Kenny Marchant

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. This amendment that Mr. Huelskamp has offered requires the administration to report on extraordinary measures on a weekly basis so that Congress will have the most up-to-date information available. I can tell you that at the very heart of this bill, as I began to put it together a couple of years ago, was the very fact that through a press release the Secretary of Treasury could come out and pick some date out of midair and say we were going to reach the debt ceiling. Then we would go month after month after month not knowing whether he would come out again with another press release that says: Well, it will be next week. It is my opinion--and I agree with Mr. Huelskamp--that the Secretary of Treasury needs to inform Congress what extraordinary measures he or she is using that week to extend the debt limit deadline. It is a great amendment, and it adds to the bill.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment offered by Mr. Newhouse would absolutely strengthen H.R. 3442. By requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress information on the debt ceiling, the President recommends that the Congress adopt a balanced budget amendment. This would add more clarity to the process. Therefore, I recommend to the Members that they vote ``yes.''

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would require the administration to speculate on the impact of default on our Federal debt. It doesn't call for any specific report. It doesn't call for any specific numbers. It is not the point of H.R. 3442 to speculate. H.R. 3442 is a sensible step in creating a process to consider the debt limit with information and transparency. I do not feel like this amendment gives any support to that priority. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, the goal of the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act is to create a sound process for considering the Federal debt limit. This amendment is not focused on that goal and, instead, asks for the administration to speculate about unrelated and impractical issues such as projection of wages at various percentiles. Instead, we should be spending our time focused on the drivers of our debt and how to come up with a credible solution to slow the trajectory of our debt. I oppose this amendment and ask that Members vote ``no.'' Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act focuses on creating a process of transparency and accountability to deal with the debt ceiling. This bill gets Congress, the administration, and the public on the same page about why we continually find ourselves in this position. Raising the debt limit without any plan to get our debt under control in the future is not a plan. This amendment does not advance that goal. Instead, it goes in the opposite direction and attempts to focus our attention on the potential effects of brinksmanship. I urge Members to vote ``no'' on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the House to reject this motion to recommit and adopt the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act. It is a commonsense solution to Washington's debt- crisis mentality. H.R. 3442 creates a process to bring transparency, responsibility, and consistency to the debt management process. Regardless of whether a person supports raising the debt ceiling or not, everyone should support a process that gives us more information to make an educated decision. The Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act requires the administration to report on the state of the national debt before the debt ceiling is reached. It also requires the administration to make recommendations and report information about how to reduce the debt and how America can meet its future obligations. This accountability will give Congress the information it needs when considering the debt limit. All of this information will be made public online. H.R. 3442 is a strong first step to move government away from its current crisis approach and changes the focus into coming up with solutions for our debt problem. I am a firm believer in H.R. 3442. I urge all Members to reject this motion to recommit, and support the legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 3442, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section numbering and cross-referencing, and the insertion of appropriate headings.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me and his support on this issue. Also, I thank him for allowing the Rules Committee to spend over an hour on this issue yesterday to hear both sides of this issue as far as the debt ceiling goes. Mr. Speaker, I can't go to a townhall meeting or even go to a gathering of just a few people without the subject of the debt ceiling coming up. My constituents on a regular basis, through emails, phone calls, and letters, ask me the questions: What is Congress doing about addressing the debt ceiling? Why do you lurch from year to year to year about the debt ceiling? Why don't you ever look at the debt ceiling in a comprehensive manner? The debt is too high. When I introduced this bill in September, the debt had reached $18.1 trillion. Today, it is over $19 trillion. If the current law remains unchanged, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that the Federal debt held by the public will exceed 100 percent of our GDP in 25 years, and this is unsustainable. The window to get a handle on the Nation's debt is closing very quickly. We need to enact solutions to retire the debt before it is too late. That is what the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act is all about. This bill creates a new debt limit framework that places greater attention on finding debt reduction solutions. It does so by injecting transparency, accountability, and timeliness into the debt limit process. The bill would allow Congress and the administration to take comprehensive assessments of the debt and its drivers well before the statutory debt limit is reached. Each year since I have been in Congress, I can pick up the newspaper one day and find that the Secretary of the Treasury announces that we have reached our statutory debt limit and usually proclaims a date. In this case, the statutory debt limit will be reached next March of 2017. At that point, everybody seems to go about their business. There is no particular action taken. In fact, last month after that proclamation was made that we had reached our statutory debt ceiling, 7 months went by without us reaching the debt ceiling. How did that happen? Well, it happened because the Secretary of the Treasury has the ability to implement extraordinary measures. Now, if any committees in the Congress should know what those extraordinary measures that he is using are going to be or are, it is the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. So this bill very simply lays out a framework where, before the debt ceiling is reached--and the Secretary of Treasury knows that--he has a framework of up to 60 days to come and appear before the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, which could be a joint meeting, and lay out for us when the debt ceiling will be reached--not after we have reached the debt ceiling, but before we have reached the debt ceiling--what extraordinary measures he will take once we have reached that debt ceiling and when, in fact, he thinks we will actually run out of money. In that report, he will actually then lay out the administration's plan on addressing that debt in the short term, in the midterm, and in the future. So it is a very commonsense plan. It involves one very specific meeting with these two jurisdictional committees with the Secretary of the Treasury. The whole focal point of that meeting will be to talk about the debt ceiling. That does not happen now. We have dozens of reports that are online. We have dozens of discussions besides this, but never statutorily is the Secretary of the Treasury and the two jurisdictional committees required to meet and discuss this. This is the great thing about this bill, the implementation of this bill. Like so many Americans, my constituents have watched with great concern as the debt has skyrocketed.

Mr. MARCHANT. If we share these concerns at all--and I know that many of us do--we need to pass the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the rule.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dianne Edmondson for her distinguished service to the Denton County Republican Party. Dianne Edmondson is a native Texan born in San Antonio. She attended Oklahoma State University where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 1983, she founded a successful executive search firm which she later sold in 2006. Dianne and her husband Bob live in Denton, Texas and are blessed with two grown children (and one deceased son) and seven grandchildren. I have had the pleasure of knowing Dianne and Bob for over a decade. Dianne is actively involved in her local community where she has spent her time fulfilling a selfless passion to serve others. Dianne is a member of many civic service organizations and advisory groups including: Vice-Chair of the Denton County Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, Denton County Commissioners' Re-Districting Committee, and Board of Directors of the Denton Chamber of Commerce, among others. Throughout her adult life, Dianne has been involved in nearly every aspect of the political arena. Dianne is the former Executive Director of Republican National Coalition for Life. She has served as a National Republican Convention Delegate in 2000, former President of the Denton Republican Women's Club, Chair of Senate District 12 Rules Committee, Chair of the 2012 and 2014 State Convention Permanent Organization Committee, and managed or volunteered in dozens of Republican candidates' campaigns for nearly 20 years in Denton County. In 2002, Dianne was elected as Chairman of the Denton County Republican Party and serves on the Board of the Texas Republican County Chair Association. Dianne has spent countless hours educating voters on public policy and encouraging voter engagement. As a creative planner and master organizer, Dianne has the ability to bring people together around a common goal and vision. She has worked with precinct chairs and candidates to ensure that Denton County remains conservative. As a result, every county, state, and federal elected office in Denton County is held by a Republican. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I would like to thank Dianne Edmondson for her leadership as the Chairman of the Denton County Republican Party. I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Dianne for her lifetime of service.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mark Dant for his thirty-eight years of public service, ending this month as an Assistant Chief for the Carrollton, Texas Police Department. Prior to his service with the Carrollton Police Department, Mark served four years in the United States Air Force and two and a half years as a firefighter with the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport Department of Public Safety. For the last thirty-two years, Mark has been serving and protecting the people of Carrollton as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Assistant Chief of Police. Mark's service to the community isn't limited to his direct roles for the Carrollton Police Department, far from it--he and his family have become national leading advocates for patients of rare diseases. It is through this work that I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Mark for almost ten years. Mark and his wife Jeanne are parents of one child, Ryan, who currently attends the University of Louisville. In 1992, their son Ryan was diagnosed with the then terminal genetic disease Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS Type 1). Shortly after learning of this diagnosis, Mark founded The Ryan Foundation to raise funds for developing treatments for the disease. The Dant family's first fundraising effort, a bake sale, netted $342. The foundation has come a very long way since that first bake sale, much to the tenacious determination of Mark Dant. Millions of research dollars over the years have been donated to scientists searching for treatments to help those afflicted with the various forms of MPS. The Ryan Foundation's efforts spearheaded the funding for the first MPS Enzyme Replacement Therapy--Aldurazyme. Ryan Dant is the longest treated person in the world on Aldurazyme, which to date is approved to treat children with MPS in more than 75 countries. What all started as a bake sale in Carrollton has blossomed into helping children with a previously untreatable disease all around the world. To help support the tireless efforts of the Dant family and the countless individuals, I introduced the Ryan Dant Health Care Opportunity Act, H.R. 1441 in the 111th Congress. Much to the hard work of Mark Dant and his family, this legislation achieved over fifty bipartisan cosponsors. Mark's advocacy for individuals afflicted by rare diseases will not cease anytime soon--he is expanding upon the initial volunteer efforts of a heartfelt concerned father many years ago, and will now serve as the Executive Director of the National MPS Society in Durham, North Carolina. I can think of no one better suited or well qualified for this position than Mark. Though the people of Carrollton are losing one of their finest public servants, countless affected individuals will now have the best person they could ever ask for leading the efforts in developing treatments and awareness for MPS. I ask for all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mark Dant on his well-earned retirement from the Carrollton Police Department. I wish Mark, and the Dant family much new success with the National MPS Society.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, according to a recent report by the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 500,000 foreign nationals overstayed their visa in fiscal year 2015. This is unacceptable and dangerous. These people are breaking the law, and they have violated the trust of the American people. Visa overstays are an ongoing failure by this administration. Approximately 12 million illegal immigrants now live in our country. An estimated 40 percent can be attributed to visa overstays. Now there are a half million more. ISIS is working tirelessly to exploit our national security weakness. Meanwhile, the administration is turning a blind eye to the vast majority of visa overstays. Half a million foreign nationals overstayed their visas last year, but less than 1 percent of that group is currently being investigated. I have written Secretary Johnson to demand that immediate action be taken to crack down on these visa overstays. This issue poses a clear risk to our safety and the safety of my constituents.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Tsai Ing- wen on her victory in the Taiwanese presidential election held on January 16, 2016. President-elect Tsai is scheduled to take office on May 20 of this year, and will be the first woman president of Taiwan. I further congratulate the vice president-elect, Dr. Chen Chien-jen, as well as the people of Taiwan for this historic vote that signifies so much for the continuing strength of democracy in Taiwan. On this occasion. I would encourage my colleagues to join me in assuring President-elect Tsai and the people of Taiwan of our commitment to the friendship between our two countries. We are bound by the values and principles we share; and the peaceful and free election on January 16 once again demonstrates that Taiwan's robust democracy is an example to the rest of the region. The free and democratic system that has been established over the decades is a testament to the commendable dedication and determination of a free Taiwanese people. Their support for human rights is a beacon, and their leaders should be encouraged as they work to keep it shining. Dr. Tsai's election is additionally an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act as the cornerstone of the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan. I urge my colleagues to remain committed to the security of Taiwan, as well as our economic and social relationship, and look forward to our two countries' continuing to work together on issues of common interest. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating President-elect Tsai and the people of Taiwan, and in wishing them the best in the new administration.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Carl Swindell on his well-earned retirement from the City of Euless Police Department in Euless, Texas, after thirty-two years of dedicated service. Carl is a hardworking and highly respected officer of the Euless Police Department. He has honorably served his community since beginning his distinguished career with the department in 1983. Throughout his time in Euless, Carl has received over 42 police commendations as evidence of his outstanding service and professionalism. Whether he was investigating criminal activity as a detective, sharing his knowledge and experiences as a field training officer, or protecting the children of Euless as a school police resource officer, Carl always provided an outstanding service to his community. Carl's contributions to the law enforcement operations in the City of Euless have helped to ensure countless officers have been adequately trained and prepared for the challenges they face in their everyday duties as police. His legacy will leave a lasting mark on the City of Euless and the Euless Police Department for many years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the exhaustive efforts Carl has contributed to the City of Euless. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Carl Swindell and his many years of service.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, throughout this president's time in office, he has worked to undermine the 2nd Amendment freedoms of law- abiding Americans. It's no surprise that he would begin his final year exactly the same way. The new unilateral actions announced by the president will do little to make our communities safer. But they could infringe on the rights of Americans to protect themselves and their families. These unilateral actions are only an attempt to distract from the career failings of an ineffective president. In fact, most of them are about strictly enforcing our existing laws--something this president has repeatedly failed to do. The Second Amendment is a founding principle of our Republic. I assure my constituents that I will continue to stand strong against any infringement.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ron Haynes on his well-earned retirement from the City of Hurst, Texas. Ron Haynes is a hardworking, respected employee of Hurst, and has been since he began in March of 1985. He has displayed strong leadership and instilled positive change throughout his tenure. His quick ascension demonstrates his dedication, efficiency, and success as a worker for the people of Hurst. Ron began as an engineer in 1985, became Director of Public Works just two years later, and has held that post since. Born a Texan, Ron graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1970 and married his wife, Dixie, in 1971. He then attended North Texas State University where he would graduate with a Master in Public Administration in 1982 while working for Dallas Water Utilities. They went on to have three beautiful children, Brian, Keri and Amy. Outside of work, Ron is very active in the community. He has been involved in several organizations and groups over the years. Ron was a member of Rotary in the Mid-Cities for nearly a decade, as well as the City of Fort Worth's Wholesale Water and Wastewater Customers' Committee for 28 years. Other organizations he participated in over the years include the American Water Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Public Works Association. He also received a Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Municipal Utilities Association in 2009. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the exhaustive efforts Ron has contributed to the City of Hurst. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Ron Haynes and his many years of service.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the City of Southlake's grand opening of the Southlake Senior Activity Center. The history of the Southlake senior center began in 1998, when Mayor Gail Eubanks, Southlake's first mayor, donated the original facility to the city to serve as the activity and social center for the growing senior community in Southlake. Since the opening of the original senior center, the population of Southlake has nearly doubled in size. To accommodate the needs of this growing community, plans were developed and approved for the construction of a new community recreation center. On September 27, 2014, the City of Southlake broke ground for the construction of the new, state of the art, recreation and senior center known as The Marq. The Marq contains over 20,000 square feet of multipurpose space which includes a senior lounge, senior wellness room, game room, banquet hall, and amphitheater. In it, the new Southlake Senior Activity Center will serve the community by providing programs and services to Southlake area seniors, enhancing their lives and fostering a sense of community among the city's residents. I am extremely appreciative of the City of Southlake and the Southlake Senior Activity Center for continuing to address the needs of the community by enhancing the quality of their infrastructure and the lives of its seniors. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating the City of Southlake and the Southlake Senior Activity Center on the grand opening of their new facility.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, the President has repeatedly underestimated ISIS, and under-responded to the threat they pose. The American people have lost confidence. For months we have heard the same refrain from the White House. They say, ``We will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS.'' There has been little progress, if any. Top U.S. military officials have confirmed that ISIS is far from contained. When the President addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday, Americans needed to hear a real strategy to eradicate ISIS. The speech came just days after an act of terror here at home. Instead of a plan, our Commander in Chief delivered the same empty rhetoric. The United States must show our international partners that we are committed to defeating ISIS. The first step is for the President to outline a plan to destroy them . . . not degrade them. Until that point, the vacuum of American leadership will continue to grow, and so will the influence of ISIS.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, the Earned Income Tax Credit is one of our most successful welfare-to-work tax provisions. The EITC has helped millions of Americans move themselves out of poverty. But, the president wants to use it as a cash bonus for those who have been working in the U.S. illegally. Under the president's unilateral amnesty, millions of illegal immigrants will get access to the EITC. They will then be able to claim tax refunds on previous earnings from unauthorized work. The refunds could be as much as $24,000 for each claimant, which may restrict the EITC's availability for legal American workers. To ensure this does not happen, I have introduced H.R. 1657--the FAIRR Act. The bill prevents the EITC from going to recipients of the president's unilateral amnesty. This would strengthen the EITC for American families and save taxpayers almost $9 billion over the next 10 years. Our immigration system should not reward lawbreakers at the expense of taxpayers and legal American workers. Neither should the EITC.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, the recent terrorist attack in Paris is a terrible tragedy. Our prayers go out to the victims and their families. These heinous crimes and attacks are a reminder of the great threats that are facing the United States and our allies. We must stand strong with our international partners to eradicate this evil. Here at home, we must ramp up measures to keep the American people safe. That means halting the admittance of Syrian and Iraqi refugees until we are sure the vetting is airtight. And, right now, it is not. The President's own security advisers have reinforced this fact. Yet he is moving full steam ahead with his plan to admit 10,000 refugees over the next year. This is irresponsible. Our Nation has the greatest and most generous refugee policy in the world, but we cannot allow terrorists to exploit our compassion. The safety of the American people must be our number one priority.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the long, successful career of Ben Flanagan, who served the Grapevine Police Department for 25 distinguishable years. Ben served the Grapevine Police Department in several capacities from 1989 to 2014, ultimately retiring as Assistant Chief of Police. Born and raised in Grapevine, Texas, Ben graduated from Grapevine High School in 1970. Upon graduation, he joined the US Army for two years before attending Tarrant County Community College where he studied political science. Ben would then serve the Lewisville Police Department for one year before beginning his exceptional career with the Grapevine Police Department. The career Ben made for himself is full of honors, success, and hard work as he held seven different positions within the department, quickly moving up the ranks. In 1989, Ben began as a patrol officer and eventually retired as Assistant Chief of Police, acquiring an impressive resume along the way. Ben was honored as officer of the year in 1991 and detective of the year in 1994. He also participated in hostage negotiations and was a member of the SWAT team. Ben played a pivotal role in shaping the police department into the institution it is today, as well as helping keep the city safe for its residents, businesses, and visitors. Ben's North Texas roots are deep, as he grew up fishing the shores of Lake Grapevine and his father had farmed the land that is now part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. To this day he enjoys the outdoors and many of its activities including fishing and hunting. Ben accumulated 46 commendations during his career, including an outstanding service award in 2004 from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Ben's dedication and positive attitude is known throughout the community and travelled with him during his tenure. It is an honor and a privilege to recognize one of the great citizens of the 24th district. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the career of Ben Flanagan. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating this milestone in his remarkable life.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize REAL School Gardens' 100th learning garden at Jerry Junkins Elementary School, which will be the fifth REAL School Garden in the 24th district of Texas. REAL School Gardens is a nonprofit organization that has been creating outdoor learning gardens in low-income elementary schools since 2003. Once this 100th outdoor classroom is completed, the organization will have engaged more than 100,000 students in Texas in hands-on curricula integrating science with language arts. REAL School Gardens' strong commitment to having local communities invested in the design, build, and use of the school gardens is truly impressive. Each REAL School Garden involves a partnership between students and their parents, the school, and private funders. Once a school is selected, REAL School Gardens works with the principal and teachers to host a student design challenge. The community then comes together for a ``Design and Dine'' dinner to tailor the garden plan to the school's culture and learning objectives. Once the design is finalized, everyone, including corporate partners such as Mercedes Benz Financial Services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and Wells Fargo, participates in the ``Big Dig''--an event when the community builds the garden in just one day. The results have been remarkable. In my district, there are outdoor learning gardens with earth science stations, drip irrigation systems, weather data stations, and wildlife habitats that serve as learning tools that have helped participating schools in Texas have standardized test score pass rates jump 12 to 15 percent. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to congratulate REAL School Gardens on this achievement and wish the organization the best with the next 100 REAL School Gardens. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating such an accomplishment.