Sam Graves

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Samuel Coulson of Weston, Missouri. Samuel is a very special young man who has been named a finalist for the 2012 Broadcom MASTERS, a program of the Society for Science & the Public. The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) is a science fair program designed for students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Samuel is one of 30 finalists representing 29 schools in 17 states who were selected from more than 1,400 students who entered the competition. Samuel will be here in Washington starting September 28 to show his project and compete for prizes, including the top scholarship award of $25,000 from the Henry Samueli Foundation. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Samuel Coulson for his accomplishments in being named a finalist for the 2012 Broadcom MASTERS and in wishing him the best of luck in the competition and all of his promising future endeavors.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Lieutenant General Robert Arter of Lansing, Kansas for receiving the Alexander Doniphan Community Service Award. Lieutenant General Arter exemplifies the attributes of General Alexander W. Doniphan, and has carried on Doniphan's legacy through a lifetime of service. Lieutenant General Arter has distinguished himself as a military leader since he first received his commission in 1950. He has held numerous command and staff positions including command of the 1st Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and command of the First Brigade, 101st. His commitment to excellence in leadership and command has led to great recognition, including being named the Commanding General of the United States Army Military District of Washington and Commanding General of the Sixth United States Army. Even after his retirement, he continues to address the needs of both civilians and military as a member of the Governor's Military Affairs Coordinating Council. Lieutenant General Arter has also been instrumental in the training and education of servicemembers. He has served as the Commanding General of the Third ROTC Region, Deputy Commanding General for the U.S. Training Center in Fort Ord, and as Deputy Commandant, for the U.S. Command and General Staff College. He went on to hold a position as the Superintendent of Wentworth Military Academy, and he maintains an active and vital role in the education of future leaders as Chairman of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Foundation. Lieutenant General Arter has also been committed to furthering business and economic development in his community. He has served as President and CEO of the Armed Forces Bank in Leavenworth, Kansas and remains a member of their board. He is currently Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the Greater Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Business Executives for National Security. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in applauding Lieutenant General Robert Arter for his selfless acts of generosity through volunteerism. I know Lieutenant General Arter's colleagues, family and friends join with me in thanking him for his commitment to others and wishing him happiness and good health in his future endeavors.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, today, August 2, I missed a rollcall vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on No. 554. General Leave

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Mr. Tom Brown of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Brown has been awarded the Phoenix Community Achievement Leader Award. His years of service to his community make Mr. Brown well qualified and deserving of this honor. Tom is currently serving as my Chief of Staff, and to see him receive this award for his dedicated service to the community gives me extreme pride. One of Tom's strongest contributions to the area is his work for St. Luke's Hospital, where he is currently a board member. He also serves on the board for St. Luke's Northland Hospital, St. Luke's College and The American Hospital Association's Committee on Governance. He has previously served on the Tri-County Mental Health Services Board and as Clay County Commissioner from 2000-2004. Tom has been active in many other civic, social, and political groups in Kansas City. He has served as Chairman of the Missouri Lottery Commission and of Safe Haven, Inc., and was a former member of the Missouri Port Authority Commission. Furthermore, Mr. Brown was the secretary of the Clay County Economic Development Corporation and Vice President of Clay/Platte Development Corporation. Mr. Brown's commitment to his community has affected more lives than he may ever know. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in applauding Mr. Tom Brown for his continued commitment to bettering his community. I know Mr. Brown's colleagues, family and friends join with me in thanking him for his commitment to others and wishing him happiness and good health in his future endeavors.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 23, I missed a series of rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Nos. 499, 500, and 501.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of David Carpenter on the occasion of his retirement after 14 years of service as President and CEO of North Kansas City hospital. David arrived at North Kansas City hospital in 1999. Before coming to the great state of Missouri, David served as administrator for Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was also President and CEO of Hadley Regional Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. David's accomplishments exceed those of many in his industry. He was named Northlander of the Year by the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, and was a recipient of the Missouri Hospital Association Visionary Leadership Award. David has been a great leader to both the staff and patients at North Kansas City Hospital. He built a positive work environment for his employees and worked toward making the hospital more patient-focused, effectively creating a better experience for all. He leaves the hospital with a strong foundation as a top ranked facility in Missouri. David is a shining example of what it means to be a leader--not only for the hospital, but for our entire community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in commending David Carpenter for his dedicated service to North Kansas City Hospital. I know that his family, friends and colleagues join me in wishing David and his wife all the best in Arizona. I'm confident that he will continue to carry on the values that have made him such an outstanding leader in the northland.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the comments made by the gentlelady from Texas who claimed that 4 million small businesses are going to be able to take advantage of this tax credit and how much it was going to help. We requested a GAO study and found that only 170 small businesses have even taken partial advantage of this credit. This bill is grossly ineffective, it does not work, and it hurts small businesses. I would urge my colleagues to vote to repeal this piece of legislation and help get this economy finally rolling so we can pass some real reforms when it comes to health care. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), the Small Business Subcommittee chairman on Agriculture, Energy and Trade.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schilling).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, could I ask how much time we have left.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Walsh), the chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I'm prepared to close.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. West).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, small businesses create 7 out of every 10 new jobs, and they are the driving force behind this great Nation's economy, and we need these jobs as we attempt to rebound from a stubborn recession. As chairman of the Small Businesses Committee, I constantly hear from small business owners that the burden of government regulations and taxes is too high. The health care law is perhaps the worst offender. The last thing the Federal Government should do is discourage job creation. Yet this massive health care law, with all its costs, mandates, regulations, and paperwork, does exactly that. Facing the expense and confusion this law creates, it's natural that small businesses decide to wait and see instead of invest and grow. The worst impacts of this law are yet to come. We should be freeing up our small businesses to plan, grow, and hire. Heavy-handed government causes bold entrepreneurs to become cautious. Businesses are reduced from thinking about growth to thinking about survival. Brian Vaughn, a small business man in Douglas, Georgia, planned to open a new store and reinvest profits. Testifying to our committee, he said: I fear that neither of these dreams nor my plans to achieve them will be possible. In fact, my worry is that everything I have worked for will be for naught and may be wiped out by this new health care law. Fortunately, we have a solution: Repeal this burdensome law. Stop it in its tracks before small businesses like Brian's are permanently harmed. Then pass commonsense solutions. We want real reforms that put patients in charge of their health and bring down costs. This law is historic, but for all the wrong reasons. It reaches too far into the personal decisions of Americans, and it puts a heavy burden on our economy and small businesses. It's an example of Big Government at its absolute worst. We have a responsibility to repeal and replace this intrusive law before any more damage is done. So let's vote this Big Government intrusion out and give small businesses a real chance to do what they do best, and that is create jobs. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Mica of Florida. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Simon Caldwell, of Savannah, Missouri, for his admirable leadership and dedication to the community through the Savannah Lions Club. Simon joined the Savannah Lions Club in 2008, where he has served as the third, second, and first vice president before being elected president of the chapter in 2011. Throughout his terms, Simon has assisted with many projects including hanging flags on holidays, a fishing derby for kids, and serving at fundraiser meals. Simon has also actively participated in Special Olympics events, promoting their efforts within the club. As his leadership experiences increased, his confidence in speaking with others grew, and he now proudly conducts the chapter's meetings on a regular basis. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Simon Caldwell, whose commendable public service and dedication to the Lions Club has made him an inspiration for many. His strong moral character and earnest concern for my people makes it an honor to serve him in the United States Congress.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. I want to thank the chairman for the comments and look forward to working on this. I think this is an issue that we can solve and an issue that we can fix ultimately for all those pilots out there and the folks that are concerned. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. I have an amendment that would prohibit funds from being used to enforce congressionally mandated Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs, for sports stadiums. These permanent TFRs, to be quite honest with you, are impractical, they're ineffective, and they create serious problems for hundreds of thousands of pilots, countless air shows, aerial surveyors, and a whole lot of other small businesses and individuals that utilize aviation. In 2004, Congress mandated the FAA to impose permanent TFRs in the airspace above and around sports stadiums with a seating capacity greater than 30,000. Think of these as restricted airspace bubbles that basically extend 3,000 feet high and they have a 3\1/2\ mile-wide radius that is in effect 1 hour prior to the event to 1 hour just after the event. And in any given year, there are roughly 3,000 of these stadium TFRs. Now, proponents of these claim that they bolster national security and mitigate an aerial threat. I can't help but absolutely laugh at that assertion. First, there's absolutely no realtime mechanism or capability to prevent an aerial attack originating within or outside the 3\1/2\ miles at 3,000 feet above ground level, and the logic would apply even if the restrictions were expanded exponentially. In fact, if you take a jet traveling at 500 miles an hour, it's just going to take a few seconds to penetrate that TFR to reach that stadium. It's also very convenient that the proponents of these TFRs are exempt from the restrictions that they successfully sought after. The bottom line is the FAA doesn't want or need these congressionally mandated TFRs. In fact, the FAA publicly stated they would not issue these TFRs absent the congressional mandate, but, rather, they would use their existing authority to coordinate with local law enforcement to issue them on a case-by-case basis. That's what we're trying to get at. Mr. Chairman, I'd just like to reiterate these stadium TFRs do nothing to improve security. And I would yield time to anybody out there, any Member, that would like to try and make the argument while keeping a straight face that they do improve security. These TFRs are about banner towers, which is to prevent what sports groups call ``guerilla advertisers,'' from operating within the airspace around these stadiums. That's all this is about. And what was Congress's solution? We simply gave complete control of the airspace to sports teams and exempted them from their own restrictions. And I think that's wrong. In light of the fact that I would like to solve this issue eventually instead of trying to ram an issue through or try to push something through that could fail or be passed, I'd rather come up with a good piece of legislation that actually solves the problem and addresses some of the concerns. That's basically what I was trying to do.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, please join me as I rise today to recognize June 26th as Entrepreneur Day in Kansas City. The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kauffman Foundation have a unique vision to make Kansas City America's Most Entrepreneurial City. In turn, they are hosting One Week KC, a nine-day celebration of innovators and job creators in our region that will encourage community entrepreneurs to come together, get inspired, learn and connect. The final day of this celebration, June 26th, will be known as Entrepreneur Day at the K. Over 40 local mayors from both Missouri and Kansas will attend this event at Kauffman Stadium to declare June 26th as Entrepreneur Day in their cities. Entrepreneurs are the foundation of the American economy, and I applaud our local leaders for recognizing and encouraging entrepreneurism in our region. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in the celebration of Kansas City's entrepreneurs. I commend the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kauffman Foundation for leading the initiative to make Kansas City America's Most Entrepreneurial City, and I look forward to demonstrating the strength of entrepreneurship in our region to the rest of the nation.