Mike Kelly

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I think my time is pretty close to the end, is it not?

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am going to yield to Mr. Marino, and he will finish up.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank Mr. Marino. I think, Mr. Speaker, as we draw to the end of time, I think it is time for us now to take a look at the world and our place in the world. Geopolitically, we know we have been hurt lately because America has decided to follow something called ``leading from behind.'' I have absolutely no idea what that possibly could mean. But I hear constantly about the next great emerging economy. You sit back and say, well, who could it possibly be? Well, let me tell you who it is, and it doesn't take much guesswork. It is us. It is the U.S. Now, why do I say that? Because right now we are uniquely positioned in history at this moment in time to be the greatest economy the world has ever seen. Why? Because we have been blessed by our Creator with abundant, accessible, and affordable fossil fuels. These can be extracted safely, and that creates thousands of jobs. This can lower our cost per energy unit far below anyplace else in the world and allows us, in fact, to let our wages rise because our cost of producing goes down as far as energy is concerned. What else we have, if you look just to the north of the district I serve, the Great Lake system is there. Lake Erie is there. Also what is there is one-fifth of the world's freshwater. Also, if you were to look at our land, our tillable soil, the production per acre that our people in agriculture are able to achieve. So I would ask you then, at this point in time, at this point in history, if we know that really what we need to do is to have a robust and dynamic economy, what would be holding us back? It certainly is not our cost of energy, because we are blessed with energy everywhere. It has been placed there by the Good Lord for us to use. Through new technology we are able to extract it. We are able to heat and cool our homes, to light our homes, to run our factories, to light our streets at night, to do almost anything we want to do at a rate that is lower than anyplace in the world. In fact, we are at a point right now we don't have to rely on anybody else on this globe other than ourselves. We can be energy independent. We have drinking water that the rest of the world would love to have. And we have the ability to produce, as you know, Mr. Speaker, because of where you come from in California, the ability to produce food for a population that doesn't need to go starving, it doesn't need to look to the rest of the world for help, because we can create it right here, right now, for every single American. The question becomes then: Why are we where we are at right now? Why do we have the lowest labor participation rate we have had in 35 years? My goodness, when you look at all the assets, when you can look at everything that we have, when you can look at the opportunities we have, when you can look at everything, being there and being within our grasp without too far of a reach to get there, the question becomes: What is holding us up? What is holding us back? What is keeping us from achieving that destiny that we have been granted by the Lord? What is keeping us from that? Look, I would just say this. There are many, many millions of Americans that are out of work. All you have to do is go out of this Chamber and go down the hall and I can show you a lot of Americans that actually have a job that aren't working. I can show you a Senate that continues to sit on all these jobs bills, on all this legislation that would get America back to work. I am so sick and tired of hearing about, well, you know, if the House would just do something. I will tell you something; I would suggest this: the President would wear out his fingers on that phone calling Harry Reid; in fact, his left arm would probably go numb from signing all the legislation that could be sitting on his desk right now. What is holding it up? What is the roadblock? What is keeping us from that pathway to prosperity? Do you know what it is? It is a do-nothing Senate. It is a Senate that sits back and calls the American people liars. It is a Senate that sits back and distorts the facts. It is a Senate that puts out, every day, myths about a House of Representatives not working. It is a Senate that had to go under the gun to pass a budget and say: Do you know what? Here is the deal. You don't pass a budget, we don't pay you. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? You have to threaten them that you are going to cut their pay if they don't pass a budget. Oh, Good Lord. I would like to see us do that in our schools. I would like to see us do that in our homes. I would like to see us do that in our factories and in our businesses in the private sector. When we have to pass a bill to make them pass a budget, is that where we have reached? Have we reached the depths? Is that how low we have become? It is a great honor and a privilege to serve in this House. It is a great honor to come before the people and to go home and say: We are working hard for you. We are going to do the best we can do. But do you know what? It requires a little help. It requires a little help. This system, this system where there are two Chambers, it requires us being able to get things through the House, which we have done. 220 House-passed bills are stuck in a do-nothing Senate right now. It requires some teamwork now. It requires us to truly be the ``united'' States and not the ``divided'' States of America. It requires us to be a body that works for the American people and not for a political party. It requires us to work on an agenda that puts America back to work and does not worry about the next election that is coming up and worries about the new direction this country needs to go in. It is a responsibility to take advantage of all those assets the Lord has given us; and it is time for the United States to now become the next great emerging economy, one that will be heralded all over the world, one that the rest of the world is looking to and scratching their head and says: My goodness, you have got everything. What is it that you are waiting for? And the answer, again, is leadership. That leadership has got to take place, and it has got to take place soon. We will continue to do our job in the House of Representatives. We will continue to push bills forward. We will continue to debate and amend bills. We will continue to pass bills, and we will walk them down the hall to the Senate. But after that, the Senate has to pick these bills up. It has to debate them. It has to amend them. It has to vote on them, and it has to send them down to the White House for the President's final signature. If we are truly going to get America back to work, then let's get to work. My colleagues in the House have already heard that clarion call and they have done their job. I am just going to yell it down the hallway as we walk out of here tonight: Hey, you all need to get to work because America is waiting for you to lead. Then the phone should be ringing off the hook in Mr. Reid's office and at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as America says it is time to get up off your seat and get the job done. It is time to quit talking the talk. It is time to walk the walk. It is time to actually do what we know we can do and take advantage of every single asset the Lord has provided for us. I would just say, Mr. Speaker, in closing, thank you so much for allowing us to be here. Mr. Marino, always a pleasure to be with you, sir. As we go back to Pennsylvania, we will continue to fight those fights. Mr. Wenstrup is gone and also Mr. Lamborn is gone, but it is good to have colleagues to join us. I would just tell you this. If there is nobody that sits in this House of Representatives that doesn't want to see America do well, it is just time to get back to work. Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have remaining?

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Marino).

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank Mr. Lamborn. If I may inquire, how much time remains?

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman. It is really a pleasure to be with you tonight. Representative Young's piece of legislation, H.R. 2575, is really something that I think that perhaps if more of us who serve in this body were actually people who experienced what it was like to be in the private sector, more of us would understand. I was very fortunate to have a family business, and I can tell you, from an employer standpoint, that one of the greatest thrills you have in your life is to sit across the desk from somebody who has come in and applied for a job and to be able to say to them: you're hired, we need you on board, we need you to be part of our team to make the business successful. You can see in their eyes, at that moment, that they look at this opportunity as: my goodness, now I can put a roof over the head of my family, I can put food on the table, and I can put clothes on their back, and I can plan for a future. Now, why in the world would we all of a sudden say: You know what? We are going to change that dynamic because it is no longer going to be a 40-hour week; we are going to dial it back to 30 hours a week. You say to yourself: How did anybody come up with those numbers? Why would they come up with those numbers, and what is the benefit of those numbers? The answer is that it helps make the Affordable Care Act work. It doesn't help America work. It helps a piece of flawed legislation work. It is about the dynamics of the math. It is not about the dynamics of allowing men and women to go to work and be able to go home at night and say: I went to work today for you, I went to work to make your life better. You look at some of the numbers, Mr. Young. The 30-hour rule puts 2.6 million workers with a median income of under $30,000 at risk for losing jobs or hours. Eighty-nine percent of these workers impacted by the rule do not have a college degree. 63 percent of these folks are women, and over half have a high school diploma or less. When I look back at my district, District Three in Pennsylvania, they are hardworking good American people. I have no idea how they are registered. I have no idea how they vote. I have no idea what they think about at night and what they pray for at night before they lay their head on the pillow. I do know who they are, basically, because they are all of the same ilk. They are the same people. The blood that courses through their veins is pretty much the same. They believe in America. They believe in paying their fair share. They believe in lifting the load and helping out. Barb Wilson works for the Arc in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. This is a phenomenal organization that assists people with developmental disabilities. Barb is a part-time employee who used to work 30 to 35 hours a week. Her employer recently informed her and her coworkers that all part- time employees will be having their hours cut to around just 20 hours a week because of the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate. Barb tells me that she was shocked when she heard this news. Because of her hours being cut, she says she will no longer be able to afford the cost of living. I have more people in my district that come to me and talk to me. One of the things--and I think you found the same thing in Indiana, and I am sure Mr. Barr has in Kentucky--I have people that say: You can use my story, but you can't use my name. Now, that is a very chilling effect to think that, in this country, the United States of America, people are afraid to be identified with their story because they are afraid of a retribution from the government. That is just totally unacceptable. One of those people is in the fast food business. How about this? In 2012, 92 of its 993 employees worked more than 30 hours a week. Think about that. All of these 92 employees have had their hours cut to less than 30 hours. On top of that, more than 30 employees have had access to their health insurance plans ended. Even though their plans made sense for them, they did not meet ObamaCare's standards, and so the company could not afford to keep them. This doesn't make any sense. At a time when we want to get America to work, when we want to increase jobs, why would we make it harder for those people to accomplish those goals? It just doesn't make sense.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I agree with you. In my district, Butler Area School District has had to implement procedures to keep all of its part-time employees working less than 30 hours. This hurts education. In New Castle, Lawrence County, their local government has reduced all of it employees to just 28 hours. So we talk about these things. You and I just got here 3 years ago. You look at a government that is supposed to be a citizen government--a government that works for the people and does things in the people's best interest--and then you look at this piece of legislation and say: My goodness, how did we come up with this? The answer is always: There are unintended consequences. I understand that there are unintended consequences, but they are not always painful consequences. If we are going to do anything here, we better start responding when we hurt the people we represent. We also better understand that these unintended consequences are also fixable. They are not unfixable. Why wouldn't we fix it if you know it is hurting someone, if you know it is taking away opportunity? I talked about being in the private sector. When we bring people on board, it is mutually beneficial. It is to share in success. I can tell you that the gap right now has widened between those who own businesses and run them and those associates who work there. We have put them at odds with each other because now it becomes: well, you know what? The people that employ you really don't care enough about you. And you say: my goodness. No, no, that is not true. That is not true. I can tell you from the position that I have been in from a business that my dad started in 1953 after being a parts-picker in a Chevrolet warehouse and coming back after the war and starting a little Chevrolet dealership and watching it grow into something where we have 110 people that every 2 weeks get a check, I know that when they are successful, the business is successful; and when the business is successful, the community is successful, because we all participate at every level. Now, why would you destroy a model that is so perfect? Why would you destroy something that is so fundamentally strong? Why would you take apart the American Dream in order to have a flawed piece of legislation meet the metrics that this is looking for? It just doesn't make sense. In a town that you and I have discussed many times is devoid of common sense, we need to take a look at it, because if our real concern is the next election and not the direction that we are going in, then we are here for the wrong purposes. So I want to thank the gentleman. I have got to tell you, we talked long and we talked at great length about the effects this was having. H.R. 2575 corrects a flawed idea. It just makes sense what you are doing, sir. And I would just tell you that, for all of those thousands and thousands and millions of workers who have been hurt by this law, our ability to fix it, which is what some of our colleagues say--I know you don't like it; I know you don't agree with it, but help us fix it-- we need to fix it, not so much for a political agenda but for the people we represent. I thank you for what you are doing. I think that this piece of legislation is timely and is needed, and your dedication to the American worker and to the American families is to be heralded. Thank you so much.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Slippery Rock University, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. In 1887, the citizens of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, saw the need for affordable and accessible higher education in their community. In less than 18 months, land was purchased from my good friend and colleague Jim Gerlach's family, to whom it had belonged for three generations. On that land was soon established Slippery Rock State Normal School. It opened to 168 students on March 26, 1889, with its ultimate object to make the student an educator. It was purchased by the Commonwealth in 1926 and was granted university status in 1983. After 125 years, Slippery Rock University has nearly 80,000 proud graduates. It offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,000 students and is consistently recognized as a great place to learn and work. For as long as this impressive institution remains standing, Slippery Rock's commitment to intellectual development, leadership, and civic responsibility will endure.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I really want to ask my colleagues today, let's take a real good look at this, at what we are doing. In a country that so badly now is looking for leadership across all phases so that we can retain our position in the world, let's take a look at where we are today with this coal strategy. If it is truly a war on coal and if it is truly a war we can't win, then I say that is not why we came here. I strongly urge the passage of H.R. 2824.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in really strong support of H.R. 2824. I think if we go back to the President's original candidacy, he said: Listen, if you want to continue to make electricity using coal-fired power plants, you can do it, but we are going to bankrupt you. There is no question about the war on coal. It is factual. Now, we come here today, and I think that--the area of the country that I represent is western Pennsylvania. It is hard to look at a source that is so abundant, so accessible, so affordable, so reliant, and so sustainable that keeps our energy costs lower and creates thousands of jobs. The administration's efforts have not only eliminated people who are mining coal, they have absolutely eliminated entire communities and wiped them off the face of the Earth. Now, we look at a piece of legislation, and we say wait a minute. In 2008, we had a rule that received certification from the Environmental Protection Agency and complied fully with the Clean Water Act. So the question becomes: How good does the coal energy have to become in order to receive a pat on the back from the administration? The answer is they can never reach that level. They will never be accepted. It will never be part of our energy strategy. It will never lead America to be independent from every place else in the world. All you have to ask yourself is: What in the world are we doing to the people we represent? This is not a Republican strategy or a Democrat strategy. This is an American strategy. If it is truly about energy and about creating jobs and protecting our environment, it is all there, gentleman, and has been there for years. Why would the administration spend $10 billion to get an answer that didn't comply with what they thought it was going to be? So automatically, the answer has to be: These folks didn't do the test the right way. They didn't come up with the results that we needed, so we are going to get rid of them and get somebody else in here. Mr. Chairman, the lights are going out across this country. Our position in the world is being challenged right now, in a country that has been so blessed for so long with abundant, affordable, and accessible energy, and to sit back and say: You know what? They are getting better, but they are never going to be good enough for us; they are never going to quite reach that metric they have to reach. In fact, the bottle of water the gentleman just showed, I have got to tell you: Take a bottle of Fiji water off the shelf; it won't comply either. So we have got to start asking ourselves, where is it that they are going with this? Is this a way to prop up an agenda by the administration or is this a way to prop up the American success story? Are we going to go forward and truly achieve independence from energy from anyplace else in the world other than our own or are we going to continue to fight over things that don't make sense to the American people but yet somehow make sense in this House? Listen, what we are doing today just makes sense. We have already run the traps on it. We have already run the tests. We have done all the metrics. Coal is good for America. Coal has always been good for America. Coal has cleaned itself up incredibly and will continue to do so. These are the most responsible people. I would invite some of my friends who have never been down in a coal mine, travel with me to western Pennsylvania. Go down in the Bailey mine. Go down 700 feet and see how they are scrubbing coal, and then say to me that they are not doing it the right way.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my heartiest congratulations to Tech Molded Plastics Inc., a family-owned injection mold company, on being named Plastics News' Processor of the Year. Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Tech Molded Plastics celebrated its 40th year in business just last year. In 1973, Bill Hanaway and his wife Eva started their family business in a rented garage. Over the years, Tech Molded has expanded and diversified its business through smart investments in their people and technology. In the mid-1990s, Tech Molded erected the factory building that now houses its company headquarters. In 2011, the company expanded again by purchasing the building adjacent to it with an investment of more than $1.5 million. Today, sons Scott and Mark still run the family business along with their mother, Eva, manufacturing precision parts for the electronics, automotive and medical industry. Employing 120 Pennsylvanians and generating sales of $17.7 million, Tech Molded Plastics embodies the best of America's family-owned small businesses. Mr. Speaker, in light of being awarded Processor of the Year, I ask that my colleagues join with me today in recognizing Tech Molded Plastics for its national leadership in the plastics industry and for the invaluable contributions of the Hanaway family to the citizens of Meadville and Western Pennsylvania.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3771) to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, as amended.

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

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I applaud the efforts of my colleagues. This is a commonsense way of doing things, and I don't think that many Americans realize the total devastation that Haiyan caused when it hit the Philippines, when you look at the loss of life, when you look at the number of displaced people, when you look at how many people it totally affected. Now, when it comes to loss of life, we are talking about 6,200 people killed by this storm, 4.1 million displaced; and it affected over 14.1 million people. The purpose of this legislation is kind of common sense. It allows people up to April 15 to go ahead and make a contribution to try and stem the effects of those losses. It just makes sense. It is something we have always done as Americans. When we look at the special relationship we have with the Philippines, I don't think we can really look too far beyond where our history has been together as a people to understand that, when times get tough, when things happen to other folks, and when we can step in and help them, that we always do. It is just who we are. It is unique to America. So I thank the gentleman for bringing it forward. I think it makes sense to all of us. This is truly bipartisan. At a time when most people think that this House of Representatives can't do things that are bipartisan and doesn't act in the best for all people concerned, I think this surely does show that, by allowing Americans up until April 15 of this year to be able to make a contribution to help ease the devastation in the Philippines and still be able to use taxes from 2013. That is unique, and that is something I think we should do. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. So at this time, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank both Mr. Thompson and Mr. Swalwell so much for bringing this bill forward. Again, I would just like to point out the uniqueness of the exceptional country that we live in. There is never a time that Americans don't always stand up. We are the first responders anytime there is any kind of crisis or tragedy anywhere in the world. I think it just points out uniquely how we are so exceptional in a world right now that seems to be torn apart and seems to be upside down in almost every measure, so to be able to be here today with you to take a look at our friends in the Philippines and understand the devastation that they have gone through and say we are just doing something, that makes sense. This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue; it is simply an American issue. Once again, American hearts have always pulled together anytime people really needed us. I don't know if people realize that the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell) just arrived here, and it is a fete for him to be able to do this, to get this piece of legislation through. So I strongly urge all of our colleagues to push forward on H.R. 3771. I just think it is unique for us at this time, especially, to get this done. I yield back the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Slippery Rock University on celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. In 1887, the citizens of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania saw the need for affordable and accessible higher education in their community. In less than 18 months, Slippery Rock raised funds, acquired land, erected buildings and gained approval to be a state normal school. Slippery Rock State Normal School opened its doors on March 26, 1889 to its first class of 168 students with its ``ultimate object . . . to make the student, as far as possible, an educator.'' The Norman School became Slippery Rock State Teachers College after it was purchased by the Commonwealth in 1926. In 1960, it was renamed Slippery Rock College and was granted university status in 1983 to become Slippery Rock University. Today, Slippery Rock University offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,000 students. The University is a recognized leader in evidence-based planning and decision making. The approximately 80,000 alumni have served in occupations across the spectrum. Slippery Rock University has consistently been recognized not only as one of the best universities in the Northeast but also as a great place to work. Shaped by its normal school heritage, Slippery Rock University is characterized by its commitment to intellectual development, leadership, and civic responsibility. Mr. Speaker, in light of Slippery Rock University's 125th anniversary, I ask that my colleagues join with me today in recognizing its educational leadership in Pennsylvania for more than a century.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, there are very few times in my life in which I have really had the privilege of representing people who are so dear to me. I just think, if you were to look at our generation, we would all have to agree that we grew up in the greatest towns, at the greatest times, with the greatest parents, preachers, teachers, and coaches, grandmas and grandpas, and aunts and uncles. This is the people's House. This is not a Republican House or a Democrat House. This is the people's House. What are we talking about today? My goodness. This is so disappointing that we are so worried about the next election that we can't see the direction that we are going in--to be able to offer peace of mind to those folks who have made the greatest sacrifices, who have made the greatest contributions, and who have done the best that they could to make sure that the next generation had the same opportunities they had. This is not a doc fix. This is a senior fix. As my mother lay dying and my sister and my father, they were surrounded by a loving family, and they were also surrounded by caring doctors. Why would we make this about an election? Why would we not look inward to whom it is we are trying to protect? Why can we not protect the most vulnerable in our society right now, especially in their end days and in their end times and say, ``You can lay your head on a pillow tonight, knowing that your doctor is going to be there for you, that I will be beside you, that I will be by your bed, saying the rosary; and when you have finally gone, I can't wait until the next time we are able to meet each other again in Heaven''? Why would we make their last days so difficult? Why would we make it so uncertain? So we talk about an SGR, but where I come from, it is not bad, and it is not a doc fix--it is a senior fix. When can we possibly put politics behind us and start to look at what is best for the people we represent? I am a Representative of Pennsylvania's Third District--so privileged and so proud to be able to do it, not boastful proud, but thankful proud that I can actually go and do something for the people who raised me, who taught me, who coached me, and who have walked me through the most difficult parts of my life and that I can look back at their lives and say, ``But you sacrificed so much that I could be here.'' Can we not just come together and do something that really is a big thank-you and a kiss on the forehead as they lay there, wondering, ``Where are those folks that we did so much for?'' My goodness. My friends on the other side, this is not about politics--this is about people. We are in the people's House, and these are things that we must do. Mr. Chairman, I thank you so much for doing this and for bringing peace of mind to the people we represent, but I can't tell you how disappointing it is today to hear this turn into some kind of political debate that has nothing to do with the fate of those seniors and of those people whom we love so much and who have done so much for us.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to describe the unique opportunity for the United States to meet a number of national goals through the utilization of nuclear energy. The nuclear industry has played an instrumental role in promoting economic growth and energy security in America. I have witnessed firsthand the benefits of nuclear energy back home in Western Pennsylvania, where the Westinghouse Electric Company employs thousands of hardworking Americans. Founded in 1886 by American entrepreneur and engineer Thomas Westinghouse, the company was initially known for helping to bring electricity to homes throughout our country. Today, nearly 50 percent of the nuclear power plants in operation worldwide, including nearly 60 percent in the United States, are based on Westinghouse technology. These positive impacts on our domestic economy are only a part of nuclear energy's overall benefits. The U.S. commercial nuclear energy sector yields enormous influence over global nonproliferation policy. The sector is also responsible for assuring international nuclear safety through the exportation of U.S. advanced reactor designs and America's operational expertise. Thus, by exporting U.S. nuclear technology, we ensure the highest levels of plant safety and influence over nonproliferation policies throughout the globe. Mr. Speaker, a successful nuclear trade and export policy is paramount to international nuclear nonproliferation and power plant safety. I urge my colleagues to recognize the benefits of our nation's participation in the expanding global market for nuclear energy technologies.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 499, a resolution condemning the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation. This resolution is a loud, strong message from this body, the House of Representatives, the People's House, that the people of the United States stand firmly behind the people of Ukraine in their mission to maintain their independence, free from Russian aggression. Our friends in the world must always have full assurance that we are with them, that our resolve is unshakeable, and that nothing will intimidate us. This resolution lays out what our game plan looks like as we take concrete steps to back our friends in Ukraine. I want to focus on one key part of this plan: achieving energy independence for Ukraine and the region. For too long Russia has used the threat of manipulating energy prices and supplies to impose economic and political pressure on Ukraine and other countries. This has got to stop. We can provide a reliable source of energy to our partners in Europe. Congress is ready to do its part. However, the Obama administration needs to speed up the permit approval process to get liquid natural gas flowing to our friends in Europe, approve the Keystone XL pipeline, and take other pro-American, pro-growth, pro-energy actions. There is truly no better time than now. We can hit Vladimir Putin where it hurts--in the wallet. We can strengthen Ukraine's hand in the short run and sell them the fuel they need for the long haul. We can create jobs for American workers--good, meaningful jobs. It just makes sense. I urge support for H. Res. 499.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, this is very clear, the purpose of today's debate. The Take Care Clause is to faithfully execute laws that are passed. This is about standing statute. In fact, this is the centerpiece of the President's whole Presidency. He is choosing what will be enforced and what will not be enforced. The Take Care Clause, known as the ``Faithful Execution Clause,'' was actually derived from Pennsylvania's 1776 constitution, crafted by Pennsylvania's State executives during the Revolutionary War. I want you to just let your mind drift back to when people left Europe to come to America. They got in rickety, old, wooden boats with not very good nav systems, but they came here for a reason. They set their course true north. They were coming to get away from a monarchy. They were coming to get away from an imperialist. They were coming to get away from tyrants. Why did they come here, and what did they craft? It is so carefully laid out in our Constitution. So why are we having this debate about this being silliness? This is who we are, not as Republicans and Democrats, but who we are as Americans. Why would we turn our backs on our Constitution? I understand the Executive Office has great power. I also understand that the Constitution harnesses that. It does not allow it to run roughshod over the people. Mr. Duncan very clearly talked about the State of the Union, when the President says to this body: America cannot stand still, and neither will I. So whenever and whatever steps I can take with that legislation, that is what I am going to do. That is chilling. People gave him a standing ovation--and not just a standing ovation, but from the House of Representatives, where that very power is being taken from. That is our responsibility. That is our duty. You cannot take that pledge and then turn around and say, Well, this is just about some kind of political maneuvering. This is not about a political maneuvering. That is about the protection of our Constitution. These things have been enshrined for us. It is critical that we look at this. The Executive cannot make exceptions and just enforce the law as he or she wants. That is not who we are as a people. We left monarchs and tyrants to come here. This is a government by the people, for the people, and of the people. If we ever forget that is what our job is as Members of the House of Representatives, then what are we doing here? I would just ask my colleagues on the other side to please take a look at this. This is very chilling. You may like where the President is taking us, I may not like where the President is taking us, but there is a process that we all must follow. This is statute that is being trampled upon by an Executive that has an overreach that we have never seen before. Can we not please return to those days and why those folks came here. What were they seeking? Freedom and liberty. What have we allowed those people to do? Turn their back and turn away from it and turn away from a Constitution that over a million people have given their lives to make sure that we could have this today. So, Mr. Speaker, I would hope that some sense of responsibility, and not politics, comes into this House.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 938, the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014. At a time of regional turmoil and uncertainty, as Iran continues its relentless drive for a nuclear weapons capability, it is absolutely crucial that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, our close friend and ally. H.R. 938 strengthens this key alliance by designating Israel as a ``major strategic partner'' of the United States. The U.S.-Israel relationship is truly multifaceted and thus this bill expands our cooperation in military and homeland security areas as well as in the areas of trade, energy, water, and agriculture. Passing this bill will give continued assurance to our ally Israel that the United States is no fair weather friend but is truly a friend for all seasons. I urge support for H.R. 938.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas and also my friend from Pennsylvania. As you heard Congressman Barletta talk about, 90 percent of the 1,800 fire departments in Pennsylvania are all volunteer. These are men and women from the community that just come forward to serve. When you look at what is going on right now, what we have tried to do is close a gap. This is Treasury guidance, so by no means has it been codified. I think what we are doing with this piece of legislation, with H.R. 3979, we make certain--in a time where there is so much uncertainty--that these folks will be protected, will not be looked at in a way that does not make sense to them. Now, I have got to tell you that I was at an installation of officers back in my hometown of Butler. Ed Kirkwood, the manager of Butler Township, when asked about what could possibly happen, said: The township has over 130 volunteer firefighters serving the community. By my calculation, if this is not fixed, the township could go bankrupt. It would require a tax increase of 13.56 mills, or an increase of over two-and-a-half times the current rate to comply. Basically, if this is not fixed, Butler Township either doubles its taxes or loses their volunteer fire department. Chief Mike Cadman of Jamestown, when asked about this, said: that would be political suicide. I would venture that it is worse than political suicide. It is putting our citizens at risk when we don't have to. Now, at a time when it is so hard and the public looks and says you guys don't get along on anything, this is something, I think, where we have come together and say let's just do something that makes sense. Let's just do something that puts into effect now--it eliminates all the guesswork that these folks are not going to be looked at in a different way under the Affordable Care Act. And a piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which is so hard to understand and so many are wondering what exactly is covered and what is not covered and how would I comply and how would I not comply, this is just commonsense legislation out of this body that makes sense for all of those volunteers that spend countless hours and time serving the needs of our communities all over our country. But in Pennsylvania, as I said, 90 percent of our 1,800 fire departments are all volunteer--all volunteer. These folks give up their time and their hours to train, so that they can serve others. I thank the gentleman for his legislation.