Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, one in 10 Americans are without jobs this holiday season. This level of unemployment is the highest our country has seen in a quarter-century. In the midst of these difficult times, jobs are at the top of America's holiday wish list, yet the President has sent negotiators to Copenhagen to devise and deliver another job killer. Negotiators from nations around the world convened in the Danish capital this week with the goal of developing a successor to the failed Kyoto Protocol, which sought to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. When Kyoto was negotiated, the Senate unanimously approved the Byrd-Hagel resolution. This important resolution established U.S. policy that our country would not enter into any climate treaty that leaves out developing nations or hurts the American economy. In passing the resolution, the Senate recognized the damage such an agreement would do to the U.S. economy. The President and his negotiators would be wise to abide by these guidelines today, as any agreement reached in Copenhagen would likely be more devastating to the American economy than Kyoto. But it's not just Copenhagen that Americans have to worry about, the President wants to pursue an environmental agenda in any way he can, including through cap-and-trade. In my view, cap-and-trade, approved by the House of Representatives in June, remains one of the most damaging pieces of legislation ever passed by the House of Representatives during my time in Congress, especially as it affects agriculture and rural America. The passage of a cap-and-trade bill will increase the cost of doing business in the United States, will force business owners to close their doors, and will cause companies to leave the country for locations where costs are lower. The respected Heritage Foundation studied the Waxman-Markey cap-and- trade bill. The study showed that the legislation would result in annual losses to GDP of almost $400 billion and that it would lead to the loss of 1 million jobs. At a House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research hearing last week, USDA's chief economist and other experts from universities across the Nation all testified that the costs for fuel, fertilizer and other business inputs would increase under cap-and-trade, meaning more harm to business and the people they employ. For example, one witness cited an Energy Information Administration analysis that showed, in 2030, the Waxman-Markey bill would raise diesel fuel costs by 15 percent, electricity costs by 22 percent and industrial natural gas costs by 26 percent. The last thing we need is another law or treaty that dashes the hope for economic recovery and that destroys more jobs, but the President continues to push for just that. On Monday, the EPA ruled that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases are a danger to public health and to the environment. This decision means EPA can impose greenhouse gas regulations without Congressional action. This threat is no reason to pass cap-and-trade. We must defeat cap-and-trade in the Senate and then put an end to the faulty interpretation of the Clean Air Act by the EPA. The President should refrain from entering into international agreements, and the EPA must be stopped from making decisions that are not supported by science or current law. At a time when so many Americans are without work, the President needs to focus on ways to create jobs and to improve the economy. A cap-and-trade bill, EPA regulations, or an international treaty, all of which are on the President's holiday wish list, would be devastating to the U.S. economy. That's a holiday gift that no American can afford. The passage of cap-and-trade, an agreement in Copenhagen, clean air findings by the EPA--we can just as soon leave those presents under the Christmas tree unopened. President Obama and Speaker Pelosi, don't be the grinch that steals our Christmas. And I hope that is not ``just the way it is.''

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I rise this evening, as one might expect, in my opposition to H.R. 4173 certainly as written, as the gentleman from Massachusetts says, this massive financial regulation bill. Once again we have 1,200-plus pages, a so-called ``reform'' bill before the House of Representatives that would dramatically increase government involvement in our economy. If this Congress is serious about economic recovery, then we should be reducing burdensome regulations, not increasing them. I have heard from many Kansans about their inability to access credit from their local community-based lending institutions. Small businesses and farmers rely upon these loans to make payroll, expand, and to make their ends meet. Local lending institutions would love nothing more than to make these loans, but the overly broad regulations and the inconsistency with which different examiners enforce those regulations, together with higher FDIC insurance premiums and increased reserve requirements, has greatly restricted family and small business access to capital. This House should be more focused on the credit crunch and helping institutions cut through the bureaucracy and lend money, not creating more layers of regulation. Among the provisions I oppose within this legislation is the creation of a permanent TARP-like bailout authority. This authority will continue to shield large financial firms from their mistakes and pass those costs of their miscalculations on to the American taxpayer. The legislation takes an overly broad approach, disrupting markets that have performed well and placing more regulatory burdens into places where they are not needed. One example of these changes that this legislation would make is the commodities futures market known as designated contract markets. These are not the over-the-counter derivatives markets you will hear most Members discuss during this debate. In the wake of last fall's financial collapse, these regulated contract markets performed relatively well under the current core principle regulatory regime. This regime allowed both regulators and exchanges the ability to adapt their regulatory approach to changing market conditions. Rather than recognize the success, this legislation replaces those core principle regimes with an antiquated rules-based structure that has failed at the SEC. This legislation also redefines the definition of a bona fide hedging transaction in the contract markets so narrowly that it will be difficult for many commercial market participants to properly hedge their risk. These changes will hurt, not help, our economic recovery and introduce more, not less, volatility into the marketplace. For these and many other reasons, I urge the House to reject this legislation.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on the Kansas prairie, in a small town named Smith Center, an exceptional tradition has been built and maintained over the course of decades. The Redmen of Smith Center High School have achieved great things on the football field. There are few, if any, high school football fans in Kansas who are unaware of Smith Center's reputation. The parents and boosters of Smith Center High School have watched with pride as their sons bested opponents on the gridiron in 79 consecutive contests. Coach Roger Barta and his Redmen football team have won over 300 games in the past 32 seasons. They've racked up eight State championships, five of them in a row. Smith Center was on the longest active 11-man high school football winning streak in the Nation. The streak was snapped in the Kansas State 2-1A championship game 2 weeks ago. Every player on the Redman football squad, from freshman to senior, experienced their first high school defeat at the hands of the Centralia High School Panthers. It was a heartbreaking loss for an extraordinary group of boys. I had the opportunity to participate in several pregame coin flips over the past few seasons, including this year's State title game. Each time I witnessed a very talented football team with a very spirited group of fans. Yet, all the success the team has enjoyed on the field has never been what makes them so remarkable. Football is just what attracts notoriety and our applause. It's the building of character and lifelong traits that matter in Smith Center. Following their first loss in 6 years, Coach Barta reminded his players, ``We've never judged ourselves on wins and losses.'' The truly exceptional work being done on the plains of Kansas is the development of character in the boys of the Smith Center football team and the students of Smith Center High School. It is the respect each athlete is taught by their coaches. It's the insistence of integrity insisted upon by their teachers. It's the values instilled in each son by their parents and community. Joe Drape, a New York Times Sports writer, recently authored a book entitled, ``Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen.'' In his book, Mr. Drape extols the virtues we, in rural America, hold dear. Humility, sacrifice, unwavering commitment, all are characteristics that are exemplified by the Redmen and their fans. Additionally, as I was told by one of the game officials after the State title game, this is the only team that year after year, every game, they gather on the field, hold hands, and a prayer is offered by one of the coaches or one of the players on the team. Redmen football is what received the attention, but behind the scenes is where the most impressive and longest lasting accomplishments are discovered. Football is simply a teaching tool used by the community. Coach Barta was quoted in the book as stating, ``None of this is really about football. What we're doing is sending kids into life who know that every day means something.'' This attitude exemplifies the teaching, coaching, and parenting philosophy of rural America. Our population may be dwindling and our communities aging, but our commitment to raising good children and preparing them for life after high school is something that will never diminish. School pride is important to a community, but it pales in comparison to the role a teacher, coach, or parent plays when he or she helps a child succeed. I'm thankful that Coach Barta and his staff understand this, and I'm thankful to come from a part of the country that understands this. Congratulations to the Smith Center Redmen, their football team, for their remarkable success, and thanks to the team, the community, and the school that are such great ambassadors for our way of life on the plains of Kansas.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, farmers, ranchers, and other small businesses are the backbone of the Kansas economy. The ability to pass a business from one generation to the next is critical to a business's ongoing success. Rural America has enough trouble retaining a youthful workforce. The estate or ``death'' tax does not aid our efforts in promoting long term growth and curbing depopulation. A major obstacle to the continuity of a business is the estate tax. I have long sought a permanent repeal of the estate tax. This tax comprises less than one percent of U.S. revenues, but poses a substantial impediment to the growth of family farms and small businesses. H.R. 4154, Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009, does not provide the necessary reforms. While the certainty provided by H.R. 4154 would be welcome, passage of this legislation reduced the chances to next to none that any significant changes will occur to estate taxes in the future. I have sponsored an alternative that, for a while, was expected to be brought to the House floor. While it does not do all that I would like; it is reasonable and continues to have the chance for broad bipartisan support. While I will continue to look for ways to achieve a full repeal, I believe the next best alternative, given today's political and economic climate, is H.R. 3905, the Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009. H.R. 3905 will exempt, from the estate tax, estates worth $3.5 million in 2009, increase the exemption to $5 million by the year 2019, and index the exemption to inflation to allow it to automatically increase in the years following 2019. Enacting exemptions at these levels should prevent a majority of Kansas' small businesses from being affected by the tax. H.R. 3905 will also reduce the maximum tax rate, for estates in excess of the exemption, to 35 percent by the year 2019. While I am encouraged to see the House's willingness to address this issue, I feel Congress has missed an opportunity. I could not support H.R. 4154 because I believe it did not sufficiently address the damaging consequences of the estate tax while limiting the chances that Congress will ultimately do so. It is apparent that the House is currently unwilling to consider a full repeal. Until Congress is ready for that discussion, I will continue to work for initiatives that alleviate financial pressure from our farmers, ranchers, and small business owners.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in the House of Representatives to recognize a remarkable gift that will enhance the professional education of our country's military officers and thereby improve the safety and security of every American. In November, Mr. Ross Perot of Texas pledged $6.1 million to support two new initiatives at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. At a time when our country is demanding so much from those in uniform, this significant contribution will ensure that America's military leaders receive the best education and training to accomplish their missions around the world. Mr. Perot's contribution followed a recent visit to Fort Leavenworth. He experienced firsthand the classroom instruction that U.S. officers and their interagency and international counterparts receive at the Army's Command and General Staff College, our country's oldest and largest military staff college. He also met with students and toured the Lewis and Clark Center, an impressive new building completed in 2007 to house the college. Mr. Perot's gift will fund a new center for interagency cooperation and a new chair of ethics. As the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan make clear, cooperation between military and other agencies is an important component for our country's success. To address this need, the Col. Arthur D. Simons Center for Study of Interagency Cooperation will enhance the cooperation of interagency affairs. The second initiative to be created, the Gen. Hugh Shelton Chair in Ethics, will attract world-class academics and researchers to stress the importance of ethics and values in the military. You may notice that rather than naming these new programs after himself, Mr. Perot chose to name them after others. Col. Arthur ``Bull'' Simons led the 1970 Son Tay raid to free prisoners of war in Vietnam, as well as a 1979 mission to rescue, from a prison in Tehran, two of Mr. Perot's employees. Retired Army Gen. Hugh Shelton served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is a friend of Mr. Perot's. Mr. Perot selflessly named his initiatives after military members who have played an important role in his life and defended our country's honor. This gesture is a testament to Ross Perot's character and patriotism. I commend Mr. Perot for his generous and continued support for our Armed Forces. I also want to commend retired Colonel Bob Ulin, who, as CEO of the Command and General Staff College Foundation, was instrumental in securing this tremendous pledge and growing the foundation generally. Since its inception in 2005 as a not-for-profit to support the college, the foundation has offered many programs and activities to promote excellence, including awards for students and faculty, support for conferences and lectures, and community outreach activities. For 128 years, the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, has served as the ``intellectual heart of the Army,'' producing numerous world and military leaders. The next Marshall, Eisenhower, or Petraeus may very well be sitting in a classroom in Leavenworth, Kansas, today. We are grateful to Ross Perot, an American patriot, for his support of our men and women who protect and defend our Nation by their service in the United States military, and we are grateful for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of William Avery, former Governor and Congressman from the state of Kansas. Governor Avery passed away November 4th at the age of 98 in his home state that he served in so many ways. Prior to his passing, he was the oldest living former member of Congress. A lifelong Kansan, Governor Avery deserves to be celebrated as a fine public servant and a good man. A native of Wakefield, Kansas, he returned to the family farm after graduating from the University of Kansas. Then, Governor Avery did what many young men of his generation did. He left the family farm to serve his country in World War II as a pilot. This would be only the first act of service in what would prove to be a distinguished career serving the people of not only Kansas, but the nation. Following his service on his local school board, Governor Avery served four years in the Kansas House of Representatives. This preceded his decade long career representing Kansas in the House of Representatives. Governor Avery then added to his already impressive resume by becoming Kansas' 37th Governor serving in 1965 and '66. While he served only one, two-year term, Governor Avery made a series of indelible marks on the cultural and political landscape of Kansas. Governor Avery would see his political career come to a final close following an election loss to Bob Dole in a GOP Senatorial primary. Today, we see an increasing number of public officials who have lost touch with their constituencies. They move to Washington or their respective state capitals and become someone other than the person who was originally elected. Governor Avery was certainly not one of those men. He was simply a farmer and rancher that was entrusted with providing for the wellbeing of his state and nation. Public servants would do well to use this man as a model for their own service. A true man of the people whose heart stayed on the farm on which he was raised. Yet unselfish enough to leave to serve his state and nation when called upon to do so. A statesman and a gentleman who pursued the right ends regardless of their popularity, Governor Avery would have undoubtedly had a lifelong political career had he focused on the politically expedient choices rather than the choices that would benefit Kansas. That type of courage is, unfortunately, often a rarity in today's leadership. Yes, the family and friends of Governor Avery have lost an important part of their lives. But everyone who has ever held an elected office in this nation has lost a role model of the highest caliber. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Governor Avery during this time of mourning. His children William Avery, Jr., Brad Avery, Barbara Avery, and Sue Avery along with their families have much to be proud of. I am thankful for his service and honored to call him my fellow Kansan.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the Pelosi health care bill creates 111 new bureaucracies and it only cuts one program: Medicare. I chair the Rural Health Care Coalition. I care about health care especially as it affects rural States, rural Americans like Kansans. And I have concluded that this bill will not make health care more affordable or more accessible for rural America. The standard by which I judge this is not a Republican plan or a Democrat plan, but what is good and right for America. I've concluded that coupled with all the other bad ideas of this Congress--stimulus packages, bailouts, Cash for Clunkers, cap-and- trade--we will be leaving our children with more debt, less freedom, diminished personal responsibility, and fewer economic opportunities. Worse, we will have failed to honor the dreams for a better life for another generation of Americans. This I will not, cannot support.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, after reviewing H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, listening to the concerns of Kansans, and visiting Kansas hospitals to speak with doctors, nurses, patients, and administrators, I have concluded that this bill will be harmful to Kansas and I strongly oppose it. However, I do believe the sections relating to the creation of a market for biosimilar products is one area of the bill that strikes the appropriate balance in providing lower cost options to patients without destroying a healthy and functioning industry in this country. These provisions were one of the few areas in the bill adopted on an overwhelming bipartisan vote for the Eshoo-Inslee-Barton, EIB amendment in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Creating a pathway for new products that does not destroy the ability or the incentives for innovator companies to develop breakthrough technologies and, at the same time providing a safe and effective way to bring competition to benefit patients and encourage treatments, is a necessary objective. New biosimilars have the potential to fundamentally change the course of many diseases. We need to promote patient safety and ensure incentives to encourage the continued development of a critical weapon to fight diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer. I wish we could remove these specific provisions from H.R. 3962 and consider them separately because it would most likely pass with the kind of overwhelming bipartisan support. However, these provisions are only the first step in a long path to the marketing of these new biosimilar products. New research and clinical testing will have to occur and the FDA will implement regulations that will ensure this research is done safely and effectively. Biopharmaceuticals represent a tremendous growth opportunity for our burgeoning bioscience industry in Kansas, and we need to work to see that new biotechnology products continue to reach patients and medical professionals. As this new biosimilar market develops in the United States, we need to ensure that we foster innovative products in this country for the creation of jobs and research that will go into determining whether these products are interchangeable with the innovator's products. Testing and research on these interchangeable biosimilar products should occur in this country to ensure that it is done properly and safely and to benefit our patients and our economy.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Stupak- Pitts Amendment to H.R. 3962, Speaker Pelosi's health care reform bill. This amendment would maintain the current policy of preventing federal funding for abortion and for health benefits packages that include abortion. I feel a special obligation to protect innocent, young life. I recently sponsored H. Con. Res. 169, legislation urging members of Congress to eliminate taxpayer-funded abortions from any proposed health care reform package. Directing taxpayer dollars to fund abortions is a clear violation of many Americans' deeply held beliefs and Americans should not be forced to compromise their core moral beliefs as a means to health care reform. Additionally, on September 28, 2009, I urged Speaker Pelosi and Democratic leadership, along with 182 of my House colleagues, to allow members of the House to vote their consciences with regard to abortion and health care reform by allowing consideration of an amendment to prohibit government funding of abortion.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. This week, I had the honor of meeting 30 Kansas World War II veterans at the national World War II Memorial. These veterans, who are in their 80s and 90s, were part of Honor Flight, an organization that brings veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial dedicated in their honor. Welcoming these Honor Flight veterans is an incredible privilege and one of the most rewarding experiences of my time in Congress. As I visited with these veterans about the sacrifices they made, the friends they lost, and the love they have for their country, I was reminded about how serious my responsibility is as a Member of the United States House of Representatives to do right. It also caused me to reflect on the importance of this weekend's vote on health care reform. As Chair of the House Rural Health Care Coalition, I know how important health care is to the survival of Kansans and their home towns. The vote we will take this weekend will affect all Kansans at every age, those proud aging veterans, the senior couple counting out their medications each morning, the young family just starting out, the children playing hide and seek in the yard, and the small business owner looking over the budget report. The decision we make this weekend matters; it matters from coast to coast and across the sweeping plains of Kansas. Our State has unique health care needs, different from much of the country. We have an aging population that has spread widely across a large area. I consider these unique needs in each policy decision that I make. Changes are truly needed in our current health care system, and I have written about my ideas for reform and have shared them with folks back home and anyone up here who will listen. After studying H.R. 3962, Speaker Pelosi's health care reform bill, listening to the concerns of Kansans and visiting with Kansas hospitals to speak with doctors and nurses, patients and administrators, I have concluded that the Speaker's 2,000-page bill will do great harm to Kansans, and I strongly oppose it. The Pelosi bill is essentially the same version that the Speaker started out with months ago, except it's 1,000 pages longer. Instead of working to repair our current system, which a majority of Americans favor, the Pelosi bill will turn much of our system on its head by creating a new government-sponsored health care program financed by deficit spending and taxes. This bill levies taxes on businesses, cuts Medicare benefits to seniors, eliminates jobs with employer mandates, and enables bureaucrats to define what form of health coverage is acceptable for Americans. The bill would create 118 new boards, bureaucracies, commissions and programs to carry out its so-called ``reforms.'' I am especially troubled how $500 billion in Medicare cuts and proposed reimbursement rate changes contained in this bill will affect Kansans with our high population of seniors. Only in Washington does cutting billions of dollars from a near bankrupt Medicare program seem like a good idea. These cuts will reduce benefits and raise premiums for Kansas seniors and make it harder for us to find a doctor or nurse when we need one. We strengthen our health care system by reducing cost. The Speaker's bill does nothing to reduce cost. In fact, Medicare and Medicaid's own actuaries have warned that the plan will dramatically increase Federal health care spending. The veterans I met at the World War II Memorial fought for a country they love and that country's promise of liberty and opportunity. After the war, these men and women returned to their homes and ventured off in different directions, some rejoined families and jobs, some got married, some went to college, and some started a business. But one thing they all shared was the desire to continue fighting to make a better life for their children, a life better than the one they had for themselves. This is the desire that my mom and dad--my dad who turns 94 tomorrow--had for my sister and me, and the one that my wife, Robba, and I have for our daughters. This is what we do in America: we leave the next generation better off. I have concluded this bill will not make health care more affordable or more accessible to Kansans. I have also concluded that, coupled with all the other bad ideas of this Congress--stimulus packages, bailouts, Cash for Clunkers, cap-and-trade--we will be leaving our children with more debt, less freedom, diminished personal responsibility, and fewer economic opportunities. Worse, we will have failed to honor the dreams of those Kansas soldiers for a better life for another generation of Americans.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I appreciate the chance to be on the House floor today to speak in opposition to this bill, and I am particularly delighted to speak after the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell) has just spoken because my message to my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee and others from rural America, whether Republicans or Democrats, is this is a bad bill for rural America and for our agriculture producers and the small businesses that support agriculture in rural America. While it is a noble effort and something that I think everyone on the House floor would agree on, we need to move in the direction of greater security in regard to chemicals. Aspects of this bill, as indicated by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), really do not relate to security. They are about employee safety, workforce safety, the environment in which we work. It is about environmental rules and regulations. And in some fashion in our legislative process here, the Department of Homeland Security issues have been overcome, the positives that may be there from increasing our security, are overcome by the detrimental costs associated with environmental and labor issues. So this bill, particularly because of the IST provisions, is a bill that is detrimental. As Mr. Boswell indicated, increasing input costs-- fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides--those things matter to production agriculture today, especially today when the economic circumstances in which our farmers find themselves is so narrow, so difficult, anything that increases the cost is very damaging. Finally, the businesses that support them, they make up a huge component of rural communities across my State, across rural America and across our country, and putting those folks out of business has a significant consequence to the future of the people that I represent. So I urge my colleagues from all across rural America to oppose this legislation for the dramatic and damaging effect it will have upon the people who produce food and fiber in this country and the businesses that support that effort.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on Tuesday, November 3, and consequently missed rollcall vote No. 835 on H.R. 3949, the Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3949.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, the Goldstone Report is a dangerous document that makes no distinction between terrorism and the acts of a nation to defend its people. For years terrorists launched rockets at Israeli civilians. Israel responded with a defensive measure to clear a terrorist threat and protect the lives of its citizens. The Goldstone Report ignores Israel's right to self-defense. Despite Israel's efforts to avoid civilian casualties and its humanitarian assistance to civilians, the report unfairly accuses Israel of war crimes. Israel sought to limit its actions to military targets. Yet terrorists hid behind civilians, near hospitals, schools, and mosques. Every nation should be alarmed at the report and its implications. All nations, including Israel, have the right to defend their people. I urge my colleagues to stand with Israel in recognition of this right, this basic right, of self-defense.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I support changing and improving our health care delivery system, and there is a lot that can be done. Unfortunately, H.R. 3962, the Speaker's health care bill, does too much and too much wrong. This nearly 2,000-page bill will create 111 new government boards, bureaucracies, and commissions. Additionally, the bill uses the word ``shall,'' which is the government's way of saying people must do something, a whopping 3,425 times. Instead of turning our entire health care system on its head and increasing government, we need to implement reforms that eliminate unnecessary costs in our system. Further, history shows that a government-run health care plan will be way more expensive than what is estimated today. The experience with health care entitlement programs is that they end up costing so much more than ever thought. In 1967, experts predicted that the then- new Medicare program would cost $12 billion in 1990. Actual Medicare spending in 1990 was $110 billion. Instead of growing government, increasing bureaucracy, and creating more requirements, we must invest in wellness and prevention and promote cost savings and personal responsibility. All of that will improve opportunities for Americans.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, as I travel across Kansas, one common theme I hear from folks is their frustration with the amount of spending taking place in Washington. Rightfully so, millions of Americans are standing up to their elected officials and saying ``enough is enough.'' Our national debt is closing in on $12 trillion, almost $39,000 owed by each man, woman, and child in the United States. I applaud the millions of Americans who have chosen to exercise their constitutional right to free speech and have taken part in the TEA party protests. I am a sponsor of House Resolution 870, which expresses the appreciation of the House of Representatives for those who participated in the Taxpayer March on September 12, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Congress has been issuing checks that our Nation can no longer afford, and I applaud the participants for sending a clear message: It's time for Washington to change its ways. Less spending, less borrowing, and less government.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Besides skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer occurring among American women. In 2009, it is estimated that around 179,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. And, an estimated 1 million new breast cancer cases will be identified in the coming year. For approximately 500,000 patients this year, this disease will be fatal. The time to address this problem is now. I encourage all women to get a mammogram because early detection is the key to beating this disease. A time commitment of only one hour can save your life. I am a proud sponsor of H.R. 1691, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2009. This bill would prohibit a health care provider from limiting hospital stays for mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery to less than 48 hours. However, this measure protects and defers to the physician-patient relationship by not mandating a certain hospital stay if both the patient and her doctor agree that such stay is unnecessary. Many breast cancer patients undergo some type of surgical treatment, which may involve lumpectomy or mastectomy. Breast cancer surgery is not easy, physically or emotionally. When women find themselves forced by their insurance companies to leave the hospital before they are ready-- sometimes just hours after surgery--it can lead to serious complications. I am also a sponsor of H.R. 1740, the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act (the EARLY Act), which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a national educational campaign to increase awareness of the threats posed by breast cancer in young women of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Regarding research funding, I sponsored legislation that raises money for breast cancer research by giving Americans the option of purchasing a special postage stamp for 14 cents above the normal price. This small amount of money adds up and makes a difference. Since 1997, the program has raised more than $53 million for breast cancer research. Last year, I met two breast cancer survivors from the Kansas City area who were visiting Washington, D.C. for a reception honoring their advocacy efforts. Kim Carlos and Jennifer Johnson coauthored Nordie's at Noon, a book detailing their personal stories and those of others who have battled breast cancer. Their powerful message highlights the importance of spreading breast cancer education and early detection awareness to help save lives. The University of Kansas Cancer Center houses the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center, and focuses a comprehensive attack on the disease--from education and early detection to treatment, post- operative care, and emotion support. Battling breast cancer and other forms of cancer is a lifetime fight and just because a patient's treatment concludes does not mean that the care is finished. The Center's mission is very straightforward--eliminate the burden of cancer through world-class research, drug development and delivery, prevention and survivorship, and patient care. When it comes to fighting cancer, the University of Kansas says ``Game On!''

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to again call attention to the group Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN. As Congress proceeds later this week with appropriations, we must be mindful of the risk of allowing this group's funding to be restored. ACORN's funding was stripped last month, thanks to quick action on the part of some of my colleagues here in the House. However, if we do not ensure that that funding is permanently eliminated, ACORN could again resume their questionable activities, subsidized by the American taxpayer. Recently, 11 former ACORN employees were arrested for suspicion of voter registration fraud. In the past several weeks, more than five videos have been released to the media showing ACORN employees advising individuals of methods to illegally evade taxes by masking prostitution under an IRS code, among other questionable things. We have no way of knowing if these were isolated instances or basic procedure, but I've heard from many Kansans who have voiced their displeasure with ACORN. They demand that ACORN be investigated, possibly criminally, as well as completely defunded, and I agree with those Kansans. I recently wrote a letter demanding an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the enclosed letter, I cited ACORN's unresolved issues with past elections and the recently released videos as evidence to block any further funding. While ACORN has launched an internal investigation and fired offending employees, this string of events sheds light on the lack of institutional control within ACORN's management ranks. This is a perfect example of misappropriation of taxpayer dollars. The American people should not be expected to subsidize ACORN's activities. That is why I called for this investigation in the beginning of September, and that's why I again call for an investigation now, a month and a half later. Congress must look at its own procedures when it comes to allocating money with little or no accountability. Congress has been complacent with the money entrusted to us by the taxpayers. The House of Representatives owes an explanation as to why ACORN has been deemed fit to receive any Federal assistance. Congress has the opportunity to deny Federal funds to ACORN when we consider legislation later this week. It is necessary to deny those funds now and in the future until ACORN can dispel its long history of questionable practices. I cannot foresee a scenario where it would be appropriate to reinstate ACORN funding. Their previous track record, coupled with their stonewalling of legislative efforts to review them, gives me the impression that they are unwilling or, even worse, unable to play by the rules. Let's end this corruption and stop wasting the money.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, our country faces many serious challenges, but it's sometimes useful to know that good things are still happening out there in the real world, out there across our country, and mostly away from Washington, D.C. So Mr. Speaker, I recognize tonight the Hanover Public Schools for their commitment to providing quality education. Located in the community of Hanover in northern Kansas, the school serves about 175 students from the surrounding rural area. Though Hanover Public Schools are small by most standards, their accomplishments are great. The students, teachers, and administrators at Hanover Public Schools are dedicated to excellence in education. This excellence is evident by the recognitions that they have received. For the past 3 consecutive years, Hanover High School has received the Kansas Governor's Achievement Award. This award is given to the top 5 percent of schools in Kansas that meet the highest standards on Kansas assessments. Only five other schools in our State have received this award 3 years in a row. Not only has Hanover High School been recognized as one of the best schools in the State of Kansas, it has also been honored nationally. For the second year in a row, Hanover High School has been cited by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top schools in the country. Having a well-rounded education means more than what can just be learned in the classroom. Students at Hanover Public Schools have also excelled in extracurricular activities. During the 2008-2009 school year, Hanover High School became State champions not in one, but in two sporting events. Last November, the Hanover High School football team took first place at State in the eight-man division. And after placing second at last year's State tournament, this year's Hanover High School basketball team placed first in the 1A division. The team finished with a perfect record, winning all 28 games. The success of Hanover Public Schools serves as a model for other schools in our State and across the country. That success could not be possible without the strong support of the Hanover community. Small- town values and small community ties have produced generations of successful graduates. I commend the Hanover Public Schools for their success and for achieving their mission, to create a learning environment dedicated to developing lifelong learners and responsible citizens. My congratulations to the students, staff, faculty, the Board of Education, and the community. I am honored today to recognize this outstanding school in the State of Kansas.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, many Kansans ask if health care reform will allow them the choices of options that Members of Congress and other Federal employees enjoy under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. That is a good question. I sponsored legislation calling for Members of Congress who support a government-run health plan to automatically enroll in the soon-to-be- created public plan. In some of the health care bills crafted by Congress, Members of Congress have been exempt from participation. I am concerned that expansion of government-run health care will lead to rationing of care and higher taxes. If Members of Congress are so convinced the public government-run option will deliver quality, affordable care, then Members of Congress should be willing to enroll right alongside with the American people. Congress should not have a better health care plan than they are willing to provide the American people, especially since the American people are paying for both.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I came to Congress with a purpose, a purpose of working to preserve the way of life that we live in Kansas. I was born and raised in Kansas, and my home and family are still in Kansas. I never moved to Washington, D.C. because I love the sense of community and belonging that Kansas communities offer. Access to quality, affordable health care is one of those things that determine whether our communities survive and whether we have a future. This is why the current health care reform debate is so important to me, and I am extremely concerned about the direction that we are going. During his campaign, President Obama stressed transparency and accountability in the health care debate. He said, I'm going to have all the negotiations around a big table and that the negotiations will be televised on C-SPAN so that people could see who is making the arguments on behalf of their constituents and who is making the arguments on behalf of drug companies or insurance companies. But now the transparency that the President promised us is nowhere to be found, as several Democrat senators and White House staff hole themselves away to draft the health care reform bill behind closed doors. I understand the Democrats' desire to merge the two Senate committee bills, but this process concerns me because in this closed office, the future of health care for Kansans is being decided. Does this small group understand the problems that cutting Medicare reimbursement rates will pose for Kansas hospitals, doctors, nurses and other health care providers? Kansas hospitals operate on razor-thin margins because they are already dramatically underpaid by Medicare. If these rates are further reduced, as the current reform bills propose, Kansas hospitals may be forced to close and access to health care for Kansans will be reduced. Is this small group considering commonsense ideas that have been proposed by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle that would make quality coverage more affordable and more accessible for more Americans? Some of those ideas that we have talked about include placing as much emphasis on wellness as we do on illness by giving employers and insurers flexibility to reward individuals who improve their health and manage their disease; encouraging medical students to become primary care physicians and nurses and incentivizing them to care for patients in underserved communities; permitting the sale of insurance across State lines, establishing high risk pools and reinsurance pools to address preexisting conditions and providing incentives to low-income families to retain or purchase private health insurance that best meets their needs; reforming our medical liability system to reduce frivolous lawsuits that lead to inflated insurance premiums and the practice of defensive medicine; encouraging health care savings by offering individuals health savings accounts that enable families to take ownership of their health; and upgrading our outdated health records system through the use of new technology to streamline costs and reduce medical errors. It is my hope that these issues are being addressed as the President and Democrat leaders craft the health care reform bill. I have traveled across my State, and I have heard many Kansans who have worries. They are concerned about their health care and about the future of their State and country. Kansans and all Americans deserve to know what their Representatives are voting on, and they deserve the assurance their business will be conducted in a deliberate and open way. The President has expressed a desire to explore a wide range of options for health care reform. Kansans want commonsense reforms that enhance our current system and reduce health care costs. What we do not want is the trillions in new deficit spending, reduced choices for patients and doctors, and increased power in Washington D.C. Health care reform must address the underlying reasons that health care costs keep increasing. We lower costs through reforms that eliminate the unnecessary overspending in our current system, not by shifting the costs of health care to taxpayers and mortgaging our children's future with exploding budget deficits.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the forgotten U.S. taxpayer. On Wednesday, Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing TARP, said that recouping the billions of dollars given to the insurer AIG and automakers GM and Chrysler ``is far from certain.'' He also noted that $50 billion set aside to help struggling homeowners lower their mortgage payments will yield ``no direct return.'' Also on Wednesday, the former chief of the Obama administration's task force on the auto industry, Steven Rattner, commented on the $20 billion previously lent to GM, ``I don't think we are going to see it again,'' meaning that all the money is gone. What is wrong with this picture? $50 billion here, $20 billion there. What am I missing? How can we spend, spend, spend without any accountability? I am concerned as I travel across Kansas, my great State, that I hear countless Kansans express doubts that Congress and bureaucrats would make wise decisions with their tax dollars. They were right. With some of these unwise investment decisions that I mentioned today, I think a dose of Kansas commonsense is desperately needed in Washington, DC.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, throughout my tenure in Congress, I have worked to raise awareness about the devastating impact of domestic violence. I rise again this evening to recognize the month of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Each year I visit the House floor to speak about this topic, I hope that there will be some signs of progress in the fight against domestic violence, but sadly, Americans still suffer from its effects. As I have reminded my colleagues, often we assume that acts of domestic violence don't occur in our own communities or to people we know or families that live down the street. Last year, I shared the story of a young woman from my hometown in Kansas named Jana Mackey, and today I would like to provide you with an update of her story. Jana was born July 20, 1982, in Harper, Kansas. She was an active member of 4-H, an athlete, and a talented musician. Upon graduation from high school, she completed a bachelor's degree, where she discovered her passion--advocating for others. Jana went on to pursue a law degree from the University of Kansas and fought for equality and social justice through her work with countless organizations, including volunteer work at Lawrence, Kansas' GaDuGi SafeCenter, a shelter that aids victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. But on July 3, 2008, Jana's own life was ended by an act of domestic violence. Since her death, Jana's parents, Curt and Christie Brungardt, started the Eleven Hundred Torches campaign to inspire others to continue Jana's admirable work. The goal was to encourage 1,100 people to carry on Jana's torch through civic engagement and volunteerism. As of this month, I am happy to report the campaign logged its 1,100th volunteer, but Jana's work still remains unfinished. Jana's story proves that no State, community or family is immune from domestic violence. Domestic violence does not discriminate based upon gender, race, age, education or social status, and its plague wreaks havoc on our day-to-day lives within our communities and our overflowing criminal justice system. Every year, there are more than 4 million new incidents of domestic violence reported in the United States, with many more unaccounted for due to fear and intimidation. Of those 4 million reported cases, nearly 100,000 Kansans fall victim to domestic violence each year. While we make gains in raising awareness about domestic violence and providing assistance to affected victims, there is still much work to be done. Whether we are part of a business providing a service, such as refurbishing cell phones for women in domestic emergencies, or volunteers donating time to local domestic violence centers, we all can do more to end domestic violence. I encourage my House colleagues to seek out a center, a shelter, or an organization in their district or State and to further engage on this issue. This October, let us remember the victims of domestic violence and learn from their courage as we do our best to ensure that our communities are a safe place to live, work, and raise families. I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Madam Speaker, I ask for continued support and assistance for domestic violence prevention programs.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, like many parts of the country, the Kansas housing market has struggled along with our Nation's economy. One important tool that has strengthened the housing market and has limited the economic decline has been the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. However, unless Congress takes immediate action, this valuable credit will expire on November 30. I come here with a message for my colleagues and the leaders of the House of Representatives: Congress must act quickly to renew the first- time homebuyer tax credit. A Realtor from Manhattan, Kansas, wrote me about the importance of the homebuyer tax credit. She noted that the credit had been extremely helpful to the Kansas economy. She says: During these challenging economic times, the first-time homebuyer tax credit has injected new life into the housing market and has helped stimulate many local economies through the stabilization of housing prices. However, our housing market remains fragile, and more progress is needed to further stabilize our communities. The homebuyer tax credit works. Since its enactment in February, the IRS has reported more than 1.4 million taxpayers have claimed the homebuyer credit. This incentive will lead 400,000 prospective first-time homebuyers to purchase homes who probably would not have without the help of the tax credit. Moreover, it's estimated that each sale generates $63,000 in additional goods and services that benefit the economy. There are tax savings for taxpayers which generate more revenue than the aggregate amount of the original tax cut. Along with falling home prices, the homebuyer credit has helped put the housing market on the track to recovery. While market conditions have improved, as the Realtor says, the market remains fragile. The housing tax credit needs to be extended to make sure that the economic gains that have been made are not lost. In order to build on that economic progress, the tax credit should be expanded. I've introduced H.R. 2905, the Homebuyer Tax Credit Expansion Act of 2009, which would extend the $8,000 tax credit beyond its November 30 expiration. In addition, this legislation would expand the tax credit to all homebuyers, not just to first-time buyers. I've asked the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee to bring this bill or similar legislation to the floor for a vote. At the very least, Congress should pass a 1-year extension of the credit before it expires. It can take several months to go from contract to closing, and the tax credit will soon become unavailable for many buyers well before the November 30 expiration date. An extension must be passed soon if homebuyers are going to continue to take advantage of the tax credit. Homeownership and the knowledge that one has equity in one's home can significantly improve our economy. We should not allow this important tax credit to expire. Congress must act quickly now to renew the first- time homebuyer tax credit.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, it is none too soon that the House is considering what I hope will be the first of several pieces of legislation to sanction Iran for its illegal nuclear program. Despite Iran's agreement on October 1 to allow IAEA inspectors to visit its newly disclosed nuclear site near Qom, the regime continues to enrich uranium. Iran grows more and more dangerous each day enrichment is allowed to continue. A nuclear-armed Iran is an existential threat to Israel; would threaten the safety of American troops in the region; would likely embolden terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah; and could lead to a dangerous nuclear arms race in the Middle East. We must not allow this to happen. I strongly support the legislation before us today. H.R. 1327, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, would allow state and local governments to divest the assets of their pension funds and any other funds under their control from companies investing $20 million or more in Iran's energy sector. By allowing states and local governments to withdraw their investments in companies doing business in Iran, we can increase pressure on the Iranian regime to change course and abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Only when Iran feels pressured, is it likely to make concessions. Unfortunately, the leaders of Iran seem to feel fairly secure despite all the talk of tough sanctions. On Friday, October 9, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, said the October 1 talks between Iran, the U.S. and other world powers were a ``great victory'' for Iran, suggesting Iran had been successful in putting off any sanctions. By passing this legislation today, though, Congress can send Iran a clear and powerful message. While the President and other world leaders gauge whether Iran is truly serious about complying with its obligations, Congress will back the negotiations with sanctions to show Iran that it must act in good faith and not delay as it usually does. Passage of this legislation is important, but it is only the beginning of what needs to be done to address the Iranian nuclear threat. Congress must pass additional legislation, including H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, to put sufficient pressure on Iran to fully suspend all enrichment and work on its nuclear program. No government that calls for the complete destruction of another should be allowed to have nuclear weapons. The Iran Sanctions Enabling Act is a first step to take in order to prevent Iran's leaders from acquiring the means to do what they say they will.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) for bringing this legislation to the House floor today. I'm here in support of it. In particular, I am pleased with a provision that's included in this bill that authorizes a new community-based outpatient clinic, or CBOC, to be located in Johnson County, Kansas. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and former chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, I have been an advocate for establishing a CBOC in our State. These VA clinics bring health care services closer to veterans who have served our country. During my time in Congress, I have helped open five other outpatient clinics in our State: Hays, Dodge City, Salina, Junction City, and Hutchinson. Especially in my own congressional district where there is no VA hospital, these health facilities have proven to be invaluable. These clinics are a successful part of a larger success story of our country's efforts to raise the standards of care for veterans. Veterans in Johnson County, Kansas, deserve timely access to medical care, and I've been working to make sure that the VA recognizes this. Johnson County is our State's most populated county, so it's unusual in a sense for me to be here talking about them, but located in the suburbs of Kansas City, this area is home to hundreds of thousands of veterans. The VA patient workload in future years for this region is expected to increase significantly. And unless the capacity is created to care for these veterans, timely access will be threatened. With the passage of this legislation, I'm pleased the VA can move forward on this clinic to provide quality medical care for northeast Kansans who've sacrificed in service to our country. The new outpatient clinic will mean closer medical services and less wait times for a large number of Kansas veterans who currently travel across the State line to Missouri for health care. With over 44,000 square feet authorized, this sizable clinic will provide comprehensive outpatient services, including mental health as well as radiology, laboratory services, and a pharmacy. I want to thank the VISN in Kansas City and KC VA Medical Center for their foresight on this project and for their efforts to see that it's completed by the year 2012. I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for his efforts, and I encourage my colleagues in this House to support this legislation.