Ron Kind

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the career of La Crosse Fire Chief Gregg Cleveland, who will be retiring in June of 2017. He has served as a firefighter for more than 36 years, including 11 years as the La Crosse Fire Chief. Chief Cleveland's years of service as a firefighter are exemplary in every respect. He earned an Associate Degree in Fire Protection from Fox Valley Technical College, a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Lakeland College, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer's program. Chief Cleveland began his career more than three decades ago with the Menasha Fire Department. He then served as Chief of the Marshfield Fire Department for 15 years, and later took over as chief of the La Crosse Fire Department in 2006. In addition to this service in fire departments, Chief Cleveland has also been active in other firefighting organizations, including the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, where he served as President and advocated for the organization on numerous issues. He also served with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), where he was a member of NFPA's North Central Regional Fire Code Development Committee, and served as Secretary of NFPA's Fire Service Section. Under Chief Cleveland's leadership, the City of La Crosse has seen numerous changes for the better in the fire service industry. In 2014, the La Crosse Fire Department received international accreditation, demonstrating the quality of the Department. That same year, he was instrumental in consolidating the La Crosse Building and Inspection Department into the Fire Department, which created a new Division of Fire Prevention and Building Safety. He also helped the Department lead the way on health issues, making the Department one of the first in the state to carry an opioid overdose antidote. Chief Cleveland's leadership was crucial to the City of La Crosse when the city faced emergency situations and natural disasters. These included an EF2 tornado that struck the south side of La Crosse in 2011 and a building explosion on the north side of the city in 2014. Thanks to Chief Cleveland's leadership, the City of La Crosse has been able to recover from these situations and continue to grow and prosper. It has been an honor for me to serve as U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's Third Congressional District during Chief Cleveland's tenure in La Crosse. He will be greatly missed by the La Crosse Fire Department and the people he helped throughout his career. On behalf of my constituents in Wisconsin and a grateful nation, I would like to thank and commend Chief Cleveland for his years of service in the fire service industry. I wish him and his family all the best in his retirement.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the VETERAN Act, the legislation before us today, and I do so for a very simple reason: This merely codifies what is already existing law under the Affordable Care Act, or so-called ObamaCare, something that was done through rulemaking that I presume has bipartisan support. Yes, it is important to protect the veterans, but the reason we are on the floor today is another example of one of the greatest legislative malpractice acts ever committed in Congress: trying to pass a Republican healthcare bill with no oversight, with no hearing, no public input, and no experts testifying to run the traps for us as far as the intended and the unintended consequences. The reason we are on the floor now 1 month after passage of that bill is to try to correct just one of the deficiencies that exist in it. I say it is a so-called healthcare bill because what it really is is a $900 billion tax break to the most wealthy individuals in our country, including insurance companies and drug companies, under the guise of healthcare reform and asking 23 million Americans, including 2 million veterans, as my friend from Massachusetts just pointed out, in Medicaid to give up their healthcare coverage to pay for that massive tax cut. It also will discriminate against older Americans in a rural congressional district, such as mine in western and north central Wisconsin, by allowing insurance companies to charge them higher premiums. It will also allow insurance companies to once again discriminate against individuals that have preexisting conditions. It does absolutely nothing to control the costs of healthcare--which have been rising--especially prescription drug costs that are affecting all Americans, and it was done in a way to jam this Congress and jam the American people about the consequences of this so-called healthcare bill. So, yes, let's fix and make sure that we are protecting veterans who are getting their healthcare outside the VA medical center so that they, too, qualify for premium tax credits, which this legislation allows. But let's do healthcare the right way by studying the implications of what will affect one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy and almost one- half of all Federal spending. Let's regroup and do it the right way, through normal legislative process. That is having bipartisan discussions, committee hearings, and talking to the experts--consumers and patients alike--so we know what we are getting into when we are trying to take a run at the importance of healthcare in our country. One area that I think we can reach bipartisan agreement on or should be focused on are further steps to reduce the cost of healthcare to make it more affordable for all Americans. Again, we are missing that opportunity because of the lack of hearings and because of how this legislation was rushed through this Chamber just a month ago. We on this side didn't even get to see the language of it until late the night before it was on the House floor. That is no way to legislate healthcare policy. Mr. Speaker, let's fix it today with this one small piece of legislation.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to have my votes recorded on the House floor on Monday, May 22, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 1862 and H.R. 1842.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to have my votes recorded on the House Floor on Monday, April 3, 2017. Weather across the Midwest delayed my flight to Washington, D.C. until after votes had been called. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H. Res. 92 and H.R. 479.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, we face a truly historic day today in the United States Congress. For the first time in our Nation's history, we have a Congress working with an administration offering the American people a healthcare reform bill that, instead of reducing the number of uninsured in this country, increases the uninsured by 24 million people, including 431,000 in my home State of Wisconsin. And we understand why. It is a simple explanation. This is a tax cut bill for the most wealthy in the guise of healthcare reform. That is unfortunate because it is a missed opportunity of fixing what isn't currently working in the healthcare system. If we wanted to be honest with the American people today, we would admit that there are important, good features of the Affordable Care Act that should remain and we should not end. But there are things that need to be fixed, and we have to stay focused on reducing healthcare costs for all Americans. Let's continue to work on delivery system reform and payment reform so we get better results at a better price. But a bill before us that increases the uninsured by 24 million, that delivers huge tax breaks to the most wealthy, that applies a new older American tax, especially in rural areas like mine in Wisconsin, and that robs money from the Medicare trust fund is not only a missed opportunity, it is bad legislation. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.'' We can do better. We must do better.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Court Reporting and Captioning Week and in appreciation of court reporters across the country. Court reporters play a critical role in our communities. They are the guardians of our public record. They have unique skills translating the spoken word into text to be recorded for history. They preserve judicial proceedings and assist individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. I have seen firsthand the dedication and professionalism shown by court reporters from my time as a special prosecutor in Wisconsin and, more importantly, from my wife Tawni, who has been a court reporter in western Wisconsin for nearly 25 years. I wish her a happy Valentine's Day today. In addition to the critical role court reporters play in the courtroom, the National Court Reporters Association and its members have made significant contributions to the success of the Veterans History Project. The Veterans History Project, which was created by legislation that I authored, is the largest oral history collection in the world, having collected over 100,000 stories from our Nation's veterans. Their stories are permanently stored at the Library of Congress and are available to the public. Shortly after the Veterans History Project was launched in 2000, my wife Tawni encouraged court reporters across the country to partner with the Library of Congress to assist in transcribing veterans' stories; and to date, court reporters have submitted over 4,000 oral history transcripts to the Library of Congress. Not only have court reporters been willing to work with the Library of Congress to transcribe stories that had already been submitted, but many court reporters have personally gone and interviewed veterans in their local communities. For example, last August, at the court reporters' national convention, the National Court Reporters Foundation celebrated Purple Heart Day by interviewing eight Purple Heart recipients for the Veterans History Project. Additionally, the National Court Reporters Foundation recently launched a new program called the Hard-of-Hearing Heroes Project, where veterans with profound hearing loss will be interviewed for the Veterans History Project through the use of realtime captioning. This is important because, according to the VA, hearing loss is one of the most common service-related injuries, and it is estimated that 60 percent of our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer some form of hearing loss. The program will help ensure every veteran has a chance to share his or her story. As we celebrate National Court Reporting and Captioning Week, I want to thank the National Court Reporters Association and its many members throughout the country for their hard work and professionalism. I especially want to thank the court reporters for their significant contributions to the Veterans History Project and to preserving veterans' stories for generations to come.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished life of Alvin Baldus, who passed away on February 2, 2017 at the age of 90 in Menomonie, Wisconsin. An honorable veteran, public servant, and friend, Al's service to this country is an inspiration to not only the state of Wisconsin but anyone who aspires to be in public service. I had the distinct honor to get to know Al and his wonderful family and am proud to have modeled my public service career after Al's civil and accessible nature. Born in Garner, Iowa, Al graduated from Elkton High School in Minnesota, attended Austin Junior College in Austin, Minnesota, and served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II from 1944 through 1946. During the Korean War, Al again answered the call to serve his country in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Infantry Division from 1951 through 1953, receiving the Bronze Service Star medal for his bravery and courage, which included action in the Battle of Old Baldy. In 1959, Al married the love of his life, Anna Lorayne ``Lolly'' Reiten and the two of them began to raise their family in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Soon after in 1966, Al's community elected him to the Wisconsin State Assembly. For eight years, Al served Dunn County with integrity. For Al, this was just the beginning. Al not only served his fellow Wisconsinites in the State Assembly, but he also represented the voices of the Third Congressional District in this body, the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1974 through 1980 during the 94th, 95th, and 96th Congresses. Al spent his years in the House as a strong voice for agriculture fighting for legislation that promoted environmental conservation, agricultural safety, and milk price supports. Al used his leadership as the chairman of the Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee to fight for farmers in the U.S. Congress. In 1989 Al's strong commitment to serving his community convinced him to resume his lifelong joy of public service in the Wisconsin State Assembly until his retirement in 1997. I vividly remember meeting with Al, Lolly and his children with my wife Tawni to talk about my future as a Congressional Representative. They graciously welcomed us into their home, and I was struck by how well behaved and kind his children were. As our visit went on, I grew to understand that everything about Al and Lolly was authentic and accessible. It has been an honor for me to serve in the same seat that Al held many years ago. On behalf of my family, Wisconsin and a grateful nation, I would like to thank and commend Al for his years of dedicated service. Al's colleagues remember him for being kind, gracious, civil, and approachable. May his legacy continue to live in this chamber and across the nation.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on 150 years of academic excellence. UW- Platteville celebrated its sesquicentennial throughout the 2015-2016 academic year. As this university enters its 150th year of providing quality and affordable education, it is fitting we highlight the academic achievements of the faculty, staff, graduates, and students. Their continued dedication to higher learning has been a great source of pride for me as the university excels year after year. U.S. News and World Report ranked the online learning courses as one of the top in the nation and it is the fastest growing UW System school. Founded in 1866, the university is located in Platteville, Wisconsin, near Wisconsin's southwest border. It began its storied history as Wisconsin's first state teacher preparation institution as the Platteville Normal School. Its proud engineering heritage has roots with the Wisconsin Mining Trade School founded in 1907 and in 1917 became the first school in the United States to offer a three-year course in mining engineering. The mining school became the Wisconsin Institute of Technology in 1939, which would merge with the Platteville State Teachers College in 1959 to become the Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology at Platteville. In 1966, the name was changed again to the Wisconsin State University-Platteville. After joining the UW System governed by the board of regents, the school reached its current namesake in 1971 as the University of Wisconsin- Platteville. I have always been proud of the strong and continuous emphasis placed on education by those I represent in western and central Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is a leading example of this; expanding on its original academic disciplines of engineering and education, it now provides over 42 majors for over 8,000 students. Courses are even offered through an innovative distance education program enabling over 3,000 students the world over to pursue higher degrees. This thriving body of students have banded together under the symbol of a Pioneer. The Pioneers have long established traditions such as the lighting of the ``M''. Laid in 1936 by mining students attempting to build the largest M in the world, the community now holds a twice-annual ceremony where they light the whitewashed stones in a brilliant blaze. When a tornado caused significant damage to the campus in June of 2014, the Pioneers rallied around their strong sense of community to ensure classes were able to continue for the fall semester. Throughout the year-long anniversary celebration, alumni, students, and faculty were invited to participate in various events under the theme ``Remember the Past. Celebrate the Present. Pioneer the Future.'' These events included a campus art show displaying generations of student work, featured profiles of alumni and staff, and various forums for sharing their memories. The celebration culminated with a birthday party on October 15th, 2016. I would like to congratulate all the past and present faculty, staff, and students on 150 years of proud and pioneering years in the pursuit of higher education. It is because of your commitment that UW- Platteville is such a success and it is through you the university will continue to lead the way for another 150 years.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the National Day of Taiwan, which will take place on October 10, 2016. I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Taiwan on this special occasion. Taiwan has transformed into a beacon of democracy and economic opportunity in East Asia. In January of this year, the country elected its first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, in a landmark election. This important moment reflects the incredible progress Taiwan has made to become a free and open democracy. In addition to Taiwan's democratic progress, the country has grown into a major economic power. They are one of the United States' largest trading partners and a major export market for Wisconsin products. Many American companies have benefitted from close economic cooperation with their Taiwanese counterparts. I also commend Taiwan's work to tackle many global issues with the United States through the U.S.-Taiwan Global Cooperation Training Framework. Together, we have worked on issues such as women's rights, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, democratization, global health and energy security. Taiwan shares many American values, such as freedom, human rights, and civil society. I look forward to our continued partnership as a staunch ally of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the people of Taiwan on this special day. I wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to have my votes recorded on the House floor on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Weather across the Midwest delayed my flight to Washington, DC until after votes had been called. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 5578 and H.R. 3881.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. There is no question that we have an opiate epidemic sweeping our communities throughout Wisconsin and the rest of the Nation. I spent the better part of the last year holding listening sessions back home in my congressional district in western and north central Wisconsin, getting feedback from law enforcement, healthcare providers, treatment centers, and families that have been impacted by drug addiction and the opioid addiction to ensure that this legislation that we have pending before us today doesn't get too far out ahead of what they actually need. There are a lot of good policy changes in this bill, but one thing that is lacking that the gentleman also pointed out is the resource aspect of this. They do need tools. They do need additional resources. I am hoping that later in the year, whether it is through a continuing resolution or the funding of these operations, that we can find in a bipartisan way the increase of necessary resources for folks back home so that they can get out ahead of this curve and do an adequate job of turning the trend line away. I am also supportive because the legislation before us contains the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act. Jason Simcakoski was a veteran who died at the Tomah VA Medical Center a couple of years ago due to an opioid drug overdose. We have, in this legislation, a continuation of reforms that are being implemented to ensure that all of our veterans, whether in Wisconsin or throughout the Nation, are getting the care and the treatment they need; that we continue down the road of revamping the pain management practices at places like Tomah. I am confident that with the provisions in here, if we do this the right way, that Tomah and the VA system could be a model of proper pain management practices not just within the VA system, but throughout the entire healthcare system. There is no question we haven't done a good job of managing pain as a nation. That is true of whether it is in the VA. It is true whether it is in the private health sector. This legislation before us today gives us an opportunity to continue down that road and do a much better job. The Jason Simcakoski Act, for instance, will call for clinical practice guidelines to be instituted throughout the entire VA system. It enhances pain management education and training for our healthcare providers. It improves realtime tracking and access to data on opioid usage. It also expands opiate safety initiatives throughout all the VA centers. It expands the patient advocacy program, which is particularly important because I think the families are the first line of defense when it comes to the care and treatment of all our veterans. They know what is working and what isn't. They need greater input and better lines of communication to help affect the course of treatment that is impacting the veterans in their life. It also calls on the VA to explore more complimentary and alternative forms of medicine to deal with pain management so we are not just loading our veterans up with a cocktail of prescription drugs, which oftentimes lead to addiction which can lead to meth and heroin usage. I also think that this legislation gives us an opportunity to establish that strong partnership that needs to exist at the Federal, State, and local level, including private entities, so we can do a better job on the opioid addiction problem throughout our Nation. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. As a former special prosecutor who had to deal in the criminal system with a lot of it, our response cannot just be a criminal justice response. It has to be a public health response or we lose this battle going into it. I think this legislation does provide crucial tools to help us make that pivot, but we also need the crucial resources; and that is something that we are going to have to address as this year progresses. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. I appreciate the hard work that the committees and those involved have put into this legislation. But it will be a work in progress, and we have to continue to listen to the folks on the ground back home to ensure that they are getting the help and support that they need.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 50th anniversary of CAP Services. For fifty years CAP Services has valiantly fought on the front lines of the war on poverty by empowering individuals to become economically and emotionally self-sustainable. To empower individuals, CAP Services has offered a rich variety of programs designed to train and educate workers for higher employment, ensure equal childhood development opportunities, and foster environments suitable to entrepreneurship and homeownership. In addition to providing educational and training opportunities to both adults and children, CAP Services also provides innovative programs to low income families so that they may better participate in the economy. One such example is their Work-n-Wheels program where CAP Services provides interest free car loans to individuals who need reliable transportation to get to work. Another innovative program CAP Services provides is their Home Weatherization program where they help low income families reduce heating costs and improve energy efficiency by enabling individuals to weatherproof their homes or apartments. Empowering individuals to become financially independent through human, child, and business development is one of the most efficient ways to lift people out of poverty. I am proud to have this Stevens Point based community action agency in Wisconsin's Third Congressional District and I hope the great work they are conducting will serve as a model for the rest of the country.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from North Carolina for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act. Jason was a veteran who unfortunately saw his life end way too soon while receiving treatment at the Tomah VA Medical Center in the heart of my congressional district. I want to thank, first of all, Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis for the leadership and support that he has shown this legislation. He has been a real joy to work with. I want to thank Chairman Miller for the leadership he has provided the committee and for the concern and the attention that he has given to all of our veterans throughout our country. I want to thank Representative Butterfield and the other members of the committee for the strong bipartisan support that this legislation enjoys on the floor today. Jason was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in 1978 in my congressional district. He is the son of Marvin and Linda Simcakoski. He is a graduate of Stevens Point Pacelli High School. Shortly after his graduation, he joined the Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of corporal, receiving the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star, a Certificate of Commendation, the Rifle Sharp Shooters Badge, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in February of 2002. Jason loved being a marine, and he was very proud to serve his country. He married Heather in 2010 in Stevens Point, and they had a beautiful daughter named Anaya. I am proud that many members of Jason's family came out to Washington this week to see the passage of this bill today: his mother Linda, his wife Heather, his daughter Anaya, who are in the Chamber with us today. His father, Marvin, who was also intimately involved in helping draft this legislation and see it through, was unfortunately unable to attend. But I commend all of them because this is how legislation is meant to work, by reaching out to veterans organizations, getting direct feedback from the veterans themselves, their families, healthcare providers. We have known for some time that we have had a pain management problem not just in the VA medical system, but throughout our entire healthcare system. This unfortunately came to light through numerous investigations at the Tomah VA Medical Center over the course of the last few years, which ultimately helped and precipitated the legislation that we have before us today. Jason's family's guiding star in all of this, based on the numerous conversations that I have had with them and that they have had with Chairman Bilirakis and even with Speaker Ryan, was to ensure that the care and the treatment that our veterans receive be enhanced so that no veteran and no family would have to go through and endure what they did. Jason was receiving pain management and was under the opioid medication at Tomah. This legislation, I think, advances that goal. I don't think anyone can be here with absolute certitude and promise a family or future veterans that mistakes won't happen in the future; but I think what is contained in this legislation is a significant step in the right direction, with the understanding that more work is needed. The bill would require a review and an update of the VA's Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain. It requires all opioid prescribers at the VA to have enhanced pain management and safe opioid prescribing education and training. It improves the realtime tracking of and access to data on the opioid use of veterans in order to prevent overmedication. It provides additional resources to assist the VA's ability to counter overdoses. It expands the Opioid Safety Initiative to all VA medical facilities. It updates the Joint Working Group of the VA and DOD to focus on opioid prescribing practices, the use of alternative pain therapy, and the coordination when a servicemember transitions from the DOD into the VA care setting. It also encourages the use of alternative and complementary forms of pain management. Lastly, it requires the VA to report on prescription rates so we can better assess the problem and find solutions. This is a work in progress not just within the VA system, not just with the reforms that are currently being implemented at the Tomah VA Medical Center in my congressional district, but throughout the entire healthcare system. We as a Nation have not done a very good job of managing pain at all levels. I am glad and I am proud that this Congress sees the need to move forward on a comprehensive opioid legislation bill. Hopefully we can get that to the finish line yet this year. There is also a major VA reform bill that we are working on-- excellent vehicles in order to include some of the provisions of this legislation as we move forward. If there is any hope and promise that out of the tragedy of Jason's death good things can come of it, I think the legislation that we have before us today, the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act, gives us that hope and gives us that opportunity. I couldn't think of a more powerful legacy in Jason's name than this legislation. I ask all of my colleagues to give their support of this legislation today. Again, I thank the leadership of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for the help, the assistance, and the focus that they have provided on this important piece of legislation.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life and legacy of my good friend, Paul Barkla. I met Paul when I first ran for Congress. He was one of my earliest supporters. I still vividly recall meeting him at the end of a Democratic primary debate when he introduced himself as a former Bill Proxmire staffer, as I was, and then promised to do everything he could to help me get elected. It was the beginning of a 25-year friendship, during which time he became a member of our family. Paul is a native of the Pacific Northwest and was raised in Eugene, Oregon. Paul was a firm believer in good, old-fashioned, shoe-leather politics, and he pounded the pavement for Democratic candidates across the country, where he met many friends along the way. In 2004, he traveled to New Hampshire to volunteer for the Presidential campaign of General Wesley Clark. In 2008, he again loaded up his dog and traveled around the country, showing up in battleground States and volunteering for President Obama. He believed we all had an obligation to participate in our democracy. After college, Paul moved to Washington, where he received a master's degree from George Washington University and worked as a Capitol policeman. He also went to work for numerous Congressmen and then worked for Senator Proxmire of Wisconsin, where he became engaged with Wisconsin politics. It was during his time in Washington that he became active in the civil rights movement, participating in the March on Washington in August 1963. He enjoyed telling stories of his life during those times. Paul met his wife, Nancy, who also worked for Senator Proxmire in Washington, in 1958. And then, in 1968, they moved their family to Wisconsin, where he continued to work on progressive causes and campaigns. There he worked as a caregiver and manager of group homes. Paul and Nancy raised three children: Ann Fedders of New Richmond, Sidney Scott of Fall City, and Paul Barkla, Jr., of Ellsworth. He was very proud of his 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Paul believed in our democratic process and public service. That is why he ran for and was elected to the Pierce County Board in 2004 and later became the board chair. Pierce County residents knew Paul as a community leader and advocate for the needs of his neighbors. He wasn't afraid to tackle tough issues. He told me he enjoyed serving on the county board because it was less partisan, driven more by the local needs of the Pierce County residents rather than strict adherence to party ideology. Although Paul was gruff on the outside, he was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. We had many discussions over the years. I knew I could always count on Paul to provide an honest opinion, and he was never afraid to speak his mind. He made many friends over the years through politics and public service. He befriended many of my staff whom he talked to frequently and stayed in touch with even when they moved on to other opportunities. For those who are lucky enough to cross paths with Paul, from folks in Washington to Oregon to Washington, D.C., he will not be forgotten. Paul exemplified what was great about America: deep love for his country, the importance of public service, and the need to fight for the most vulnerable and less fortunate in our society. In short, Paul was a great patriot and a great American. For those whose lives he touched, Paul will be greatly missed.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished service of Colonel Steven W. Nott, whose tenure as Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, concludes March 11, 2016. Colonel Nott assumed his duties as Garrison Commander on February 29, 2012. Colonel Nott's 31 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army is noteworthy in every respect. He earned a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Wisconsin--Platteville; a master's degree in Education from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.; and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. His military education includes Ranger School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the Command and General Staff College. Colonel Nott received his commission as an Infantry Officer in May 1986 and served one year in the Iowa National Guard. He entered active duty in April 1987 and served in Germany with the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment. He next served on the 1st Brigade staff and then Commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment within the 10th Mountain Division. From 1995 to 1998 he was a Military Science Instructor at Lehigh University Military Science Department. Nott entered the Active Guard Reserve program in 1999 with the 98th Division (Institutional Training) in Rochester, N.Y. In 2003 he was assigned to the 99th Regional Readiness Command in Pittsburgh, Pa., as the Training Officer. In 2005 he was assigned to the 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort Riley, Kan., as the Brigade Executive Officer. From 2007 to 2009 he served as Commander, United States Army Garrison, Fort Devens, Mass. Nott became the Senior Operations Officer within the Office of the Chief Army Reserve Employer Partnership Office, Washington, D.C. in 2010. Colonel Nott deployed to Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Iraq, Hurricane Andrew Relief in Florida, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and Operations Restore and Uphold Democracy in Haiti. Colonel Nott has committed his life to serving our country and has received many deserving awards and decorations, including the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Service Star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, United Nations Medal (Somalia), Kuwait Liberation Medals, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. Under Colonel Nott's outstanding leadership, Fort McCoy has taken it to the next level as one of the most capable and desirable Reserve Component training installations in the Army, providing stellar base operations support to over 150,000 Soldiers annually. During his tenure, Colonel Nott focused on the importance of Fort McCoy's Strategic Plan and ensuring that the base was a good neighbor and community partner. Thanks to Colonel Nott, Fort McCoy is well positioned for the future. It has been an honor for me to serve as U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's Third Congressional District during Colonel Nott's tenure at Fort McCoy. I know Colonel Nott's leadership will be greatly missed at the base and surrounding communities, but I am thankful for his leadership and contributions to ensuring that Fort McCoy remains a shining star in the nation's military training infrastructure. On behalf of my constituents in Wisconsin and a grateful nation, I would like to thank and commend Colonel Steven W. Nott for his years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army and in particular as Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy. I wish him, his wife Charlotte and their children Christian, Elissa, Bethany and Ethan the very best as they turn the page on the next chapter of their lives.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 70 on H.R. 3293, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' personal explanation

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. I thank my friend for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this veto override. Listen, I understand people's objections and concerns about the healthcare reform that we have embarked upon as a nation, but, clearly, now is not the time to take us back to the status quo, which was going to leave us in a very bad place in this Nation. Before the Affordable Care Act was passed, the numbers of uninsured were going up. The expense for individuals and businesses was going up. Healthcare costs, budgetwise, were going up. Too many people were being denied coverage based on preexisting conditions. Young people--younger than 26--were being dropped from health insurance plans. All of that now is being corrected. Not that this is a perfect response to the complexity of the healthcare system, but there is a lot of good that is being done, including in two areas. One is delivery system reform so that we move to a more integrated, coordinated, patient-centered healthcare delivery system based on models that do work. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, we are changing, under the Affordable Care Act, how we pay for health care so that it is based on the quality or on the outcome or on the value of care that is given and no longer on the numbers of procedures and how much is done to us rather than how well it's done. We are demanding better quality at a better price, and the numbers are showing that we are heading in this direction. I say we stay the course in continuing to benefit by extending affordable healthcare coverage to more Americans and in finally getting a grip on these rising healthcare costs. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this veto override.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to have my votes recorded on the House floor on Monday, January 11, 2016 and Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Had I been present, I would have voted aye on H.R. 598 (Roll no. 34), H.R. 3231 (Roll no. 35), Kildee Amendment Number 2 to H.R. 1644 (Roll no. 38), Cartwright Amendment Number 3 (Roll no. 39), Sewell Amendment Number 4 (Roll no. 40), motion to recommit with instructions (Roll no. 41), and H.R. 757 (Roll no. 43). I would have voted no on ordering the previous question (Roll no. 36), H. Res. 583 (Roll no. 37), and H.R. 1644 (Roll no. 42).

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to have my votes recorded on the House floor on Thursday, January 7, 2016 and Friday, January 8, 2016. Had I been present, I would have voted aye on Johnson (GA) Amendment Number 2 (Roll No. 7), Cummings/Connolly Amendment (Roll No. 8), Lynch Amendment (Roll No. 9), Johnson (GA)/Jackson-Lee Amendment Number 6 (Roll No. 10), the motion to recommit with instructions (Roll No. 11), Johnson (GA) Part B Amendment Number 4 (Roll No. 13), Cummings Part B Amendment Number 6 (Roll No. 14), Cicilline Part B Amendment Number 7 (Roll No. 15), DelBene Part B Amendment Number 8 (Roll No. 16), Cicilline Part B Amendment Number 9 (Roll No. 17), Pocan Part B Amendment Number 10 (Roll No. 18), and the motion to recommit with instructions (Roll No. 19). I would have voted no on passage of H.R. 712 (Roll No. 12), passage of H.R. 1155 (Roll No. 20), on ordering the previous question (Roll No. 21), passage of H. Res. 581 (Roll No. 22). On Friday, January 8th, I would have voted aye on Cohen Amendment Number 1 (Roll No. 23), Conyers Amendment Number 3 (Roll No. 24), Deutch Amendment Number 4 (Roll No. 25), Moore Amendment Number 5 (Roll No. 26), Moore Amendment Number 6 (Roll No. 27), Waters Amendment No. 7 (Roll No. 28), Johnson Amendment No. 8 (Roll No. 29), Jackson Lee Amendment No. 9 (Roll No. 30), Nadler Amendment No. 10 (Roll No. 31), and the motion to recommit with instructions (Roll No. 32). I would have voted no on passage of H.R. 1927 (Roll No. 33).

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to have my votes recorded on the House floor on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. Had I been present, I would have voted against the previous question for H. Res. 579 (Roll Number 2), H. Res. 579 (Roll Number 3), the previous question for H. Res. 580 (Roll Number 4), and H. Res. 580 (Roll Number 5). I would have also voted against H.R. 3762 (Roll Number 6), which agreed to the Senate amendment.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am all for certainty. I am all for predictability. I am all for a lot of the policy initiatives that are contained in this legislation before us. But what I am not in favor of is the fact that this $700 billion bill is not paid for. Not a nickle of it is offset. When I go home to Wisconsin, I constantly hear from folks back home for Congress to pay our bills and to get our fiscal house in order. This legislation doesn't do it. It is $700 billion over the first 10 years. It explodes to $2 trillion in the second 10 years. There is nothing more dangerous for the long-term success of Social Security and Medicaid or our children's future than these end-of-the- year, large tax cut packages that are not paid for and that are not offset. It is a missed opportunity. We should be doing this within the context of comprehensive reform. I submit that by going forward and making permanent many of these provisions in the legislation today, it takes the wind out of the sails of tax reform in the future. There has been an implicit agreement when we do comprehensive reform that we are going to do it in a way that builds in certainty, encourages investments, makes us more competitive globally, but we don't blow a hole in the deficit and our children's future at the same time. Chairman Camp recognized that with the discussion draft. He made hard choices to pay for the lowering of rates and the broadening of the base. We are ducking that responsibility here today. The irony is that every bipartisan deficit reduction commission that has been asked to try to come up with a plan to get our fiscal house in order has reached the same conclusion: We are going to need some additional revenue in the future and long-term spending reforms in order to accomplish it. This legislation fails on both of those fronts. So I would encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation. We can continue temporarily to extend many of these important provisions today, but let's keep the pressure on comprehensive reform. By doing this now, I submit that we are punting on the opportunity in the very short future to take on a Tax Code that has been long overdue for reform since 1987. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a number of the policies included in the PATH Act, but in opposition to fully paying for it. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I have long supported a number of provisions included in the PATH Act on the floor today. A number of these provisions are vital for our businesses to operate; others are critical to helping families plan for the year ahead. I have worked closely with Congressman Tiberi on an enhanced Sec. 179 expensing limitations for small businesses and with Congressman Reichert on the reduction of S-corporation recognition period for built-in gains tax. I appreciate the dedication of my partners across the aisle to working with me to see these proposals over the finish line and signed into law. Within the PATH Act, I am pleased that the 50,000 families in my district who receive the Child Tax Credit and the 40,000 who benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit will be able to count on these benefits in the years to come. Many new provisions in this package are important to me and our communities, including my bill with Congresswoman Jenkins to improve section 529 accounts to help our students save for college more effectively. I am also pleased to see the inclusion of the provision allowing rollovers from 401(k)s to SIMPLE IRAs to help families better save for retirement. The creation of agricultural research organizations, a bill I introduced with Congressman Nunes, will help universities and extensions across the country invest in cutting edge 21st century agricultural research. Finally, I am glad to see that legislation I worked on with Congressman Paulsen to remove bond requirements for craft beverages is included in the PATH Act. As lead Democratic sponsor on the Protect Medical Innovation Act that repeals the device tax, I have been, and continue to be, strongly supportive of repealing the medical device tax. The medical device industry is one of the most innovative and creative in the U.S. economy today. Some of the greatest cost savings we've seen in the health care system have come through technological breakthroughs in the medical device and biotechnology industries. I fought against including the medical device tax during debate on the ACA and remain opposed to it now, but I am also committed to fiscal responsibility. Although this legislation included a number of my bills and proposals, I will be voting against the bill on the floor today. Without offsets, these provisions will cause our deficits to explode. Tax cuts do not pay for themselves, as Republican CPO Director Keith Hall reminded us just this summer. This bill makes comprehensive tax reform even more difficult by narrowing the base and eliminating options. The United States needs comprehensive tax reform that broadens the tax base while lowering rates on businesses and families. The PATH Act narrows that base, and makes no effort to remove any wasteful provisions. This package, while commendable for many of its policy goals, will fuel unsustainable deficit growth and I must oppose the package on these grounds. In the future, I look forward to working on bipartisan tax reform that promotes both a better business climate and supports the middle class.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. I thank my friend from Michigan for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the committee and as someone who has been involved in the negotiations of the legislation before us, I rise in strong support of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. The bill that we have before us today is not the bill that came out of the House in June. There are much-needed improvements. As we debate trade policy and where we are going in the 21st century global economy, we need strong enforcement mechanisms so that, when we get standards in these trade agreements that elevate it as being up to us to level the playing field for our workers, for our businesses, and for our farmers, we have the tools to ensure that those standards are enforced on an appropriate basis, so we are able to counter unfair trade practices as they are applied against us. That is exactly what is in this bill right now. This bill will end any importation of products that are made from the exploitation of child and forced labor, for instance. This bill also includes the ENFORCE Act, additional tools to enforce the provisions that we do negotiate in future trade agreements. This bill establishes the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center for greater coordination between our agencies in order to enforce provisions that we negotiate in trade agreements. It establishes an enforcement trust fund, which is due to the hard work my friend and colleague from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) put in, so that there are dedicated resources in order to enforce the provisions that we fought to achieve. It establishes a Super 301 section--again, enhancing the enforcement on those standards that many of us have been fighting for: core labor, environmental, human rights protections--in the body of these trade agreements, which are fully enforceable like any other provision. That Super 301 will give us tools that will enable us to move forward on that. It also establishes a State Trade and Export Promotion Program-- reauthorizing it and funding it--to make it easier for our small businesses and our manufacturers back home to be able to export more easily. We know that those exporting companies typically pay their workers, roughly, 18 to 19 percent above other workers within that sector; so it is a win for our small businesses back home. It is not a perfect bill. It is the product of compromise and bipartisanship. I think it advances the ball when it comes to key enforcement. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, again, that is a source of concern that many of our colleagues have expressed concern about and, I think, legitimately so. Again, progress was made in this Customs bill when it comes to currency manipulation. For all these reasons, I think it is important that we move forward on this Customs bill and give this administration and future administrations the tools they need in order to enforce trade agreements so we can elevate standards and begin to level the playing field for our workers, our businesses, and our farmers so that they can be as successful as they can be in the 21st century global economy. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Colorado for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee and as someone who has been involved in negotiations in regards to the Customs bill before us today, I rise in strong support of that bill. I encourage my colleagues to do the same. The Customs bill before us today is not the Customs bill that was reported out of the House in June of this year, a bill, quite frankly, that I couldn't support because of extraneous provisions--controversial provisions--that got included in it. Through the product of the give-and-take in the negotiations, I think we reached a good bipartisan compromise. This is what bipartisanship looks like: the cooperation, the give-and-take. It is not a perfect bill. I know there are still some objections to it. At its crux, however, this bill provides us important tools and resources to enhance enforcement mechanisms so we can enforce trade agreements and the standards that we are trying to elevate in these trade agreements. For instance, this bill, with the language that I worked on very hard with my colleagues Mr. Levin and Mr. Lewis on the Ways and Means Committee will finally end the importation of goods and products based on the exploitation of child and forced and slave labor. That is in this bill. This bill also includes the full ENFORCE Act on the Senate side, the PROMISE Act on the House side that again gives us additional tools to enforce elevated standards in the trade agreements that we lacked previously. It also establishes for the first time an interagency trade enforcement center to require greater coordination from our agencies when it comes to the implementation and the enforcement of trade provisions that matter, leveling the playing field for our businesses, our workers, and our farmers. With the help of my friend from Oregon, we were able to get included a trade enforcement trust fund so that resources are dedicated for the enforcement of trade agreements. I hear that a lot from our colleagues that they are not so much concerned with what goes into the trade agreements; they are more concerned about the lack of follow-up and the enforcement of the trade agreements. Again, because of the progress we have made and the creation of this trust fund, there will be resources in the future that will enable us to better enforce the trade agreements that are in front of us. This also, again, to the credit of the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), establishes a Super 301 section, enhanced trade enforcement on key priorities, such as labor, environmental, and human rights standards that are now being negotiated in the body of these trade agreements. They are fully enforceable like any other provision. This Super 301 gives us tools now to be able to follow that up and enforce it. This also establishes a State trade and export promotion program to help our smaller businesses, our manufacturers in our respective States to get in the game and be able to offer more export opportunities to them. We know that with exporting companies their workers are paid roughly 18 to 19 percent more than other workers in our economy, so this is a good thing to help promote exports in our own country. This also provides our Treasury-enhanced tools when it comes to fighting against the manipulation of currency in the foreign markets. The Bennett language that was agreed to in this language is a step in the right direction when it comes to the enforcement of currency manipulation.