Charles Dent

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I will try to keep it brief. I do have concerns about the amendment. There is an agreement on both sides of the aisle that the FLSA is the cornerstone of workers' wage and hour protections, but in many ways, the regulations implementing the law are flawed and outdated. A report by the GAO found that litigation stemming from the FLSA claims continue to be a significant problem. These aren't all bad actors. Often, they are employers trying to do the right thing, but are simply tripped up by an overly complex regulatory structure. I would urge opposition, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. I want to let the gentleman know I support the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. I support the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. I do not think any of us wants to allow the VA funds to be used in any way that would falsify records on the claims backlog. I have no objection to the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentleman for raising this important issue. I certainly share his concern about the service our veterans are receiving from VA employees. However, I do have some concerns with the breadth of this amendment. It seems, again, a little bit overly broad. If the gentleman would withdraw his amendment, I will continue to work with him to ensure greater accountability for poor-performing employees. Again, I thank the gentleman for highlighting this important issue, but I just think the amendment is a little overly broad. The breadth is a bit more than I think is necessary at this moment, but we might be able to work this out. Would the gentleman consider withdrawing the amendment?

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I rise reluctantly in opposition to the amendment. I feel the gentleman's amendment is a bit too broad. It is overly broad, in my view. I understand the gentleman's frustration with the VA's delay in getting the Little Rock solar panel project up and running. I certainly support the inspector general investigation into the problems. I am concerned that blocking all renewable energy projects, currently budgeted at $86 million for fiscal year 2016, would have the unintended impact of blocking some worthwhile projects that would save money, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. I would respectfully suggest maybe the gentleman would consider withdrawing the amendment, and we will try to work with him to get this amendment in a better form, one that we might be able to support. I just want to put that out there for his consideration at this time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. I will do that.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, though I am not necessarily opposed.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. I do not oppose this amendment. I am prepared to accept it.

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

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman I yield to my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for a colloquy.

Mr. DENT. Thank you, Congressman Payne, for your shared interest in this very important topic. Mr. Chairman, I commend my colleague for his steadfast support of colorectal cancer awareness research, prevention, and treatment efforts. As the second leading cause of death in men and women in the United States, we have both seen the personal toll that colorectal cancer can have on family members and loved ones. Congressman Payne obviously lost his father; I lost my brother-in-law. It was very painful for all of us. We lost them all too soon. It has been a privilege to work together with you on an issue that has raised awareness and increased preventive screenings. This is an issue that affects far too many of our veterans and, as you mentioned, this bill takes steps to support the VA's prevention and treatment efforts. The report's language should not be misconstrued as only focusing on blood tests, and I certainly encourage the VA to expedite its review of alternative colorectal cancer screening tests, including DNA stool- based noninvasive tests. We certainly want to encourage the VA in that regard. I look forward to continuing to work with on you these important matters. Again, I want to really commend Congressman Payne for his determination and steadfast interest in advancing therapies and treatments for colorectal cancer. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today and congratulate my constituents residing in the Borough of Kutztown on the occasion of their Bicentennial. Kutztown, located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated as a borough on April 7, 1815. Kutztown is the second oldest municipality in Berks County, after only the City of Reading. Kutztown's roots can be traced to the purchase of 130 acres of land made by Mr. George Kutz on June 16, 1755. In 1779 Mr. Kutz laid out plans to turn his acreage into a town and began selling lots. Like many communities founded during the 18th and 19th centuries, Kutztown was ideally situated along a key road, in this case, the Easton Road. The area served as a convenient lodging place for those making the then two-day trip between Allentown and Reading. Settled largely by people from the Palatinate region of Germany, an area bordering the Rhine River, Kutztown enjoyed growth and prosperity. The Borough's vibrant Germanic heritage remains an important part of the community and is on full display during the Kutztown Folk Festival. Over the years the Borough fostered numerous industries. The Borough gave rise to the Kutztown Iron Company, a brickyard, bottling companies, and even competing cigar companies. In 1866 the Borough saw the founding of the Keystone Normal School, the forerunner of Kutztown University. Today the University has an enrollment of nearly 9,500 students. Situated in the East Penn Valley, nestled between the Blue and South Mountains, the Borough of Kutztown and its people continue to thrive. Kutztown is an outstanding American town. Kutztown remains a great place to work, raise a family, to earn an education and to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House and my colleagues, I congratulate the people of Kutztown on the occasion of the Borough's Bicentennial. God bless them and may they know continued prosperity.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the privileged resolution and encourage my colleagues to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 240 in order to pass the fiscal year 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. It is time for us to move forward and demonstrate our true capacity to govern to the American people and to those tasked with the arduous work of defending our borders, protecting our communities, and manning the front lines when confronted by natural disasters or acts of terrorism. I had the distinct privilege and pleasure of working on the underlying appropriations bill as a member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and I can assure my colleagues that this is a good bill. It is a darn good bill. It is a bipartisan bill. Among the bill's many highlights, it would support the largest operational force of Border Patrol agents and CBP officers in history. If you are concerned about illegal immigration, vote for this bill. It fully funds E-Verify. If you are concerned about illegal immigration and interior enforcement, vote for this bill. It provides an increase of almost $700 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 34,000 detention beds, and an increase in family detention beds by 3,732 beds. Again, if you are worried about illegal immigration, vote for this bill. It fully funds FEMA's disaster relief programs and the first responder grant programs that are critical to so many State and local departments. It takes important steps toward implementation of a biometric entry and exit data system, which is critical to maintaining interior enforcement in this country. The bill helps us thwart cyber attacks, and, of course, it helps maintain our Coast Guard. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the House to move past the corrosive pattern of self-imposed cliffs and shutdowns and get to the work that the American people expect us to address--issues like tax reform, trade, transportation and infrastructure, things that are going to help create American jobs and improve our economy. It is time to move forward and stop playing these silly games.

Mr. DENT. At these times of global uncertainty and brutal acts of terrorism, it is imperative that we maintain persistent vigilance against the numerous threats facing our homeland. Again, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is the right bill. It is a bill that we supported last summer with strong overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. It deserves that same kind of support here today. Let's prove to the American people that we are serious about protecting this homeland and that we have the capacity to govern. These cliffs are disastrous for all of us. It is time to move on.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington State for yielding to me, and I thank him for his very distinguished career in law enforcement for all of those 30-plus years. He had a great reputation, served honorably, and was involved in some very high- profile cases that are, I think, worthy of a lot of discussion. I wanted to take time today to express my strong support for the brave men and women who serve on our Nation's Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Particularly, I would like to honor two New York City police officers, Officers Ramos and Liu, who were brutally slain in an ambush on December 20, targeted simply because they wore the New York Police Department uniform. Officer Ramos was a devoted husband and the father of two young children. He had just celebrated his 40th birthday. Officer Liu, who married just 3 months ago, leaves behind his devastated young wife and parents. All across the Nation, the thoughts and prayers of grateful citizens go out to their families, friends, and officers who served with them. I live in Allentown, Pennsylvania, not terribly far from New York City. I have to tell you, I believe the New York City Police Department is among the finest big city police departments anywhere in the world. I remember September 11, 2001, we saw firefighters and police officers and others rush down to the Twin Towers. We recognized and celebrated their heroism because many of them gave that last full measure of devotion on that day. There was no profession more noble than being a police officer at that time, and particularly a New York City police officer. How times have changed in a fairly short period of time. This extraordinary police department has come under fire because they have implemented very effective police practices which have been a model for the rest of the Nation, have kept crime rates low, and is something we should be celebrating, that department and the men and women who work there. It is a very diverse police department, among the most diverse anywhere. I would also like to point out one other sad tragedy that we dealt with this year in my own State. It was the beautiful fall foliage of Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains that was the backdrop of a horror that many northeastern Pennsylvanians had to deal with for several weeks. We Pennsylvanians recently mourned our own loss on September 12, 2014, when State Police Corporal Bryon Dickson was murdered under what appear to be similar circumstances to those in New York. He was shot to death because of the badge that he wore. Trooper Alex Douglass was seriously wounded in that same incident. We are pleased to hear that Trooper Douglass is recovering steadily, and we wish him the best in his long road to a full recovery. But what followed that horrific attack and assassination was a truly impressive 7-week manhunt for Eric Frein, the shooter and self-trained, self- described survivalist. Over 1,000 officers from State and local law enforcement agencies from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York teamed with the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and ATF, and it was amazing. What we witnessed was an amazing testament to police work, which ended successfully with the surrender of Frein, and there were no shots fired. Frein, I should note, is currently standing trial. Police work is certainly, as Congressman Reichert knows better than anyone in this room, and Congressman Nugent, too, they know that police work is inherently dangerous. Officers must enforce the law in any number of difficult situations under pressures few outside the military could possibly understand, from routine traffic stops to domestic violence situations to hostage cases to murder scenes. America's finest must deal with it all. They deserve our support, and they most assuredly have mine. While we have recently seen a handful of high profile cases of citizens clashing with police, anyone who has ever attended a local crime watch meeting knows that police officers care deeply about the communities they serve. I have attended so many of these meetings over the years, both as a State legislator and even as a Congressman, numerous crime watch meetings in some pretty tough areas, and I was always so impressed with the way the officers immersed themselves in the daily life of the neighborhoods for which they were responsible. No problem was too small. They would deal with it. Now is the time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and work to address the underlying issues that have animated enormous emotions in communities across our country. I should point out, too, as a new member of the bipartisan House Law Enforcement Caucus, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance Federal policy that supports all of the brave men and women who have sworn to protect and serve. I thank the gentleman from Washington State for putting on this hour tonight. We need to spend more time celebrating the fine men and women who serve us.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics, and along with my colleague, Linda Sanchez, the Ranking Member, I rise today to congratulate our departing Director of Investigations, Deborah Mayer, on her new position as staff director for the Senate Ethics Committee, and to thank her for her service to the House. Her new position continues a career dedicated to public service, which includes not only her work for the House, but also her prior work as a prosecutor with the Justice Department, and her 16-years of service in the JAG Corps of the United States Navy and Naval Reserves. Her dedication to public service, as well as her keen legal mind, will serve the Senate well, as they have served this body for the last several years. Their gain is our loss, and we thank her deeply for her service to this House.