Bill Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2070) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the Nation on June 6, 1944, the morning of D-day, as amended.

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

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, I rise in support of legislation that I sponsored, the World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011. This legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to install at the World War II Memorial a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words that President Franklin Roosevelt prayed with the Nation on the morning of the D-day invasion. This prayer, which has been entitled ``Let Our Hearts Be Stout,'' gave solace, comfort and strength to our Nation and our brave warriors as we fought against tyranny and oppression. The memorial was built to honor the 16 million who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II and the more than 400,000 who died during the war. Prior to introducing the legislation, I spoke to many World War II veterans in Ohio and asked them if they thought putting this prayer on the memorial would be appropriate. The answer was a resounding yes. Furthermore, the Nation's largest service organization, the American Legion, is supportive of this legislation. The American Legion in a support letter said that this legislation would bolster the meaning of the memorial and would also give strength and encouragement to future generations. It seems to me that if the remaining veterans of World War II are supportive of the prayer being added, we as a country should honor that request. Unfortunately, the administration and the Department of the Interior don't think it's that easy. Last year, the Department of the Interior testified before the Natural Resources Committee that this legislation would ``necessarily dilute the central message of the memorial.'' Now, I don't know how the administration came to this position because I don't see how a nondenominational prayer that gave solace and comfort and strength to our Nation during one of the most pivotal days of World War II and one of the most memorable days in our Nation's history would dilute the central message of the memorial. In fact, I think it would do exactly the opposite and would only strengthen the central message of the memorial. To his credit, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified during a hearing last year that he personally disagreed with his own Department's testimony on the legislation. However, since his testimony, neither the Department of the Interior nor the administration has changed their official position on this legislation. I am hopeful after a bipartisan vote today on this legislation that the administration may have a change of heart. Fortunately, you don't have to just take my word for it because today we are honored to be joined by George ``Poppy'' Fowler of Coolville, Ohio. Poppy is 88 years young and served 3 years, 10 days, 1 hour and 10 minutes in the United States Navy during World War II. He flew 35 missions in Air Group 15 on a SB2C Helldiver as both a rear gunner and photographer. I had the pleasure of escorting Poppy last fall on an honor flight trip to visit the World War II Memorial, and he and I became friends. When the Natural Resources Committee scheduled a hearing on this legislation, I invited Poppy to come testify before the committee, and he graciously accepted the offer and came out to testify at his own personal expense. Here is a brief excerpt of Poppy's testimony at the hearing: ``I feel, with no doubt, that it would be appropriate that this prayer be inscribed in some manner at the World War II Memorial. Those reading this prayer will be able to recall the sacrifices made by our military, also those on the homefront. This prayer came at a perilous time, yet it was answered in victory at a dear cost of lives. Today, this prayer can pertain to any military action. Under present circumstances, it is also appropriate.'' Now, I don't think anybody or anyone in this body could be more succinct and articulate than Mr. Fowler, and I thank him again for coming to Washington to testify on behalf of this legislation and for being here for today's debate and final vote in the House. Before I close, I also want to thank my fellow Ohioan, Chris Long, for his tireless efforts to gain support and momentum for this legislation. This legislation wouldn't be on the House floor today without Chris' efforts. Like Poppy, I have no doubt that the prayer should be included among the tributes to the Greatest Generation memorialized on the National Mall, and I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for their support. May I ask if the minority bill manager has any additional speakers? We do not.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, here is the simple truth: the Obama administration is driven by a far left liberal ideology rather than the facts. This administration says it wants to put America back to work, but through its policies is doing the exact opposite. For example, because of the EPA's new train wreck of regulation, up to 160 direct jobs will be lost with the accelerated closure of Beverly, Ohio's Muskingum coal-fired power plant. This train wreck of regulation is the most expensive regulation that the EPA has ever mandated. These costs will ultimately be passed on to hardworking families in the form of higher utility rates. This new disastrous regulation will also cost southern Ohio many indirect jobs related to the coal industry. No matter how you look at it, the President has declared war on the coal industry and the jobs that go with it. It is time for this administration to get serious about creating real jobs, creating an energy policy that puts America first, and ending its war on coal.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. It's amazing, Mr. Speaker. Those that now claim that we're opposed to increasing the sales tax holiday for 1 year actually voted against it just a few weeks ago, but we're here today to make sure that taxes on 160 million Americans don't go up on January 1. We're here to stop politics as usual in Washington. President Obama called for a 1-year extension of the payroll tax holiday, and we're here to do exactly that. Job creators need economic certainty to create jobs, and to do that, we must extend the payroll tax holiday for 1 year. Kicking the can down the road only introduces more uncertainty into our economy. Payroll experts say that this is going to hurt small businesses. Enough of these Washington gimmicks. The House already voted to extend the payroll tax holiday for a full year for all hardworking Americans, but the Senate Democrats opposed our bipartisan bill. Senate Democrats have a clear choice to make: continue the game of Washington politics as usual or join with House Republicans to stop a tax increase on 160 million Americans. I urge them to make the right choice.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it's time for President Obama and Harry Reid's do-nothing Senate to work with House Republicans to get America back to work. To date, House Republicans have passed 28 jobs bills, most recently the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, a bill that ensures all hardworking Americans keep more of their pay, protects Social Security, ensures access to medical care for seniors, and creates jobs. But President Obama's contempt for job creation through energy development is astonishing. Why would he stand in the way of almost 200,000 new jobs that come with the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline that has bipartisan support? President Obama says he wants to put America back to work, but, at the same time, he threatens to veto a bill that would do exactly that and take us one step closer to energy independence. The American people can't wait any longer. I urge the Senate and the President to act on measures that will spur job creation and real economic growth. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of H.R. 10, the REINS Act, because America's job creators are buried in red tape and need certainty from the Federal Government in order to create jobs. This bill would provide that. You know, when I travel up and down eastern and southeastern Ohio, I hear a recurring theme from the businesses that I meet with: Government overregulation is strangling their ability to hire new employees, expand their businesses, innovate, and compete. Today it costs a business over $10,000 per employee just to comply with current Federal regulations. This administration that claims it believes in reducing the burden on small business is in the process of adding another $67 billion worth of new regulations this year alone. This administration is burying small businesses, and enough is enough. The REINS Act will simply return control of the regulatory process to the American people, who are fed up with unelected bureaucrats stopping job creation and delaying true economic recovery. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the gentleman from Illinois, Congressman Randy Hultgren, on winning our friendly wager on the MAC football championship game last Friday. The participants in the game, Ohio University and Northern Illinois University, are located in the districts that we are privileged to represent. The game was an instant classic. Both teams left everything on the field and gave it their all and, in the process, made their universities and their fans proud. The OU Bobcats jumped out to an early lead, but the Huskies of Northern Illinois fought back. They showed their toughness and won the game on the game's final play. Another way to say it is that OU won the first half and that Northern Illinois won the second half. Both teams were worthy of participation in the game, but it's a shame that either team had to come out on the losing end. I am very proud of the OU Bobcats, and I look forward to watching both teams compete in their bowl games and represent their schools in the same fashion they did last Friday night. Congratulations to Congressman Hultgren.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain: Excessive government regulations are hurting America's economy and strangling job creation. Just this year, new regulations cost our economy almost $100 billion, and this is just the cost of new regulations this year. The Small Business Administration estimates that regulations cost our economy approximately $1.75 trillion annually. This is unacceptable. With over 14 million Americans out of work, we can't afford these excessive government regulations. But instead of creating jobs, President Obama would rather create more regulations that kill jobs and burden small businesses. Now, House Republicans have done the exact opposite. As part of the House Republican Plan for America's Job Creators, we're fighting to reduce the regulatory burdens to empower small businesses to create jobs. We've passed over 20 bills that will create much needed jobs right now. President Obama and Senate Democrats need to work for job creation, not against it, because the people of eastern and southeastern Ohio and all Americans deserve better.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am indeed a great supporter of the balanced budget amendment, and I stand in strong support of it today. You know, it's amazing to me we still keep talking about the Bush-era tax cuts. Those same tax cuts are today's current tax law that have been affirmed by this Congress, this Senate, and signed into law by this President. So why we keep blaming financial woes on President Bush is beyond me. But let's make one thing perfectly clear. The American people are not taxed too little. The problem is that Washington spends too much. This has been going on for years, and it needs to stop now. We need a balanced budget amendment because Washington has clearly indicated its inability to discipline itself. This balanced budget amendment offers Congress and the President a very clear choice, either stand with the already overtaxed American families and small businesses who have to balance their budgets on a daily basis, or stand with the Washington establishment that always demands more of the American people, more of their hard-earned tax dollars without any accountability for how they spend their money. American families have to stick to a budget every month, so why should the Federal Government be any different? We can't keep mortgaging our children's future to China. It's time to take a stand, Mr. Speaker. The ``tax and spend and then blame the American people for not paying their `fair share' game'' must end, and it can end today. Passing the balanced budget amendment will help bring this country back to economic prosperity and end this game.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have breaking news for President Obama and Senate Democrats: House Republicans have passed more than 20 bills that would create much needed jobs, but the Democrat-controlled Senate won't even consider them. The hardworking people of eastern and southeastern Ohio are ready to get back to work. In fact, they've been ready. So I'm serious about creating and protecting jobs now. That's why I was proud to introduce the Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act, which would prevent the Obama administration from enacting more job-killing regulations. This administration's war on America's coal industry will be devastating to eastern and southeastern Ohio. Up to 27,000 direct and indirect coal jobs are at risk from the administration's proposed rewrite of the stream buffer zone rule--and that's just one regulation. This bill is part of the House Republican jobs plan that you can find at jobs.gop.gov. I urge the Senate to get to work and to pass these important bills now.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my strong support and gratitude to America's heroes, our veterans. While our servicemembers and veterans deserve our gratitude and thanks every day, Veterans Day, which we will celebrate next Friday, serves as an important reminder of the sacrifices that our brave men in uniform make every day to defend our freedoms. As a veteran myself, I am also aware of the extraordinary sacrifices that families at home endure while their loved ones are deployed. I would like to extend my thanks to those families for their patience and support which play an integral role in the success of our troops serving abroad. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am committed to ensuring that our Nation's veterans, their families, and survivors receive the care, benefits, and services they've earned. Once again, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to our Nation's veterans and their families.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it's time for the President to get a grip on reality. He obviously doesn't understand the unemployment crisis that's crippling America. The President says that he hasn't seen the House Republican jobs plan. Well, here it is. It's been out since May, and it's available at jobs.gop.gov. Now, maybe the White House is having an Internet problem. I'm proud to join Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings in recommending plans to the supercommittee that create jobs right here in America while at the same time reducing the deficit, ideas like increasing onshore and offshore energy production. Increasing offshore energy production will create over 1 million new jobs alone and would generate billions in new Federal revenue. But President Obama would rather make bad bets on green companies like Solyndra, wasting hard- earned taxpayer dollars. House Republicans have passed jobs bill after jobs bill--they're stacked up like cordwood on the Senate floor--but Senator Reid and President Obama refuse to consider them. The American people deserve better. President Obama's ideologically driven, job-killing policies are hurting America.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2273, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011. Unfortunately, this legislation is necessary because last June the Obama administration proposed two new rules in its ongoing war on coal that could cost tens of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of dollars to our GDP. The two new rules are a departure from decades of accepted practice of allowing States to regulate coal ash. Furthermore, EPA's current actions fly in the face of two previous EPA studies--one study from the Clinton administration--which found that coal ash shouldn't be regulated by the EPA as a hazardous material. Now, keep in mind these new rules will not only negatively effect the coal and the utility industries but also will lead to job losses and increased cost for the infrastructure and construction industries. Furthermore, coal residuals are a key component of many of the materials used by these trades. If the EPA is successful in classifying coal residuals as a hazardous material, the cost of the raw goods in these vital industries would skyrocket. This bipartisan legislation not only stops the onerous proposed rule from going forward, but also allows States to regulate coal residuals by using an existing and successful Federal regulatory program. This compromise bill sets realistic and enforceable standards while leaving the regulation enforcement to the States. In fact, State environmental officials, including my home State of Ohio, see this type of regulation as a model for the future because it provides strong health and environmental protection with minimal Federal EPA involvement. At a time when the President and the other side of the aisle are stumping for their so-called jobs proposal, Madam Chair, I find it confusing and ironic that this administration would propose rules that will cost tens of thousands of job losses and will lead to the loss of billions of dollars from America's GDP. This legislation will save the administration from themselves by saving jobs while still protecting human health and the environment. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, last week we witnessed shocking, shocking hypocrisy from President Obama. His Justice Department filed a lawsuit, a frivolous lawsuit, to block the State of Alabama from enforcing a law that would keep illegal immigrants from taking American jobs. In the lawsuit, Mr. Obama's lawyers claimed that the law would expose those whom authorities suspect might be here illegally from ``new difficulties in routine dealings.'' Now, keep in mind that this is the same Obama administration that is strangling small businesses with job- killing regulations, and because of Barack Obama, virtually every small business in America is now facing ``new difficulties in routine dealings.'' The people I represent are beyond frustrated with Washington politicians, who are slow to protect America's businesses, yet who are quick to sue over a law that would help American citizens get jobs. Americans have given up on their leadership, so here is a message for President Obama: Stop targeting small businesses, and let these job creators get back to doing what they do best--creating jobs. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, solving this Nation's crushing unemployment problem has been my focus since the people of eastern and southeastern Ohio sent me to Washington to start the process of change. Today I rise to outline five specific actions we must accomplish to create economic certainty, give job creators the confidence they need to begin hiring again, and make American companies more competitive both here at home and globally. They are: require the Federal Government to balance its budget annually; scrap the current Federal Tax Code and implement a flatter, fairer tax code; eliminate all pending Federal regulations not directly tied to public health or national security; establish a clear national energy policy; and repeal the President's health care law. Now, I've discussed all of this with countless residents of eastern and southeastern Ohio, and they all like what they hear. But the popularity of this agenda has little to do with me. These ideas are rooted in the American dream, and they can boost America's economy and lead to real job creation. If this administration wants to help us, we can start creating the jobs Ohio and America needs.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from the great State of Texas, Representative Randy Neugebauer.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the manager's amendment to H.R. 2646, as amended.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Once again, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2646, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2646) to authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases, to extend certain expiring provisions of law, and to modify certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2646, as amended, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act, would encompass the Department of Veterans Affairs' request for major medical facility projects and leases for fiscal year 2012 and extend certain expiring authorities. The bill before us today tracks with the resources that were provided in the appropriations bill that passed the House with bipartisan support. The VA provides high-quality medical care and services to our honored veterans through an extensive and diverse portfolio of medical facilities. This national infrastructure generates a great deal of costly construction and maintenance needs which the Department must address. Section 2 of the bill would authorize the appropriation of $87 million for seismic corrections and renovations at facilities in Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington. Section 3 of the bill would authorize the appropriation of $850 million to construct and modify medical facilities in Palo Alto, California; St. Louis, Missouri; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Orlando, Florida. Section 4 would authorize the appropriation of $50 million for leasing eight out-patient medical facilities in Columbus, Georgia; Salem, Oregon; Springfield, Missouri; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mobile, Alabama; Rochester, New York; San Jose, California; and South Bend, Indiana. Section 6 of the bill would clarify what information the VA must provide to Congress when seeking authorization for a major medical project or facility project or lease. Under current law, the VA is required to submit to Congress a prospectus for all major medical facility projects and lease requests. The information should include details relating to construction, equipment, and other costs for the proposed project, as well as any and all alternatives considered and data on projected utilization and operating costs. However, the VA has not provided this information in sufficient detail to allow Congress to effectively evaluate proposed projects and alternatives. Without accurate and complete information, Congress cannot carry out its statutory mission of ensuring an equitable distribution of medical facilities to provide access to care for our veterans across the United States or be assured we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. To similarly improve oversight, section 7 of the bill would require the VA to obtain congressional authorization when using bid savings to expand the purpose of a major medical facility project. Section 8 of the bill would name the VA telehealth clinic in Craig, Colorado, the ``Major William Edward Adams VA Clinic.'' This provision was adopted from H.R. 1658, introduced by my friend and colleague Scott Tipton from Colorado, and I thank him for bringing this proposal forward. Major William Edward Adams, a Medal of Honor recipient, was a true American hero, and this designation would appropriately memorialize his brave service. Section 9 of the bill would name the VA medical center in Big Spring, Texas, the ``George H. O'Brien, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' I would also like to thank my friend and colleague from Texas, Randy Neugebauer, for his efforts to introduce H.R. 558, which became this provision. George H. O'Brien, Jr., is also a Medal of Honor recipient, and it is important that we recognize his honorable service. Additionally, the bill would extend, for various periods, expiring authorities for several programs, including those that provide services to homeless veterans. It is deeply concerning that veterans continue to be overrepresented in the homeless population, and helping homeless veterans and those at risk gain access to the support they need to reintegrate into stable community environments and lead productive lives is one of the highest priorities of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. The extension of these programs would provide comprehensive supportive services to help homeless and at-risk veterans find permanent housing, overcome substance use or other issues, gain meaningful employment, and put them on the path to being productive, successful members of our society. This legislation represents a bipartisan effort, and I would like to express my thanks to Chairman Jeff Miller and Ranking Member Bob Filner, as well as Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Ann Marie Buerkle and Ranking Member Mike Michaud, for their efforts to quickly move this important legislation through committee and to the House floor. Further, the manager's amendment reflects an agreement reached with the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator Patty Murray and Senator Richard Burr. I extend my appreciation to them for their work on this bill. It is my expectation that, following consideration in the House, the Senate will act to take up H.R. 2646, as amended, and the legislation will be presented to the President for signature prior to the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2646, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for far too long now, previous Congresses have treated increases to America's debt ceiling as temporary problems to be dealt with later on. Well, it's now later on, and we have to deal with this very serious challenge to America's fiscal health. House Republicans have now passed two bills that would end the debt limit crisis while cutting trillions from the deficit. Today the House will vote down the Reid proposal. The Reid proposal is full of budget gimmicks that the American people are, quite frankly, fed up with. Not only is the Reid plan dead on arrival in the House, but it appears to be dead on departure from the Senate. I urge all of my colleagues to vote against the Reid plan today because it's time for every Member of Congress to join House Republicans in producing not a deal but a solution to this debt crisis, one that makes real spending cuts, one that establishes real spending controls, one that forces the Federal Government to live within its means, and one that doesn't raise taxes on American families and job creators.