Andy Barr

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. I thank the gentleman. As the Confederate lines fell back, Brigadier General Zollicoffer was separated and mistakenly approached the 4th Kentucky Infantry and, believing them to be his own troops, was cut down. The result of the battle of Mill Springs was a hasty retreat by Confederate forces across the Cumberland River back into Tennessee. In hindsight, it was the last opportunity for the Confederacy to gain a foothold in eastern Kentucky. For the Union Army, which had been humiliated at the Battle of First Manassas in the summer of 1861, the battle was its first major victory of the war and a needed boost to morale. In 1991, the National Park System placed Mill Springs Battlefield on its list of the Most Endangered Battlefields. Today, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Mill Springs Battlefield Association and several other public and private organizations, the battlefield has been largely restored and now offers walking and driving tours, as well as a 10,000-square-foot visitor center and museum. H.R. 298 is an important step to recognize and build upon the good work of these organizations and passionate Civil War history enthusiasts from eastern Kentucky and throughout the country. While the feasibility study would only be a first step in the process, inclusion in the National Park System would help ensure that the story of Mill Springs and the battlefield itself are preserved and maintained for future generations and that the memories and sacrifices of the fallen are never forgotten. Again, I commend Chairman Rogers on his efforts to preserve this piece of American and Kentucky history, and I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 298.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual, Mrs. Chasity Tuggle of Berea, Kentucky. Mrs. Tuggle recently earned distinction as a 2014 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow for her devotion as a caregiver to a special military veteran, her husband. With this honor, Mrs. Tuggle represents Kentucky in the Caring for Military Families Program. Serving as a veteran caregiver can often prove physically and mentally challenging, resulting in significant hardship for the families involved. Mrs. Tuggle is among the one million individuals who voluntarily provide homecare to wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans throughout the nation. All military and veteran caregivers deserve our appreciation and gratitude, but today I would like to especially salute Mrs. Tuggle for her selfless dedication and willingness to place the needs of a loved one over her own. I also applaud her exceptional work through the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which allows her to give a voice to other veteran caregivers who have made a similar sacrifice. Mrs. Tuggle is truly an outstanding American and an inspiration to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 165 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 166, supporting the passage of the Budget and Accounting Transparency Act.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frankfort resident Robert Gable, who celebrated his 80th birthday on February 20. Bob Gable is an important part of the foundation of the modern Republican Party in Kentucky. The one-time Kentucky Commissioner of Parks became the Republican nominee for Governor of Kentucky in 1975 and ran on a platform that largely continues to be relevant today-- competitive rates of taxation, repeal of the death tax, protecting Kentucky's natural beauty and the Red River Gorge, and even advocating zero-based budgeting. Bob did not win that race, but he continued to be a leader of the Republican Party in Kentucky serving as chairman and continuing to be sought out for advice and council by candidates. I was very fortunate and honored that Bob was one of the first to endorse my original candidacy in 2009. On behalf of Kentucky Sixth Congressional District, I would like to wish Mr. Gable a very happy 80th birthday and many more years to come.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Absolutely. This is commonsense reform. Again, I commend Congressman Young and other colleagues who have sponsored the Save American Workers Act. This is a simple piece of legislation. It would simply repeal the 30-hour definition of full-time employment in the Affordable Care Act, in ObamaCare, and restore the traditional 40-hour definition. It makes perfect sense. It would help employees who are seeking the hours that they need to take care of themselves and their families. It would lower the burden and the regulatory costs on employers. It would allow American businesses to be more productive. It will allow American workers to be more productive. It will get to the heart of why our economy is not where it should be today. I really appreciate the gentleman's leadership on this issue.

Mr. BARR. Absolutely. I totally agree. You are absolutely right. I would commend the gentleman for being one of those leaders in our country who is standing up for the working people of this country. I would just note the president of the Teamsters Union, James Hoffa, has said that this rule will ``destroy the foundation of the 40-hour work week that is the backbone of the American middle class.'' In short, ObamaCare is hurting the very people that it was intended to help. I don't think this is a partisan issue. There are well-meaning people on both sides of the aisle who want to help working families make it a little easier and get by a little easier and put food on the table and earn a living wage, but this law is punishing people for working hard. Hard work is what made this country great. Why would we disincentivize hard work? Yet that is exactly what ObamaCare does.

Mr. BARR. I thank my friend, the gentleman from Indiana, Congressman Young, for his leadership on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, it is an important issue because ObamaCare is hurting American families. It is hurting American employers. It is hurting American workers who are struggling to make ends meet, to put food on the table. This is a bad economy. We continue to suffer from a bad economy despite 5 years having passed after the financial crisis. The project of ObamaCare--the project of the Affordable Care Act--is really the project of the entire Obama Presidency. It is a project to determine whether or not Big Government can solve big problems. It is a project to determine whether or not the Federal Government can micromanage one-sixth of the American economy. It is a project to determine whether or not it is a good idea to allow the government to take away choices from the American people--from American workers and from American small business owners. Wages in this country have gone down over $2,300 in the last several years. The labor participation rate in this country--the percentage of working-aged people actually in the workforce--is the lowest it has been in 35 years, and 75 percent of the American people are living paycheck to paycheck. This is not a sign and these statistics are not indicators of a healthy economy. This is a very unhealthy economy. Why? Why haven't we seen a robust economic recovery in which American families, American businesses, American entrepreneurs, and American workers can achieve the potential that they deserve, can achieve the opportunities, can reach out and take advantage of the American Dream-- why is that objective so illusive for so many Americans today? Unfortunately, we all know people who are currently looking for employment and who are unable to care for their families as they would like. On top of insurance cancelation notices, higher premiums, broken promises, a malfunctioning Web site, and reduced health care choices, Americans are now seeing as a result of ObamaCare that the law is forcing job creators to cut employees' hours just so that they can comply with the law, just so that they can prevent any kind of sanctions or penalties that they would incur as a result of running afoul of the provisions of the law. Thanks to ObamaCare, millions of these already struggling Americans are having an even harder time finding work, caring for their families, putting food on their tables because, again, ObamaCare is putting full-time work and decent wages out of reach. Mr. Speaker, we are moving from a full-time work economy to a part- time work economy, and it is largely because of ObamaCare. I speak with small business owners across central and eastern Kentucky all the time, and what they tell me is very consistent: they want to put people back to work; they want to invest and grow their businesses; they want to be able to provide good, quality health care to their employees and to their workers, who are the backbone of the American Dream, who are the backbone of their entrepreneurial success. ObamaCare is holding them back. Employers in my district and all over America consistently cite ObamaCare as one of the top reasons for planned layoffs and their reluctance to hire more workers. Think about that. Why on Earth in a down economy--in the worst economy--and with the worst labor participation rate in 35 years would lawmakers in Washington want to punish American businesses--American entrepreneurs, American job creators--for hiring more people? Yet that is exactly what this flawed law does. This law entangles small businesses in a web of rules and regulations, making it expensive and nearly impossible to invest in new workers. In particular, ObamaCare's 30-hour rule, which defines full-time work as averaging only 30 hours per week, is resulting in fewer jobs, reduced hours, and less opportunities for so many Americans. This 30-hour rule forces employers who have been providing coverage-- in some cases, for decades--which is good, quality health care, to fundamentally alter their benefit plans, to drop coverage altogether, or shift more of their workforce to part time by cutting workers' hours below 30 a week because they can't afford to offer the health insurance mandated by ObamaCare. The Wall Street Journal had an editorial and called these the 49ers and the 29ers--49ers because these are businesses that will not hire more than 49 employees because ObamaCare will punish the employer if they hire more than 49 employees, 29ers because employers will not and cannot hire people for more than 29 hours a week. So these are the 29ers. These are people who are struggling to take care of their families. This is hurting people.

Mr. BARR. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BARR. I thank the gentleman. I would like to note a point that the President made in his State of the Union address and, really, why Congressman Young's bill should be a point of agreement for all of us--for the President, for Members of the other side of the aisle, for those of us on this side of the aisle. Here is what the President said in his State of the Union address, speaking to the state of our economy: Inequality has grown, he said, income inequality. Upward mobility has stalled. That is what the President of the United States said. I agree with the President. Upward mobility has stalled. Why has it stalled? Well, one of the reasons, Mr. Speaker, upward mobility has stalled in this country is because we are punishing hard work. ObamaCare is punishing people for working hard. That is what made this country great. The Congressional Budget Office released a report a few weeks ago, and that report projects that ObamaCare will force 2.5 million Americans to leave the workforce in the next decade. Think about that. There are Members of Congress who are defending a law that will shrink the American workforce by 2.5 million Americans. And what is the administration's response? They say it is a good thing. They say it is a good thing that Americans are going to be forced to leave their jobs. So this law does two things: it forces Americans to lose their jobs or leave the workforce, and it forces employers to reduce the number of hours for those who remain in the workforce. This is a prescription for continued economic stagnation. Now, we have a solution before us. The solution is the legislation H.R. 2575, proposed by my friend from Indiana, Todd Young, the Save American Workers Act. Not only is this proposal good for working Americans--because it would repeal the 30-hour workweek definition and replace it with a traditional 40-hour workweek definition for full-time work--but it would also, according to the Congressional Budget Office, it will create $75 billion in higher cash wages for American workers. Now, if that is what the nonpartisan CBO says--and we know that wages have been declining in this country; we know that working families are struggling to put food on the table because they are not making enough to make ends meet and to take care of their kids--why on Earth would we not vote in favor of legislation that will create $75 billion in higher cash wages? I just want to, once again, thank the gentleman from Indiana. I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, also for his leadership and the gentleman from Oklahoma who spoke earlier and eloquently shared a story of his constituent. This is about American workers having the ability to achieve that upward mobility that the President spoke about in his State of the Union. I invite the President to join us. I invite my friends on the other side of the aisle to join us in helping the American workers achieve their potential, reinvigorate the work ethic in this country, allow people to work the way they want to without punishing small businesses and workers for achieving their potential. At a time when Americans are struggling, we must do everything we can to invest in real solutions like the Save American Workers Act of 2014 that would grow the economy and get the country working again.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of the Eastern Kentucky University basketball team. Throughout this season, these young athletes have shown a tremendous commitment to their team, ending their regular season with a record of 24 wins and 10 losses. Although everyone who is part of an athletic team shares in its ups and downs throughout the season, the leadership shown by Eastern Kentucky's seniors is commendable. In my opinion, there is no greater way to be an example of leadership than to lead by example. This was proven throughout the Colonels' season. As one of only eight teams to represent East Kentucky in the school's history, their appearance in the NCAA tournament is a testament of their unity and drive as a team. During the tournament, they played valiantly in a close game against the Kansas Jayhawks. I am happy to see this type of dedication being applied by the students of the Sixth District, and I know their drive and determination will serve them well in the future.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, when it comes to college basketball, there is simply no place like my old Kentucky home. I rise with the distinct honor of congratulating my hometown University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team on moving on to the Sweet 16 in the 2014 Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. This season has had its ups and downs, but this group of young men-- the youngest average age of any team in the tournament--is coalescing at just the right time. This momentum is a testament to the players' willingness to put team ahead of self--a lesson we here in Congress could stand to learn from-- and the ability of Coach John Calipari and his staff to mold raw talent into a cohesive, disciplined attack on both the defensive and offensive ends of the court in just a few short months. Hard-fought victories by these Wildcats over Kansas State and an unbeaten Wichita State team--a very likable team--have set up what might well be the main event of the entire tournament, not just for residents of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but for college basketball fans all around this country--a rematch between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, the two previous national champions. With all due respect to Duke and North Carolina, the University of Kentucky-University of Louisville rivalry is the greatest and most competitive rivalry in all of college basketball. One of the reasons for this is this is a nonconference rivalry. After the original dream game in 1983, the general assembly of Kentucky mandated in State law that these two great programs in college basketball play against one another each and every year. Our Wildcats won the meeting earlier this season between these two squads and are now looking to repeat the events of the 2012 tournament in which a victory over archrival Louisville in the Final Four paved the way for the University of Kentucky's eighth national championship. This year's young Cats were second in the Southeastern Conference in average points scored and fourth in terms of points allowed, demonstrating that their physical play is equal opportunity on offense and defense. Both statistics are grounded in these players' ability to pound the glass for rebounds, led by forward Julius Randle, who has averaged a double-double all season and routinely finds ways to rebound and drive when double-, triple-, or even quadruple-teamed. While Randle and other big men--including freshman Dakari Johnson and future draft prospect Willie Cauley-Stein--collapse opponents' defenses, the outside shooting threats of twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison and James Young keep the Cats a threat from the perimeter. As any college basketball fan can tell you, these young men have a lot to live up to, given the legacy of the University of Kentucky and the lofty expectations of the most passionate fan base in all of college basketball, the Big Blue Nation. The Wildcats represent the greatest tradition in the history of college basketball as the winningest program of all time, in both the number of total wins and total win percentage. As Coach Cal said at the beginning of the season: Kentucky doesn't just play college basketball; we are college basketball. Even former coach and current Louisville coach Rick Pitino said that the University of Kentucky is the Roman Empire of college basketball. This new batch of Cats, young as they are, has already lived up to this imposing pedigree. While Friday's game against Louisville will be a significant challenge, I know it will be ``On, On, U of K'' to the Elite Eight and the Final Four; and I know, for many in the Bluegrass, a win over the Cardinals will be enough to call this season a success. In fact, I am so confident this game will go in favor of the Wildcats that I have made a friendly wager of locally distilled Kentucky bourbon with my good friend, the Member from Louisville, John Yarmuth. While he thinks I will be eating crow, I am pretty sure that the Wildcats will be eating some Cardinal come Friday night.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, today, the House has the chance to more permanently establish in law a provision that firefighters across Kentucky's 6th District have told me is vital to their ability to continue protecting our communities. The Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act will simply ensure, once and for all, that these departments will not fall victim to the costly employer mandate in ObamaCare. Over 90 percent of Kentucky's fire departments are either fully or mostly volunteer. Fire chiefs have told me that they do not have the resources to provide the health benefits mandated by ObamaCare's employer mandates to these brave and selfless volunteers who have no expectation of receiving such benefits or receive their benefits through other lines of work. I remain committed to replacing ObamaCare with reforms that will actually lower the cost of health care without jeopardizing the safety of our communities. As an original cosponsor, I am pleased to help introduce this critical legislation. I commend Congressman Barletta for introducing it, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this critical legislation.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas, and I rise in support today of the Hire More Heroes Act sponsored by my friend and colleague from Illinois, Congressman Rodney Davis. I applaud the work of Congressman Davis in championing this cause. I also would like to compliment my friend and colleague from the great State of Hawaii for her service to her country, and also for her bipartisan cooperation on this important piece of legislation. Unfortunately, too many veterans cannot find work these days as a result of flawed Washington policies like ObamaCare that are hindering job creation. This legislation will give those who have selflessly served our country more employment opportunities by providing American small businesses with the ability to hire more veterans. Although this administration has delayed the employer mandate, many small businesses in my district in central and eastern Kentucky have expressed deep concern that ObamaCare would discourage them from hiring more workers. I want to thank, again, Congressman Davis for introducing this commonsense legislation that will help our veterans find work without punishing small businesses for hiring these qualified and well-trained employees. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims and the surviving families of Menifee County on this second anniversary of the devastating EF3 tornado that ravaged eastern Kentucky. On March 3, 2012, Kentuckians were devastated by the worst storms in almost 25 years, affecting at least 27 counties. The storms were responsible for injuring over 300 people and taking the lives of 20 of our loved ones in the Commonwealth. Today, I would like for us to especially remember three of those individuals from Menifee County: Beverly Bowman, Vershal Brown and Anita Smith. May their memories continue to live in our hearts forever. I would also like to recognize the resilience of the residents of Menifee County as well as many of the surrounding counties that have, without question, suffered much. The Bible promises us in Psalm 147:3 that ``He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'' The people of Frenchburg and communities across the Commonwealth have renewed this hope and promise of healing. This catastrophic event has reminded us that when tragedy strikes, it strikes in the hearts of us all. It is a testament to the character and compassion of Kentuckians that individuals from all across the Commonwealth were willing to step in and help so that the victims of these storms did not have to carry the burdens alone. In the face of adversity, communities find a way to come together. Over the last two years, the citizens of Menifee have banded together, leaned on each other and come out of this tragedy stronger than ever.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hinton Mills in Fleming County, Kentucky, and to congratulate them on the 31st Anniversary of their Seed Days Customer Appreciation Event. Hinton Mills, with four locations serving the Fleming county area, was founded by Frank L. Hinton in 1918. Frank L. Hinton was born in the Plummers Mill area of Fleming County in 1891 and orphaned at the age of six. He began his own business at the age of sixteen, and opened a small store six years later. Soon after, he began operating a much larger store; this store thrived under the leadership of Frank L. until his retirement in 1956. The store continued with success under Frank O. Hinton, who added a feed mill to the Hinton Mills family. Fleming County Farm Supply was opened in 1977. Today the fourth generation of Hintons are serving area farmers at four locations; Fleming Co. Feed Supply, Frank Hinton and Son, Jabetown Mill and May's Lick Mill. Hinton Mills is well-known for their wide-range of products, quality feed, and customer service, and it also contributes to the region in many other ways. The Hinton family has always been involved in the community through service on various boards as well as active involvement with FFA chapters in the area. Seed Days began as a way for Hinton Mills to honor its customers and is now in its 31st year. Food and fun abound at each of the four locations during Seed Days. While the Hinton family honors their community through Seed Days this week, I would like to honor their devotion and service to the Sixth District. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Hinton Mills on their success in business as well as the 31st Annual Seed Days. I would also like to extend my personal appreciation to Hinton Mills and all of its employees for all that they have done and continue to do for our community our the Commonwealth.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Right to Life of Central Kentucky. As a strongly pro-life father of two young girls, I consider protecting the unborn and the most vulnerable among us as one of my greatest responsibilities as a parent and legislator. This organization's mission is to increase public awareness and restore legal protection to those members of our human family who are threatened by abortion or infanticide. The Right to Life Association of Central Kentucky works tirelessly to advocate for the dignity and worth of all human life. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending my friends with the Right to Life Association of Central Kentucky for their leadership, and I would like to thank them for all that they do for our community.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 75 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. George Miller of California

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Chairman, this legislation is about holding Washington accountable. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection is one of the most powerful and unaccountable agencies in the entire Federal Government. Unfortunately, the Bureau reaches deeply into the everyday lives of Kentuckians. In following its partisan agenda, the Bureau makes it harder for small businesses on Main Street to get a loan to grow their business. The Bureau makes it harder for families in Kentucky to obtain a mortgage to purchase a home, including for manufactured homes. The Bureau even makes it harder to get financing discounts that help Kentuckians purchase their car or truck. The Bureau is so out of touch that it even regulates Bath County, in my district, one of the most rural counties in America, as ``non- rural.'' These concerns are not only voiced inside of Washington. Just last week I was in Powell County, and a small business owner raised his hand during my public event to talk about how the Bureau's rules are harming his ability to do business in his community. This avalanche of red tape coming out of the Bureau is making life harder for millions of Americans, which is why we need to pass this legislation that will reform the Bureau in a way that reins in the misguided rules that stem from its partisan excesses and unaccountable culture.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman and my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding. I appreciate the hard work that both he and his staff have put into this important amendment, which I had the pleasure to join him in introducing. As I indicated earlier in the debate on the underlying legislation, in Kentucky, the overregulation of the Kentucky coal industry has really taken a toll. Under President Obama, Appalachian Kentucky has lost about 7,000 jobs in just 5 years, putting coal industry employment in the Commonwealth to its lowest level since records were first kept in 1927. This amendment would strengthen the underlying regulatory reform legislation by holding accountable those agencies that go after already suffering workers like Kentucky and Pennsylvania coal miners.

Mr. BARR. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for his leadership on the ALERRT Act, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to my friends on the other side of the aisle who talk about the importance of taking into consideration workers in America. And I would submit, Madam Chair, that if we truly are interested in the interests of American workers, we would vote immediately to pass regulatory relief in the form of the ALERRT Act. If my friends on the other side of the aisle were truly interested in the welfare of the working people of America, they would stop the overly burdensome regulation that is putting the American people out of work. In Kentucky, in my home State, if you don't think this is true, consider the facts, and the facts are these: that the unemployment rate in eastern Kentucky is 1\1/2\ percent higher than the national average. There is not a recession in eastern Kentucky. It is a depression, and it is a depression because of overly burdensome regulations coming out of the EPA, which are putting thousands of my fellow Kentuckians and all of our fellow Americans out of work. These are heartless policies. We have lost 7,000 jobs in Kentucky's coal mines in just the last 5 years, bringing coal industry employment in the Commonwealth to its lowest level since 1927. If you want to talk about the welfare of workers, these people need paychecks. It is because of unaccountable, overly burdensome regulations, unaccountable bureaucrats in the executive branch, that these people no longer have the opportunity to provide for their families. This is wrong. We need to roll back these burdensome regulations. I would just say this in conclusion, Madam Chair. It is dangerous when we combine legislative power into the hands of the executive branch. Madison, in Federalist Paper No. 47, in quoting Montesquieu, said: The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands; whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective; may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. There can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person. That is what is happening in America today.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual, Mr. Troy Bowling of Lexington, Kentucky. His military service during World War II and his continued commitment to supporting our veterans and the men and women in uniform is an inspiration to us all. At age 19, Mr. Bowling began his service as a United States Marine and was a proud member of the Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Division. During the United States' campaign to end the war against Japan, Mr. Bowling's unit was among the first to arrive on the beachheads of Iwo Jima. While attempting to secure Mt. Suribachi, his unit came under intense and concentrated fire, completely overwhelming his unit. Two projectiles struck Mr. Bowling in the chest and leg, leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield. At that moment, Mr. Bowling said he looked to the heavens and committed to serving mankind for the rest of his life if he survived. Miraculously, a combat photographer and medical team then carried Mr. Bowling to the safety of a landing craft where he witnessed the planting of the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi--an iconic image that persists as one of the most legendary and triumphant moments of the war. The U.S. Marines eventually took control of the island; however, this victory came at a heavy cost as over 6,800 U.S. servicemembers gave their lives during the battle of Iwo Jima. In keeping faith with his commitment to God made during that battle, Mr. Bowling has since devoted over 73,000 hours of volunteer service to others at the Lexington VA Medical Center. For over 63 years, Mr. Bowling has risen through the ranks within the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization, holding nearly every position possible including State Commander. The Bible teaches in Proverbs 21:21 that, ``He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.'' Mr. Bowling has brought great honor upon himself through his dedication, determination, and love for serving the people of our community. Without a doubt, he has remained true to the commitment he made on the rocky terrain of Iwo Jima. Mr. Bowling embodies the best of America's ideals, values, and commitment to serving others--never abandoning the Marine motto of Semper Fidelis, ``Always Faithful.'' I would like to thank Mr. Bowling for his many years of service to our Nation and our community. He is truly an outstanding American and an inspiration to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. I thank the gentlelady for organizing this Special Order and her leadership in highlighting a real problem in our country right now. The President of the United States the other night in the State of the Union made an observation, and the President's observation was one where he described an economy in which inequality has deepened and upward mobility has stalled. Unfortunately, in many respects the President is right, but he is wrong about what has caused that problem to exist in our economy. The truth is a major reason why upward mobility has stalled is because the Environmental Protection Agency, under his direction, has produced a deluge of red tape and regulations that are literally strangling the Nation's economy. The poor are worse off today than they were when President Obama took office. Seven million more Americans live in poverty today as compared to 2008. Median household income has fallen over $2,000 in the last 4 years. Seventy-six percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and the percentage of working-age people actually in the workforce has dropped to the lowest rate in 35 years in the Obama economy. The EPA is largely responsible for this. The coal industry in my region in central and eastern Kentucky could be the poster child of this regulatory onslaught. According to the Commonwealth's recently released figures, more than 7,000 coal miners in the Appalachian coalfields have received pink slips since 2009; 2,232 of those jobs were lost last year alone, thanks in large part to the overreach of the EPA. The percentage of coal miners in our State is the lowest number of coal miners since 1927 in the coal labor market, and that is since they actually started keeping those statistics. So whether it is deadlocking the permit process or trying to effectively ban coal-fired electricity through disastrous greenhouse gas regulations, EPA's arming of unelected bureaucrats has been very direct about their efforts to reshape entire sectors of our economy. In fact, the President's own climate adviser was reported as saying ``a war on coal is exactly what we need.'' So what bothers me about this is that there is a total disregard for the human cost to hardworking Americans, their families, who have lost these paychecks, who have been laid off with no other economic opportunity. There is a problem with upward mobility in this country. There is income inequality, but it is because of this administration's policies that are devastating these coal-mining families. And make no mistake, these costs are generally borne by the Nation's most vulnerable who can least afford higher energy prices. A recent study analyzing government data found that, for the 180,000 families in Kentucky making less than $10,000 per year, energy costs consume more than two-thirds of after- tax income. That means for every $100 they take home, about $70 goes to covering the cost of energy. The EPA's ruinous policies will only drive those rates higher, adding to the burdens on those already struggling to make ends meet. Folks like our seniors on fixed incomes, they can't afford these higher utility bills. The President likes to talk about the war on poverty. My friends on the other side of the aisle like to talk about the war on poverty. Well, it is hard to win the war on poverty when you are waging a relentless war on jobs. That is exactly what is happening with the EPA. EPA officials think that they know what is best for you, for your family, and for your community, whether you live in Kentucky or Texas or California, but when Congress has asked for some evidence to justify this one-size-fits-all approach, they fail to provide it. While I am sure it was much easier for these bureaucrats to have listening sessions on greenhouse gas regulations in Washington, D.C., or San Francisco, California, the three States that produced the most coal--Kentucky, West Virginia, and Wyoming--they were not on the list where the EPA went to visit. I don't think the bureaucrats would have received such a warm welcome from the coal miners of my State whose jobs were lost, the small businesses that no longer have customers-- many in my home district--the teachers whose schools have lost a major source of tax revenue. They no longer have those funds because of the war on coal and the loss of revenue. As I have warned for some time, the impact of EPA regulations will not be limited to the coal fields of Appalachia. If the EPA has its way, rising electricity rates, like we have already seen this winter, will ripple through this economy, threatening the manufacturing renaissance; home heating bills will spike; goods and services will cost more, depressing consumer demand; businesses will have to devote money that could have gone to investment and hiring to cover higher energy costs at a time when they can least afford it; companies considering to locate here in the United States will leave because our energy advantage will instead go overseas, where labor and energy are cheaper and the regulatory environment is less suffocating. Americans are calling for more jobs, but the Federal bureaucracy is trying to make sure those jobs go elsewhere. All of this is happening through agency rulemaking because that is the only way that the President's environmentalist wish list can come into being. Similar policies have repeatedly failed in the face of bipartisan opposition in Congress. The President and the EPA, deaf to the vehement refusals of the American people and their elected officials to go along with this extremist agenda, are resorting to the only means that they have left: legally questionable rulemaking and executive actions unilaterally administered by the executive branch. The House has made its position loud and clear: these policies are at odds with the intent of Congress and not in the best interest of the American people. In fact, they are actually bankrupting many hardworking Americans. Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. I would encourage the President and the EPA to approach Congress with an open, transparent program that balances environmental protection with economic growth. It can be done if Congress has a willing negotiator in the White House, but continuing to impose these rules by executive proclamation unilaterally fails to benefit the environment and it serves only to harm our constituents and our democracy, if this President, if this Congress is serious about dealing with poverty, if we are serious about dealing with income inequality, if we are really genuinely interested in helping the poor in this country, let's not attack hardworking Americans. Let's focus on job creation and growth, and let's unleash the energy potential of the United States. I thank the gentlelady for her leadership.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, in his State of the Union address last week, the President described an economy in which income inequality has deepened and upward mobility has stalled. Unfortunately, in many respects, he is right. The poor are worse off today than we were when President Obama took office. Nearly 7 million more Americans live in poverty today as compared to 2008. A record 47 million Americans receive food stamps, 13 million more than when President Obama assumed office. Median household income has fallen over $2,000 in the last 4 years. Seventy-six percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and the percentage of working-age people actually in the workforce has dropped to the lowest rates in 35 years. A full 92 million Americans are not part of the labor force. They are either unemployed or not even actively looking for work. They are so frustrated with the Obama economy, they have just given up. When taking into account marginally attached workers--workers who are unemployed but want a job and workers who have part-time jobs who want full-time jobs--the jobless rate today is over 13 percent. Mr. Speaker, 5 years after this President took office, the state of the Union is not strong. But instead of admitting that his policies have failed, the President offered more Big Government and more class warfare. But, Mr. Speaker, a lack of government isn't the problem, and class warfare isn't a solution. The President says we need to raise the minimum wage and extend emergency unemployment insurance yet again, for the 13th time in his administration. We should stop thinking small in this country. We are Americans. We should think big. We don't need minimum wages; we need maximum wages. We don't need more unemployment insurance and government dependency; we need jobs and self-sufficiency. The best way to combat income inequality, to restore upward mobility in the American Dream and create a healthy economy is for Washington to get out of the way, whether in the doctor's office, in the job market, or at the gas pump. That means replacing ObamaCare with patient-centered reforms that will lower the cost of health care without growing government. It means cutting wasteful spending and making reforms to put the Nation on a path towards a balanced budget. It means comprehensive tax reform that rewards work, saving, and investment and allows individuals, families, and businesses to keep more of what they earn. It means rolling back provisions of Dodd-Frank that allow bureaucrats to take away choices, financial services, and products and limit access to credit and take those away from the American people. It means unleashing the energy potential of the United States by ending the war on coal and approving, immediately, the Keystone pipeline. And it means giving the poor a hand up rather than a handout, giving them a job instead of a government check, and giving them the skills they need to escape dependency so that they can achieve their God-given potential. We can do all this. We can restore the American Dream, and we can restore opportunity and economic growth. And I stand ready to work to get America back on track.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, commend, and congratulate Dr. Michael B. McCall, founding president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), on the event of his retirement. Dr. McCall has led KCTCS all of the 16 years since its creation in 1997, and during that time has overseen the coordination of Kentucky's community colleges, technical institutes, and the University of Kentucky into an education system that is now the largest provider of postsecondary education in the Commonwealth. Dr. McCall, a strong advocate for a robust community college system even before coming to Kentucky, was recruited to KCTCS due to his knowledge, experience, and personal drive to see students succeed. As both an educator and an administrator, he has overseen the physical expansion of KCTCS and a dramatic upgrade in the system's academic quality. Dr. McCall oversaw 45 capital projects totaling approximately $500 million, giving 95 percent of all Kentuckians access to a KCTCS institution within a thirty minute drive. This enhanced presence has helped train the skilled workforce that Kentucky needs in order to compete in the modern economy. Under Dr. McCall's leadership, enrollment at KCTCS increased by nearly 110 percent, contributing to the education of more than 500,000 Kentuckians. Dr. McCall also established or integrated several specialized programs to provide specialized skills for emergency services and some of Kentucky's signature industries, including emergency medical services, fire and rescue science technology, automotive manufacturing technical training, coal mining, and horseracing. The high-skilled, high-paying jobs in these fields will reinforce the readiness of Kentucky communities to guarantee public safety, grow and develop our local industries, and expand Kentucky's competitive advantage. Dr. McCall's stewardship of KCTCS has provided the Commonwealth of Kentucky with an academic tradition that will benefit generations to come. I congratulate Dr. McCall on a terrific career improving the lives of my fellow Kentuckians as he enters retirement and wish him all the best for whatever the future may hold.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his leadership on this important issue. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the more we learn about ObamaCare, the more disappointing it becomes. The American people continue to be disappointed that President Obama's health care law is not only wreaking havoc on their families and that it is not only wreaking havoc on small businesses and on our economy but that now it could be endangering our communities that rely on emergency response services provided by volunteer firefighters and EMTs. This is impacting volunteer firefighters in my home State of Kentucky. Just this morning, despite a windchill of negative 5 degrees, firefighters in Anderson County, Kentucky, rushed to the aid of fellow citizens to battle a barn fire that was threatening to spread to a nearby home. As their equipment and even the water froze in the extreme temperatures, these brave firefighters courageously took shifts to protect their community. It is not unusual for these heroic men and women to routinely perform acts of bravery. It is also not unusual for them to hold pancake breakfasts or chili dinners simply to raise enough money to pay their electricity bills. These volunteer companies are now being asked to provide coverage under ObamaCare's costly employer mandate, which Anderson County Fire Chief Mike Barnes warned could force them to lay off heroic, life-saving personnel and leave communities like Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, in Anderson County, without adequate fire protection. So, while fire departments work tirelessly to provide essential safety services, we must do everything we can to ensure that our emergency services volunteers are not forced to be counted as full-time employees under ObamaCare. It is a cost they simply cannot absorb. The project of ObamaCare is the project of the entire Obama Presidency. It is a project to determine whether or not Big Government can solve big problems. It is a project to determine whether or not the Federal Government can micromanage one-sixth of the American economy. With this issue with these volunteer fire departments, we now find out, once again, that ObamaCare and the project that it embodies is an abject failure.