Paul Gosar

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I offer an amendment. I have offered similar amendments in the last 2 years, and they have passed each time. I had hoped that it would not be necessary to offer this amendment again this year. Unfortunately, an investigation from the Government Accountability Office that was released last month found that the VA schedulers are still manipulating appointment wait times and are underestimating how long veterans have to wait to get care at a VA facility. The GAO's most recent audit found that schedulers changed dates and shortened wait times for 15 to 20 percent of the cases reviewed. To make matters worse, USA Today recently claimed to have studied more than 70 investigative reports, and it found that these manipulations were being performed at the behest of the VA supervisors. Last year, a different inspector general investigation uncovered an actual memo from the VA leadership that encouraged this type of behavior. The memo I speak of is known as the Fast Letter 13-10, and it was handed down directly from the Office of the Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration to the Philadelphia VA Regional Benefit Office. I was appalled--but not totally surprised--to learn of this memo. The need for my amendment first surfaced 2 years ago as a response to explosive allegations about the Phoenix VA's keeping secondary, unofficial records of claims and appointment requests. My commonsense amendment simply prohibits the VA from keeping unofficial recordkeeping systems and manipulating wait times. I have said this before, but it is sad that we have to pass amendments to prevent this type of behavior. When government bureaucrats don't use good judgment or common sense, Congress must address these issues. We must have one consistent patient recordkeeping system within the VA in order to provide accountability, uniformity, and to prevent employee manipulation. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank Chairman Dent and Ranking Member Bishop for their time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chair, we want to reward good behavior, and until they illustrate good behavior, the amendment is going forward. I appreciate the chairman's support. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, well, once again, we want to make sure that everybody is treated fairly about this. As you can see, the blatant attempt here about recruitment to the unions within our VA is outright disgusting. We want to make sure that everybody is treated fairly and has the opportunity for fair speech, but this gives a hand up to the unions. I ask all my colleagues to vote for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, in a 2015 report from the VA Office of the Inspector General, it was discovered and reported that two senior staff members used their positions of power to financially and personally benefit from unethical behavior. Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves not only coerced two VA managers to leave their positions against their will, they then manufactured circumstances that allowed for them to take the positions in question. To make matters worse, these women then took advantage of the VA's relocation expense program. Relocation bonuses may be given to current employees if an open position will be difficult to fill without such an incentive. In both of these instances, this clearly was not the case. In total, these women walked away with more than $400,000 in taxpayer funds. As if these actions weren't heinous enough, when the VA did attempt to hold Rubens and Graves accountable, the VA was subsequently overturned because they failed to discipline the other employees involved in this case. I am appalled--but ultimately, again, not surprised--to hear of this story. The VA has been riddled with scandal and plagued with lawlessness for years now. Chairman Miller said it best in the days that followed the reversal of the VA's decision, stating: ``Every objective observer knows that the Federal civil service system coddles and protects misbehaving employees instead of facilitating fair and efficient discipline; and until VA and Obama administration leaders acknowledge this problem and work with Congress to solve it, it will never be fixed.'' Mr. Chair, my amendment is a commonsense approach that simply reaffirms the requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations for employment incentives and relocation expenses. Had the VA followed these regulations, Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves wouldn't have been able to force two managers to leave and then get reimbursed for moving across the country to take their spots. I have said this before, but it is sad that we have to pass amendments to prevent this type of behavior. When government bureaucrats fail to serve the American people through the use of common sense, Congress must address these issues personally. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank the distinguished chair and ranking member for their help. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, trust is a series of promises kept, and it is very notable that the VA has lost the trust of Congress and the American people and, more importantly, our veterans. So until we get this right, until they can actually earn the respect and do the due diligence that they are expected to do for our veterans, it is a requirement of us to make sure, like a dog on a bone, to hold them accountable. I hope that everybody will vote for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, recently, a veteran receiving care from the VA contacted my office to express his concern about pro-union fliers being posted in VA facilities. The veteran sent me a picture of one of these fliers, shown here for your reference. Right here. As you can see, this flier is an attempt to recruit union activists. Another flier, just above it, praises the agenda at the AFL-CIO. The veteran who contacted me was appalled that he was barraged by these pro-union advertisements during his visits to the VA. I couldn't agree more. Our Nation's heros should not be subjected to blatantly partisan advertisements while trying to receive medical care at VA facilities. My staff investigated this issue and found that, while solicitations like these are prohibited by law, union lobbyists were able to carve out a special exemption that allowed solicitation of labor organization membership or dues in VA facilities. This is a blatant abuse of taxpayer-funded facilities for the purpose of pushing a pro-union agenda. Given the obvious political nature of these groups, they should not be allowed to advertise in the VA facilities. Furthermore, the fact that VA employees are engaging in union activities while on the clock is unacceptable, given the current state of the VA. Any time these employees spend time doing union activities is time they cannot spend treating our veterans. With a massive backlog of cases and the fact that veterans have literally died waiting for care, this abuse of taxpayer money and our veterans must be put to an end. For that reason, I introduced the amendment currently at the desk. My amendment will prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce the current union loophole. Defunding this exemption that allows unions to solicit members and dues at VA facilities would place unions under the same regulatory framework as other 501(c)'s. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank the distinguished chair and ranking member. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, once again, my amendment is critical to ensuring that our veterans receive the care they deserve in a nonpoliticized environment. Again, this amendment idea came from a veteran who was outraged about the VA being littered with union recruitment fliers. No veteran should be forced to endure blatantly partisan union advertisements in a taxpayer-funded building in order to receive the medical care they earned defending our country. We should all agree that the VA employees should be spending their taxpayer-funded time treating veterans, not posting union fliers and negotiating for higher wages, especially given the VA claims and the backlog of appeals that exist. I encourage adoption of the amendment. I also want to make sure that people understand that this amendment would create that the unions be treated as any other 501(c). I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment which seeks to redirect scarce resources to important mental health programs for our Nation's veterans. At a hearing just last week entitled ``Combating the Crisis: Evaluating Efforts to Prevent Veteran Suicide,'' Chairman Jeff Miller stated that the latest data available from the VA reports that 22 veterans per day are committing suicide. Last fiscal year, the VA General Administration account got a $15.68 million increase for more bureaucracy within the VA. This year, the Obama administration has requested another $81 million increase for that account. The committee wisely chose not to provide funding for the majority of the request in that bill, stating: ``It has doubts about the wisdom of establishing a large new office with regional staffing at this late date in the administration.'' My amendment simply transfers a portion of the fiscal year 2016 increase for government bureaucrats to important mental health services for our Nation's heroes returning from combat. Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder have been consistently contributing to behavioral issues amongst our veterans; and all too often, these ongoing mental health issues result in suicide. With an average of 22 veteran suicides per day, more resources are desperately needed. While redirecting funds to where they are needed most, the Congressional Budget Office also states that this amendment would save money and reduce outlays. My amendment also helps bring the level of funding in the bill for mental health closer to the administration's requests for the fiscal year. The VA doesn't need more money to hire more paper pushers. Instead, let's appropriate that money to where and whom the VA was created for: to serve and help improve the mental health of our Nation's heroes. I applaud the committee for including my language that ensures the Veterans Crisis Line will provide an immediate response from a trained professional and for the resources already directed in this bill towards mental health. I ask my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment and help ensure our veterans that are in need get the care they so earned. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp on its 20th anniversary. The Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp, held in Phoenix, has been recognized for its outstanding performance time and time again. It was designated as an official Arizona Centennial Event, it has been recognized here in Congress, and it is a recipient of the Phoenix Mayor's Partnership Award. Phoenix, Arizona and Taipei, Taiwan have enjoyed a Sister Cities Relationship for 37 years. The industrious people of Taipei share many things in common with Arizonans, including a strong work ethic, a peaceful nature, a love of nature and beauty, and amazing architecture. The camp will take place June 13-17, 2016 and is open to students from all schools. This camp will promote Taiwanese and Chinese Culture, Folk Arts and Sports. In addition, it will educate our youth regarding the importance of cultural awareness and show the many similarities between our two cultures. The camp will also let children learn leadership and teamwork skills while also teaching an understanding of international issues and friendship among our nations. Perhaps most importantly for the children, it will be fun. We recognize these achievements and encourage them to grow in the future. Again, it is my pleasure to congratulate the Taipei Chinese Summer Camp on its 20th anniversary.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 70th anniversary of the Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC). MEC is a locally-based, member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that provides electricity to several communities in rural Arizona. When MEC was originally incorporated in 1946 it served just five miles of line and 90 meter locations. Today, under the watchful eye of its Chief Executive Officer, Tyler Carlson, it serves over 1,500 miles of line and more than 39,000 electric meters in the communities of Mohave Valley, Hackberry, Fort Mohave, Peach Springs, and Wickieup, Arizona. MEC was established using a loan from the Rural Electrification Administration. These loans were made available to create energy distribution systems for isolated communities that for-profit power companies considered un-profitable. This program brought electricity to communities across the country that may not have received it otherwise--including communities in rural Arizona. In this manner, MEC has brought modern amenities to rural Arizona at affordable rates. It is a true accomplishment and an infrastructure milestone. Because MEC is a member-owned not-for-profit their rates reflect their expenses--they are not increased to achieve profitability. This has allowed MEC to establish a history of providing excellent service at competitive rates. I am very grateful for their efforts to supply reliable and affordable electricity to my constituents. I look forward to seeing their continued success over the next 70 years.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to the International Festival of Language and Culture, which is having its 14th Annual celebration in Washington, DC on April 28, 2016. This celebration brings 100 students from 20 countries who will perform at the festival and demonstrate their traditions, their culture and their talent with poetry, songs and dance. The celebration is intended as an expression of friendship, optimism and hope. The IFLC has as its mission the impressive goal to use music and art in order to promote cultural understanding, cultural tolerance, and to seek peace. I congratulate the participants, and the IFCL, for coordinating and hosting this event.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) for his leadership on this issue and for organizing this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken many times right here on the House Floor about upholding the rule of law. Whether it be about a lawless Attorney General who tried to cover up a gunrunning operation, or a rogue IRS Director illegally targeting innocent Americans, or a President attempting to enact amnesty by executive action, ensuring that the Federal Government is held accountable for its lawlessness has been one of my top priorities as an elected Representative to the people's House. And while the concept of equal application of the law may not seem like it needs any explanation, I would like to speak to the heart of why upholding the rule of law is so fundamental. Our laws seek to incentivize Americans to behave responsibly and to impose consequences when they don't. This is the fundamental contract woven into the fabric of our Republic. It is a concept envisioned by our Founding Fathers, not only to protect the individual rights of every man, woman, and child, but also to prohibit executive overreach from an intrusive Federal Government. Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis captured these principles best when he stated: ``In a government of laws, existence of the government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our Government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the Government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.'' Sadly, we are witnessing what happens when the Federal Government becomes a lawbreaker and breeds contempt for the law--anarchy. The Obama administration has created an immigration crisis as a result of its failure to enforce Federal immigration laws on the books. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service reported just last week that 2016 could set another record for the number of unaccompanied alien children crossing our southern border, and that from 2011 to 2014, unaccompanied alien children increased by 1,200 percent. Also last week, 1,000 Cuban aliens stormed the Costa Rica-Panama border demanding to pass so they could continue their journey to enter the United States illegally. Article I, section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress clear jurisdiction on immigration matters, and President Obama's executive actions on immigration clearly infringe on that authority. The President even admitted that fact 22 times previously when he stated he did not have the authority to take the executive actions he ultimately ended up taking. Justice Kennedy rightfully pointed out today that DAPA is a legislative act, not an administrative act. Thus, its creation is unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court should uphold the lower court's ruling that halted Obama's illegal actions. What incentive do Americans have to follow the rule of law themselves if they have no faith that their government will do the same? How can lawmakers ask immigrants seeking to migrate lawfully to our country to follow these rules when this President so blatantly violates those same rules? Unfortunately, if we don't take bold action now to hold the President accountable for his lawlessness, we risk permanently damaging the integrity of all our laws beyond all repair. The good news is there is a solution. The House must utilize our power of the purse to block any and all funding for the President's executive amnesty orders. I am attempting to do just that and recently spearheaded an appropriations rider supported by 35 of my colleagues to block funding for all executive actions on immigration dating back to 2011. Returning to the rule of law begins with the House enforcing its own constitutional power of the purse. We must fundamentally reject the President's legacy of lawlessness and renew the faith that we all place in the rule of law.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my constituents, Mike Westcott, of Verde Valley, Arizona. Mike Westcott recently received the teacher of the year award for outstanding work as a teacher at Mingus Union High School. Westcott has excelled in teaching sciences, specifically Chemistry, at Mingus Union High for 30 years. Mr. Westcott has contributed greatly to the advancement of his local learning community. Mike Westcott's dedication to the Mingus Union community extends even further back than his teaching career. He is a third-generation native of Verde Valley where he himself attended and graduated from Mingus Union High School. He continued his studies at Yavapai College and then earned a Bachelor's of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. In the following years he received a MAT degree in Physical Science and a M.Ed. degree in Educational Leadership from NAU as well. After his own academics successes, Westcott directed his energy to better the students of Mingus Union High School. He has taught a number of various science classes but favors chemistry. He has also taught Advanced Placement chemistry for more than 15 years. Mr. Westcott has further contributed to the school and community as a teacher on administrative assignment and as an instructional coach. Mr. Westcott is a prime example of a great educator, and the positive influence that he has on his students will resonate for years to come.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the historic Town of Florence, Arizona. Founded in 1866, Florence is one of the oldest European settlements in the state and is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Scenic Florence is home to many prominent geographical landmarks that contribute to Arizona's picturesque beauty such as the Gila River, Box Canyon and the Casa Grande Ruins. Florence serves as the final resting place for the Father of Arizona, Charles D. Poston. Moreover, the town admirably provides the state with employees for the nine correctional operations in Florence. It also serves as a connection point for three major transportation corridors in the state. Over time, Florence has developed a fanciful history as a model wild-west establishment. Its notable downtown, Old Silverbell copper Mine, and wonderfully preserved fuel Coke Ovens from the mid-nineteenth century attract visitors from all over. I would like to take the time to show my appreciation to the Town of Florence for their positive additions to Arizona through timeless beauty, employment, and state pride. Florence's distinctive history over the last 150 years contributes to the unique characteristics shared in the state of Arizona. It is my honor to serve the Town of Florence and wish them a happy 150th anniversary.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I am miffed. I am absolutely miffed that a customer, or a consumer, would not have the ability to understand that their account was actually closed. I am totally miffed at personal rights and responsibilities and the coordination with the Justice Department. Once again, this is the second amendment I have offered on Financial Services with the same type of attitude and idiocrasy that I have actually seen in defiance of a commonsense amendment. I oppose the gentlewoman's objections, and I would ask everyone to vote for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer a commonsense amendment that will protect customers of financial institutions and increase transparency between them and the Federal Government. I applaud the committee for bringing this bill to the floor to protect consumers and businesses from an overreaching Federal Government. I am especially grateful to Representative Luetkemeyer for his work on the bill, and I am proud to be a cosponsor. My amendment will increase transparency by requiring the financial institutions to provide notice to customers if their account is ordered terminated by a Federal banking regulator. Customers have a right to be informed when the Federal Government has instructed a financial institution to close their accounts. In the base bill, Federal banking agencies are required to notify the financial institution and provide written justification as to why the termination is needed. My amendment would simply require the depository institution to share that justification with the customer. One of the ways the Federal Government has abused its powers in the past regarding customers of financial institutions is Operation Choke Point. Operation Choke Point was an unconstitutional program created by the Obama administration that put pressure on banks and payment processors to shut down industries like gun stores and pawn shops that President Obama and the attorney general just didn't like. After continued pressure from Chairman Luetkemeyer, myself, and other Members of Congress, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, announced in January of 2015 that some changes to this terrible program were to be made. While this was a positive step, this bill and my amendment are still very necessary. Congress needs to codify these customer protections to prevent future abuses by an overreaching Federal Government. My amendment will help put an end to the abuses of Operation Choke Point. President Obama has been staunch in his assault on the Second Amendment, and Operation Choke Point was simply another way for the President and the DOJ to infringe upon the rights of lawful gun owners and businesses. American citizens do not want Big Government to have the power to arbitrarily terminate their accounts at financial institutions based on ideological opposition to individuals or organizations. This simple, commonsense amendment, which is supported by Americans for Limited Government, the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and Eagle Forum, is about protecting consumers and increasing transparency. CBO has informed me that this amendment will not score. As such, there is no reason not to pass this amendment or this bill that will increase transparency and protect consumers throughout the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and H.R. 766. I thank the distinguished chair and ranking member. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Dr. Richard Howard Gamble of Sheffield, Alabama, who passed away on Christmas Day. Howard served as a giant in the field of dentistry where he held numerous leadership positions, including the president of the Academy of General Dentistry, president of the Alabama AGD chapter, and president of the Alabama Dental Association. Additionally, Howard devoted 17 years of public service to the State of Alabama serving as mayor of Sheffield, police and fire commissioner, city councilman, and Colbert County commissioner. However, I am sure that Howard would be most proud of his record serving our country in the United States Air Force. Despite these impressive accomplishments, Howard didn't live to rack up titles or positions. He lived to fulfill his mission of making a difference in the lives of his patients and his community. In that regard, Howard was a huge success. On a personal note, I am incredibly proud to follow in Howard Gamble's footsteps as a dentist who answered the call of public service and to call Howard a personal friend. His lifelong contributions to advancing the field of dentistry will not be forgotten. Finally, I would like to honor Howard, a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, by saying two words that Howard would want to hear more than anything else: ``Roll Tide.'' Thanks for all the smiles, Howard. You will be missed.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, this amendment is simple. Either you are with American energy producers, or you are with overpaid, high-priced Washington, D.C., attorneys and extremist special interest groups that are holding up American energy production. This amendment still allows the public to seek assistance in Federal court and actually encourages that an up-or-down review of their legal challenges occur in a more timely manner. This amendment does not affect NEPA or environmental requirements whatsoever. All American energy producers will still have to go through the full environmental review and permitting process. As I mentioned earlier with regard to previous amendments, that process takes an average of 1,709 days to complete, and it allows public input from all Americans. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer a commonsense amendment to H.R. 8. The Gosar-Bridenstine-Yoho amendment ensures timely review for legal challenges of energy projects and limits attorneys' fees for such challenges in order to discourage frivolous lawsuits and foster American energy production. This amendment will streamline the process and encourage production of natural gas, hydropower, clean coal, geothermal, solar, oil, biomass, and all other sources of energy that are produced on Federal lands. Specifically, this amendment requires that U.S. district courts hear and determine covered civil action challenges as expeditiously as practical and that all covered actions be filed within 90 days of the final Federal agency action. This amendment is a responsible, commonsense step that a government accountable to the people should take to show proper stewardship of the public's dollar, time, and resources. If you support transparency and cutting red tape that is holding up energy development, then you should support this amendment. Just this week, the House passed legislation unanimously in the form of H.R. 3279, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. This bipartisan bill tracks how much money is paid out under the Equal Access to Justice Act, EAJA, and from which agencies. This legislation was necessary because, while Congress used to track such information, these practices were stopped in 1995. The Gosar-Bridenstine-Yoho amendment improves on this excellent bipartisan work by limiting attorney fees and frivolous lawsuits against covered energy products, including renewables. While no one knows the exact cost of EAJA payouts, as they have occurred untracked and in the dark for 20 years, the Government Accountability Office last reported in 2009 that special interest Washington, D.C., lawyers were billing the Federal Government at exorbitant rates, as high as $750 an hour. It seems only appropriate that H.R. 3279 should be signed into law, those reporting requirements should kick in, and our amendment should be adopted before the Federal Government squanders more taxpayer money paying out D.C. trial attorneys who specialize in holding up American energy production. House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop supports our commonsense amendment. Our amendment is endorsed by the Americans for Limited Government; the American Petroleum Institute; Anglers United, Inc.; Arizona Builders Alliance; the Arizona Farm Bureau; Arizona Liberty; Arizona Pork Council; AZ BASS Nation; the Bass Federation; Concerned Citizens for America; Gavel Resources; Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association; the Rural Public Lands County Council; Shake, Rattle and Troll Radio; Sulfur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative; the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce; and countless citizens around the country who are tired of red tape and bureaucracy holding up American energy production. I thank the chair and ranking member for their tireless efforts on the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act, and I strongly support H.R. 8. I urge my colleagues to support the Gosar-Bridenstine-Yoho amendment.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, as I stated earlier, the amendment encourages an all-of-the-above energy strategy and has specific language that ensures the amendment applies to solar, natural gas, hydropower, clean coal, geothermal, oil, biomass, and any other source of energy that is produced on Federal lands. It actually embraces and supports those folks out there in America; so I ask all of our folks to vote for the Gosar-Bridenstine-Yoho amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.