Christopher Lee

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express the need for an extension to the section 45G short line railroad tax credit which expired at the end of 2009. The expiration of this tax credit means that railroads, such as Rochester & Southern in my district, have had to curtail much needed maintenance to their infrastructure. The expiration of this tax credit affects nearly 500 lines across the country. Originally enacted in 2004, section 45G ensures that the lighter density freight lines can invest enough in their infrastructure to stay connected to the national rail networks. With the discontinuation of this tax credit, railroads such as Rochester & Southern will be unable to do effective long-term capital planning. Having run a business myself, I know how difficult it can be for a company to plan and to invest when continued uncertainty exists in how their expenses will be offset. That's why we need to pass an extension of the section 45G tax credit now, so we can put people back to work and so we can provide stability for both the workers and the companies which manage the nearly 500 short line rails across this country.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support a provision in the bill allowing a tax deduction for small business startup expenses. This is one of the most significant things we can do to encourage entrepreneurs. That's why last year I joined with a colleague of mine from Maryland (Mr. Kratovil) to introduce legislation that increases the tax deduction from $5,000 to $20,000. Designed to motivate entrepreneurs to act now, this provision serves as an added incentive for entrepreneurs to get off the sidelines and create new job growth in the private sector. As someone who has actually run a manufacturing company up until I came to Congress last year, it's very disappointing for me that I cannot support the underlying bill. This bill without a doubt will raise taxes on U.S. manufacturing and jeopardize jobs here at home. American manufacturing workers are also facing an unfair playing field against our Chinese competitors. And according to the National Association of Manufacturers, this bill will ``make it more difficult for them to compete in the global marketplace and, in some cases, will threaten U.S. jobs and economic growth.'' I believe we should be strengthening U.S. manufacturers, not saddling them with job-killing taxes. This will further impede efforts to grow our economy and create jobs right here in the good old United States. Madam Speaker, it is past time that the House finally move through true pro-growth legislation. Unfortunately, despite the inclusion of the small business startup deduction, the underlying bill just isn't it.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 156 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Since discussions on health care reform began in Washington, I've heard from thousands of western New Yorkers opposed to this trillion-dollar government-run takeover. One such comment comes from a western New Yorker who writes, ``I'm retired Air Force and have government health care now. If anyone thinks government run health care is a picnic, I invite them to try it.'' Another western New Yorker wrote she ``strongly believes that we need health care reform.'' However, she is ``particularly worried about the level of debt that our children and grandchildren will inherit. Like a household, the government has to learn to live within its means.'' These two constituents summarize well the majority of comments I received. There are two certainties if this bill were to pass. One, it will raise taxes by over $500 billion, and two, it will cut hundreds of billions of dollars from existing Medicare programs for seniors all in support of another government entitlement program. The proposal before us is not what western New Yorkers have asked for, not what they can afford, and surely not what they deserve.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Kitchen Konference, held every year for the last 50 years in Warsaw, New York. The Warsaw Kitchen Konference first met on February 1, 1960, as a group of Wyoming County Farm Bureau members for the purpose of discussing issues affecting the Western New York agricultural community. While some membership in the Konference has changed over the last 60 years, their dedication to addressing the issues involving agriculture has remained constant, and the group has met every year since its founding. Over the last 60 years, the Warsaw Kitchen Konference has hosted the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors to discuss agricultural issues, has promoting agriculture in the Wyoming County Fair, has hosted school children at local farms, and have done many other activities to advance the agriculture industry in Western New York. Agriculture is one of Western New York's most significant industries, and the Warsaw Kitchen Konference and its members have played an important role in furthering this vital industry. Madam Speaker, I ask that this House join me in honoring the Warsaw Kitchen Konference on their 50th anniversary, and for their work in furthering Western New York's agricultural community.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in recognizing the 200th Anniversary of the Central Presbyterian Church of Geneseo, New York. The Central Presbyterian Church of Geneseo has a rich and proud history of service and dedication to the Western New York Community, beginning back in 1810 when Missionary Daniel Oliver organized a small group of Congregationalists in Geneseo. The Church itself has been housed in several different structures over the last 200 years but its mission and dedication to the community have been constant. From the Reverend Daniel Oliver to its current pastor, the Reverend Beth E. Godfrey, the Central Presbyterian Church has been honoring its mission statement of ``encouraging spiritual growth'' for the last 200 years. The Church has been serving both the regional and international community since its foundation, through numerous service projects such as organizing food drives and participating in the Livingston County Habitat for Humanity chapter to traveling to Juarez, Mexico to assist in the building of a shelter for abused women. Madam Speaker, I wish to congratulate and thank the Central Presbyterian Church of Geneseo for their dedication and service to the community for the past 200 years. They are a true asset to Western New York, and I ask that the House please join me in recognizing their tremendous achievement and work they have done during this time.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Within days, the House is poised to vote on a massive government takeover of health care. This trillion dollar, 2,000-page monstrosity will kill jobs, increase our debt, and raise taxes on working Americans. And it's a ``pay now, buy later'' approach: While the taxes start right away, the benefits don't begin until 2014. In essence, this new entitlement program requires 10 years of new tax increases and 10 years of cuts to popular programs like Medicare Advantage to pay for just 6 years of this new government expansion over health care. It's a smoke-and-mirrors approach to ram through a new entitlement we surely can't afford to pay. The American people aren't that easily deceived. The people in my district of western New York want tangible solutions in taking real costs out. We need to start over.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon to honor a true American hero--U.S. Army Specialist Alan N. Dikcis, a native of Wheatfield, New York. Sadly, this past Friday, March 5, while serving his second tour of duty, Specialist Dikcis lost his life when he was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Specialist Dikcis enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Niagara-Wheatfield High School in 2006, and had hoped to spend his career in the service. He enjoyed spending his time outside, whether it was going for a hike or riding his motorcycle or four-wheeler, and he enjoyed spending time with those he loved--his family and friends. As Specialist Dikcis's stepmother recently said, ``Alan loved being in the Army. He was proud of his work. He made us proud, he made his daughter proud.'' I ask that the house join me in thanking Specialist Dikcis for his honorable service to our great nation, and extend our condolences to his family and friends, who had Alan taken from them far too soon.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon to honor a true American hero, U.S. Army Specialist Alan N. Dikcis, a native of Wheatfield, New York. Sadly, on March 5, while serving his second tour of duty, Specialist Dikcis lost his life when he was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Specialist Dikcis enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Niagara-Wheatfield High School in 2006 and had hoped to spend his career serving his country. He enjoyed spending time outside, whether it was going for a hike or riding on his motorcycle or his four-wheeler, and he enjoyed spending time with those he loved, his family and his friends. As Specialist Dikcis' stepmother recently said, ``Alan loved being in the Army. He was proud of his work. He made us proud. He made his daughter proud.'' I ask that the House join me in thanking Specialist Dikcis for his honorable service to our great Nation, and I extend our condolences to his family and friends, who had Alan taken from them far too soon.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. For months now my constituents in western New York have been asking, Where are the jobs? It's very simple. The only city in the entire country that actually saw significant job growth is right here in good old Washington, D.C. The Federal Government is adding jobs at a rate of nearly 10,000 a month, the fastest pace since the 1960s when Medicare and Medicaid were created. There is definitely no recession going on in this city, while everybody else in this country is fighting to keep their jobs. Instead of providing the right kind of incentives to grow the private sector and small business, the administration continues to bury this country further into debt. Let's start working together to implement responsible solutions to the serious challenges facing our Nation. We have to stop this Federal takeover which is truly bankrupting our country.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, as we all know, the United States has marked American Heart Month every February for the last 46 years. I want to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their cooperation in getting this resolution to the floor quickly. I also want to thank our nearly 60 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. Heart disease and stroke affect more people in Western New York than anywhere else in the country. Here are some other facts: The rate of stroke death in WNY is 23 percent higher than the national rate and 79 percent higher than the aggregate New York State rate. Heart disease kills 10 times as many women in WNY as breast cancer and six times as many women as lung cancer. Of course, heart disease remains the number one cause of death for both women and men in the United States. And the one fact that troubles me greatly is: Only 58 percent of WNY residents report visiting their doctors routinely to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked. That number is simply too low. The one thing we can all do to raise public awareness of heart disease and stroke without spending a dime is talk to family and friends about the warning signs for these silent killers and what preventive steps they can take to protect themselves. The simple act of going to the doctor--or even visiting the American Heart Association's Web site--may be all it takes to save a life. I hope that in addition to the passage of this resolution, my colleagues will join me in talking to constituents and raising awareness of these deadly diseases.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY10 Defense Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher John Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: RDT&E, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) Address of Requesting Entity: 700 Ellicott St., Buffalo, NY 14203 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for identification of new drug targets in multi-drug resistant bacteria causing opportunistic infections. This project will address the recent rapid increase of severe opportunistic post-wound infections in the warfighter caused by the drug and multi-drug resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii. HWI will identify new antibacterial drug targets and develop novel lead drug compounds with the goal of acquiring effective treatments against difficult and dangerous infections. Warfighters wounded during battle are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections, greatly complicating their treatment and recovery. Their susceptibility to post-wound infections is due to the difficulty in cleaning traumatic deep tissue wounds and the near impossibility of maintaining sterile conditions during front line medical care. Opportunistic infections of wounded warfighters greatly extend hospital stays and increase costs. Wounded warfighters are routinely treated immediately with antibiotics in an effort to prevent opportunistic infections. Unfortunately, the occurrence of drug and multi-drug resistant strains of A. baumannii is rapidly increasing. Currently, 50 percent of these infections are resistant to treatment by at least one antibiotic, and 1 in 10 infections can't be treated by any antibiotic in routine use. Infections by drug resistant strains of A. baumannii often result in limb amputation or even death. This project will address this militarily important problem by identifying new drug targets within A. baumannii, determining the molecular structure of the proteins, and then identifying chemicals that will serve as the starting points for developing desperately needed new antibiotic drugs effective against multi-drug resistant A. baumannii. HWI has already identified and begun characterization of several proteins that are potential drug targets.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in recognizing Mr. Randall ``Randy'' Norman of Holley, New York, for his selfless actions on February 14, 2009. On that day, while Randy was on his way to work, he saw Mary Silliman being attacked outside of Lakeside Hospital in Brockport, New York. While trying to help Silliman, Randy was shot and killed. Randy chose to protect others with little regard for his own safety. Had Randy not taken the actions he did, the community could have been subject to further terror. Randy has posthumously received The Stand Up Guy award for his heroic efforts to prevent bodily harm to a woman. He has also earned praise from many members of the community including Sergeant Mark Cuzzupoli who offered these kind words: ``I would definitely characterize him as a hero. As a person who tried to make a difference.'' Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me today in recognizing Randy Norman's selfless actions last February. We can all learn a lot from Randy's selflessness on that February day last year.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask that this body join me in congratulating Colleen DiPirro of Williamsville, New York for her 28 years of dedicated service to the Amherst Chamber of Commerce. When Colleen began her involvement with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, she was the only staff member. Membership in the organization was at 180 and the Chamber's budget was $24,000 per year. Shortly after Colleen assumed leadership of the Chamber, it was named one of the ten largest in all of New York State. Today, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce counts more than 2,300 local businesses as members and operates under a budget in excess of $2 million. Colleen's outstanding leadership is directly responsible for this incredible growth over the last 28 years. Colleen is an outstanding asset to the Western New York business community and I wish to extend my deepest appreciation for the outstanding work she has done over the last 28 years. Madam Speaker, I ask that this body please join me in recognizing the many wonderful contributions Colleen has made to the Amherst community, and wish her much continued success in the months and years ahead.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in recognizing Mr. William ``Bill'' Brown of Batavia, New York on achieving Honorary status in the Batavia Rotary Club. Bill has been recognized to receive this award by distinguishing himself through ``meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.'' Bill first joined the Batavia Rotary Club in January of 1960, and he served as the organization's president from 1974 to 1975. He was one of the first Batavia Rotary Club members to be awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for his generous donation to those less fortunate. Additionally, Bill was chairman of Rotary Radio Days for 35 years and was a popular participant in the annual Rotary Comedy Show. Bill has always stood by his commitment and dedication to ``service above self.'' Madam Speaker, I ask that this House join me in recognizing Bill for his commitment to the Batavia Rotary Club and achieving Honorary status in the organization.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great appreciation that I recognize Mr. David M. Bissonette, Emergency Coordinator for the town of Clarence, New York, for his dedicated service to the community, specifically his efforts on the evening of February 12, 2009. On the evening of February 12, 2009, Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed into a home in the town of Clarence. Under the coordination of David, emergency personnel from throughout Western New York responded quickly to the scene of the accident and immediately went into action. A fulltime safety professional for more than 30 years, David's experience and professionalism in handling incident coordination allowed emergency personnel to arrive on scene in a matter of minutes, as well as enabling residents living in homes near the crash site the ability to quickly move to safety. A 27-year member of the Clarence Volunteer Fire Department, David served in various leadership positions including Chief and Assistant Chief. Over his 17 years as Emergency Coordinator for the town of Clarence, David has been responsible for providing emergency support and guidance on a number of large emergencies including chemical releases, extremely heavy snow storms, a chemical plant explosion and fire, long term power outages and sadly, because of the events on February 12, 2009, a tragic plane crash. Madam Speaker, I'd like to extend my appreciation to David Bissonnette for his dedication to the town of Clarence, and for his actions on the evening of February 12, 2009, and the days following.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mrs. Suzanne M. Pilon of Hilton, New York for being awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. A first and second grade science and mathematics teacher at Quest Elementary School in Hilton, Suzanne has been teaching at the Hilton Central School District for the past 14 years. Known for her strong motivational skills, Suzanne also serves as a Teacher Leader for the Investigating Science program, is a Child Study Team Grade Level Leader, a Technology Committee Representative, an Administrative Team member, and a Parent-Teacher-Student Organization Team Representative. Suzanne offers a daily science workshop to her students and tries to weave science into as many other subjects as she can. She continues to pursue many professional development activities and has previously been recognized as the District Teacher of the Year for Quest School of Choice. Suzanne is an exceptional educator and Western New York is fortunate to have her teaching in our community. I'd like to once again congratulate Suzanne on this wonderful accomplishment and thank her for her dedication to our nation's youth.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I pay tribute to Mr. Robert Ammon for his 50 years of service as a member of the Corfu Fire Department in the village of Corfu, New York. Over his five decades of service with the Department, Bob has held numerous leadership positions with the volunteer Department, including President, Vice-President, Trustee, Chairman of Carnivals and Parade Chairman. In addition to his various official leadership roles, Bob has also been instrumental in numerous other community and fundraising events, including raising funds for the original building that housed the Corfu Fire Department and also for finalizing the sale of the Department's current facility. Bob is a true hero who has risked his life countless times over the course of his service to the department and community. The village of Corfu is fortunate to have the Corfu Fire Department serving the community, and to have had Bob as part of the department for the last 50 years. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in recognizing Bob Ammon's 50 years of dedicated service to the community.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. On December 26, our Nation lost a true hero. Army Specialist Jason Johnston of Albion, New York, was killed in action in southern Afghanistan while serving on his second tour of duty. He volunteered to return, feeling a strong commitment to his fellow soldiers and insisting on joining them for a second deployment. Specialist Johnston was an elite soldier, the top 1 percent, according to a major general with the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, where Jason was stationed. His bravery was without question and his valor beyond measure. It is because of the sacrifices that our Nation's brave soldiers like Specialist Johnston make each and every day in regions far across the globe that keep Americans sleeping safely at night. Specialist Johnston was one of the Nation's finest soldiers. As his family said last week, he ``was a hometown hero who died serving the country he loved.'' He will be missed.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to oppose the rule and to speak on behalf of two commonsense amendments I offered which were not accepted. The first amendment, sponsored with my friend from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), simply limits the power of the Consumer Financial Product Agency's credit czar if the national employment rate remains at these astronomical levels. Studies have shown that this bill will stifle job growth across our entire economic spectrum. We should be focusing on job creation, not job extinction. Handing off more control of the private sector to unelected bureaucrats is not going to solve our economic problems. The second amendment I offered would restrict the CFPA, this new massive agency created by this bill, from mandating disclosures to be made in any language other than English. English is the principal language in which commerce is conducted in the United States. Imagine the nightmare if disclosures must be reported in any of the more than 300 languages that are spoken here in the United States; it would ultimately be sheer chaos. The cost of compliance for private businesses to print materials in multiple languages amounts to more or less an added tax and pushing people further into the unemployment ranks. H.R. 4173 is going to eliminate jobs, raise taxes, create a new bailout authority, and create a massive new government bureaucracy. I urge my colleagues to vote against this rule.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Chairman, with unemployment currently in the double digits and a Federal deficit of over $12 trillion, Congress should be focused on creating jobs and keeping taxes low. Instead, before us today is another staggering bill, 1,300 pages in all, which will add to the deficit and shift thousands of jobs overseas. This bill creates yet another new government agency which will be headed up by yet another new czar, in this case a new credit czar, who will limit consumer choices, ration credit and increase the cost of doing business. It's outrageous that we want to give this new credit czar virtually unchecked authority to restrict financial product choices for businesses and consumers at a time when this economy is in dire straits. Studies suggest that this agency will reduce new job creation by at least 4.3 percent and worsen the credit crunch that businesses of all sizes are currently facing. This bill also establishes a permanent bailout fund for financial institutions. Washington should finally abandon this notion of ``too big too fail.'' I can tell you my constituents are surely sick and tired of the bailouts of Wall Street firms. One thing I know: There is no such thing as a free lunch. And unfortunately, the $150 billion cost of this new permanent bailout fund will rest on the shoulders of consumers and investors in the form of higher interest rates and increased fees. The financial crisis showed us that reforms are needed. But this bill will do far more harm than good. This bill is simply the wrong approach at absolutely the wrong time, and I urge all of my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, I wish to congratulate SUNY Brockport Professor Anne Panning on being named the 2009 New York Professor of the Year. This is a tremendous accomplishment and the western New York community is proud to have Professor Panning as a member of our community. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Augsburg College, Anne went on to receive her master of fine arts degree from Bowling Green State University and then her doctorate from the University of Hawaii. She has received much praise from her students and fellow literary scholars alike. In a review for her 2007 work Super America, the New York Times wrote that it ``radiates infectious optimism.'' In addition to teaching several classes at SUNY Brockport, Anne also co-directs the Brockport Writers Forum, one of the foremost reading series in the country. The Forum has had a significant impact on the direction of Brockport's English department on both the undergraduate and graduate level, and Anne has played an integral part in the Forum's continued success along with her co-director, poet Ralph Black. Anne has won several awards for her fiction and nonfiction writing and also for her teaching, including the Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction, the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Lillian Fairchild Award, and now, the New York Professor of the Year. Madam Speaker, I again wish to congratulate Professor Panning on being named the New York State Professor of the Year, and wish her much continued success.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. A recent report by the Obama administration confirmed that Speaker Pelosi's health care bill will cut seniors' Medicare benefits and, in particular, Medicare Advantage. The report from the nonpartisan Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said that Speaker Pelosi's bill would slash Medicare and Medicare Advantage by more than $500 billion. According to The Washington Post, these massive cuts ``would sharply reduce benefits from some senior citizens and could jeopardize access to care for millions of others.'' My district in western New York has the greatest number of Medicare Advantage enrollees in New York State. Medicare Advantage provides seniors a comprehensive health care plan that they can afford, yet Speaker Pelosi's bill will all but destroy this program. It's important that Congress enact meaningful reforms to our health care system to improve affordability and accessibility, but we should not financing these reforms on the backs of seniors.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I rise to say this job-killing bill cuts Medicare, piles debt on our children, and does nothing to address the issue of medical liability reform. Medical liability reform would decrease the need for physicians to practice defensive medicine and could save $54 billion, according to the CBO. As we all know, the majority refused virtually all amendments to the underlying bill. An amendment that I proposed would play a meaningful role in reforming medical liability laws. My amendment would administer a pilot program in five states in which a three-member panel--a judge, a physician and a lawyer--would hold a hearing to determine if the facts of an alleged medical malpractice case are sufficient to raise a question of liability. This will lower costs and help eliminate defensive medicine. Modeled after a Massachusetts program, all cases can proceed past this panel and go to trial regardless of whether the panel believes the defendant was at fault. However if the panel believes that the case is frivolous, the person who files the case would have to file bond in an amount, determined by the judge, payable to the defendant for costs should the plaintiff not prevail in the final judgment. The pilot program would look at the changes in the cost of malpractice insurance, the number of physicians practicing, number of liability carriers, and the amount of pay-outs from liability carriers with respect to lawsuits. In more than 2,000 pages there is not one meaningful piece that will address the issue of medical liability reform. This pilot program would show Congress and the American people how meaningful reforming medical liability will be, and that is the only reason I can assume the majority did not allow it to proceed.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Mr. Speaker, let's look at the numbers on the Democratic health care bill being rammed through Congress this week. At almost 2,000 pages, this new bill creates 111 new offices, commissions, programs and bureaucracies. It creates more than 3,400 new duties for bureaucrats in Washington. It also will eliminate millions of jobs in the private sector and an unprecedented expansion of the Federal bureaucracy. Instead of listening to what Americans want and working on meaningful reform, the Democratic leadership came up with a bill that will cost taxpayers more than $1.2 trillion and do nothing to make health care more affordable in this country. This is on top of the $9 trillion deficit we are expected to have over the next decade in this country. Controlling costs should be our number one priority for this administration. Unfortunately, my colleagues from across the aisle continue to ignore meaningful, medical liability reform, which this year alone could save over $11 billion. We should be listening to what the American public wants and is demanding: real tangible methods of reform.