Ander Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today as cochair of the Congressional Nepal Caucus to express my deepest condolences to the people of Nepal who are now recovering from a catastrophic earthquake that hit this prior Saturday. When you see the devastation, you will find that--and all the final results are not in--early reports are that over 4,000 individuals lost their lives and several thousand were injured. Whatever the damage, the United States stands ready to assist in any way. I want to say thank you to the leadership of our U.S. Embassy in Nepal and thank you to the Government of Nepal for their early and coordinated response. To the people of that region, let me say that the United States stands with you in these difficult times. We will continue to pray for those of you who have lost your loved ones and continue to pray for the safe recovery of those who are still lost.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 2, due to inclement weather I was unable to vote on H.R. 280 `Authorizing Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Recoup Bonuses and Awards' and H.R. 294 the `Long- Term Care Veterans Choice Act'. If I had been present I would have voted ``yes'' on the passage of both bills as these reforms would serve to improve the care of our Veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation. These bills respectively improve the ability of the Veterans Administration to provide for the well being of those who have given so much for this nation, and expand the power of that Department to hold its employees accountable when they fall short of upholding that sacred duty. Over the past year, the Department of Veterans Affairs has received scrutiny on issues that affect the care and benefits of our Veterans. Congress has taken action, along with the Department's Office of the Inspector General to investigate these wrongdoings. One finding of these investigations was the despicable act of manipulating the Department's appointment system to hide evidence of increased wait times for medical appointments, and the doctoring of medical records to the same effect. I believe these acts are despicable and the Department of Veterans Affairs must be held accountable. Veterans Affairs employees are placed in positions of special trust and confidence and are charged with the sacred duty of caring for those who have sacrificed for the security of this nation. This bill, H.R. 280, provides the Secretary of Veterans Affairs more authority to hold accountable those employees who break faith with this obligation. While employees would be afforded due process prior to being fined for misconduct, the Secretary's decision would be final and could not be appealed to any other agency or court. No system is perfect and no person is perfect. But the American people entrust the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the responsibility of caring for our Veterans--which is why it is critical to empower that Department's leaders with the authority to hold their employees accountable for their actions. My District in Jacksonville, Florida is one of the most popular retirement locations for Veterans. So this bill, H.R. 294 the `Long- Term Care Veterans Choice Act', hits very close to home. As our Veterans enter the twilight of their lives, they often find themselves needing increased daily care, which the Department of Veterans Affairs is required by law to provide. This care is given by way of veterans nursing homes, which are currently the only institutions capable of fulfilling the Department's obligation to provide such services. However, this ``one size fits all'' method of caring for our Veterans is not always the most appropriate for their condition or medical situation. H.R. 294 corrects this situation by authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund Medical Foster Home care for Veterans whose situation is conducive to receiving long term care in a non- institutional setting. Medical Foster Care provides actual homes for Veterans and families willing to accept the challenge of caring for them. Many of these families are themselves retired service members, nurses, and doctors that are able to garner a little extra money and a purpose for getting out of bed every day. There is no downside to this bill. It provides a choice for our Veterans to receive the kind of care they want and deserve in a fiscally responsible manner. I can't think of a better way to honor their service and sacrifice. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, had I been present for these votes, I would have placed my full support behind their passage.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great Floridian businessman, Mr. Philip B. Phillips, founder of the real estate development firm Phillips & Co, on receiving the NAIOP of Northeast Florida commercial real estate trade association's Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Phillips founded Phillips & Co in 1986, and since then his firm has completed more than 1 million square feet of projects in Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola. He is a pillar in the Jacksonville business community, and a valuable partner in the economic growth and development of Northeast Florida. Under Mr. Phillips' skillful leadership, his commercial real estate firm was responsible for constructing some of the largest projects in the Jacksonville area. He has developed the five-building Meridian complex in Deerwood Park, the four-building Greystone Project, and the 214,000 square foot multi-phase Central Park development. These projects have added countless jobs to the Jacksonville community as well as contributed to the economic success of our Northeast Florida economy. NAIOP is one of the foremost commercial real estate industry organizations in the United States. It provides its members with numerous networking opportunities, educational programs, industry innovations, and strong legislative representation for the commercial real estate community. NAIOP's Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the greatest honors that the organization can bestow. The award recognizes those distinguished individuals for their lifetime work in the commercial real estate industry. Mr. Phillips is truly deserving of this very distinguished honor; and the First Coast is proud to count him among our own. His lifework exemplifies everything for which NAIOP's Lifetime Achievement Award stands for. The Jacksonville business community is forever indebted to Mr. Phillips for his lifetime contributions. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in this very special congressional salute to this Jacksonville Business leader, Philip B. Phillips.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mary Gaile Edwards Wingard, who died peacefully in the presence of her beloved family on Tuesday, January 27, 2015. Gaile was a pillar of the Jacksonville community. An avid volunteer and both loving mother and grandmother, she was dearly loved by everyone who knew her. The First Coast will truly miss this incredible woman. With a ready smile, quick wit, and abundant southern charm, Gaile made everyone she met feel at ease. She lived her life with a passionate devotion to her loved ones and her family. Whether it was volunteering for one of the numerous organizations around town or simply living the role of loving grandmother, Gaile never did anything half-way. Jacksonville will be forever thankful for her selfless dedication. Gaile's quiet strength and loving spirit will long be remembered by our city. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Joseph Theodore Wingard, Jr.; her children, Joseph Theodore Wingard III and his wife Pam, Jonathan David Wingard and his wife Heather, and Katherine Wingard Sherman and her husband Nate; her grandsons, Matthew Alexander Wingard, Jonathan Michael Wingard, Jonathan Ramsay Wingard, Joseph Theodore Wingard, Nathaniel Alden Sherman, Jr., and an unborn granddaughter to be named Beatrice Gaile Sherman; her sister Jeanne Edwards Yarborough; and six nieces. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Wingard family. I am forever grateful to have known such an amazing woman.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in strong support of H.R. 5656, the Feed the Future Global Food Security Act of 2014, on the eve of passage of the Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus that provides just over $1 billion to the Feed the Future Program. The passage of this bill would authorize this USAID program for one year at just under Fiscal Year 2014 level, bringing stability to this successful program while giving Congress future oversight. Feed the Future through its whole-of-government approach has been successful in promoting both agricultural-based and market-based development and in improving the nutrition of women and children. This creates healthy populations and gives livelihoods to these families, both of which grow these developing economies. The focus on food security and agriculture development of Feed the Future started during the Bush Administration and has continued through today. But, Mr. Speaker, today more than 800 million people around the world still suffer from chronic hunger. Many of the world's poor live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for a living, and growth in the agriculture sector is one of the best ways to spur the kind of economic growth that reduces poverty. In 2013 alone, Feed the Future reached more than 12.5 million children with nutrition interventions to help ensure a stronger and more successful future. It has helped nearly 7 million farmers and food producers use new technologies and management practices. And it has leveraged more than $10 billion through complementary efforts in private sector commitments in African agriculture--the majority from African businesses. With broad support from U.S. universities, NGOs, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and beneficiaries, Feed the Future authorization offers an opportunity for Congress to put its stamp on this program and ensure that we have the appropriate oversight measures in place. Passage of this legislation will demonstrate that we are serious about finding commonsense solutions to one of the world's greatest challenges--hunger--creating economic stability overseas that will benefit the American people as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 5656, the Feed the Future Global Food Security Act of 2014.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers for yielding me this time, and I thank him for his leadership in this appropriations process. As chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, let me highlight a few areas in our part of the bill. Overall, we reduce spending by $246 million in an effort to rein in the out-of-control spending. Some areas are increased, some are decreased. For instance, law enforcement receives an increase. Drug abuse prevention receives an increase. Small business receives an increase, as does women's business centers. They help grow our economy and create jobs. On the other hand, there are some agencies that don't do so well. They waste taxpayer dollars and become ineffective. I think a lot of people agree that the Internal Revenue Service has betrayed the trust of the American people. They have wasted taxpayer dollars. They have singled out individuals and groups of individuals based on their political philosophy, and they have not cooperated with congressional investigation. Therefore, their funding is reduced by $346 million. All in all, it is a balanced approach. We spend less money than we spent last year. It is a good portion of the bill. Let me take a moment to say thank you to Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the Defense Subcommittee upon which I sit. I want to thank him for his tireless work in this area, for allowing members like me to help draft legislation that clearly puts our men and women in uniform first, clearly helps save lives by making sure that we have the best qualified, the best trained, the best equipped military, and it makes all Americans safer. All in all, it is a great bill. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in observance of National IBD Awareness Week, December 1-7, 2014, which bring attention to over 1.4 million Americans affected by Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. These disorders impact the gastrointestinal tract, the area of the body where digestion takes place. They cause inflammation of the intestine, which leads to ongoing symptoms and complications. Although anyone can get IBD, it is most commonly diagnosed in adolescents and young adults between 15 and 25 years old. There is currently no known cause or cure for IBD, and individuals with IBD may suffer from various symptoms from mild to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and intestinal bleeding. The impacts are devastating to both patients and their families. While we still do not have all the answers, there is hope. An increasing number of genes have been identified--over 100 today--that may cause an increase in the risk of developing IBD, confirming that IBD has a strong genetic component. With these discoveries and new technological advances, researchers are working furiously to find cures. Despite this, the unpredictable nature of these painful and debilitating digestive diseases creates a significant burden on the community and economy. Every year, there is more than $1.26 billion in direct and indirect costs to the US healthcare system due to hospitalizations as a result of IBD complications. As the co-chair of the Crohn's and Colitis Caucus, a bi-partisan group of Congressional Members dedicated to educating the public and other Members on IBD, I urge my fellow Caucus members and colleagues to join me in recognizing IBD Awareness week and the millions of Americans suffering from this disease. I would also like to take this time to honor my colleague and fellow co-chair, Jim Moran, for his leadership over the years in improving access to treatments for IBD for this vulnerable population. He has been an incredible partner in this fight to prevent and cure IBD. He will be missed in this Chamber as he moves on to the next chapter in his life. With the support of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, I encourage all Americans to join in the fight to cure, raise awareness, and increase research on this debilitating disease. Together, with the help of researchers, educators, medical professionals, patients, and families, we can find a cure and end this devastating disease for millions of people around the world.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. I thank Chairman Sessions for the work that he has done all along the way. Mr. Speaker, I want to urge the adoption of this rule and the underlying legislation, particularly the ABLE Act, which the chairman just talked about. Eight years ago I first filed this legislation, and an awful lot of people have spent a lot of time and a lot of energy bringing us to where we are today. The gentleman before me spoke about how Congress is often dysfunctional. As we look at the ABLE Act today, I think we will have a chance to see what can happen when people work together, when Democrats and Republicans come together, when the House and the Senate work together to do what is best for the people of our country. I think it is a great illustration of what we can do, and the fact that we have over 380 cosponsors in the House, over 70 sponsors in the United States Senate, is a demonstration of that, what can be accomplished when we put our minds to it and work together. It has been pointed out that most of us know someone with a severe disability, might be Down syndrome, might be autism. But sometimes it is hard for us to understand the difficulties that they have to go through, along with their families. They face challenges that we can hardly even imagine sometimes. The ABLE Act seeks to try to remedy that situation, to bring justice, to bring peace of mind to millions of American families who have to live with disabilities every day. It does that by creating these tax- free savings accounts, allows the money that they set aside to grow tax-free as long as they use those proceeds for qualified expenses. And what that does is it simply gives those individuals with disabilities a chance for the American Dream. They have hopes and dreams just like we all do, and this will give them the tool to open the door to a brighter future, the way to realize their full potential. We help other people save for college by creating 529 tax-advantaged accounts. We allow people to save for their health care by creating health savings accounts. We allow people to save for their retirements through individual retirement accounts and 401(k)'s. It seems only fair that we offer individuals with disabilities the same tax-advantaged tools, so they can realize their dreams, maybe get a job, maybe save for the future, maybe go to college. I just hope that, as we adopt this rule and as we move into the ABLE Act, that we will all continue to work together because I can't think of anything more special, as more of a privilege, than for us as a Congress to speak up for those who so often can't speak for themselves. I urge the adoption of the rule and of the underlying bill as well.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. Let me first just say thank you to Chairman Camp, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, for his hard work in bringing this bill out of the Ways and Means Committee with a unanimous vote. I thank him and his staff who have worked long and hard to bring this bill to the floor today. On a personal note, as Chairman Camp leaves the Congress this year, I want to express my thanks and gratitude for his friendship over the years and for his leadership not only for the people of Michigan, but for the people of America. You will be missed. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the ABLE Act, I think that this is a great example of what can be accomplished when people work together. People say we don't always work together, but here is a case where people have come together--Democrats and Republicans, the House working with the Senate--for the common good of the people of America. I think all of us probably know somebody, either a family member or maybe a friend of the family--somebody--who has a disability. It might be Down syndrome, or it might be autism, or it might be some other disability, but sometimes, I don't think we understand the difficulty and the challenges that those individuals and their families face. They are beyond our comprehension sometimes because we are lucky in the way that we can live. The ABLE Act seeks to address that inequity. It seeks to help those people who so often society overlooks or maybe the government overlooks. The ABLE Act is very simple, it is very straightforward, it is understandable, and we have come to this after 8 years of hard work. When I first filed the bill in 2006, there were very few cosponsors of this legislation, but over the years, an awful lot of people on both sides of the aisle have worked long and hard to make this legislation better. Some of the individuals who have these disabilities come to Washington every year. They have gone out, and they have talked to their individual Representatives. That is one of the reasons we have 380 cosponsors in the House. It is because those individuals have gone to an office and have sat down and have said, ``This is something that would make a difference in my life.'' And those Members have said, ``We want to help.'' The same thing has happened in the Senate. You heard Chairman Camp talk about how that takes place. Individuals with disabilities can create a tax-free savings account, put their own money in that account, and have a chance to actually save for their futures. Those dollars grow tax free, and as long as they are used for qualified expenses, such as medical expenses or maybe educational or job training expenses, they can use those proceeds. We already allow folks to help themselves by setting up tax-free savings accounts to save for college. It is called a 529. We allow people to save for their retirements through a tax-free savings account called an IRA or a 401(k), and we allow people to save for their health insurance by the creation of health savings accounts. It only seems fair to me and to all of us that we would provide the same sort of treatment to those individuals who are less fortunate than we are. Now, we have a situation in which the ABLE accounts will open a door to a bright future to millions of Americans. It will give those individuals a chance to realize their hopes and their dreams, to be part of the American Dream, and to be able to achieve their full potential. I can't think of anything that is more rewarding. I can't think of any greater privilege than to speak out for people who can't always speak for themselves. This ABLE Act will bring justice, and it will bring peace of mind to millions of American families who live with disabilities every day. I think that is something worth fighting for.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jacksonville's very own Carlton Smith, Executive Vice President of Heavy Equipment Resources of Florida, Inc. (HERO FL), upon receiving the Small Business Administration's 2014 Regional and State of Florida Small Business Exporter of the Year Award. It is an honor to represent Carlton and his thriving export company, located in the Fourth Congressional District of Florida. Small businesses, like HERO FL, are the backbone of this country and are job creators that are revitalizing our nation's economy. HERO FL began in 2008, when Carlton, his father Leslie, and uncle George, decided to take advantage of the opportunities that the expansion of JAXPORT had to offer. Expanding on their already successful commercial landscaping business, Carlton saw an opportunity to branch out internationally, exporting machinery and other materials to construction and mining industries across the globe. And so, HERO FL was born. HERO FL began specializing in worldwide exports of components, spare parts, and heavy machinery to mining and earthmoving industries. The company's ability to deliver hard-to-find parts quickly and efficiently to remote mining locations throughout the world has deservedly garnered a lot of attention. In addition to the prestigious Small Business Administration award, HERO FL was recently honored with the President's ``E'' Award for its efforts to expand national exports. Created under President John F. Kennedy, the ``E'' Award recognizes people, firms or organizations that make major contributions in U.S. exports. Today, the ``E'' Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for noteworthy export promotion efforts. Due to HERO FL's success, today, 100 percent of its revenue stems from export sales and from 2010 to 2013, HERO FL's sales grew an astounding 344 percent. This is a true American success story and should serve as inspiration for all small business owners. I am proud that the First Coast can claim Carlton Smith and his prosperous company as its own. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House of Representatives join me in this very special congressional salute to Carlton Smith and everyone at HERO FL.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I want to bring attention to proposed legislation known as the ABLE Act, or Achieving a Better Life Experience. It is something that is important to me and to a lot of Members of the House. I first filed this legislation 7 years ago. Since then, we have come a long way. Today, 377 Members of the House and 74 United States Senators are cosponsors of this legislation. There is no piece of legislation in the Congress today that enjoys more bipartisan, bicameral support than the ABLE Act. Tomorrow, the Ways and Means Committee in the House will take up this legislation, and I hope that they will pass it with a favorable vote. Just what is the ABLE Act? It is a piece of legislation that attempts to help those individuals with disabilities achieve their full potential. How does it do that? Well, it allows individuals with disabilities to set up a tax-free savings account. They take that account, it grows tax free, and they can use the proceeds, as long as they meet qualified expenses. Those individuals face challenges that you and I can sometimes hardly imagine. They might be medical, transportation, education, or housing needs. We already allow other individuals to use tax-exempt savings accounts to help them. If you want to save for retirement, you can set up a tax-free savings account called a 401(k). If you want to set up a tax-free savings account to help you go to college, you can do that through what is called a 529. If you want to help with your health care, you can set up a health savings account. It seems only fair that we level the playing field and allow those individuals the same opportunity. Let me introduce you to someone by the name of Sydney Leach. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida. Today, she is a fifth-grader at Crown Point Elementary School. She has Down syndrome. When she was born, her proud mom and dad, Stacy and Jeff Leach, made a commitment to make sure that she would not only have a happy life, but that she would be able to realize her hopes and her dreams and her full potential. Soon they realized that when you raise a child with Down syndrome, you face challenges that a lot of people can't imagine. Unlike her classmates, she had to have special behavioral counseling. She had to have special medical care. She needed individual counseling. So it was difficult. Her parents then found out that if you have Medicaid, you are limited to $2,000 for the amount of assets that you can have in your name. If her parents or loved ones wanted to give her a gift, they jeopardized the care that she needed. So the ABLE Act seeks to correct those inequities. It says that you can, number one, set up a tax-free savings account and let those proceeds grow. Number two, it won't count against your $2,000 limitation on assets. This is America, home of the American Dream. Individuals with disabilities ought to be able to live the American Dream, just like you and I. They ought to be able to have an education and work on their own, if they can. They ought to be able to save for the future. The ABLE Act allows them to do just that. We live in a great, prosperous country. Sometimes, we are called upon to speak out for the people that can't speak out, to stand up and seek justice for those that can't seek justice on their own. The ABLE Act will have a positive impact on millions of people with disabilities all across this land. That is worth fighting for. I hope soon the ABLE Act will become the law of the land.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel).

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the further consideration of H.R. 5016, and that I may include tabular materials on the same.

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

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers) for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for bringing this initiative to my attention. As he said, the SEC recently announced that issuers and underwriters of municipal securities are required to self-report violations of the Federal securities laws relating to representations and bond offerings. I understand the gentleman's concern that this is a massive undertaking, and to identify all the series of bonds sold and to make sure that all disclosures are made accurately and timely is a huge undertaking. So I look forward to working with you regarding your concerns and to find some solutions. I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment Offered by Mr. Engel

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

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I would like to enter into a colloquy with Mr. Wenstrup from Ohio, and I yield to him.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Well, I thank the gentleman for his kind words. I share his outrage over the Internal Revenue Service giving extra scrutiny to certain 501(c)(4) groups based on their political ideology. This bill includes numerous, but necessary, provisions in response to their numerous inappropriate activities. These activities must not be tolerated, and voting for this bill will go a long way toward making Congress' and the public's displeasure felt. So I thank the gentleman for bringing this forward, and I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment Offered by Mr. Garrett

Mr. CRENSHAW. Well, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I just want to rise in support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I think this amendment points out that you have got to have a thorough review, and if you don't consider the true implications on the U.S. economy and the U.S. taxpayers, then you have got a problem. So it is a good amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I think when you look at the amendment, the gentleman wants to take money away from the Supreme Court and give money to the White House. What he had to say didn't seem to bear any relevance to what the amendment said. It was entertaining talk. I know he is free to offer any amendment he wants to offer. He could come down and do a 1-minute and talk about what he just talked about, and he could do a 5-minute Special Order and talk about what he talked about. I am not sure that the amendment that he offered is serious in the sense of why he is tampering with Supreme Court funding and tampering with White House funding. I just would urge my colleagues to say we enjoyed the chat. I appreciate him bringing that to our attention. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.