Frank Guinta

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for sharing that heartfelt story as well as the challenges that your community is facing.

Mr. GUINTA. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for outlining, through the lens of liberty and peace, the challenge that Andrew Hirst and his father, Mike, have endured. My heart is with them and with your constituents. I also want to thank you for your hard work on the Bipartisan Task Force. I look forward to your continuing leadership in Michigan and here in Washington, D.C.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to Ms. Jennifer Soldati on her retirement after more than nine years as Executive Director of the Greater Somersworth Chamber of Commerce, and thank her for the outstanding work she did during her career. Throughout her time at the Chamber, Ms. Soldati fought for the interests of both large and small businesses, and focused on promoting growth throughout the region. During her tenure with the City Council, she played a critical role in completing multiple renovation projects in downtown Somersworth, and it's clear that her knowledge, compassion and leadership will be greatly missed. It is with great admiration that I congratulate Ms. Jennifer Soldati on her retirement, and wish her the best on all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Vote Number 692, I am not recorded because I was absent from the U.S. House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner. On Roll Call Number 692, had I been present, I would have voted NO.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to Charles DiPerri in celebration of reaching his 90th birthday. As he reflects on the great memories that have highlighted the past ninety years, I know he will think fondly on all that he's accomplished and the positive impact he's had on New Hampshire. It is with great admiration that I congratulate Mr. DiPerri on achieving this wonderful milestone, and wish him the best on all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Granite State first responder for forty years of service to the Wolfeboro Fire-Rescue Department in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Chief Philip ``Butch'' Morrill joined the Wolfeboro Fire-Rescue Department in September of 1975 as a call firefighter. Four years later on October 23, 1979 he joined the ranks of the department as a full time firefighter, committed to protecting his community and the Greater Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Firefighter Morrill was a standout member of the department and would work through the ranks of the department over the next twenty five years before being appointed Chief on May 3, 2004. In addition to his duties with the Wolfeboro Fire- Rescue Department, Chief Morrill was also an active member of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, serving as its President in 2013- 2014. On November 30, 2015 Chief Morrill retired with forty years of service to the people of Wolfeboro and the Granite State. On behalf of the people of the First Congressional District of New Hampshire, I thank him for his dedicated service to the community and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to Dr. Steve Kelley on his retirement after 32 years working in both the Inter-Lakes School District, and as the Principal at Conway Elementary School for 6 years. Dr. Kelley's continuous progression within the education community from his time as a teacher at Inter-Lakes Elementary School, to his most recent position as Principal of Inter-Lakes Elementary School, exemplifies his dedication and professionalism, and I know he will remain an exceptional role model for students and faculty throughout New Hampshire. The creativity, knowledge, and experience Dr. Kelley brought to schools throughout the Granite State has been invaluable, and it's clear he leaves an example of strong leadership for others to emulate in his wake. It is with great admiration that I congratulate Mr. Kelley on his retirement, and wish him the best on all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to Ms. Mary Ellen Ormond on her retirement after 33 years in the New Hampshire Public School System, and thank her for the outstanding work she did during her career. Ms. Ormond's continuous progression within the education community from her time at Grinnell Elementary School, to her most recent position as superintendent of the Inter-Lakes School District, exemplifies her dedication and professionalism. The creativity, knowledge, and experience Ms. Ormond brought to classrooms throughout the Granite State has been invaluable, and it's clear she leaves an example of strong leadership for others to emulate in her wake. It is with great admiration that I congratulate Ms. Ormond on her retirement, and wish her the best on all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Laconia Christmas Village in Laconia, New Hampshire. I am pleased to join with the City of Laconia and its residents in commemorating this wonderful event and holiday tradition for Granite Staters in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. This is a great achievement as the annual Christmas Village is organized and run by local volunteers in Laconia, who not only help build the actual village and attractions, but work together to provide all the resources needed to put on this yearly event. The event is free to the public and sees roughly 2,500 children come through to see Santa Claus and receive a Christmas present, and for some children this is their only holiday celebration. Volunteers not only help in the preparation of the event, but help with entertainment, providing refreshments and welcoming families from across the region to the city. With the goal of providing a family friendly event to usher in the holiday season, these volunteers and the community have come together beautifully to highlight the wonder and merriment of the Christmas season. Joined with the efforts of local volunteers who give their time and resources to make the village a success, this is a testament to the strong sense of community and support this event has had in Laconia over the last 40 years. I am proud to join with my fellow Granite Staters in recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Laconia Christmas Village, and wish them all the best in their future years.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to request the President's timely response to a bipartisan, bicameral letter from congressional Members willing to work with him to repeal the Affordable Care Act's tax on middle class families' healthcare benefits. This month I joined House and Senate Members, both Democrat and Republican, to express our constituents' extreme concern about the 40 percent tax on employer-sponsored benefits coming in 2018. Public and private employers and employees tell me that the tax will cost jobs and incomes across New Hampshire as they cope with higher taxes and premiums. Companies and municipalities are planning for the worst. Families will face lower wages and higher prices as organizations shift costs to pay for new taxes. Our coalition asks the President to meet with us as soon as possible so we can find a solution to this so-called Cadillac tax by the end of this year. I would like to thank Senators Heller, Brown, and Heinrich, as well as Representative Joe Courtney, for their help. Mr. President, please respond to our request to work together. If we act now, we can avoid more unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to Sister Josette Parisi on her retirement after 25 years as the manager of Searles Castle, and thank her for the outstanding work she did during her career. Sister Josette's continuous effort to improve Searles Castle exemplifies her intelligence, positive attitude, and generous spirit, and because of her commitment, Searles Castle is now available for the public to utilize and enjoy. Sister Josette's compassion for helping people through difficult times is exceptional, and she leaves an example of strong leadership and compassion for others to emulate in her wake. It is with great admiration that I congratulate Sister Josette Parisi on her retirement, and wish her the best on all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. I thank Chairman Hensarling for his leadership on this very, very important issue. Mr. Chairman, it has been over 2 years since the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued flawed auto financing guidance that created much uncertainty in the auto lending market. More than half of car buyers finance their purchase when they acquire an automobile. These consumers have the ability to receive great auto rates through dealer-assisted financing. However, this flawed and unstudied guidance threatens to eliminate auto dealers' flexibility to discount the interest rates offered to their consumers, the customers. My good friend across the aisle, Mr. Perlmutter of Colorado, and I have introduced H.R. 1737, along with 166 of our colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to give the CFPB a chance to fix this faulty guidance. This bill was carefully written by Republicans and Democrats very simply and narrowly to provide clarity, fairness, and, most importantly, due process. No Federal agency can set new policies through guidance. However, in March of 2013, the CFPB attempted to go outside the formal rulemaking process by blatantly disregarding consumers and small businesses, blatantly disregarding their ability and their right to comment on guidance that will directly affect them. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1737 asks that the CFPB rescind their flawed guidance and reissue it under a more transparent process by consulting other regulators and allowing the public notice and comment. I want to be clear. This bill does not strip the CFPB of any rulemaking authority it currently has. H.R. 1737 gives the CFPB the golden opportunity to correct and reissue their guidance that would take into account consumers and bring clarity to the market. Mr. Chairman, again, I want to reiterate that my colleagues and I are merely trying to promote transparency, accountability, and due process. There are a small number of critics that believe this bill is unnecessary because the CFPB already has the tools to correct their auto guidance. Well, the CFPB could have fixed this issue without legislation over 2 years ago, but they disregarded 13 bipartisan letters that were sent urging them to correct the fallacies in their guidance. I find it ironic that the agency that is supposed to protect the consumer is, in fact, harming them with this guidance. In fact, this guidance impacts much more than car buyers. It harms auto dealers, RV dealers, motorcycle dealers, international dealers, and even manufacturers. Congress created the CFPB to protect consumers, not hurt them by silencing the voices of thousands of consumers and small businesses. On August 31 of this year, The Wall Street Journal reported: ``Some automakers have responded by overhauling their loan pricing in ways that will likely mean higher costs for some borrowers.'' If the CFPB really cares about developing policies that are truly in the best interest of consumers, they should amend their guidance to be more transparent and allow public participation. Mr. Chairman, my bill is very simple and narrow, and, quite frankly, it is common sense. It only asks for five things: public notice and comment; make the data available to the public; consult with the Federal Reserve Board, the FTC, and the DOJ; create a consumer impact report; and conduct a study on women- and minority-owned businesses. That is the crux of the bill. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record letters of support from the National Automobile Dealers Association, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, American International Automobile Dealers Association, the National Auto Auction Association, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the National RV Dealers Association, the Motorcycle Industry Council, American Financial Services Association, New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, the U.S. Chamber, and the U.S. Consumer Coalition. I urge my colleagues to join the 166 Members in support of H.R. 1737. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, November 17, 2015. To the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations, and dedicated to promoting, protecting, and defending America's free enterprise system, strongly supports H.R. 1737, the ``Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act,'' and H.R. 1210, the ``Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act.'' H.R. 1737 would change the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) approach to the indirect auto lending market, and bring much-needed transparency. The CFPB has created enormous uncertainty in this market by issuing guidance without notice and comment, and undertaking enforcement and supervisory actions based upon post hoc statistical models-- but has failed to share its analysis and assumptions, thus depriving lenders of the ability to anticipate the CFPB's analysis and to comply accordingly. H.R. 1737 would establish clear rules and put any guidance regarding indirect auto lending on a solid footing by eliminating any legal effect of the CFPB's 2013 guidance, and then imposing reasonable conditions on any future guidance on this topic. The Chamber supports H.R. 1210, which would provide regulatory certainty to lenders--particularly small lenders such as community banks and credit unions--by allowing loans held on the books of a lender to be eligible for the safe harbor provided under the Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule. It would also correct the CFPB's ``one-size-fits-all'' approach for the mortgage market. H.R. 1210 would facilitate a robust underwriting process by lenders and would also help qualified borrowers obtain mortgages by alleviating some of the uncertainty that currently exists under the QM rule. Collectively, these bills would provide clear rules and establish certainty in the marketplace benefiting consumers and businesses. The Chamber urges the House of Representatives to pass these bills as expeditiously as possible. Sincerely, R. Bruce Josten, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs.

Mr. GUINTA. Will the gentleman from Texas yield?

Mr. GUINTA. I would like to reiterate that the CFPB has the authority and the tools to increase financial literacy skills to consumers. I would be more than happy to work with the gentleman personally to make sure that they better educate consumers when they are purchasing a car. That is something that is important and critical. I value the interest that the gentleman has on this component of the bill, and I plan to work with the gentleman.

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to Ida Schwartz in celebration of reaching her 100th birthday. As she reflects on the great memories that have highlighted the past hundred years, I know she will think fondly on all that she's accomplished and the positive impact she's had on New Hampshire. It is with great admiration that I congratulate Ms. Schwartz on achieving this wonderful milestone, and wish her the best on all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many contributions Ann West has made to Pinkerton Academy and their performing arts program over the past 56 years. Ann is directing her last play with the Pinkerton Players on November 15, 2015 and I am pleased to join with Pinkerton Academy and the Stockbridge Theatre in recognizing the many contributions she has made to both the school and performing arts in her community. Ann founded the Pinkerton Players, Pinkerton Academy's own performing arts group in 1988. Since that time she has directed dozens of plays and musicals such as Our Town, The Pink Panther and A Christmas Carol to name just a few. She was also instrumental in building both of the school's auditoriums--the Shephard Auditorium in 1963 and the Stockbridge Theatre that was built to replace the auditorium in 2002. In addition to her time with the Pinkerton Players, Ann has served as an educator in many subjects at Pinkerton Academy, and heading up the English department at the school. She is a past president and active member of the board for the New Hampshire Council for Teachers of English, and an Executive Board Member for the New England Association of Teachers of English. I am proud to join with my fellow Granite Staters in recognizing the many contributions Ann West has made to both Pinkerton Academy and her community over the last 56 years, and I wish her the best in all future endeavors.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the Goffstown Grizzlies football team, a high school with just 1,000 students who have an amazing story of perseverance and achievement. Thanks to great coaching and hard work, the team qualified for a division 3 championship a few years ago and has since advanced to division 1, the toughest in the Granite State. Even their fans thought competing at this level would be a tall order. The Grizzlies are undefeated this season. They entered Saturday's playoff game ranked number one; and they got there with exciting defense and special teams blocking punts and returning kickoffs for touchdowns. The Grizzlies have the Granite State's fiercest linebacking crew and a sack leader. Their kicker boots 45-yard field goals, helping his team to average more than 42 points a game. The running back rushed for over 1,000 yards this season and scored over 20 touchdowns. They have New Hampshire's most potent passing attack and incredible local support. Their spirited fans make it easy to like the Grizzlies, who take on the Second District's North Nashua Titans this weekend. I wish both teams well but the Grizzlies just a little bit better.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the Goffstown Grizzlies football team in New Hampshire's First District. The Grizzlies, representing Goffstown High School with just a thousand students, have an amazing story of perseverance and achievement. Thanks to their coach, the team qualified for a Division 3 championship a few years ago and advanced to Division 1, the toughest in the Granite State. Even their fans thought competing at that high level would be a tall order. The Grizzlies are undefeated this season. They enter Saturday's Division 1 playoff game ranked number one. It will be their first home playoff game. And they got there with exciting defense and special teams play, blocking punts and returning kickoffs for touchdowns. They have the Granite State's fiercest line-backing crew and the sack leader. Their kicker boots 45-yard field goals, helping his team to average more than 42 points a game. The running back rushed for a thousand yards this season and scored over twenty touchdowns. The Grizzlies have New Hampshire's most potent passing attack. Their spirited fans make it easy to be a Grizzlies fan, not that you'd need any more reason to like this impressive team of underdogs, who take on the Second District's North Nashua Titans this weekend. I wish both teams well but the Grizzlies a little better.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Veterans Health and Accountability Act. Yesterday's Veterans Affairs Committee hearing showed why this bill is so critical. An investigation revealed that Veterans Affairs administrators likely gamed the system to enrich themselves at taxpayer expense, creating high-paying vacancies at desirable locations, where they would have less responsibility. At the hearing, they pled the Fifth to avoid the truth, and they remain on the job. Meanwhile, Granite State vets are waiting for care. My Veterans Health and Accountability Act strengthens the Veterans Choice program, allowing veterans to seek private care due to inadequate VA facilities. My home State of New Hampshire does not even have a full-service VA. The act also protects whistleblowers who expose negligence and mismanagement. If it were not because of these individuals, we may never have discovered secret waiting lists where thousands of vets probably died waiting for care. The bill I introduced clarifies hiring and firing rules, so bad actors who abuse their positions can be exited promptly. We must enforce and expand VA reforms to ensure our military vets receive the care we promised them. We must restore Americans' trust in government.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 70th anniversary of Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I am pleased to join with the Community College System of New Hampshire in recognizing this great milestone for the college. Great Bay Community College first opened its doors in 1945 in Portsmouth as the State Trade School; its primary mission was to provide trade school facilities for veterans demobilized from the Armed Services. Since the first class of 130 veterans in 1945, the school has grown and evolved to offer over 50 degree and certificate programs. The courses offered over the years have changed, ranging from machine tooling, sheet metal work, auto mechanics, electronics and refrigeration to nursing, added in 1966, to today where degrees range from biotechnologies, criminology, management and marketing, to advanced composite manufacturing. As we celebrate Great Bay Community College's 70th anniversary, it continues to grow having just added a 20,000 square foot student center to its facilities. This new addition is a testament to the dedication the school has to its students and the growing need for reasonable and affordable higher education. I am proud to join with my fellow Granite Staters in recognizing the 70th anniversary of Great Bay Community College, and wish them all the best in their future years.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and millions of Americans joined our fight against a disease that strikes one out of every eight women in our country. This issue is personal to me and the thousands of Granite Staters who have family and friends suffering from breast cancer, or who suffer from it themselves. My mother is a breast cancer survivor. Her courageous battle is my inspiration in Congress. I joined more than 180 Members to cosponsor legislation that would encourage the government and private sector to work together to find a cure. Thanks to the hard work of Nancy Ryan and the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition, which recently marked its 20th anniversary, that cure is even closer today. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. Every October, we honor and remember those who have died and those who are living with breast cancer. We acknowledge the hard work of the medical professionals and caregivers, and we recommit ourselves to finding a solution that will save lives.

Mr. GUINTA

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

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to the bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. Each year, we authorize funding for highway projects all across America. The underlying bill we are discussing today provides both much-needed Federal funding, but also necessary long-term certainty for planning transportation projects. The funds provided are critical for maintaining our current roads and highways, improving our infrastructure, and creating new infrastructure across the country, something that is especially important for many rural areas like those in the Granite State. But like many projects that use taxpayer dollars, burdensome regulations and inefficiencies often drive up the cost of projects and cause delays in the final project. My amendment is simple. It would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to understand the purchasing power of the Federal highway dollars and quantify the things that weaken it, such as these burdensome regulations. At a time when we face immense budgetary constraints, we should be examining how each and every dollar is being spent. Granite Staters sent me to Washington to shed light on how we spend their tax dollars, and this amendment achieves just that. There is no doubt that these highway projects are beneficial and necessary for millions of Americans, but even the necessary and important projects should have proper oversight. It is just simply about good government. Hardworking Granite Staters know how to stretch a dollar, and it should be no different for the Federal Government. This amendment allows us to identify the true cost of infrastructure projects. We should be doing all we can to ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely and efficiently so these projects are completed on time and on budget. I want to thank the chair and the ranking member, and I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUINTA

Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring attention to the dire need for nurses in the Granite State. The New Hampshire Union Leader--my newspaper of Manchester, New Hampshire--reports the need will only increase as our population ages and more nurses reach retirement. Also, healthcare facilities are concentrated outside the State, increasing the need for healthcare practitioners in New Hampshire. I recently hosted a Manchester Job Fair to help meet the need, and I am a proud cosponsor of the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2015. Right now, according to Medicare rules, a nurse practitioner may not prescribe home healthcare services for beneficiaries. They must seek a doctor's permission, a process that would take weeks in rural areas like northern New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association visited me in Washington last month to tell me about this critical problem. Current rules add extra time and cost to home health care. Qualified nurses should be able to make the best decisions for their patients, especially in the isolated or homebound arena. The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act would allow nurses to do their jobs and help patients recover. It is time to remove a needless layer of bureaucracy and give them the tools they need to succeed.