Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an extraordinary group of 21 students who have been chosen as future leaders of our Armed Forces. These students have received appointments from the prestigious United States service academies. Eight received appointments from the Air Force--my personal favorite; four from the Naval Academy; another eight from the Military Academy; and one from the Merchant Marines. I am proud of this group. They will get one of the finest educations available and really learn the meaning of duty, honor, commitment, and sacrifice to this great Nation. America has the finest fighting men and women in the world, and these students who are the best and the brightest are needed now more than ever. I'm confident they'll represent the Third District of Texas well. I salute each one for the endeavor they are about to undertake. God bless them and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 51 of the best and brightest students in North Texas who have participated in the Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC), a program I started nearly 9 years ago. CYAC has two primary goals. One, to hear the voices of our future generation and gain insight on issues our youth values, and two, to educate our students on how government policies directly impact their lives and our nation. Each year, the students in CYAC exceed my expectations ten-fold. They bring innovative, inspiring, and impacting ideas on how to build a better America now and in the future. Their impressive credentials speak for themselves. Participating in student government, community service, honor societies, school athletics, fine arts, and language clubs exemplifies their educational excellence and steadfast commitment to our community as they discover their individual potential. Each time we meet, I am privileged to hear from these dedicated leaders who embody the best of their generation. They are the future of our country and will continue to define what it means to be an American. Over the past year, each student heard from prominent civic leaders, engaged in discussion about current events and the role of government, and developed their own community service project. I am proud to see our Third District students dedicate their time and talents to serving the people around them. Without a doubt, every student will continue to play an important role in our community for decades to come. America and North Texas will continue to benefit from their dedication, smarts, and service. To the members of the 2012-2013 Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you for volunteering your time and efforts to this council. You have been the voices of your generation to Congress this past year, and have done an extraordinary job. I wish you continued success in your upcoming endeavors and know I am very proud of you. The names of students serving on the 2012-2013 CYAC follow: Arthur Anderson, Natasha Blaskovich, Rhian Burnham, Bryce Clark, Andrew Cook, Mark Douglas, Megan Eakin, Noah Eldridge, William Elliot, Rakshana Govindarajan, Shivan Gupta, Grace Han, Lauren Hebig, Hogan Heritage, Sara Nabila Hossain, Aileen Huang, Samuel Huang, Mackenzie Jenkins, Lane Johnson, James Kay, Sarah Killian, Shane Kok, Justin Kong, Jonathon Lara, Candice Lee, Jessica Lightfoot, Connor Madden, Malika Maheshwary, Soumya Mandava, Jessica Martinez, Emily Means, Sarah Michaels, Sydney Patterson, McKay Paxman, Jacob Przada, Jason Randoing, Daniel Rosenfield, Kinnarj Ruikar, Daniel Saiyid, Sam Schell, Brian Simpson, Travis Smith, Ryan Snitzer, Sarah Stanley, Hunter Stevens, Simic Tuan, Jessica Todd, Matt Waller, Hannah Wood, Carlie Woodard, Lisa Michales God Bless You and I salute you!

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, you know, during a commencement address in 2009 President Obama ``joked'' about the IRS auditing university officials for failing to award him an honorary degree. Now fast-forward to last Friday, when we learned that the IRS has been targeting conservative groups. Madam Speaker, the misuse of the IRS power is no laughing matter. As Chief Justice John Marshall once said, ``The power to tax is the power to destroy.'' Folks and groups back home seeking to express their support for our hard-fought freedoms and liberties, for limited government, and for a better America should never be subjected to intimidation because of their political beliefs--never. The use of the IRS as a political weapon is unacceptable. What's worse, this is the same agency that will be enforcing ObamaCare. We must hold those responsible accountable. That's why the Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing this Friday. The American people deserve the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And if you're as outraged as I am, call the White House at this number that's right there in front of you. We must make sure it never happens again.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, as I meet with my constituents back home, they tell me loud and clear their concerns about our record debt and deficits. We are nearly $17 trillion in debt. That comes out to about $53,000 per person. My constituents back home get it. They've had to make tough choices to live within their means and they expect Washington to do the same. My Republican colleagues and I have been committed to getting our fiscal house in order, growing our economy, and getting America back to work. In fact, we passed a budget that balances in 10 years. On the other hand, the President's and the Senate Democrats' budgets never balance--ever. Hardworking taxpayers and their children and grandchildren deserve better. We need to leave them a stronger and more secure America, not a mountain of debt. Madam Speaker, the bill we are considering today, the Full Faith and Credit Act, would require Treasury to make good on debt payments. The bill also enables Treasury to pay Social Security benefits to seniors, survivors, and those with disabilities and their families. Madam Speaker, let me say that again. Under this bill, seniors will get their checks, and those on disability will get their checks. Back in 1996, we passed similar legislation to H.R. 807. Then Social Security was getting more in revenues than it was paying out in benefits, so full Social Security benefits could be paid without hitting the debt limit. Today, there aren't enough revenues to pay Social Security benefits. To make up the difference, Treasury has to redeem the debt it owes Social Security by borrowing from the public. This may cause a small increase in the debt, because when Treasury redeems Social Security IOUs, it must pay any interest accrued on that debt. Our bill exempts this interest from counting against the debt limit. Madam Speaker, according to CBO, Social Security's cash shortfall is projected to reach $77 billion this year. Over 10 years, Social Security's shortfall will total $1.3 trillion. These cash shortfalls are permanent and are growing each and every year. Madam Speaker, in closing, we owe it to the American people. In fact, we must come together to preserve and protect Social Security.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my personal friend and esteemed community leader, Mr. Sam E. Roach on his lasting impact on the educational community in Collin County. For the past 21 years, Sam Roach has faithfully served on the Collin College Board of Trustees where he acted as chairman for three terms. Under his leadership, Collin College has experienced historic expansion with an increase in enrollment of nearly 32,000 students each year. He was instrumental in developing the core values and mission statement for the college while simultaneously creating a new master plan for expansion. During his service, he also helped to launch the university pre-admission program as well as work to secure the largest gift from an individual donor in Collin College history. Needless to say, Sam Roach has been a powerful force and an influential leader in education and our community as a whole. In addition to his incredible accomplishments as chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Roach chaired Board committees for Budget & Finance, Campus Facilities & Construction, and served as the Board's representative for Frisco TIF #2. Not only has he tirelessly committed his hard work and time to the college, he also has consistently and generously donated his finances to endowed scholarships for students, giving more students an opportunity of a bright future. Mr. Roach's commitment to education has not just been for the past 21 years, but has been a lifetime of dedication. As a Frisco native, he graduated valedictorian of Frisco High School and continued on to receive an engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Later, he became president of the Frisco Independent School District Board, chair of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, and a member of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. Words simply cannot express Mr. Roach's incredible impact and influence. Not only does he posses great vision, but he posses great commitment. He sees the potential in America's youth today and actively empowers them. He encourages the growth of young minds, the exploration of new ideas by providing the resources for students to accomplish their goals. More than just a dedicated board member, he is an advocate for students to become the people they aspire to be. Thank you, Mr. Sam E. Roach, for your tireless efforts on behalf of the students of Collin County. Although your presence on the Board of Collin College will be dearly missed, your legacy lives on. It is a pleasure to know you and call you my friend. I wish you the very best in the years to come. God bless you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as part of my ongoing effort to protect precious, hard-earned taxpayer dollars by going after waste, fraud, and abuse, I have introduced a commonsense bill, H.R. 1502-- listen up--the Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Benefits Double Dip Elimination Act of 2013. This bill would stop people from receiving disability at the same time they are receiving unemployment. Under current law, a person can receive both disability and unemployment at the same time. This isn't right. It just doesn't make sense. I don't know how someone can be able and available to work and also be unable to work because of a disability. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill in order to help make sure the disability program is there for those who truly cannot work. President Obama also included a similar proposal in his budget, and I look forward to working with the administration to get this bill signed into law.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for more than 50 years the Social Security Disability Insurance program has provided a vital safety net for workers who have worked long enough and recently enough and who meet the definition of disability. Unemployment benefits, through the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance program and Trade Adjustment Assistance, are available for those workers who have lost a job and are looking for a new one. These workers know they can work and these important benefits are there to help them through a tough time. Now here's the rub. Even though disability benefits are for those who can't work and unemployment benefits are for those who can work if they could find a job, under current law someone can receive both benefits at the same time. That just doesn't make sense. A July 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Overlapping Disability and Unemployment Benefits Should be Evaluated for Potential Savings, highlighted this double dip situation. In fiscal year 2010, at least 117,000 individuals received both disability insurance and unemployment insurance, representing less than 1 percent of total beneficiaries of both programs. The overlapping cash benefits paid to these individuals totaled over $281 million from disability insurance and more than $575 million from the unemployment insurance program in that year. By paying cash benefits through both programs, these workers are being paid twice. That's why I am introducing the Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Benefits Double Dip Elimination Act of 2013, which ends this double dipping and preserves Social Security benefits for only those who truly cannot work. Starting next year, those applying for disability benefits won't be eligible to receive these benefits in any month they are also receiving unemployment benefits. And for those workers who are already on the rolls, receiving unemployment benefits will count towards the maximum number of months they may try work without impacting their benefits. President Obama agrees and in his budget, he included his own proposal to stop the double dipping. When we agree, we should act. I urge my colleagues to sponsor this common sense legislation.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Southwest Airlines and Dallas Love Field Airport as they celebrate the unveiling of the new terminal and long-overdue repeal of the Wright Amendment. This long-awaited milestone goes to show that freedom and free enterprise go hand in hand. You know, when we first introduced legislation to repeal the Wright Amendment back in 2005, people said it couldn't be done. When government gets out of the way and allows free enterprise to unleash its full potential, businesses expand, create jobs--and in this case soon will offer the people of Dallas and visitors a world-class airport. Passengers pay lower fares and fly nonstop to more destinations across the country. Clearly, when you've got freedom on your side, you're bound to win. Thank you for your commitment to our community, and congratulations Southwest Airlines and Dallas Love Field. God bless you, and God bless America.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate five remarkable students from Plano East High School on winning first place in the AT&T Hackathon Competition. The AT&T Hackathon, held at the AT&T Foundry development center in Plano, is a competition to promote innovative technology, the entrepreneurial spirit, and growth in computer science education. The competition is open to all technical and non-technical computer developers and designers across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Each team is given a little more than 24 hours to create a smartphone app, which helps solve a problem plaguing the community--in this case, the decreasing high school graduation rate. Out of all the technology experts in the room, it was the Plano East high school team, comprised of Trent Davies, 17; Bilal Ayub, 16; Ahmed Khan, 16; Matthew Laux, 17; and Jimmy Khong, 17 that put their computer science skills to work and took home the prize. Competing against 150 plus people, the students won the contest with oculr, an app that takes camera phone-snapped pictures of math equations and searches the Internet for instructions on how to solve the problem. What a great idea. At the kickoff of the competition, the students developed the idea in less than five minutes, gave a 60 second lightning pitch to a crowd of 150 professional developers, and then created the product the very next day. To conclude the competition, the team of sixteen and seventeen year old students presented a three-minute demonstration of the app prototype to a panel of judges, experts in the technological field. I am incredibly impressed with their ability to create and put a new idea into action in only a 24- hour period. You are truly some of the best and brightest. Technology touches our lives now more than ever before. Students encounter social media constantly outside the classroom so why not incorporate media into the classroom to further engage and prepare students for a technology-driven world? These five Plano students embody the future of innovation. I commend them for putting their creative minds to work for the betterment of their peers and the perpetual success of our community. Once again, congratulations, students, on your outstanding accomplishment. I am proud to see such innovative thinking and active problem-solving from the youth in our great state of Texas. You all have very bright futures ahead of you. God Bless you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, each year, billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are wasted due to abuse of the $1,000 refundable child tax credit. Instead of hitting up taxpayers for even more taxes, Washington needs to go after these billions of dollars that are fraudulently wasted. It's time to end this sham. That's why I have reintroduced commonsense legislation, H.R. 556, that stops this abuse by requiring tax filers to provide their Social Security number in order to receive this tax credit, just like we do for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Congress' nonpartisan tax scorekeeper, the Joint Committee on Taxation, has found that my bill would save taxpayers an estimated $24.4 billion over the next 10 years. With the dire need to get our fiscal house in order, this simple, commonsense fix can go a long way toward protecting precious taxpayer dollars by stamping out waste, fraud, and abuse. It's time to get this done.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very special World War II veteran, Mr. James H. Drumwright, Jr. of Richardson, Texas. Recently, Mr. Drumwright, along with three other North Texas veterans, received France's highest distinction, the Legion of Honor, for their extraordinary service on the French battlefield. During the ceremony, Frederic Bontems, consul general of France in Houston, pinned the Knight in the French Order of Legion of Honor on these four men for their notable actions to combat tyranny across the globe. Mr. Drumwright, born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, made the courageous decision to serve his country at the early age of 17. In 1939, he volunteered into the National Guard, and in February 1941 he joined the 29th Signal Company of the Army's 29th Infantry Division. With his companions and approximately 160,000 other Allied forces, he stormed the beaches of Normandy, France on D-day. At Omaha Beach, Drumwright courageously fought to liberate St. Lo, a key city to opening the Falaise Gap, which allowed the Allied forces to expel the Nazi Germans from northern France. Early in the invasion, Drumwright was injured and evacuated to England for treatment, but only a short five months later, he was back in the thick of battle with the 29th company. At the end of World War II, he returned to Norfolk, Virginia where he received his graduate degree in Architecture in 1949. Throughout his studies, he remained in the Army Reserve until 1953 when he was called back into active duty during the Korean War. After retiring from the military, Mr. Drumwright began the next phase of his life working at DuPont, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. At Dupont, he met his wife, Amy Wright, and they now have two children, James and Kelley. Throughout recent years, Mr. Drumwright has remained active in various organizations recognizing veterans, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars and Boy Scout Troops of America, and has enjoyed traveling with his wife all across the globe. Mr. Drumright served our country with distinction, and I thank him for his sacrifice. Our country is blessed to have men like Mr. Drumwright who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and democracy across the world. His courage is a testament to the American spirit: a spirit of bravery, selflessness, and commitment to freedom. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an American patriot, Mr. James H. Drumwright, Jr. We honor your achievements and sincerely thank you for your service. God Bless you and God Bless America.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. In just 2 days, President Obama's devised plan of across-the-board spending cuts known as ``sequester'' will kick in. I voted for House legislation to replace the President's plan with smarter and more responsible cuts. Unfortunately, the President and his friends in the Senate ignored it. Right now, America is over $16 trillion in debt. That means every American owes more than $52,000 each. Taxpayers all across this country know that Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Enough is enough. Now is the time to work together to stop spending money we do not have. We need to give the American people what they want, need, and deserve. We must get our fiscal house in order by balancing our budget. It's almost too late. Let's act now.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I solemnly stand today to honor and pay respect to a true American patriot, a devoted father, and a loving husband, Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle. Sadly, on February 2, 2013, Chris and close friend Chad Littlefield were tragically killed on a remote ranch in Texas while attempting to help a troubled veteran who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Chris leaves behind his lovely wife Taya, and their two children. Born on April 8, 1974 in Odessa, Texas, Chris began shooting and hunting with his father when he was eight years old. After an accident ended a short-lived career as a professional bronco rider, Chris was moved from within to satisfy his life-long desire to serve his country and join the military. Chris enlisted in the United States Navy, and ultimately worked his way to becoming a member of the United States Navy's Sea, Air, Land Teams, also known as the U.S. Navy Seals, one of our nation's most elite group of special forces units. From 1999 to 2009, Chris served four tours in Iraq as a member of SEAL Team 3 where he was involved in every major battle of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout his time in Iraq, Chris' courage and heroism in battle earned him the title and honor of the most elite sniper in U.S. history. Feared for his deadly accuracy, Chris was nicknamed The Devil of Ramadi by insurgents, and recorded a record 150 confirmed kills--one of which was a 2,100-yard strike, 1.2 miles away. More importantly however, Chris is most remembered for his selfless and unwavering ability to protect American troops while perched on rooftops. In fact, despite being shot twice and directly involved in multiple IED explosions during his tours, Chris always made doing his job and his fellow teammates his top priority. For his bravery, Chris was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation. In 2009, Chris retired from his military career in order to dedicate more time to his wife and family. Shortly after, he released his New York Times bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, which shares his battle experiences and sheds light on the true sacrifices that service members and their families endure. Unprepared for the books immediate success, Chris ultimately donated proceeds from the book to the families of fallen service members. For those that knew Chris personally, this was nothing out of the ordinary. Chris was not just an exemplary soldier; he was a successful businessman, a trusted friend and team member, and a devoted husband, father, and son. He lived by the professional motto, ``It is our duty to serve those who serve us.'' This principle became the driving force behind his decision to found Craft International, a military and law enforcement training and security company, as well as help create Fitco Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder and adjust to civilian. As a former veteran myself, I truly understand the sacrifices Chris and his family made for our great country. Chris' devotion to a higher calling and his commitment to God, Country, and Family should serve as a constant reminder that freedom isn't free. We all owe a debt to men and women like Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Officer Chris Kyle, a true American hero and a man of great principle. I extend my deepest condolences to Chris' family, and my thoughts and prayers are with them as they move forward in Chris' honor.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Allen High School in my district for a recent victory on December 22. The Allen Eagles won the Texas State Championship with a score of 35-21 against Houston Lamar. Back in 2008, the Allen Eagles clinched their first Class 5A Division I State title, and now in 2012 they've done it again. After completing their incredible 15-1 season, the Allen Eagles have officially been named to the eighth annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions. In the past nine seasons, Tom Westerberg, head coach of the Eagles, has led his team to two State titles with a record of 102 wins to 16 losses. It comes as no surprise that he was named 2012 Dallas Area Coach of the Year. The Allen Eagles are known to be a team with heart, and it's now proven they have the heart of a champion. Congratulations, Allen Eagles, on a tremendous season. Way to represent the city of Allen and continuing the storied tradition of great high school football in north Texas. God bless you. I salute you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1509) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the inclusion of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards, as amended.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger), also a member on the Ways and Means Committee and chairman on the Subcommittee on Health.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, the House considers legislation that has long been a bipartisan priority of the Committee on Ways and Means, protecting seniors from identity theft. Identity theft is a lasting and devastating crime. Victims spend years having to prove who they are while monitoring credit reports, fending off collection agencies for charges they never made, or the IRS for taxes they don't owe. Some are even picked up by law enforcement for crimes committed by the ID thief using their name. Seniors have every reason to be concerned. According to the Department of Justice, 8.6 million households experienced identity theft in 2010. Over 1 million of these households are headed by seniors at risk of having their Social Security numbers stolen. Fraud involving government documents accounted for 27 percent of the identity theft complaints in 2011, making it the most common and fastest growing form of identity theft complaint according to the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Speaker, we know Americans are told not to carry their Social Security cards in case a wallet or purse is lost or stolen. Yet seniors are told they must carry their Medicare card which displays their Social Security number. Not only does this not make sense; it puts seniors at risk. The largest seniors organization in America agrees. According to AARP: All Medicare patients must carry a benefits card that displays their Social Security number. Such easy assess to sensitive information makes the cards a hot target for identity thieves who want to file false claims. Mr. Speaker, the Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2012 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, to take action to ensure Social Security numbers no longer are used on Medicare cards. It requires the Secretary to develop a cost-effective way to do that, with as little impact as possible on Medicare beneficiaries and health care providers. Further, funds from the Medicare Improvement Fund are made available to pay for implementation costs. According to CBO, the costs of this bill are fully offset and would not increase the deficit. Lastly, the bill directs GAO to conduct a study to determine whether the Medicare program should use smart card technology, an idea advanced by my colleagues, Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare program. Members should know this isn't the first time CMS has been directed to act. Starting in 2002, GAO first called for ending the use of Social Security numbers on government documents. Then in 2005, fiscal year 2006, the Labor-HHS bill urged the Secretary to accelerate planning for removing Social Security numbers and asked for a report. And then in 2007, OMB issued a directive to all Federal agencies to develop plans for reducing the use of Social Security numbers. And then in 2008, my colleague Lloyd Doggett and I brought a bill to the floor that passed by voice vote to end the use of Social Security numbers on Medicare cards. Most recently, at an August 2012 Ways and Means Committee joint subcommittee hearing, GAO questioned CMS's lack of a serious plan to stop displaying the Social Security number. While CMS fails to act, both the public and private sectors are working to protect their customers and businesses from identity theft. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are removing Social Security numbers from their ID and medical cards, and I applaud them for taking that action. Private health insurance and many others ended the use of Social Security numbers on public documents a long time ago. And even CMS knows better. It won't allow insurers in the Medicare Advantage and part D drug benefit programs to use Social Security numbers on their enrollees' cards. The time to protect our nearly 50 million Americans carrying Medicare cards with their personal information is long overdue. It's high time that Congress passes this commonsense bill. There's no reason why American seniors have to continue to be put at risk of ID theft. We need to act right now, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and pass the Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act today. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), who is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), a member of the Ways and Means Committee and acting chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you, Mr. Doggett. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, despite increasing pressure from this committee and this House, CMS has refused to act to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. If CMS won't act, we must. This commonsense bill is a vital step in protecting our Nation's seniors from identity theft, and we can't afford to put seniors at risk any longer. Medicare beneficiaries want, need, and deserve better. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I hope the Senate will act immediately to pass this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, back in 2007, then-candidate Obama said the Nation is facing ``a Social Security crisis.'' And he was right. Unfortunately, 5 years later, as we deal with a looming fiscal cliff, some in the President's own party are denying the fiscal reality when it comes to Social Security. Here are the facts: Social Security is the government's most expensive program. Since 2010, it has been bleeding cash, and over the next 10 years, it will do so to the tune of nearly $1 trillion. As a recent USA Today editorial put it, Social Security is indeed contributing to our deficit. To say otherwise is to lie to the American people. Mr. Speaker, all Americans want, need, and deserve that we work together to address our fiscal challenges. We owe it to current and future beneficiaries to secure this critical safety net. We can make Social Security solvent forever. Let's do it.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding. You know, Ralph's district adjoins mine. He and I have represented the same area in Collin County for many years. Ralph is just one of a kind. He's one of the nicest guys I've ever known. It's a privilege to recognize my fellow Texan and good friend for his many years of outstanding service to our country and to the great State of Texas. Ralph is a man of great integrity whose steadfast commitment of service to our Nation is to be commended. Ralph and I have known each other a long time, and I'm lucky to have him as a neighbor and friend. I don't have a better friend or ally in the Congress, and I want to congratulate Ralph on reaching this milestone. He was in the United States Navy and he fought for our country in World War II. And then when we got back up where we do an event every year in McKinney, Texas, he was kind of mad at me because I jumped out of an airplane five times and he hadn't jumped out of one. And so he decided he was going to jump out of one just so he could come to that meeting and tell us he did it. And he did. He's still a great patriot. He lives and breathes America. I look forward to many more years with Ralph Hall.