Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to be here today. It is an honor for me, as a new Member of Congress, to sit here on the floor of the House with my colleagues to actually honor all of our living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. I'm proud to work with my colleague, Tulsi Gabbard, from the great State of Hawaii, in a bipartisan way to make sure that these heroes that protected our freedoms, that have protected our ability to stand here and debate the issues that we debate every single day, are honored by their heroism and by their fight for this country. Now, Mr. Speaker, we're going to begin this process through the 1- minutes, but we're also going to have an hour and a half of a Special Order that's going to be a bipartisan, unprecedented Special Order to honor these American heroes. And I stand here today to say thank you to each and every one of them.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I wonder, even though I don't remember Richard Nixon getting up and flying away, I wonder if the EPA would let that helicopter leave Washington, D.C., today. But I have to tell you, this is a commonsense, bipartisan amendment that gives our farmers a stronger voice and a better place at the table when EPA is considering these regulations that impact the ag community. And I want to thank Ranking Member Peterson for supporting this effort as well. I urge my colleagues' support. I want to say thank you, Mr. Chairman, to my colleague from Tennessee for making this actually a lively debate tonight. And hopefully a few more viewers on C-SPAN are smiling this evening because of it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. I would like to thank my colleague from Texas. Mr. Chairman, I'm a proud cosponsor of this amendment. This is a commonsense amendment that brings to mind the irony that, yesterday, the President of the United States came to the Capitol to brief certain Members of Congress on the other side of the aisle about another phony jobs plan that he's putting forth at the same time his signature legislation, ObamaCare, is killing jobs in America. This amendment would make sure that we measured how many jobs his phony jobs plan is going to create versus how many jobs ObamaCare is going to kill in this country. It is essential. And forgive me, Mr. Chairman, for not having compassion for the bureaucrats who are going to be burdened by analyzing this information, when we have millions of Americans--hardworking taxpayers of this country--worried about keeping their own jobs and getting a new job. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment wholeheartedly.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer the bipartisan Davis-Peterson amendment, which helps address the disconnect between the EPA and the agricultural community. Under our amendment, EPA rules that have a significant impact on a substantial number of agricultural entities--as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture--would be considered ``major rules.'' Under the REINS Act, major rules need congressional approval. We view this as another way to give agriculture a stronger voice when it comes to EPA regulations. As I travel throughout the 13th District of Illinois and listen to farmers and producers, one of their top concerns is regulatory actions by EPA. Ag has been a bright spot in our economy. For every $1 billion in agriculture exports, more than 8,000 jobs are supported here at home. With USDA projecting $139.5 billion in ag exports for fiscal year 2013, American agriculture will support more than 1 million jobs. This is a good story, and my colleagues and I on the House Agriculture Committee do our best to tell it. However, our farmers remain concerned that the EPA does not understand production agriculture. These are concerns we take very seriously. We aren't the only ones that see this problem; EPA recognizes it as well. Acting Administrator For Water, Nancy Stoner, told me when I asked her if her agency was aware of the disconnect between EPA and the agricultural community: We are actively working with those groups to improve communication on issues as to which we have had some difficulties. And I will acknowledge that we have had some, and we are doing the very best we can to improve that situation. This amendment provides a solution to the problem by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to examine EPA regs and identify those that have a significant impact on a significant number of agricultural entities. The USDA must be included in these decisions and equipped with the authority to identify these rules. This agency understands farmers and works best with them on a daily basis. We believe this amendment would improve communication between EPA and the USDA.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I respect and thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his comments on Richard Nixon. However, I was not yet in kindergarten when Mr. Nixon served, so, therefore, I do not remember him creating the EPA, but I thank him for reminding me of that. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. I yield myself an additional 30 seconds. It would improve communication between the EPA and USDA, give agriculture a place at the table during the process, and ultimately result in getting government out of the way to allow our family farmers to do what they do best. I urge support of this bipartisan amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the problems created by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. We are trying to balance the needs of hungry children against fighting childhood obesity in America. Kids are not getting enough to eat when they also participate in athletic programs and physical education classes. I am concerned that the food only requirements of this program are creating excessive waste and have put a financial burden on already cash strapped schools across the country. Many kids are rejecting these new menus and throwing their food away and going home hungry. While we need to look at the nutritional content of school lunches, we must also not forget the importance of physical education classes. Illinois is currently the only State that requires students in kindergarten through high school to have PE every day. A combination of good nutrition and exercise is essential to the health of our children. That is why I would like to take this time to recognize and wish my children's junior high teacher Joe Champley a Happy Birthday. Joe is my friend and has been a long time PE teacher in my home town at Taylorville Jr. High School. Happy Birthday Mr. Joe!

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the problems created by the Healthy Hungry-Free Kids Act. We are trying to balance the needs of hungry children against fighting childhood obesity in America. Kids including my three children, Toryn, Griffin, and Clark are not getting enough to eat because of athletic programs and physical education classes. I am concerned that the food only requirements of this program are creating excessive waste and have put a financial burden on already cash strapped schools across the country. Many kids are rejecting these new menus and throwing their food away and going home hungry. While we need to look at the nutritional content of school lunches, we must also not forget the importance of physical education classes. Illinois is currently the only state that requires students in kindergarten through high school to have PE every day. A combination of good nutrition and exercise is essential to the health of our children. That is why I would like to take this time to recognize and wish my children's junior high teacher Joe Champley a Happy Birthday. Joe has been a long time PE teacher in my hometown at Taylorville Jr. High School. Happy Birthday Mr. Joe!

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Thank you to my colleague from Oklahoma for his leadership on this issue because, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this farm bill. One thing I've learned in my 6 months here in Washington is that the farm bill has not been easy. It has been a 3-year saga, but I was proud to help produce a strong, bipartisan farm bill out of committee. Three weeks ago on this very floor, we had a farm bill that cut $40 billion, including direct payments. It kept crop insurance as a key risk management tool. It made commonsense reforms to a food stamp program that helps feed those who need a hand up, but unfortunately, a majority of my friends on the other side of the aisle and a minority of folks on my side said ``no.'' I came here to govern, and this bill includes an amendment I authored to help family farmers by giving agriculture a seat at the table when EPA considers regulations that affect our producers. Today is another opportunity to govern and to get to conference so we can iron out our differences as reasonable people. If we fail today, I'm not sure we will get another chance, and reverting back to 1940s law or getting into a perpetual cycle of uncertain 1-year extensions is not an option. Some of us are blessed to represent districts with amber waves of grain, but even if you don't, everyone is impacted by the farm bill. All one needs to do is to go to the rotunda, which is a few steps away from here, and look up at the Apotheosis of Washington. It depicts a scene that makes this country great, and that is American agriculture. This vote is about helping our family farmers. It's about providing certainty to the ag economy so that the men and women employed in agriculture can survive and thrive and so that our family farmers can continue to feed the world. Let's move this process forward today by cutting $20 billion and by preserving crop insurance as a vital safety net for the many producers in central Illinois and in southwestern Illinois who produce the food we eat so that our farmers can continue to feed the world. I ask my colleagues for their vote on this bill today.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 305, 306 flight delays made me unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the outstanding achievement of the Monticello Middle School in Monticello, Illinois, a town of 5,500 people located in my district. Monticello Middle School has been recognized as one of only 103 institutions throughout the country as a School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform in 2013. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform is an alliance of over 60 educators, researchers, national associations, and officers of professional organizations and foundations. The Schools to Watch program dates back to 1999 when the Forum selected its first schools. There are numerous criteria which schools on this distinguished list must meet. Among them, all students are expected to meet high academic standards, teachers use a variety of methods to assess and monitor student progress, the faculty and master schedule provide time to meet rigorous academic standards, and teachers know what each student has learned and still needs to learn. This dedication to success is why I am proud to stand up and recognize the Monticello Middle School. Go Sages.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Carl Meyer for his years of service to Parkland College and the Champaign County community. Carl originally moved to Champaign County in 1971 when he came to the University of Illinois to work as an assistant football coach. Years later, he left to work for the Universities of Arizona and Cincinnati before returning to Champaign County in 1992. In 1997, Carl was asked by then-Parkland College president Zelema Harris to serve as the executive director of the Parkland College Foundation. Throughout his 16 years with the Parkland College Foundation, Carl oversaw a major gifts campaign, raising more than $14 million, as well as seeing projects like the Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Applications Center and the Parkland Automotive Technology Center go from inception to completion. This is in addition to the more than 140 scholarships he established and the dozens of partnerships he created with businesses and academic departments. Words can't express how much Carl means to Parkland College and Champaign County. I would like to thank Carl for his commitment to Parkland College and its students, and for his leadership in the community. Enjoy your retirement, Carl, and know you will be missed. You deserve it.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1864. This legislation addresses a serious problem in our military--sexual assault. Today's legislation is absolutely critical for creating an environment where victims feel comfortable enough to report crimes of sexual violence. I'm proud to be a cosponsor of this important piece of legislation. With reports of 26,000 instances of unwanted sexual contact, we must continue to address this unacceptable culture within our military. The lack of reporting in instances of sexual assault is alarming to say the least. The Department of Defense estimates that only 14 percent of victims of sexual abuse actually report assaults. Today I am voting to end this culture. I'm voting to encourage a reporting of sexual assault in an environment where our soldiers will not fear for loss of their job. My good friend and my colleague Congresswoman Walorski's bill provides protections against retaliation for those that report instances of sexual abuse. Because of her bill, an investigation must be launched in response to any retaliatory action taken against someone that reports an instance of sexual abuse. As a Nation, we have made great strides with women in the military. We need to build upon our efforts to ensure that these women are in an environment where they can feel safe. I have a daughter who is 2 years away from being eligible to serve our country in the military. I would like to know if she chose to serve our country that she would not be entering the type of culture that currently exists. I support this bill for all of the fathers like me and mothers and wives and kids who send their loved ones to serve in our great military in this great Nation. We owe those men and women in uniform who sacrifice so much for this country a culture of respect and security. I know I will be thinking of those victims as I vote today, and for all those that felt their career would be hurt if they were to actually report an instance of sexual assault. I want to thank again my friend, my colleague, Congresswoman Walorski, for allowing me the time to speak and for her leadership on this very important issue. I strongly support this bill and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1864, providing protections to those who report sexual assault in the military.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2383) to designate the new Interstate Route 70 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting St. Louis, Missouri, and southwestern Illinois as the ``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge''.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. In closing, I would like to thank Congresswoman Bustos for managing this bill with me today. It has been an honor. I would also like to thank Congressman Enyart, Congresswoman Wagner, Congressman Shimkus, Congressman Clay, and Congressman Luetkemeyer for coming to the floor today in support of H.R. 2383. I would also be remiss not to thank former Congressman Jerry Costello for his vision to turn this bridge from an idea into a reality, and I would like to honor him today, too, for his service to our country as a Member of Congress. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation so that we can honor our veterans--and Stan the Man Musial. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I wish to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally thank Mrs. Clark for all her years of dedicated service. This is truly an honor--benefiting a Federal employee of her high caliber. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster), for introducing this piece of legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bill honors the work and commitment of Mrs. Patricia Clark for her 60 years of Federal service. Mrs. Clark began working at Boston Center in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1963 when it first opened, and has worked there ever since. In her years at Boston Center, Mrs. Clark has never taken annual or sick leave. According to her colleagues, Mrs. Clark's dedication to her job is as impressive as her length of service to the FAA. To recognize her dedication, Mrs. Clark's colleagues decided that it was appropriate to celebrate Boston Center's 50th anniversary by renaming it in her honor. The dedication and hard work of Federal employees like Mrs. Clark should not be overlooked. I voice my support and encourage my colleagues to support this bill, which recognizes the work of an exemplary Federal employee. I want to clarify that, while honoring Mrs. Clark, this bill does not require any funding for the renaming of the Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 materials on H.R. 1092.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1092) to designate the air route traffic control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the ``Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center''.