Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chair, my amendment gets our priorities right in our highway funding by prohibiting Federal funds from being used for landscaping and scenic beautification on highway projects. We should spend our Federal highway dollars to improve our roads and bridges, not plant flowers. From 1992 to 2013, over $1.3 billion was spent on landscaping and scenic beautification. With data showing over 61,000 bridges classified as structurally deficient and 65 percent of the roads in the United States in less-than-good condition, this is outrageous. I appreciate roadside landscaping, but given today's limited highway dollars, these initiatives are best left to volunteer organizations such as the popular Adopt-a-Highway program. We must ensure that Federal funds are applied where they are needed most, and that is upgrading and improving our National infrastructure. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be modified in the form I have placed at the desk.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for all the wonderful work you are doing to advance this bill and to advance our budget. As a member of the Budget Committee, I am proud to support the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which is a very, very important bill that does dismantle key provisions of ObamaCare that are harming people. We were sent here to fight for the American people. They do not want their health care dictated to them by Washington, and they don't want their tax dollars going to go abortion providers. This bill protects life by stopping the flow of taxpayer dollars to abortion providers. The people have, for years, begged Congress to end the flow of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood, especially in the wake of the recent horrendous videos showing Planned Parenthood officials exhibiting a blatant disregard for human life. This bill places a moratorium on funding for abortion providers and redirects these funds to increase funding for community health centers. These health centers serve eight times more women patients than Planned Parenthood, and they provide more comprehensive care to women. I am proud to support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. I really appreciate the gentleman's service to this Nation as a 31-year veteran; but also serving as chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, he has a unique perspective on the inherent dangers facing our Nation now that our President has vetoed this important bill. I thank him for sharing his insights. Now I will yield to another member of the Armed Services Committee, but more than that, he is a decorated Navy SEAL, and I look forward to hearing his thoughts on this very important moment in our Nation's history. I turn to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Zinke).

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Bridenstine for his service to our Nation and his firsthand perspective on how vital this is and what a tragic day it is for our Nation that our Commander in Chief would do this. Now I would like to turn to another friend and hero to our Nation in many ways, who served both in the Army and the Marine Corps, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman).

Mrs. HARTZLER. Absolutely. And what message is that sending to them right now? Thank you. Now I would like to turn to Representative Doug Lamborn, my friend from Colorado, who has the privilege and does such a great job representing one of the most military-intense districts in the country. I had the opportunity to visit the Air Force Academy around Memorial Day. I appreciate your leadership on this issue. I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) for whatever he would like to share.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Fifty-three years ago is a long time. In 1962, John F. Kennedy was President. Gas was 28 cents a gallon. The first Walmart opened. The U.S. Navy SEALs were created, and the Cuban Missile Crisis was on everyone's minds. Now, we have gone through a lot as a nation since then, but one thing has remained constant: the U.S. Congress and the President of the United States have fulfilled one of our primary obligations according to the Constitution of providing for the common defense by passing a National Defense Authorization Act. You may say that Congress hasn't always passed legislation that is needed, but on the National Defense Authorization Act, we have gotten it right. For 53 years in a row now, our Nation's national security needs have been taken care of. Sadly, that might not be the case this year. The reason? Not because the Representatives of the people did not do their work. It is because the Commander in Chief has chosen to use the military as political pawns to advance his domestic agenda by choosing to veto the NDAA. Never before in our Nation's history has a President vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act in order to leverage concessions on other areas of government spending. Let me say that again. President Obama's veto stems not from defense policy but, rather, from his desire for more domestic spending unrelated to national defense. This is unprecedented. Four times during the past 53 years, Presidents have vetoed the NDAA, but it was over specific defense-related provisions in the NDAA itself. Differences were able to be worked out with Congress and concerns quickly addressed so the bill could move forward and our men and women in uniform would have the tools, equipment, and resources they need to keep us safe. Not this year. Just minutes ago, our President vetoed our Nation's most important bill, which provides for full funding for our military. Let me share with you what provisions are in this bill and why it is so important. It provides: a 1.3 percent pay raise for our troops; retirement benefits for the 83 percent of our troops who currently see none; the authority for commanders to allow soldiers to carry guns on base to defend themselves, their colleagues in arms, and their families; vital resources and new tools to combat cyber attacks on our critical infrastructure; restrictions on Guantanamo detainee transfers to address the potential illegality of the President's previous unilateral transfers; 12 new F-18 Super Hornets to be built in my home State of Missouri; $300 million of assistance in lethal aid so the people of Ukraine can defend themselves; $330 million in funding for the iron dome missile defense system for Israel; and it directs the deployment of a new advanced ballistic missile defense system to defend against the threat of an Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile. In short, at home and abroad, the NDAA ensures our military has funding for national defense and overseas operations. These are the selfless individuals who we rely upon for our safety and freedom that we are talking about. And in a strongly bipartisan fashion, Congress has authorized that funding at the exact level that the President requested. In this unprecedented move, the Commander in Chief is using the very troops he commands as pawns in a very dangerous political game. It is wrong to add to the uncertainty our men and women in uniform face as they stand on the front lines of an increasingly uncertain world. Let us remember, the President recently made a decision to keep almost 10,000 of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in Afghanistan. On the heels of such a serious decision, asking them to leave their families and lives on hold for another year or more, how could he justify not signing the bill that provides the pay and benefits for our troops? I am thankful for my colleagues who stand with me here today to tell you why this is such a critical piece of legislation and why this veto cannot stand. We are here to make sure the men and women who put themselves in harm's way for our freedom are a priority to our Nation and not held hostage to political games. With that, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine), a Navy veteran and currently lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Coffman made several excellent points, not only about the importance to Colorado, but certainly to our Nation. He raised a very important point that hasn't been brought up yet: how it prevents the transfer of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay from coming to our soil; and that is what the administration wants to do is to put them in our backyards and our prisons, and we do not support that, and this NDAA prevents that. Now I would like to turn to another friend and colleague from the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Wilson. He is quite a hero to this Nation in many ways, but certainly having four sons who have served in the military is one of his major contributions. We are so proud of him and his family and his service.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I don't know of a more articulate way to say how important and imperative it is that we override this veto. I thank Mr. Zinke for sharing his very real and heartfelt and expert thoughts on this issue. Now I have a friend who is going to share who is passionate about lots of things and competent on many issues, but I tell you, serving on Armed Services Committee with the gentlewoman from Indiana, Jackie Walorski, I can tell you her main passion is for the men and women in uniform, for our national defense. I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana.

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank the gentlewoman. I appreciate that. Next we have another member of the Armed Services Committee, who is a decorated Army commander, who led soldiers in Iraq, and whose unit was responsible for finding Saddam Hussein, to share his thoughts on this day when the President has vetoed the NDAA and why it is so important that we override this veto. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell).

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, Mr. Nugent. I just thought it was so important that you shared, as a parent. I have heard you say this before in committee, that, as a parent, it is vital for you and your wife to know that you are sending the best equipped, best trained force possible over into harm's way so, when you send your sons, you know that they are going to be able to come back safe.

Mrs. HARTZLER. I couldn't agree more with the gentleman. Thank you for your leadership, service to our country, and your call for the American people to join us and come alongside us as we fight for the defense of our Nation and for the men and women in uniform. The thing that I feel is so important tonight is that the American people and everyone here in the House has had an opportunity to hear from people who not only care about their Nation, who are today's patriots, but many of them who have either served themselves on the front line and who have experienced danger and put themselves in harm's way because of it or they have family members that they are supporting in that line of duty. Our next speaker I want to turn to is certainly one of those, not only a colleague on the Armed Services Committee, but a father who has three sons who are serving in the military, and he knows firsthand the dangers, the sacrifice, and how important this NDAA is to our Nation. I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Nugent).

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank the gentleman so much because he raises a very good point as far as spending goes in that this bill, the NDAA, provides the exact amount of funding for our defense that the President requested.

Mrs. HARTZLER. We worked hard to come up with that, but we made sure that our troops had the funding they need. And, yet, as the Commander in Chief, he requested $612 billion. We gave him $612 billion in this bill, and then he vetoes it.

Mrs. HARTZLER. You are exactly right. Thank you for your comments. Now I have a gentleman from Georgia that I have been privileged to be elected with in 2010 and serve alongside in both Agriculture Committee and Armed Services. I believe he is one of the most hardworking members on Armed Services. If you are his constituent, I want you to know he is at every hearing. He does his homework. And I appreciate him coming out tonight to share his thoughts on the NDAA. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank the gentleman. I think it is so important to remember that national defense is not a partisan issue. It is a constitutional duty. It is a constitutional privilege that we have, as elected officials in this country, to provide for the common defense. The bill did pass overwhelmingly with bipartisan support in the House, in the committee, and over in the Senate. I am hopeful as well that we will be able to continue to join together to override this veto. My friend from Georgia also made the comment and the sad news about the photo op that the President did today as he vetoed this piece of legislation. I wonder, where is the photo op with the soldiers right now fighting in Afghanistan and some of them, sadly, who have died lately? Where is the recognition for them? Where is the photo op with the sorties that are being flown and our pilots that are going into harm's way to take on ISIS right now? Where is the photo op with all the military families that are sacrificing? It is truly shameful, I think, that this occurred. I stand alongside with those who are fighting for the people of this country to keep them safe. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gibson), another friend who is a champion of this, who is a decorated Army commander, proudly serves on the Armed Services Committee and does a wonderful job.

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank the gentleman for his service and for sharing how important it is, how vital it is, that we override this veto and do what is right for our troops and for America. The last speaker is the newly elected gentleman from California who I have really enjoyed getting to know and is a privilege to serve with on the Armed Services Committee. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Knight).

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, gentleman. I share that vision and look forward to working alongside you to do the right thing for the American people. I think you brought up many good points, but certainly the situation now under this Commander in Chief is that we have a situation where our allies don't trust us and our enemies don't fear us. This action today can't help but contribute further to that thinking. We have got to reverse this. America is strong when it is safe, and it is safe because it is strong. We have heard this evening, Mr. Speaker, from many people who are experts on this issue. Not only do they care about it passionately, but they themselves have put on the uniform and made the sacrifices. They have left families to serve their country, and they know what it is like, what our troops are facing and what potential dangers we can be in by jeopardizing their security by not providing for them and passing a National Defense Authorization Act. We have heard from other colleagues here who are parents and who have children who have answered the call and signed up to serve their country and gone into harm's way, some of them who are there right now. Mr. Speaker, we have heard how distressing it is for our troops to hear today--no matter where they are, whether they are in Afghanistan, Iraq, whether they are in the Pacific or they are in the jungles of Africa, or whether they are advising as we look and see what is going on with Ukraine and the President, and whether they are monitoring intelligence around the world, cyber threats and cyber attacks--when they turn on their TV tonight, to find out that their Commander in Chief has vetoed the bill that would provide for the resources that they need to carry out their mission, to find out that it is not done because of some specific provisions in the bill, unlike a few times in the past 53 years where we have passed this, but because the President wants to advance a domestic agenda that has nothing to do with providing for our common defense. It is wrong and it is disheartening. Just a reminder of the things in this bill, the reasons it is so important. It provides: $612 billion for our national defense, the exact amount of money that the President requested; a pay raise for our hardworking troops; retirement benefits for those that don't have it now; the authority of commanders, like Representative Knight shared, to be able to make a policy to allow the soldiers on their installation to be able to defend themselves and carry guns so hopefully we won't see the senseless tragedy again; to restrict allowing Guantanamo Bay detainees--terrorists, basically--to be brought here to America and put into our jails in our backyard; and to support our allies, whether it be the Iron Dome for Israel that has been so helpful in saving countless thousands of lives in Israel in the last few years, but also to provide funding for those fighting for freedom in Ukraine, allowing them to protect themselves. Other speakers talked about space protections, protections against sexual assault in the military, preventing the transfers, supports our allies, some of the things I have said, acquisition reform. We did everything we could in this bill to help make the Pentagon more efficient and more effective to save money, and we will continue to do that. We also heard about the dangers and how, with the President's veto, it is going to eliminate critical training time, and parents are going to be able to question whether their child is going to be safe when they send them to war. Mr. Speaker, we can't allow this veto to stand. If the Commander in Chief is going to forsake his most fundamental duties, then the people of the House, the representatives of the people of America, will and are going to do everything possible to override this veto and to make sure that those in harm's way have what they need, that we don't jeopardize our national defense, and that we continue to have our priorities right as a nation. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to come on the House floor tonight and to share about this very, very important issue and this very historic day, and to also lay the groundwork for November 5, when we will vote for an override of this veto. I ask all my colleagues to support that, and I look forward to a positive vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 28, 2015, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 519, yea. On rollcall No. 520, yea.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the lady that we need to make hard choices, but we don't need to do this in this bill. We can't solve the problems that have been reiterated in this bill. This is a budget issue. I serve on the Budget Committee as well, and I believe we need to undo sequestration for our national defense. We need to come up with a comprehensive plan to address the cost drivers of our country that are causing us to go into debt. We need to get our priorities back as a country and make sure we provide for the common defense. We need to do that in the budget in a comprehensive way. But we don't need to hold our military hostage today by not approving the expenditure of funds for the vital things that they need. That is what my colleagues are doing. I appreciate their intent. I look forward to working with them--many of us do--to solve this overall problem, but today our military need to know that we are standing behind them and that we are going to authorize them with the things that they need. This bill is full of the things that our country and our men and women in uniform need. As the chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, we are doing an investigation dealing with the transfer of detainees out of GTMO and what happened with Sergeant Bergdahl and the Taliban Five. So I was especially proud of the part in here that makes sure that the detainees are not removed from Guantanamo Bay and brought into our local communities. In addition, we set up an additional protocol so that the Secretary of Defense has to certify that any detainees that go to a foreign country, that that country is able to detain them, keep them safe, and make sure that they don't go back into the fight and continue their terrorist activities. This bill takes care of our troops. It addresses the threats facing us. We have so many. Whether it is what is going on in Ukraine and with Russia, whether it is dealing with ISIL, or whether it is a cyber threat that we have, every day there are threats coming around us, and we address them in this bill. That is why we need to pass it. It also provides for the platforms that we need. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing, to stand with our troops, to provide them with what they need, and to support this bill.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, protecting innocent unborn lives is paramount to defining who we are as a people and as a nation. Killing innocent babies before they even have a chance at life is unconscionable, let alone turning around and selling the fetal tissue for profit. Planned Parenthood is the Nation's largest provider of abortion. This abortion chain received $1.2 billion of taxpayer money through Medicaid over a 3-year period. Planned Parenthood last reported that over $500 million of their annual revenue comes from government funding. This is reprehensible. No Federal dollars should go to any institution in the business of harvesting and selling baby parts of aborted children. Can you imagine what people would say in this country if this practice occurred with our beloved pets? Most of us have cats and dogs. Would we stand for them to be killed and their body parts harvested and sold for profit? Where is the outrage that this is happening to our country's babies, our unborn children? I continue to fight to defund Planned Parenthood at the Federal level, and I encourage all State and local governments to also stop funding Planned Parenthood. In light of the recent undercover videos, three States have attempted to end their Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood and the Obama administration said disqualifying Planned Parenthood because of its abortion business violated Federal Medicaid law. Well, today's bill amends the Medicaid law to empower States with the ability to exclude abortion providers from Medicaid. Given the horrific nature of the videos showing the shameful lengths that Planned Parenthood will go to in order to harvest and sell fetal organs, I am hopeful that each and every State would exercise this option. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, which is critical to the fight to protect innocent lives.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a faithful servant of the people of Missouri, Mr. Don Shaw. Don has served the members of Missouri's rural electric cooperatives for 40 years in a variety of capacities, from his start as an electrical engineer to his most recent post as general manager and CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative. Don is an outspoken leader in protecting reliable, affordable sources of electricity. His vision and foresight allowed him to take advantage of new technologies, giving high priority to innovative and cost- effective methods to better serve members. Don has created programs to help alleviate or minimize outage shortage during extreme weather and other natural disasters. In addition, Don helped to build a robust network of fiber optic services to assist the rural membership in staying up to date with an increasingly connected world. Don has been an active and effective spokesman here at Capitol Hill and back in the Missouri State House. I know this is not the end of service he will provide to his community, State, and country, but merely the end of one more chapter in an extraordinary life. I would, again, like to thank Don Shaw for his service and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.