Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank the gentleman from Utah. I appreciate you leading this critical Special Order tonight. It has been a dangerous few weeks in Israel. We have been watching the developments between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as Israel shows restraint while still protecting its citizens. Quite simply, Israel is under siege by a radical faction that displays blatant disregard for its citizens. Hamas is using its citizens as human shields, building bombs in the basements of schools and homes, and prohibiting families from evacuating areas where rockets are being launched. Israel has shown tremendous restraint and has every right to defend itself against these unwarranted attacks. Over 2,000 rockets have been launched into Israel, reaching even Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Over 80 percent of the country's citizens have had to huddle in bomb shelters for parts of 3 weeks now. Over 6 million men, women, and children are endangered, yet Israel has agreed to cease-fire after cease-fire. Unfortunately, Hamas has not abided by these calls, firing dozen of rockets into Israel, even when Israel was ceasing its efforts to protect its citizens, so that humanitarian assistance could arrive to the people in the Gaza Strip. Israel has gone above and beyond for years now to help the people of Gaza and give them an opportunity for a better life. Nine years ago, Israel moved totally out of Gaza, giving the land and farms and greenhouses to people of Gaza. 10,000 Israeli lives were disrupted as they moved to Israel. Generous people all over the world raised money to buy the tractors and farm equipment for the people of Gaza. The area could have become the jewel of the Mediterranean and a peaceful neighbor to Israel--a model of a two-state solution. Instead, they tore down the greenhouses. Instead of building roads and homes, they built tunnels with the intent to attack and kill Israelis. They voted Hamas in power and turned the area into a terrorist military outpost. So here we are today, while Hamas is bent on killing innocent Israelis, Israel is intent on preserving their lives. As they seek to stop the rocket fire in the Gaza Strip, Israel goes to great lengths to save innocent lives. It drops leaflets into the neighborhoods, warning of an impending military attack to take out the rocket launchers, which are often strategically placed by Hamas in the neighborhoods. It then calls the residents of the house to warn them, then sends text messages to the home, then ``knocks'' on the house by dropping a small nonpenetrating bomb on the roof to let people know they are serious. Unfortunately, Hamas has responded by stopping people from fleeing and even forcing them onto the rooftops as human shields. Thankfully, the Iron Dome missile defense system has stopped rockets from reaching their targets in Israel. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: Israel uses its missile defense system to save human lives. Hamas uses its people to save its missiles. We need to be standing strong for the only democracy and our greatest ally in the Middle East. We need to let other nations know we will never abandon Israel, and they need to join us in speaking out against the affront to national sovereignty and to human decency. We need to be offering assistance to stop these attacks and help Israel stay safe. It is time for Hamas to agree to a total cease-fire. Any loss of life is tragic, and Hamas needs to end their blatant disregard for their citizens and agree to end the attacks. Please join me in praying for the peace of Jerusalem.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the real and present danger that Israel finds itself in today. Quite simply, Israel is under siege. Hamas has fired over 1,000 rockets in the last few weeks into the country. Millions of Israelis are at risk. Hamas is a designated terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of Israel. The aggression of Hamas leaves Israel with no choice but to defend its citizens, and we must show that we stand with Israel against unprovoked rocket attacks. Hamas must immediately end the unprovoked attacks and agree to a ceasefire. In addition, Israel finds itself under siege by the persistent threat of a nuclear Iran. Stringent economic sanctions remain our only peaceful option by which to persuade Iran to suspend its quest for nuclear weapons. However, with the negotiations deadline approaching this Sunday, we must present a credible military threat and strengthen sanctions should Iran not respond to peacefully ending their pursuit. The last window of opportunity we have to keep Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability is soon closing. Preventing Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capabilities is essential. We must stand with Israel.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and thank two outstanding men from my district for their service and sacrifice to share their time and talents to help others. Kevin Little and Kurtis Moore from Osage Valley Electric, volunteered for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's International Foundation in Haiti as part of the Caracol Community Electrification Project. They spent two weeks in northern Haiti building and upgrading more than a mile and a half of power lines to help communities there receive affordable, safe and reliable electricity. Mr. Little and Mr. Moore even helped connect homes to electricity for the first time around Tru-du-Nord. To date, more than 4,800 consumers in the northern part of Haiti have access to electricity. Some homes now have TV antennas, a few towns have water treatment plants, doctors can provide better care to patients, and residents have opened their own small businesses like Internet cafes. Electricity is a critical element in improving the quality of life. In Haiti less than 20 percent of the people there have regular access to electricity. I am blessed to represent Kevin Little and Kurtis Moore in Congress, grateful for their hard work and commitment to the community, and I wish them the best in all their future endeavors.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, June 26, 2014, due to a death in my family, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 360, ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 361, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 362, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 363, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 364, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 365, ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 366, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 367, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 368, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, due to a death in my family, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 355, ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 356, ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 357, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 358, ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 359, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for his leadership on this issue as well as for the chairman's support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, now is not the time for BRAC. Due to the passage of the Budget Control Act, our military is facing unprecedented cuts which, I believe, could jeopardize our national defense--maintenance is being deferred; force structure is being reduced to levels we haven't seen since before World War II; training is being deferred as well. A BRAC would siphon precious defense dollars away from our military at a time when the ultimate end strength is uncertain. We should learn from past lessons. We are still paying for the last BRAC. In 2005, a BRAC was approved. It was supposed to cost $21 billion, but in fact, it is actually costing taxpayers $35 billion. We are still paying off the last BRAC. Now is not the time to take the precious dollars that need to be going to our men and women in uniform and spend them on a BRAC, especially when we have not determined the ultimate force end strength at this point. What are we not going to spend money on for our defense if we okay a BRAC? Are our men and women in uniform not going to get the equipment they need? Are we going to cease even more training? Are we going to just mothball further platforms? Are we going to cut the benefits to our military families? We need every dollar in defense right now to go to protect our national defense, not to reduce our future options that we may need. With all of the threats facing our country--and as we watch TV now, we see all of the threats that are in the world--we need to make sure we have a strong national defense and that we not further weaken it and not weaken our options. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 29, 2014, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 243, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 244, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 245, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 246, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 247, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 248, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 249, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 250, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 251, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 252, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 253, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 254, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 255, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 256, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 257, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 258, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 259, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 260, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 261, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 262, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 263, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 264, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 265, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 266, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 267, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 268, ``nay''; on rollcall No. 269, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two amazing men who have served Bates County for over fifty years as medical professionals. Dr. William Haynie and Dr. Curtis Long are loved and respected by all and have made an amazing difference in the lives of thousands of families in Missouri's 4th District. Dr. Haynie began his career at Bates County Memorial Hospital in 1964. He has been a very active member of the medical staff and many committees within the hospital. He supervised the Laboratory, Medical/ Surgery, and Rehabilitation services before serving as Chief of the Medical Staff for eight years. Dr. Haynie was recognized in 2012 by the Missouri State Medical Association for his 50 years of dedicated service as a Medical Doctor in the Bates County community. His always- positive attitude and selflessness to remain faithful to service for decades is deserving of praise. Dr. Long began his practice in Butler, Missouri in 1964 where he has been a pillar in the community for over five decades. During his distinguished career he has operating from the same medical building performing more than 10,000 surgeries, delivering over 4,000 babies, and admitting over 50,000 patients. Additionally, he has been a leader for organized medicine groups, hospitals, banks, and churches within the community. I stand to recognize Dr. Long's passion for his practice and his community. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in applauding the service and commitment of Drs. Haynie and Long. Their steadfast and enduring service is a shining example for all. We are blessed to have such dedicated practitioners serving us, and they are certainly worthy of our recognition.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 241, ``yea'' and on rollcall No. 242, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 30, 2014, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 270 ``nay'' and on rollcall No. 271, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, this is a simple, straightforward amendment to ensure highway dollars are spent wisely and are used for highways. Specifically, it prohibits our limited highway money from being used for highway beautification. We have over 65,000 bridges that are considered structurally deficient. We must ensure that our Federal highway dollars are spent improving our infrastructure. From 1992 to 2001, over $1.2 billion was spent on landscaping and scenic beautification, and these funds could have been put towards ensuring our roadways and bridges are safe. It does not make sense for the hardworking families in Missouri and all across this country to send in their money on April 15, every year, and to, perhaps, forego buying their child a new coat or shoes or making a house payment so that they can pay their taxes, just so that their tax dollars can go to planting flowers alongside the road. Now, I am for a beautiful highways, like everybody else, but I think a private solution is better. Why don't we, like we have adopt the highway sections for picking up trash and making our roads pretty, why don't we have adopt a corner for landscaping projects? Why don't we have local garden clubs adopt an intersection, or a Girl Scout troop or a Boy Scout troop? Why don't we leave that up to local community leaders and individuals to plant those flowers? I don't believe we should be using our hard-earned tax dollars to be doing this highway beautification, especially in a time when our roads are falling apart and our bridges are deficient. There are potholes in roads that are endangering our families, endangering our children, and yet we are spending these hard-earned tax dollars to plant flowers and bushes along the road. We can't afford luxuries like this anymore. It is time to spend our highway dollars on our highways, make sure our roads are safe, make sure our bridges are safe, make sure that those hard-earned tax dollars are used wisely. So that is why I am offering this simple amendment, and I would urge my colleagues to support my effort to make sure our highway dollars are spent where they need to be spent and to make sure our money is spent wisely. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 19, 2014, due to a family funeral, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 218, ``yea;'' on rollcall No. 219, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Reichert and Mr. Doggett for bringing this legislation to the floor and for their leadership on this very, very important issue. In 2013, the FBI conducted raids on sex trafficking operations in 70 U.S. cities. Perhaps the most startling finding in the aftermath of these raids was that 60 percent of rescued child trafficking victims had lived in foster care or group homes. This finding has taught us a very important lesson: to comprehensively address such horrific injustice, we must both improve the state of children and family services, and increase the efforts in the Justice Department. This legislation works to address human trafficking by helping us to ensure that the over 400,000 youth currently in foster care have the security and resources they need to become fully integrated contributors to American society. Though human trafficking is a global issue, we must remember that it is happening throughout America, sadly even in places like my home State of Missouri. Just last November in Jefferson City, a 28-year-old man was indicted for sex trafficking of a child under the age of 14. Also, earlier this year, a Springfield man pleaded guilty to trafficking of a 17-year-old girl with learning disabilities. Stories like these remind us that this crime against humanity is a real threat all across the U.S., one that is not limited to big cities or high-crime areas. Today's legislation proactively confronts one of the most disturbing threats to the liberty and dignity of the American people. We cannot afford to stand idly by while the innocent are being subjected to cruel and dehumanizing treatment right here in our own country. Madam Speaker, I urge the Members of this body to join this effort and help end this form of enslavement and keep kids safe.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 9, 2014, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 210, ``nay,'' on rollcall No. 211, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your leadership. As a member of the Budget Committee and the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to support a balanced budget that stops spending money we don't have. It provides regulatory relief and promotes for a strong defense. Our Federal debt tops an astonishing $17 trillion. This is unacceptable. It is irresponsible to take more money from hard-working families just to spend more here in Washington. Our Path to Prosperity budget balances in 10 years by cutting wasteful spending and reforming government. Just as importantly, this budget gets our priorities right again by providing for the common defense. It replaces $274 billion in scheduled defense cuts to ensure the American people have a bright, safe future. It is imperative we do so because, since taking office, President Obama has directed over $1 trillion in cuts to our military. Under the President's budget, which cuts $75 billion over the next 2 years, with deeper cuts expected if sequestration returns in fiscal year 2016, Secretary of Defense Hagel and other senior defense and military officials acknowledge that these budget choices will create additional risk to our Nation. We can't allow this to happen. While we cut nearly one-fifth of our defense resources, Russia and China are arming at an alarming rate. Russia's military spending is up roughly 30 percent, and China's has more than doubled in recent years. Given our military shortfalls, we must build upon the recent compromise and further reverse the current trajectory to mitigate the permanent damage to our national security. I am proud to support a balanced budget that reins in government spending, promotes job creation, and reprioritizes our national defense. Our Path to Prosperity budget accomplishes these goals. We cannot keep going to the Department of Defense to cut spending. We must deal with the real drivers of our debt and put our country on a sustainable path to grow the economy. America's future depends on it.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to thank a power lineman from Dixon, Missouri, for facilitating the advent of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for a community in Haiti. His service and sacrifice will improve the lives of many people because electricity is a critical element to improving the quality of life, health care, education, clean water, and other vital services. I would like to recognize Karl Brandt, who works for Gascosage Electric Cooperative. Volunteering his time and expertise for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's International Foundation, he spent 2 weeks in the town of Caracol, providing safety training and mentoring for local Haitian linemen. Mr. Brandt also assisted with installing power for residences located next to an industrial park in Caracol. When fully functional, this industrial park will have the capacity to employ 30,000 people. Only about 13 percent of the people in Haiti have reliable access to electricity. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International has been working on a USAID-funded program to bring electricity to the town of Caracol and to nearby areas in northern Haiti. Today, more than 1,200 consumers in the town of Caracol have access to reliable electricity. According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, some homes here now have antennas for TVs; small businesses, like Internet cafes, have been established; and water treatment plants are in operation. Mr. Brandt, we thank you for your service.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, gentlemen. So true. Family-owned businesses have a right to not be coerced into giving up their faith just for providing jobs. Now, I would like to turn to my friend and truly a leader here for families and life and common sense, Representative Chris Smith.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, gentleman. Well said. We have been here, and we are not done yet. My time is about done, but we are going to continue on here because we believe in standing up for the Constitution. We believe in the First Amendment: religious liberty. We believe in our country and our future and our children's future. We want to preserve those freedoms that others have sacrificed for. So I want to thank all my colleagues who have come here tonight and have shared their wisdom and their insights into this. Let us pray tomorrow that the Supreme Court hears the words that we have spoken and rules on the side of freedom. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Well said. Thank you for sharing your story. I now have a friend from Kansas, Representative Tim Huelskamp.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, Representative Lipinski. It is so true that we are and have been the beacon of liberty for this world, and this Court decision tomorrow has implications for not only our country and its citizens but for those around the world. I, too, was a teacher, and I appreciate that, how we taught our students what the basic rights were, but this decision will impact their futures, too. If government can force its citizens to go against their basic, most fundamental, moral values and consciences, what else can it do? With that, Representative Andy Harris of Maryland, thank you for being here tonight. The floor is yours.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, gentleman. A fundamental shift this would represent, you said. The relationship between the government and her citizens will forever change. That is chilling. I appreciate your sharing the story of the Little Sisters of the Poor to show that this isn't just about the two entities that are before the Supreme Court tomorrow. In fact, there are 94 different lawsuits around the country from other small businesses and entities and colleges and others that, too, are being forced into this. So this has huge implications, not just for the 94 that have bravely, courageously stood up and said ``no'' and challenged it, but for each and every citizen. With that, I would like to thank my friend, Representative Dan Lipinski from Illinois, for coming here today. I appreciate his leadership of the Pro-Life Caucus and of other pro-family liberty issues. So thank you for coming. What would you like to share tonight?

Mrs. HARTZLER. Absolutely. This is a moment in history, a moment of opportunity, for this Supreme Court to stand up and to do the right thing. Half a billion dollars in fines, half a billion dollars in fines this company is facing. Thank you for bringing home what that means. You know they are going to coerce. You said that it is draconian, that it is unprecedented, that they are going to force you. That is the definition of a bully. ``We are going to bully you into doing what we think is right.'' We stand up against that in every other arena, and we are standing up against it here as well. Now I would like to turn to my friend from Nebraska, Representative Jeff Fortenberry, to share his thoughts at this moment in history.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, Representative Lankford. I am so glad you shared about this family. You know them. What a treasure they really are to our Nation and the world, as you said, and truly courageous, standing up, putting their business on the line, saying this is worth fighting for. Those who have gone before us have fought for us. Now, it is time for us to stand up and fight. Thank you for sharing that. You are right. They are trying to change the regulations. You can't practice your faith at work, being coerced to change your faith practice, gave waivers to others, but they give the Green family the hammer. Well said. Thank you. Now, I turn to someone who knows the other family involved in the Supreme Court decision, who has the honor of representing the Hahn family. That is my friend and courageous leader for faith, family, freedom, for years, Representative Joe Pitts.