Chris Chocola

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, last week, Congress received some troubling economic news. The unemployment rate is now at 6 percent. That news ought to send a clear signal to members of this body that we need a strong economic recovery plan. You see, when the economy grows, somebody is more likely to find work. Therefore, we ought to be asking the questions: How do we encourage economic growth? What can this Congress do to promote job creation here in America? The other day I was speaking with someone who doesn't agree that cutting taxes are a good thing. They expressed to me their concern that if we continue to cut taxes that we will only continue deeper into deficits. They said, ``Aren't you at all concerned about deficits?'' I responded that of course I was concerned and there are three proven steps we can take to control them. I said, ``The way I see it, there are three things we can do to control deficits--we can either raise taxes, control spending, or cut taxes.'' I asked if they were in favor of raising taxes. Of course not, was their immediate response. I then asked, which programs do you want to significantly cut to control spending. They responded they couldn't think of anything that should be cut. I then said, well, you have to be for cutting taxes. It's the only other option for controlling deficits. They sat there silent for a second, thinking about what I had said. They then turned to me and said, you know what--you're right. Mr. Speaker, I believe the best way to achieve growth is for hard working people to keep more of their own money. This bill achieves the result of putting money back into the taxpayer's pocket, which will in turn stimulate economic activity, and create much needed jobs. The Jobs and Growth Tax Act before us today is an important sign that members of both parties in the House of Representatives now recognize that tax relief helps create jobs. This legislation will lower taxes on capital gains, lower taxes on dividends that small businesses could write off, and reduce individual income tax rates. If you're interested in job creation, if you're interested in a pro- growth package, then let's enact meaningful tax relief and pass this bill so more Americans can find work.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Charlotte Taylor, a senior at Elkhart Memorial High School, in Elkhart, Indiana, who has been named a National Winner in the 2003 Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program. This annual contest, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Ladies Auxiliary, is especially significant this year given America's fight for democracy at home and abroad. The theme for this year's contest, ``Freedom's Obligation'' is echoed poignantly in the words of Ms. Taylor. I share with you these words, and applaud Ms. Taylor not only for her success, but her desire to champion the cause of liberty. The tone of America has changed and it is a sound that is comforting us in times of pain. Growing up in America, I am familiar with the grand tradition of the country, but it is in the present I can truly identify what patriotism is. A flame has been lit inside my soul and I understand that with my freedom comes an obligation. An obligation to sacrifice, and to believe. I work in the Hospital on a Geriatric unit. My job is to talk with the patients, most of whom were either veterans, or lost loved ones in one of the wars. I listen to their stories, and watch the pain in their faces as they recount the price they paid for my freedom. One woman's sacrifice stands out in my mind. Her father fought in World War I. He came home a changed man, abusive and suffering from posttraumatic stress syndrome. He terrorized her, until finally she became old enough to leave home. Eventually she got married and her husband served in World War II. While he faired well fighting in the war, she was left alone raising three young children. One of those children would grow up to die in Vietnam; a victim of Agent Orange. The entire time I sat and chatted with this woman, she never expressed resentment toward her country or the men she lost who served it. She understood her obligation of sacrifice as I do. If I refuse this duty, the millions before me who lost their lives will have lost their lives in vain. It also is my obligation to support freedom. Believing in a system that has supported me is the least I can do. I study current events, and problems through out the world. Every time I read about the plight people in non democratic countries face, I realize how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to make something of my life. Because of these opportunities I am obligated to support freedom by becoming a productive member of society. It is my obligation to pay taxes and more importantly to vote. While I am not old enough to vote in this year's election, I convinced both of my parents to register to vote. My solitary voice caused two people to cast ballots this election year. Single voices being heard is what freedom is all about. More than anything I am beginning to understand what patriotism feels like. Last Friday night I played America the Beautiful on the xylophone with our high school marching band during half time. The fans sang along, and never in my life have I felt so united with my country. I drive down the road with an American flag sticker on my car, and I see that hundreds of others have done the same. On the Wednesday after the world trade center attacks I went to the hospital to see if I could help the blood bank. I was turned away because so many volunteers had already come to offer their services. The Senior Auxiliary was touched that so many young people were trying to help and that more importantly we understood the magnitude of what was happening. At a time in our lives when much of what we do is centered around ourselves, Young people do understand our obligation to defend America's Freedom with our time and energy, or even our lives. The tone of America is changing, and it is the pleasant sound of unity. While the country may not be singing the same song, at least we have the freedom to do so. My Peers and I are beginning to understand the sacrifices and support Veterans made to give us the freedom we enjoy today. I Thank veterans for fulfilling their obligation to freedom as I am beginning to fulfill mine.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress from the business world; and I would like to share briefly a real life experience, a real life story on the implications of our Tax Code. The smartest person I ever met in my business career was a man named Gerry Shivers. Gerry Shivers is an accountant. He works for a big accounting firm in New York, and every time our business ever even thought about entering into a transaction of any kind, we would have to call Gerry Shivers up on the phone and ask him, how do we comply with the more than 17,000 pages in our Internal Revenue Code. Every time we called him, it cost us thousands and thousands of dollars. Instead of paying those thousands of dollars to Gerry Shivers, we could have been investing in new equipment, we could have been investing in research and development, we could have been investing in our markets, and we could have been creating jobs. So, Mr. Speaker, it is time that we give Gerry Shivers a new job. It is time that this very intelligent man has a more productive life in our economy. It is time to simplify the Tax Code that no one truly can understand and comprehend, and it is time to put the billions and billions of dollars we spend every year on these costs to building our economy and creating jobs.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Chairman, today of all days, there is no greater priority than protecting Americans, supporting our troops, and supporting our Commander in Chief. In the face of unprecedented threats to our domestic and international security, this wartime budget ensures that we can win the war on terrorism, and at the same time it protects our homeland from future challenges by providing for the new Department of Homeland Security. It also strengthens our economic security. By leaving more money in the hands of the people who earn it, we encourage Americans to invest in their families and communities, to create jobs and grow the economy. Finally, this budget also continues our commitment to our seniors by providing for a prescription drug benefit. Mr. Chairman, this resolution will defend our Nation. It will grow our economy. It will protect our seniors, and it will place our Nation's budget back on the path of balance. I urge this House to pass this budget resolution.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest problems facing our health care system today does not start in the doctor's office or in the operating room; it starts in the courtroom. We have a problem in America. There are too many frivolous lawsuits against good doctors, and patients are paying the price. It costs money to fight a frivolous lawsuit and oftentimes, in order to avoid litigation, doctors and insurance companies settle cases, even though they have not committed a medical error. So it pays to sue. One can file lawsuit after lawsuit and eventually the legal system begins to look like a lottery. With the trial lawyers taking as much as 40 percent, it is clear who is winning. We want our legal system to benefit patients, not trial lawyers. Anyone who has been harmed at the hands of a doctor should have their day in court. They should be able to recover the full cost of their care, and they should be able to recover reasonable noneconomic damages. But we know the insurance companies raise the cost of medical malpractice coverage when faced with the risk of unlimited noneconomic damages. Doctors cannot afford to pay their insurance premiums and end up raising rates or leaving their homes for States with reformed medical litigation systems. That means that the health care is no longer affordable and accessible to many of our citizens. When doctors cannot pay the premiums and stop practicing medicine, everyone loses. Mr. Speaker, this culture of litigation has to end. No one has ever been cured by a frivolous lawsuit. So I support the reasonable limits on noneconomic damages. I believe it is time to pass medical liability reform that benefits patients, not trial lawyers. I urge the House to pass H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act of 2003.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Madam Speaker, President Bush said in his State of the Union address, ``The best and fairest way to make sure that Americans have more money is not to tax it away in the first place.'' Fundamental tax reform will allow all Americans to keep more of their own money instead of sending it to Washington, and abolishing the double tax on dividends is an important first step. Under current tax law, income earned by corporations is taxed twice, both at the corporate level and the individual level. Ending the doubling taxation of dividends would benefit millions of Americans who invest in successful companies, either directly or through retirement accounts like IRAs. Eliminating this extra tax burden will provide $20 billion in tax relief to Americans this year alone, resulting in higher levels of economic output and job creation, again starting this year. Fixing this flaw in the Tax Code is particularly good for seniors. Almost half of all savings from the dividend exemption would go to taxpayers 65 and older. The average savings for the 9.8 million seniors receiving dividends would be $936. Madam Speaker, it is fair to tax companies profits. It is unfair to tax that profit again when it is distributed to individuals. For the good of our economy and the good of all Americans, Congress should move quickly to end the double taxation of dividend income.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Chairman, today, I rise in support of the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2003. Over the last decade, many in this Congress have worked to turn the welfare system around. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 has been an enormous success. All across America, the welfare rolls are down, and many young people have returned to lives of self-reliance and dignity. The 1996 welfare reform law expired at the end of last year. Congress must now act to maintain and expand the success of welfare reform by promoting work, strengthening families, and helping more welfare recipients move toward independence and self-reliance. The bipartisan bill before us today helps welfare recipients follow a responsible path toward independence by increasing minimum work requirements, providing additional opportunities for education and training, and making health benefits available to individuals leaving welfare as they transition to self-sufficiency. This legislation takes important steps to strengthen families and protect children by increasing funding for childcare, so single parents can go to work. It also provides financial incentives for states to return more money collected from past-due child support to mothers and children. And, as soon as the legislation becomes law, it makes available up to $300 million annually for programs that encourage healthy, stable marriages. Finally, this bill frees states to seek out new and innovative approaches to serve those in need. It allows states greater flexibility and encourages projects to improve program effectiveness and to improve service delivery. I am proud to have co-sponsored this bipartisan bill. H.R. 4 maintains and strengthens the 1996b reforms, while providing a sensible plan that promotes work, requires responsibility, strengthens families, and protects children.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support Miguel Estrada to be United States circuit judge for the District of Columbia circuit. Mr. Estrada was nominated nearly 21 months ago. He has argued 15 cases before the United States Supreme Court. He would also be the first Hispanic judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit. Mr. Estrada has served in the Justice Department under Presidents of both political parties as a Federal prosecutor and as the assistant to the Solicitor General. Despite all of that, to date the Senate has not acted on the nomination of Miguel Estrada, along with many other judicial nominations. There is no question that Miguel Estrada is highly qualified to serve on the Federal bench. Mr. Speaker, it is time to give the President what he has asked for and what the American people deserve, a great judge in Miguel Estrada.

Mr. CHOCOLA

Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a great man, our 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, on the occasion of his 92nd birthday. I believe it is indeed appropriate that I make my first speech on the House floor in honor of this great man. If it were not for his principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and strong fiscal discipline, I might not be here today. Mr. Speaker, it is with those principles in mind that I decided to become a candidate for the United States House of Representatives. It is those principles that I will remain loyal to as long as I am a Member of this body. In 1985 President Reagan said, ``We in government should learn to look at our country with the eyes of the entrepreneur, seeing possibilities where others see only problems.'' As a former small business owner, I could not agree more with that sentiment. So, Mr. Speaker, I am glad that we are here today, able to honor President Reagan, because it has given me an opportunity to say ``thank you'' to a great man, and happy birthday, Mr. President.