Lynn Jenkins

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Today, we are stealing from the next generation--our kids and our grandkids. We are making false promises that Medicare and Social Security benefits will be there to take care of folks when we know that Medicare is bankrupt in 8 to 12 years. It's time for Congress to do something to help Americans and their families. While House Republicans seek to bring taxes and spending back to historically stable levels this country operated under for the past 60 years and seek to balance the budget, there is nothing balanced about the Democrats' plan. We are spending more money today than we did last year, and we are collecting more taxpayer dollars than ever before. Instead of cutting spending, the Democrats' plan would add $4 trillion to the debt and take in another $1.2 trillion out of people's pockets, not to buy down our debt, but to spend even more. Instead of raising taxes, the House Republican plan includes pro- growth, comprehensive tax reform. Tax reform is critical to increasing U.S. competitiveness abroad as well as attracting business here at home. It will close loopholes and special interest deductions and credits for personal and corporate income taxes and lower the rates for everyone. I am pleased House Republicans are the only people in this town with the courage to balance the budget. It's time to return the economy to an engine of growth and job creation and to increase opportunities for all hardworking Americans. This is what the House Republican budget will achieve, and this is what Americans deserve.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and for his leadership on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, today, the House will act to protect our Nation's welfare-to-work programs, which have been enormously successful in moving millions of Americans out of poverty, off government dependency, and into jobs since 1996. Following the implementation of welfare-to- work requirements, the number of individuals receiving welfare dropped by 57 percent, poverty among single mothers fell by 30 percent, and child poverty decreased dramatically. Welfare reform laws specifically forbid any administration from changing the work requirements without congressional approval. The current administration has ignored this and attempted to waive the work requirement, which would destroy critical aspects of welfare reform and years of progress. With the passage of H.R. 890, the House will block the administration's controversial waiver plan, and in the days ahead I hope the administration will work with Congress, instead of around it, to strengthen the TANF program and help low-income families achieve financial independence.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Kansas State University, the oldest public university in the state of Kansas, on its 150th anniversary. Kansas State University holds a special place in my heart as my alma mater, and today, I still proudly wear my K-State purple. Originally founded as Bluemont Central College in 1858, Kansas State University began as an institute of higher education serving 29 students from working class and farm families in the Kansas Territory. In 1863, during the Civil War, Bluemont College became the Kansas State Agriculture College, the first land grant university under President Lincoln's Morrill Act, and was only the second public institution of higher education to admit men and women equally. Today, more than 24,000 students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries around the world study at one of Kansas State's three locations: the main campus in Manhattan, better known as the Little Apple; the College of Technology and Aviation in Salina; and the new state-of-the-art Olathe campus, which is currently preparing graduate students in the innovative fields of bioscience and biotechnology. Kansas State University is among the top 75 public universities, and offers more than 250 undergraduate majors, 65 master's degrees, 45 doctoral degrees and 22 graduate certificates in multiple disciplines. The university ranks first nationally among state universities in Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholars with 135 recipients, and the Kansas State University College of Engineering was recently named one of the best undergraduate engineering programs in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. Kansas State has a wonderfully supportive community, better known as the K-State family, and it is serious business. Let me give you an example. Six years ago, students created the K-State Proud campaign. Driven by the idea of how a family takes care of one another, the Proud campaign established a culture of philanthropy and to date has raised more than half a million dollars to fund 300 scholarships for students who are struggling financially due to challenges from health issues, natural disasters, or family tragedy. This is in addition to the $200 million in scholarships, grants, loans and work study Kansas State distributes each year. With 16 men's and women's athletic programs, more than 475 student organizations, and more than 20 club sports, cultivating a positive and encouraging sense of student life is a high priority. The Princeton Review recently ranked Kansas State as second in the nation for excellent campus and community relations and No. 14 for quality of life. If you ask anyone what they remember most about their time at Kansas State University, they will tell you without a doubt, it is the people. It is where they met their best friends, their husbands or wives, and it is where they hope their children choose to attend. Graduates of Kansas State University have gone on to do many great things for this country, and I am not only referring to those who entered public service as a member of the House, Senate, or even the Kansas governor. Notable Kansas State alums include: presidents of colleges and universities; chairmen and CEOs of major companies, Olympic gold medalists, Emmy Award winners, as well as the creator of the snooze alarm, and the inventor of the Space Pen. On this historic anniversary, it is my honor to recognize my alma mater, Kansas State University, on 150 years of excellence. I can only image the remarkable things the future holds for Kansas State and the talented individuals it will educate and inspire. Congratulations.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me this time. Today, there are still more than 12 million Americans unemployed. Parents are taking home lower wages to support their children, and families are paying more for everything from gas to groceries. For these Americans, the recession never ended. If government spending was the key to economic growth and job creation, the economy would be booming right now. But instead, last week we found out things are getting worse. We all know the problem. For 4 years we racked up trillion-dollar deficits year after year, adding another trillion to the national debt. It's not a partisan issue. We all agree we need to fix it. Serious problems call for serious discussions, and serious discussions require everyone to put their plan on the table. We took a solid step last week by requiring the Senate to pass a budget for the first time in 4 years, but we must continue moving forward by requiring not just a budget but a plan that actually fixes the problem. We need to pass the Require a PLAN Act so the House, Senate, and even the White House are all forced to step away from campaign rhetoric and short-term gimmicks. Unlike the President's previous budget proposals, the PLAN Act will require the President to finally tell the American people when and how his budget will achieve balance. It's time to get serious. Americans deserve better than gimmicks and campaign rhetoric; they deserve a plan.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) on its twenty-fifth anniversary, which will be celebrated at its annual convention and trade show this year. I am proud to have this excellent organization headquartered in my Congressional district in Topeka, Kansas. NATM was founded in 1987 by a small group of 5 horse and livestock trailer manufacturers, and it has now grown to represent more than 400 trailer manufacturing companies and 350 supplier companies across the country. Many are small businesses, and these members collectively employ more than 270,000 workers who produce hundreds of thousands of trailers each year and contribute billions of dollars to our economy. The core purpose of this association is to promote safety and best manufacturing processes across the light and medium duty trailer industry. Since its inception, NATM has worked to advance industry and public recognition of the importance of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration requirements, and industry guidelines. In order to advance this goal, NATM created a voluntary Compliance Verification Program in 2002. The program is designed to enhance safety in the industry by helping manufacturers to comply with federal safety requirements. Last year, association members voted unanimously to make participation in the program a condition of membership. NATM and its members demonstrate dedication to improving safety and performance in the trailer industry by working with legislators and regulators alike to address issues of concern. I congratulate them on the milestone achievement of their 25th annual convention and trade show, and wish them many years of continued successes.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of the bill to extend Section 45G of Title 26 in the IRS code, I rise today to clarify the impact that the extension of this provision within the text of H.R. 8 will have on short line railroads. As a Certified Public Accountant, I would like to iterate that in IRS Code section (1)(2) under 45G, it is the intent of the law that assignments of railroad track miles for purposes of calculating a railroad track maintenance tax credit for the taxable year that ended on December 31, 2012 may be completed in 2013, due to the late extension of the 45G credit in this legislation. This belated extension should not be construed as an attempt by Congress to eliminate the ability of short line railroads to use subsection (b)(2), but rather to preserve that ability for tax year 2012.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Growing up on a Kansas dairy farm, I know the estate tax is a threat to family farms. This tax makes bailing hay and shoveling manure sound like a get-rich-quick scheme, when most family farms make an average of $45,000 a year. Raising the estate tax to 55 percent and dropping the exemption to $1 million might be feasible for a hedge fund manager, but it will jeopardize the future of farmers and their families, forcing many to sell their farms they worked to build for generations. Many farmers are ``land rich'' but ``cash poor.'' The average land value for 65,000 Kansas farms is $900,000. Throw in a $300,000 combine, a $250,000 tractor, and Kansas farmers are suddenly millionaires according to estate tax math. But this isn't wealth they can use to pay taxes. It's in assets. Farmers provide us with a safe and dependable food supply. We cannot allow the estate tax to put them out of business.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, and would like to commend Chairman Johnson and Congressman Doggett for their leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, today there are nearly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries who are told to carry their Medicare cards with them at all times while simultaneously being told not to carry their Social Security card. They are told that carrying their Social Security card in their purse or wallet puts them at risk of identity theft, which is a problem that affects 1 million seniors yearly. The irony is that the Medicare cards all feature beneficiaries' Social Security numbers prominently. This means that our seniors are in a tight spot. They are at risk of identity theft simply by carrying their Medicare card with them. I support passage of this bill because it would ensure that a person's Social Security Number is no longer printed on their Medicare card. This bipartisan, commonsense measure will ensure that the 115,000 Medicare enrollees in my district will be safe from identity theft.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. This week, Moody's threatened to downgrade the U.S.' credit rating if Washington fails yet again to deal with the long-term debt problem. This is not news. We were downgraded last year, but instead of acting to fix the problem, this administration racked up a $1 trillion deficit for the fourth year in a row, and now we face a fiscal cliff that could cause another recession. Enough with the short-term fixes, patches, gimmicks, and tricks. They only make the problem worse. This country needs a comprehensive budget and tax reform. This means a simpler Tax Code that is more fair and efficient, and it means fundamental spending reform that will save Medicare. We have a rare opportunity to put this country back on the right track to ensure a more prosperous future for our children. Let's take it. It's time to put the American people first.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Tax reform may not be as exciting as watching Team USA win a gold medal, but for a CPA who specialized in tax, comprehensive tax reform is the Olympics, and we want to win a gold medal for the American taxpayers. Our Tax Code is a disaster. At around 15,000 pages, it 's too long, it's too complicated, and it's chock-full of loopholes favoring some taxpayers at the expense of others. Temporary tax provisions alone have increased from 14 in 1986 to 132 today. U.S. taxpayers and businesses spend 7.6 billion hours simply complying with the code. Tax compliance as an industry is one of the country's largest, requiring 3.8 million workers. That's just too much. We need a code that is more fair, equitable, and efficient. We need to broaden the base, lower rates, and ignore special interests who fight to block reform, reform that will save us billions of dollars and create a million jobs. Our friends across the aisle believe increasing the top rate will restore fairness. But how can further complicating the code with more exclusions for certain folks while making it more complicated for others make it more fair? We have the means and the tools to reduce the tax rates here, and we need to get busy. Overhauling the entire Tax Code is the only way to restore fairness. What we've learned from the 1986 reforms is that broadening the base, eliminating loopholes, and lowering the rates will grow the economy and raise revenues. This bill not only supports comprehensive tax reform, but it lays out a plan to ensure that it actually happens. Tax reform is a no-brainer. It's a win/win for the economy, our businesses, and our hardworking American families.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, stopping the tax hike is not just about taxes; it's about jobs. Small businesses have been responsible for about two-thirds of the new jobs created. Raising taxes on the so- called ``rich'' will hit nearly 1 million of these businesses and in this weak economy will risk destroying 700,000 jobs. Is it worth it? Raising taxes simply allows Washington to spend more. If we want to have a serious discussion about reining in our out-of- control spending, I welcome that debate. But first we should do no harm to our fragile economy. Extending current rates gives us time to pass our plan for comprehensive tax reform without risking thousands of jobs and another recession. CBO estimates that action will produce 2 million jobs next year alone. The choice is clear. Let's stop the tax hikes and create jobs.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank Dr. Paul for his leadership on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Reserve lent out $16 trillion during the fiscal crisis. That's larger than the entire U.S. economy--or worse, our Federal debt. Trillions of taxpayer dollars, and we have very little understanding of where it went. Congress holds the purse, but we have no oversight over how the Fed manages the funds. This is why I've cosponsored a bipartisan effort to audit the Fed in full. It's our responsibility. Current monetary policy audits of the Fed are insufficient. Most Fed operations consist of transactions with foreign central banks, and yet they are exempt from review. When corruption is suspected, a common refrain is: follow the money. With the historic sovereign debt crisis brewing in Europe, we must look closely at our own balance sheet. We must follow the money. As a CPA, I know we need more transparency in Washington. It should start with the Federal Reserve.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, despite my strenuous objections, 2 years ago this week Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act. Two years have passed, and only one-third of nearly 400 rules are written today, and we have already added nearly 9,000 pages of new regulations and $7 billion in compliance costs. By trying to solve a poorly understood financial crisis, Washington created a regulatory nightmare. New agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have slowed the credit lifeline that is vital to the creation and survival of American small businesses. By impeding borrowing, experts predict Dodd-Frank will reduce annual job creation by 4.3 percent, hindering economic growth. Instead of using crises as excuses to expand our already overreaching government, we should target regulation at the root of the problem and work to protect both consumers and our innovating entrepreneurs.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, our current health care insurance system is badly broken, but the President's Affordable Care Act will only make it worse. It will lead to fewer jobs, more debt, and reduced access to quality care. Most importantly, it doesn't even deal with our primary problem--affordability. How can a more affordable solution result in an $800 billion tax hike? Of the 21 new tax provisions in this law, 12 will target the middle class. Instead of supporting the largest set of tax law changes in more than 20 years under the guise of health reform, we must repeal the law and take the time necessary to replace it with more patient-focused solutions. Pursuing consumer-driven reforms will allow Americans the flexibility to take ownership of their health care costs and will allow them the freedom to choose what plans work best for them and their families.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Energy Action Committee and a Representative from an energy State, I come to the floor today to support an all-of-the-above energy bill and an all-of-the-above jobs bill. I know firsthand the tremendous economic growth and job creation that comes from unlocking American-made energy. My State of Kansas is undergoing an energy boom. Farmers are making money, tractor dealerships are selling new tractors, and families are paying off loans. Even church contributions have benefited. Sadly, this American success story has been attacked by the current administration's repeated rejection of policies that would increase domestic energy production and create thousands of high-paying American jobs. This important legislation strengthens our energy security, it removes the bureaucratic red tape hindering American energy production, and it creates American jobs. Simply, we cannot afford to delay action that would create thousands of jobs. I urge passage of this legislation.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, H.R. 5842, the Restoring Access to Medication Act, which I authored and introduced, passed out of the full Ways and Means Committee markup with bipartisan support. It is now included in this bill that is being considered on the floor today. We all know the President's health care law is full of pitfalls that make health care more expensive for average Americans. While we await the Supreme Court's ruling on constitutionality of the entire health care overhaul, there is bipartisan, bicameral agreement that requiring folks to have a doctor's prescription to buy medicine as simple as Advil or cough syrup with their health savings account or flexible savings account is simply wrong. This provision would repeal the unnecessary and punitive ObamaCare limitation on reimbursement of over-the-counter medications from health FSAs, HRAs, and Archer MSAs that took effect back in 2011. Given the economic climate where jobs are hard to find, families are struggling to make ends meet; and when every dollar counts, this provision ensures that consumers have the flexibility to use these savings accounts as they see fit to purchase over-the-counter medications they need, exactly when they need them. Republicans are committed to looking for commonsense solutions that address the chief concern facing both families and employers: costs. This bill and this provision is about lowering costs so both families and job creators have some of the relief that ObamaCare failed to achieve. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 436 today.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Chairman, after an exhaustive review, the Department of Homeland Security chose Manhattan, Kansas, as the site for the new BSL 4 National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. This will be the only such facility capable of researching large animals in the United States. The construction of this cutting-edge facility must move forward quickly so we can safely conduct critical research to develop vaccines and countermeasures in order to protect the public and our livestock from the threats of devastating diseases. But not only will the NBAF accelerate America's ability to protect ourselves, our food supply, and the ag economy from biological threats; it will also be the world's premier animal health research facility and further solidify our Nation's place as the international leader in animal health. The NBAF is needed to replace the obsolete and increasingly expensive Plum Island Animal Disease Center. This lab was built in the 1950s and has reached the end of its life. The facility does not contain the necessary biosafety level to meet the NBAF research requirements, and it never will. Any attempts to upgrade Plum Island would cost more than building the NBAF as planned. Currently, we do not have the ability to research the effects of these diseases on large animals at any facility in the United States, nor can we rely on international partners for our own security needs. The NBAF project has a history of broad-based support. DHS, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, and the House Appropriations Committee under both Democrat and Republican leadership have made it clear time and time again that our country needs the NBAF, and the best place for the NBAF is in Manhattan, Kansas. Congress has already appropriated $90 million, and the State of Kansas and the city of Manhattan have already committed more than $200 million towards this project. In this age of uncertainty and global threats, conducting vital research to protect our Nation could not be more crucial. We cannot just wish away these threats or rely on others for our own security. And the truth of the matter is we are dangerously under-protected from the threat of a biological attack against our people and our food. While the gentlelady's amendment to increase salaries for the Custom and Border Patrol has merit, it shouldn't be done by cutting 29 percent of the funding for construction of this important lab. The result of this amendment will be stopping or delaying construction of this nationally important NBAF facility, and our Nation's food supply cannot afford another delay. We need to protect our food and our families from danger. We need to stay on the cutting edge of this research field. Our security is at risk, and delaying this project further should not be an option. We need NBAF. I urge my colleagues to vote against this destructive amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. DHS, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, has made it clear that a BSL 4 lab is essential to our national security, and building a new structure to host the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is both responsible and cost effective. Manhattan, Kansas, was selected as the new site for the NBAF after an exhaustive study by the Bush administration's DHS, and then reconfirmed by the current administration's 2012 budget. We need NBAF, and Manhattan is the best place to build it, a fact that Secretary Napolitano confirmed earlier this year in a hearing with the Appropriations Committee. While FEMA's State and local grants are important, increasing them by eliminating the funding for construction of this lab is simply irresponsible. Make no mistake about it; if we had a surplus, it might be nice to increase these grants. But the result of this amendment will be stopping or delaying construction of the nationally important NBAF facility and jeopardizing the security of our Nation's food supply. I urge the body to reject this amendment.

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The first priority of the Federal Government is to protect the American people, and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility has been declared necessary to provide that protection. The Department of Homeland Security, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, and the House Appropriations Committee under both Democrat and Republican leadership, have made it quite clear time and time again that the country needs the NBAF, and the best place to do that research is in Manhattan, Kansas. Congress has already appropriated $90 million, and the State of Kansas and the city of Manhattan have already committed more than $200 million towards the project. For the record, the calculations performed in this updated SSRA that were previously mentioned indicated that the estimated probability that an accident happening at this facility was less than 11 percent. While again, this proposal might be nice if we had a surplus, the result of this amendment will be stopping or delaying construction of this vital NBAF facility, jeopardizing our security and our Nation's food supply. I urge the body to reject this amendment.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. The Violence Against Women Act is an important tool for preventing domestic violence and sexual assault and for supporting the victims of these crimes. There is broad bipartisan agreement that this essential legislation must be renewed. While the House bill protects the victims of domestic violence and improves services and education to prevent and address these crimes on college campuses, our legislation also goes beyond the Senate bill by ensuring that taxpayer resources help victims--not Washington bureaucrats--by limiting administrative expenses, requiring annual audits and combating fraud. While the House legislation takes enormous strides in protecting the victims of these truly horrific crimes, the legislation also takes great care to ensure the funds allocated by this bill are treated with the responsibility and care the victims and taxpayers deserve: H.R. 4970 requires VAWA audits be performed by the Department of Justice and that the Attorney General improves the coordination between the grant-making offices to reduce duplication and overlap in funding. H.R. 4970 prohibits the award of grant funds to nonprofit organizations that hold money in offshore accounts in order to avoid paying their Federal taxes, and it limits the use of funds for salaries and administrative expenses to 5 percent of funds authorized under the act. The Violence Against Women Act has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, and any attempt to exploit this important law as a partisan political issue is contemptible. I encourage my colleagues in the House to vote in support of this legislation today to protect the victims of violent crime and support the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, as a Nation, we pride ourselves on the support we give our men and women in uniform. So much so, that over the last ten years, ``Support the Troops'' has become a rallying cry that cuts through all social and political difference. This month is Military Appreciation Month, and today I rise to thank the men and women serving in our military in Kansas and around the world. This week, as the House attempts to block the gutting of our defense department, I think it is important to remember that the first priority of the Federal Government is to protect us and there are brave men and women across the globe who deserve our support. So from Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and other military installation across Kansas's Second District and indeed the world, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the men and women of our armed services. Your service makes my service possible.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the leader for yielding. Job growth is my top priority, and no one can deny that small business is the engine that drives our economy and our job market. Since 1980, small businesses have accounted for 60 percent of job creation. Their success is vital to the strength of this economy and to the availability of jobs for all Americans. As a CPA and a legislator, I've heard from small business owners throughout my career, and their message has been remarkably consistent: They need relief from the burdensome Tax Code, and they need capital to hire and expand, which is exactly what the Small Business Tax Cut Act provides. While our colleagues in the Senate are devising new and creative ways to raise taxes, here in the House we have the opportunity to pass legislation that supports our small businesses, encourages growth and job creation, and lifts our economy out of the current economics of the day. We can and should do all of this by passing the Small Business Tax Cut Act today.