Paul Gosar

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I rise to stand with veterans throughout the country and offer a simple amendment that seeks to prohibit funds in this bill from being used to create or maintain any unofficial recordkeeping system at the Department of Veterans Affairs. As many of you know, numerous news reports have surfaced that assert that the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System has been using secondary, unofficial records of veterans' claims and appointment requests. These allegations claim that the reasoning behind these actions was to misrepresent the actual wait times the veterans faced as they sought health care. A whistleblower has come forward and alleged the facility was taking the vets' application information, transcribing that information to an unofficial shared document, and only putting veterans' information and requests into the real system when they knew that the veterans were likely to receive an appointment within a 2-week timeframe. If true, on paper, the VA central office here in Washington would be under the impression that the wait time goals for appointments were being met. According to reports, veterans were waiting for months and months on end. The House Veterans' Affairs Committee is conducting an investigation into the matter and so far has said as many as 40 veterans suffered and died while waiting for appointments through the Phoenix VA system. Their investigation is ongoing, and they fear there could be many more deaths as a result of this negligence. I would like to thank the full committee chairman, Chairman Miller, and Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee Chairman Coffman for their efforts on this front. The inspector general's office at the VA is also conducting investigations into these allegations. It is my hope that we get to the full truth soon and that those responsible are held accountable. Depending on the findings, criminal charges may even be in order. In the meantime, my goal is to ensure that such recordkeeping practices are not allowed to take place. I have said this before, it is sad that we have to legislate in this way. When government bureaucrats don't use good judgment and common sense, regulations and laws must be changed to prevent bad behavior. No matter what the investigation shows and no matter who was involved, this practice must be prevented in the future. My amendment seeks to do just that. Only the official systems approved by the Veterans Administration's Central Office should be used. This way, we have oversight, accountability, and uniformity. It is my hope that one day we also have a little more efficiency in these processes. Thank you for your consideration, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of my commonsense amendment. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment, which seeks to redirect funds from the general administration account to the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general's office. As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I am a firm believer in oversight of the Federal Government. The more sunlight on Federal activity, the more honest and efficient it will be. I am also a strong proponent of the inspector general community. Since the Inspector General Act was passed into law, the IG community has saved taxpayers billions of dollars and has uncovered countless examples of wrongdoing in the Federal Government. These allegations about the Phoenix VA health care system are troubling, but I am also a firm believer of the rule of law. These investigations must be completed in order for us to have these answers. The answers from the IG report will yield both improvements to the VA process and hold accountable anyone who has done any harm. I support this amendment because I support a timely, but thorough resolution to the investigation. Let us give the IG's office the resources it needs. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support passage of this commonsense amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I would first like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus) for offering this amendment. Our offices have worked closely on this issue. To reiterate, this amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is a simple one. Senior leadership at the VA has repeatedly failed the very veterans they are meant to support. Initial responses for benefit claims hover close to a year in many cases, with appeals responses taking significantly longer. In too many instances, these matters even require Congressional intervention. My staff, though happy to do so, has far too many cases open on behalf of the veterans trying to receive their earned benefits with the Veterans Administration. With so many of our veterans being let down by their government, those in charge of the administration of benefits should not be rewarded. This should be common sense. I would also like to take a quick moment to thank Congressman Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, for introducing similar legislation that would allow the Secretary of the VA to fire senior executives or cut their pay for lack of performance. There are many Members on both sides of the aisle interested in shaking things up at the VA. I suggest we start here today by adopting these relevant amendments that will hold these government employees accountable. Again, I urge passage of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I have my first amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment that seeks to redirect funds that would otherwise be spent on Department of Veterans Affairs bureaucrats and administrative expenses and puts those monies towards timely service for our veterans. Although this amendment is a dollar-for-dollar transfer within this bill, which will result in a neutral impact on the bill's budget authority, the amendment will actually decrease budget outlays for 2015 by $1 million according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The general administration account for the Department of Veterans Affairs is funded at $321,591,000. Funds to this account can be spent on things that have nothing to do with administrating critical services for our veterans. Examples include things like receptions, conferences, uniforms, and excessive travel for bureaucrats. It is no secret that the VA, like other Federal agencies like the GSA and the IRS, has in recent years abused the trust of the American people by spending exorbitant amounts of money on conferences and travel expenses. I think we all know that the VA has had its share of problems in the past few years. Meanwhile, wait times for claims processing and appeals processing are horrendous. The most recent report put forth by the VA indicates there are more than 600,000 veterans' claims pending with the VA. Even more troubling is the fact that 319,363 claims have been pending for more than 125 days. Many of our veterans are simply giving up. They are either giving up on trying to obtain the benefits they deserve, or worse, some of them are giving up on life altogether. It is a travesty, and this appalling trend must by reversed. It is disheartening to me that such wasteful spending occurs while veterans are crying out for help. It is distressing that it occurs while veterans are taking their own lives. It is truly disturbing that it occurs when we have veterans dying as they wait for care. I appreciate the committee's hard work and its acknowledgment of the importance of reducing the backlog in this bill. Having said that, I think we can do more and should focus on prioritizing funding for efforts that will lead to timelier care for our Nation's heroes as opposed to administrative expenses. That is why I proposed redirecting a mere 1 percent of the funds in the general administration account away from the funding for conference expenses and bureaucrats and shifting those funds towards reducing the VA backlog. It is unfair to say that all VA employees and officials have abused the trust of the American people and the veterans that they are meant to serve. There are many within this Department who work tirelessly to get through their claims and streamline processes. To those people, I say ``thank you.'' Our veterans and the American taxpayers are not pleased with the overall production level at the VA. It is time to remember and act on the mission at hand: serving our veterans who have given so much for this Nation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of my commonsense amendment. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I have my second amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Judy Gresser on the recent sale of their restaurant, the Papa-San Rice Bowl in Yuma, Arizona, and to its new owners, Dr. and Mrs. Adalberto and Maria Robles. Mr. and Mrs. Gresser opened Papa-San on February 27, 1993 and sold it on February 28, 2014, making them the owners of the restaurant for 21 years and one day. The Gressers were eager to sell the restaurant so they could retire, but they wanted to ensure that the new owners would keep all the restaurant's employees. They chose the Robleses' offer over the various other offers they received because the Robles family agreed to keep the restaurant's employees so that the staff would not lose their jobs during the change in ownership. I am proud to represent people such as these, who are concerned not only about their bottom line, but also about the people who work for them. Entrepreneurs like the Gresser and Robles families make such a significant contribution to our communities. After all, it is small businesses like theirs that will lead us out of our current economic problems. Congratulations to Bill and Judy Gresser on 21 years of success and to Adalberto and Maria Robles; may Papa-San have many years of continued success under their ownership.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize passage of several pieces of legislation as well as to voice strong opposition to another bill for recorded votes during the week of March 3, 2014. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote for final passage of these bills because I was out on medical leave recovering from much needed hip replacement surgery. H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, is poorly crafted legislation that will make an already insolvent program worse. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is currently $24 billion in debt. This legislation will continue the federal governments failed involvement in administering flood insurance. H.R. 3370 undoes important reforms that were just passed in 2012 and were our only hope in making this terrible program sustainable. When it became clear the House did not have the votes to pass this legislation last week, the bill almost tripled in size over the weekend and came back a worse bill than even the Senate version in order to get enough Democrats to support these piece of junk. I strongly oppose this wasteful and inefficient bill. H.R. 938, the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, recognizes the importance of Israel as our closest ally and allows for new partnerships in relation to cyber-security, economic prosperity and defense. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important legislation. H.R. 4118, the Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty Law Equals Fairness Act, is legislation that seeks to delay Obamacare's individual mandate by one year. This bill would bring parity for the American people as President Obama has twice suspended the employer mandate for businesses. Obamacare is a train wreck. The President should not selectively choose by executive order what parts of this terrible law to enforce. If the President thinks this law is good enough for the American people then it should be good enough for his cronies and everyone else. I will continue to fight to repeal and replace Obamacare. H.R. 2126, the Energy Efficiency Improvements Act, is a bill that will assist with increasing energy efficiency throughout commercial buildings. H.R. 3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act, seeks to reinstate economic sanity to EPA proposed regulations and give Congress a role in the process. This legislation allows the EPA to propose regulations for existing American power plants, but requires Congressional approval before they can take effect. More importantly, it will prohibit the mandate for CSS technology for new power plants until it is viable and has been tested at a few select power plants around the country. This Administration has waged a war on coal and I'm proud to be a cosponsor of this critical bill that pushes back against this overreach by the EPA. H.R. 2641, the Responsibly and Professionally invigorating Development Act, is important legislation that streamlines the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to allow for a more timely completion of construction projects. This bill will create jobs and allow for projects that are critical to our economy to move forward. H.R. 4152, to provide for the costs of loan guarantees for Ukraine, would add Ukraine to the list of countries eligible for loan guarantees from the state department. This legislation seeks to undermine Mr. Putin's atrocious behavior and support the Ukraine interim government. This bill does not require any new appropriations, but merely adds Ukraine to a list of nations eligible for State Department monies. I personally condemn the actions of Russia, and I am hopeful this crisis is resolved soon for the Ukrainian people. Had I been present for these votes, I would have voted in support of these important bills with a yea vote on roll call numbers 95, 97, 98, 106, 113 and 114. Additionally, I would have opposed the dangerous flood insurance reform bill with a nay vote on roll call number 91.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Arizona State Library. The 150th anniversary of the Arizona Territorial Library, which was established in 1864 and became the State Library in 1915, was celebrated this year. Next year is the State Library's 100th anniversary. A department of the Secretary of State's office, the State Library provides access to historical records and operates the Arizona Capitol Museum. In the beginning, the State Library was mainly a law library, recording the laws of the territorial government and conducting legislative research. In recent years, this institution has grown to house historical archives, public records, and special collections such as the Arizona Memory Project, which is a collection of digitized records about the history and geography of Arizona. It also provides consulting services to county and local libraries and other government agencies to help them better manage public records. As part of the Library of Congress's Chronicling America territorial newspaper collection, the State Library also houses the Arizona Digital Newspaper Project. It was recently recognized as the Federal Depository Library of the Year for 2013 and is Arizona's only complete federal documents collection. Congratulations to the Arizona State Library for its many years of service to the people of Arizona.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize passage of several pieces of legislation during the week of February 24, 2014. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote for final passage of these bills because I was out on medical leave recovering from much needed hip replacement surgery. H.R. 1211, the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2014, is important legislation that increases transparency and streamlines the process for requests of public information disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act. This legislation passed through one of my committees, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, with my support. H.R. 1123, the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, is a bill that reverses a previous Library of Congress rule that made the unlocking of cell phones illegal after the FCC and industry had agreed that consumers had every right to unlock their phones. It also directs the Library of Congress to issue a rule to determine whether consumers should be allowed to unlock similar devices, such as tablets. H.R. 1944, the Private Property Rights Protection Act, is a bill to remedy a Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. New London, regarding governments' eminent domain powers. This legislation is very similar to one passed in the 112th Congress, which passed by voice vote. I am a strong supporter of private property rights and I agree 100 percent with the sense of Congress stated in this legislation that it should be ``the policy of the United States to encourage, support, and promote the private ownership of property and to ensure that the constitutional and other legal rights of private property owners are protected by the federal government.'' H.R. 3865, the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act, is an incredibly important piece of legislation designed to prevent the IRS from adopting a proposed rule that changes the way 501(c)(4) organizations are allowed to operate under the tax code. As the Oversight Committee noted in its hearing this week, this rule is tantamount to ``doubling down'' on the discriminatory practices against conservative groups that were uncovered in 2013. I strongly support this bill. H.R. 2804, the All Economic Regulations Are Transparent Act, is a bill that requires federal agencies to further disclose and report on much of their processes and rules. One of my favorite provisions of this bill is that agencies and Washington bureaucrats pushing forth new regulations have to assess and disclose the costs that their proposed rules will have on small businesses and the economy. If the rules are going to be made, they should have a sound basis and fully consider the economic impact. This bill accomplishes those goals and has my support. H.R. 3193, the Consumer Financial Protection and Soundness Improvement Act, makes a series of changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to rein in much of its autocratic authority. It will replace the Director of CFPB with a five member independent commission; it makes CFPB subject to the regular authorization and appropriations process; it requires the CFPB to use the GS pay scale like other federal agencies; and it prohibits the CFPB from accessing or using personal financial data of a consumer without express permission. I support reining in the unchecked authorities of the CFPB and support this legislation. H.R. 899, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, is a bill that, among other things, enhances the ability of the public to identify federal mandates that may impose additional costs to citizens, workers, businesses, as well as State, local, and tribal governments. I am a firm believer that the Federal Government must not crush the smaller guy with undue burdens and mandates. I strongly support this important legislation. Had I been present for these votes, I would have voted in support of these three important bills with an ``aye'' vote on rollcall Nos. 63, 64, 67, 69, 78, 85 and 90.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the centennial of Yuma, Arizona. Though it has been a city for 100 years, Yuma has a long and storied history. The Colorado River, on the banks of which Yuma lies, has had a shaping influence on the city and is an essential part of its history. Not only did the Colorado bring the area's first European visitors--Spanish explorers who sailed up the river in 1540 and discovered a thriving Native American village on its banks--it is also the reason for the very existence of the city. Today it is the river's water that is most important to this desert city, providing drinking water to its residents and irrigation water to its surrounding farms. Because of the ample sunshine, the plentiful irrigation, and the rich soil, Yuma County, of which Yuma is the county seat, is the winter vegetable capital of the world: 90% of the country's leafy vegetables are grown there from November to March. Prior to the early 1900s, however, it was the physical presence of the river that shaped Yuma. Though today the river is tame at Yuma, prior to the early 1900s the Colorado's banks were in constant flux, stretching up to 15 miles across at times. This made crossing the river a challenge. There was one point, however, at which 2 outcroppings made the river narrow. It was at this strategic point, called the Yuma Crossing, where the Native American settlement that would become Yuma was first established. Variously known as Colorado City and Arizona City, the city at Yuma Crossing was incorporated under the laws of the State of Arizona in 1914. The Yuma Crossing was used by thousands of people during the California gold rush, establishing the site's importance in American history. Eventually the US Army built a fort at Yuma and used it as a supply base for its southwestern operations. Yuma was also the site of the infamous Arizona Territorial Prison, emblematic of the Wild West. From its original Native American settlers to its Wild West days, Yuma's story is part of the American story. It has been an incorporated city for 100 years. Here's to 100 more.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Bullhead City Bee's 24th anniversary. The Bee was established on December 27, 1989 and serves the cities of Bullhead City, Arizona and Laughlin, Nevada. The co-founders of the newspaper include Hilda Gay Zimmer, Jim Dir, and Thom McGraham, the current publisher. Many Bullhead City-area residents turn to the Bee for their local news, making this an important community newspaper. Congratulations to the Bullhead City Bee on 24 years of success. May they find continued success for years to come.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize passage this week of three important pieces of legislation: H.R. 2431, the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013; S. 25, the vehicle which included the military retiree COLA fix and SGR bill; and H.R. 3448, the Small Cap Liquidity Reform Act. Additionally, I would like to make clear that I would have opposed S. 540, the Debt Limit Extension. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote on final passage of these important bills because of much needed hip replacement surgery. I guess I'm finally being paid back for playing rugby all through college and dental school. H.R. 2431, National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013, is important legislation that will provide critical benefits for ranchers, waters users and local communities allowing them to better prepare and respond to extreme drought conditions that are continuing to plague the West as well as rural communities. S. 25 reverses the cost of living adjustment (COLA) cuts for working- age military retirees that was found in the Bipartisan Budget Act. I voted against the flawed Bipartisan Budget Act because it increased spending levels by $45 billion in one year and $63 billion over the course of two years. To pay for those increases, the Bipartisan Budget Act erased various, if not all, spending cuts from the Budget Control Act which passed back in 2011. Additionally, the Bipartisan Budget Act reduced the annual retirement COLA for working age military retirees by one full percentage point. I found this provision to be completely unacceptable and don't believe we should be balancing our budget on the backs of our veterans. As S. 25 repeals this provision that penalizes our military retirees and includes a payfor, I would have supported this legislation. H.R. 3448, the Small Cap Liquidity Reform Act of 2013 is important legislation that establishes an optional liquidity pilot program which will benefit the securities of small emerging growth companies. Finally, I want to reiterate that I would have opposed S. 540, the Debt Limit Extension. Back in 2011, we reached an understanding that if we're going to raise the debt ceiling and not jeopardize the nation's credit, then we need to attach reforms to each debt ceiling increase so that we reduce the need to constantly raise the debt ceiling and we start living within our means. This increase violates those principles. Although some like to call this a ``clean'' debt ceiling increase, there is nothing clean about borrowing another trillion dollars; this is as messy as it gets and the term ``clean'' is propaganda as far as I'm concerned. The bottom line is that our nation has a spending addiction--it's past the point of a problem--when we must continually raise the debt ceiling to accommodate our dangerous spending habits. At what point does it stop? How is it possible that we couldn't include a single reform in this legislation? I don't want our country to default but I wouldn't have voted to give the President a blank check. The federal government will collect an estimated $3 trillion in taxes from October 1, 2013 until September 30, 2014. We do have the ability to live within our means and it's time we make the hard decisions necessary to make that happen. Had I been present for these votes, I would have voted in support of these three important bills with a ``yea'' vote on rollcall Numbers 55, 60 and 62. I would have opposed increasing the debt ceiling and voted ``nay'' on rollcall Numbers 61.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize passage this week of three important pieces or legislation: H.R. 357, the G.I. Bill Tuition Fairness Act; H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act; and H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote on final passage of these important bills because of a death in my family and my attendance at the subsequent funeral. The G.I. Bill Tuition Fairness Act is commonsense legislation for our veterans that will lead to more affordable education opportunities when our men and women in uniform return from service. The Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act is a bipartisan package of eight individual bills that will strengthen and preserve important outdoor traditions and some of our pristine natural treasures for American sportsmen, recreational enthusiasts and future generations. I am proud to have been a cosponsor of this bill. H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act seeks to address the crisis that is taking place in California that has resulted from extreme drought and other challenges. I am supportive of measures that provide much needed relief to our farmers. Having said that, as I am a strong supporter of state water rights, I could not have supported this legislation without the inclusion of provision 501 which states these dire circumstances are unique to California and should not serve as a precedent for other states. Finally, I want to address three quick items that came up during debate on H.R. 3590. The first is H. Amdt. 541, offered by Mr. Holt, which would have allowed the Secretary to prevent hunting and fishing on public lands based on speculative climate change studies. Any proposals to limit hunting and fishing should be made by state fish and game agencies and local communities, not Washington bureaucrats. The second item is H. Amdt. 537 offered by Mr. DeFazio that would have undermined the bill, lead to frivolous lawsuits and the eventual closing of public lands for hunting and fishing. Clearly, this amendment is contradictory to the intent of the bill and would have had negative consequences. The third and final issue that came up during debate on H.R. 3590 was in relation to condors and lead ammo. I would encourage legislators who opposed the bill based on this premise to visit my home state of Arizona where they have put forth a voluntary program that is having fantastic results and could serve as a model for the country on how to address this issue. Had I been present for these votes, I would have voted in support of these three important bills with a ``yea'' vote on rollcall Numbers 33, 41 and 50. I would have opposed the two dangerous amendments and voted ``nay'' on rollcall numbers 38 and 39.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. William A. Gary, who passed away on January 12. Mr. Gary was a long-time resident of Prescott, Arizona. He was also a husband, a father, a rancher, and a philanthropist. Mr. Gary was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He left his studies at Texas A&M University to serve our country as a Marine Corps captain in World War II and returned to Texas A&M after the war to finish his animal husbandry degree. He met his wife, Marion, when he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, where she served as a nurse in the Navy. Mr. Gary was born into a long line of ranchers going back to 17th century Virginia. Ranching was in his blood. In 1958, he and his wife, as well as their two children, moved to Arizona, where they bought a ranch and subsequently began other businesses. Like most entrepreneurs, Mr. Gary and his family did not find immediate riches, but through their hard work they eventually found success. After retiring from ranching, Mr. Gary began his philanthropic ventures in earnest. He had honed his fundraising skills when he helped found the Marine Military Academy in 1965. After retirement, he put those skills to use again, raising millions of dollars for important Prescott institutions. Not only did he raise millions for the Phippen Museum in Prescott, allowing the museum to double its size and improve its grounds, he also donated several pieces to the museum. The museum's Bill and Marion Gary Western Heritage Gallery is named in recognition of his and his wife's contributions. Mr. Gary also raised funds for the Yavapai College Foundation, helping to build the college's performance hall and other facilities.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I was honored to attend the grand opening and dedication ceremony of the Military Free Fall School's new Master Sergeant George A. Bannar Jr. Vertical Wind Tunnel at Yuma Proving Ground. The new wind tunnel will be used in the Special Forces Qualification Course to teach proper free fall techniques. Master Sergeant Bannar, the new wind tunnel's namesake, was a member of the Army's Special Forces and was stationed at Yuma Proving Ground as a Military Free Fall Instructor. He enlisted in the Army in October 1996 and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in July 2003. On his fifth deployment to Afghanistan, Master Sergeant Bannar was killed in action by enemy forces in Wardak Province on August 20, 2013. His awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. Master Sergeant Bannar is survived by his wife Michelle, his mother Sheila Long, and his father George Bannar, Sr. As a husband and a father of three, I cannot imagine the pain of losing a spouse or a child. I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Master Sergeant Bannar. I know that this new facility and the men and women who train there will stand as a testament to Master Sergeant Bannar and all of our fallen heroes. They fought to protect us and our freedoms. May we never forget their sacrifice.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, Today I congratulate Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson on becoming president of the Arizona Association of Counties (AACO). Mr. Johnson is the first elected official from Mohave County to serve as the AACO's president. He has already proven his dedication to the people of Mohave County as a leading Mohave County Supervisor, and I have no doubt that his leadership will serve the AACO and all people of Arizona well. The AACO is an important organization in Arizona. As the only organization that represents all of Arizona's 15 counties and their officials, its purpose is to promote issues important to our counties on the state and federal levels. Congratulations to Mr. Johnson and the AACO. I wish them much success in serving Arizona.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible naval officers and sailors who run the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida. I had the honor of touring this facility and I was privileged to be escorted by Commander Hung Cao. The deep water training was impressive and unique. Only the best get selected to train here and it showed. The dedication, resolve and commitment demonstrated by these service men was inspiring. I know our nation is in great hands when I see the high quality instruction and the effort to train our men to be both highly skilled and safe. I commend them and I want them to know the people of the United States need them and appreciate them. As Commander Cao told me, the ``instructors and staff here are true American Heroes, who have sacrificed a lot for this country.'' God bless these men and women.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Don and Lois Moore, proprietors of the Quartzsite General Store. Mr. and Mrs. Moore opened the Quartzsite General Store in Quartzsite, Arizona on December 12, 1972. This December 12 will mark the 41st anniversary of its opening. The store's western-themed storefront has been a mainstay of Quartzsite's Main Street for those 41 years, adding to the town's character and economy. Known for its fresh meats and produce, cleanliness, and great customer service, the General Store has consistently contributed to the community of Quartzsite. The store could not have been successful without Don's and Lois's hard work and dedication. Don retired from the store in 1999 and Lois retired from school teaching in 1995, but they both work at the store again today. Their determination to achieve their American dream is a shining example not only to their 6 children and 15 grandchildren, but to all current and future entrepreneurs. Small businesses like theirs are the backbone of our economy, and it is those businesses that will lead us out of our current economic problems. Congratulations to the Quartzsite General Store and to its owners, Don and Lois, on 41 years of success. May they have continued success for many years to come.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the millions of Americans who have lost their health insurance under ObamaCare. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Federal Government's chief watchdog, is holding a field hearing this Friday in Apache Junction, Arizona, entitled, ``ObamaCare Implementation, the Broken Promise: If You Like Your Current Plan, You Can Keep It.'' As a member of this committee, I am joining Chairman Darrell Issa to listen to Arizonans tell their ObamaCare nightmares. I want to know how this terrible law is hurting you personally so we can show President Obama and the Senate Democrats the damage ObamaCare is inflicting throughout Arizona and across the country. I encourage you all to come and let your voices be heard. Mr. Speaker, we are listening. If you are not able to attend, but would like to share your story, please visit www.gop.gov/yourstory. ObamaCare has always been fundamentally flawed. I will continue to do all I can to protect the American people from this horrific law.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to shed light on the President's broken health care promise. The President promised over and over again that Americans who like their health care plans could keep them, but that is just not true. Here is what Wendy from my district wrote me: My BlueCross BlueShield policy will be canceled due to ObamaCare starting March 1, 2014. I checked out other policy options under ObamaCare and the least expensive qualifying plan was an additional $208.44 per month. This is with a higher deductible, larger out-of-pocket expense, and only three doctor visits per year per person. This is outrageous. Additionally, this rate only includes me and my three children, not even my husband. I guess we can't even keep a family together under ObamaCare. As Wendy's story exemplifies, and as we predicted since 2010, ObamaCare is fundamentally flawed in concept and execution. Dictated government health care cannot beat free-market choices. And as a health care professional, I will continue to do all that I can to protect the American people from ObamaCare.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, today I stand to recognize the memory of U.S. Army Specialist Pat Tinnell, and to say thank you to all those involved in creating the Pat Tinnell sports complex in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The world-class skate and bike park, which is nearly the size of a football field, is dedicated to the 25-year-old American hero, Pat Tinnell, who loved his family, his community, and BMX bike riding. Pat volunteered to serve our Nation and gave his life in Iraq in April of 2006, protecting the freedoms we hold dear. A special thank you to those who made this park a reality through countless fundraising events. Everyone in the community deserves a thank you, including Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen and those who served on the Memorial Sports Park committee and gave of their time and talent, national figures like skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, BMX rider and philanthropist Rob Dydrik, and Joe Ciaglia from California Skate Parks, who designed this beautiful facility. Finally, thank you to the family and loved ones of Pat Tinnell and young Colin Sasseen, who both lost their lives all too soon. I hope this park serves as a reminder that your sons' memories will not be forgotten. Today's youth are our greatest asset as a Nation. It is the youth who will continue to lead this Nation in the coming years, serve in our Armed Forces, fight fires, be teachers, doctors, and maybe you will even be our next BMX superstar, have a show on MTV, and make your mark in philanthropy. Leadership comes in all forms. In fact, Rob Dydrik said that his success was the American Dream. The American Dream looks a lot like work, and work results in success. It is my hope that the memories of Pat and Colin are honored by all those who visit the park. Thank you and God bless.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, today I'm here to say enough is enough. The President and this administration are manipulating the shutdown to intentionally hurt as many American families as possible, and that is simply wrong. My home State of Arizona has many national parks and beautiful scenic views, most importantly, the Grand Canyon, the gem of the National Park Service. It should not be forgotten that these belong to the people. Though the House passed H.J. Res. 70, Open Our National Parks and Museum Act by a large bipartisan margin, the Senate is refusing to act on it, which is why, in true Arizona fashion, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission offered to the National Park Service their own solution, which is to include their own game and fish resources to keep open our national parks, including Lees Ferry, the gateway to the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon, and the very symbol of Arizona. On behalf of the people of Arizona, I urge the National Park Service to get out of the way. Let residents, let Americans, let everyone back into their parks.