Ron Estes

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Kelly, for bringing this to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1957, the Taxpayer First Act. This bipartisan bill redesigns and modernizes the IRS for the first time in 21 years and focuses on improving the agency's service to taxpayers. As the only former State treasurer in the House, I understand the need for the country's tax administration agency to adopt a mission of customer service and to help taxpayers retrieve information, resolve issues, and make payments. This bill accomplishes these goals in several ways. First, it establishes an independent appeals process so that taxpayers are treated fairly. It provides for easier electronic submission of tax return forms, and it strengthens the IRS ability to combat identity theft. It also requires the agency to submit to Congress plans to further improve efficiency and customer service. Altogether, the Taxpayer First Act provides needed, commonsense, and overdue reforms to the IRS. I thank my fellow Ways and Means Committee members for working to bring this bill to the floor. Today's vote is a culmination of several years of work and numerous hearings and discussions, including passing this bill in the House during last Congress. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 50th anniversary of the skid steer loader. On April 3, 1969, CASE Construction Equipment began manufacturing its skid steer loaders for the first time in Burlington, Iowa. In 1974, CASE moved its skid steer manufacturing operations to Wichita, Kansas. In 1999, CASE and New Holland merged to form CNH Industrial, but the skid steer manufacturing operation remained in Wichita. Today, the Wichita site employs nearly 500 people who research, design and manufacture the skid steer loaders for use all around our country and throughout the world. From agriculture to construction, the skid steer has become an iconic fixture in many industries and is another example of how products grown and manufactured in south-central Kansas impact our world. I am hopeful that through free and fair trade policies, companies like CNH Industrial can continue to grow and thrive in my district of Kansas and throughout the country. On this 50th anniversary, I congratulate all of the hard-working men and women of CNH Industrial in Wichita on this milestone and wish them many more decades of success and growth.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 144.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, our country and the world celebrated World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. This afternoon, I am happy to lead my colleagues in recognizing this important day and all of the contributions individuals with Down syndrome make each day to families, businesses, schools, and communities. From brothers and sisters to employees and businessowners, to artists and models, people with Down syndrome have an incredible impact on every part of society. They deserve our support, understanding, and full acceptance. Thankfully, there are many groups and programs that have made it their mission to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families. As Kansas State treasurer, I advocated for passage of the Federal ABLE Act and led the effort to implement it in Kansas. It is kind of one of those things that, several years ago, I didn't necessarily expect that I was going to be standing here today; so I was going through the process of how do we lobby, how do we make sure that a good program gets passed through the Federal legislative process that benefits so many people, and then having to take that initiative in my home State of Kansas and work through the legislature and making sure that we implemented it to help people's quality of life and enable them to live the lives that they wanted to live and make it more beneficial for them. This important law created tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities to cover expenses like healthcare, education, housing, and transportation. It is important for parents raising a child to be able to help provide their care. Obviously, the concern on the part of parents is that, over years, particularly as the parents age, they want to make sure that their children, in some cases when they are in their adult life, are able to enjoy the life that they want and the life that they deserve. A program like ABLE is able to help make that dream come true. These programs are similar to the 529 college savings programs, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The ABLE accounts give people with Down syndrome and other disabilities the opportunities to live the life they deserve. The Kansas ABLE Act went into effect in January 2017. I was proud to be part of that effort because it is the right thing to do. In Congress, I have been humbled to work with organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society to build upon the progress of the ABLE Act. Last year, I was honored to receive the 2018 National Down Syndrome Society Impact Award and look forward to supporting the mission in this Congress. This year, I am also honored to be on the honorary committee for the AcceptAbility Gala, hosted by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, an annual event in Washington, D.C., that supports lifesaving research and medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome. Back home in Kansas, I am also inspired by groups like the Arc of Sedgwick County, which supports individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome. Just as each of these groups, among numerous others, supports those with Down syndrome, it is my hope that, in Congress, we can do the same thing. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to discussing this more today, but, at this time, I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stauber for those comments. Mr. Speaker, it is important for us, as Representatives, to actually stand up for what we think is important. Obviously, as parents, we all care about our children. We want to make sure they get the best opportunities that they can, and, as elected Representatives, one of the reasons I ran for office was to make sure that we could have an impact and make sure that we could make a difference in people's lives. When I look at the role of the Federal Government, one of the things that is most important for us is making sure that we can help those individuals live out the life that is embedded in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence and having the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, people having that opportunity to live and enjoy all the blessings of this great country. We can talk a lot about different issues, and there are, obviously, lots of us here in the Halls of Congress who want to talk about some of those issues. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my good friend, who wants to weigh in on this subject as well.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill). It is tremendous to be able to work with representatives like him that have a goal to focus on: how do we make life better? How do we provide opportunities for individuals? You touched on a sad part in society today where so many people seem to think that it is right that just because of some particular trait that the parents don't necessarily like, that they are able to kill individuals because of that through abortion. When we are talking about Down syndrome and awareness of that, you know, it is a sad fact that we have got to address this issue. We have got to address that extreme discrimination that some individuals that want to impress upon those people who may have Down syndrome even before they have a chance to live a life. In the United States, two-thirds--67 percent--of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome while in the womb are aborted. In Europe, it is even worse. In France, the rate is 77 percent. In Denmark, it is 98 percent. And in Iceland, it is nearly 100 percent, where late-term abortions are allowed if the baby has a deformity, which includes Down syndrome, to quote a CBS News article. In a society where Down syndrome individuals can have a wonderful quality of life and pursue their dreams, this discrimination needs to be brought to light. We live during a time when there is so much medical innovation, so many opportunities, so many brilliant things that our doctors are developing, we need to make sure that we capitalize on that innovation, make sure that we allow people the opportunity to live a full life and live the opportunities that they enjoy. This innovation, unfortunately, has been used by individuals to determine the sex, determine if the child is healthy, determine if the child has certain traits; and in some cases, for positive reasons, to determine whether there is some medical necessity to operate while in the womb to make sure that that individual--that child--enjoys quality of life. However, we need to make sure that that testing process never gets corrupted, never gets used in a discriminatory way, and it is never used to justify abortion. It is a sad fact that we are seeing so many things being talked about in the abortion arena nowadays, and so many people beating that drum. We have got to stand up, you know, in our country. We want to be able to stand up for people's rights and we want to be able to stand up for the opportunities for babies to live and have the opportunity to live a life that we all will enjoy as well. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my fellow colleague, the opportunity to speak and talk about this very important issue.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Babin, and I appreciate those words. Mr. Speaker, we, as fellow colleagues, have such an important role trying to work on how we bring forth those American principles and opportunities for everybody. In recent months, we have seen politicians from States around the country embrace late-term abortions and openly discuss infanticide. Individuals with Down syndrome would be among the most severely impacted by these tragic policies. To help respond to that, my colleagues and I have repeatedly called to bring forward the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor for a vote. This straightforward bill would require healthcare practitioners to give the same care to a child who has survived a botched abortion just as they would any other newborn child. Apparently, the bill has 182 cosponsors. Unfortunately, a vote on the bill has been blocked 21 times now by the majority. However, as we rise to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day, I call on my colleagues to consider this bill and any other one that would protect life and support those with Down syndrome. There are 250,000 people in America with Down syndrome. They live healthy, productive, happy lives, just like you and I do, and want to have the same hopes and dreams and goals. We need more awareness of what a diagnosis of Down syndrome really means. It means that a child simply has an extra chromosome and that nothing else about their life is different from you or me. They have so much to contribute to this world, and they deserve that chance. Last year, I had the chance to meet David Egan. David is a fellow working for the National Down Syndrome Society, and previously worked for the House Ways and Means Committee. When I met him, he told me how much he wanted to help others with Down syndrome accomplish anything they wanted to do, just as he has done in his own life and career. I am inspired by people like David, and I want to thank my colleagues who join me today for this Special Order recognizing World Down Syndrome Day. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with Congress to support those with Down syndrome, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Wichita State University President Dr. John Bardo, who sadly passed away on March 12, 2019. In his 7 years as president, Dr. Bardo's devotion to education and Wichita State was unsurpassed as he led the university in a bold direction that benefited students and the entire Wichita community. Dr. Bardo's tenure was not his first job at the university. In 1975, Dr. Bardo, then an assistant professor of sociology, met his wife, Deborah. When Dr. Bardo returned to Wichita State as president in 2012, he said: ``We came home . . . to reposition this university as a key driver of the future of Wichita.'' From developing the Innovation Campus and WSU Tech, to increasing online courses, research, and dorm space, his leadership accomplished that goal and set the university on a path to be a nationwide leader in education. Last July, Dr. Bardo was invited to come testify before the House Education and the Workforce Committee about Wichita State's leadership in innovation. As a member of the committee at the time, I will never forget the pride Dr. Bardo showed for the university and our community. I know Shockers are better off because of his leadership, passion, and vision. I ask my colleagues to join me in praying for the Bardo family.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse). You know, those numbers are just shocking, as you related, in terms of how it would devastate the American economy and American families. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to add my voice in opposition to this so- called Green New Deal. You know, this outrageous proposal would be a massive government takeover of every facet of our daily lives. From how we eat, to how we travel, this so-called Green New Deal calls to replace every building and car in America within 10 years. It would cost up to $93 trillion. That would cost every American household an extra $65,300 per year. That might be crumbs in New York and California, but it is not in Kansas, where the average family income is $56,422. If the crushing tax increase on every family isn't bad enough, the plan also calls for an eventual end to air travel. As representative of the Air Capital of the World, clearly, this is alarming. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, aviation is responsible for 91,300 jobs in Kansas and has an economic impact on our state of $20.6 billion. Grounding air travel would decimate jobs in Kansas, just as the entire Green New Deal would devastate the economy of our country. The only thing this proposal accomplishes is exposing the priorities of politicians who are determined to increase taxes and expand government to impose their agenda on every family, farm, and business. Kansans know how to protect our environment and quality of life without being told to do so by government officials in Washington, D.C., and I stand with them in opposing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Newhouse for leading this special order.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Madam Speaker, I was not present for Roll Call vote No. 44 on H.R. 676. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Madam Speaker, I was not present for Roll Call vote No. 45 on H.R. 328. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the first and most fundamental right guaranteed to every individual--the right to life. This week marks the 46th anniversary since the tragic ruling in Roe v. Wade. In that time, more than 60 million lives have been lost to abortion. That's 60 million babies who were never given the chance to fulfill their potential as a future doctor, farmer, artist, or Member of Congress. Last year the House made significant progress to protect life through the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and by urging the Trump administration to update Title X guidelines so that tax dollars for family planning services don't go to abortion providers. I was proud to help lead that effort in the House, but I know we can't stop there. That's why I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans from Kansas and throughout our country who are arriving in Washington this week to stand for life. We know that research has proven what pro-life Kansans have already known--that is life is precious and it begins at conception. As a proud father of three and a Kansan, I stand in support of fellow Kansans and Americans who are a voice for the voiceless. I want to thank Congressman Smith for organizing this Special Order.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the first and most fundamental right guaranteed to every individual . . . the right to life. Next week marks the 46th anniversary since the tragic ruling in Roe v. Wade. In that time, more than 60 million lives have been lost to abortion. That's 60 million babies who were never given the chance to fulfill their potential as a future doctor, farmer, artist, or Member of Congress. Last year the House made significant progress to protect life through the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and by urging the Trump administration to update Title X guidelines so that tax dollars for family planning services don't go to abortion providers. I was proud to help lead that effort in the House, but I know we can't stop there. That's why I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of Americans from Kansas and throughout our country who are arriving in Washington this week to participate in the March for Life. As part of this year's theme, Unique from Day One: Pro-Life is Pro- Science, we know that research has proven what pro-life Kansans have already known--that life is precious and it begins at conception. As a proud father of three and a Kansan, I stand in support of the hundreds of thousands of fellow Kansans and Americans who will be the voice for the voiceless at the March for Life. I want to thank Congressman Smith for organizing the Special Order.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the U.S. Navy's latest littoral combat ship christened the USS Wichita. On Saturday, the USS Wichita will be commissioned in Mayport, Florida, where she will begin her service to our country. As the third USS Wichita in U.S. Naval history, this ship will carry on the proud legacy of representing Kansas' largest city around the globe. Wichita will be represented on board by Chief Petty Officer Isaac Davis, a graduate of Wichita Heights High School, who will serve as an operations specialist, and Chief Petty Officer Brian Tanner, a graduate of Derby High School, who will serve as an information systems technician. I am grateful for Chief Petty Officers Davis and Tanner, as well as the entire crew of the USS Wichita. I am also thankful for the efforts of so many people in our community who have been supportive of the work of the USS Wichita Commissioning Committee. Thanks in part to these efforts, I know the USS Wichita will serve our community and country with pride. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing the men and women of the USS Wichita fair winds and following seas.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 4227) an act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine what actions the Department of Homeland Security is undertaking to combat the threat of vehicular terrorism, and for other purposes.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act, introduced by the gentleman from Ohio, Representative Latta. H.R. 4227 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine the threat of vehicular terrorism and develop a strategy to improve DHS support for the efforts of emergency responders and the private sector to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such a threat. Terror groups, including ISIS and al-Qaida, have urged supporters to carry out attacks in their home countries using any means necessary, including vehicular ramming. Terrorists and inspired homegrown extremists have heeded this direction and have carried out vehicular- based attacks in the past several years, including in France, England, Spain, Ohio, and New York City. DHS has existing resources and programs that can be better utilized to prepare frontline personnel in local communities to address the threat of vehicular terrorism. H.R. 4227 requires the Secretary to develop a plan on how to improve and increase these capabilities. This bill passed the House on March 22 of this year. The Senate made minor changes to this measure and passed it with unanimous consent on December 18. I thank Representative Latta for his work on this important measure, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall vote No. 467 on Motion to Table. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act of 2018. In a long overdue move, and one with strong bipartisan support, this bill modernizes the IRS and improves the efficiency of the agency in dealing with taxpayers. As one of the only former State treasurers in Congress, I understand our need for our country's tax collection agency to adopt a culture of customer service and to help taxpayers file taxes, retrieve information, resolve issues, and make payments. In addition to reforming the IRS, this bill also provides needed certainty to businesses by making certain tax cuts permanent, and extending others so that families and businesses know what to expect from our Tax Code in the future. While our economy is booming, businesses of every size I meet with in my district in Kansas consistently say that the number one thing they need from Washington is certainty. We owe it to job creators and workers to provide that certainty so that they can provide for other expansions and other decisionmaking. To support workers and families, this bill makes it easier for businesses to provide retirement plans for more employees who previously did not have access to them, and allows families to save more for retirement. To support entrepreneurs and small businesses, this bill will allow new companies to write off more of their initial startup cost and allow startups to expand easier and faster without hitting limits on certain tax benefits like that for research and development. Finally, this legislation also helps victims impacted by the recent wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters by allowing victims to access retirement accounts without penalty to assist in their recovery. Our fellow Americans in need should have every tool available to help them rebuild. As I said in a recent op-ed for FOX News, the Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act of 2018 is the right bill at the right time for America's families and economy. Passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act started an economic turnaround our country has not experienced in decades. Instead of stopping that momentum in its tracks, we need to build upon that success with these commonsense reforms. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Brady and the Ways and Means Committee for continuing to fund solutions to grow our economy and help families.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 943) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an accurate comprehensive student count for the purposes of calculating formula allocations for programs under the Johnson-O'Malley Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. 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 S. 943.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 943, the Johnson-O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act. The Johnson-O'Malley Program was first established in 1934 to support the unique educational needs of American Indian students. Through the program, Native students have access to tutoring, Native language classes, cultural activities, afterschool programming, books and supplies, and other programs and items to support their educational pursuits. For American Indian students, this program could be a lifeline. The Johnson-O'Malley Program has the ability to make the difference in a student's life, and it is essential that we take strides to make this program as efficient and effective as possible. As it turns out, there is much work to be done. The Bureau of Indian Education contracts with Tribes, Tribal organizations, and sometimes States and public school districts to distribute program funds. The Johnson-O'Malley Act stipulates that funds be distributed to contractors based on the count of American Indian students and average per-pupil operating costs. The formula makes sense, except for the fact that the most recent student counts are from 1995. After the 1995 freeze, the BIE ceased collecting student data and all information regarding Johnson-O'Malley projects and program outcomes. This has allowed contractors to collect funds based on data from over 20 years old. This kind of program mismanagement deprives students of educational opportunity in schools where student populations have grown and wastes taxpayer dollars in schools where student counts have declined. Since fiscal year 2012, Congress has directed the BIE to count the actual number of students who are eligible for and participating in the Johnson-O'Malley Program and recommend a methodology to distribute funds in the future. Yet, to date, the BIE has not conducted an accurate student count. S. 943 amends the Johnson-O'Malley Act to require the Department of the Interior to update its count of students who are served by the Johnson-O'Malley Program each year. The legislation strengthens program accountability and oversight by requiring program contractors to report the amounts and purposes for which funds are spent. This will provide sufficient information to conduct the necessary oversight of the program. The bill also directs program facilitators to submit an annual program assessment report to Congress, and establishes a consultation process between the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal schools so that students may be better served. We owe it to Native students to make this well-intentioned program as effective as it can be, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.