John Larson

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank Representative Courtney also for recognizing the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act, as I mentioned earlier, which is something that has been bipartisanly cosponsored in the past by Representatives Reichert, Latham, myself, and others. The distinguished chairman and I, who are classmates, who came into this Congress together--he has also been a great proponent and advocate for making sure that these volunteers, who never were intended in both the case of Mr. Barletta and also in the case of the IRS, something that is administratively burdening for the IRS, this is, as Mr. Kelly so passionately said, something that is common sense, that we ought to work on together, and that we ought to provide the relief for, those who provide more than 70 percent of the volunteer aid across this country, especially when it comes to fighting fires. And our National Volunteer Fire Council is supportive of this as is the Fire Chiefs Association. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to ensure this. Again, with that, I commend and congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and thank him for his fine work in this area, and I look forward to supporting him on future endeavors. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I really deeply appreciate the words of my colleague and fellow member of the Ways and Means Committee. Again, I want to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta). I want to submit for the Record a letter from the Department of the Treasury that, at the bequest of a number of Members bipartisanly submitted and they made the changes to the rules. B. Exclusions From Definition of Hour of Service Commenters requested that hours of service performed in certain capacities not be counted as an hour of service. The final regulations adopt the following changes in response to these comments. 1. Volunteer Employees Commenters requested that hours of service performed in the capacity of a volunteer for a government entity or tax-exempt organization not be counted as hours of service for purposes of section 4980H. Under the definition of hour of service outlined in these regulations, an hour of service is generally defined as an hour for which an employee is paid or entitled to payment. Accordingly, hours worked by a volunteer who does not receive (and is not entitled to receive) compensation in exchange for the performance of services are not treated as hours of service for purposes of section 4980H. Commenters noted, however, that some volunteers receive compensation in the form of expense reimbursements, stipends, contributions to employee benefit plans, or nominal wages. Local governments, for instance, noted that many volunteer firefighters or other emergency responders are paid a salary or an hourly wage, generally at a rate lower than the rate paid to non-volunteers performing services in a similar capacity. Other volunteer firefighters or emergency responders may receive expense reimbursements or other fees each time they respond to a call. Commenters generally expressed concern that volunteer service would be discouraged if volunteer hours were required to be counted when determining whether the individual is a full-time employee for purposes of section 4980H. In response to these concerns, the final regulations provide that hours of service do not include hours worked as a ``bona fide volunteer.'' For this purpose, the definition of ``bona fide volunteer'' is generally based on the definition of that term for purposes of section 457(e)(11)(B)(i), which provides special rules for length of service awards offered to certain volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers under a municipal deferred compensation plan. For purposes of section 4980H, however, bona fide volunteers are not limited to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers. Rather, bona fide volunteers include any volunteer who is an employee of a government entity or an organization described in section 501(c) that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) whose only compensation from that entity or organization is in the form of (i) reimbursement for (or reasonable allowance for) reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of services by volunteers, or (ii) reasonable benefits (including length of service awards), and nominal fees, customarily paid by similar entities in connection with the performance of services by volunteers.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. We are especially gratified, though, in a true show of compassionate conservatism that you reached out to the chief fan of the Jersey Cowboys--excuse me--the Dallas Cowboys, Chris Christie, to provide him with both a hug and a sincere gesture from Wisconsin.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to start off by certainly extending congratulations to Representative Barletta for his persistency in continuing to bring this legislation forward. As he has pointed out, it has been bipartisanly supported, and it deserves passage. It passed unanimously, as he indicated, in both the Ways and Means Committee and also unanimously on this floor, which is no small order. Of course, it comes in the midst of controversy. I say ``controversy'' because--well, our distinguished chairman is to be congratulated as well for not only bringing this bill forward, but also for the great victory that was won by the Green Bay Packers yesterday.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. In a moment, because I do want to continue my praise of the Aaron Rodgers look-alike. Today, our distinguished chairman announced that he is not running for President. We think that it is so that his look-alike, Aaron Rodgers, may fill that void. I know that it was an outstanding victory by the Packers yesterday, but it was not without controversy on our own committee. I know that Kenny Marchant, Kevin Brady, and Sam Johnson are very concerned about this, but as the chairman said, ``The rules are the rules,'' and we should proceed from there. But I also want to thank all of those, and especially the chairman, who raised the point about volunteer firefighters. All of us have that visual in our minds, of course, of those going up the stairs so that people can come down the stairs. And since September 11, and noting that volunteer firefighters cover more than 70 percent of this country, this clearly is a bill that was worthy of the unanimous approval and consent that it received and, as I indicated, is bipartisanly supported by our entire delegation. I want to commend the gentleman from Connecticut, Representative Courtney, who will speak later, and also the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Representative Esty, and also the National Volunteer Fire Council, which has been 1,000 percent behind this and also other tax issues that are going to be coming before our committee that have been bipartisanly supported as well by Representative Reichert, Tom Latham, and others. And I know that we share the bipartisan spirit in this. I also would like to say that, along with firefighters, the many people who are emergency medical volunteers could benefit from a number of volunteer tax breaks that we could provide as well. I look forward to working with our distinguished chairman and, again, commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Representative Barletta. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I think it is both appropriate and right that we codify this and put it into a law. With that, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut, Joe Courtney, one of the chief sponsors who, along with Elizabeth Esty, helped engineer this bill.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, and certainly, I want to thank the chairman. I won't take the 2 minutes, but I want to thank them for their incredible cooperation on this most important of issues. Derek Denfeld, from my district, lost his life. There has been sadness and the coming together of the community. Our hearts go out to his wife, Heather; to his son, Felix; and certainly to his parents, Deb and Chris, whom I know personally. I thank the ranking member. I thank the sergeant major for his sponsorship of this bill, and I thank the ranking member and the chairman for what is an important piece of legislation. As noted, we can't wait another day for this to take effect.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on January 7, 2015--I was not present for rollcall votes 8-10. If I had been present for these votes, I would have voted: ``aye'' on rollcall vote 8--H.R. 26; ``nay'' on rollcall vote 9--H.R. 37; ``aye'' on rollcall vote 10--H.R. 23.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, because of a technical malfunction, I wish to be recorded as having voted ``no'' on H.R. 5759.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor Christopher Carswell, an inspirational young man who has faced numerous medical struggles with grace and poise and has used his experiences as motivation to start his own non-profit organization, 1Boy4Change, when he was only 13 years old. Today, he is 16 and has a story that we all could learn a lesson from. Throughout his decade and a half of life, Chris has suffered a tonsil adenoid surgery that resulted in the need for a feeding tube, multiple hand reconstructive surgeries, as well as a connective tissue disorder that put him in a wheelchair for a time. Then, he started having seizures that put him into respiratory/cardiac arrest as well as a stroke which robbed him of the right half of his field of vision. But through this long list of challenges, Chris has remained an upbeat person and has dedicated himself to the service of others. In 2010, Chris was matched up with Bronx, a service dog who became his constant companion, ensuring he would never face what life threw at him alone. Shortly after that, he started 1Boy4Change, with the mission of raising awareness and providing support for individuals and families with disabilities. In the early days of the organization, Chris helped match up 70 service dogs to veterans and children. Since then, he has expanded his mission to support others who have also chosen to live a life of service: our soldiers and police officers. In that capacity, Chris has started programs meant to help out K9 units by providing them comprehensive first aid kits as well as car heat alarms that can save the lives of dogs that are left in patrol cars. Chris is to undergo brain surgery in January, and his doctors are hopeful that the procedure will stop his seizures. I hope all of my colleagues in the House will join with me as we wish Chris a successful operation and a speedy recovery so he can come back and continue the good work he's doing.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks today to honor William H. ``Bill'' Detrick, who passed away at the age of 87 on September 19, 2014. Bill Detrick was the long-time coach of the Central Connecticut State University Basketball team, and after that was the coach of Trinity College Golf team coach. He was everything that embodies a passionate, tough, and tenacious coach and person. He taught college sports until the age of 86, which is something that very few can claim. Throughout his 29 year tenure as the Central Connecticut basketball coach, he won 468 games with two undefeated seasons out of 24 winning seasons. He brought the program to six Division II NCAA tournaments and ushered them into Division I basketball, where they remain today. The standard and foundation set by his legacy at Central Connecticut will continue on for the future of their athletic programs. As a coach, one must assume the responsibility of developing younger generations of people as students, athletes, and most of all as people. Bill Detrick knew this as well as anyone and was able to impact the lives of each of those he coached even to this day. He instilled the same values in his three children and six grandchildren as he did his players: Hard work and dedication to what you love will always prevail in the end. Always go the extra mile in your endeavors. He preached these kinds of lessons to his children and players in order to prepare them not just for the game, but for their entire lives ahead. A great example of his attitude in life came from a friend and golf partner of many years, who said that Bill would never ride in a cart, and always insisted on walking. Just a week before he passed away, he walked nine holes at the age of 87. Always push yourself, even if it is during a game of such relaxation such as golf. Mr. Detrick is survived by his wife Barbara, three children, and six grandchildren. I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Mr. Detrick during this difficult time. I hope the Holiday season reminds everyone in his life of the joyful memories that he brought, and the importance of enjoying every moment they had together. Let us all remember the values that William Detrick brought to everyone around him, and try to implement them in our everyday lives in order to strive to be the best people we can be.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the ABLE Act. I would like to commend the efforts of my colleagues Representative Ander Crenshaw and Representative Chris Van Hollen for their leadership and steadfast commitment to moving this legislation forward. This is truly a great bipartisan effort that will help families across this country and I've been proud to join the hundreds of members of Congress who support it as a cosponsor. For years, I have heard from constituents like Andrew and Tamara Selinger from West Hartford, who have advocated not only on behalf of their own family, but for families across Connecticut and the country. Their two children have Fragile X syndrome and all they are asking for are the same opportunities for their children that other families have with the 529 plan, to have a savings mechanism that would enhance their lives and pay for non-covered medical expenses, while not minimizing the services that they receive. I have heard from people like Bob and Rosie Shea and Shannon Knall from our local Autism Speaks chapter and many others from families and groups advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities, who have spoken so passionately about why this legislation is so important. In spite of the partisan rancor that often dominates this building, this bill shows that we can come together in a meaningful way to act in a positive manner on behalf of the American people. It is truly inspiring how many advocates and families have made their voice heard on this legislation and I urge my colleagues to support this bill and finally get it across the finish line on behalf of families across this country.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today, we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. In honor of their history and continued pursuit of knowledge, I would like to commemorate CRS as we celebrate this milestone today. CRS stands as an invaluable and respected institution in Congress-- providing insight, research, and in-depth analysis on a wide range of issues. A Progressive-era invention, this service has evolved over the last century, growing in both size and scope since Wisconsin Senator Robert LaFollette first championed the idea. In the 100 years since their inception, CRS has steadily provided comprehensive and objective research to the entire legislature. My staff and I have repeatedly benefited from the nonpartisan expertise provided by CRS and are fortunate that they continue to serve as a shared workforce for Congress. At a time of unprecedented partisanship in Washington, CRS has remained the unbiased repository of knowledge our nation needs. Congratulations to the Congressional Research Service and its dedicated staff on this special day. I'd like to submit for the Record--a brief history of CRS: Formation The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a service unit of the Library of Congress. The idea of a legislative reference service for Congress was first championed by Sen. Robert M. LaFollette Sr. (served in the House from 1885-1891, and in the Senate from 1906- 1925), and Rep. John M. Nelson (served in the House from 1906-1919, and from 1921-1933). Supporters realized their goal through a Senate floor amendment offered by Rep. LaFollette to the Library's 1915 appropriations bill. Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam established the Legislative Reference Service (LRS) in the Library of Congress by administrative order on July 18, 1914. In its early years, LRS provided basic reference services to assist lawmakers in their work. Both LRS in 1914, and CRS today, benefits from the Library's collections for its research, analysis, and dissemination of information and materials to assist the Congress. Evolution By the 1940s and following World War II, demands on LRS had increased significantly. The 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act (LRA) called for an increase in the size and scope of LRS and directed it to hire expert policy specialists to provide expertise to Congress in subject fields aligned with a new committee system. In 1970, the Service underwent another transformation with the passage of the LRA which renamed it the Congressional Research Service. Emphasizing the fact that the research and informational needs of the Congress required the services of highly-skilled experts, the 1970 Act mandated that CRS provide authoritative and objective research and analysis as well as close support for Members and committees. The Service evolved into a 21st century organization that utilizes formats and delivery methods (e.g., CRS4Congress Twitter, CRS.gov, Congress.gov) for CRS products and services. CRS Today Today, CRS provides comprehensive, objective, and non- partisan research and analysis to the entire Congress on all legislative and oversight issues of interest. In the Second Session of this Congress, CRS identified over 150 issues of interest to Congress that they could support. CRS provides reports, confidential memoranda, briefings, and programs to Congress about policy issues and the legislative process. CRS has a diverse workforce of over 600 analysts, attorneys, information professionals and support staff. The workforce is composed of expert, highly-trained, and collaborative professional staff, dedicated to supporting the work of Congress. In FY2013, Members and committees received information and analysis from CRS in more than 636,000 responses that took the form of 67,000 requests for custom analysis and research, 9,000 congressional participations in 350 seminars, and over half a million instances of Website services. CRS is a repository of objective knowledge and expertise that Congress can rely on when making difficult policy decisions.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the following is a heartfelt eulogy that was delivered by Mary Ann Oliva Leone on the life and passing of my dear friend and East Hartford legend, Fred Leone. It is an honor for me to submit her beautiful remarks that so eloquently capture this great American: Eulogy For My Husband Fred Good morning. We would like to thank everyone for attending today to celebrate the life of my husband Fred, better known as ``Rick'' to his family and others. I know many of you have traveled a long distance on this bitter, cold, wintry day to be here today. I know too, Rick probably had his hand in this storm, as he loved this kind of ``put on your fur trappers hat and fire up the snow blower'' weather. If he couldn't be in his beloved state of Vermont, then he was going to bring Vermont to him! Rick was always intrigued by the weather, especially the makings of a good storm. We were appreciative of all efforts at Glastonbury HealthCare Center to have his bed by the windows so he could watch the day's weather unfold into the night. January 18, 1969: On a cold Sunday similar to this one, I walked into this St. Rose Church to attend the 10:30 am Mass. The church was very crowded back then and I sat in the same seat in the back that I always took right under the Station of Cross of ``Veronica wiping the face of Jesus.'' This particular morning however, I felt a presence next to me. I could not concentrate on the Mass; I could barely breathe and I could not wait to go to Communion, just to regain my composure. Returning back from Communion, I could not find the pew that I had always sat in . . . then I see this about 6 foot or so, tan camel hair coat, white t-shirt wearing guy laughing and pointing to the seat right next to him! Embarrassed, little did I know that I was standing next to my future husband. As the story goes, Fred offers me a ride home from church. Now keep in mind, the Oliva homestead was less than 5 minutes from the church's front steps! I accepted the ride anyway . . . Fred in the driver's seat and his Mom in the middle of course, and then myself. That seating arrangement would remain that way for a very long time with Marjorie in the middle. A week later we went on our first date, two weeks later Fred went to the Military Academy for a visitation to attend West Point. He instead chose the University of Vermont and I, Central Connecticut. July 30, 1977: Fred and I marry here at St. Rose Church where we first met. Prior to marriage, you have to provide your baptismal certificate. When I came across the certificate, attached to it was a clipping from the St. Rose Church bulletin dated April 1951, stating Fred and I were both baptized together here at St. Rose. We were born a week apart; Fred on April 1st and I on April 8th. Also, Fred's cousin Kip was baptized that day as they both shared the same birthday. Further research showed that Fred and I received the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion the same day here at St. Rose. We also both received the sacrament of Confirmation together at St. Isaac Jogues Church because they happened to be remodeling St. Rose at the time. All our sacraments together here in this Church! Being born on April Fool's Day gives you a certain role to fulfill, and Fred took it very seriously. Senior year in high school he was elected Class Comedian. At the University of Vermont he was written up in several publications as a ``Super Fan.'' Allow me please, to read one such article from the Burlington Press entitled, ``SUPER FANS'' by Wally Johnson: ``The stands at the UVM rink are filled to capacity for games, and the students yell their lungs out. One student, a freshman football player, is sort of an unofficial cheerleader, and when he gets people fired up in one section of the stands, the excitement is usually contagious. The gridder is Rick Leone, from Hartford, Conn. And he was the guy waving his coat and shirt around in the cold confines of the hockey rink during the Catamounts upset of UNH. Leone, who also has some pretty good monologues about all sorts of subjects, is loud, wears the wildest purple hat ever made, and is funny as well as a big sports fan. ``You just can't get mad at the guy, he's too funny,'' a UVM student who sat behind Rick during the last game said. Every school has its own Rick Leone, be it at high school or college and this type of person, perhaps best described as a ``super fan,'' is an asset every coach would like to have at his side.'' Fred did not love April Fool's Day because it was his birthday, but because it was a full continuous day of sharing his stories, pranks and jokes with everyone. Former employees would tell you the front counter of the liquor store was his ``pulpit'' where he did what he loved best . . . interacting with everyone. A funny story, joke, or local happening passed on from one customer to another. Fred loved going to make his morning deposits at Webster's bank where another audience of the girls and customers waited for his ``joke of the day.'' Sunday mornings at Stop & Shop where he regularly checked in with Jeff ``the butcher,'' meeting and greeting neighbors and customers as he shops. I, however, ruined the shopping experience for him. I just wanted to go in, get my groceries and return home so I could start cooking Sunday dinner. So we left Sunday shopping for Fred to enjoy his weekly adventure! Fred was a brilliant man with background knowledge on almost any subject that was brought up in conversations. We attribute that to his love of reading. Out attic, cellar and shelves at home are filled with books. If Fred could not pass a book along then it got shelved in one of these places. When Gianni was in second grade, I remember Fred reading Gianni, ``The Old Man and the Sea'' by Ernest Hemingway. Explaining details as he read aloud to his grandson and it was Fred's own personal copy he had back when he was in school! Vermont and National Geographic were his favorite magazines. When our daughters were much younger they too awaited the monthly issues of National Geographic because their father had made a game out of checking the covers of each issue. The best was when he was the baboon, gorilla, or other exotic creatures from who knows where on the covers, and you knew it was happening when Fred would announce holding up the magazine . . . ``Look everyone--your mother made the cover of National Geographic again!'' The girls would crack up laughing . . . Very funny, Fred! Then there was a serious side of Fred, a man of great faith, the importance of attending mass and participating in the church community. When our family was younger we attended pot luck suppers, organized bake sales and arts and crafts and tag sales. Our life for one week in July revolved around Fred co-chairing the popular St. Rose Carnival with the Futtner and Ramsey families. Our wedding anniversary always fell during carnival week and Fred would joke ``What more do you want on our wedding anniversary, Mary? We have games, entertainment, music (from the carousel), good food (sausage and peppers and fried dough)--all on the grounds of the church we were married!'' We always later celebrated at a very nice restaurant. Family . . . What more can I say? Rick's loyalty and love for his grandparents and their rich traditions . . . how he loved to retell stories about life on the tobacco farm. Following into his father's footsteps with his help and guidance as he sat in on business meetings . . . to move forward into the future . . . all for the love of his family; so proud of his daughters Marisa and Vanessa in their accomplishments in life. Gianna and Angelina were the special joys of his life; how he loved taking Gianni to Boy Scout campouts and events. He introduced him to the Three Stooges. He enjoyed taking and picking up Angelina from preschool. Fred introduced her to Tom & Jerry cartoons! A special place in Fred's heart he had for all his nieces and nephews . . . especially when Ted and Josh took their Uncle Fred to a Jethro Tull Concert . . . He loved it! Fred would relive their performance every time he heard one of their songs! As Fred's illness progressed, and it did very rapidly, he continued to stay involved in everything the best he could and gradually we came to him now to accommodate his needs and wants. Nothing made him happier than all your lines of communication; texts, emails, Caring Bridge, phone calls, cards, notes and visits . . , for our dear friends and family I thank every one of you! Thank you to Mom, Dad, Tom, Camille, Marisa, Gianni and Angelina for all your support and for standing by me these last few months. I could not have done this without you. This was a group effort of love and you did it beautifully--with me. Before Fred went on the respirator a couple of weeks ago, he said to me, as I was giving him ice chips to soothe his dry mouth, ``Mary I think I now know how Jesus felt.'' I said, ``What do you mean, Fred?'' ``The pain Jesus must have felt being nailed to the cross and when they took a cloth soaked with vinegar and applied it to his lips . . . How he must have suffered!'' You--my dear husband will now suffer no more. Until we can breathe deeply again, Enjoy the fruits of the vine again, And hold each other's hand again, I wish you peace. Please watch over us, guide and protect us. And I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen and God Bless.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise an issue for consideration as we move towards conference on this bill. When we considered the NDAA several weeks ago, an amendment that I submitted with Mr. Rooney of Florida was adopted by voice vote to ensure that TRICARE beneficiaries with developmental disabilities have access to behavioral health treatment, specifically a therapy known as applied behavior analysis, or ABA. The provision streamlines access to care by moving coverage of ABA under TRICARE Basic, removing caps on coverage, ensuring access to providers, and allowing all children with developmental disabilities access to these services. However, because of the obscure way that a small class of TRICARE beneficiaries' benefits are funded, additional appropriations language is needed to make sure these children get the care they deserve. I had planned to offer an amendment that would just clarify that retirees and their dependents of the Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of NOAA, and Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service Corps can have these specific ABA treatments made available by the NDAA, funded out of the Defense Health Program. By doing this, we would fulfill the legislative intent captured in section 704 of the NDAA which ensures access to ABA in TRICARE and states that we intend to ensure appropriate and equitable access to such treatment for all TRICARE beneficiaries. While I will not offer the amendment at this time, I would appreciate the opportunity to work with Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky as we go to conference to make sure that all TRICARE beneficiaries are able to access the care they need.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House of Representatives stood in solidarity and silence as we once again rose to acknowledge another death, another shooting, another loss of life again at one of our schools. We rose out of respect for the victims and their families, as we have done repeatedly. On average, there has been a shooting in a school a week. The American people are outraged. They no longer want Congress' silence. They want to hear Congress' voice. In America, the most important thing that we can do is vote; the most patriotic thing that we can do is vote. But in this Chamber, we have yet to take up simple legislation on background checks. Now, let me be very specific about that. Pat Toomey, Joe Manchin, two of the most conservative Senators in the United States Congress, put together a very narrowly constructed compromise that called for universal background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. This is not complicated. It is supported by 92 percent of the American people and 76 percent of the NRA. John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy, Cathy McMorris Rodgers are honorable people. They know what the right thing to do is. And the right thing here, whatever side you come down on this issue, is to give the people in the people's House a vote. How many more times are we going to hear the pleas from parents who are crying out for Congress to take action? In a body where many people pride themselves on the right to life, why will we not rise to do everything to protect our schoolchildren? When I was growing up, we used to have drills because we were fearful of nuclear annihilation by Russia. Today our schools go through routine lockdown drills for fear of our own citizens. Congress has got to act or Congress, as I have said before on this floor, is duplicitous in every single tragedy that takes place, duplicitous because of its inaction. It is the morally right thing to do to cast a vote. However you feel on this issue, and there are strong feelings about it, but the American people, and clearly the families of these victims, need to know that minimally their democracy was willing not to stand in silence and in remorse, as important as that was and is, but to take action and vote.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chair, I rise today to thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for including an amendment that I offered with Rep. Tom Rooney in en bloc amendment #7 and I urge my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rooney and I, along with other colleagues like Rep. Walter Jones have been engaged in an effort for several years now to ensure that children with developmental disabilities that are covered by TRICARE, can access the behavioral health treatment that they require. It was an issue that was brought to my attention by a constituent whose husband is in the military and who has a child with a developmental disability. The challenges her family faces however, are also unfortunately experienced by numerous military families across the country. While TRICARE does provide access to a multitude of services for families, there are limitations on them from fully accessing the appropriate level of care for their children for a behavioral health treatment known as applied behavior analysis (ABA). Currently families must navigate a complicated web of programs within TRICARE, each with eligibility or coverage limitations, in order to get access to treatment. In addition, children with developmental disabilities do not have access. Our amendment simply seeks to streamline coverage for these services as a medical benefit under TRICARE Basic, which would ensure access to these services for the dependents of both active duty and non-active duty beneficiaries. These are families that have sacrificed a great deal in the service of our nation, and it is our obligation to make sure that their children get the health care services that they need. This amendment is designed to do just that. Many children with developmental disabilities require other types of treatment such as habilitative and rehabilitative services like speech, occupational, and physical therapy that are already covered by TRICARE. However, because of the current restrictions, there are cases where some of these children are not able to access the prescribed level of ABA treatment. I want to make it clear that this amendment will not, nor is intended to, alter any services that a child's team of health providers deem necessary and are currently covered, like those already mentioned, but simply ensures that they can get the ABA services that they've been prescribed. In addition, as mentioned in the amendment we believe that amounts should be appropriated to ensure that all TRICARE beneficiaries have appropriate and equitable access to behavioral health treatment, including ABA. This is just simply the right thing to do for our military families who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country. Once again, I thank my colleagues for their support on this important issue on behalf of military families across this country.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 255, I was unexpectedly detained and therefore missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a great sense of pride on behalf of the entire delegation of the State of Connecticut who are, indeed, honored again to be national champions. Our entire delegation will have an extended period of time in which we can amplify the great accomplishments of the University of Connecticut. For an unprecedented second time, first and foremost, our women's basketball team went undefeated and was perfect, as they are; and of course, the men's team down in Ralph Hall's great State of Texas, where we have won the national championship three times, again, was able to win the national championship in Kevin Ollie's first year as the coach when the team was eligible for it. This is remarkable. Fourteen national championships in the game of basketball. We are very proud not only of our coaches and our student athletes, but of all the hard work and effort that goes into this. Our delegation will be down here at another time to further extoll the virtues of the University of Connecticut and the great State it represents.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on April 7th, I was not present for rollcall votes 165 and 166. If I had been present for these votes, I would have voted: ``aye'' on rollcall vote 165, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 166.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on March 5, 2014--I was not present for rollcall votes 93-98 due to an event in Connecticut with President Barack Obama. If I had been present for these votes, I would have voted: ``nay'' on rollcall vote 93, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 94, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 95, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 96, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 97, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 98.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I thank our leader, and I thank him for his poignancy. I know how much it means to people listening to have a glimpse into history as it unfolded, and also the real-life experience of our great leader and President. David Brinkley described that moment. He said that the assassination was beyond understanding: The events of those days don't fit, you can't place them anywhere, they don't go in the intellectual luggage of the time. It was too big, too sudden, too overwhelming, and it meant too much. It has to be separate and apart. But we want to, as both our leaders have said, remember this President in the way that we viewed him in his heroic importance to this country and to generations then and now. Jacqueline Kennedy--as Ralph Martin, her biographer, said--talked about a person who had written to her about the President, and she said someone who had loved the President, but had never known him, wrote to me this past winter that: The hero comes when he is needed. When our belief gets pale and weak, there comes a man out of that need who is shining-- and everyone living reflects a little of that light--and stores up some against the time when he is gone. ``So now he is a legend,'' Mrs. Kennedy would conclude, ``when he would have preferred to be a man.'' And so it has been--Steinbeck said of Kennedy: This man who was the best of his people and who by his life and death, gave back the best of them for their own. Arthur O'Shaughnessy, the great Irish poet, said: For each age there is a dream that is dying and one that is coming to birth. John Fitzgerald Kennedy embodied dreams that were coming to birth and, through his Presidency, ushered in the future dreams of this century and the next. Heroes. Heroes are those people we admire for their accomplishments, their character, and their ability to inspire. They are often an extension of what we would like to be. If John Kennedy had never been President of the United States, he would still have been a bona fide hero. His war record alone was heroic, his Pulitzer Prize admirable, and when you combine that with his personality, wit, and intelligence, you have a man to emulate and respect. It is as President, however, that we remember John Kennedy. And in that capacity, his greatness came from being the cog, the catalyst, the spark that ignited the tremendous latent strength of our great Nation. Summoning the Nation like no other President before him, Kennedy established goals for excellence and raised the consciousness of the American people to a level of dignity benefiting a Nation embarking on building a positive future not just for the Nation, but for mankind. Some would say John Kennedy was a tragic hero, much like the tragic heroes of Greek literature and Shakespearean plays. Kennedy was neither Achilles nor Hamlet. He was a man who, through sheer force of personality and conviction, motivated and excited people. He moved a Nation. What he shares with ancient heroes was the great promise of youth, cut short by death before that promise could be fulfilled. James Reston wrote: The tragedy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy was greater than the accomplishment, but in the end tragedy enhances the accomplishment and revives hope. What died in Dallas on November 22 was promise, the hallmark of both the Kennedy administration and the man. ``It's sad to see what happened in this country,'' Ted Sorenson has commented. It's as if people don't want to believe in anything today. Sometimes they even turn against John Kennedy because perhaps he was the last man they believed in. Sorenson's remarks are well taken. I share his sadness and tire of cynics who seek only to tear down, discredit, destroy, and, in general, believe in nothing. I do not share, and I am sure most don't, an untainted or distorted view of John Kennedy. For whatever his human foibles and shortcomings may have been, his rhetoric of purpose, his goals for this Nation, are still worth believing in and aspiring towards. Others will say that Kennedy had a superficial charisma, hyped by his ability to manipulate the media. Ralph Martin, a biographer of Kennedy, notes: John Kennedy had more than charisma. Sports figures have charisma. He had more than the magnetic attraction of a movie star. What Kennedy had was real. Magic. He clearly was charismatic. He clearly was magnetic. He was poetic. But above all else, the magic that he had was real. John Kennedy's appeal was not limited to this country, it was worldwide, as Steny Hoyer pointed out. Throngs gathered throughout the world not to chant anti-American slogans or to protest. They came to touch, to hear, to see the man who represented the hope of the free world. One has only to recall the vivid scenes in Berlin to realize there was a special magic about John Kennedy. The excitement was real. John Kennedy struck a chord in all of us. Republican Senator Hugh Scott's wife asked: Why are you crying? You didn't have that much admiration for him. To which he said: I am not crying for him. I am crying for the American people. What John Kennedy meant to America is lodged deeply in our hearts and minds. He opened the door through his challenge and beckoned the people to a greater future, a new frontier. He was our voice. History will probably bear out that a thousand days was too short a time to judge the greatness of Kennedy as a President, but it will also bear out what Robert Kennedy said of his brother's legacy: The essence of the Kennedy legacy is a willingness to try and to dare and to change, to hope for the uncertain and risk the unknown. It is in that context that the civil rights movement, the Bay of Pigs, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the Cuban missile crisis, the space race, and other actions of his administration will be judged, with the constant footnote to that ancient thief--time. ``It was all too brief,'' Ted Kennedy said of his brother's era. Those thousand days are like an evening gone. But they are not forgotten. You can recall those years of grace, that time of hope. The spark still glows. The journey never ends. This dream shall never die. It is the end of the story of Camelot that takes on significance, and that Jacqueline Kennedy would speak so fondly of when she would talk of her husband. It was the point when King Arthur tells of his legends to a young boy, so they would still remember them even if he were killed in battle. Fifty years have passed and the life and death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy still holds us captive. It is the topic of every magazine, of every news story, on every television show. But we always need to make sure that we separate the myth from the man. John Kennedy was not a myth. He was a real man with hopes and fears and doubts, and the same human frailties and many disabilities that we never even knew about. His time in office was too short to objectively evaluate his long-term objectives and goals, but we can never forget him or let him go. Chris Matthews, in his recent book, talks about a conversation that he had with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and he recalled that Moynihan said to him, ``We've never gotten over it.'' And looking at Matthews, he said, as Chris points out with generous appreciation, ``You've never gotten over it.'' Matthews said: I saw it as a kind of benediction, an acceptance into something warm and Irish and splendid, a knighthood of the soulful. We have never gotten over it. John Kennedy is a hero because of the message he brought, the hope and the dreams he inspired. He set a standard by which all successive Presidents are measured. He united the country on the great issues of the day, guided the Nation through crisis by calling on the American people to uplift their expectations, their goals, and their fellow man. It wasn't hollow rhetoric or dazzling showmanship; it was sincere and compelling belief in the purpose of this country and its people. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is a hero for all time and for those who believe in the promise of America because he elevated what it means to serve in government on behalf of the people. He made public service, whether it be elective office, serving as a House clerk, or in the Peace Corps noble and honorable pursuits. He made poetry, literature, and the arts in general a part of the fabric of our everyday life, and he did it all with the ease, grace, wit, humor, and understated elegance that exuded the confidence of the Nation he led and further ennobled his countrymen. For those who listen, he speaks to us still. This Thanksgiving as we pause, let us remember and be grateful for the great gift he gave us for that one bright, shining moment that there came the hero. And let us use that light to enlighten not only this Chamber but the world. And as President Kennedy would say so often, then let us go forward to lead the land we love, asking God's blessing, but knowing here on Earth His work is our own. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I thank the leader. I would point out, in history there are often iconic pictures. One has to wonder in looking at the pictures that grace museums across this country: That man who set a torch to be passed to another generation, could he have known when he was shaking Bill Clinton's hand that he would be a future President of the United States? Could he have known when he met with Tommy D'Alessandro's daughter that she would be the first woman Speaker of the House? That was the inspiration of Kennedy, who touched so many people, and our leaders Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer typify a generation drawn into public service not only because of the inspiration but because of the calling of President Kennedy to public service. The minority whip, Steny Hoyer.