Mike Coffman

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Iran agreement. In 2009, I was able to visit Israel and was in separate meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, then-President Peres, and the Israeli Chief of Staff of the IDF, or Israeli Defense Forces. I asked the same question: What would it take to stop Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon? And they all gave me the same answer. They said: You have to impose economic sanctions that are tough enough that the Government of Iran fears a collapse of the economy and a resulting loss of power. And that is the only thing short of war that will cause them to give up their quest for a nuclear weapon. The Obama administration, merely to bring them to the negotiating table, threw them a lifeline and relaxed economic sanctions. And then, even before going to the Congress of the United States, they went to the United Nations to unravel economic sanctions on Iran. Michael Oren, Ambassador to the United States from Israel, said that, even though the President has tried to box the Congress in--the United States has a $17 trillion economy, and that by the United States imposing economic sanctions on Iran, that in fact other countries will be forced to follow in order to be able to do business with the United States. This is really the hope and change applied to American national security. The hope and change is that the conduct of Iran will change over time; that the ruling mullahs will in fact somehow become enlightened. And that when they say ``death to America,'' it is more of a cultural expression. In 1983, 241 marines died from an Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerilla in a truck bomb.

Mr. COFFMAN. In 1996, 19 airmen died in the Khobar Towers by an Iranian-backed attack. When they say ``death to Americans,'' they mean death to Americans. In 2005, I was in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps, and we were losing soldiers and marines on the ground due to IEDs, but we up- armored our vehicles and we did better route reconnaissance and security. Iran introduced what was called an EFP--a shape charge, or an explosive force penetrator--that was designed to penetrate the thickest hulls of our vehicles and killed hundreds of soldiers and marines on the ground. When the Iranians say ``death to Americans,'' they mean it. This deal will threaten the stability of the region, the security of the United States and of Israel, and I would urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,143,313,299.53. We've added $7,524,266,264,386.45 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,154,955,297.86. We've added $7,524,277,906,384.78 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,851,139,012.51. We've added $7,524,974,090,099.43 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act. You don't have to look any further than my hometown of Aurora, Colorado, to see that the VA is in desperate need of fundamental reforms. What happens when the VA bursts its budget on a single construction project by over $1 billion? Nobody gets fired. Nobody gets disciplined. Nobody is at fault. Of course, that is not technically true. The VA was willing to fire one person involved, a whistleblower attempting to warn VA leaders early on of the growing problems with the project. To make matters worse, the VA didn't just fail to discipline the people in charge of the Aurora project, but they awarded the VA's construction chief over $600,000 in bonuses and let him retire with a full pension. There is a culture of bureaucratic incompetence and corruption within the VA which is hurting our Nation's veterans and wasting billions of taxpayer dollars. The VA Accountability Act is an important step in the right direction, and I urge its full support.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,893,254,765.19. We've added $7,525,016,205,852.11 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Asya Gonzalez of Centennial, Colorado. Asya is the winner of the 2015 Dan Danner Leadership Award at the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) Young Entrepreneur Awards held July 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. Asya is an exceptional young woman who started her own business, Stinky Feet Gurlz, at the age of fourteen. Stinky Feet Gurlz is a 1940's inspired apparel and accessories collection aimed at teen-aged girls and young women. She donates a portion of every sale to her charity ``She is Worth It,'' which brings preventative awareness and education of child sex trafficking. Aside from running a successful business and charity, Asya is a radio personality and preferred speaker for International Youth. As the recipient of the 2015 Dan Danner Leadership Award, Asya received a $15,000 Young Entrepreneur Foundation college scholarship, which she will be able to use as she enters her first year of college this fall. Asya's entrepreneurial spirit and passion is truly inspiring to see at such a young age. I take great pride representing Asya Gonzalez in Colorado's Sixth Congressional District and I join her family, friends, and colleagues in congratulating her on this achievement. I wish her the very best of luck in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in recognition of the late Major General Andrew Cooley; a dear friend and tremendous patriot who dedicated a life of service to this great nation. A true leader and a combat veteran, he faithfully served 38 years leading from the front and accomplishing much along the way. His career was marked by several tours at home and abroad, including the command of an Army Division, and was witness to combat in Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Angola. In 1951 General Cooley enlisted in the army at the age of 17, and went on to receive his commission from Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning in 1955. Over the course of his career he served in various staff and command positions including the principal representative of the Department of Defense to the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations and Commanding General of the 24th Infantry Division. Upon retirement from the Army, General Cooley was instrumental in instituting a forward focused logistical infrastructure that remains instrumental to our nation's defense. Without a doubt General Cooley's many accomplishments should be honored. However, his accomplishments could only be realized with the support and commitment of his wife of 57 years, Joan and their two children, Cathleen and Caroline. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today humbled by the many accomplishments of a true patriot and it is my great honor to recognize Major General Andrew Cooley for his friendship and his service to our great nation.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in recognition of the late Major General Andrew Cooley, a dear friend and a tremendous patriot who dedicated his life to serving our great Nation. A true leader and a combat veteran, he faithfully served for 38 years, leading from the front and accomplishing much along the way. His career was marked by several tours of duty at home and abroad, including the command of an Army division, and he participated in combat operations in Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Angola. In 1951, General Cooley enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17, and he went on to receive his commission after having successfully completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1955, as a second lieutenant. Over the course of his career, he served in various staff and command positions, including as the principal representative of the Department of Defense to the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations and as commanding general of the 24th Infantry Division. Upon retirement from the Army, General Cooley was instrumental in instituting a forward-focused, logistical infrastructure that remains instrumental to our Nation's defense. Without a doubt, General Cooley's many accomplishments deserve to be honored. However, his accomplishments could only be realized with the support and commitment of his wife of 57 years, Joan, and their two children, Cathleen and Caroline. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today humbled by the many accomplishments of a true patriot. It is my great honor to recognize the late Major General Andrew Cooley for his friendship and his service to our great Nation.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,903,780,340.35. We've added $7,525,026,731,427.27 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,821,652,004.79. We've added $7,524,944,603,091.71 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,831,938,889.04. We've added $7,524,954,889,975.96 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,862,792,175.02. We've added $7,524,985,743,261.94 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,879,901,274.20. We've added $7,525,002,852,361.12 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,890,180,391.62. We've added $7,525,013,131,478.54 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,921,010,337.51. We've added $7,525,044,062,425.42 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,931,284,495.35. We've added $7,525,054,235,582.27 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Libby Ary, Ben Heiserman, Justine Sanders, Laurel Teal and Fiona Wicht for their hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Sixth District as interns in my Washington, DC office for the summer of the 114th Congress, First Session. The work of these young men and women has been exemplary and I know they all have bright futures. They served as tour guides, interacted with constituents, and learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity to these five and look forward to seeing them build their careers in public service. All five of our interns have made plans to continue their education in Colorado and throughout the United States. I am certain they will succeed in their new roles and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Libby Ary, Ben Heiserman, Justine Sanders, Laurel Teal and Fiona Wicht for their service this summer.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,929,875,352.39. We've added $7,525,052,826,439.31 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,950,433,860.76. We've added $7,525,073,384,947.68 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,151,981,262,337.43. We've added $7,525,104,213,424.35 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,152,648,277,344.06. We've added $7,525,771,228,430.98 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $18,152,658,501,837.30. We've added $7,525,781,452,924.22 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Arapahoe/ Douglas Works! (ADW). ADW was selected as the NAWB 2015 WIB Excellence Award Winner and was recognized during the 2015 NAWB Forum in Washington, D.C. The WIB Excellence Award honors workforce investment boards that have demonstrated an ongoing ability to develop comprehensive workforce solutions and innovations for its community by creating proactive program initiatives, engaging businesses, diversifying funding, and ensuring accountability. Not only did ADW fulfill and exceed its Workforce Investment Act responsibilities, but it has continuously demonstrated its dedication and leadership in promoting workforce development strategies. By developing partnerships and initiatives that serve the entire community, ADW has proven to be a critical resource to southeastern Colorado. I am proud to hold my annual Relevant Job Skills Seminar in conjunction with ADW to better prepare those looking for jobs. Mr. Speaker, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is a testament to how public service can help build a community and I am honored to represent them in Congress.