Bill Huizenga

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage passage of H.R. 2274, the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act. Maybe we need to work on the titles getting a little simpler, too. It is very complex. It is a very complex set of laws and rules that have been put in place. I do want to say thank you to my subcommittee chairman, Mr. Garrett, and Ranking Member Sewell for their work on this, as well as Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters, as we have explored this and dove headfirst, really, into this issue. It has been estimated, Mr. Speaker, that there are approximately 10 trillion--that's ``trillion'' with a ``t''--privately-owned, small family-owned type of businesses that will be sold or potentially closed in the coming years as baby boomers retire. Now, we want to see one of those things happen. We want people to see the fruits of their hard work over the years, and we want to see them be able to sell those companies. We don't want to see them close them unnecessarily, because we know the impact that happens to small communities, much like has happened in some of my hometown communities, when we have seen that happen. Mergers and acquisitions are also known as M&A. Brokers play a critical role in facilitating the transfer of ownership of these smaller privately held companies. Currently, all M&A brokers are subject to costly, burdensome requirements which adversely impact and unnecessarily increase the cost that business owners incur when they buy or sell their businesses. Often we have heard anecdotally and statistically that they have to make a decision sometimes. They can't move ahead and can't really afford to sell that small--literally, sometimes--corner store, mom-and-pop-type operation, and so they end of closing it because they can't afford to go through the sale. In fact, the issue has been highlighted by the SEC's Forum on Small Business Capital Formation, which, for the last 7 years--that is over the last two administrations, this current administration and the last administration--has repeatedly recommended that the SEC modernize and streamline the regulation of M&A brokers. But, unfortunately, the SEC has never acted on these recommendations. Well, we think the time is up. We believe that 7 years is long enough. It is time that this body and hopefully our colleagues in the Senate, as well, will take this bill and finally put some closure to this issue. That is why I, along with Representatives Brian Higgins and Bill Posey, introduced H.R. 2274. This bipartisan bill would create a simplified system for brokers performing services in connection with the transfer of ownership of smaller privately held companies. By simplifying the regulation and reducing the cost of these business brokerage services, these smaller privately owned companies would be able to safely, efficiently, and effectively transfer their company, preserving jobs currently in existence, while also allowing for continued economic growth and job creation to take place at these companies. There is no risk to the public; there is no threat to the safety and soundness of our economic system; but it is very, very important to those communities that have those kinds of businesses in them and where they are located. In October 2013, a piece in The Hill newspaper, Michael Nall, president of the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors, a leading international organization serving the middle-market M&A industry, stated: H.R. 2274, the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2013 is an excellent bipartisan bill, one whose time has come. Congress should get it done before the end of the year. Sorry, Mr. Nall. We are a little behind schedule, but we are getting there. He goes on: It's not a sexy bill, not one that prime time TV will be talking about, and not one that will evoke a question in the next Presidential debates; but it is a bill that does have teeth, and it is a serious and substantive piece of small business legislation. Well, maybe we can inject this into the next Presidential election because this ultimately is about the foundation of our country. It is about that ability for entrepreneurs to go out, strike out on their own, go become successful and then reap the rewards of that and, all the while, provide jobs to communities like we all represent. Well, in today's highly charged political environment, it is nice to show the American people that a positive, effective initiative can be considered and passed with strong bipartisan support. In fact, this important legislation, as has been mentioned, overwhelmingly passed the Financial Services Committee by a bipartisan vote of 57-0. It is legislation like H.R. 2274 that demonstrates Congress can act in a bipartisan manner to positively impact the lives of Americans. Mr. Speaker, with that I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleague to see H.R. 2274 make it to President Obama's desk. I want to thank Chairman Garrett for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Zeeland West High School's football team on winning the 2013 Division 3 State championship on Saturday, November 30, at Ford Field in Detroit. The Zeeland Dux rushed for over 440 yards during the game, resulting in a 34-27 win over DeWitt. Their 13-1 record this season is a testament to the players' dedication, hard work, and self-sacrifice. In fact, the program itself has become an example of hard work and leadership. This is the Dux's third State title since the program's inception only 9 years ago. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't also congratulate Dux Head Coach John Shillito and his coaching staff for a job well done with his players, as he leads them not only on the field, but off the field. Again, congratulations to the Dux on their big win last Saturday.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, at least 225,000 residents of Michigan have--or will shortly--received letters informing them that their current health insurance policies will be canceled because of ObamaCare. To put that number in context, more people in Michigan have had their private health care plans canceled due to ObamaCare than have even selected the private plan nationwide on healthcare.gov. Adding insult to injury, the dismal enrollment number announced by the administration does not represent an adequate depiction of the ObamaCare experience. Whether it is Nancy from Grant, Barbara from Walker, Terry from Grandville, or David from Twin Lake, my constituents all seem to be sharing the same experience: frustration, followed by exasperation, rounded out with higher costs that they can't afford. We hear you, and I am here for you. The reality of the ObamaCare ``experience'' is a Web site that is difficult to navigate--when it actually works--coupled with policy options that result in higher health care costs for Michigan consumers. I applaud my friend and colleague, Fred Upton, who is going to be leading a charge to provide a legislative solution for that problem tomorrow. I hope our friends across the aisle will be able to provide that same relief to their constituents, and I hope they will join me in doing so.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say thank you to a friend of mine, Mayor James R. Buck, who has dedicated 45 years of service to the city of Grandville in the Second District; and the last 29 he served as mayor. Mayor Buck has been recognized countless times for his leadership and commitment to west Michigan. Most recently, he received the Michigan Municipal League's Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award. In addition to his role as mayor, Jim serves as the chairman of the Grand Valley Metro Council, which plays a leading role in fostering public and private cooperation to enhance quality of life in west Michigan. Under the steady leadership of Mayor Buck, Grandville has grown and thrived. Grandville would not be the city it is today without Jim, and his impact will be felt forever and be recognized by all. I want to personally thank my friend, Jim Buck, for his dedication and service to our community. Your long days and hard hours have helped put Grandville on the map as a destination to do business, visit and, most importantly, live. Mayor Buck, thank you for what you have done, not only for Grandville, not only for west Michigan, but for all of Michigan and our country. Enjoy the time off. Thanks, Jim.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Judge Jeffrey R. Hughes and his commendable service to Michigan's Western District as a Bankruptcy Judge. Judge Hughes served Michigan's Western District as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for over 13 years. Further, his service to the state has been a long time commitment, as he has worked for Michigan communities for over 30 years. Judge Hughes received his Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1977 and his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan in 1980 where he was an active member of Phi Beta Kappa. From there he remained in his home state, practicing law for Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP for 20 years specializing in bankruptcy law and litigation. Throughout this experience he never forgot his local communities, participating in many community-based programs coordinated through the firm. Also during this time, Judge Hughes was annually recognized in ``The Best Lawyers in America'' until his appointment to the bench in 2000. After 13 years of service to the nation and to West Michigan, he retired from Federal employment in September of 2013. Judge Hughes is a regular speaker at seminars, including those sponsored by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education and the American Bankruptcy Institute. In addition, he appears as a guest instructor each semester at Cooley Law School's Grand Rapids campus and has participated in the extern programs offered by Cooley Law School's Michigan campuses and Michigan State University Law School. While Judge Hughes will no longer be a Federal judge, he continues to ardently serve those in Michigan. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judge Hughes for his service to Michigan and the Western District.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Thanks. I appreciate my good friend from Missouri putting this together and having this conversation. This is a conversation we need to have with the American people. There is obviously a lot of misinformation that is going out over the airwaves as we have talked about a number of times, and I think people are looking for that information. I know I have been tweeting out a few of the articles that I have come across on my iPhone here. For those of you out there watching, it is @RepHuizenga. I would love for you to follow me and take a look at this, this #Time4Solutions hash tag that we have going here because it is talking about some of those challenges, as well as the solutions that, I think, we are all looking for. I appreciate you pointing out to my friend and colleague from Michigan, Kerry Bentivolio, who is a great veteran himself of Iraq, as well as earlier times, and has done a couple of tours. For me, that World War II Memorial was something very special to be able to be a part of. That first day, there weren't television cameras around, there wasn't media. There wasn't anybody around except for those of us who cared about making sure that our veterans had an opportunity to go in and see a memorial that they earned. I will tell you, as someone who is the son of a disabled World War II veteran, a man who suffered a B-24 crash in Italy in 1944, I can tell you I know how powerful it is for him, how powerful it was for his buddies that he was able to go to the memorial, and how powerful it was for me as a family member to be along on that very special day. The least that we can do is to open that up. It is not just the World War II Memorial. It is the Korea memorial. I had a chance to bring a group of veterans from the Grand Rapids area in my district and in and around Kentwood and those areas. We went down to the World War II Memorial, and we also went down to the Korea memorial. That is where most of them were. They were greeted with no crowds, but the same barricades, as well as a park ranger who was in a very tough spot. He told me, Congressman, I am here to tell you that this monument is closed, this park is closed. I said, Well, respectfully I am here to tell you that I am going to help my constituents exercise their First Amendment rights and open up that barricade. We were able to get some people in there. Today, as I was coming in, I drove past the Martin Luther King memorial. It was the same thing. There were buses lined up on the street with their flashers going, and there was a tremendous number of people in there exercising their First Amendment right, that civil disobedience that had gone on. The gate was kicked open, and they were in there going and seeing that memorial to a great man the way that it should be, open and available, right now, without the excuses, without the rented barricades, without those other things. I also want to touch a little bit on the health care side as we are going through this. I appreciate you saying it is not just challenges, but also the opportunities. Frankly, we need to be talking to each other, to get to those solutions. This hash tag, #Time4Solutions, is very timely. We have had a Senate leader who has said absolutely no negotiations, none. Now we are finally getting there, I think because they are hearing from their constituents back home that we need you to be talking. The same with the White House. I think the White House even came around a little sooner than what the Senate leader did. But it is time to make sure that we are having these negotiations and these conversations. A lot of us know the challenge, many of them are very well known, the signup glitches that happened. Glitches might be charitable, shall we say, for what was going on. But one of my colleagues from Michigan, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers, had put forward an op-ed not that long ago, and I have a copy of it here that I was reading. He is talking about the privacy threat. If you look at the hub, the data hub that is being built, you know, our health care records are going to be exposed to a tremendous number of people. Your privacy information, your private information, health care information, yours, mine, all the constituents that are out there watching this, their information, your information is at risk. Your information is at risk, and it is time that we do something about it. Now, who hasn't heard the ``if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor?'' Well, maybe not so much. This is one of the things I just tweeted out. CNNMoney today was reporting about doctor choice and ObamaCare--not so much. This is CNN. This isn't me. This is CNN. They are saying that, for example, there was a major insurer that was offering policies in 14 different States, and what they are saying is that they are looking at the more heavier areas of population, eliminating up to half of the doctors. Think of that. Half of the doctors that currently you could go to if you had one of their off-exchange plans won't be available to you. In a lesser populated area, it is ``only'' going to be 10 or 20 percent of those same doctors. I can tell you, I sat, for a number of years, on the Michigan Rural Health Association board of directors as we were looking at health care issues in Michigan, especially in the rural areas. If you are starting to limit health care choices, even more so than what they already are in some of these rural areas, the damage that is going to be done to people and that relationship that they have with their doctor and with their health care provider--a place where you maybe have to do tele- medicine just to be able to get the proper diagnosis and the things that are going on. We have all heard, ``If you like your plan, you can keep your plan.'' Maybe not so much. Oh, but the plans are going to be more affordable. Well, they had the number right. There was a discussion that this was going to save $2,500 for the average family. Unfortunately, we now know it is the right number, but the wrong direction. So it is actually going to cost the average family, like mine--I have got five young kids--it is going to cost $2,500 additional. That is the wrong direction. Some of the lesser-knowns--I will give you an example. My nephew, Andrew, is putting himself through college. He is working as a waiter in a nice restaurant. A couple of months ago they called everybody in for the staff meeting and said, by the way, we are going to be starting this soon: No more than 29 hours per week. No more than 29 hours per week. And he said, you know, Uncle Bill, I can get through this. It is not going to be easy. It is not going to be my choice, but I can get through it. But he is looking at these colleagues, these single moms, these single moms that are saying, now where do I go for another 10 hours? Now how do I figure out where I am going to make ends meet and how I am going to make ends meet? I think that is why we have seen letters by those big Republican organizations like SEIU, the Teamsters, the AFL-CIO, not exactly institutions normally related and associated with the Republican Party. They have put in formal letters saying, Wait a minute; this is not being implemented the way that it was supposed to be implemented. They are afraid that there is an attack on the 40-hour work week, as well they should be afraid. That is exactly what is happening right now, and we need to be making sure that we are pushing back at that. The medical device tax has been brought up a little bit. This has a significant impact in Michigan. Stryker Corporation, out of the Kalamazoo area, they have said publicly that it is going to cost them 1,000 jobs, 1,000 jobs. All right? It is also going to be hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes that are being laid on. This ObamaCare tax, it has been deemed a tax by the Supreme Court, so let's talk about it in the terms of a tax. It is time that we repealed this tax. It is time that we not take those 1,000 jobs away from Stryker; time that we not take those jobs out of Ann Arbor, an innovative hub; time that we not take those jobs away from the next entrepreneur in Grand Rapids, on Pill Hill, Medical Mile, as it is sometimes called; that we make sure that they have got the same opportunities, not less opportunities, the same opportunities. That isn't going to happen under this. As you had pointed out, coverage, the mandatory, forced coverage of abortive services that is mandated in this bill, is absolutely wrong. I have a company that is gaining some prominence in my district called Autocam. John Kennedy, the majority stakeholder and president and CEO of Autocam, was just in Washington sharing his story last week. As a devout Catholic, he had made the decision that that wasn't going to be something that he would offer in his plans. They are self- insured, and if his employees wanted to go do that, that was their choice, but he wasn't going to be forced to pay for it, until this bill came along and said: It doesn't matter what your personal beliefs are. It doesn't matter that you own the company. It doesn't matter that your religion says this is wrong. We know better. This government knows better, and we are going to force you to spend that money to provide a service that you wholeheartedly disagree with. Does that sound like the American way to you? Does that sound like the American way to any of us? Absolutely not, yet, somehow we are viewing it as acceptable. Waivers for the politically-connected, as has been talked about; as long as you have got a good friend that is either in the White House or at Health and Human Services, we can probably work something out for you. Now, how does that feel? Now, today though, we finally maybe got to the root of it. The Senate had been going along, no negotiations, no negotiations, no negotiations. Oh, but if you want to spend some more money, if you want to roll back those automatic, across-the-board cuts that we had agreed to 2 years ago, maybe we will start talking about some reforms. That is what it is. As we talked about, this is about spending. This is about a group of people that want to see government grow. They want to see the footprint of the government just smash down on top of everything here and take control of our daily lives. That is really what the problem is. So now we are seeing what the Senate is really all about. It is about spending. It is about more spending and more control for them. Now, that has got to stop. Now, the opportunity side. I want to wrap up because I know we have got some other colleagues that are here, and we are having a great conversation and, again, I appreciate your hashtag, Time4Solutions, because this really is about those opportunities, as you talked about, the invention of Velcro and how we got there. I have learned that most of the times you learn more from the things in life that are tough, not the easy things. Major shifts in society are not easy. They might be simple, but sometimes those simple things aren't real easy. Well, this is neither simple nor easy, and it is because it is the wrong direction. First and foremost, we need the White House to acknowledge these problems. They won't even acknowledge these problems. It is all hunky- dory, peaches and cream here in Washington, D.C. We are rolling this program out. Excuse us. We had to make sure that you don't worry about those ``glitches'' that were in the system as we rolled it out. Please don't look at those exemptions and carve-outs that we have had. Please don't, whatever you do, please, oh, please, don't talk about how this is a growing frustration that the American people have, because that would somehow acknowledge that the American people might know better than they do down at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We have to acknowledge those problems. Words speak louder--I am sorry--actions speak louder than words. The words are, everything is fine. The actions are very, very different though. The actions are very, very different out of this administration, as they have signed 17 changes into this law, as we have seen these carve-outs, as we have seen them do things like make sure that the individual mandate is kept in place, but the other mandates are not put in. I know my colleagues are here too, and I want to give them time, so I am going to wrap up with this. My friend from Missouri, thank you for doing this. It is time that we do make those substantive changes and restore some faith, restore some faith with the American people, that we have their best interest, and make sure that Congress can live under the same laws that they vote for and that they pass. I appreciate you having this conversation tonight.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding two missed votes on October 12, 2013. Had I been present for rollcall 545, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding certain provisions of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2642 relating to the Secretary of Agriculture's administration of tariff-rate quotas for raw and refined sugar offered by Mr. Pitts of Pennsylvania, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for rollcall 546, on the motion to instruct conferees offered by Mr. Peterson of Minnesota to H.R. 2609, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Thank you, Dr. Benishek. As was said, Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Michigan lost a true hero. Trooper Paul Butterfield died from a gunshot wound that he sustained while conducting a ``routine'' traffic stop in Mason County on September 9. This senseless act of violence will no doubt shake communities throughout northwest Michigan as we wonder why this heartbreaking event ever took place, how it happened in Mason County, and how we make sure it never happens again. Trooper Butterfield's response to the situation has been described by the Michigan State Police as ``perfect'' and that he ``did everything right.'' This tragic loss of life serves as an ever-present reminder that there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop for police officers. And on this special day, September 11, we want to thank all of our first responders for the work that they do. We must never forget or take for granted the work of the men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day as they protect our kids, our communities, and our country. Paul, you will not be forgotten by me, the people of the Second District, or throughout Michigan. Again, my heart goes out to Trooper Butterfield's family, his fiancee, his friends, and his colleagues from the State police post in Hart as well as the State police post in Manistee. Natalie and I and our family will keep you all in our prayers during this time of extraordinary need. And we just want to say to you: Paul, rest well, our friend. Rest well.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bryon Mazade and his over 19 years of commendable service to Muskegon, Michigan as their city manager. Bryon grew up in Muskegon and graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School. After earning a Master's in Public Administration from Western Michigan University, Bryon stayed in West Michigan to serve his community. He quickly earned a reputation in West Michigan as a hard-working and reliable city manager for both Coopersville and Newaygo. Bryon had the opportunity to return to his hometown of Muskegon in 1994 and has served as the city manager ever since. Muskegon is a place where families and businesses can thrive. A city of 38,000 people and 1,100 businesses, Muskegon is representative of Michigan as a manufacturing hub, popular beach-town, and close knit community. Bryon certainly played a large roll in making Muskegon what it is today. During his 19 years as the city manager for Muskegon, Bryon tackled challenging projects that revitalized his hometown. To name just a few, Bryon oversaw the implementation of the Muskegon Lake Express, Lake Michigan's first high-speed, cross lake ferry. He also spearheaded improvements to L.C. Walker Arena, helped establish two Grand Valley State University facilities in Muskegon, developed Shoreline Drive and Bluffton Bay Estates, created many beautiful miles of bike trails, and encouraged countless other redevelopment projects, improving the economy while showcasing Muskegon's natural beauty on the shores of Lake Michigan. Bryon recently announced that he will retire in October, capping 19 notable years as the Muskegon City Manager. His tenure in a position that rarely has longevity, speaks volumes about his managing skills and ability to work with Commissioners and staff for the good of the people. While Bryon will no longer be Muskegon's City Manager, he will continue to play a prominent roll in the city that he dedicated decades to. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring City Manager of Muskegon Bryon Mazade for his great service in Muskegon and throughout West Michigan.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate something. I'd like to take a moment to recognize a major milestone for the Ludington Pumped Storage unit that was built in Michigan's Second District four decades ago and continues to be a great success today. Construction of the project, as the locals call it, began in 1969 and was completed in 1973 on the shores of Lake Michigan, south of Ludington. Today, employees back there are celebrating the plant's 40th anniversary. The Ludington Pumped Storage Plant was the largest pumped storage hydroelectric facility in the world when it was constructed. It is 842 acres and is 2\1/2\ miles long and holds 27 billion gallons of water. There are six generating units at the plant that can produce enough electricity to power a city of 1.4 million residents. This plant is an example of successful co-ownership between Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison, DTE Energy. By displacing higher costs, Ludington Pumped Storage Plant saves consumers and DTE customers millions of dollars each year. What makes the plant's 40 employees most proud are the national awards that they've been earning for safe operation of the plant, however. The future looks bright for the project. There is an $800 million investment that's being made on behalf of the customers from both utilities to overhaul and upgrade the plant to improve efficiency, and we just want to congratulate this plant today as it works to fit into our all-of-the-above energy plan.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding one missed vote on July 9, 2013. Had I been present for rollcall 316, on the amendment offered by Mr. Cohen of Tennessee to H.R. 2609, making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Madam Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to come down and speak about a very important issue that I know is important to you as well as to myself. The Great Lakes are facing a crisis right now. The Great Lakes Navigation System is a critical international waterway that extends from the western part of Lake Superior. In fact, that point in the western part of Lake Superior is further west than St. Louis, Missouri--the Gateway to the West--and it extends all the way along the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean, which is a distance of over 2,400 miles. The U.S. portion of the system includes 140 harbors, 60 of which are deemed as commercial and 80 as recreational and harbors of refuge, and it includes over 600 miles of maintained navigation channels. The system can handle 200 million tons of cargo that generate and sustain nearly 130,000 good-paying jobs in the eight Great Lakes States, not to mention what happens to our friends to the north and east and in the Canadian provinces and how important that relationship is with the trade that goes on. While the Army Corps of Engineers' national Operations and Maintenance account has increased by 20 percent from 1995 through 2012, the annual budget for the Corps' maintenance of harbors and navigation channels in the Great Lakes has remained virtually unchanged during that same period. We all know of the challenges we are facing as a Nation financially-- fiscally--but that, Madam Chair, does not seem right or fair to me, and it certainly is not an acknowledgment of the importance of the Great Lakes to our vital economy. There are 18 million cubic yards of sediment right now clogging the Great Lakes' ports and waterways, which has reduced the amount of cargo shipped by over 500,000 tons over the course of the navigation season. To put this number into context, I own a gravel pit. I have dump trucks that go out and around. A normal-sized, standard dump truck is 10 yards. To put it in context, 18 million yards of sediment would be like 1.8 million dump truck loads of sediment that is out there right now. In fiscal year '12, the Corps received $45 million for maintenance dredging and $95 million for navigation structure maintenance in the Great Lakes, but it's going to cost more than $200 million to restore ports and waterways to what their designed depths and widths are. In order to make up that shortfall, the State of Michigan recently authorized over $20 million--State funds only--in emergency dredging funds to ensure that commerce, tourism, and jobs remained available in port cities, big and small. I commend the State of Michigan. However, the Federal Government has a constitutional requirement to maintain interstate commerce through those ports in and among the States as well as internationally. The funds that come from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are paid for as a user fee of 0.125 percent on the value of cargo shipped. In the previous year, that equated to $1.7 billion which was paid into the fund, but only $804 million was used for the dredging and maintenance of our harbors because the trust fund, frankly, has been raided over the years to pay for other projects and unrelated projects sometimes. I would like to thank my colleague for working towards a solution to this problem by reprioritizing spending, which is really what this is all about. We know that we have to reprioritize and reflect a $1 billion disbursement from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to the bill and encourage funding in the future. I know that there is some specific language. Madam Chair, had I been able to have been down here, I would have offered an amendment that would have clarified our making sure that $30 million that is put in for small ports and subsistence ports would have been more clear. In the meantime, we must act before the crisis in the Great Lakes grows worse. So I thank my friend from New Jersey for the work that he has done on this bill. While I would prefer more clarity, I am satisfied with the intent of the committee to help our ports, big and small. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity today to do a little bragging about Baldwin Street Middle School, which came to visit me today from Hudsonville, Michigan. They came to brag about their excellence and success as being designated a School to Watch. That's a national program that goes in and identifies middle schools around the country that are very focused on innovation and success but also on improvement. Every single day, they are going into that building as administrators and as teachers to improve, not only the students, but themselves. And I think that is what we need more of here in education in the United States. They were also very proud to know that I had a staff member, Nate Bult, who is an alumni of that middle school. They were very, very proud to see him and the success that he has been able to have. So, again, I just want to congratulate Baldwin Street Middle School in Hudsonville, Michigan, for their dedication to the students of the Second District and for their willingness to put the students and innovation above any of themselves as they serve our community.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding accomplishment of Jack Vander Meulen on his 40th anniversary working at Vander Meulen Builders. Jack Vander Meulen is a resident of Holland, Michigan and a 1973 graduate of Holland Christian High School. Immediately following graduation, Jack joined Vander Meulen Builders as a carpenter and was able to work with his father Jay and uncle Earl. Exhibiting hard work and dedication to his craft Jack became a project manager in 1986. Jack was named President of Vander Meulen Builders ten years later in 1996. Vander Meulen Builders was founded in 1924 by Rhine Vander Meulen and traces its roots back seven generations in the Netherlands. They developed a niche building custom residences and summer cottages in the harbor towns of Lake Michigan. Their high-quality work was readily recognized by the West Michigan community and in 1967 Vander Meulen Builders became a charter member of the Home Builders Association of Holland. Their reputation landed them the opportunity to work on several historic West Michigan projects such as, renovating Marigold Lodge, the Holland Museum, several churches in the area, and many other downtown Holland landmarks. Jack and the Vander Meulen family have built more than a successful business--They are leaders in the Holland community. Vander Meulen Builders is known for working on unique custom projects throughout the community and have developed superior problem solving skills through their many years of experiences on a variety of projects. Their company has a great reputation for astounding customer service working with people who truly care about the homes they own. Vander Meulen Builders know that they do more than just build homes, they develop lasting relationships with the families they have worked with throughout the community. Jack and his wife Brenda have two sons, one who is also working for Vander Meulen Builders, the fourth generation in the family business. Jack and his leadership in Vander Meulen Builders is a great example of the area's hard work ethic, high-skill level in their professions and great family values that are always prevalent throughout the second district of Michigan and make it the great community that it is today. Citizens like Jack and Vander Meulen Builder's family embody the spirit of Holland and the West Michigan community. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Jack Vander Meulen and Vander Meulen Builders for their great service in West Michigan through the many decades.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I appreciate that from my friend from Arkansas, who has shown great leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, thousands of companies across this country and in my State of Michigan utilize derivatives to better manage the risks that they face every day. The proper use of derivatives to lower risk benefits the global economy by allowing a range of businesses, from manufacturing to health care, agriculture and a myriad of others, to improve their planning and forecasting and offer more stable prices to customers. By imposing over-the-top regulatory burdens on end users, this could increase costs and reduce liquidity that would prevent these companies from using derivatives markets efficiently, effectively, and properly. That is why I am a proud sponsor of H.R. 742, the Data Swap Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act--quite a mouthful, but an important piece of bipartisan legislation--which unanimously passed both the Agriculture and the Financial Services Committees--a rare feat in Washington these days--and it would remove the unrealistic requirement to secure against future losses, which some have noted is a concept unique to U.S. law. But it would remove these unrealistic requirements imposed on foreign regulators by Dodd-Frank as a condition of obtaining access to the data repositories that we need to share. In fact, earlier this year, the CFTC and the SEC--the regulatory agencies--issued a Joint Report on International Swap Regulation acknowledging the problems with indemnification provisions in Dodd- Frank. The SEC and CFTC staff report said that the indemnification provisions have ``caused concern among foreign regulators, some of which have expressed unwillingness to register or recognize (a swaps data repository) unless able to have direct access to necessary information.'' Additionally, the report noted: Congress may determine that a legislative amendment to the indemnification provision is appropriate. Folks, despite opposition from the Secretary of the Treasury and the White House, here is the bipartisan answer to this problem, and we are glad to see that people on all sides--right, left, and center--have agreed that this is a proper measured step to solve this issue. As you can see, this legislative solution is a small technical fix to the Dodd-Frank Act, but it's desperately needed and is vital to maintaining the integrity of domestic and global derivatives market regulations, so I urge the swift passage of H.R. 742.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding community of Grandville, Michigan. From April 18 until April 22, more than nine inches of rain plagued West Michigan. It was called the ``Tale of Two Floods'' by local residents as flood-waters cascaded out of the Grand River and Buck Creek. Businesses were shutdown, residents were forced from their homes, and the entire downtown district was inaccessible. Grandville has been at an important place, geographically, on the Grand River since its founding. During West Michigan's logging days, the community of Grandville played a fundamental part at the river-bend by ensuring that the logs did not jam up as the Grand River turned north-west toward Grand Haven. Despite the difficult conditions created by the ``Tale of Two Floods'', Grandville's citizens yet again took care of the river-bend, putting forth a historic effort to both protect and clean up their city. When faced with a time of crisis, the citizens, churches, and businesses of Grandville came together to care for their fellow residents and their community. Many individuals sacrificed for their neighbors and are worth acknowledging, but I was particularly struck by an act of generosity from eleven-year-old Emma Kukla. While on a bike ride to explore the damage, Emma and her mom came across a family carrying their remaining possessions from their flooded home. They volunteered their van to help the family move their salvaged belongings and Emma generously gave the last $20 from her wallet. Emma embodies the spirit of Grandville, Michigan. The Grandville/ Jenison Chamber of Commerce describes the community as one devoted to: ``Faith, family, honesty, caring, respect, responsibility. That's Grandville. Since its inception, Grandville has given people a place they truly belong. They support each other, take pride in the community, and make Grandville a positive place to live.'' I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the city of Grandville for serving one another during a time of great need.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Article I, section 9: ``The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. ``The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. ``No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, 113th Congress, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. I appreciate my friend from Utah for yielding. I'm glad we could keep this photograph up. Here is how I got involved and engaged in this. It's very personal. Actually, the man who took this photograph, David de Young, is a constituent and a friend of mine back from west Michigan. He was actually part of a project that went out to try to then photograph all of the remaining World War I survivors. He traveled to Europe, to Australia, and then had met Frank Buckles along the way and had gotten to know him very well. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet him in person, but I attended his funeral in Arlington, where we said good-bye as a Nation. I can tell you that it was his desire--Frank's desire--and David's desire, his family's desire, my desire, and I think now, finally, this body's desire to properly say thank you. The other reason this is very personal and very important to me is that I get to talk about a man named Bill Huizenga--not I, Bill Huizenga, but my grandfather, Bill Huizenga--who happened to fight in World War I. He was part of a group called the Polar Bears. They were men who were chosen from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan because they figured they'd be used to the cold, so they sent them all the way up around Norway to Archangel, Russia, to fight in an undeclared portion of World War I. In fact, Grandpa Bill was there after Armistice Day and where British, Canadian, and American troops remained well into the spring of that following year after Armistice. It wasn't until much, much later that we were actually even officially recognized as being part of that. I can tell you that one of my prized possessions is in having my grandfather's old doughboy helmet, which hangs in our family's home. It's just a fitting, timely thing that we finally say thank you and that we finally recognize this group of men who fought a terrible war, who fought a war that so many had hoped would be the war to end all wars. Unfortunately, we know that isn't the case. I would like to commend our friends across the aisle--the gentlelady from the District and the gentleman from Missouri--for working on this and led by my friend from Texas (Mr. Poe) to get this done. This is an important statement for us and is a fitting tribute to that generation. Frank, we thank you for your service, and we thank all of those families.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 537, 538, and 539, I was absent due to travel delays and inclement weather. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 537, and ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 538 and 539.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2527) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 385, I was absent due to personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''