Steve Chabot

Mr. CHABOT

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

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the distinguished service of a constituent of mine, Lt. Col. Kendall Lemley, USAF Reserve. Lt. Col. Lemley has announced his retirement from the position of Admissions Liaison Officer for the United States Air Force Academy after more than thirteen years of guiding and advising our best and brightest young men and women. I've had the pleasure of working with Lt. Col. Lemley at numerous academy information nights, held for students interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy. He was always prepared and enthusiastic about speaking with students interested in military service. Lt. Col. Lemley is a 1992 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy where he earned his B.S. in Computer Science. He also holds Masters Degrees from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology and Central Michigan University. In the midst of a busy career as a computer officer in the Air Force and an IT manager in the private sector, he always set aside time to assist my office and my constituents in their scholastic pursuits. I cannot thank him enough for being such a strong advocate of our nation's military, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of my colleagues to a statement made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoggan in which he noted the importance of April 24th to Armenian communities around the world, and expressed his condolences to the descendants of those Armenians who died in the violence nearly a century ago. The Prime Minister renewed Turkey's offer to participate in a joint historical commission, where Turkish, Armenian, and international scholars would come together to document those terrible events. In his weekly parliamentary address to his party's legislators on April 23rd, Prime Minister Erdoggan stated Turkey's willingness to ``confront'' the historical events, and again called upon Armenia and the Armenian diaspora to join this effort. I believe a process in which both parties are active participants will enable Turkey and Armenia to resolve many of the issues of conflict between them, and will allow them to move deeper into the 21st Century while building a constructive relationship, as neighbors should. I hope my colleagues will join me in encouraging all parties to engage in the process. The statement issued by Prime Minister Erdoggan follows: The Message of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoggan On the Events of 1915. The 24th of April carries a particular significance for our Armenian citizens and for all Armenians around the world, and provides a valuable opportunity to share opinions freely on a historical matter. It is indisputable that the last years of the Ottoman Empire were a difficult period, full of suffering for Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Armenian and millions of other Ottoman citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnic origin. Any conscientious, fair and humanistic approach to these issues requires an understanding of all the sufferings endured in this period, without discriminating as to religion or ethnicity. Certainly, neither constructing hierarchies of pain nor comparing and contrasting suffering carries any meaning for those who experienced this pain themselves. As a Turkish proverb goes, ``fire burns the place where it falls.'' It is a duty of humanity to acknowledge that Armenians remember the suffering experienced in that period, just like every other citizen of the Ottoman Empire. In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic perspective as well as of a culture of democracy and modernity. Some may perceive this climate of freedom in Turkey as an opportunity to express accusatory, offensive and even provocative assertions and allegations. Even so, if this will enable us to better understand historical issues with their legal aspects and to transform resentment to friendship again, it is natural to approach different discourses with empathy and tolerance and expect a similar attitude from all sides. The Republic of Turkey will continue to approach every idea with dignity in line with the universal values of law. Nevertheless, using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is inadmissible. The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain. To evaluate this painful period of history through a perspective of just memory is a humane and scholarly responsibility. Millions of people of all religions and ethnicities lost their lives in the First World War. Having experienced events which had inhumane consequences--such as relocation--during the First World War, should not prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes among towards one another. In today's world, deriving enmity from history and creating new antagonisms are neither acceptable nor useful for building a common future. The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences, understanding by heeding others, evaluating means for compromise, denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance. With this understanding, we, as the Turkish Republic, have called for the establishment of a joint historical commission in order to study the events of 1915 in a scholarly manner. This call remains valid. Scholarly research to be carried out by Turkish, Armenian and international historians would play a significant role in shedding light on the events of 1915 and an accurate understanding of history. It is with this understanding that we have opened our archives to all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of documents in our archives are at the service of historians. Looking to the future with confidence, Turkey has always supported scholarly and comprehensive studies for an accurate understanding of history. The people of Anatolia, who lived together for centuries regardless of their different ethnic and religious origins, have established common values in every field from art to diplomacy, from state administration to commerce. Today they continue to have the same ability to create a new future. In is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk to each other about the past with maturity and to remember together their losses in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren. Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay tribute, with compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives in the same period and under similar conditions.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, the year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of Union Institute & University, a private, non-profit, accredited university, designed exclusively for adults seeking academic programs that transform lives and communities. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, with centers in California, Florida, and Vermont, Union's vision is to engage, enlighten, and empower motivated adults in their pursuit of a lifetime of learning and service. This forward-facing institution now serves 2,000 students around the nation and offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees and certificates. Union Institute & University pioneered many of the concepts now common in higher education, including distance and online education, individualized self-paced programs, and an abiding commitment to adults seeking transformative education. Today, the university's 15,500 alumni--including the Most Honorable Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller, and our esteemed colleague, the Honorable Congressman from Illinois, Dr. Danny Davis-- are transforming lives and communities, and making a difference wherever they live and work.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, career and technical education is critical to our economy. I have a great program in my district, the Warren County Career Center, in Lebanon, Ohio. I have had the opportunity to tour the program a number of times. They do a great job. Two success stories--Karie Lacy and Nick Cornett--both completed programs at the Warren County Career Center. Karie now owns her own salon and employs others; and Nick is working at a local robotics company, while working towards a degree in electrical engineering. There are others like Karie and Nick across America who deserve access to programs that will prepare them for the workforce and lay the foundation for a successful career. As we work together to strengthen our economy, we should support institutions like the Warren County Career Center. Programs like this, we should support all across America.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a strong supporter and cosponsor of H. Res. 418, urging the Government of Burma to end the persecution of the Rohingya people and to respect internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups within Burma. I want to commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my friend and colleague, for offering this legislation, which is certainly timely, and we appreciate his leadership on this. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I believe it is imperative that the U.S. and the international community raise awareness of this ongoing crisis in Burma and of the need for its government to respect the human rights of all of its ethnic and religious minority groups, which it is clearly not doing at this time. Last year, we held two hearings in my subcommittee to examine the deteriorating human rights situation and ethnic unrest in Burma. It has become abundantly clear that the political and social situation there is extremely fragile and that the continuing persecution of the minority Rohingya population is just, as was said, a profound crisis. Some 140,000 displaced Rohingya have been forced to live in camps described as open-air prisons. Doctors Without Borders was forced out by the Burmese Government, and since then, nearly 150 Rohingya have died of medically-related causes. This particular photo illustrates that the Doctors Without Borders' clinic is shuttered. They are gone. The people are not getting the medical care that they are entitled to, and people are literally dying as a result of this. Further, mob violence has made a number of other international NGOs evacuate Burma for fear and for being, essentially, excluded by the government. They were doing good work for people who really needed it, who were in dire straits. The Burmese Government has taken few, if any, steps to forge a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous future for the Rakhine State. It is complicit in extrajudicial killings, rape, arbitrary detention, torture, deaths in detention, and for the denial of due process and fair trial rights for the Rohingya. As these horribly repressed people who are afforded no identity by the Burmese Government have been forced into camps, the Burmese Government has confiscated their land, their homes, and property for redistribution to the Buddhist Rakhine majority. A recent report by the group United to End Genocide found that nowhere else in the world are there more precursors to genocide--signs that genocide may well happen--than in Burma right now. This is why I recently introduced H.R. 4377, the Burma Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2014, with my colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley), a Democrat. This legislation would place conditions on providing International Military and Educational Training or for Foreign Military Financing assistance to the Burmese Government. In light of the Burmese Government's and military's complicity in these ongoing human rights abuses against the Rohingya and other ethnic groups, it is much too soon for us to be engaging at a level that provides U.S. foreign assistance to Burma's corrupt and abusive military. It concerns me that the administration still refuses to cooperate or to detail what its strategy really is for the future of military engagement with Burma. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 418 highlights its need for the U.S. and international community to continue pressuring Burma to end its blatant persecution and discrimination of the Rohingya population. I want to, again, thank Mr. McGovern, Mr. Franks, Mr. Pitts, and Mr. Smith for cosponsoring this resolution. I believe the passage of the resolution will send a strong message to the Burmese Government, and I would urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 2919, currently under consideration.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to begin by thanking Representative Cynthia Lummis and the Constitution Subcommittee ranking member again, Mr. Cohen from Tennessee, for introducing this important government transparency legislation. Every year, pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, the Federal Government, through settlement or court order, pays millions of dollars in legal fees and costs to parties to lawsuits and administrative adjudications that involve the Federal Government. However, despite the large number of taxpayer dollars paid out each year through the Act, the Federal Government no longer comprehensively keeps track of the amount of fees and other expenses awarded, why these fees and expenses were awarded, and to whom these costs were awarded. This is because, in 1995, Congress repealed the Department of Justice's reporting requirements and defunded the Administrative Conference of the United States, which is the agency charged with reporting this basic information to Congress--to us. The Administrative Conference was reestablished in 2010, but the requirements to report the fee and cost payments have not been reenacted. Accordingly, there has been no official governmentwide accounting of this information since fiscal year 1994, almost 20 years ago. This lack of transparency is troubling, given that the Equal Access to Justice Act is considered by many to be the most important Federal fee-shifting statute. Fundamentally, the Act recognizes that there is an enormous disparity of resources between the Federal Government and individuals and small businesses that seek to challenge the Federal actions. Congress enacted the Equal Access to Justice Act to provide individuals, small businesses, and small nonprofit groups with financial assistance to bring suit against the Federal Government or to defend themselves from lawsuits brought by the Federal Government. As the Supreme Court has noted, the Act was adopted with the ``specific purpose . . . of eliminating for the average person the financial disincentive to challenge unreasonable governmental actions.'' But how can we know if the Act is working well toward this end if we have no data on awards? Without the data, this bill requires the Administrative Conference to compile and report that we have nothing more than anecdotal evidence as to whether the Act is working. The legislation we are considering today will end this lack of transparency and will restore the reporting requirements that were repealed back in 1995. I want to, once again, thank Representatives Lummis and Cohen for introducing this bill. It is good legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis).

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2919) to amend titles 5 and 28, United States Code, to require annual reports to Congress on, and the maintenance of databases on, awards of fees and other expenses to prevailing parties in certain administrative proceedings and court cases to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes.

Mr. CHABOT. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Daines).

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will be very brief. I would like to, first of all, thank the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Cincinnati Art Museum for bringing this matter to my attention. I want to particularly thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for his leadership on this bill, as well as to thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Goodlatte, and also the ranking member, Mr. Conyers, for their leadership. Without having any additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4292, currently under consideration.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, and my friend from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for cosponsoring this legislation. This is simple, straightforward legislation. It clarifies the relationship between the Immunity from Seizure Act and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to encourage the foreign lending of art to the United States. Currently, artwork loaned by foreign governments is commonly immune to Federal court decisions and cannot be confiscated if the President finds that their display is in the national interest. However, foreign governments do not have immunity when commercial activity is involved. This bill seeks to clarify that artwork imported into the U.S. for temporary display is not commercial activity and should thus be immune from seizure. Specifically, my legislation would revise the United States Code and make clear that the import of artwork is not legally considered commercial activity if three elements are met: First, the United States, or an educational institute therein, and a foreign government must agree to the exchange of artwork; Second, the President must determine that such work is of cultural significance and the temporary exhibition of such work is in the national interest; And third, the President's determination must be published in the Federal Register. In enacting the Immunity from Seizure Act, Congress recognized that cultural exchange would produce substantial benefits to the United States, both artistically and diplomatically. Foreign lending should be allowed to continue to aid cultural understanding and increase public exposure to archeological artifacts. This bill reaffirms our country's commitment to the foreign lending of artwork to American museums. However, for artwork and cultural objects owned by foreign governments, the intent of the Immunity from Seizure Act is being frustrated currently by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. A provision of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act opens foreign governments up to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts for court actions if foreign government-owned artwork is temporarily imported into the U.S. Similar to its Senate companion, this bill includes a Nazi-era exception which provides that immunity does not apply to cases in which property was taken in violation of international law, and those are things which are in question, and the action is based upon a claim that such work was taken in connection with acts of the German Government during the period of January 30, 1933, through May 8, 1945. According to the American Association of Museum Directors, current law has led to, on several occasions, foreign governments declining to exchange artwork and cultural objects with the United States for temporary exhibitions. In 2010, for example, the Russian Federation imposed a ban on state- owned art loans to American museums on the grounds that such works could be subject to legal action. As a result of this ban, several U.S. museums, which had loan agreements with the Russian national institutions, were forced to cancel long-planned Russian art exhibits. In order to keep the exchange of foreign government-owned art flowing, Congress needs to clarify the relationship between these two acts that I previously described. This legislation does just that: ensuring that museums, like the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Cincinnati Art Museum--both in my district--and other similar museums all across the country, may continue to present first-class exhibits and educate the public on cultural heritage and artwork from all around the globe. Through the enactment of this legislation, we can secure foreign lending to American museums and ensure that foreign art lenders are not entangled in unnecessary litigation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4292) to amend chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, to clarify the exception to foreign sovereign immunity set forth in section 1605(a)(3) of such title.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Republican Study Committee's Back to Basics Budget for 2015. The RSC's budget solves a problem that threatens the future well- being of this country, and that is the increasing size of the Federal Government's debt. The solution provided by the budget is simple. It requires the Federal Government to balance its budget in 4 years. Similar to the Ryan budget, the RSC proposal reduces discretionary spending, reforms Social Security, simplifies the Tax Code, and cuts wasteful spending, among other things. I am particularly pleased with the RSC's inclusion of two of my bills that seek to eliminate some wasteful spending. We eliminate the Commission to Nowhere, and we eliminate the MAP Act, and we save $10 million by doing that. Time and again, the Denali Commission has been found to perform duplicative work that should be carried out by State and local governments. This view is supported across the board, from Citizens Against Government Waste, to the Heritage Foundation, to even President Obama. In fact, the inspector general of the Denali Commission recently called it ``a congressional experiment that hasn't worked out'' and suggested that ``Congress put its money elsewhere.'' The waste within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Market Access Program is also disturbing. The MAP program, though intended to increase international consumption of American products, has financed lavish international travel and marketing expenses for some of our already most successful companies. Under this program, taxpayer dollars have paid for international educational wine tastings from London to Mexico, and financed an animated series in Spain chronicling the adventures of a squirrel named Super Twiggy and his nemesis, the Colesterator. Our national debt stands at over $17 trillion. Such debt puts our country's security, economy, and everything else at risk. Let's pass this today.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Sadly, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women in this country, including over 2,000 Ohioans, but it doesn't have to be. As the American College of Gastroenterology reminds us, colon cancer screenings can prevent cancer from occurring in the first place. In fact, evidence shows that colonoscopies could prevent over 50 percent of colorectal cancer deaths in the U.S. When colon cancer is detected early, the survival rate climbs to 90 percent. The American Cancer Society reveals that screenings have reduced the rate of colon cancer incidences by 30 percent over the last 10 years. Still, more needs to be done. Mr. Speaker, as we observe Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, I urge all Americans, particularly those over 50, to talk to their doctors and ask if screenings are right for them. Cancer is a killer, and colon cancer can be more deadly than most, but we can fight back by taking proactive steps to diagnose and combat the disease at its outset.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Captain James Henry Cullen. Captain Cullen was born in my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 9, 1923, and died in Springfield, Virginia, on September 9 last year. He grew up in Price Hill, attended Elder High School, and was a graduate of Xavier University. Captain Cullen led a distinguished life and an honorable one as a devoted husband and father and as an accomplished naval officer. As executive officer of the USS Guadalcanal, he oversaw the recovery of the Apollo 9 space capsule in the Atlantic Ocean. He also served as director of operations, Pearl Harbor, and chief of staff Third Fleet, with responsibility for antisubmarine warfare in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and was awarded the Gold Star. Captain Cullen epitomized the term ``America's Greatest Generation.'' Our country has benefited greatly from his service, and as Americans, we owe him a debt of gratitude. Full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery for Captain Cullen will take place on March 24. Well done, Captain Cullen, and may you rest in peace.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress from Ohio, I am proud of my state's diversity and the many cultures that make it such a great place to live. One of the more active ethnic groups in Ohio is the Ahiska Turks, who are represented by the Ahiska Turkish American Community Center (ATACC). When the United States offered P-2 refugee status to this distinct minority group in Russia, to those who faced religious and ethnic persecution by the Russians, roughly 12,000 Ahiska Turks came to our country, and settled in Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Those who created new lives in Ohio learned English, established small businesses, educated their children, and revitalized neighborhoods. They invested over $30 million just in north Dayton alone, where dilapidated houses were transformed into an oasis of middle class dwellings. For example, the Dayton Community Center was a dying building which they bought and renovated. It now not only houses Ahiska Turkish American Community Center events, but it is also a flourishing neighborhood preschool. Ahiska Turks are living the American dream not only in my state, but also around the country. In their efforts to open shops, and establish businesses in transportation and construction, for example, they have successfully accomplished what we often talk about here in Congress-- they have created jobs. But while these fortunate Ahiska Turks now live better and more prosperous lives here in the U.S., the lives of the Ahiska Turks in Russia are very different. Their children are segregated in schools and told they can never ``catch up'' or integrate with their Russian counterparts. They continue to face widespread persecution and live under discriminatory laws. However, if these same people thrive once they come to the United States, and their children excel in school, then there is little doubt that the environment of hostility and discrimination in which they live in Russia is what is keeping them from meeting their real potential in that country. As a result, I call on the State Department to restart the P-2 program so that those Ahiska Turks who continue to face persecution in Russia can come to the United States and rejoin their families. Ohio has benefited from their hard work, dedication, and family values. This program was a blessing for these wonderful people, and it was a good deal for the United States.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of a legendary Ohio political figure, a great father and a tremendous role model, William Mallory, Sr., whom I had the honor to know and call a friend. Bill Mallory's life is a true American success story. He rose from working-class roots to become the first African American to serve as majority floor leader in the Ohio House of Representatives, a position he held longer than any lawmaker in Ohio history. During his 28-year tenure in the Ohio House, Bill Mallory, a former teacher, championed education issues and helped create Ohio's first statewide drug prevention program. But perhaps his most enduring legacy is his family's dedication to public service and community involvement. Of Bill Mallory's five sons, one is an elections administrator at the Hamilton County Board of Elections, two are Hamilton County municipal court judges, another is an Ohio State Representative, and the fifth is the outgoing two-term mayor of Cincinnati. Mr. Speaker, William Mallory, Sr., will long be remembered for his devotion to his family, to his community, and to the State of Ohio.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Chair, I want to recognize and appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for pushing this bill forward. It is very important for our country. Our patent system is complex, and in our litigious society, it is unfortunate that some bad actors are using that complexity to take advantage of our small businesses. Young, innovative companies are increasingly threatened and targeted by patent troll lawsuits, and the majority of companies targeted by patent trolls have less than $10 million in revenue. They target these small companies because the companies typically don't have the resources to fight back. So small businesses have a choice: Do they settle with a patent troll or do they go out of business and people lose jobs? That is the choice that small businesses and start-ups are forced to make--pay off a patent troll or shut their doors. The Innovation Act levels the playing field for small businesses and start-ups. It brings transparency to the patent process and helps protect one of our founding constitutional principles: protect property and promote innovation. These trolls do not create products. They do not create jobs. They create headaches, and at a significant cost to our economy. It was $80 billion in 2011 alone--$80 billion. It is said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. This bill provides sunlight that effectively sanitizes the shadowy abuse of patent litigation. Madam Chair, the Innovation Act is a good first step in protecting our small businesses and entrepreneurs from this type of abuse. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.