Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As we all know, our Nation owes its very existence to the brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. The freedoms and liberties that we cherish today were attained and protected through their sacrifice. These patriotic citizens have earned and should be provided the highest quality health care available. I want to thank the leaders of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, as well as Subcommittee on Health Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller for their bipartisan efforts in developing the bill before us today. I also want to thank Mr. Hodes for introducing this legislation to establish an Office of Ombudsman within Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2007, following the disclosure of problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the President established a Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes and a Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors. My predecessor in Congress, Senator Dole, co-chaired this commission. The recommendations of this commission compelled the VA to initiative a variety of measures to better assist veteran patients and their families. Such initiatives included appointing patient counselor advocates at each VA medical center, providing coordinators for returning OEF and OIF veterans, providing transition patient advocates and establishing the Joint Federal Recovery Coordinator program to assist seriously wounded servicemembers. H.R. 2192, as amended, would establish a centralized office to monitor the performance of these employees and provide veterans with a single point of contact for assistance with problems that cannot be resolved at the local level. The office would also track patient issues and complaints throughout the system and provide recommendations for improvements in policies, practices and procedures. I support H.R. 2192, as amended, to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality health care available, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6532. I come from a State located in the middle of the country. Transportation to and from one's home to their work, transportation from the State of Kansas in moving manufactured and agricultural commodities to the rest of the world, we depend upon infrastructure. Our highways are important to us if we are going to continue to compete in a global economy. In the absence of this legislation, the State of Kansas would receive $120 million less, a shortfall which would mean that there is 90 less State and local projects at an estimated loss of 8,250 jobs. Kansas receives about $370 million from the Federal highway trust fund. That would be reduced to $247 million. This is an important piece of legislation that continues to drive the Kansas economy and makes us competitive in a global economy. It is time for us to fix the system now in this short-term manner, but it is also important for Congress to reach a conclusion on how we fund highway and other transportation needs into the future.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Special Olympics for 40 years of extraordinary service to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Beyond giving 2.5 million athletes a chance to compete, it gives their families a way to involve their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. A chance for them to cheer. A chance to coach. A chance to connect in a special way. A chance to see their family member be accepted and respected in their communities. Originally an initiative of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the first Special Olympic Games were held on July 20, 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Participation in Special Olympics develops improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self confidence and a more positive self image. Through competitions like power lifting, cycling, track and field, aquatics, tennis and gymnastics, athletes exhibit endless courage and enthusiasm and enjoy the rewards of friendship. Last month I had the great privilege of addressing the athletes, fans, and families during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Kansas 2008 Summer Games in Wichita. This year's Summer Games theme was ``Be a Fan of Courage.'' This theme reflects the sentiments of the athlete oath, ``Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.'' These words were uttered by gladiators in ancient Rome, and are equally appropriate for modern-day gladiators overcoming their own adversities. After 40 years, there are now millions of stories of courage in the Special Olympics, but one athlete who has taken the oath and that embodies this year's theme is LP Esquibel from Dodge City, Kansas. He is more than a fan of courage. He is courageous and because of his courage he was awarded the Most Inspirational Athlete award at the Summer Games this year. Cerebral palsy kept him from walking until he was 5 years old, but it has not kept him from becoming a 13-year veteran of the Special Olympics. It also has not kept a smile from his face. From all accounts, LP is more than a great athlete in his events of basketball, shot put, and the 100-yard walk, he is an encouragement to his fellow teammates and helps them on the court. It is stories like LP's that has sold me on the power and benefits of the Special Olympics. Since 2007, I have served as the Honorary Chairman for the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Torch Run covers hundreds of miles throughout the State and raises thousands of dollars in support of Special Olympics Kansas programs. This year-round fundraiser and awareness initiative was implemented by Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon in 1981. It became an international event three years later in 1984 when Chief LaMunyon presented it to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is now the largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics around the world. It was an honor to help raise money this past summer to help send Kansas athletes to compete in China at the World Olympics. I enjoyed meeting them and hearing of their success. Special Olympics does remarkable work, both in the State of Kansas and across the globe. I would like to commend the leaders and volunteers of Special Olympics for 40 years of outstanding service and wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I voted in favor of H.R. 6331 and will vote to override the President's veto today. This is a very important piece of legislation for those of us who care strongly about our communities and their survival. And in rural America the delivery of health care is in jeopardy. The pharmaceutical aspect of this bill is one that perhaps has been understated. But those of us who care about the community pharmacists believe that the direction that this bill provides in requiring a timely payment through prompt payments under part D and the elimination for 1 year of the average manufacturers' price, which will undercut the ability of pharmacists to deliver prescription drugs under Medicaid, and the elimination of bidding for durable medical equipment is awfully important. Much of the focus is upon the elimination of the 10 percent reduction in reimbursement to our physicians for Medicare. And I want to quote from one of my physicians back home in Kansas in a letter to me dated July 7. ``It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to inform you of my intent to leave my Family Medicine practice in Kansas. I have reached the point where I am no longer willing to expose myself or my family to the risk of having to rely upon an increasingly unreliable (and poor) source of income; specifically Medicare. I do not have the margin to absorb others' incompetence or our government's capricious reimbursement. I am no longer willing to be a pawn in the ideological chess match in Washington and therefore as of today I will no longer accept Medicare patients. ``I am at a point in my career where I must consider my family as well as my retirement. We once again have been threatened with an across-the-board 10 percent cut. Congress and the Medicare system are taking advantage of good-intentioned physicians who are more interested in caring for patients and upholding and honoring the Hippocratic Oath than lining their pockets. I feel a sense of guilt, as though I am betraying my Medicare patients. I have realized, however, that it is not I that has betrayed the elderly, rather Congress.'' I think it's important for us to move forward with this legislation. It's a matter of survival for the delivery of health care to many seniors, particularly those who come from places like I do where the population is Medicare dependent. And I appreciate the gentleman from Louisiana giving me the opportunity to express my position and to indicate once again that I will override President Bush's veto.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, it is easy to be in Washington, DC, making bold predictions and promises and then ignore the realities right in front of our noses. Congress' failure to meet the July 1 deadline to prevent the scheduled fee reductions for Medicare providers is shameful and our failure to act has real consequences. Seventeen percent of the people I represent are on Medicare, roughly 114,000 people. Many of these citizens live in communities where there are few doctors and few health care options. If the available doctors stop seeing Medicare patients, the health care access for all Kansans will be severely damaged. We must prevent the scheduled physician fee reductions from going into effect, and I encourage the Senate to take up necessary legislation now. Just this week, I received a letter from a family physician back home. He, of course, expressed his frustration with our current Medicare system. Here are his words: ``It is with mixed emotion that I am writing to inform you of my intent to leave my family medicine practice. I have reached the point where I am no longer willing to expose myself or my family to the risk of having to rely upon an increasingly unreliable and poor source of income, Medicare. As a small business with 12 employees, I don't have the margin to absorb others' incompetence or our government's capricious reimbursement. I am not willing to be a pawn in an ideological chess match in Washington, and therefore as of today I will no longer accept Medicare patients. ``I am considering a position in an economically booming region in another State that is nearly 95 percent private pay. What physician worth their salt will continue in a system that undervalues the work they do for a patient population that is the most complex and the most time demanding? ``Congress and the Medicare system are taking advantage of good- intentioned physicians who are more interested in caring for patients and upholding and honoring the Hippocratic Oath than lining their pockets. Even now, writing this letter to you, I feel a sense of guilt as though I am betraying my Medicare patients. I have realized, however, that it is not I that have betrayed the elderly, rather Congress.'' When doctors close their practices, it creates a gap that is almost impossible for us in rural communities to fill. Congress must understand that we have a responsibility in making physicians want to continue to practice medicine, to not give them the reason to walk out their clinic or hospital doors and never look back. Congress needs to look closely at our role in these trends and make sure we are not encouraging this situation by playing politics with people's health care and their lives. I hope that the Senate will pass legislation this week that can keep our vital health care system in place and protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Goodlatte for yielding me time to speak in support of a bill that has been developed in part by the House Agriculture Committee. I am glad to see that this issue, the issue of speculation in the futures industry, is being handled by the committee of jurisdiction, the Committee on Agriculture. I think it is important for us to continue our long-standing effort at oversight at CFTC and the futures industry that the Agriculture Committee has had now for many years. This is an important issue. In fact, I don't think there is a more important issue that this Congress will face except for energy prices. It is a significant conversation, as we all know, and with dramatic consequences upon our constituents. An e-mail from one of my constituents in Olpe, Kansas, ``What will it take to get beyond partisan politics and the blame game? Society expects children to get along, work together, but they have lousy role models when it comes to government. Many of us are losing hope of Congress ever getting beyond bickering--and in the meantime, our country's problems get worse and worse. It seems that most of our government officials are insulated from the reality that face middle and lower-income families day after day,'' talking about the cost of energy, the prices that Americans are encountering at the pump. What concerns me, despite my support for this and a belief that CFTC ought to have every tool to discover manipulation, ought to have every tool to discover whatever ``excessive speculation'' means, and we ought to make certain that their enforcement capabilities are strong and beneficial on behalf of the consumer in this country, what concerns me most is that this issue has become the opportunity to do nothing on the underlying cause of why oil and gas prices are so high. And that is increasing demands at a time when we are doing little to increase supply. And this Congress, we pass legislation dealing with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, requiring that our government no longer fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Whether or not that's a good idea or bad idea, I think all of us would admit it's not going to solve our energy problem. We debated and passed legislation dealing with antitrust and OPEC, and whether that's a good idea or a bad idea, all of us would agree it's not going to solve the problem with the price of energy and the cost at the pump. And today we're on the House floor talking about speculation. I agree with the gentleman from Virginia. It is time for this Congress to get to this underlying issue that we face in this country: increasing demand for energy and a lack of increase in the supply. The laws of supply and demand work. As much as we Members of Congress might want to pass a law to overcome supply and demand, it cannot be done. And so this Congress needs to adequately express the laws of supply and demand that this country needs.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, pharmacies play a critical role in delivering health care in America. Local pharmacists are the first line of defense in recognizing health problems and providing medical advice. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more difficult to find and retain pharmacists who will practice in rural areas. With the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, this problem only becomes worse. It is estimated that over the next 20 years, there will be a shortage of 150,000 or more pharmacists nationwide. We are already experiencing this problem in Kansas. Seven counties in our State do not even have one single pharmacist; and 30 other counties have only one pharmacist in the county. During my time in Congress, I have advocated for community pharmacies, and I currently co-chair the Congressional Community Pharmacy Caucus. I was pleased that this week the House chose to address several important issues related to the issue of pharmacists in H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Provider Act. This legislation includes provisions that community pharmacists from across my State have been tirelessly advocating for and that are important to keeping them in business. The Congressional Community Pharmacy Caucus worked hard to get these necessary fixes included in this legislation, and I am gratified that they were included in H.R. 6331. These provisions are included in bills that I have sponsored, and they include prompt pay. The bill requires pharmacies to be reimbursed within 14 days if clean claims are submitted electronically and 30 days if submitted in other ways. The AMP delay, this is the average manufacturer's price, the bill delays the implementation of the provisions creating the average manufactured price that was developed by CMS and which in my opinion is a terribly flawed system. The bill delays the implementation of the AMP system until after September 30, 2009. Finally, the bill suspends the competitive bidding requirements in the durable medical equipment program for 1 year as well, as well as exempting diabetes test supplies from being subjected to the competitive bidding process. It is important to the health of Americans and certainly to the health of rural Kansans that the Senate promptly adopt this legislation. Also this week, it was my pleasure to participate in a ceremonial signing of the Kansas legislation that will allocate $20 million in funding to help the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy increase the school's ability to conduct more pharmaceutical research and expand the size of the entering class at the school. Under this proposal, nearly 200 students would be able to enter the program through a satellite campus in Wichita in a new building being built on the main campus in Lawrence. The University of Kansas has a strong reputation for retaining graduates within our State. Sixty-three percent of KU pharmacy graduates live and work in Kansas. Increasing the educational capacity will give students an opportunity to learn, and will help address pharmaceutical shortages in our State. I would like to commend the leadership of the university, especially the dean of the School of Pharmacy, Ken Andus; Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Atkinson; Provost Richard Lavalare; and Chancellor Robert Hemenway. I would also like to thank the legislature of our State for seeing the importance of this expansion. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to commend the investment in this worthwhile project, and I ask that Congress continue to do its part to see that pharmacies remain an important component of delivering health care across America.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments and career of Mr. Basil C. Marhofer, a good friend from my home State of Kansas. Mr. Marhofer will be retiring Monday, June 30, from a successful career as a distinguished lawyer and public servant. Mr. Marhofer's contribution of service has spanned over six decades. After graduating from Ness City High School in Ness City, Kansas, in 1942, Mr. Marhofer served his nation in the European theater in the Second WorId War. After returning from Europe, Mr. Marhofer enrolled in the University of Kansas Law School and graduated in 1951. He opened his first law office that same year in Ness City. Soon afterwards, Mr. Marhofer was appointed Ness County Attorney, a position that he held until 1959. After spending a short time in Boulder, Colorado, at the University of Colorado Law School, Mr. Marhofer returned to Ness City and to his position as county attorney, where he remained until 1968. In 1971, Mr. Marhofer was elected Mayor of Ness City where he served for 8 years. Mr. Marhofer has been actively involved in his community, including the local Masonic Lodge and Rotary International. He has held many offices in Rotary International, including District governor and director. In 1988, Mr. Marhofer was elected vice president and represented Rotary International on five continents. Mr. Marhofer has spent his life serving his community, State, and country. I am proud to know him and to have this opportunity to recognize him. To him, serving his community is not a burden--it is a calling and a way of life. Whenever I have the opportunity to visit Ness City, Mr. Marhofer is always there, greeting me with the utmost hospitality. He is a just scholar of law and an honest public servant who sets an example for us all. I wish him the best as he enters retirement.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for yielding me time today, and I rise in support of H.R. 3195. In my world, in the way I look at life, all human beings, because we're created by the same God, are entitled to respect and dignity. In our framework in our country, our Constitution provides that we are entitled to certain rights. One of those, as I see it, is the right to an opportunity to succeed. So I'm pleased that our country, in 1990, this Congress and the Senate came together with the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. And I'm pleased today that we are here to restore certain of those rights that were believed to be there under the ADA passed in 1990. What this law will do is to require the courts to interpret this law in a fair manner. We know that all of us are entitled to an opportunity to succeed. And I think all of us, as we look at our lives, look just for the chance to be judged based upon our own performance. We don't want special rights. We all just want to be gauged by people who judge us by what we do and how we do it and how well we do it. And so the original law and the Restoration Act today, as I see it, establishes that premise that we're all entitled to be judged based upon how we perform our tasks. I support this legislation and am pleased by what I've heard on the floor this afternoon by the way it came about. And I appreciate being here to hear the gentleman from Maryland, the distinguished majority leader, speak about his sponsorship and authorship of the Americans with Disabilities Act. One of my predecessors, Bob Dole, served in that similar capacity. I'd like to quote my predecessor when he spoke about the ADA and indicate that I believe that what he said then should be the words of today as well: ``This historic civil rights legislation seeks to end the unjustified segregation and exclusion of persons with disabilities from the mainstream of American life. The ADA is fair and balanced legislation that carefully blends the rights of people with disabilities with the legitimate needs of the American business community.'' Madam Speaker, I believe that's what the legislation before us does today, and again confirms the right that we all have to be judged based upon our ability to perform.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, as my colleague from Washington indicated, the Government Accountability Office this afternoon confirmed what many of us thought to be true--the Air Force's process in selecting a contractor to build a new air refueling tanker was badly flawed. The GAO upheld Boeing's protest, concluding that the Air Force ``made a number of significant errors.'' The GAO recommends this contract be re-bid. This contract was awarded several months ago, and every conversation I have had with Air Force officials raised more questions than were answered. I agree with this independent finding. The Air Force should follow the GAO's recommendation and reopen the bidding. Awarding this contract to Boeing would create thousands of American jobs. But the bigger question is should we even allow a foreign- subsidized company to bid for U.S. military work? While the GAO rejected the Air Force's process, Congress also needs to address the broader issue of keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States. I urge the Air Force and Congress to work to make the right choice for American jobs, American taxpayers and the American military men and women.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to congratulate and to pay tribute to the Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in my home State in Wichita, Kansas, for 75 years providing outstanding services and care to our Nation's heroes, our veterans. Caring for those who have borne the battle is our Nation's utmost responsibility. And for 75 years, the Dole VA Hospital has helped our Nation honor this commitment. Let us take time today to pay tribute to the work of the Dole VA leadership staff and volunteers and the Kansas veterans they serve each day. Veterans are the people I hold in highest regard only to be exceeded by those individuals who serve those veterans. Under the skillful leadership of the VA Network 15 Director Dr. Peter Almenoff and hospital director Tom Sanders, the Dole VA Hospital has worked to fulfill its mission: ``To improve the health and wellbeing of veterans we are honored to serve.'' In fact, the Dole VA has received national acclaim in its service to veterans. On a recent rating of VA hospitals for quality of veterans' care, the Dole VA hospital ranked third in the Nation. Our country is fortunate to have these individuals who made the commitment to serve these veterans. What we do in Washington, D.C., pales in comparison to what these individuals do each and every day for our veterans. On November 16, 1933, the first patient, a veteran of the Spanish- American War, was admitted to the hospital. At that time, there were 150 beds. By the end of 1933, all beds had been filled. In 2008 over 2,000 admissions were recorded at the hospital. The Center now provides a full range of primary, acute and extended care services to veterans from 59 counties in Kansas. Many of these counties make up the First Congressional District that I represent. And despite covering more than 57,000 square miles, the First District is without a VA hospital of its own. Veterans in central and western Kansas rely on the care and services provided by the Dole VA. We are blessed to have such an outstanding facility in Kansas available to those who have given so much on our behalf. Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in the 75th anniversary jubilee in Wichita attended by the hospital's namesake, former United States Senator Bob Dole, a member of the country's greatest generation and an unending advocate for veterans. Also attending the celebration was the Veterans Department Secretary James Peake, Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt, and Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer. We listened to Dole speak of his own military service and recovery from wounds he received in World War II in a VA hospital, as well as his leadership in building the World War II Memorial, as co-chair of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors. With his legacy of service and sacrifice to our country and its veterans, Senator Dole is an appropriate namesake and inspiration for the hard work and dedication of the leadership, staff and volunteers at the Dole VA. Again, I wish to congratulate the Dole VA Medical Center for 75 years of care to our country's veterans. On behalf of veterans in Kansas, I thank them for their service.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, every year I conduct town hall meetings in each of the 69 counties that comprise the First District of Kansas. I want to hear what's on the minds of my constituents and receive my marching orders that I bring back to Washington, D.C. And so now for the 12th year, I've made the rounds, some 5,000 miles with 69 town hall meetings, and I'm here on the floor tonight to visit one of those issues that has certainly been raised by Kansas voices, and I want to make certain that those voices are heard and that the commonsense that my constituents have is part of the debate on the issues that we face here in the Nation's capital. While the issues that Kansans talk to me about every year--they change I guess from year to year a bit--one thing remains the same. Folks want to see good things happen in their own communities, and they want to see good things happen in their country. This year, the issue I heard the most about was the high cost of energy. I heard from Kansans who can't take much more pain at the pump. Right now, prices which are expected only to increase are too high for Kansans, and it's past time in their opinion, and mine as well, for Congress to pay attention. Farmers, truckers, manufacturers, teachers, seniors, all shared with me that something needs to change or they just can't make it. This is what I heard all across our State. Kansans are trying to get by, and their employers are struggling to keep them employed. And it's not just about economics. It's about our foreign policy. We can look at the nightly news and see that our own foreign policy is distorted because of national security issues that are presented by the fact that we're at the mercy of oil-rich countries, many of them who despise us. Kansans understand that technology changes with time and so should environmental and energy policies. Exploring and drilling can be done with limited environmental impact. China, with Cuba's permission, is tapping our natural resources, our natural gas fields, right off our own coasts, where our companies are banned. They are banned even with advanced technologies and a strong commitment to see that there is no ecological disaster. While I support increasing the domestic supply of oil and gas, I know it's not the only answer. We need to meet our country's energy needs in a diverse way. It's capturing the power of the sun. It's harnessing the wind that blows across my State of Kansas. It's using heat from within the Earth to generate electricity. All of these and many more energy sources are completely renewable. Renewable energy can create jobs at home and help our economy, improve our environment, and reduce our dependence upon foreign oil. Energy conservation can also help. Too many of us have gotten away from the things that we always knew. Growing up, it was considered a sin in my family to leave the lights on when you weren't in the room. We need to get back to that mentality of being responsible with our energy use. Across Kansas, folks are recognizing the benefits of conservation. Farmers are transitioning to no-till practices, which reduce the number of times the tractor passes through the field. Commuters are carpooling. Every gallon that we conserve, every degree we don't heat or cool, every empty room that doesn't have a light on, helps us reduce the demand. I'm taking steps in my own congressional office to reduce energy use. Tonight, I'm on the floor delivering a message from Kansans, like Brian and Laura Velasquez from the small town of Reading, Kansas, on the east side of my district: ``Dear Representative Moran, we are a middle class Kansas family. It has become more difficult the past few years for us to make ends meet in spite of increased income. Since our lifestyle has not changed, the main explanation has to be the fallout from the cost of fuel. We are not the only ones in this predicament. The U.S. is at the mercy of too many oil-rich nations that are not concerned about our welfare. This needs to change now.'' I agree with my constituents. It's clear that Americans want Congress to develop policies that increase the supply of energy, and they want Congress to encourage the development of new fuel sources. Until the supply of energy, renewable or fossil fuels, increases, prices will only continue to rise. We must work together, not just with words but in action to promote energy conservation, develop domestic production of oil and natural gas, and aggressively pursue alternative fuels. Let all Americans know we hear their concerns and we will act.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Under this Senate provision, the Governor of each State would be allowed to make this exemption if he or she determines that it is needed for a certain military installation within that State. This Senate provision is patterned after USDA's WIC nutrition programs for women, children and infants, and provides State agencies a similar option for WIC eligibility. Unfortunately, the House majority's refusal to include this provision has stalled this important tax legislation from moving forward. The men and women serving our Nation are waiting for us to act, and I hope that the changes made by the Senate, which narrow the scope of the provision, will address many of the majority's concerns and a compromise can be reached. Until then, military families who are applying to live in affordable housing continue to encounter this discrimination. While I will vote for H.R. 6081, our military men and women deserve a better shot at affordable housing.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding me his time. I am here to commend the Ways and Mean Committee's efforts to make the Tax Code more equitable to our servicemembers. However, once again, I am on the floor to express my disappointment that the bill does not include an important provision providing more affordable housing opportunities for our servicemembers and their families. This fix to the Tax Code that is missing from this legislation would prevent lower income military personnel from being discriminated against when applying for affordable housing built under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. There is a strong need for the tax bill that we are considering today, but the Senate will not approve it without this additional provision. A number of military installations across the country are experiencing housing shortages as a result of the 2005 BRAC. Fort Riley, an Army post located in the State of Kansas, is nearly doubling its size with an influx of 30,000 soldiers, family members and civilian workers. When these new soldiers live outside the fort, they receive a military housing allowance for the use in paying rent. Though the Tax Code does not treat this housing allowance as taxable income, it is considered income when determining a military family's eligibility to live in facilities financed by low-income housing tax credits. The result is that many servicemembers, particularly our enlisted ones, are considered to earn too much income and thus are disqualified from accessing this affordable housing program. However, comparative low- income civilians receiving section 8 housing vouchers are more likely to qualify for this same housing. This is because, unlike the military housing subsidy, the Tax Code exempts section 8 assistance from being considered income. Our Nation's military families deserve access to safe, decent, affordable housing, and they should be given a fair opportunity to qualify for it. Last December the Senate acted to fix this inequality, and the Senate included in their version of this legislation a provision exempting military housing allowance from income eligibility requirements when qualifying for affordable housing.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Hare for his leadership on passage of this bill and my colleagues and staff on the House Veterans Affairs Committee for their support. I joined Congressman Hare as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2790. This bill creates a full-time Director of PA Services within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This legislation is beneficial in improving patient care for our Nation's veterans, ensuring that the 1,600 PAs employed by the VA are fully utilized to provide veterans medical care. As a Member of Congress who represents one of the most rural districts in the country, I know that physician assistants are a key to providing medical care in underserved areas. Often, they are the only health care professional available. PAs help ensure those who live in our communities receive timely access to quality health care. I want to be certain that PAs are appropriately utilized by the VA to serve our veterans. Like our armed forces that have full-time directors of PA services, this legislation will establish a dedicated expert in the VA Central Office. This PA Director will work to fully integrate the profession into VA health care, ensuring PAs have a stronger voice in the VA so they can better serve our veterans and their patients.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor late this afternoon to express my concern with the United States Air Force's decision to award the $35 billion contract to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers to a foreign-led consortium of companies over a proposal put forth by American-based Boeing. As I stand here today, Americans across the country are hopefully receiving in the mail our effort to stimulate the U.S. economy, that $600 check. Why, during this time when we're trying to address the issue of our economy and create jobs, is our government outsourcing a multi-billion dollar tanker contract to a foreign company instead of creating those jobs here in America? The Air Force's selection of European Aeronautic Defence and Space will lead to about 19,000 aerospace jobs in Europe. This decision has a significant impact, of course, in my home State of Kansas. Boeing's finishing and test center for tankers would take place in Wichita. Throughout the State, local suppliers would provide support services and parts for Boeing. In Kansas alone, Boeing's proposal would create or sustain 3,800 jobs and $145 million annually, important investments that Europe now stands to gain. Not only is the Air Force's decision a blow to American jobs, it's bad for our servicemembers and bad for the American taxpayer. Now that we've had a chance to look at the Air Force's analysis, we see how badly flawed the tanker selection competition was. The result is that the Air Force chose a tanker that is higher cost, higher risk, less capable, less survivable, and less efficient. Boeing has filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office. I have listened to the explanation of the Air Force and the Department of Defense officials and I remain unconvinced that this was a fair competition. And so we now eagerly await GAO's results later this summer. In the meantime, the Air Force's decision has raised questions that Congress should address. How does this decision impact America's economic security? How does it impact our military security? What are the national security effects of outsourcing critical military work to France and other foreign countries that often oppose our country's foreign policy? Should the Department of Defense's procurement process take into account billions of WTO-disputed foreign subsidies that give foreign manufacturers heavily weighted advantage in these competitions? Air Force refueling tankers allow our military to operate around the world. In this day and age, the importance of modernizing our aging tanker fleet with the best available option cannot be overstated. In the coming weeks and months, I urge my colleagues in Congress to work to ensure that the right choice is made for Americans and America's military men and women.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, today, the House of Representatives debated the conference report on what we in Kansas call the farm bill. Here in Washington, it's now called the Food, Conservation, Energy Security Act, and I note that the word ``farm'' is now missing from the farm bill. As I indicate to Kansans, there probably is no more important piece of legislation that this Congress will consider than the 2008 farm bill from a Kansas perspective. Certainly, not every Kansan is a farmer, not every Kansan is a rancher, but agriculture is the backbone of the Kansas economy, and policies that we determine here today in the House of Representatives and tonight later in the Senate affect the Kansas economy and a way of life that we have revered in our State for generations. Agriculture is not only a business. It's not only a way of earning a living. In fact, it's a very difficult way of earning a living. It is the opportunity that we have in our State for sons and daughters to work side-by-side with moms and dads. It's the opportunity for us to pass on values from one generation to the next. And today, Madam Speaker, I worry that the legislation that we will soon be sending to the President is inadequate to meet the needs of Kansas producers and American agriculture. In the 2002 farm bill, we passed a security net, a safety net for our farmers, and it's a three-pronged approach to making certain that our farmers are secure and have an opportunity to survive in difficult times, whether those times are difficult because of low commodity prices or difficult because the weather does not cooperate. And today, Madam Speaker, we chose to reduce that security, that safety net that provides Kansans a future. I had two criteria in trying to determine whether or not the farm bill was something I should vote for. One: Is this farm bill better? Is the 2007, now 2008, farm bill better than the one that was adopted by Congress in 2002? And clearly, the answer to that is no. And the second criteria comes from listening to farmers for the last 2 and 3 years about what a new farm bill should look like. In fact, I listened to American producers from across the country. Since the passage of the last farm bill, I've chaired or been the ranking Republican, Republican leader on the subcommittee responsible for all farm programs and participated in 15 hearings across the country. And what I heard time and time again, especially from the folks back home is, whatever you do, Jerry, make certain that we don't lose the direct payment and make certain that crop insurance remains a viable option for us to protect ourselves from risk. And unfortunately, once again, those two criteria were not met today. So Madam Speaker, I pledge to my colleagues in the House of Representatives, and particularly my friends on the House Agriculture Committee, to continue to work in a very strong and bipartisan way to see if we can't improve the lives of farmers in Kansas and States across the country. I served on the conference committee that provided the report that we have had before us today, and I offered amendments and supported amendments that I think would make significant improvements in the 2008 farm bill. They were rejected on straight, party-line votes, and it's a sad day for me because I've always enjoyed my work in the Agriculture Committee because I care about farmers and ranchers, and I care about their way of life. But never has our committee been partisan, and again, I pledge myself to work with my colleagues to see if we can restore the days in which we were in this together on behalf of American agriculture. Madam Speaker, it's my belief that if we're going to spend as much money as we spend in this farm bill, which is a significant sum of money, we ought to spend it in much more wise and prudent ways than this conference report provides. We owe it to farmers across the country, and we owe it to the taxpayers of this Nation.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a man who positively influenced the future of central Kansas and in the process touched the lives of thousands of his fellow citizens. It is a privilege for me to pay tribute to the life of Mr. Dane Britton of Ellsworth, Kansas. As Kansans, we are dutifully aware of our State motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera, which translates, ``To the Stars Through Difficulties.'' Dane lived this theme with passion. In 1975, at only 23 years of age, Dane was named Police Officer of the Year for Houston, Texas. Five years later, Dane returned home to Ellsworth to serve as president and chief executive officer of Citizens State Bank--representing the third generation of his family's leadership at the bank. At the same time, Dane stepped forward as a civic leader in his hometown. He was instrumental in securing construction and expansion of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility. His efforts helped bring Cashco, a manufacturing firm, to the community and helped prevent closure of the Independent Salt Company in Kanopolis, Kansas. Dane also provided leadership for construction of the local Performing Arts Center and the Ellsworth Fire Station. As a member of the Ellsworth City Council, Dane led an effort to establish 911 emergency services to the community. He also served as chairman of the board for Smoky Hills Public Television. In 1988, Dane was appointed Director of Security and Drug Enforcement for the U.S. Department of the Interior. In that role, he oversaw law enforcement responsibilities for all interior department lands-- including two presidential emergency centers. In 1992, Dane was selected as one of two Eisenhower Fellows and in so doing became the first Kansan ever chosen for this honor. Later, Dane moved to Salina, Kansas, where he worked as a stock broker and again established a leadership presence in the community. Dane was elected chairman of the Salina Planning Commission and served on the Salina Community Theater Board of Directors. Dane touched the lives of many people. His civic leadership was marked by strategic thinking, passion and a willingness to work to make certain that good things happen. ``What he did for Ellsworth was incredible,'' said Nick Slechta, director of the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce and a longtime friend of Dane's. ``He was very proficient in everything he did. He put so much gusto into every part of his work.'' I can think of no finer tribute. Dane's dedication to his community, the State of Kansas and our country was exceptional. I join Dane's many friends and admirers in extending my deepest sympathies to his family during their time of loss.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am here today with my colleague the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) as we commend and congratulate an amazing year at the University of Kansas in its Department of Athletics with an earlier victory at the Orange Bowl in the football program followed up by a victory by our basketball team at the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, just a few weeks ago. We're anxious to have the Jayhawks--the players, the team, and school athletic officials--here so that our colleagues from Congress can greet and congratulate them, and we hope that happens in the near future. And we are also expecting that the President will invite the Jayhawks to the White House for the traditional commendation from the President of the United States. I, of course, support House Resolution 1096 commending my alma mater, the University of Kansas. It's been a long time for Kansas Jayhawk basketball fans since ``Danny Manning and the Miracles'' shocked the sporting world and defeated the Oklahoma Sooners and won KU's last basketball championship. In that time since 1988, KU has had many memorable moments but also some real heartbreaks as at times it came up just a bit short in returning the championship trophy back to Kansas. On April 7 the Jayhawks were trailing the Memphis Tigers 60-51 with 2:12 left in regulation. Then began one of the most amazing comebacks that we have seen in the history of basketball and one of the most memorable college basketball experiences. With just 2.1 seconds left in regulation, Final Four MVP Mario Chalmers hit a game-tying 3 point shot. It was the exact scenario that every young kid dreams of when practicing shooting those baskets in their home driveway. KU went on to defeat Memphis 75-68 to claim its fifth national championship to the jubilation of Kansans everywhere. In our State we have a number of choices for students to attend college and a lot of rivalries within our State. Two of the greatest rivalries, Kansas State University and their outstanding program, as well as the University of Kansas and their program. But even our Wildcat fans and K State supporters were pleased and proud of the Kansas victory. Forty thousand fans celebrated that night in Lawrence, and later close to a hundred thousand Kansans came across our State to share in the Jayhawk victory parade in Lawrence, Kansas. I should also mention that the class that all Kansans showed that night in celebrating, Kansans were typical Kansans that evening, well behaved but in a great mood of celebration. The University of Kansas has one of the most distinguished histories in college basketball. The founder of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was the first coach at the University of Kansas, and he was also the only coach in KU's history to ever have a losing season. This is KU's fifth national championship, and they've been to the Final Four 13 times and have captured an astounding 51 conference titles in history. My congratulations to the chancellor of the university, my friend Bob Hemenway; and to my friend the athletic director, Lew Perkins; Coach Bill Self; the assistant coaches Danny Manning, Joe Dooley, Kurtis Townsend, Brett Ballard, and Ronnie Chalmers; and the outstanding KU basketball team. All Kansans are proud. We commend you on this amazing year and your success. And as the congressman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) says, ``Rock Chalk Jayhawk.''

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share an inspirational story about a community coming together in a time of need. Like Americans across the country, Kansas families are burdened with the rising cost of fuel, healthcare, and other basic needs. The Bible Christian Church of Garden City raised funds to help reduce the pain many Kansas families are facing at the pump by lowering the price $0.40 a gallon at a local Shell gas station. They allowed as many residents to participate in the event in 1 hour as possible. The turnout was so great that the hour was extended for those who waited in line throughout the hour and didn't make it through. In addition to giving a discount on gas, Bible Christian Church held its third annual Community Day of Service. Many free services were provided in the church's Family Life Center, such as hair cuts for children; hearing, dental, and vision screenings; cancer screenings and bone marrow registry, along with free clothing. I would like to recognize members of the Bible Christian Church, community physicians, and local residents for their time and efforts in their act of services to the Garden City community. While Washington remains divided on ways to help the needy, it is small acts of generosity like this that our Nation can be proud of and encourage. Even the smallest deeds are a step in the right direction.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today in remembrance of the late Lydia Porubsky who passed away February 11th at the age of 83. Mrs. Porubsky was known across Topeka, Kansas, for a chili recipe and her 6-day-a-week presence at Porubsky's Grocery and Meats. Lydia, alongside her husband of 49 years, Charles, Sr., operated Porubsky's until Charles' death in 1998. Lydia, however, continued to be a fixture in the deli. She was the person every customer remembered thanks to her positions behind the counter and at the cash register. An amazing thing about Lydia is that she remembered you as well. The conversations and the small-talk she would engage in only enhanced the experience of eating at Porubsky's. Porubsky's is also known for their great food. Not the least of which is the chili. Porubsky's developed a reputation over the years as having some of the most delicious chili in the area. According The Topeka Capital-Journal, Porubsky's was featured in Gourmet Magazine. This publication's editors discovered what the people of Kansas had been enjoying for over 60 years. Gourmet Magazine summed it up as well as anyone when it stated, ``Porubsky's is not just a place to eat. It is a destination in itself.'' While the magazine was referring specifically to the food, people familiar with Porubsky's knew that Lydia was also a star attraction. My personal experience with the Porubskys dates back to my time in the Kansas legislature. Several of my fellow legislators and I would make the trip to Porubsky's during our breaks. Meeting from January through June meant that we had at least 3 full months to truly enjoy Porubsky's hot chili and spicy pickles. With meat and cheese trays displayed, the restaurant was a warm respite from the cold and a welcome break from our political and governmental dealings. But in a city with many dining options, it was Lydia's genuine interest in us that kept us coming back. Even today, as I travel Kansas, I will alter my plans so that I can have a ham salad sandwich at Porubsky's and enjoy this family's warm welcome and hospitality. While Porubsky's and many family-owned establishments like it lack the bells and whistles of nationwide chains, the underlying quality that truly matters is the collection of people it takes to make it work. Charles Sr. and Lydia provided us with a model of small business ownership. My home State of Kansas is no stranger to family-owned and - operated undertakings. Our economy was built by people like the Porubskys, who knew that if they did not work for it, it was not going to be given to them. Their love of family and the city of Topeka will never be forgotten. This staple of Topeka enterprise will continue through the efforts of the Porubskys' sons, Matthew, Charlie, Jr., Mark, alongside the Porubsky's daughters Cecelia Pierson and Teresa Thomas who have all made their homes in Topeka. This restaurant, this way of life must be remembered and admired, Madam Speaker. We all know a ``Lydia Porubsky'' in our lives. Every one of us has someone who reminds us of what is really important as our lives and our jobs continue to speed up. I am sorry that my Lydia Porubsky has passed on. I am thankful for having had the chance to know her and her family. This woman, this business, will remain a part of our greater Kansas community and will enjoy a special place in my heart. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the life of Lydia Porubsky, offering our sympathy to her family, and praying for the continued success of Porubsky's Grocery and Meats.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, sports fans across the country likely know the University of Kansas for its winning tradition in men's basketball and recently for the success of its football team that won the 2008 Orange Bowl. While these are accomplishments Kansans are proud of, I want to draw attention today to the impressive talents and accomplishments in the University's aerospace engineering program. Earlier this year, at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 46th Annual Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, two University of Kansas students and one professor were honored for excellence in aircraft design, aeronautics research and instruction. Nobuya Nishio, an aerospace engineering student, won first place in the international aircraft design competition for designing an eye- catching two-seat airplane with a 300-mile range capable of traveling 143 miles per hour. Nobuya is the eighteenth student from the University of Kansas to place first in this competition since 1968. Another Kansas student, Roelof Vos received the Abe M. Zarem Award for Aeronautics Research. Roelof's groundbreaking work on actuators will enhance the ability of airplanes to fly through turbulent air while maintaining smooth flight. In addition to the improvements this will bring to passenger comfort, planes will benefit from the new actuator technology by experiencing less airframe fatigue, which leads to less stressed aircraft, safer flight and ultimately lower cost air travel. Both of these students were under the instruction and mentorship of Dr. Ron Barrett-Gonzalez, Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering. Professor Barrett received the Abe M. Zarem Educator Award in recognition of his outstanding instruction. His research focuses on flight control using adaptive aerostructures that have been integrated in high speed, high precision flight control systems and are ideal for countermunitions. Professor Barrett's lab is the only academic facility in the country that specializes in these countermunitions that protect our Armed Forces by intercepting mortars and other weapons. American economic competitiveness is strengthened as more students study and excel in the academic areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. I join Kansans in congratulating Nobuya, Roelof and Professor Barrett for their outstanding creativity, insight and hard work. Jayhawks not only excel in athletics but fly high in the classroom, as well.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives is considering an important piece of legislation. H.R. 4220, the Federal Food Donation Act of 2007 is a step in the right direction towards feeding the hungry in our nation. It is unacceptable that here in the richest nation in the world American children go to bed hungry while perfectly good food goes to waste. I am proud to be a sponsor of this bill--a bill that will not solve all hunger, but will solve some people's hunger. I want to thank Mrs. Emerson for introducing the Federal Food Donation Act. The bill will help the efforts of nonprofit organizations serving the hungry. Agencies and contractors are encouraged to donate safe and wholesome food to nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to food-insecure people, while avoiding another mandate or further layer of bureaucracy. In order to help protect donors, the bill provides that executive agencies and contractors making donations are protected from civil or criminal liability While donating unused food is a good step in combating hunger in America, the fight is not over.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding to me. I, like the gentlemen are from Texas, am here in a state of disappointment. But mine is the reverse. A provision that was included in the Senate is not included in the House version of this bill. It is a piece of legislation that I introduced earlier this session and one that was offered as an amendment when this bill was considered by the House Ways and Means Committee, and it failed on a party-line vote. This provision, as I say, is included in the Senate bill, but it was removed when it was returned to the House, and it received unanimous approval by the Senate. This is a commonsense clarification to the Tax Code to prevent lower income military personnel from being discriminated against when applying to live in affordable housing built under the low income housing tax credit. Our Nation's military families deserve access to safe, decent, affordable housing, and they should be given a fair opportunity to qualify for it. This provision would clarify that members of the military will not have their military housing allowance counted against them as income when applying for affordable rental housing. The IRS does not consider military housing allowance as income, but, unfortunately, the Department of Housing and Urban Development does. The result is that some servicemembers, particularly enlisted ones, are considered to earn too much and are, thus, disqualified from living in affordable housing. Comparatively low-income civilians will qualify because they are treated differently by the IRS. This clarification is needed now more than ever. A number of military installations across the country are experiencing housing shortages as a result the 2005 BRAC. For example, Fort Riley, an Army post located in the State of Kansas, is nearly doubling in size and will see an influx of nearly 30,000 people. Without access to adequate affordable housing opportunities, many families stationed at Fort Riley are being forced to live far away from post. The House acted this year to exempt military housing allowance from income eligibility requirements under Head Start. Unfortunately, this discrimination persists when military families apply to live in affordable housing, and enlisted servicemembers and their families continue to be treated unfairly in communities across the country. Mr. Speaker, while I support this legislation, I again am here to object to the exclusion of language that would level the playing field for our military enlisted men. I have introduced legislation to correct this issue; and should it not be resolved in this legislation, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1481.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to call upon Democratic leadership to bring legislation to the floor that will help our independent pharmacies stay in business. The last few years have been difficult for pharmacists across the United States, and many are struggling to keep their doors open due to changes in the Medicare Part D prescription program. In my Kansas district alone, we have lost four pharmacists since this government program went into effect. Once again, we are asking pharmacists to bear the burden of our cost- cutting measures. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 made average manufacturers price, AMP, the new basis for the Medicaid Federal upper limit on multi-source, generic prescription drugs. Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office released a report indicating that this new pricing system would reimburse pharmacists at 36 percent below what it costs them to buy the prescriptions. I ask you, how can we realistically expect anyone to do business like that? We need to make changes quickly; otherwise, these pharmacies will no longer be around to serve customers. Here are some real life examples of Kansas pharmacists who are going to be negatively affected by this change if we do not act soon. Many Medicaid patients in Kansas are in treatment for psychiatric conditions. Because of their mental state, they often forget to take their medications. Mike Conlin, a pharmacist in Topeka, has initiated a program in his pharmacy to help his psychiatric patients remember to take their medications by having his staff put the meds in a unit dosage device. This device allows his patients to see at a glance which medications are called for at any particular time of day. Mike stated it will be difficult to offer this individual treatment on a medication that pays him nearly 36 percent less in reimbursement than it actually costs his drugstore. In other parts of the State, a great number of our community pharmacists double as the local nursing home pharmacist. Jim Hampton, of Atwood, Kansas, is one such pharmacist. The physicians and staff of the local Atwood home, depend on Jim to advise them daily on such issues as drug-to-drug interactions, new drugs and dosage regimens. While Jim finds great satisfaction in providing these medications and advice on their usage, he must reconsider his ability to serve these geriatric and developmentally disabled patients. And his decision is purely a business decision. Jim will be forced to decide whether his business can really afford to remain viable in selling a product for a price far less than he can acquire that product. Average manufacturer pricing is forcing Jim to do just that. And the ramifications of Jim's decision are far reaching. In Phillipsburg, Kansas, there is a young disabled mother that recently gave birth to a child with a heart condition. She was without her Medicaid card yet urgently needed medication for the newborn infant. In fact, she was without a medical card of any type showing that insurance would pay for the medication. The local pharmacist, Rob Wenzl of Wenzl Drug, provided the infant her lifesaving drug. Rob did this despite the fact the new mom had no proof of coverage. Rob is just one more of many pharmacists in rural Kansas that are being forced to consider letting go of their Medicaid patients. The personalized service that Rob enjoys providing his patients, and that personalized care the patients receive, will potentially be eliminated should average manufacturer pricing as currently written be foisted upon our pharmacists. Those of us in Congress take our responsibility seriously to stand up for those who are in trouble. I encourage my colleagues to listen to those pharmacists in their districts and encourage Democratic leadership to bring legislation to the floor to fix this problem. Access to local pharmacies is important to a strong healthcare system and is, therefore, important to each and every one of us.