Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Yoho for leading this Special Order tonight to talk about this issue. It is an issue important to the entire country and all hardworking taxpayers of America. 1.4 million people were kicked off their plans and forced to purchase different insurance plans. We saw 45 to 55 percent premium increases in my home State of Illinois in 2017. Deductibles have increased 64 percent nationwide. 31 million people can't afford to use the insurance they have because their deductibles are so unaffordable and high. One-third of the Nation only has the option of one insurance provider on the $2 billion websites that we know as the ObamaCare exchanges, a monopoly that drives up costs, and 75 percent of people in my home State of Illinois have one or, at most, two providers. One in four people in Illinois are on Medicaid. That is unsustainable for a State with an $8 billion budget deficit. These statistics tell us ObamaCare is collapsing, and if we do nothing, we will be leaving millions of Americans without any option for healthcare coverage. But we are not offering this alternative because of statistics. We are doing it for Rich and Sandy in Pana, Illinois, whose deductibles went from $300 to $2,000 per person for less coverage. We are doing it for Janet from Edwardsville, whose family plan was considered a Cadillac plan and was replaced with a plan that had a $6,000 deductible. We are doing it for Lynne, a farmer in Springfield, Illinois, who provides insurance for her barn manager, but the best she could find after ObamaCare was one with a premium that increased by more than $100 and increased her out-of-pocket expenses by another $1,000. This is our one shot to fix our failing healthcare system for the constituents I just mentioned and the millions more across the U.S. who have had the same thing happen to them. This is a pretty good bill to start with. After 4 years of watching premiums more than double, deductibles skyrocket, and choices dwindle for my constituents under ObamaCare, I am proud to be part of a responsible healthcare solution to lower costs and increase options for individuals and families. The American Health Care Act may not be the exact bill we would have written to reform our healthcare delivery system prior to ObamaCare, but we can't go back in time. We have to face reality, and the reality is we have States like Illinois who chose to expand Medicaid, and we can't abruptly rip coverage away from them like ObamaCare did for 1.4 million Americans. In addition to protecting people with preexisting conditions and allowing young adults under the age of 26 to remain on their parents' insurance, those who currently qualify for Medicaid will remain covered until their economic situation improves. Our goal should be to ensure that every single person who wants a career, a good-paying job, and wants to get off of Medicaid should be our priority. But when their situation does improve, which is, again, what all of us should hope for, then we help them with monthly, portable, age- and income-based tax credits that will go directly toward paying their health insurance. These also help those who were left behind by ObamaCare, middle class Americans who were forced to buy insurance with costly premiums and deductibles but did not qualify for subsidies. This is just the first part of our plan, which can be done through the budget reconciliation process. Next is making changes to lower the overall cost of health care so these tax credits go further for every American. We have one chance to fix this for the American people because ObamaCare is collapsing, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this plan. I thank again my colleague, Mr. Yoho, for leading this effort tonight.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reilly Renken, a remarkable young lady making a big difference in central Illinois. Just after she was born, Reilly was diagnosed with a rare genetic abnormality, along with a form of epilepsy that severely impacts her neurological development. Her parents were told by numerous specialists that she would need support for the rest of her life and that she would likely never read or write. But Reilly proved them wrong. While her genetic makeup is one of a kind, she also has a one-of-a-kind personality. Despite the obstacles she has overcome, Reilly was determined to be a cheerleader. Now she is an integral part of the cheerleading squad at Glenwood Middle School in Chatham, Illinois. Cheering on the Titans has become one of Reilly's greatest joys, and her presence on the squad has been a joy for her teammates as well. They will tell you that they wouldn't be the squad they are without Reilly and her positive attitude. She brings life to their practices and they always count on her to make them smile. Reilly is a true inspiration. She shows all of us what is possible when we put our minds to something. Thanks to her, students at Glenwood Middle School have learned the importance of celebrating our differences. Way to go, Reilly.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, during the afternoon of Tuesday February 28, 2017, I was absent from the House due to a meeting at the White House with Vice President Mike Pence and my constituent and guest to the President's Address to the Joint Session of Congress, Elizabeth Snyder. I would like to reflect how I would have voted had I been present for legislative business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Roll Call 105. I would have voted ``nay'' on Roll Call 106, Roll Call 107, and Roll Call 108.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was in a meeting at the White House. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 108, NAY on Roll Call No. 107, NAY on Roll Call No. 106, and YEA on Roll Call No. 105.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Congressman, respected mentor, and good friend Bob Michel. Bob was a war hero earning two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and four battle stars. He was also one of the most respected members of Congress of all time. His 38 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives and the incredible footprint he left on Central Illinois and this country will never be forgotten. Bob's ability to reach across the aisle to make a divided government work for the people he represented was second to none, a trait we should all strive to emulate each day. Bob taught me that bipartisanship matters and working together to get things done is even more important in the polarized environment we have today. That's where Bob Michel excelled and that's the legacy I'm going to remember. Finally, Bob taught me to be myself, to always do what I think is right for my constituents, and to not be afraid to go home and explain why I voted the way I did. I was honored to attend Bob's funeral this past Saturday, along with many others who knew and loved him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will truly be missed.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 93. Stated against:

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this year, beautiful Bond County, located in the southeastern part of Illinois, celebrates its becentennial--200 years as a county is a great honor. Bond County was one of the state's original 11 counties when Illinois applied for statehood in 1818. It was named after the first governor of Illinois, Shadrach Bond who helped develop the first big transportation and infrastructure project for Illinois. Bond County has witnessed many moments in our nation's history. Both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas gave speeches there in 1858 for their Senatorial election and the Liberty Bell made its way through the county in 1915. Additionally, President Ronald Reagan appeared there in 1980 for a campaign speech. Bond County is also home to Greenville College, a 4-year Christian university founded on prayer that focuses on the pillars of faith and community to advance students' learning. Greenville facilitated multiple mission trips, study abroad programs, and home-service projects in 2016. There is much for the citizens of this county to be proud of. A county with such a rich history of beauty, politics, and pride deserves to be recognized after 200 fantastic years.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this year, Bond County's Health Department celebrates fifty years of serving the community. For five decades, healthcare professionals at Bond County Health Department have provided citizens with important health services such as immunizations, dental clinics, maternal and child health education, and much more. Their mission to promote good health, safety, and sanitation has helped thousands of people across the area. The Bond County Health Department has excelled at meeting the needs of the population it serves. Whether it be assisting seniors with home healthcare, inspecting the food safety of community restaurants, or helping new parents with infant and child resources, Bond County Health Department has been an important part of southwestern Illinois. For half a century, they have worked to improve public health in the region and have provided valuable education to the citizens of Bond County. I understand the important role of institutions like Bond County Health Department and I commend its staff for all of their hard work over the years. Congratulations on your 50th anniversary, and I wish you all the best in the years to come.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. In this letter, IDNR notes that the Office of Surface Mining failed to properly consult with the State of Illinois and the other States, resulting in a burdensome and unlawful rule that usurps States' authority as primary regulators of coal mining as intended by Congress and demands congressional action. Mr. Speaker, rules like this are what the CRA is all about. I ask for your support.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution providing for a congressional disapproval of the stream buffer rule. In my home State of Illinois, coal production employs roughly 5,000 workers and the industry contributes $2 billion a year to our State's economy. In southern Illinois, these are some of the region's best- paying jobs. Unfortunately, this rule was one of the final shots the Obama administration fired in their war on coal. Unless reversed, this rule is directly going to hurt our Illinois coal miners and those working at coal power plants and, in the end, consumers--those who pay the utility bills in this country. The last administration refused to work in good faith with the States when finalizing the rule, even after Congress told them to do so in the 2015 omnibus bill. I include in the Record a letter from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in opposition to the rule. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Springfield, IL, January 30, 2017. Re The Stream Protection Rule and The Congressional Review Act. Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McConnell: As the regulatory authority for administering the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (``SMCRA'') in the State of Illinois, the Department of Natural Resources (``Department'') appeals Congress to use its power under the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the ``Stream Protection Rule'' (``Rule''), issued by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (``OSM'') at 81 Fed. Reg. 93066 (Dec. 20, 2016). The Rule's ``one size fits all'' approach to regulatory performance standards fails to incorporate important regional differences, such as local geology, hydrologic regime, and climate, as required under SMCRA. For example, stream loss has rarely been a problem in the State of Illinois given the regional hydrogeology of the Illinois Basin. To universally require long term upstream and downstream monitoring would place an undue burden on the State to continually review such data. The rule gives no discretion to state regulatory authorities. Despite the claims of OSM in its Regulatory Impact Analysis, the Rule would place significant burdens and additional costs on state regulatory programs. Compliance with the rule would require the Department to revise and restructure its entire coal mining program and add $600,000 to $800,000 per year in staffing and equipment costs. OSM's failure to properly consult with the State of Illinois and the other states has resulted in a burdensome and unlawful Rule that usurps states' authority as primary regulators of coal mining as intended by Congress under SMCRA, and demands congressional action. The Congressional Review Act provides Congress the authority to take action to avoid the harm imposed by the Rule. Accordingly, we respectfully request that you and your colleagues in the Congress pass a joint resolution disapproving the Final Stream Protection Rule under the procedures of the Congressional Review Act, S U.S.C. 801 et seq., so that it shall have no continuing force or effect. Thank you for your careful consideration of this request. Sincerely, Wayne A. Rosenthal, Director, Department of Natural Resources.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Scott Graves, staff director of the House Agriculture Committee. After ten years of service on the Hill, Scott is leaving his post at the committee. I met Scott four years ago when I was a freshman member of the committee and he was Chief of Staff for Chairman Conaway. Our staffs worked together closely, and Scott became a trusted advisor to our team as we navigated passage of the Farm Bill. When Mr. Conaway became chairman of the committee, I was pleased that he elevated Scott to staff director. Scott has gone above and beyond to make the Agriculture Committee one of the best run committees in the House. Under his leadership, Chairman Conaway has passed every bill up for reauthorization and held an unprecedented number of hearings in his first two years. I am grateful to have worked with Scott as a Subcommittee Chairman during the last two years and to be part of this dynamic team. I wish Scott and his family well as he pursues the next chapter in his career and look forward to seeing the work he will continue to do on behalf of our country's farmers. Good luck Scott and thank you for your service to the House.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 588 includes a provision to facilitate the repair of communications infrastructure in the wake of a disaster. We know how critical communications can be following a disaster for first responders and everyone that is impacted. I commend the bill's sponsor for pursuing this legislation, and I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for working with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on this language. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) be permitted to control the remainder of the time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 588) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study on network resiliency during times of emergency, and for other purposes.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. 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 H.R. 588.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, ObamaCare is not working. We know this because the average increase for plans in Illinois was between 45 and 55 percent this year. As a matter of fact, a good friend of mine had an 87 percent increase. We know this because millions of Americans who were told they could keep their health insurance were kicked off their plans. We know it is not working because 31 million people are underinsured, meaning they can't afford to use the insurance they have. Deductibles are simply too high. It is not enough to judge this law simply by the number of people who are insured, since it mandates people buy insurance anyway. We must remember the people paying premiums that continue to double and then have a deductible so high that it will never be reached. That is not success. That is a problem for hardworking taxpayers, many of whom don't qualify for subsidies but were forced off their previous plans because they didn't meet the standards set by ObamaCare and now can't afford the plan they are mandated to buy. We know it is not working because people in a third of our counties in the U.S. only have one insurance provider to choose from. ObamaCare is collapsing on itself. Some say: Why not work to fix it? I did. We did. We passed my Hire More Heroes Act. It helps small businesses, helps our heroes. But we have to begin today to fix the bill itself. To know why this process is needed, let's remember how we got here. This bill was rushed through Congress. It then had 20,000 pages of regulations just for that one bill. But taking this first step to repeal it should not be mistaken for supporting the status quo before the ACA was put in place. We have a plan. We are going to cover preexisting conditions. Because my wife is a cancer survivor, we have to do that.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of this legislation. Farming is an inherently risky business. Yet, I am incredibly grateful to the farmers in my district and across the country who proudly take on these risks in order to provide our country and many countries across this globe with a sustainable, abundant food supply. Given the importance of agriculture to our Nation's food supply, it makes sense to provide farmers, agribusinesses, and manufacturers the tools to hedge the risks that come with doing their business. Because of the risks of price movements in commodities, such as corn and soybeans, these end users use derivatives to ensure they and their customers aren't negatively impacted by sudden price changes. This legislation reauthorizes the CFTC, which has been without a statutory authorization for almost 4 years. That is unacceptable, Mr. Chairman. If we are serious about getting back to regular order in regards to the appropriations process, the authorizing committees must hold up their end of the bargain. The derivatives industry has been through major reforms during the past few years. This legislation recognizes and appreciates the transformation of this industry while providing Congress with an opportunity to use the reauthorization process as a means to improve the regulatory environment and the impact it has on responsible market participants. In that vein, this legislation also includes an amendment I offered at the Committee that would remove unnecessary and duplicative regulations created by the CFTC that requires certain registered investment companies, such as mutual funds, to be regulated by both the SEC and the CFTC. Costly, burdensome, redundant regulations have real-world impacts. Congress needs to shift its focus back to policies that promote strong and healthy markets. This is a great start. Mr. Chairman, I am proud of the Committee's work on this bill. I want to express my appreciation for Chairman Conaway's leadership and work to get us here. This is an important bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Section 2: ``The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'' Amendment XVI: ``The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the Rochester High School Rockets on winning the Illinois class 4A State football championship. The Rochester Rockets, who finished the season with a 13-1 record, defeated Johnsburg 38-14 on November 25 to secure the sixth State championship in football in the school's history. That is 6 out of the last 7 years. On their way to the State title, the Rockets exceeded the national average in receiving yards, total touchdowns, tackles, sacks, and interceptions. The Rockets are setting a standard for athletic excellence in Illinois. Both girls' and boys' sports in Rochester have been thriving, including the girls' soccer team winning its second straight title in 2016. Congratulations to this group of student athletes and their coach, and my friend, Derek Leonard, on another championship season.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 6415) to provide for the appointment of members of the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance to replace members whose terms expire during 2017, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about Carl, an Army veteran from Springfield, Illinois, who couldn't get a response from the VA to receive cancer treatment through the VA Choice program. After multiple communications, my office was finally able to get the authorization from the VA. Bette, from Staunton, Illinois, the wife of a decorated Vietnam vet who served his country for more than a decade, waited over a year for an answer from the VA about benefits owed to her late husband. Finally, my office was successful in getting Bette, who was experiencing financial difficulty at the time, the accrued benefits owed to her husband. Kenneth, of Urbana, Illinois, a Bronze Star recipient while serving in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, was denied benefits due to a missing doctor's examination because he was deployed at the time and the VA never rescheduled the appointment. He contacted my office, and we worked with the VA to ensure that the benefits were received. Lawrence, of Palmer, Illinois, another Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, simply wanted a copy of his medical records but never heard back from the VA. After several months, he reached out to our office and we were able to get them from the VA. Another constituent of mine recently asked my office for help after her husband, who was a veteran, passed away. She has been waiting for 6 months for an answer from the VA, and now my office continues to wait for a response from the VA. These examples not only show the sometimes incompetence and unresponsiveness of certain personnel at the VA, but they also show how important congressional offices are to getting the answers our veterans need and deserve. Many times when a veteran contacts their Member of Congress for help, it is their last resort. It is not their first call. They don't know where else to turn. Our caseworkers become the middleman between the veteran and the VA. VA casework in my office remains highest in volume. We currently have over 96 open cases, and we have closed nearly 1,000 in the 4 years that I have been in office. Ask almost any caseworker, and they will tell you the VA is one of the most difficult agencies to get a response from. It is unacceptable that it takes this long. That is why the WINGMAN Act, H.R. 5166, needs to be passed. It simply allows our certified constituent caseworkers, our advocates, to access certain VA files in order to check the status and progress of claims. This technology will be used to help our veterans get the answers they deserve. It is not going to solve the systemic problems we see at the VA, but it is going to help us hold the VA accountable and get answers for veterans whom we are honored to represent. I want to thank my colleague, Representative Yoho, for working with me and many others on this important piece of legislation; and, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Miller not only for his help on this, but for his service to this great institution. He is somebody who has put our veterans first as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and somebody who has spent his career making sure that commonsense proposals like this get enacted so that our veterans, those whom he cares about the most and we care about the most, get the answers and the responses they deserve.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 588, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate my hometown of Taylorville on its designation as the Chilli Capital of Illinois. Taylorville hosts five International Chilli Society cook-offs every year, in addition to numerous local and regional events. Each summer, Taylorville is home to the Christian County Ag Fair's chilli cookoff and in October, Taylorville hosts its own ``Chillinois Regional'' Chillifest. Annually, these competitions bring twelve chilli-cooking world champions to Taylorville and as many as ten thousand chilli connoisseurs. Earlier this year, the Illinois General Assembly passed H.R. 1357, which officially named Taylorville the Chilli Capital of Illinois. I am very proud of my hometown and I would like to commend Mayor Brotherton and the City of Taylorville on this distinction. I look forward to celebrating many more years as the state's chilli capital.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Blake Snyder, a 33-year-old police officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty in St. Louis County, Missouri, on October 6 of this year. Officer Snyder, a longtime resident of Madison County, Illinois, had served as a member of the St. Louis County Police Department for 4 years. His career in law enforcement was inspired by his brother-in-law and late father-in-law, who both served as police officers. Law enforcement leaders from across the region remember Officer Snyder as a dedicated public servant. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said he was a ``tremendous police officer,'' and former St. Louis County Police Chief Ron Battelle said he was highly regarded by his fellow officers and command staff. Before joining the police force, Officer Snyder served on the board of directors for Riverbend Family Ministries, where he worked to provide a safe environment for children of families in crisis. Officer Snyder was the 97th law enforcement officer killed this year. He is survived by his wife and 2-year-old son. May God bless Officer Snyder, his family, and all the first responders who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. Please join me in keeping the Snyder family--and all the families of our first responders--in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from the great State of Ohio. This is an opportunity that is bittersweet for me and bittersweet for the American people to be able to honor somebody that I got to know as a friend and never had a chance to serve with in this great institution, but somebody who cared about the issues that were important to governing this country and governing America. America, the greatest country in the history of the world, has been served by public servants like Steve LaTourette for hundreds of years, but not many were like Steve LaTourette. Steve was somebody who focused on how we actually bring both sides of this institution together to move policies forward that are going to benefit every single American. His work on transportation and infrastructure was part of the reason why I sought a seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee when I got to Congress in 2013. Getting a chance to know Steve through his efforts at the Main Street Republican Committee and getting to know Steve through many friends that I got to know in the great State of Ohio proved to me what I had heard about Steve for the years before I got here: that he is somebody who actually wants to make America the greatest country in the history of the world. Steve LaTourette was somebody whom I looked up to. Steve LaTourette was somebody that America should look up to. Steve, I know you are looking down upon all of us, and especially your family, but I want you to know that what you did and the difference you made in this great institution will never be forgotten. You are an institution yourself, and your family and history will show all of us and this great country that.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill. I am very proud to be here today because this bill represents a commitment our committee has made under the leadership of Chairman Shuster to pass critical water resources legislation every 2 years. One of my top priorities as a member of this committee and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee is maintaining and improving our navigation infrastructure on the upper Mississippi and Illinois waterways. Most of the locks and dams on this system were built in the 1920s and 1930s and have far outlived their life expectancy. Sixty percent of the grain exported from the United States goes through these locks and dams before hitting the global marketplace. But today, delays at navigation locks are frequent and are only getting worse, lasting as long as 12 hours at a time. In WRDA 2007, Congress authorized construction of seven new 1,200- foot locks along the upper Mississippi and Illinois waterway system; yet here we are, 9 years later, and the Corps still hasn't completed preconstruction engineering and design for these projects because this administration refuses to invest any money in the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program, or NESP. That means that construction for these projects may not be ready to begin when they are next on the schedule. When these projects are delayed, it costs farmers in my district money; it costs the shippers who move commodities up and down the rivers money; and it ultimately means increased grocery prices for everyone. It also costs good-paying construction jobs. During our committee's markup of this legislation in May, I offered an amendment that requires a study analyzing alternative models of managing the inland waterway trust fund. I appreciate Chairman Shuster working with me to ensure its adoption. This study, to be completed by the Comptroller General, will provide some important options to address these longstanding issues with the Corps. Maybe this will finally show the Corps that waiting 10 or even 20 years for movement on a project that is authorized by Congress is completely unacceptable. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to support this underlying bill, and I want to thank Chairman Shuster and the committee for their leadership on this.