Kevin McCarthy

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for his advice.

Mr. McCARTHY. I look forward to working with the gentleman.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is correct that this is a crisis before us. The gentleman and I have worked on this issue when it first arose, putting individuals into committee and looking at what we needed to accomplish. This House actually acted and acted early. Your question is: Would it be combined with the continuing resolution? I believe that is what we would see, along with the continuing resolution to solve this challenge with Zika. Unfortunately, it has been stuck in the Senate. In the conversations I have been having with the other house, I am very hopeful that that will get done.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow. The House will also consider H.R. 3438, the REVIEW Act, sponsored by Representative Tom Marino, which ensures that new agency rules that place $1 billion or more in costs on the economy will not take effect until after any litigation over the rule is resolved. Additionally, the House will consider H.R. 5719, the Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act, sponsored by Representative Erik Paulsen. This critical bill, which is part of the Innovation Initiative, gives startups the opportunity to attract the talent necessary to advance innovation and grow the economy. The House will also consider two important bills related to Iran. The first is H.R. 5461, the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act, sponsored by Representative Bruce Poliquin. It requires the Treasury Department to report on the total assets of senior Iranian and political and military leaders and make that information public on their Web site. The second, H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, sponsored by Representative Ed Royce, will prohibit all cash payments, including dead-of-night ransom payments, and ensure transparency in congressional review of any future settlements with Iran. Now, finally, Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of September, Members are advised that additional items are possible, including legislation to fund the government.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Yes, we are continuing discussions on the appropriation process and how to ensure the government is funded after September 30th. As soon as it is finished, Members will be advised when floor action is scheduled.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I heard from veterans in my district years ago--long before I was the majority leader--that they weren't getting the disability payments they deserved. They submitted their claims, but the VA was too backed up. The process was taking months, sometimes years. The appeals process quickly became a never-ending bureaucratic maze. After a report from the GAO and countless legislative hearings and testimony, today we vote on reforms by Chairman Miller to ease the backlog that has only gotten worse. Reforms to the VA are necessary. You can ask any vet who has had to wait or any whistleblower frustrated with the VA's culture. The VA has a long laundry list of changes it must make, but there is a problem. Unless the VA holds that handful of employees accountable who turn a blind eye, show up to work intoxicated, or falsify wait times, the culture won't change. So, Mr. Speaker, I ask: What would you do if you found an employee drunk on the job? Or, what if an employee was caught high on cocaine or found selling heroin in his free time? I think the words, ``you're fired,'' come to mind pretty quickly. But for reasons I cannot even begin to understand, this logic is suspended for government employees. When you turn a blind eye to unacceptable behavior, that is more than a management issue. Bad employees can make mistakes that threaten people's very lives. Today, the average time to dismiss somebody from the VA is more than a year. That is unacceptable. That is why Chairman Miller's bill is needed. We need to protect the VA and those who go to it--the veterans who need the service. That is why I ask all, when we bring the bill up, please support it.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his work in this House and for the American people. Mr. Speaker, many words have been said on this floor about ObamaCare, about losing doctors and insurance, about losing jobs and hours at work, and about premium increases and deductibles so high it makes insurance nearly worthless. Do you know what? It is all true. ObamaCare only makes worse two of the biggest problems holding America back: jobs and cost of living. For America to succeed, we need good-paying jobs for people to make ends meet, and we need costs for services like health care to be low enough so people can afford it. I have spoken too many times, Mr. Speaker, on how ObamaCare is hurting job growth and keeping people from full employment. I wish I didn't have to keep talking about it, but as long as people continue to be hurt by this law, they need a voice. With insurers dropping out of the marketplace in droves, insurance premiums are going up, some by as much as 50 percent more than the year before. On top of that, before ObamaCare, the rule was that if you spent 7.5 percent of your income on medical expenses, you could start deducting however much you paid above that from your taxes. The idea was that, if you are really sick, the last thing you need is government making your medical costs even more difficult. Well, I am sure you will be surprised, but ObamaCare wasn't happy with lowering your taxes, so they moved it up. President Obama and the Democrats in this Congress that passed this terrible bill raised taxes on the sickest people in America, those who spend the most on medical expenses. Now, I don't understand how they could accept this. I know they didn't read the bill before they passed it, but now they can try to do something about it. They can make one thing right. Martha McSally's bill today, part of the House's Better Way agenda, brings that threshold back down to where it was before, 7.5 percent. Now, it doesn't solve the problem, but at least it gives the American people a break. Seniors and the middle class, those facing the highest medical bills, will all finally get some relief. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I don't see how anyone in this body can be against this. We all know ObamaCare is failing. We all know the American people and our country can't afford this law. So let's pass this bill and help those that need it the most.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman across the aisle, it is true, we work closely together on the big issues, and we try to find common ground. In that spirit, will you tell me what in that paragraph you disagree with?

Mr. McCARTHY. I would ask the gentleman to join with me, then, in requesting that the Democrats on the Senate--the filibuster denies the bill to even come up for debate, let alone it be voted for. So would you not join with me in asking the Democrats to stop playing politics with a filibuster and allow the bill to come up? If the bill fails, the bill fails. But it is not even being allowed to be debated. You were always so good with reading articles, and I don't know that I have ever read one to you, but I would like to. If you will indulge me. PolitiFact--this is the organization that looks at what we say and tries to put truth to it. This is the headline: ``Democrats Stretch Impact of Planned Parenthood Exclusions in Zika Bill.'' This is one highlighted: ``The bill also provided funds that would potentially help clinics and hospitals in nearly every municipality on the island.'' Could we not agree that that is more important than politics? Could we not agree that people are being affected every day and that those who are watching this debate shake their head and wonder why we are even having this fight? In June, we passed a bill. Since that time, Democrats in the Senate will not even allow it to be debated, not even allow it to be debated, to vote it up or vote it down. There is one thing Americans believe in: fairness. And I don't believe that that is fairness, if you deny a bill from coming forward. If you deny the bill from coming forward, you are blocking it. So, if you want the true definition of what is happening in the Zika battle, it is that those on the other side of the aisle in the Senate are blocking the discussion from even taking place.

Mr. McCARTHY. Will the gentleman yield to me?

Mr. McCARTHY. Did the President request, when he requested money, that it get delivered that way? Or in here may I remind the gentleman what I am requesting, ``the funding goes for health services provided by public health departments, hospitals, or reimbursed through public health plans.'' Public health means that is the way the health care is provided, so we are funding the entities that provide the health care, exactly when the President had requested it.

Mr. McCARTHY. Will the gentleman yield, before he goes to a new subject?

Mr. McCARTHY. The only thing I want to clarify here is: Do you believe in debate and having the opportunity for people to air different sides?

Mr. McCARTHY. Well, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do want to just clarify one of your statements. Surely the gentleman did not mean from the point that no appropriations bills have passed this floor because six have passed. They just have not been sent to the President.

Mr. McCARTHY. You voted against that. Explain.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Before I begin, I want to thank the gentleman. At the very beginning of this crisis, you and I sat together. At the very beginning of this crisis, you and I compiled a group of Members on both sides of the aisle with the expertise to deal with it. $600 million quickly went out the door to fight it, to combat it. The Senate approved $1.1 billion. I am somewhat excited to hear that all the Democrats will change their mind now and vote for the bill because I would like to remind the gentleman that in June this House took up this issue because we knew what would happen in the summer. We know what is transpiring in Florida because we predicted that it would because it was already happening in Puerto Rico, but that was not the case on this floor that night. Everyone on the other side said ``no.'' Well, you know what, in the Senate, they have taken this up three times. Your side of the aisle decided to leave without dealing with this issue. They could have dealt with this issue this week. This is the exact amount of money that the Senate voted for unanimously over there--maybe not unanimously, but bipartisanly. This is not one to play politics with. We did our job here. It is quite ironic that in clarification on your past remark saying Republicans are in the majority here, yes, that is true, and you saw that happen. The rules in the Senate are much different, where it empowers the minority to stop. That is why we are talking about a CR. But this should not be the case. You could have challenged your colleagues in that Senate, in your party, to stop the filibuster, that the people should not have to wait. We have been in those rooms together. I know your desire. When you and I talked about putting the emergency funding together, you know what, that is an appropriations issue. We need this to get done. They need the money. We need to combat it, and we need to continue to monitor it. That is why we dealt with this in June. That is why I have the frustration that I have. Even when we came back this week, the Senate Democrats were in the exact same place they were before. This money goes to the community centers in Puerto Rico, exactly as the President requested. So it is not a time to play politics. It is not a time to get frustrated about a different issue that you had that night so you couldn't vote ``yes.'' That is the truth behind this, and that is wrong.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for clarifying. Just one more little clarification, if the gentleman may. All 12 of the appropriations bills have passed out of committee. So it is our desire to finish that work. Yes, it looks as though we will be into a continuing resolution. We have funding up until September 30. It is our intent to have that done before we depart. We will not depart without finishing that work. The duration is up for discussion, and we have been having discussions on both sides of the aisle about that. But as soon as that decision is made, Members will be advised when the floor action is scheduled. But I assure the gentleman it will be done before any Member is departing.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today. The House will also consider H.R. 3590, the Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act, sponsored by Representative Martha McSally. This critical bill will prevent Americans with high healthcare costs from facing a tax increase next year. Additionally, the House will consider H.R. 5620, the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act, sponsored by Representative Jeff Miller, which ensures that employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs are held accountable for misconduct or poor performance. This bill will also modernize the disability appeals process to reduce the unacceptable backlog of claims. The House will also consider H.R. 5226, the Regulatory Integrity Act, sponsored by Representative Tim Walberg, which is a commonsense bill requiring agencies to publish information about proposed regulations on their Web sites. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider H.R. 5351, sponsored by Representative Jackie Walorski, which prohibits the transfer of any individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman. I think the best thing for the American people is to actually read the bill. So let me just read the section that you referred to, that you stated that no Democrat in Appropriations would sign on to, that no Democrats on the other side wanted to vote for. It referred to a block grant. Let me quote it. This is in the bill dealing with Zika. ``For the funding for health services provided by public health departments, hospitals or reimbursed through public health plans.'' Seriously, you are opposed to that? That is what you are fighting over while the mosquitoes begin to grow and go beyond State by State? This is what we are fighting over? That $1.1 billion, added with the other $600 million, took place in June. Yeah, we couldn't get to the floor to debate it because you wouldn't give us one microphone. But I am sorry, I know there is a lot of politics that goes around here, but this is not. This is the moment, this is the time that we rise above it. The American people do not deserve that, and I say let's put this paragraph out, let the public read what the bill says, and I will promise you, the majority wants you to vote for it and stop playing games.

Mr. McCARTHY. If the gentleman would please explain to me what----

Mr. McCARTHY. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Committee on Homeland Security, Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, be discharged from further consideration of House Resolution 842, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, September 12, 2016, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, innovation is the key to America's future. With it, America can continue to be the economic and cultural leader of the world while providing important and good-paying jobs here at home. With it, our government can spend more time and money in helping Americans who need it and less in supporting a wasteful, ineffective, and outdated bureaucracy. I have seen firsthand the power of innovation in America, and it is not just in Silicon Valley. Centers of innovation are growing across our country and are bringing with them new opportunities and second chances. I recently visited a company called ZeroFOX in south Baltimore. They provide social media security and they gather intelligence on the threats that are facing employees, businesses, and other organizations online. ZeroFOX is a bright spot in a city, like so many others in America, that was hit hard by a recession but that was struggling long before then. These communities were centers of industry--they manufactured and thousands were employed. Then some companies closed up shop; manufacturing declined; and people lost their livelihoods. But America is not a story of decline. Even today, you can see communities rising again, not by trying to recreate the past, but by looking to the future. New centers of innovation from south Baltimore to San Antonio and from North Carolina to Louisiana are spreading across America and are bringing with them new economic activity, new construction, new jobs, and, especially, new hope. That is what our country needs. That is what working people across America need. The package of bills we have before us today is part of the Innovation Initiative--our legislative project to bring innovation into government and to allow innovation to thrive in the private sector. What this package of bills does is to help innovators gain access to capital. You can ask any business owner or dreamer out there. They know that ideas and work ethic are fundamental but that it takes capital to be able to make those ideas a reality--to make even more success stories in communities across our country like in south Baltimore. I thank those Members who worked on these bills: Ann Wagner, Tom Emmer, Scott Garrett, and, especially, Chairman Jeb Hensarling. We need more practical solutions like these to create new opportunities for the American people, not in theory, but in their everyday lives.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 1-year anniversary of the signing of the administration's Iran deal--1 year, and the world has already become a more troubled place. I personally think the deal sets a dangerous precedent. It strengthens the largest state sponsor of terror in the world and gives that state sponsor of terror a pathway to nuclear weapons at some point in its future. I think that all of the arguments to defend this deal can't stand against the great weight of reality, including the fact that Iran isn't holding up its side of the bargain and is more interested in embarrassing American military men and women than in becoming a responsible nation. I understand a few people disagree. However, there is something we have always agreed on from the start. Deal or no deal, good or bad deal, we have always agreed to hold Iran accountable for terrorism, for its development of ballistic missiles, and for its human rights abuses committed against its own people. In April alone, President Obama said we have to ``hold Iran to account where it is acting in ways that are contrary to rules and norms.'' Secretary Kerry said last year, ``We will never, ever stop standing up for the Iranian people's rights.'' Treasury Secretary Jack Lew also said last year, ``We are going to continue to prosecute our unilateral sanctions on things like terrorism, on things like regional destabilization and human rights.'' What about today? Iran has conducted eight ballistic missile tests since the deal was signed. The State Department's own Stephen Mull said in May, ``There have not been any sanctions imposed for human rights grounds since July of last year.'' Iran continues to imprison journalists--Americans--and to torture its people. In February, the administration's Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, said, ``Iran continues to be the foremost state sponsor of terrorism. Iran and Hezbollah remain a continuing terrorist threat to U.S. interests and partners worldwide.'' Those are the facts right there, Mr. Speaker. What has the Obama administration done? How has the administration held Iran accountable, as they said they would? The administration has done nothing. And it only gets worse. German intelligence has found that Iran is violating its pledges under this nuclear deal. Iran is procuring material for nuclear weapons in what is ``by international standards, a quantitatively high level.'' Coupled with its missile program, the report reads, ``It is safe to expect that Iran will continue its intensive procurement activity.'' Wasn't this deal supposed to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons? Where is the accountability? Where is the administration when they so clearly said they would hold them accountable? Where is the bipartisanship in the sanctions now? Now, I understand on the other side, Mr. Speaker, some will accuse Republicans of engaging in a purely partisan exercise and never intending to work with our friends on the other side of the aisle. Well, you know that is just not true. You know for the last 6 months we worked with the other side of the aisle, we worked in a bipartisan manner with the chairmen on both sides. But every time we would deal with the missiles and the ballistic sanctions against them, the White House would thwart any bipartisan effort. So why are we here today? It is because, for 6 months, he found every reason to say ``no.'' For 6 months, he went back on every word that was said about holding them accountable when the facts stood before us. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I don't understand opposition to this bill. We are simply holding Iran accountable, which is exactly what the administration said they would do. We have had tremendous leaders in this country, and we have learned the lessons time and again. Ronald Reagan taught us this lesson: that peace without freedom is meaningless. Human nature craves that we all have peace, but you cannot secure peace without freedom. We have watched in history when leaders have failed. Chamberlain, ``peace for our time,'' but there was no freedom in that. Ronald Reagan had this same dilemma late in his second term, in Iceland, when he stood across from Gorbachev, trying to negotiate a reduction in nuclear weapons. He was securing almost everything that he had asked for, but Gorbachev asked for one last item. He asked that America would end their SDI program. Reagan didn't say no. He said, we will share it with you so the world can be safe. But Gorbachev said no. Reagan had a decision to make. He could have signed that deal, and I am sure the elite would have probably given him the Nobel Peace Prize. Other Presidents have won them. But he realized there was no freedom in that agreement. So he got up, he held the Soviet Union accountable, and he walked away. Had he not, would the Berlin Wall have collapsed? Had he not, would the Soviet Union have collapsed? Words have meaning, and words have consequences. The quotes from this administration and from around the world were to hold Iran accountable. That is what is happening today. Mr. Speaker, there are going to be some Members in this Chamber who will sit back and say, ``But it didn't happen just the way I wanted it to before it came to the floor.'' I don't want you to look your grandchildren in the eyes and explain to them why we don't have freedom in the world. I want you to look your grandchildren in the eyes and say you stood up--you stood up for the words and what that meant when we were to hold Iran accountable.