Chris Collins

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of New York's 27th Congressional District, Mr. James Spedding. Mr. Spedding honorably served his country, his family, and his community until his recent passing on January 22, 2016. Jim was born in Lockport, NY on April 2, 1929, to parents John Carl and Blanch. After graduating from Lockport High School in 1947, Jim was eager to serve his country; and, in 1948 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Jim proudly served his country until 1969, when he retired from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. During his service, Jim traveled to Texas, Mississippi, Korea, New York and California--but Jim's travels did not hold him back from pursuing higher education. During his 21 years of service, Jim earned degrees from Foothill College and the University of Nebraska, and graduate degrees from Chapman University and the University of Southern California. After returning home to his friends, family, and his beautiful wife, Helen, Jim worked for Harrison Radiator Division, GMC until officially retiring in 1989. After spending 41 years serving his country and his family, Jim spent the next 26 years serving his community. Working closely with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, the AARP Income Tax Program, the NYS Office for the Aging, the Dale Association, and the Sisters Hospital, Jim demonstrated how important it is for members of our community to live their life committed to helping those in need. As I reflect on the impact Jim Spedding had on those around him, I am proud to say he was able to leave his three wonderful children, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and all of his nieces and nephews with a proud example of how to live.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the admirable and steadfast service of Bonita ``Bonnie'' Shepherd. Bonnie is preparing to retire at the end of this year following 48 years of public service to the U.S. House of Representatives. Bonnie started working in the House on June 18th, 1967. In the 48 years since, she has been an invaluable member of the Capitol Hill community. She began her lifelong commitment to public service working in the Rayburn Cafeteria, where she served thousands of tourists, Members, and staff. She continued her service, working the past 27 years for the Architect of the Capitol, where she helps transport Members to votes as an elevator operator. When she isn't helping get Members to votes on time, she is honoring our greatest American heroes and loved ones through her work in the House flag office. I have only had the opportunity to know Bonnie for the last three years, but her commitment to service and gracious attitude have left an indelible impression on me and thousands of others who have gotten to meet her. I want to wish her the best as she begins her retirement, and thank her for her public service to our nation.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Export-Import Bank, which supports hundreds of thousands of American jobs, returns a profit to the United States Treasury, and ensures U.S. exporters can compete on a level playing field in the global market. I came to Washington as a small-business owner, dedicated to expanding job opportunities for western New Yorkers. Unfortunately, due to misinformation and misguided outside interests, Bank opponents have shut down a government program that directly aids American jobs. The Export-Import Bank supports thousands of jobs in western New York and numerous small businesses in the 27th Congressional District. These companies provide real jobs in western New York, good-paying jobs that will be lost if the Ex-Im Bank is not reauthorized soon. The fact is exports drive job growth in the United States. When a company sells abroad, their employees, suppliers, and communities grow at home. Reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank is vital for manufacturers of all sizes to grow and prosper in a competitive world economy. That is why I fully support reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Francis Bellamy, one of the most influential individuals from Mount Morris, New York. Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of Allegiance. Today marks the 123rd anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in a magazine called ``The Youth Companion'' on September 8, 1892. The Pledge was initially written as part of a campaign to put American flags in every school in the country. In its original form, it read: ``I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'' In 1923, the words, ``the Flag of the United States of America'' were added. In 1954, Congress added the words ``under God,'' creating the 31-word pledge we say every day. Bellamy's words are recited millions of times every day and are ingrained in our society as an expression of national pride and patriotism.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished accomplishment of a constituent in my district, Joseph Hamilton, on the occasion of his 2015 NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award. Mr. Hamilton from Lancaster, New York started ``Charlie and Checkers'' to provide live, unique entertainment for people of all ages. Joseph created the business alongside his brother and they now perform a blend of comedy, magic, juggling, and music. The brothers have also performed for the homeless, disabled, and elderly as a way to give back to their community. As a 2015 NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award winner, Mr. Hamilton has earned a financial scholarship and will be attending Canisius College next year. I want to wish him nothing but the best for his future entrepreneurial and educational endeavors.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. As today's global food chain expands, consumers deserve to know what is in their food. H.R. 1599 eliminates confusion and saves taxpayers from shouldering the costs associated with a patchwork of State labeling laws. Additionally, H.R. 1599 ensures that our food supply is safe by clearly establishing the FDA as the preeminent authority to make science-based decisions concerning food safety. Currently, a patchwork of GMO labeling has emerged across our country, with some States having completely different food labeling requirements than others. This hodgepodge of regulation increases the cost of food for families and negatively impacts food producers. By increasing transparency, reducing the cost of regulations, and improving food safety, H.R. 1599 will bring our Nation's food labeling into the 21st century.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Washington for his work organizing this Special Order and certainly thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fincher) for his steadfast work to ensure the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, and his impassioned speech that he just delivered pretty much sums it up. I rise today in support of the Export-Import Bank, which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and returns a profit to the U.S. Treasury and ensures that U.S. exporters can compete on a level playing field in the global market. My chart here says it all. The Ex-Im Bank equals jobs. Not too long ago, I said I was befuddled by why the majority of my own Conference seemed focused on ending the charter for the Export- Import Bank--and I got to give them the credit for this--they did that. Well, we are here to say that we can reauthorize this Bank, get back to supporting small business, and growing jobs because that is what this is all about. There has been misinformation and, I would say, misguided outside influences that have come into play, as Mr. Fincher pointed out. This has always been voice voted, and all of a sudden, this became the cause, as he said, that someone wanted to die on the Hill for. But why do we want to kill jobs in the United States, jobs that contribute to a surplus of exports? We have a trade imbalance. These jobs are creating exports that are being shipped overseas to reduce that trade imbalance. In my district alone, the Ex-Im Bank supports over 700 jobs and $100 million in exports. Reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank is vital for manufacturers of all sizes to grow and to prosper in a competitive world economy. U.S. exporters look to the Ex-Im Bank when they face direct competition from foreign export credit agencies when regulatory constraints hinder commercial lending, when they are selling in the markets with political risks or economic uncertainty, or when a foreign customer requires official export credit as part of the bidding process. Unlike most, I know from experience. Before coming to Congress, I started and ran a number of small businesses. One of those small businesses that I founded in 2004 was Audubon Machinery Corporation, located in North Tonawanda, New York. Today Audubon is a diversified manufacturing company that, amongst other things, exports oxygen-generating systems around the world. These are medical-grade oxygen systems used in hospitals in Nigeria, Vietnam, Mainland China, places where the hospitals don't have the liquid oxygen tank outside like they do in the U.S. and Europe. We simply take the nitrogen out of the air we breathe. The air we breathe is 22 percent oxygen and 78 percent nitrogen. We take that nitrogen out of the air, producing 93 percent medical- grade oxygen used in these hospitals throughout the developing countries in Africa, South America, Asia, and, like I said, there are major exports into Mainland China. The Export-Import Bank plays a critical role in what we do. We pay a fee to the Export-Import Bank to provide a guarantee to our commercial bank that guarantees a portion of the line of credit we use to buy the inventory we need to make the product. I will say it again: In a small business, cash is king. We have to buy materials, and we have to pay our vendors. But we probably are not going to ship that product for 5 or 6 months, so there is a gap there. We collect our money after we ship, but we have 4 or 5 months in which we have had to borrow money to buy the inventory to make the product. That is how business works. The commercial banks in the United States are more than willing to loan that money for business done in the United States and perhaps in Europe, but in the rest of the world--Africa, Asia, and much of South America--the banks will not take that risk. So, with the Export-Import Bank, we pay a fee and they loan us the money. That is a surplus for the Ex-Im Bank because we are going to ultimately, certainly, never default on that loan. That is how those jobs are created. Without the Export-Import Bank, the commercial banks are saying: I am not going to lend you for the inventory you need to ship those hospital systems to Mainland China.

Mr. COLLINS of New York. It just comes down to the banks today being very risk averse. I know what they are thinking. Here are their thoughts: We have taken an order from Vietnam to produce a hospital system that costs $250,000. We have to buy the inventory. We get the inventory. I think what the bank is worried about is that somehow that order is canceled. When that order is canceled, its fear would be: We are not going to have any recourse to collect cancellation charges, and we are going to have this useless inventory in our factory. First of all, in our case, that is not true. We send the same systems around the world. In fact, in our case, we would be able to use that inventory on a future order. But you can see where the banks would just have a credit policy that they are not going to lend for foreign inventories without some kind of backup. Now, the backup is the Export-Import Bank at about an 80 percent guarantee. When I have said I am somewhat befuddled by what we are doing here, I have asked my fellow colleagues directly if they support the Small Business Administration, the SBA, which makes the very same loan guarantees to the very same banks. The small businesses pay a fee for those Small Business Administration loan guarantees for start-up companies. How can you support the SBA, on the one hand, which is helping small businesses, and not support the Ex-Im Bank, on the other hand, which is supporting small businesses? I will make another point. The default rate on SBA loans is many multiples of that on the Ex-Im loans. Why? Start-up companies fail at a pretty regular pace. I can't give you the exact percentage, but we all know that start-up companies fail. That is why the SBA makes an 80 percent guarantee for those loans. It is so the bank will lend them money. Their risk is very small, but you have a lot of failures. Companies that are producing products and exporting around the world have been in business for 5 or 10 years. You don't open your doors and immediately start making products and shipping them into Mainland China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. No. You are going to wait until you are mature enough to enter those markets, which is why the default rate is so low. These are small businesses that have been around for 5 or 10 years. In being around that long, they just need the credit to support the inventory for the 4 or 5 months that they are in production. That is why the default rate is so low. When I have asked fellow Members, ``How can you support the SBA and not the Ex-Im Bank?'' I don't get a good answer. Now, typically, the answer I get is that they will call it the ``bank of Boeing'' or the ``bank of General Electric'' because, in competing against Airbus, which has access to European credit, I would say, ``Sure. That is another piece of it besides small business, but GE and Boeing buy from a lot of small businesses as well. You are absolutely inconsistent to say you support the SBA, and you can't support the Ex- Im Bank.'' I know that the moneys my companies have paid for this insurance, if you will, has created that surplus that the Ex-Im Bank returns year in and year out. I would like to stay around to continue the discussion, but I think it comes back to Ex-Im equals jobs. Ex-Im is creating jobs that manufacture and ship products overseas, reducing our trade deficit and creating a surplus for the U.S. Treasury to reduce our financial deficit. This should be voice voted like it has been forever. It hasn't been. So now we have got to lead this charge, and that is what we are doing here.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1023, the Small Business Investment Company Capital Act of 2015. Small businesses serve as America's economic engine, driving essential job creation. In my Western New York district, small businesses provide the good-paying jobs that people need to support their families. However, we need to do more to encourage small business growth. This legislation aids the SBIC program, which utilizes private investment funds to provide long-term loans and capital to small businesses in need. Without this vital program, many of the small businesses in our country would not be able to succeed. Since inception, the SBIC program has invested $73 billion in more than 118,000 U.S. small businesses. In western New York, this program has supported companies like Gemcor in West Seneca and Synacor in Buffalo and is critical to the jobs they provide. This crucial investment is why I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1023.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act. This legislation will modernize and advance our healthcare system to help the millions of Americans battling rare diseases. It increases funding for NIH grants used by scientists at world class universities like those in my district in Buffalo and Rochester, New York. H.R. 6 streamlines the drug approval process at the FDA, helping get new drugs to market faster. Patients are demanding a fresh approach to drug approval and biomedical research. This legislation provides America's medical innovators the guidance they need to lead a new age of medical innovations. I want to thank Chairman Upton and my colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Commerce for their dedication to this cause. I am proud of the work we have accomplished, and I am confident that this legislation accomplishes our goal of incentivizing innovation and defeating disease.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Warren Payne Sr., a World War II veteran whose service to our country and love for his family embody the values of the Greatest Generation. Mr. Payne was born in Niagara Falls in 1921 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in August of 1942. He served in the European Theater of Operations with the 452nd Bomb Group, participating in the air campaign to fight for our nation's freedom. In July 1944, his bomber crashed while on a mission over Germany, and he and his crew became prisoners of war. Following a long, forced march in the snow, he and his fellow servicemen were finally freed in April 1945. After he returned home from the war, Mr. Payne decided to join the family business, Payne's Hardware and Floor Covering. He ran this business in Niagara Falls for 50 years until his retirement in 1997. He is remembered by his family and friends for his kindness and generosity and was an active volunteer at St. Mary of the Cataract Church in Niagara Falls. Warren passed away on July 7, 2007, survived by Grace, his wife of 61 years, 11 children--Warren Jr., William, John, James, Michael, Suzanne, Michele, Tricia, Christine, Laurie, and Caroline--31 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. I am proud to honor a veteran, small businessman, and hero from New York's 27th district.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize four individuals from the Finger Lake Region on the eve of the one year anniversary of their heroic actions. On February 11, 2014, an employee at American Rock Salt, located in New York's 27th district, collapsed after suffering severe chest pain. Through the swift actions of four men; Colin Keller, Gary Morrison, Michael Smith, and John Ayer, that individual is still alive and well. The group utilized an artificial external defibrillator and CPR skills learned through the Red Cross's Safety training to successfully resuscitate their colleague. For their life-saving actions, Colin, Gary and Michael will be presented with Certificates of Merit signed by President Obama and John will receive a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action. The Certificate of Merit is the highest award given by the American Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Health and Safety Services course. The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is awarded to individuals who save or sustain a life by action that exemplifies the mission of Preparedness and Health and Safety Services. I want to thank Colin, Gary, Michael, and John for their life saving efforts and congratulate them on earning these prestigious honors.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Jeremy M. Jacobs, an outstanding businessman and philanthropist from East Aurora, New York. Mr. Jacobs will step aside as CEO of Delaware North, a global food service and hospitality company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, where he has worked since 1968. Mr. Jacobs took over what was then called Sportservice, at the age of 28, after the death of his father who helped start the company in 1915. During his time as CEO, Mr. Jacobs transformed the company from selling popcorn at local movie theaters into a business with over $3 billion in annual revenue. Delaware North currently ranks number 169th on the Forbes list of largest privately held companies in the United States. Mr. Jacobs is also recognized by Forbes for his philanthropic endeavors working with the United Way, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and is an active member of the Jeremiah Milbank Society. In 2008, he generously donated $10 million to the University at Buffalo associated with the Gates Vascular Institute to support research on the causes, treatment, and prevention of heart and vascular diseases. Mr. Jacobs' contributions to Western New York have had an everlasting impact on the region and I look forward to seeing what endeavors Mr. Jacobs undertakes next.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, as the Chairman of the Congressional Scouting Caucus, I rise today to honor Bernard Queneau, the oldest Eagle Scout in America, who passed away earlier this week. Born in Liege, Belgium in 1912, Bernard moved with his family to America and joined Boy Scout Troop 3B in New Rochelle, New York. He received his Eagle Scout award on March 5, 1928 and was subsequently selected as one of four scouts selected to travel the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco on a 34-day Lincoln Highway Safety Tour. During this journey, Bernard and his fellow scouts gave scouting skills demonstrations and set the stage for 3,400 concrete Lincoln Highway markers to be erected by scouts from coast to coast, cementing the memory of President Lincoln onto this national roadway. At 102 years old, Bernard was the last living member of the 1928 Boy Scout Lincoln Highway Safety Tour. Bernard recently received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, the National Eagle Scout Association's highest honor. He was the 2098th recipient of the 45 year old award, which honors Eagle Scouts with at least 25 years of service and exceptional career achievement or recognition. Bernard was a lifelong scout and true believer in the values of preparedness and doing your best. He lived his life by the scout oath and law and I am honored to recognize such an exemplary man today. I know Bernard's memory will live on through this family and friends, as well as the myriad of scouts of all ages his life touched.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding. Mr. Chairman, expanding the scope of ``waters of the United States'' is a dangerous expansion of authority strongly opposed by the farmers in my western New York district. In May, I led a bipartisan letter with Mr. Schrader of Oregon, supported by a majority of this House, asking the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw this overreaching rule. EPA officials have testified that they realize this rule, as drafted, is confusing and needs modification, but they have refused to withdraw the rule and start over. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5078, the bipartisan legislation that will address this problem.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Francis Bellamy, one of the most influential individuals from Mount Morris, New York. Unknown by most Americans, Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of Allegiance. Today marks the 122nd anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in a magazine called The Youth Companion on September 8, 1892. The Pledge was initially written as part of a campaign to put American flags in every school in the country. In its original form it read: I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In 1923, the words, ``the flag of the United States of America'' were added. In 1954, Congress added the words ``under God,'' creating the 31-word pledge that we say today. Bellamy's words are recited millions of times every day and are ingrained in our society as an expression of national pride and patriotism.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for the opportunity to speak in support of the STEM Education Act, legislation that I have cosponsored to help create a new generation of innovators. As a graduate in mechanical engineering, I quickly learned years ago of the important role a STEM background plays in U.S. manufacturing. Later, as I started my own business ventures, I have continued to learn how hard it can be to find new graduates with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, or math. These are jobs that drive our economy, and we need to act now to encourage students to realize the benefits in choosing one of these fields. Among these STEM fields is commuter science, which is the primary driver for job growth among the four STEM fields of study. By 2020, there will be an estimated 4.2 million computing and information technology jobs; yet, at the current rate of students graduating from American universities and colleges, these jobs will be vastly underfilled. We cannot let that happen. That is why we need this no-cost legislation to direct Federal agencies to include computer science as one of the definitions of STEM. This will allow the Federal Government to expand on this focus and help address the future gap in computer science. Further, this bill will help teachers find ways to spur student interest in STEM. With more than 40 years separating us from the last Moon landing, we need to find a spark that spurs interest in STEM among young students. Whether it is a robotics competition or a simple after- school science experiment, these are the ways we will help create the next generation of great American innovators and inventors. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 5031.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Roybal-Allard, for her leadership on this important issue. I come to the House floor tonight to speak in support of H.R. 1281, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act, which I am proud to cosponsor. For the last 50 years, newborn screening services have played an important role for families across the country. Screening for developmental disabilities or diseases at birth can identify treatable diseases early and give a child the opportunity to live a healthy life. I also want to take a moment to thank a leading advocate for newborn screening, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly, who is from New York's 27th District. In 1997, Jim and his wife, Jill, founded Hunter's Hope Foundation shortly after their son Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe disease. Krabbe disease is fatal when left untreated and, tragically, cut Hunter's life short. With universal newborn screening, the story of Hunter Kelly and countless others with developmental diseases could have been different. I urge the House to reauthorize this vital program today.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3472, a bill to rename the U.S. post office in Alden, New York, as the Sergeant Brett E. Gornewicz Memorial Post Office. It is an honor to sponsor legislation naming a post office in my district after a hometown hero who gave his life serving our country. I also want to take a moment and thank Senator Gillibrand and her staff for their work introducing S. 2056, corresponding Senate legislation to rename the post office. Naming a postal facility honoring Sergeant Gornewicz is just a small token of our country's appreciation for a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom. In 2006, after being deeply affected by the attacks of 9/11, Sergeant Gornewicz enlisted in the Army Reserves following graduation from Alden High School. From 2007 to 2008, he deployed to Iraq on his first tour and courageously served our country. Upon his return home to the United States, Sergeant Gornewicz enrolled at Buffalo State College and obtained his degree in mechanical engineering. He was working as a computer-aided designer and mechanical designer for a Tonawanda, New York, company when he again answered the call of duty, returning to Afghanistan for his second tour. Sergeant Gornewicz is described by many friends and family as a humble leader who always put the needs of others before his own. During his deployment, he displayed this selflessness when he risked his own life to save a fellow soldier during a firefight. He was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor for his actions. Tragically, during Sergeant Gornewicz's second tour in 2012, his unit was hit by an IED in Afghanistan. The lives of Specialist Ryan Jayne of Corning, New York; Staff Sergeant Dain T. Venne of Port Henry, New York; and Sergeant Gornewicz were lost. At the time of the attack, Sergeant Gornewicz was assigned to the 444th Engineer Company. The company's primary mission was to clear roads of improvised explosive devices. Sergeant Gornewicz was proud of the small town he came from: Alden, New York. It is my hope that this post office will allow the people of Alden, and those throughout the 27th District, to continue to honor the memory of Sergeant Gornewicz and ensure that his legacy of service and sacrifice lives on. Renaming a post office is but a small step in recognizing this soldier's bravery and ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. Passage of this bill will exemplify our admiration for our country's Armed Forces, and will honor one of the many heroes who have sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3472.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his leadership on this important issue. Madam Speaker, I come to the House floor tonight to speak in support of the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act, which I am proud to cosponsor. You would think Congress wouldn't have to act to demand accountability from the VA on behalf of our veterans, but, sadly, as everyone knows, that is not the case with the current VA. The VA is supposed to provide service and benefits that all of our veterans have earned by protecting our freedom. Instead, what we have in too many cases is a bunch of bureaucrats in both Washington and in the local facilities who seem content to collect a paycheck and not serve the public. Enough is enough. The least we should expect is, when the inspector general issues a corrective action report about a public health or a patient safety problem, the VA employees would be held accountable for fixing it. At the VA hospital in Buffalo, New York, which is right outside my district, the improper use of insulin pens resulted in some 700 veterans being potentially exposed to HIV and hepatitis. In this case, the IG issued a corrective action report. The public has every right to expect the VA to be held accountable for implementing a fix to make sure something like that never happens again. Without this legislation, we can't make that promise, and that is an insult to our veterans and to all Federal taxpayers. This legislation also makes it easier to get rid of the bad apples at the VA so that issues with problem employees don't fester and overshadow the care being delivered by hardworking VA nurses and doctors. Again, I want to thank Congressman Benishek for his work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to pass the bill.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to speak about an outstanding organization headquartered in Buffalo, New York: Bunkers in Baghdad. The organization was started by Joe Hanna in 2008 after learning that golf had become a favorite form of stress relief for soldiers serving in combat zones overseas. The purpose of Bunkers in Baghdad is simple-- they collect new and used golf balls and golf clubs and then ship them overseas to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The program also includes injured veterans who are currently recovering in Wounded Warriors programs and other military installations and VA hospitals across the United States. The first official shipment of golf balls went out in November 2008 to reach Iraq in time for the holidays. The inaugural shipment was made even more special by the fact that it was coordinated and packaged by students from the Williamsville Central School District. In addition to raising money to ship each box directly through the United States Postal Service, the students packed each box with balls, holiday cards, and letters they wrote to the soldiers. I would like to recognize and congratulate the organization on their accomplishments. In just 5 short years, Bunkers in Baghdad has collected and shipped 5 million golf balls and 150,000 golf clubs to our military service men and women and wounded warriors in all 50 states and 30 countries around the world. This initiative, focused on those who have given so much, is an example to us all as we continue to honor those who serve.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I come to the House floor today to express my support for the Save American Workers Act. This legislation will repeal ObamaCare's definition of full-time employment as 30 hours a week. Every American knows that full time is 40 hours a week, so it is time to reverse this ill-advised provision of ObamaCare. Redefining full time as 40 hours a week will have a big impact. Constituents like Colden Repka of Attica, New York, and Richard Markel of Clarence, New York, have shared with me their stories of lost wages and lost hours due to this provision of ObamaCare. Testimony at the Small Business hearing I chaired on this matter was clear--the 30-hour definition of full time must be revised. ObamaCare is turning our Nation into a part-time economy. It discourages economic growth and results in the erosion of our Nation's middle class. The Save American Workers Act will do just what the title says. It will put hardworking Americans back where they want to be-- working and supporting their families.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, on February 12, 2014, we honor the fifth anniversary of the crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center, New York, and remember the 50 men and women and the one unborn child who died that tragic night. As Erie County executive, I was on the scene following the crash, and witnessing the grief of the victims' families will remain with me forever. Flight 3407 families had their loved ones ripped away in such a horrible and preventable accident, but with grace and courage, these families turned their loss into a crusade to make the skies safer for all of our families. Against very steep obstacles, Flight 3407 families prevailed and forced Congress to pass legislation requiring airlines to put well-trained pilots in every cockpit. On the fifth anniversary, we remember those who died that night and extend our gratitude to their families for fighting to make sure their loved ones did not die in vain.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. I would like to thank my friend from Pennsylvania for taking up this important and timely issue. Mr. Speaker, ObamaCare has proven to be the devastating law that many of us predicted. The recent debacle of the online exchange roll-out and the negative impact the law has had on our economy seem to be only the beginning of the problems we face. Every few weeks, we hear about more unintended consequences of the law, which are hurting the very people the President and the Democrats in Congress promised to protect. The IRS considers volunteer emergency responders, including firefighters, employees for tax purposes. Under this employee designation, large volunteer fire departments will be subject to the ObamaCare employer mandate. This will force them to provide health insurance to their volunteers or to pay a significant penalty. These unnecessary costs will cripple the strong volunteer fire community that protects western New York and the rest of the country. In November of last year, I wrote a letter to the Acting Commissioner of the IRS, seeking a specific exemption for volunteer responders, but my office has yet to receive a reply. Since the administration has not corrected this disservice to America's volunteer EMTs and firefighters, we must act legislatively. I urge the House to take up H.R. 3685 and address this issue as soon as possible. We must protect our volunteer emergency service responders so they can continue to protect us.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to speak today. I want to speak out about the importance of the EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study Improvement Act, legislation that makes up title II of the act. The EPA is currently conducting a multiyear study on the relationship between hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and groundwater. This legislation will greatly improve the value of the EPA study by increasing transparency and requiring it to include an objective risk assessment. Hydraulic fracturing has been studied over and over again. My home State of New York is a prime example of how studies can stall job creation. In New York, a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing was enacted in 2008. Now, 5 years later, that moratorium is still in place because the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is conducting a study on the environmental impact of fracking. Yet, no details of this study have been revealed, and a date of completion has yet to be announced. Now the EPA is trying to do a similar study, which will only further delay a practice that many States currently allow and are benefiting from. Fracking represents one of the greatest opportunities for strengthening our Nation's energy security and spurring economic growth. If New York would allow fracking, 520 shale gas wells could sustain 62,000 new and needed jobs. This legislation will increase transparency and accuracy in how the EPA reports on the study of hydraulic fracturing and will get rid of the need for duplicative studies, like the one being done in New York. Additionally, the risk assessment requirement will turn the study into a useful tool for both scientists and decisionmakers. By providing decisionmakers with the data and information they need in order to become comfortable with fracking, we can help create jobs and further our Nation's energy independence.