Kenny Marchant

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Christopher Miller, a constituent of mine from Southlake, TX, on studying the Arabic language in Meknes, Morocco, under the Critical Language Scholarship Program. The Critical Language Scholarship program was established in 2006 as part of the National Security Language Initiative. This interagency effort was formed with recognition of the need for our future diplomatic and intelligence personnel to learn languages such as Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Chinese. It provides an intensive regimen of study at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels for both undergraduate and graduate students. The program goes beyond just language and provides cultural experiences by immersion in the host country. It was a pleasure to receive the U.S. State Department's announcement that one of my constituents, Christopher Miller, had successfully participated in the Critical Language Scholarship Program this past summer. Acceptance is highly competitive, and so I commend his studying Advanced Arabic in Meknes. Christopher's success is a testament to dedication, skill, and hard work; and I look forward to his accomplishing great things in any endeavor that he pursues in life. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Christopher Miller on his studies in the Critical Language Scholarship Program.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which operated its first commercial flight on January 13, 1974. More than a massive facility, DFW is an economic and development engine that has transformed the course of North Texas in the past four decades. Ground was broken for DFW on December 11, 1968, with Dallas Mayor J. Erik Johnson and Fort Worth Chamber President J. Lee Johnson III leading their respective cities in the joint venture. Four years prior, the Civil Aeronautics Board sought for the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth to choose a site for a new airport to service them both. Ultimately, a space that lay seventeen miles from either city's core was chosen in an area covering parts of the cities of Coppell, Euless, Grapevine, and Irving. DFW has a unique history in aviation. At a 1973 dedication ceremony one year before its general opening, it was the first airport in the U.S. to welcome the landing of a supersonic Concorde. Supersonic service between DFW and Europe was then inaugurated in 1979 with the parallel landings of two Concorde jets. American Airlines, today the largest airline in the world, made DFW its first hub in 1981 and invented the modern ``hub and spoke'' route system there in 1982. In 1989, Atlantis, piggybacking on a modified Boeing 747, made DFW the first commercial airport to host a shuttle landing. The 1990s saw significant expansion, including the addition of a seventh runway in 1996 and the first of four runway extensions starting that same year. To this day, DFW is the only airport in the world with four paved serviceable runways longer than 4,000 meters. In 2005, the Skylink rail and the international Terminal D were added. DFW now hosts fifty-nine international destinations, twenty-five of which were added in the last three years; and its 11.1% growth rate in international traffic in 2012 (and even more in 2013) was double that of its U.S. peers. DFW serves 200 destinations and is the fourth busiest airport in the world in terms of aircraft movement. It ranks eighth in passenger traffic at 60 million per year, or 164,000 per day. It is also the second-largest in the U.S. in terms of physical space, with approximately 18,000 acres (larger than the island of Manhattan). It moves 645,000 tons of cargo per year. Its parking spaces alone are staggering at 40,000. Ultimately, according to the University of North Texas, DFW airport is responsible for adding $31.6 billion to the economy annually and for 148,000 jobs. Even that is only part of the story. The population of the Dallas/Fort Worth area has grown from 2.5 million to 6.7 million in the 40 years since DFW airport opened. This telling growth has come with a boom in the size and quality of life in the two namesake cities and also for numerous nearby suburban cities, many of which are in the 24th District of Texas. Several major corporations--including American Airlines, Fluor, Kimberly Clark, and Exxon Mobil, to name a few--located their headquarters in the area for the strategic and logistic boon that DFW offers from its prime position between the coasts. Manufacturing plants, entertainment venues, conferences, and businesses of all types have sprung up over the years as a result of the airport. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, as well as the vibrancy that it has brought to the 24th District in which it sits, and in thanking the countless people of all trades, services, and professions who have made this economic engine possible.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, due to my plane flight to Washington, DC being canceled yesterday, I was unable to vote for the Quorum Call of January 7, 2014. Had my flight not been canceled, I would have answered the Quorum Call as ``present.''

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life and service of Lieutenant General Wilson A. ``Dutch'' Shoffner, USA, Retired, of Colleyville, Texas, who passed away on January 3, 2014, at the age of seventy-five. Lt. Gen. Shoffner, born in 1938 to Fred and Jewell Shoffner, was originally from Ryan, Oklahoma. He attended Cameron State Agricultural College (now Cameron University) where he participated in ROTC, Phi Theta Kappa, and the Student Government Association; and later graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961. Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Army, and was commissioned in Field Artillery in 1967. In his thirty-two years of service, which included the Vietnam War, Lt. Gen. Shoffner commanded the 214th Field Artillery brigade in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, the 3rd Infantry Division in Wurzburg, West Germany, and the Combined Arms Command at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His many positions also included being the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations in Washington, DC. He earned his third star and the rank of Lieutenant General in 1991. Lt. Gen. Shoffner had also received a Bronze Star and a Distinguished Service Medal, which is awarded for exceptional performance in a duty of great responsibility. After retiring from the Army in 1993, Shoffner became Vice President for Product Development at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, Texas. In 2003, he retired from that position but continued to volunteer at community organizations and speak to ROTC cadets at Cameron University. He is in the alumni hall of fame at both Cameron and Oklahoma State University. Lt. Gen. Shoffner was recently preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Beverly, of Lawton, Oklahoma. Together they had two sons, Al and Andy, He is survived by four sisters--Myra, Jean, Joan, and Judy--and three grandchildren--Kristin, Lauren, and Austin. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in remembering and honoring Lieutenant General Wilson and his thirty-two years of admirable service to the United States.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, Americans know the national debt needs to be addressed. The current debt stands at more than 17 trillion dollars and the CBO projects that under current laws the Federal debt would climb to 25 trillion dollars by 2023. If we continue down this path, the nation will eventually face a painful economic reckoning. We can't afford to leave our country--and our children--with such unsustainable debt. To address these needs, I introduced the Debt Management Act. This bill requires the Administration to justify debt limit increase requests with reports on the national debt and progress on deficit reduction. By bringing greater transparency to the national debt and our structural deficit, the Debt Management Act establishes a more credible and consistent process to address debt limit requests. Having a clear policy framework to address the national debt would instill much-needed discipline into the debt limit process, increase confidence in the economy, and strengthen our nation's long-term fiscal stability. I encourage my colleagues to co-sponsor the Debt Management Act.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the career and celebrate the retirement of Dr. Cloyd Hastings of the Carrollton- Farmers Branch Independent School District (ISD), based in Carrollton, Texas. Dr. Hastings served in education for forty years, working to better future generations of young citizens. Prior to joining Carrollton- Farmers Branch ISD in 1980, he worked in three other school districts as a teacher, coach, and librarian. He then spent several years writing as an author for Political Research, a weekly newsletter that informed Congress about upcoming legislation. With a masters in Library Science from Eastern Illinois University, Dr. Hastings joined the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD as a library coordinator in 1980. In 1983 he became principal of Carrollton Elementary School. He was then principal of McCoy Elementary School from 1989 to 1995 and, during that time, he earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of North Texas. He also served as principal at Country Place Elementary School from 1995 to 1997. Afterwards, in 1997, Dr. Hastings moved to the administrative side of the ISD as the Coordinator of Research and Development. He was later named Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability and has served in that role for the remainder of his career. Dr. Hastings has published in Education Week and with the ASCD (formerly the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development). His work has been quoted in articles on best practices in special education, and he has been asked at times to apply for the lead Assessment position at the Texas Education Agency. Dr. Hastings comes from a family of educators. His father was a superintendent and his grandmother was a teacher. In addition his brother, sister-in-law, two nieces and their husbands, daughter Karen, and wife Dianne all work in education or related fields. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring the remarkable career and well-earned retirement of Dr. Cloyd Hastings of the Carrollton- Farmers Branch Independent School District.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, if you like your health insurance plan, you can keep it--without the fine print. The American people were told repeatedly by the President that if they liked their health insurance plan, they could keep it. This pledge didn't come with an asterisk, a footnote, or other fine print. Now, after millions of Americans are receiving cancelation notices from their preferred health care plans, the White House is doing its best to insert fine print into this pledge where none ever existed. The original pledge wasn't that most Americans could keep their health care plan or that others would lose their plans and be given coverage that the government thought was better for them. Instead, the White House is making excuses for why thousands of people in my district are losing their preferred coverage. I ask for the administration to stop making excuses and looking for ways to take my constituents' policies away. My constituents deserve the truth and real solutions.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 40th anniversary of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless- Bedford (HEB). The hospital has been dedicated to serving the citizens of Northeast Tarrant County, Texas, where it has been improving the lives of the community with quality health care service. The vision of an outstanding hospital was formulated through the cooperative leadership from the Cities of Hurst, Euless and Bedford. The cities acknowledged the growing healthcare needs of their citizens and, as a result, the cities formed the HEB Hospital Authority to plan and build the hospital. Fundraising for the hospital occurred in 1969 and, shortly afterwards in 1970, construction began. The Cities of Hurst, Euless, and Bedford continued to raise funds for the project until the doors opened in June 1973. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB is a fully accredited Cycle IV Chest Pain Center designated by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, and it also has a three-year accreditation, with commendation, from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. In addition, Texas Health HEB was the first hospital in Northeast Tarrant County to be certified as a Primary Stroke Center. Lastly, the hospital achieved the designation as a Level III Trauma center this year. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB for serving the North Texas community for 40 years with outstanding health care practices.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, despite the President's promise that Americans could keep their health care plans, thousands of my constituents have learned that their health care plans will soon be terminated. I recently received a letter from David Hager, the CFO of a technology company headquartered in my district. He was informed that the health care plan offered by his company is being canceled. This is a well-liked plan that pays 100 percent of employees' monthly health care premiums, but that is not good enough for ObamaCare. This company will now be forced to pay 19 percent more for its health care next year, and its employees will have to shell out more money for a new plan that they don't like. This is in addition to the newly created ``reinsurance fee'' of $510 a month for the company to pay that has no value at all to the workers. Mr. Hager wants to know why his employees are having their excellent health care plans canceled by ObamaCare. We must allow Americans to keep the health care plans they like, not just for 1 year--as has been proposed by the President--but permanently.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 10 year anniversary of the Colleyville Public Library in Colleyville, Texas. Over 30 years ago, a core group of dedicated Colleyville residents acted on their vision of bringing a library to their city. A task force was formed, fundraisers were held, surveys were conducted, and approvals were given. As Colleyville grew and changed from a small rural community to a thriving suburb, with small town appeal, the dream became a reality and the Colleyville Public Library opened on November 24, 2003. The two-story Colleyville Public Library was built with plans to only utilize the 10,000 square feet on the first floor with the second floor for future expansion. Because of the library's growth and popularity with its children's programing, the need for more space became evident and a spatial reorganization plan developed in 2007. Construction on the 2nd floor began in January 2011. Over 1,000 people in June 2011 attended the Grand Re-Opening of the 2nd floor, the new Youth Services Department. The library distinguishes itself with its emphasis on quality children's programming and full-scale family friendly events. Over 123,000 children have benefited from the library's educational programs. Additionally, the library works to address the information and self-development needs of its residents by staying ahead of technology trends. Common library activities, such as checking in and out books and searching the catalog, are streamlined through fully digital processes. Also, patrons, of all ages, take advantage of the growing collection of e-book and audio book downloadables. Area residents have embraced the library by utilizing its services and encouraging growth in new areas. Over 21,000 patrons have checked out over 2 million items and counting. With the support of volunteers, community organizations, and City Council, the Colleyville Public Library continues to thrive and meet the needs of its citizens. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Colleyville Public Library, and to recognize its many contributions to Colleyville community.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Detective Steve Lair of Carrollton, Texas and his earning of the Partnership for Public Safety award for going above and beyond his normal duties as a Carrollton police officer in his work with an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Task Force involved in the statewide, multi-agency investigation and prosecution of members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. The Partnership for Public Safety Award is given to an officer on a local level which proves critical in the joint actions with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Detective Lair was selected from among hundreds of other applicants throughout the nation, where his credentials withstood the rigorous process of approval. The citizens of North Texas are certainly safer due to his actions, and he is a perfect example of how all members of Operation Community Shield Gang Task Force should operate. In August 2011, Detective Lair was asked to participate in an ongoing investigation of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas as well as organize Dallas-Fort Worth area law enforcement in an effort to disrupt and dismantle the powerful race-based criminal prison street gang in North Texas. As a direct result of the actions of the law enforcement agencies Detective Lair organized, three Aryan Brotherhood of Texas members have been indicted, one of which has pleaded guilty. The overall case currently has 36 defendants who have been indicted on racketeering charges. Detective Lair has been instrumental in coordinating the flow of information between agency partners and the Special Prosecutor from the Department of Justice Organized Crime and Gang Section. Additionally, he has been essential in the development of confidential sources, providing information on numerous short term investigations of both federal and state violations. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the work of Detective Steve Lair and congratulating him on this prestigious award.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Brad Williams of Dallas, Texas, on his upcoming installation as chairman of the board of directors for the National Apartment Association (NAA), which will take place on November 8 in Dallas. Mr. Williams and his work exemplify the spirit of business in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. He has forty years of experience in property management and, with Lincoln Property Company, manages 50,000 rental units in both Texas and the Midwest. He also has a history of leadership in the rental housing industry. He is a past president of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas and of the Texas Apartment Association (TAA). He has chaired the Texas and National Legislative Committees; and, for the last three years, he has served as chairman of the NAA's Political Action Committee (NAAPAC). Mr. Williams has also worked as Secretary on the Executive Committee for the NAA. Rental housing is a crucial and growing industry in Dallas, where almost half of the city's people live in apartments. Many of these buildings are new and bring construction, innovation, and an economic boost to the area. Nationwide, 35 million people reside in apartments which contribute $1.1 trillion and 26 million jobs to the economy--from construction and skilled trades to leasing, operations, management, and even to the various businesses that surround residential buildings. To help ensure that rental housing is of a quality worthy of the public, the NAA makes it its mission ``to serve the interests of multifamily housing owners, managers, developers and suppliers and maintain a high level of professionalism in the multifamily housing industry to better serve the rental housing needs of the public.'' Founded in 1939, the NAA today consists of 170 local and state affiliates, 63,000 members, and 6.8 million homes. Mr. Williams is a native of Dallas, where he now lives with his wife, Ginny. He is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and received a degree in History from the University of Texas. He earned his Certificate of Real Estate from Southern Methodist University and his designation as a Certified Property Manager from the Institute of Real Estate Management. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Chairman-elect Brad Williams and wishing him well as he guides the National Apartment Association through the upcoming year.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a sense of solemnity that I wish to honor the passing and memory of our colleague, Congressman C.W. Bill Young, who passed away on October 18, 2013, at the age of 82. Congressman Young was the most senior Republican in both houses of Congress and represented the best of public service. He served in the Florida State Senate for ten years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Tampa Bay area in 1970. In his nearly 43 years in Congress, Congressman Young worked hard for the people of his district and was especially tireless in supporting military personnel and their families--both legislatively and personally. He and his wife, Beverly, were known for their countless visits to wounded soldiers. Himself a veteran of the Army National Guard and Reserves, Young was the current chairman of the Defense subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, and he had previously chaired that full committee from 1999 to 2005. With decades of experience, Young naturally became a source of guidance for many of his colleagues. He had a balanced and well- regarded approach to the issues and affairs of Congress, and his personal kindness was known to many. While this moment is significant for the people of the 13th District of Florida and for the House itself, my prayers today are especially with Young's wife, Beverly, their three sons, and all of his loved ones. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring and remembering Congressman Young.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to announce and celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking for The Gatehouse, a truly transformative community for women in difficult situations, which will occur soon on October 16, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. The Gatehouse will be a unique community of transitional housing for women (and their children) coming out of abusive, impoverished, or other challenging situations. Gatehouse will be an entire suburban neighborhood complete with new houses of various sizes, a community center for counseling and events, a general store, a clothing boutique, and plenty of beautiful open green space. In addition to the physical amenities, Gatehouse is extraordinary because of its Independent Life Program--a two and one-half year program of practical and emotional assistance to ensure that women and families at Gatehouse are not just shuttled through life but make a positive long-term life transformation. The Independent Life Program at Gatehouse is also faith-based, though it does not affiliate with any particular church or take government funding, and is purely funded by generous private donors. Gatehouse was founded by Lisa Rose and grew out of projectHandUp. In 2008, projectHandUp began as a group providing wisdom, hope, and practical resources to abused women at monthly ``First Friday'' meetings. Their first meeting drew 169, and they now are attended by 350 to 1,000 people. Financial assistance was also made available in some cases to those in need. Over a period from 2011 to 2012, a group of women from the project worked with the Grapevine City Council to develop the idea for Gatehouse, and approval was granted on August 21, 2012. In June of this year, work began on the roads and infrastructure for The Gatehouse. The groundbreaking ceremony will occur on October 16. The community is expected to open in the Fall of 2014 with the first neighborhood, Phase I, providing 24 units. At Gatehouse, great importance will be placed on healthy and compassionate relationships within the community in order to foster a sense of dignity and lasting improvement in women's lives. I commend the good work done by those who are laboring to make The Gatehouse a reality and look forward to seeing the success of their mission to provide women with a ``hand up.'' Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the groundbreaking of The Gatehouse in Grapevine, Texas.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to hear the real-world impacts of the implementation and cost of ObamaCare in my congressional district. Just last week, I received an email from CyrusOne, a small business located in my district. Due to ObamaCare, they anticipate paying over $86,000 more for their current level of health insurance for their employees once ObamaCare is implemented. For a small business, these significant new costs inhibit their ability to hire new workers or to simply keep the workers they have on the payroll. Consumers will begin to see the impact of these costs in the form of higher prices passed on to them. Higher prices and fewer jobs, this is not the health care reform that Americans want or deserve. We must repeal or at least delay the individual mandate before it does even more damage to our economic recovery.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and congratulate Rex W. Tillerson of Irving, Texas, for his induction into the National Academy of Engineering, which will take place on October 6, 2013, here in Washington, DC. Induction into the National Academy of Engineering is one of the highest professional honors that engineers can receive. Members are elected by their peers in annual classes. This year's class consists of 69 members and 11 foreign associates from various different engineering fields. Membership recognizes ``those who have made outstanding contributions to `engineering research, practice, or education, including where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature' and to the `pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.' '' Mr. Tillerson's election is specifically for his ``engineering leadership in the production of hydrocarbons in remote and hostile environments.'' Rex Tillerson may be known to many as the Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation, but he is also a remarkable engineer in his own right. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 and joined Exxon Company, U.S.A. in that same year. Starting as an engineer, Tillerson worked his way up the ranks of Exxon--becoming President of Exxon Yemen Inc. and Esso Exploration and Production Khorat Inc. in 1995, Vice President of Exxon Ventures and President of Exxon Neftegas Ltd. in 1998, and Executive Vice President of the newly merged ExxonMobil Development Co. in 1999. In 2001, Tillerson was named Senior Vice President of Exxon Mobil Corporation, and in 2004 he was elected President of the corporation and a member of the Board of Directors on March 1, 2004. He assumed his current position of Chairman and CEO on January 1, 2006. Under his leadership, ExxonMobil has become one of the largest and most successful publicly held corporations in the world. Under Tillerson's direction, ExxonMobil has also become a leader in the effort to improve educational outcomes for all students--especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Tillerson has long been active in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 20 in 1965. From 2010 to 2012 he served as National President of the BSA and remains on the executive board. In 2010, he was named a Distinguished Eagle and was awarded the Silver Buffalo for his service to the National Council of BSA. In 2012, he was awarded the Silver Beaver for his service to his local BSA Council in Dallas, Texas. Tillerson is also involved in several business organizations, including as a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and at the American Petroleum Institute, and as a member of the Business Roundtable and formerly the Executive Committee of the Business Council (in 2011 and 2012). Tillerson is also the vice chairman of the Ford's Theatre Society, and a former director of the United Negro College Fund. In 2006, Tillerson was named a Distinguished Engineer Graduate by the UT Cockrell School of Engineering. He is also a member of the Chancellor's Council, Development Board and the Engineering Advisory Board for the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named a distinguished alumnus in 2007. In 2011, he received an honorary doctorate engineering degree from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 2012, he received the Lincoln Medal from Ford's Theatre Society. Tillerson is a native of Texas, born in Wichita Falls and a graduate of Huntsville High School in Huntsville, class of 1970. While at UT Austin, he participated in Tejas Club, the Longhorn Band, and Alpha Phi Omega. He and his wife live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and have four children and four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Rex W. Tillerson on the high professional accomplishment of his induction into the National Academy of Engineering.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, the House continues to send the Senate options to end the current government shutdown, but they refuse to appoint conferees. Every American family has to live within its means and overcome differences. Congress must do the same. I implore the Senate to take the very basic step of agreeing to a conference with the House to resolve our differences. House Republicans remain committed to ending this government shutdown. It is unfair for the administration to grant a delay for big businesses, but not to individuals. It is unfair for the administration and Congress to exempt themselves from ObamaCare and to grant hundreds of other special waivers, but not allow a delay of the individual mandate for every ordinary American. We must all live under the laws that we enact and provide fairness for the American people.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Continuing Resolution and its delay and defunding of Obamacare for one year and all of the taxes assessed to pay for Obamacare. The President's health care law has already produced a significant drag on our economy, making it harder for employers to hire workers and those in need of work to find employment. We must defund Obamacare before it can do additional damage to our economy and health care system. Health insurance premiums across the country are skyrocketing, and employers are shifting workers from full time status to part time. Employers have been given an extension in complying with the law, but individuals are still subject to the mandate. This double standard is not fair and must be changed. This resolution also repeals the medical device tax, a very unpopular tax created by Obamacare that is stifling future medical research and development. I encourage my colleague to join me in defunding Obamacare and support this resolution. Ms. Kaptur. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the bill before us. The United States has been the world's shining example in how democracy can work. Our history shows that the nation is stronger when we come together to govern and solve the serious issues that face our country. Yet, tonight we find ourselves on the precipice of a government shutdown. Make no mistake, the bill we considering at this late hour essentially ensures that the government will shut down. We cannot continue to ``govern'' by staggering from manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis. The madness must stop. It seems we have learned nothing from recent history. To use just one example, during the fiscal cliff in December of 2012, the Dow fell more than 400 points or 3.1 percent. These sudden drops in the stock market have real impacts, particularly for individuals who have substantial amounts of their family's hard earned savings in the market for retirement. Our economy is still in the process of recovering from the Great Recession. We should be debating ways to spur economic growth, not debating a shutdown that will slow economic growth. For the entire country, the Republican shutdown proposal will have real immediate negative consequences. The impacts will be felt in our economy and in the services that the Federal Government provides, which the taxpayers pay for. According to the Administration: Nearly 1.4 million active duty military personnel deployed at home and overseas defending our nation's interests would not be paid for their work until after the shutdown ends. Hundreds of thousands of Federal employees would be immediately and indefinitely furloughed, and many Federal employees and contractors that continue to work would not be paid during the shutdown. Housing loans to low and middle-income families in rural communities would be put on hold, as would start-up business loans for farmers and ranchers. SBA would stop approving applications for small businesses to obtain loans and loan guarantees. In a typical month, SBA approves over $1 billion in loan assistance to small businesses. All facilities and services in our national parks would be closed, as would the Smithsonian, impacting the hundreds of thousands of people that visit these sites daily. This would have severely negative impacts on the surrounding local communities that rely on the revenue generated by travel and tourism to these destinations. Important government research into life-threatening diseases, environmental protection, and other areas would be halted. The government would stop issuing permits to conduct drilling operations on Federal lands, and would stop or delay environmental reviews of planned transportation and energy-related projects, keeping companies from working on these projects. If this CR were to become law, defunding the Affordable Care Act, not only would it put health insurance companies back in charge of our health care, it would end free preventive services that 105 million Americans including 71 million Americans in private plans and 34 million seniors in Medicare have received. The list of those who would lose under this bill is too long to enumerate. The Affordable Care Act is law. Elections have consequences. We all know this bill is dead on arrival in the Senate and the President has said he would veto it should it reach his desk. We are wasting our time. Instead we should pass a clean CR and get on with the business of the American people. In closing, I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure and urge my Republican colleagues to accept reality and not shut the government down.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, a report released yesterday from the Treasury Inspector General shows that the IRS failed to track $67 million spent in the implementation of ObamaCare so far. This is before the health exchanges are even opened. My constituents, like myself, are concerned that this type of waste is what happens when Washington takes over health care. The IRS has consistently demonstrated its inability to function as a responsible agency. Despite the scandals and blatant mismanagement by the IRS, the agency is also at the forefront of running our health care system. The IRS has little credibility with the American taxpayers right now. The agency must significantly be reformed before we should let them anywhere near our health care system. I encourage my colleagues to join me in repealing ObamaCare and getting the IRS completely away from our health care.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Captain Steven Chris Kockos for his 30 years of service as a police officer for the City of Euless, Texas. Captain Kockos began his career with the Euless Police Department on June 26, 1983, when he was hired as a patrol officer. By 1985 he was a detective and, in that year, he earned his Intermediate Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCLEOSE), completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) course, and was assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division. Kockos received his Advanced Certification in 1989 and, in 1990, was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division. In that time, he also trained in the use of the intoxilyzer and completed the Police School of Supervision at the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute. At the end of 1992, he was assigned to Internal Affairs, a position in which he coordinated training and investigated any violations of policies or procedures by police personnel. Kockos earned his Police Instructor Certification in that same year. In January of 1993, Kockos was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to Police Administration. Over the years, Kockos continued to advance his honorable career. He was made commander of the multi-agency Tarrant County Narcotics Intelligence and Coordination Unit in January of 1995. In 1997, he received the Master Police Officer Certification from TCLEOSE and, a few months later, was reassigned to the Patrol Division after successfully serving the narcotics unit. Starting in 2001, Kockos led the Criminal Investigation Division for nearly three years before returning to the Patrol Division. On February 3, 2011, Kockos was promoted to the rank of captain and was assigned to command the Communications, Property, Records, and Detention Divisions. Years of steadfast service saw many honors and memories for Captain Kockos. He received twenty commendations, a certificate of achievement for his work in the D.A.R.E. program in 1997, and won Supervisor of the Year in 2007--an award he was nominated for nine times, demonstrating the relationships and respect that he had on the force. One memorable commendation was for an occasion on which Kockos used his certified scuba diving expertise to recover a murder weapon from a lake. Before entering the Euless Police Department, Kockos had a history of selfless service to others. His father was an Assistant Chief in the Dallas Police Department. Kockos himself was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who served four years, two as a military policeman, and was honorably discharged in 1979. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from University of Texas at Arlington in 1983. He is an avid golfer and has two adult children, Chris and Matt, with his wife Judy of 32 years. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Steven Kockos for his 30 years of public service as an officer of the Euless Police Department.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, due to a mechanical problem with my flight to Washington yesterday, I was unavoidably detained and missed the following votes. On rollcall vote No. 484, passage of H.R. 1961, to amend title 46, United States Code, to extend the exemption from the fire-retardant materials construction requirement for vessels operating within the Boundary Line, I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 485, passage of H. Res. 354, Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 527, with an amendment, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, the government has enough trouble ending waste, fraud, and abuse that is already currently occurring. We should not knowingly allow even more to occur. This is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2775, legislation that we will soon vote on that will prohibit taxpayer funded subsidies to individuals without income verification. The Administration has had three and a half years to implement a system to verify that only those individuals who qualify for a taxpayer funded subsidy will receive them. Despite having significant time, the Administration has failed to safeguard taxpayers from even more waste, fraud, and abuse. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation that will protect taxpayers until the Administration can establish a better form of income verification than the honor system.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solemn remembrance of the events of twelve years ago today, of the people who lost their lives, the families that have carried on, and the brave men and women who risked everything to save others. The human loss was tremendous and we pause with to honor those personally affected. This is also a time for our nation to remember the resilience and unity that we showed in the days following September 11, 2001. It is an opportunity to renew our commitment to serving this country that we love. In times of difficulty or disagreement, may this day always provide a reminder of the blessings that we share as Americans and the responsibilities that come with that. Today we again resolve to honor the sacrifice of citizens who risk their lives to help those in harm's way. The courage of first responders who gave all for the protection of others demonstrated that September 11th would not be the downfall of our great nation but would be a defining moment. May we all, like them and so many others who labored on that day, always stand ready to assist our neighbors in need. I wish to give thanks to the brave men and women who defend our freedom as members of the armed services, many of whom may have enlisted as a direct result of the events of September 11th. We are all forever indebted to you for your tireless and selfless efforts that ensure our security. Thank you. My prayers continue to be with the families and friends of the loved ones lost on this day twelve years ago, with our great nation, and with those who serve it.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the President and my colleagues to oppose any U.S. military action in Syria. Based on the evidence given to Congress, I have serious reservations about authorizing the use of military force in another Middle Eastern country. The President has not convinced me that we have vital national security interests at stake in Syria or a clear military objective. There are far too many unanswered questions and unclear objectives. My constituents in the 24th District of Texas are deeply skeptical about the value of military intervention in Syria. I fully agree with their concerns. On behalf of my constituents and many concerned Americans, I respectfully urge my colleagues to weigh the evidence fully and to be realistic about what can be achieved in military intervention. Let us vote for what's best for the United States. Keep the U.S. military out of Syria.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the ``Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act.'' This bill authored by my friend, Dr. Price, will prohibit the IRS from implementing any provisions of the President's health care law. The IRS is an agency plagued by a multitude of scandals and significant misuses of taxpayer funds. The IRS is probably the worst government agency that we would want to have involved with Americans health care. The IRS cannot fulfill its current core missions. With this in mind, we should not allow them to hire thousands of new employees to oversee our health care. The IRS cannot even properly supervise many of its current employees. We cannot trust the IRS with our health care. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.