Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor fourteen distinguished military veterans, community servants, and American patriots who call the Third District of Texas home. All faithfully answered the call of duty and placed service above self for the sake of our great nation. Each one leaves a legacy to be remembered, for future generations to follow, a legacy of bravery, loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice. For their selfless service, bold leadership, and undying commitment for their neighbor and nation, the following individual has been selected as a recipient of the third annual Congressional Veteran Commendation: Sergeant James Fairbairn served in the United States Marine Corps from 1950 to 1954. After completing boot camp, James headed to Korea in December of 1950 where he joined the 2nd Platoon of Able Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Division. It was in this assignment that Mr. Fairbairn served as a fire team leader during an attack against a strong enemy force. Without regard for his personal safety, he was able to rush and attack the enemy, which ultimately resulted in overrunning the enemy and completing the mission. For his heroism in battle and his distinguished years of service, James Fairbairn earned the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Valor, a Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and numerous other decorations. As a resident of Richardson, Texas, Mr. Fairbairn has continued to serve his community. He served as the president of the Dallas Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association. He has also worked extensively with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. He currently represents the Sons of the American Revolution on the Volunteer Board of the Dallas Veterans Affairs Hospital. Sergeant James Fairbairn, let me both thank and congratulate you on your exceptional service to our country and community both past and present. It is my pleasure to award you the 2013 Congressional Veteran Commendation for the Third District of Texas.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor fourteen distinguished military veterans, community servants, and American patriots who call the Third District of Texas home. All faithfully answered the call of duty and placed service above self for the sake of our great nation. Each one leaves a legacy to be remembered, for future generations to follow, a legacy of bravery, loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice. For their selfless service, bold leadership, and undying commitment for their neighbor and nation, the following individual has been selected as a recipient of the third annual Congressional Veteran Commendation: Keeshaun Coffey served with honor in the United States Navy from 2008 to 2012. He began his military career by enlisting as a Religious Program Specialist. Selected for the Fleet Marine Force, he served at the Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, where he trained chaplain candidates and facilitated over 150 religious services and over 200 field services. Mr. Coffey's next assignment led him to Yokosuka, Japan, where he served with the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. In this position, he planned and implemented community service events which allowed the USS Cowpens to log 3,059 community service hours. Following his service with the USS Cowpens, Mr. Coffey remained in Japan where he was assigned to the Chapel of Hope and the United States Naval Hospital Yokosuka. He was stationed there when the 2011 tsunami and earthquake struck Japan. As his final act of military service, Mr. Coffey spent long hours creating general ledgers for Operation Tomodachi in order to maintain 100 percent accountability in the expenditure of government and donated funds. After Mr. Coffey's service to the military honorably ended, he enrolled in the University of Texas at Dallas to continue his education. On campus he has continued serving the community by co-founding and serving as President of the Veterans of Dallas at UTD's student organization. In 2012, he played an active role in the creation and establishment of the UTD Veteran Services Center. Keeshaun Coffey, let me both thank and congratulate you on your exceptional service to our country and community both past and present. It is my pleasure to award you the 2013 Congressional Veteran Commendation for the Third District of Texas.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for the last 30 years, Social Security has been required to make deceased Americans' Social Security numbers and other personal information public through the so-called ``Death Master File.'' Unfortunately, identity thieves have been using this file to obtain fraudulent tax refunds based on the identity of deceased Americans, particularly children like 4-year-old Alexis Agin here. No grieving family should have to go through this. To put a stop to this heinous crime, earlier this year, I introduced the Alexis Agin Identity Theft Protection Act with my Democrat colleague Xavier Becerra. And thanks to the budget deal, which includes a provision to restrict access to the Death Master File, American families will be better protected from tax fraud. I salute the Agins for their tireless advocacy, and God bless America.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, at a time when Americans continue to see their health care options diminished by the President's disastrous health care law, it's critical that we work to return choice and freedom to the American people. That's why I introduced H.R. 3498, a commonsense bill that gives seniors the freedom to make their own health care decisions and opt out of Medicare. If folks like Warren Buffett or Ross Perot want to opt out of Medicare part A but they don't want or need a government entitlement paying for their care, we should let them. This bill truly tells seniors ``if you like your current coverage, you can keep it'' without the risk of losing other benefits like Social Security. Seniors want, need, and deserve the right to choose a health care plan that fits their needs. I urge my colleagues to join my efforts in returning freedom and choice to American seniors.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano on their latest accolade--the 2013 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is the Nation's highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovative practices and visionary leadership. For nearly a decade, Baylor Plano has provided north Texas with high- quality and compassionate care. Their superior patient satisfaction rate and dedication to training the best and the brightest go unmatched. Baylor Plano's success and patient-centered care is a testament to the endless possibilities when you have choice and freedom on your side. It is an honor to congratulate Baylor Plano's employees, medical staff, and volunteers for doing their part to keep Texas' bigger and better reputation intact. I wish them continued success. God bless you, and I salute you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for more than 3\1/2\ years, President Obama repeatedly promised Tom, who is in this picture, that if he liked his health care plan, he could keep it. Period. In spite of the President's assurances, Tom, along with 3.5 million other Americans, has recently received a cancelation letter from his insurance provider. You see, Tom, who is a constituent from Allen, Texas, has dwarfism, which makes access to the doctors he likes, trusts, and knows critical to his well-being. Not only has ObamaCare affected his health care, but Tom has said it has taken time, energy and focus away from growing his small business. That even makes the new Pope mad. As Tom's dad often said, If you're not going to be part of the solution, at least don't be part of the problem. Thus far, ObamaCare is the problem. It is time for President Obama to join our efforts and provide a real solution to this flawed and unworkable law.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, folks back home are frustrated, confused and, quite frankly, scared about this disastrous health care law. Last week, Stephen from Plano sent me an email sharing his firsthand experience with the marketplace exchange. In short, operators on the 1- 800 line had no answers to his questions. They simply reiterated he should wait until later that evening or the next day to apply since the systems were having technical issues. Unfortunately, the problems go far beyond an unworkable Web site. Even with 3 years of preparation and spending more than 1 billion taxpayer dollars, ObamaCare has failed to give the American people what they were promised. Mr. Speaker, the American people were promised affordable health care, not for a select few, but for all. Now more than ever, we must work together to delay this law. Americans want, need, and deserve better.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American patriot on a day worth remembering. Today, the Dallas Builders Association joined Operation Finally Home, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, on their mission to honor and serve our wounded and disabled veterans and their families as they transition from combat to civilian life. Their mission today is to present Marine Sergeant Ken Kalish with the keys to a mortgage free, custom-built home in Grand Prairie, Texas as a way to thank him for his honorable sacrifice and selfless service to our country. Sergeant Ken Kalish, born on December 11, 1988 in Independence, Missouri, grew up understanding the core of what it means to be an American. Seeing his grandfather serve as an Army Ranger and his dad in the U.S. Navy, Ken always knew one day he would follow his family's legacy and join the ranks to serve his county. After graduating from Hutch High in 2007, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and reported shortly after to Camp Pendleton for boot camp. After completing the necessary training, he joined the Combat Engineering battalion to serve oversees in Iraq. Following his first tour of duty, Ken returned stateside and trained as a dog handler to seek out IED (improvised explosive devices), also commonly referred to as ``roadside bombs.'' Specifically, Ken trained a black Labrador retriever named Flynn, and in October of 2010, Ken and Flynn deployed to Afghanistan to detect these destructive mine-like devices. With only 30 short days left on his second tour, Ken stepped on an IED a few moments after loading Flynn into the accompanying vehicle. Ken was severely wounded in the explosion. Despite the difficulty, Ken refuses to allow his injuries to define his present and his future. In his words, ``there's no point in being sad over this'' but instead focus on ``what I have to do next.'' His resiliency of spirit, unending courage, and commitment to service over self make 24-year-old Ken a patriot and a hero. Men like Ken embody the best of America. He stands as a shining example to us all, and we owe him and his family our deepest gratitude. Ken, thank you for your sacrifice to preserve and protect the freedoms we enjoy each and every day. Without your willingness to serve, we would not have the privilege to call America the land of the free and home of the brave. This newly built home could not go to anyone more deserving. God Bless you and I salute you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2013 Angels in Adoption, Jessie and Kayci Prince, from my hometown, Plano, Texas. As children, both Jessie and Kayci were touched by adoption. Having experienced the powerful impact adoption has on families, they decided to adopt one of their own. In 2012, Ezekiel--Zeke for short--from the Democratic Republic of Congo, became part of the Prince family. As the Princes helped Zeke learn how to read, they quickly learned how challenging it was to find books that depict transracial families. They decided as a family to write, illustrate, and publish ``That's a Yummy Color,'' a children's book celebrating adoption. This book is now helping other families form special bonds with their own adopted children. I am grateful for the compassionate families like the Princes. Jessie and Kayci, you are truly an inspiration. God bless you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call my fellow Americans to remember, remember a day of exceptional valor, bravery, and comradery in our nation's history. Today we commemorate the 20th anniversary of Black Hawk Down, also known as the Day of the Rangers. On October 3, 1993, approximately 120 U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force Operators launched a raid to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a warlord wreaking havoc on the city of Mogadishu and starving innocent civilians in Somalia. What began as an attempt to seize an oppressor and bring peace and aid to this developing country turned into an extensive rescue mission after two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. Tragically, many American lives were lost, including one of our very own, Sergeant James Casey Joyce, a graduate of Plano Senior High School. After attending the University of Texas and the University of North Texas at Denton, Sergeant Joyce enlisted in the Army in November 1990 where he completed Airborne Training and earned the esteemed title, U.S. Army Ranger. Twenty years ago, Sergeant Joyce was one of the brave Rangers who put their lives on the line to bring these American pilots safely home. In the midst of the vicious battle, a fellow Ranger who fell from one of the helicopters was in critical condition--without immediate medical attention he would clearly die. Fulfilling the Ranger Creed, Sergeant Joyce took it upon himself to ``never leave a fallen comrade'' behind. He proceeded into the danger of enemy fire in search of a medevac vehicle and was tragically killed in action. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Joyce's actions that day, along with the other brave men and women who fought alongside him must always be remembered. His commitment to his comrades, unwavering courage, and extraordinary sacrifice embodies the highest form of the American spirit, to place service over self. Words cannot sufficiently express the debt of gratitude we owe Sergeant Joyce and others like him who have bravely fought and lost their lives in service to our great country. I'd also like to thank his family--his wife, DeAnna, his mother, Gail, and his brother and sister, Steven and Sancy. When one member of a family serves, the entire family serves, and you all deserve our utmost appreciation and respect. Because of their sacrifices, America remains the land of the free and the world is a better place for it. God Bless all who serve, past, present, and future. I salute each and every one of you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we are just 3 days away from October 1--the day ObamaCare's health care exchanges are scheduled to open. Yet every constituent phone call, news headline, and report I come across further proves that this law is simply unaffordable and unworkable. On Thursday, at 11:22 a.m., President Obama said: Most of the stories you'll hear about how ObamaCare can't work is just not based on facts . . . We're only 5 days from finishing the job. Exactly 23 minutes later, I received a news alert, saying the White House postponed another portion of ObamaCare--the sixth unilateral delay. Worse, in my home State of Texas, premiums will increase by 53 percent for young males and by 11 percent for females. Mr. Speaker, I have heard the personal stories, and I have seen the facts. ObamaCare is unaffordable and unworkable. Americans want, need, and deserve patient-centered reforms, not this ``government knows best'' health care law.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, after 3\1/2\ years, the Obama administration has failed to make its hallmark legislation, ObamaCare, work. Instead, it has delayed or waived key portions, including the so- called ``verification system.'' This was ObamaCare's way of ensuring folks who received Federal assistance to buy health insurance met the criteria. Buried within 600 pages of red tape, the administration said it will no longer verify the information provided by individuals, but simply rely on self-reporting. Mr. Speaker, this opens a wide door to further fraud and abuse in our health care system. This fraud could amount to $250 billion in taxpayer-funded payments. That's no pocket change. That's why I urge my colleagues to support a commonsense bill, H.R. 2775, No Subsidies Without Verification Act, to protect taxpayer dollars and further chip away at this unworkable law. The American people want, need, and deserve better.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in May, the IRS proved to the American people it cannot be trusted to fairly enforce laws. As if the intentional targeting of Americans was not troubling enough, ObamaCare will give the IRS even more power in just a short month. That's right, the agency that bullied Americans for exercising their right of free speech will be the same agency involved in enforcing health care. Patients and their doctors should make the decisions that work best for them, not Washington, much less the IRS. Allowing the IRS to enforce ObamaCare opens the door to more abuse, targeting, and intimidation of Americans. That's why I join my colleagues in support of a commonsense bill, H.R. 2009, Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act, that will stop the IRS from enforcing or implementing any part of ObamaCare. It's time for our friends across the aisle to listen to the American people. Keep the IRS out of our lives and out of our health care.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I proudly recognize the fifth anniversary and expansion of My Possibilities, a nonprofit organization serving disabled young adults in north Texas. My Possibilities began with the vision of three dedicated mothers of special needs children. These mothers dreamed of something more for their kids beyond a high school education. After 2 years of hard work, they created the first full-day, full-year continuing education program for disabled Texans. In fact, last week, they commemorated the grand opening of a new facility in Plano so even more Texans could become lifelong learners. My Possibilities stands as a testament to the American spirit of freedom and free enterprise. Three moms took an idea to fill a need in our community and made it a reality. That's truly remarkable. The folks at My Possibilities live up to their motto: ``Make every moment count.'' To the staff, board of directors, and Chairman Charmaine Solomon, thank you for your tireless efforts and your dedication.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for the last 30 years, Social Security has been required to make personal information of deceased Americans public through the so-called ``Death Master File.'' Unfortunately, identity thieves use this file to steal Americans' identities and obtain fraudulent tax returns. Worse, the criminals target deceased children like 4-year-old Alexis Agin who's right here, whose family joins us today in the balcony. Worrying about the stolen identity of a loved one is the last thing a grieving family should do. I salute the Agins for their tireless advocacy, and I thank you. Today, I humbly join their efforts by introducing the Alexis Agin Identity Theft Protection Act with my Democrat colleague and ranking member on Social Security, Xavier Becerra. This commonsense bipartisan bill will protect families, prevent further abuse of taxpayer dollars; and it's time to stop the public sale of the Death Master File. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Alexis Agin, I urge my colleagues to join us and get this bill signed into law.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Three and a half years and hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars later, this administration still hasn't figured out how to implement their healthcare law. What more proof do they need? More now than ever, it's clear that this law is too complicated, too expensive, and worst, failing American families. Last week, the Obama administration announced they would no longer require businesses to offer health insurance to workers next year, nor require States to verify residents' income before signing them up for insurance. While these actions provide much-needed relief to our job creators, who have been forced to shrink paychecks and freeze hiring, it still requires individuals and families to obtain insurance. It also opens the door to more waste, fraud, and abuse of precious taxpayer dollars. American families want, need, and deserve patient-centered care, not the government-knows-best healthcare system. It's time to repeal and shred this broken law into ribbons. Let's start over with real, commonsense reform before it's too late.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON

Mr. SAM JOHNSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituents in the Third Congressional District of Texas to introduce the Imprisonment for Tax Targeting of Americans Act of 2013. On May 10, the IRS admitted to targeting conservative groups. Worse, our broken Tax Code does not make jail time mandatory for criminal offenses such as political targeting. Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve better. The bottom line is that the use of the IRS as a political weapon is outrageous and unacceptable. What's worse, this is the same agency that will be enforcing ObamaCare. As this blatant abuse of power continues to be fully investigated, this commonsense bill sends a loud and clear message to the IRS: if you do the crime, you do the time. No exceptions, no excuses. The American people want, need and deserve to know the truth and assurance that this never happens again. This bill is a step in that direction. I urge my colleagues to join my efforts.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2289) to rename section 219(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today we are considering legislation to rename the Spousal IRA the ``Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA,'' and I want to thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for cosponsoring this bill. Mr. Speaker, a fellow Texan, an extraordinary woman and the first Texas female United States Senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison established during her time in the Senate a long and distinguished record of service to the great people of Texas and to Americans across our Nation. A fitting example of the Senator's service is her successful effort to help families save for retirement. Back in 1993, Senator Hutchison first led the effort to change an unfair tax rule that limited the ability of homemakers to fully contribute to their own personal retirement accounts known as IRAs. At that time, homemakers could only put aside $250 in an IRA as opposed to $2,000, the maximum allowed for the working spouse. In response, Senator Hutchison introduced legislation allowing homemakers to fully contribute to their own accounts. In 1996, Congress passed legislation that included the Senator's proposal to do just that. As a result, homemakers are no longer penalized for undertaking the important work of raising a family when it comes to saving for retirement. As the Senator said back in 1996: There is no question in my mind that the work done inside the home is as much a part of the American family, if not more important to the American family, than the work done outside the home. I can't think of a better way to recognize the now former Senator's efforts to make it easier for families to achieve retirement security than by renaming the Spousal IRA the ``Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), a member of the Ways and Means Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Health.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Doggett, for his words. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill in honor of Senator Hutchison's commonsense effort to make it easier for families to save for retirement. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we are going to move one step closer to banning late-term abortions by supporting H.R. 1797, called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Late-term abortion isn't rare. I was dismayed and disheartened to hear of the horrors from the Kermit Gosnell trial. Worse, this past month, in my home State of Texas, former employees of the abortionist Douglas Karpen alleged he killed babies born alive. These acts are inexcusable, immoral and unjustifiable. It's time we got rid of this gruesome and barbaric procedure to prevent future cases like Gosnell's and Karpen's once and for all. The procedure is not only unethical but unessential. There's extensive evidence that unborn babies aborted in this manner are alive until the end of the procedure and fully experience the pain associated with the procedure. We've got to do the right thing. We must ban late-term abortion. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1797 and protect the value of life, women and unborn babies.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary group of 21 students who have been chosen as the future leaders of our Armed Forces by the prestigious United States service academies. These brave young men and women will commit the next four years to diligently study and rigorously train to become our Nation's defenders and protectors. I am proud to see such a fine group of young adults earnestly pursue a world-class education and a lifetime of service. I have no doubt they will represent the Third District of Texas well. As we keep them and their families in our prayers, may we never forget the commitment they are making now and will make in the future to preserve the freedoms we all hold dear. These students are the cream of the crop. They embody the best of their generation, a generation full of courage, honor, and integrity; a generation with a deep sense of duty to uphold America's belief in democracy, liberty, and justice for all. Young men and women, I salute each one of you for your dedication to this great country and thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you and God Bless America. The name and hometown of each appointee follows: Third Congressional District Service Academy Bound Students--Class of 2017