Jason Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues across the aisle for their efforts in this regard. I too agree that, absolutely, we need healthcare reform to ensure that people have the kind of coverage that covers things like opioid and substance abuse. Part of that effort means that people can afford a good insurance policy and choose the kind of coverage they want so that they are not priced out of the market and go without any insurance at all, which is really a problem with some of these people suffering through this epidemic. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 1091, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, let me start by thanking my colleague from Pennsylvania, the chairman of our committee, for his leadership in getting this bill to the floor. The U.S. Army Corps plays a pivotal role in the transportation of all of our goods and services in the United States. They are tasked with maintaining navigation channels in our most active and commercial waterways. Unfortunately, carrying out this important work brings about challenges my constituents know all too well. Last spring, the Corps released a 40-year dredged material management plan in an effort to identify placement sites for almost 11 million cubic yards of dredged material. Regrettably, the proposal was drafted by bureaucrats in Washington with very little community input. Without knowledge of the local impact, the Federal plan would take 300 acres of pristine land from a third generation family farm, 30 acres in a residential neighborhood in my district, as well as 73 acres from a farm in Congressman Kind's district. My own family lost their business through condemnation, so I am acutely aware of the damage the eminent domain process can sometimes have on families and communities. After several discussions with the Corps and letters from myself, they agreed that more public comment was needed and that a better solution may possibly exist. I was pleased that the Corps scheduled several public meetings on the topic, and that the Corps worked with us to extend the open comment period several times. This process proved successful, and a number of innovative and thoughtful alternatives were submitted for consideration. Yesterday, the St. Paul District Office of the Army Corps and the city of Wabasha, Minnesota, signed a memorandum of understanding for this 40-year plan. The memorandum of understanding describes a process by which the Corps can use existing authorities to collaborate with a non-Federal entity in order to allow for greater flexibility of material placement. This proposal has the support of the district office, our local community, and the State of Minnesota. It is also environmentally friendly, as it could allow the dredged material to be used in a manner that benefits society, rather than taking up space on a pristine farmland. It also spreads the burden of a public benefit to everyone who benefits. My amendment encourages the Army Corps' headquarters to fully consider this alternative plan, and alternatives like this, in the future. In its history, the Corps has rarely approved innovative plans such as this. Federal, local, and private partnerships are something that we should encourage, instead of putting roadblocks in the way. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I ask that the Army Corps fully consider inventive, but effective projects across the country it would affect. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this vital issue. The Federal Government asked Americans to pay roughly $40 billion in taxes and interest with the promise the government would operate a national repository. Thirty-seven years later, no repository, and my district is hampered with the burden of maintaining 40 spent fuel casks, with more on the way. Now, while on-site storage is done in a very safe and highly secure manner, it is simply not appropriate. In fact, in 1991, the United States Department of the Interior agreed, stating: ``The imposition of risk upon the Prairie Island Indian community is an unreasonable burden.'' Prairie Island is just one community shouldering this burden. The city of Red Wing and the citizens of Goodhue County expect better. In fact, my constituents reminded me that, by law, the repository should have been open in 1998, stating: But it is not our responsibility to remind Congress to do its job. They are right. I urge my colleagues to uphold our promise and vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for all of his hard on H.R. 4. Mr. Chair, I am pleased that my amendment to codify the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integrated Pilot Program is included in this en bloc package. Drones are an innovation that I know our country is anxious to take advantage of. However, it brings with it a need to rethink and redefine some current policies. Aviation regulations that manage the flow of air traffic at 30,000 feet, or even 1,000 feet, do not make sense when managing the operation of a UAS 5 feet off the ground. Congress should formally support this pilot program and learn from the data gathered here. We must also recognize the importance of non- Federal bodies like States, municipalities, and Tribal governments to be part of the drone oversight. This pilot program, which my amendment codifies and which stem from a White House proposal, will help us do just that, and it has been widely supported. In fact, drone associations, traditional aviation groups, and large companies wrote in support of the pilot program. We hope that by Congress codifying the pilot program, the Department of Transportation will now expand the pilot program to further participation.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, since 1991, Federal law has stated that metropolitan planning organizations around the country should have local elected officials on their boards. In 2012, Congress passed MAP-21 and included a clause stating that these MPOs that were not in compliance had 2 years to conform. Now, in the previous administration, there was a Federal clause that was used to grandfather the Twin Cities--Minneapolis-St. Paul-- Metropolitan Council into compliance without having elected officials. So we now have, in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, the only board in the country that is entirely nonelected, the only MPO that has the authority to independently raise taxes and is not elected. Indeed, in Minneapolis-St. Paul, our metropolitan planning organization has a budget that dwarfs all the others in the country. In fact, it is larger than Houston; Dallas; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Phoenix; Seattle; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Boston; Philadelphia; Denver; Miami; Tampa; and Chicago combined. Now, why does an entity of this magnitude not require local elected officials? Now, I know some defending the status quo are now making misleading claims about this amendment, about our efforts here in Congress. First, the Met Council does perform transportation work, and their transportation advisory board does include elected officials. But the Federal Highway Administration and FTA ruled in 2015 that the TAB is an advisory body to the council; it is not the MPO. Even the previous administration, the Obama administration, disagreed with the Met Council's assertion that the TAB would be equivalent to a local elected official. Second, the defenders of the status quo are asserting that total chaos will ensue if this amendment passes. It will be a complete mess. Every other MPO was either formed in compliance with elected officials, or local elected officials on its board, or it came into compliance with this Federal law, and none gained widespread attention for chaos. The defenders of the status quo, including the current council and even the Governor of the State, now assert that, well, this is too uncertain, that chaos would ensue. I would argue that having a 17- member board entirely appointed by the Governor is uncertainty. Uncertainty is a board that changes course every time there is a new election in the Governor's mansion. Finally, the critics of my amendment have begun stirring up the masses by saying this singlehandedly stops Federal funding for any transportation project in the area, even up to $2 billion by 2021. But in the past, when other MPOs have come into compliance, it hasn't had this effect. It simply hasn't happened. Besides, the congressional intent is that any MPO whose structure changes in order to adhere to Federal law will be given a transition period, a very generous one. The point is this amendment does not put in jeopardy any current or future Federal investments and grants. In fact, my colleagues and I from Minnesota have been working with the DOD to make certain our region gets the Federal support we need. But it is vital, and it has been vital for years in our region, that we determine our own governance structure, that the local elected officials have a say. If the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council thinks it would take too large an effort to find common ground in order to pursue an MPO that has elected officials, then that is the best indication that there is a serious problem with the status quo. Mr. Chairman, it is time to give citizens power over their regional government. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I would note that of all of the opposition in this body, they are already in compliance with what I am proposing for the Metropolitan Council. So, clearly, it didn't induce chaos, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today and congratulate Jessie Schulhof and Ava Stark, students from The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia. Every year, C-SPAN holds a documentary contest for middle and high school students called StudentCam. This year, students were asked to choose a provision of the U.S. Constitution and create a video illustrating why it's important to them. The documentary the students submitted was ``Speaking Up to The Limits,'' about the First Amendment. Young people have the power to influence change in the world we live in today. We cannot let age, race, or gender keep people silent. I gave my first sermon at age 16. I became friends with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at age 18. The words and actions of Dr. King inspired me to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, I am proud that these young constituents from The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy Middle School were honored for their great and good work in this competition, which saw more than 3,000 entries. I am pleased to congratulate them on this impressive recognition. Every generation can leave behind a powerful legacy. You cannot be afraid to speak up. You cannot be afraid to speak out, especially for what you believe, even at a young age. Therefore, I stand with you and provide strength for you, as you are the future of this beloved country.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, although Minnesota is known for hockey, I rise today to recognize the impressive high school wrestling programs in Minnesota's Second District. This season, Shakopee and Apple Valley continued their strong, outstanding records in wrestling. In fact, Apple Valley held 12 straight State titles until this year, when Shakopee edged them out in the sectionals. And while Shakopee did not bring home the State title, wrestlers from both Apple Valley and Shakopee put up some extraordinary victories. Trey Rogers from Hastings finished his season with a perfect record. Shakopee's Alex Lloyd won his third State championship. And Apple Valley's Gable Steveson concluded his high school career with a winning percentage of 0.986, the best in State history. I am proud to have such driven State athletes in my district. Their dedication and hard work will continue to bring them success for years to come, and I look forward to seeing future victories from our Second District wrestlers.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Shimkus, as well, for continuing to bring light to the broken promise the Federal Government made to our communities. The State of Minnesota is home to three nuclear reactors, two of which are at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in my district. Located directly adjacent to the Prairie Island Indian Reservation and the city of Red Wing, the plant has stored spent nuclear fuel on site since the 1970s. While this is done in a very safe and highly secure manner, storage in close proximity to large communities is simply not appropriate. In 1982, Congress agreed and made it clear that they wanted the Federal Government to oversee and manage the storage of spent fuel. Congress did not want to put the burden and oversight of maintaining safe nuclear storage on our local communities. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act was adopted, and the Federal Government was tasked with creating a national Federal repository for used fuel. The Federal Government began collecting taxes on all users of nuclear power. In the end, my constituents, businesses, and Americans throughout the country have paid roughly $40 billion in taxes and interest. In 1995, due to the inaction at the Federal level the plant in my district was forced to take matters into their own hands. While they continued to help fund a repository, they also invested in and began operating a dry cask storage area, a pad on site that could hold up to 48 casks of fuel. Now, that should have been more than enough to cover their needs until the Federal Government finished their job. Today, Prairie Island is home to 40 casks, with 7 more expected to be filled by 2020. Thirty-six years after the passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, we still have no repository. Prairie Island now has to go through the process of planning to expand their dry cask facilities in order to accommodate fuel they paid the Federal Government to dispose of. So I strongly support the efforts of Chairman Shimkus, and that is why I cosponsored the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017. We owe it to our communities to follow through on our promise to provide a safe place for storage. Meanwhile, it isn't just our local communities that are impacted by this inaction. When Congress passed a budget last year, I worked to point out that the Federal Government had assumed major liabilities associated with its failure to provide safe and environmentally friendly storage. The GAO recently reported that the Federal Government's environmental liability alone is nearly $450 billion and growing. At the same time, the funds collected from taxpayers to open a repository have begun being diverted to other payout settlements and judgments based on our broken promise. By the end of fiscal year 2016, $6.1 billion had been paid out, with the Department of Energy estimating another $25 billion to follow. It is time to keep our promise. Our communities expect it, and the Federal Government cannot afford not to do so. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today and congratulate a Minnesota landmark and family-run business, Josephson's Clothing Store, on an impressive anniversary. This month Josephson's will celebrate its 140-year anniversary, making it the oldest continually running men's clothing store in the state of Minnesota. Founder Alfred Josephson opened its doors on January 26, 1878 on Main Street in Red Wing, Minnesota. The Josephson family retained ownership of the store until August 3, 1992 when it was sold by Tom and Marilyn Josephson to its current owners, Tom and Denise Withers. The Withers have proudly operated the store for the last twenty-five years. Josephson's Clothing Store has a long history that exemplifies Minnesotans' strong work ethic and tenacity. It has withstood economic depressions and recessions, changing demographics, and transitions in commerce preferences. Yet Josephson's remains a staple of the community in Red Wing. It is my honor to recognize a business that represents the best of American perseverance. I am confident that Josephson's will remain a pillar of the community for years to come.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Indiana (Mr. Rokita) for introducing this very important legislation that restores a simple promise: the sovereign rights of Native Americans will be protected. For almost 70 years following the passage of the National Labor Relations Act, Tribal sovereignty was upheld and Tribes were given the equal right to self-governance enjoyed by our State and local governments. For the Tribes in my district, sovereignty meant the freedom to advance their own economic development and provide critical government services to their Tribal members. With the NLRB's San Manuel decision, unelected bureaucrats tossed aside this longstanding precedent and began to assert themselves in Tribal matters on an arbitrary, case-by-case basis. The agency granted itself the right to navigate Tribal law and decide when a Tribal enterprise is for commercial purposes, a requirement that would never be imposed on revenue-generating activities of State and local governments. As the Federal bureaucracy expands its own power, Tribes face legal confusion and uncertainty, hindering their self-sufficiency and the ability to provide for their members. The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act restores the well-established legal standard of Tribal sovereignty. As State and local governments are excluded from the Federal requirements of the NLRA, this bill simply ensures Tribal governments receive equal treatment, not lesser status. It provides our Tribes with needed clarity that, when an enterprise is owned and operated by the Indian Tribe and located on Tribal land, Tribal sovereignty will be protected. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, and I am glad it was included in this package, which I urge my colleagues to support.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, it has only been a few weeks since Congress passed the historic tax reform bill, but I am afraid it has got to be very tough for the opponents and our friends across the aisle because, well, you have to wonder: At some point, don't they tire of being wrong so often? You might recall some claim before we passed the bill that it would raise taxes on the middle class, yet a majority of Americans will now see a tax decrease. In fact, the average family of four in Minnesota's Second District, which I am proud to represent, will see a tax cut of $3,154. Then they claim that reducing taxes on businesses would never benefit Americans, but employers have already responded by giving a combined total of $1 billion in bonuses and wage increases to their employees. That equates to over 1 million Americans and counting getting a bonus. Finally, they said the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would never jump-start economic growth. Well, now, after two quarters of well over 3 percent growth, approaching 4 percent, it is as if the opponents of the tax reform bill are left telling the American people: Are you going to believe me or your own eyes? The fact of the matter is our opponents rely on hyperbole, but the facts speak for themselves.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that our friends on the other side of the aisle will soon get over their obsession with the 2016 election and actually work with the majority on genuine tax reform, genuine healthcare reform, and, of course, Congressman Emmer's good bill from Minnesota, H.R. 3905, which I am proud to stand up and support today, to expand employment opportunities for my home State of Minnesota. Employers in the mining, energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing industries have been struggling to invest in projects and employees over the last 8 years. In fact, when a business finally figures out a way to go forward, determining the economic feasibility of a project, and decides to invest, then the Federal Government comes in and changes the rules, forcing them back to square one. Minnesota is all too familiar with this process. Last-ditch Federal, bureaucratic decisions are costing our citizens thousands of well-paying jobs, our communities tax revenue, and our State educational systems funding, and is costing many Minnesotans their way of life. Over the past 100 years, Congress has studied and voted on where mining should and should not take place. Minnesota has a proud history of protecting the State's natural beauty, while also encouraging safe mining, providing jobs for our citizens, especially in the northeastern part of the State. That is why they call it the Iron Range. We now have private companies that are willing to invest in Minnesota, employ our constituents, and grow our communities. And what has the Federal Government done? They put up a road block, without congressional intent or input. The Federal Government is proposing to unilaterally ban mineral exploration and development on 235,000 acres of land that was meant to provide jobs in our State. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Emmer's bill does not undo environmental studies, the bill does not fast-track mining, and it doesn't even approve a mine. It is simply a vote to let the State of Minnesota review and approve mining operations, based on each individual's projects, merits, and impacts.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. That is why the Laborers' International Union of North America, International Union of Operating Engineers, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, Jobs for Minnesotans Coalition, North America's Building Trades Union, and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, to name a few, support the bill. Congress has always respected what activities should be allowed to occur in the several States. This legislation makes certain the public and the State of Minnesota retain that authority. That is why I am proud to vote in favor of this rule and eventual passage of the MINER Act that allows Minnesotans more opportunity.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of the Jerikovsky brothers of South Saint Paul, Minnesota. These nine brothers, the sons of Jacob and Stephania Jerikovsky, served bravely in the United States' Armed Forces during World War II and the Korean War, all of them returning home safely to their family. Emil, Nick, Jacob Jr., William, Robert, Earl, Edward, George, and Richard Jerikovsky all have the distinction of being a part of a remarkable feat in U.S. military history. It is unprecedented to have nine siblings from one family serve our country in the United States' Armed Forces, and this feat speaks to their family's patriotism and selflessness. These nine first generation Americans were all proud members of VFW Post No. 295 in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Jerikovsky brothers have made a positive impact on our community, state, and country, and we are fortunate to have such selfless citizens who make sacrifices to protect our freedoms. I know that the Jerikovsky brothers' legacy of service to country and fellow man will inspire all Minnesotans and Americans.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Building a Better America budget. Last month, our country's national debt exceeded $20 trillion. Interest payments under that alone are scheduled to go up to $768 billion per year and will skyrocket to $1 trillion should these artificially low interest rates return to their normal levels. The debt not only threatens to bankrupt our country, it threatens our children's future and the American Dream. Now, we can't change the culture of spending in Washington overnight, but this budget puts us on the right path to fiscal sustainability. Our budget balances in 10 years, works to begin paying down the debt, and promotes job growth policies like tax, regulatory, and entitlement reform. For the first time in decades, this budget resolution finally directs Congress to address mandatory spending, the main driver of these deficits. As this graph shows, if nothing is done to address entitlement programs and our interest payments, mandatory spending will fully eclipse the Federal budget in the next few years. Now, politicians in Washington have promised to address exploding debt and deficits for years, but now we have the opportunity to actually do it. We cannot solve our debt crisis, however, without economic growth. That is why our budget provides reconciliation instructions for tax reform. Today we have a Tax Code that is overly complicated, punishes work, rewards special interests, and discourages job creation and investments here in America. The result has been an anemic recovery of only 1 or 2 percent. This stagnation has made it harder for families in Minnesota and all over the United States to realize the American Dream. That is what this is about. Every time tax reform has been tried in the 1920s, in the 1960s, in the 1980s, it has worked to make America globally competitive by encouraging private sector investment that is more productive. That is why today I urge my colleagues to support this budget, tax reform, economic growth, and fiscal sanity.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Congressional Black Caucus substitute budget if for no other reason that there is a price on work, savings, and investment. When you raise that price too high, guess what you get? You get less work, savings, and investment, and you get less economic growth. Look at the growth rates we have had over the last 10 years under astronomical debt and deficits. If spending could create an economic juggernaut, we would have one now. But instead, we have got 1.5 percent growth, 1.9 percent growth, and 2 percent growth--nowhere near what the prospending lobby would suggest. Yet, if you look at the 1920s, if you look at the 1960s, and if you look at the 1980s--remember JFK in that famous Economic Club of New York speech said that the surest way to raise revenues is to cut tax rates now. It worked then, it worked in the 1920s, and it will work right now as it did in the 1980s as well. The reason is simple. The reason is very simple. Once you lower the price of work, savings, and investment, you not only get more of that, but you leave more capital in the private sector where it is put to use. When you have capital put to use in the private sector, workers become more productive, and they earn more. I have always said the truck driver is much more productive with the truck, and the people who have the capital that can buy the truck is what makes the economy go. We don't have a revenue problem in this country. Last year, we had record tax revenues: $3.26 trillion, yet a deficit of $587 billion. We have a spending problem, and the CBC budget increases spending above the CBO baseline over 10 years, while our budget is underneath the CBO baseline for 10 years. Our budget cuts taxes across the board including eliminating the bottom rate that we suggest in our tax reform plan. This is a question of American vision and the American Dream. Our vision is for more capital in the private sector, more incentives to work, savings, and investment, and more people with rising incomes. Their vision is to protect the government budget. Mr. Chairman, so I stand in opposition to this particular substitute budget.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, our Nation is facing a skills gap, a student completion crisis at both the high school and college levels, and record levels of student debt. The status quo is unacceptable. We must do better for our students by truly supporting career and technical education as a pathway to success. CTE has been shown to dramatically increase high school graduation rates, increase postsecondary access, and, most importantly, get students to a degree and a well paying career. More than 75 percent of CTE concentrators pursued postsecondary education shortly after high school, and four out of five students earned a credential or were enrolled 2 years later. Dual enrollment allows high school CTE students to earn college credit and significantly increase their likelihood of pursuing and completing college, all the while saving their families money. The key is that CTE students often don't need an extensive 4-year education, as many attend a great 2-year technical college and then head right into the workplace with little debt and skills to excel. We must fight this narrative--one some of my colleagues are still pushing--that a 2-year technical degree is a lesser educational option. This way of thinking is simply harmful to our Nation's students and our Nation. My amendment increases funding for CTE State grants by $70 million, transferring the funding from an increase to TRIO and GEAR UP. It does not cut funding to TRIO and GEAR UP but continues funding these programs at fiscal year 2017 levels, the highest funding levels in program history. The TRIO and GEAR UP programs received significant funding increases over the past decade, including a $50 million increase in 2017, leaving the programs with proposed funding $230 million above their 2007 level. Instead of an increase for TRIO and GEAR UP this next fiscal year, my amendment makes an overdue investment in career and technical education and in our Nation's students. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Mitchell).

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).