Dan Benishek

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment introduced my friend, Mr. Rothfus, to deny bonuses to members of the VA Senior Executive Service. Bonuses are paid for a job well done, but at the VA, the job is very clearly not getting done. The tragic story out of Phoenix is only the latest example. As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a doctor who served at the Iron Mountain VA for 20 years, I have watched in disgust as the stories keep rolling in. Pittsburgh; Atlanta; Memphis; Colombia, South Carolina; and Augusta, Georgia, have all seen preventable veteran deaths linked to severe mismanagement. Make no mistake, these are not isolated incidents. This is a national crisis, and it must be treated with the significance it deserves. We can keep dragging VA leaders in front of the committee, but I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing their excuses. We are well past the time when explanations and apologies would be enough. It is time to hold the people that have repeatedly and egregiously failed our veterans accountable for their actions. This amendment is a good, commonsense first step, and I am proud to support it. However, it alone is not enough. The problem goes deeper than the Senior Executive Service, and our veterans are demanding real accountability. That is why I have introduced the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act, to provide a permanent solution to getting the VA to provide the care our veterans need. I am pleased this bill was passed unanimously by the VA Committee, and I look forward to its consideration on the floor. We can't wait any longer to make the essential changes to the VA that our veterans deserve. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Steve Parks and proud ``yoopers'' everywhere. Mr. Parks' tireless efforts in Michigan's First Congressional District recently culminated in the addition of the word ``yooper'' to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. A ``yooper'' is a nickname for a native or resident of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Mr. Parks started the campaign to have the word added to the dictionary back in 2002, and his 12 years of writing to the editors finally paid off this week. Being from the U.P., or Upper Peninsula, I am proud to share in the history that is ``yooper.'' The U.P. has a rich history of mining and logging. It accounts for 29% of the landmass in the state of Michigan and is the only part of Michigan's First Congressional District that has coastline on three of the five Great Lakes. The beauty that is the U.P. can be found in the large number of state and national parks that make up the area, which is why many Michiganders have made it a vacation destination. I want to thank Mr. Parks for his persistent efforts and local Upper Peninsula pride and congratulate him on having the word ``yooper'' officially added to the dictionary.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with sadness on the occasion of the passing of Donald ``Flip'' Flaminio, who passed away on March 20, 2014. Donald was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, on August 24, 1930. Flip was a veteran of the United States Navy, and the owner- operator of Quality Cleaners for ten years, he married his wife of 61 years, Zella ``Terri'' Haggart, in 1953. Flip was a lifelong Iron Mountain resident and enjoyed spending time with his loved ones. He is survived by Terri, and his three daughters. In this time of sorrow, I am reminded of the quote of philosopher George Santayana, who said, ``There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.'' I know that Flip lived a life of love and that the cherished memories of his life will never be forgotten by his many friends and family. On behalf of all residents of the First Congressional District of Michigan, I wish to express my sadness and condolences on Flip's passing. It is my hope that we are able to emulate Flip's good nature and example in how we conduct ourselves with each other. Although Flip is no longer with us in this world, he will remain with us in our hearts, alive and well forever.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 10th annual Veterans Snowmobile Ride, which will occur on Saturday, March 8, 2014. This event, founded by Don and Diane Reed, veterans and owners of the Fox River Motel and sponsored by the Seney Snowmobile Association, leads riders through approximately one hundred miles of the scenic Upper Peninsula of Michigan in honor of those who have fought to defend the American way of life. Beginning in 2004 with just 50 riders, it has grown to nearly 300 in the 2013 ride. The Veterans Snowmobile Ride has the distinction of being the largest veterans ride of this type in the United States. In addition to those who ride their snowmobiles in this event, I wish to commend all those who help to realize the Veterans Snowmobile Ride motto of ``be a Vet, bring a Vet, thank a Vet.'' This event is a poignant way to thank those who have defended our country and a continuation of the Northern Michigan outdoorsman tradition.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of S. 23, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act. As you know, this bill, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent on June 19, 2013, is identical to H.R. 163, legislation I introduced by the same title last January with the full support of the Michigan delegation. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a treasured area of my home district and for the entire Nation. The park has been named America's most beautiful place by ``Good Morning America,'' and over 1 million visitors from around the world come to see the dunes and the surrounding lakes each year. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore plays a vital role in our State's outdoor recreation economy, which contributes over $18 billion in consumer spending and over 194,000 jobs to the State of Michigan. As Pamela of Lake Township said, ``Sleeping Bear is vital to the economy of northern Michigan. Most of the money earned in this area is during the summer months when tourists from all over the country visit.'' From gas stations to ice cream stands to local hotels, our local businesses look forward to a full and thriving park season each year. In 1981, Congress determined that wilderness areas should exist within this park, and over 30,000 acres of park have been managed as wilderness since that time. When the National Park Service began to update the proposed map for the first time since 1981, the local residents discovered for the first time that the map included a number of county roads, beaches, and historic sites in this proposed wilderness area. As you can imagine, local residents in Benzie, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse County were not pleased, and a lengthy public planning period began. Because of the very public local opposition to the original land management plan, the Park Service agreed to go back to the drawing board. They worked together with the local citizens and interest groups, ranging from area businesses to environmental groups. After gathering extensive public involvement, review, and comment, a final general management plan was adopted in January 2009. This plan ensures that all county roads will remain in control of the local governments, and beaches and historic sites will be excluded from the wilderness map. The bill on the floor here today represents the hard work of these engaged citizens. It has been introduced each Congress, in both the House and the Senate, since 2009. This legislation, like the park, itself, has always enjoyed wide support from the entire Michigan delegation on both sides of the aisle. While we may not agree on every issue, we can agree that our local communities know best when it comes to planning for the future of our parks. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have worked with those who have come before me--from Chairman Camp, to former Representative Hoekstra, to Representative Huizenga and Senator Levin--to shepherd this bill through Congress. My goal is simple. Like all of those who love this amazing stretch of shoreline, I want to ensure that those beaches and roads remain open. I hope everyone will join me in visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes soon. You will get to see how truly blessed northern Michigan is to have this amazing natural wonder.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), my colleague. (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

Mr. BENISHEK. I yield myself 2 minutes of the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen's Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013, or the SHARE Act. I would like to talk a little bit about title VIII of the bill, which is the text of a bill that I introduced, the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act. Like many of my colleagues here in Congress, hunting and fishing are an important part of the lives of the constituents in my district. I grew up in north Michigan, and like many of my constituents, I spent my summers fishing, my Octobers hunting grouse in the U.P. woods. These traditions of spending quality time outdoors with our kids and grandkids are the kind of things that we must make sure are preserved for generations to come. Mr. Chairman, this portion of the SHARE Act seeks to create an ``open until closed'' policy for sportsmen's use of Federal lands. As you know, nearly a quarter of the United States land mass, or over 500 million acres, are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service. These lands are all owned by all Americans. It is important that the right to fully utilize these lands is ensured for future generations. Over the years, legislative ambiguity in the Wilderness Act has opened the door for numerous lawsuits over the country. Rather than embracing sportsmen and -women for the conservationists that they are, anti-hunting and environmental groups have pursued an agenda of eliminating heritage activities on Federal lands for years. These groups look for loopholes in the law to deprive our constituents the right to use their own Federal lands. Recreational anglers, hunters, and sporting organizations, many of whom have endorsed this bill, are supporters of the conservation movement and continue to provide direct support to the wildlife managers and enforcement officers at the State, local, and Federal levels. These dedicated sportsmen and -women from the shorelines of Lake Superior to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean deserve to know that the lands that they cherish will not be closed off to future generations. This is a bipartisan issue. In fact, Presidents Clinton and Bush both issued executive orders recognizing the value of these heritage activities. It is time we finally closed these loopholes, firmed up the language and made sure that future generations will always be able to enjoy the outdoors--hunting, fishing, and shooting or just taking a walk in the woods.

Mr. BENISHEK. I yield myself an additional 15 seconds. Mr. Chairman, I would encourage all of my colleagues to join me today in supporting this important piece of commonsense legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BENISHEK. I have six more speakers, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Daines).

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. BENISHEK. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller).

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gibbs).

Mr. BENISHEK. We just have one more speaker, and I will close after that.

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member, who had to do a lot of work on this bill over the years, and I rise today in support of the Agriculture Act of 2014. This measure is important for farms and hardworking families in northern Michigan. Northern Michigan is home to a number of centennial family farms, meaning they have been in the family for over 100 years--farms like the Bardenhagen's in Suttons Bay, where they grow asparagus, apples, cherries, and potatoes. Take a short drive down the road, and you will find another centennial family farm at the Wagner's in Grawn. They grow corn, wheat, soybeans, and raise beef cattle for their neighbors. These family-owned operations are a vital and growing part of northern Michigan's economy, and it has been an honor to get to know them. These growers work hard to produce quality products--like tart cherries, apples, and asparagus--that feed northern Michigan and families around the world. This bill represents the hard work and input of stakeholders from northern Michigan and across the country. While not perfect, it reflects the needs of our rural agricultural economy that is vital to Michigan's First Congressional District. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the rights of the unborn and to urge my colleagues to do everything within their legal power to help protect the most innocent and defenseless citizens of our great Nation. I served as a doctor for nearly 30 years in northern Michigan, and I know that life begins at conception and that protection for that life must start at conception. As a father and grandfather, I have been blessed to experience this miracle on my own family. I think everyone believes the government should protect children--we ensure their health, their safety, their well-being. I, along with many in northern Michigan, believe that life inside the womb is just as precious as life outside the womb and that it must be protected. Because of this belief that the lives of the unborn deserve protection, I have worked hard to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion. I joined with a majority of my Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives supporting H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Your hard-earned tax dollars should not pay for abortions, especially when such highly controversial practices are opposed by most taxpayers. January 22, next Wednesday, marks the 41st anniversary of the ROE v. WADE Supreme Court decision. After 41 years of passionate engagement, I would like to commend the grassroots efforts of our local communities. Thank you for the hard work that you do to educate our communities about this important debate.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Ishpeming High School Hematites in earning the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Division 7 Championship this last Saturday, November 30, 2013, at Ford Field in Detroit. The Hematites earned this distinction by going undefeated during the regular season, winning all nine games. Ishpeming also defeated Mancelona, West Iron County, Lake City, and Harbor Beach to advance to the state championship in Detroit. The Hematites earned their second consecutive championship by defeating the Detroit Loyola Bulldogs 22 to 12. This is the fourth championship earned by the Hematites in school history. After facing adversity and challenging circumstances last year, the Hematites were able to overcome these daunting circumstances and win the Division 7 championship. I am proud that Ishpeming High School has been able to repeat their stellar performance. On behalf of the residents of Michigan's First Congressional District, I salute the team and its players: Dominic Suardini, Kyle Selmser, Ozzie Hakkarinen, Tyrus Millimaki, Derek DeCaire, Thomas Finegan, Alex Briones, Noah Olgren, Bobby Zhulkie, Nick Comment, Nate Meyer, Adam Prisk, Dylan Giuchin, Halen Carello, Marcus Antilla, Ozzy Corp, Shawn Peterson, Matt Malone, Mitch Laurin, Jeffrey Matthews, Benjamin Hilliger, Luke Kuliu, Dylan Sundberg, Chandler Nault, Dan Thornton, Jordan Tousignant, Christian Tousignant, Isaac Olson, Jordan Burton, Nick Bertucci, David Simula, Joseph Nault, Jake Quayle, Andrew Bennett, Alec VanHorn, Cody Johnson, Devin Kent, Austin Hanninen, Gage Laitinen, Brandon Steve, Arnold Coffie, Hunter Schultz, and Fred Sidh. Also to be commended are head coach Jeff Olson, assistant coaches Scott Syrjala, Brad Waters, and Tony Marietti, the dedicated parents and all who made the long days of training and travel possible, Ishpeming High School, and the city of Ishpeming on winning the championship for a second consecutive year. Their hard work and determination stand as examples for all citizens of Northern Michigan.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Madam Speaker, I am holding a copy of a letter that one of my constituents received informing him that his current health care plan--a plan that he was satisfied with and that he was able to afford--is being canceled, thanks to regulations imposed by the President's health care law. Thousands of letters like this one have gone out to hardworking citizens in northern Michigan. I asked my constituents to reach out to me about their experiences so I could hear firsthand about the impact of this disastrous overhaul. I received over 200 responses in a matter of days. Patrick from Cheboygan will see his annual health insurance bill rise by over $6,000 on January 1, 2014. Russell from Amasa was finally able to log onto the President's Web site after 14 straight days of trying, only to discover that the closest equivalent option for his plan will be far too expensive for him to afford. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in order to repeal this disastrous health care law and work together in order to promote affordable, patient-centered reforms.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 893, legislation to provide a 2014 cost-of-living adjustment to disabled veterans and their survivors. With prices going up for groceries, gas, and utilities, an increase is needed for our veterans and their families in northern Michigan. However, without this legislation, there would be no COLA. As a doctor who served at the VA hospital in Iron Mountain for 20 years and the father of a Navy veteran, I am disappointed that our veterans are once again put at risk of being held hostage to Washington politics. Those who serve our Nation should never have to wonder whether or not Congress will provide them with the benefits they have earned. In May, the House passed the American Heroes COLA Act, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan). This legislation will permanently tie the COLA to the consumer price index, the same as Social Security disability. I urge the Senate to immediately act on the American Heroes COLA Act and join the House of Representatives in a clear statement that our veterans must not be used as pawns in Washington political games. I urge support of S. 893. MR. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I urge my colleagues to support S. 893 and send this important bill to the President today. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BENISHEK

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In my home State of Michigan, breast cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women, and it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer for women in Michigan. I served as a doctor for 30 years in northern Michigan. I am all too familiar with how devastating breast cancer is for patients and their friends and their loved ones. Thankfully, early detection rates have increased and mortality rates have decreased nationwide. This is partially due to the hard work of the doctors, nurses, and medical professionals who are involved in diagnosing and treating this illness and in coming up with innovative new treatment options. This improvement is also due to the fundraising, outreach, and public awareness efforts of the groups like the Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. However, there is still much work left to be done. I urge all of my colleagues and all of my constituents to raise awareness of breast cancer and to take the steps necessary in order to detect this terrible disease. I encourage all women to be sure they are up to date on their mammograms.