the taxpayers? Mr. Speaker, this is a very sad day in this House. I know what you are doing, and the American people know what you are doing. You are using this legislation in your constant effort to discredit President Obama and set the stage for a despicable impeachment proceeding should you hold the majority in the House and gain the majority in the Senate. Shame on House Republicans. Shame on you for this type of politics.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate a company in my district called the IDEAL Fastener Corporation. Recently, they announced a $5.7 million expansion of their facility in Oxford, North Carolina. This expansion will create 155 jobs by the year 2019, and it is welcome news for Granville County, which is an important part of my congressional district. Now, Mr. Speaker, 155 jobs in some communities across our great country may be relatively small, but in this rural community, this is a big deal. IDEAL Fastener Corporation was established in 1936 by Elie Gut, and it has been a strong member of the Oxford community since moving its corporate headquarters there in 1966. IDEAL Fastener Corporation is still family owned and is operated by Ralph and Mary Gut and their three children--Jeff, Steven, and Michelle. Since bringing their world headquarters to Oxford, IDEAL Fastener Corporation has grown to become the second largest zipper manufacturer in the entire world with production and sales facilities in over 20 countries. They are in the process now of launching three new products and are making major capital investments that will benefit their employees and the North Carolina economy. Mr. Speaker, on Monday of this week, July 21, I marked my 10th anniversary here in the House of Representatives; and if there is one thing that I have come to recognize and appreciate, it is that small businesses and small industries are what drive our economy. Companies like IDEAL Fastener Corporation are the lifeblood of our economy. I congratulate IDEAL Fastener and the Gut family on this tremendous, tremendous announcement. I wish them nothing but continued success in the future.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce to my colleagues the formation of a new House caucus to be known as the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus. I am delighted to cochair this caucus, along with my good friend, Congressman Hank Johnson, from the State of Georgia. Madam Speaker, this caucus is 33 members strong. We want to demonstrate to recalcitrant Governors and State legislatures across the country the overwhelming public support to provide health care to low- income single adults, particularly those ages 18 to 65. The majority of our caucus members are from States that have made the shortsighted and politically-motivated decision to exclude the very people the Medicaid program was established to help in the first place. To date, 26 States and the District of Columbia have seized the opportunity to expand coverage to millions of Americans. These States made the wise and moral decision to not only ensure that their residents can get the care that they deserve, but they made a smart economic decision to pull billions of dollars in additional Federal funding into their economies. These funds have the triple benefit of yielding better health outcomes for the low-income and poor, creating health care-related jobs, and driving down the aggregate cost of health care over time. In contrast, 24 States have not yet expanded Medicaid. They have irresponsibly chosen to turn their backs on more than 5 million Americans that need this coverage. What are those 5 million Americans going to do when they get sick? What are 500,000 North Carolinians going to do when they need medical care? Madam Speaker, I will tell you what they are going to do. They will either not seek the treatment that they need, causing their condition to get worse, which will lead to missed work and, therefore, unable to pay their bills. Ultimately, they will find themselves in a much worse situation than if they had coverage that they deserve. The other option is that they will do what many uninsured people have always done out of necessity: go to an emergency room, be treated, and walk out with a bill that they have no ability to pay. Hospitals will then write the cost of treatment off as uncompensated care. In order to recoup some of the lost money, hospitals will then increase the cost of their procedures, which results in higher premiums for the insured. Medicaid expansion isn't just good for our insurance premiums, but it is also good for the State's bottom line. In North Carolina alone, expanding Medicaid will save the State more than $65 million over the next 8 years. Expansion would benefit our economy in North Carolina, adding nearly $1.5 billion to the State's revenue. North Carolina drugmakers and medical device manufacturers will need to expand their workforce, adding a total of 23 jobs to the State. That is just in our State. The benefits of expansion nationally are far greater, yet the same scenario is playing out in nearly half of all of the States. Twenty-four States' decision to not accept billions of dollars in Federal support defies logic and will prove catastrophic for the very people the Medicaid program is intended to help. A critical point that many people overlook is the fact that, under the act, the Federal Government will pay 100 percent of the cost of expansion through the year 2016 and 90 percent of the costs thereafter. The public demands action in States that have not expanded, and members of this caucus are tired of inaction. We are disgusted that these States have such careless disregard for poor people. We will continue to press this issue until all 50 States have expanded their Medicaid program. Again, I thank Congressman Hank Johnson, the 31 other members of the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus, and the many advocacy organizations for their courage to fight for those who are being blocked from the most basic level of health care.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I thank Mr. Polis for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule for H.R. 5021. This closed rule prevents an opportunity for us to address the larger issues related to passing a long-term surface transportation reauthorization, and that is what Mr. Polis and Mr. Welch are talking about. I agree. The constituents that I represent in North Carolina feel that it is critical to extend the highway trust fund. This bill is only one piece of what must be done to strengthen our Nation's infrastructure and economy. The need to pass surface transportation reauthorization funding is extremely critical. MAP-21 expires at the beginning of October. At the same time, each day brings us closer to a highway trust fund shortfall and risks putting major transportation projects on hold and stalling our economy. The North Carolina DOT has indicated that the highway trust fund insolvency would jeopardize 108 projects and 20,000 jobs across my State. Eastern North Carolina remains one of the poorest districts in the country despite the economic resurgence many other areas of the country have seen. Strengthening infrastructure helps encourage economic development, increase commerce and improve tourism. We cannot afford to halt construction, growth, and progress. We must find a way to provide consistent and robust transportation funding. We need a fix to the reauthorization act. I urge my colleagues to oppose this closed rule so that we can have a larger conversation about the long-term surface transportation reauthorization.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall 359 on final passage of H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, my vote was incorrectly recorded as ``no.'' I intended to vote ``yes.''

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, today it is with profound grief that I rise to commemorate the life of Carolyn Ingram Thornton, a great leader, public servant and phenomenal woman who will be greatly missed in her home community of Durham, North Carolina. Carolyn Thornton reserved her place in history as the first African American woman to serve on the Durham City Council in 1978. She also was the first African American female probation officer in the State of North Carolina. In 1968, Mrs. Thornton was appointed as the Chief Psychiatric Social Worker at the Cooperative School for Pregnant Girls. In addition to these accomplishments, she served as the director of Social Work and Mental Health at historic Lincoln Community Health Center for 31 years. During the course of her tenure, the citizens of Durham had the unique opportunity to watch Mrs. Thornton successfully embark on building a brighter future for women, children, and mentally disabled citizens in her community. As a native of Durham County and due to her honorable contributions to Durham, Mrs. Thornton will now and forever be a daughter of Durham. As a member and former President of the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Mrs. Thornton regularly supported community volunteering and fundraising initiatives. She also served as President of the Durham Chapter of the Links, Inc. Mrs. Thornton was born in Durham to Charles J. and Bernice H. Ingram. After graduating from Hillside High School with honors, Mrs. Thornton earned Bachelors' degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1957. Mrs. Thornton also earned a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. To cherish her memory, Mrs. Thornton is survived by two sisters, Audrey Ingram Johnson and Dr. E. Lavonia Ingram Allison; one sister-in- law, Carolyn Thornton Walker, and three children, Susan Kane, Gail Monje Thornton, and Rick Thornton. Mr. Speaker, Carolyn Ingram Thornton was a loving mother, sister, friend and public servant and her passing will surely be felt by all of those whose lives she touched. She will forever be missed but never forgotten in the city of Durham and her by friends and family across the State and Nation.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

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

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I am offering today with my good friends--Congressman Langevin, Congressman Price, and Congressman Quigley--will increase funding for FTA technical assistance and training back simply to the 2014 levels. Individuals with disabilities and older adults disproportionately rely on public transit to live, learn, work, and access recreation in their communities. There is a complex and ever-evolving need to adapt our transit systems and services, so they are more accessible for people with disabilities and older adults who rely on them. FTA, Mr. Chairman, has a long history of working with Easter Seals, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and others to provide training, technical assistance, and other problem-solving support to the transit industry, people with disabilities, and older adults; and it is imperative for this work to continue as more people age and more people with disabilities seek to live as independently as possible.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Thank you, Mr. Latham. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent that we go back to page 70 for the purpose of offering an amendment.