Kevin McCarthy

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a man who has dedicated much of his life to the educational system in Kern County. Superintendent Don Carter recently announced his retirement after 38 years of service, serving as Kern High School District Superintendent over the past 10 years. A graduate of West High School, Don went on to earn his master's degree from California State University, Bakersfield and an Ed.D from the University of La Verne. In 1976, Don joined the teaching staff at Bakersfield High School as a math and science teacher before eventually becoming the school's assistant principal and principal. After serving as the district associate superintendent for instruction, he was promoted to Superintendent in 2004. Though his tenure at Kern High School District is coming to an end, his impact will be long-lasting. Serving California's largest high school district, Don was responsible for the oversight of 18 high schools and over 3,700 employees. A strong advocate of academic achievement, Kern High School District's performance index improved every year under Don's tenure, including the significant improvement in the number of graduates that met entrance requirements for the University of California and California State University systems. As a proud former student of Superintendent Carter, I know personally of his dedication and steadfast commitment to ensure that every student he taught, and every student within our high school district, had the opportunity to achieve academic success. On behalf of a grateful community, I am honored to thank Don Carter for his dedication to our youth and I wish him a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Path to Prosperity budget. Every day, millions of Americans are competing in a race with an economy that asks us to accept a new normal, an anemic growth, an Obama economy. I was recently in a high school speaking of the challenge that America had, and a student asked me a question about it. I asked him did he play a sport. He happened to be on the swim team. I said: Let me give you an analogy of America competing worldwide by a swim meet. Picture America in a swim competition with every other country. Many times at the early years, after the 1980s, we would jump into the pool and we would swim and we would win. We would hang those championship banners out. In this new Obama economy, things changed, a stimulus spending. Well, that meant we had to add a weight belt, about 20 pounds. Then the tax increases came. We had to add more weight. An onslaught of regulation, pretty soon you are up to 100 pounds. You know what? We jump in that pool and we don't always win. And nobody says take the weight belt off. They just say you just don't swim like you used to. Think about it. Since the recession, part-time employment has increased at the expense of full-time. Over 90 million Americans are out of the workforce all together; 46 million live in poverty. You know, the CBO, Congressional Budget Office, now says the new natural rate for unemployment is 6 percent. That means 11 million Americans not working is somehow natural in America. That is what a weight belt will do for you. It will drown you. Today is different. Today we are going to unshackle. We are going to take that weight belt off. We have a budget that creates a Tax Code that is simpler and fairer, one that let's you keep more money in your pocket and lets you invest differently, one that balances and takes away that debt of the weight belt, one that unshackles the energy--more jobs, cheaper fuel, more manufacturing jobs to be able to grow. We strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. So we take care of the current and the future. We plan to swim for years and compete for years in the future. I tell you, today, there are two different directions: you can stay with this anemic growth or you can jump into a pool with a future brighter than we have seen before and one that we know that will hang a new banner of championship, that America will rise once again with the prosperity of a balanced budget, one that will take us into a future of strength.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bakersfield Christian High School Eagles football team, who courageously fought their way to its first California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division IV State Football Championship Bowl Game this past December. The Eagles utilized an exceptional team effort to get through their daunting season, finishing out with a record of 12 wins and 3 losses. Over the span of the 2013 season, Bakersfield Christian set an astonishing 37 new school records. But lost in this success was the adversity they faced in the beginning of the season. The Eagles started their regular season off with two tough consecutive losses, one of them being to their biggest rival. After their second loss, Coach Jerald Pierucci sat down with his small senior class and challenged them to provide the leadership the team needed to succeed. This proved to be a critical moment for the team, the figurative fork in the road that would define their season. The path they chose speaks volumes to the team's character as a whole. In the following games, the seniors truly embodied what it meant to be leaders, and the team rallied together as one unit, going undefeated all the way to the State Championship. When asked to define his team, Coach Pierucci without hesitation replied with one word: selfless. He elaborated that the team was just as rich in role players as it was in playmakers. There was a solid foundation of players each of whom did their job on every play-- contributing to the success of their team. These were young men who personified the mantra of ``team first'' and never gave up in the face of adversity. Even when behind 20-0 in the Valley Championship game against a heavily-favored undefeated rival on a cold December evening, they kept working together and ultimately prevailed. This winning attitude and fierce determination displayed by the Eagles this season proved they earned the right to represent Southern California in the State Championship game. I join our community in congratulating the coaches and players for their achievement. The 2013 Bakersfield Christian High School Eagles coaching staff includes: Head Coach Jerald Pierucci, Vince Aguilar, Roger Patterson, Tyler Hough, Mike Rodriguez, Sean Lozano, Rick Sotile, Nathan Munson, Larry Whitbey, Tom McCormack, and Ryan Clanton. The 2013 BCHS Eagles football team includes: Keith Blank, Donald Harris, Brad Western, Josh Jackson, Brandon Jones, Nathan DeJager, Tyler Lozano, Feike DeBoer, Kyle Pickinpaugh, Hayden Kuchta, Brock Duffield, John Fulce, Austin Duffield, Kobe Devries, Zach Balfanz, Matt Smith, Fernando Solis, Jordan Smith, Cameron Reeves, Devin Crabtree, Jonathan Loman, Steven Figures, Cole Wymore, Grant Bouma, Hayden Mazone, Chad Wielenga, John Martineau, Tyler Sweaney, Josh Mantle, West Williams, Brett Schuler, Lane Perey, Haiden Drake, Cole Kashwer, Ben Wind, DeAngelo Bragg, Noah Sheetz, Daniel Negron, Jacob Lanuza, Anthony Rodriguez, Jacob Mullins, Titus Goodman, Jack Chance, Carson Balfanz, Morgan Farmer, Brandt Oliver, Taeber Nylander, and William Crockett. You all have made our community proud! Go Eagles!

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act. Mr. Speaker, working on an hourly wage is tough. I know this. I worked every single job in a deli I started 25 years ago. Working an hourly wage is an opportunity to start, to work hard, to impress, and to be able to move up; but in today's world, it is a little different. Today, because of ObamaCare, you don't have the opportunity to work the extra hours. You don't have the opportunity to expand. Mr. Speaker, I listened to another colleague on this floor who said small businesses up to 50 employees were exempt, so now, our law is saying: you have to stay small, you can't grow, you can't have that American Dream to be something bigger. Mr. Speaker, this affects business, but it also affects the public sector as well. In every single district across this country, this is having a great deal of effect. In my own hometown in Kern County, the board of supervisors no longer allows seasonal workers, such as seasonal firefighters, because they can't go beyond the time allowed. My community college in my district no longer has that extra job for the students. The students packed the boardroom and wanted to know why we could no longer do this. They pointed to one bill, ObamaCare. Those are the stories you hear, the stories you know about, but numbers don't lie. So what have the numbers shown since this law has gone into effect? Last December, the Department of Labor showed low wage workers clocked the shortest workweek on record, only 27.4 hours a week. That is lower than during the recession. Today, we have an opportunity to change that. Today, we have an opportunity to unshackle this, so an individual can work more hours. An individual that maybe owns a business can give other people opportunities; and, yes, the barrier will not be there to make sure you are only small, but you can have the American Dream. You can grow. Mr. Speaker, I ask all to join us and make it a bipartisan bill, when individuals have cosponsored this bill, to move America forward.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Chairman, in 2008 in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, President Obama warned us that under his policies for energy, ``electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket.'' Now it appears with high electricity costs, that this is a promise that the President chose to keep. Today, millions of Americans are suffering from one of the coldest winters in recent memory, and in some cases, the most expensive. In New York, some homes are seeing their heating bills double, but it doesn't have to be this way. The U.S. is currently enjoying a revolution in energy production, the energy that heats our homes and keeps us warm during the cold winter nights. Americans across the country should be celebrating this breakthrough. In an economy where the Nation's income today is lower than in the year 2000, abundant energy should provide a sense of relief to strained budgets, but because of this administration's policies, Americans are simply left out in the cold with their energy bills. First, the Democrats tried cap-and-trade, but that failed in a Democrat-led Congress. Now this administration has proposed arguably the most expensive regulation ever by the EPA, one that would render the construction of any future coal power plant impossible through the mandating of technology that isn't readily attainable. Today, coal accounts for 37 percent of total U.S. electricity production. The EPA's regulation will cost approximately $1,200 per household per year in lost income. That is $100 more a month. Most importantly, this regulation will cause the greatest amount of harm, lost jobs, diminished incomes, and higher electricity bills in areas where incomes are modest, as are the lifestyles of those who live there. It isn't the rich on Fifth Avenue or in Beverly Hills who will be impacted; it is the American working class. Communities like Indiana's Second District, home to our good friend, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski; or Ohio's Fourth District, home to our friend Jim Jordan; or the First District, home to Chairman Ryan; or even Wisconsin's Second or Iowa's First District, both represented by my colleagues on the other side. All will be unnecessarily hurt by this regulation. For all the talk from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle about fairness, this regulation is profoundly unfair. The Electricity Security and Affordability Act sponsored by my friend, Ed Whitfield, rejects the administration's back door attacks on America's energy bills. This legislation restores opportunity and fairness by ensuring more American paychecks do not unnecessarily go to expanding electricity and heating costs. Mr. Chairman, at a time when energy production is booming, the cost per family should be dropping, not rising. I suppose the President actually held true to another promise: he has promised an all-the-above energy policy. I had hoped that meant increasing energy production from all sources, not increasing prices on all consumers. I urge my colleagues to reject the President's plan for higher energy costs and support this legislation.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Congressman Valadao, Congressman Nunes, and all of the delegation for their work when it comes to water. The news from California is not bright. The current news: our drought is the worst in a century. Governor Brown has declared a state of emergency because of the drought. Our water storage is at near empty. Farmland is going fallow. Drinking water is threatened. The State actually says in its latest report that 17 communities can go dry in 4 months. In the absence of God our options are limited to ease this pain. It didn't have to be this way. But why are we here today and why are we debating this bill? Well, without action farms are going to go fallow. So what does that mean for the rest of the Nation? A lot of people don't look at what happens throughout California and the Central Valley. Most of the produce is produced there for the Nation and the world. If you just look at a few: 94 percent of all tomatoes, 93 percent of all broccoli, 89 percent of all carrots, 78 percent of all lettuce. So that means prices will go up. It also means you are going to buy that produce somewhere else. You are going to buy it overseas: maybe China, maybe Mexico. What about the food safety? More importantly, what about those jobs? What about those workers? Just a few short years ago, unemployment in some of these cities were 40 percent. It is already more than 10. The worst part of all this is it didn't have to be this way. We could plan for it. I have heard colleagues talk about this, Mr. Chairman, that back in 1994 we actually had a bipartisan agreement: the Bay-Delta Accord. It was more than just Republicans and Democrats agreeing. It was environmentalists, farmers, water users. Everybody came to an agreement. But that bond was broken. The reason we debate this is water is so precious. Most of the snowpack comes from the north and travels down to the south. We have a State water project that--which is a little ironic--Governor Brown, when his father was Governor built more than 50 years ago. There have always been allocations to send it down south. This year they made history. In the history of the water project, the allocation is zero-- zero. When you are growing up you study history. There are always those Aesop's Fables. Do you remember Aesop? He was that slave in ancient Greece that would tell these tales to teach about a moral lesson. One of those fables talked about the ant and the grasshopper, where the ant during summertime, because he knew winter would come, would go out and work hard and store food for the winter. Not the grasshopper. He would be idle out there in the summer enjoying life, and hopefully nothing bad ever happened. Well, over the years, government regulation has made it harder. Government regulation has changed the Bay-Delta Accord. It is safe to say, environmentalists have sued. Environmentalists have decided that fish are more important than those who are unemployed; that maybe they come before the individual. What does that mean? Since 2007, the State Water Project has lost 2.6 million acre feet because of these policies. Now, what does that mean, 2.6 million acre feet? That means that is enough for the annual water needs of every resident in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago combined. Where did that water go? Out to the ocean. Why would we send it out to the ocean when we could store it for the drought that we knew would happen? There is nothing that illustrates this broken system more than just 3 years ago. You have all seen those photos that people have shown down here on TV of California when it had a snowpack and California today when it is all dry. Just 3 years ago, do you know what that snowpack was? More than 170 percent. Boy, that would be a good year to be an ant, that would be a good year to send it down, that would be a good year to store for today so those communities would not go dry or that land would not go fallow. That wasn't the case. Do you know what the allocation was when we had 170 percent of snowpack? Eighty percent. Do you know what is unjust in all of this? This year when we get zero percent, or when we got 80 percent of allocation, the bill was always the same: you paid 100 percent, regardless of what allocation you got. What about property rights? What about responsibility? What about a broken system? So what does this bill actually do? Well, first and foremost, it puts families before fish. It goes back to an agreement that everybody agreed upon, and it moves us in a place where we can prepare. Standing defenselessly in the face of future droughts is not a noble gesture. It is actually insanity. Today, this House will act again, because we would not be in the dryer place that we are today had the Senate taken up the bill we acted on in the last Congress. Why? Because this House believes and understood and learned the lessons of the fables before--that we prepare. But the Senate, in the grasshopper style, stood idly by. Our Senators--California is pretty powerful in the Senate. Mr. Chairman, I will say California has two Senators that are chairs of committees. There was an opportunity to act. What is unique in this form of government and what we have, the greatest in the world, we have two Houses. It doesn't mean both Houses have to agree at the very beginning. It does mean that you take action and show where you stand, just like the House did 2 years ago. The Senate took no stance, so how do we know where they stand? Well, we will act again. The Senate needs to act, show us where they stand, go to conference, and stand up for the families of California. This has gone on too long. We do not have to be in the situation we stand in today. There are families that did not have to be unemployed had we acted in the Senate, based upon what we did. There are communities that would not have had to go dry had we acted before. So enough of rhetoric, enough of the fights; the time is now. As the Sun sets today, a bill will be out of this House, but still nothing is even introduced in the Senate. Mr. Chairman, I implore, don't make California hurt anymore. Mr. HASTINGS OF Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bakersfield High School Drillers football team, who took home their seventh state football title after a triumphant win at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division I State Football Championship Bowl Game this past December. Drillers football has long been synonymous with winning in California state high school football history, with 36 section championships since its first unofficial game 120 years ago. In a magical 12-year span, the Drillers won six state championships, with the sixth title win coming in 1927. That same year, the state playoff system was disbanded, resurrected 79 years later in 2006 with the establishment of the state bowl championship. With the 56-26 win against Del Oro High on December 20, 2013, a new and modern era of Driller state champions was born. Winning this championship was a team effort on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. This historic victory, however, was also the product of months of hard work and skill, refined by grueling summer practices and an unequivocal determination from every player, coach, and support staff to not only reach the state championship bowl, but to take home the trophy. This team overcame early obstacles, but with their eyes on the prize, charged through the season to cap off an amazing 13-2 record and secured wins by an average margin of victory of several touchdowns. I commend Drillers Head Coach Paul Golla and his coaching staff for their leadership and ability to mold their students into champions and uphold the Drillers' century-old legacy as California's winningest high school football team. Serving the Drillers for nine years, Coach Golla brought all the players together so each one not only knew his individual responsibilities to cohesively form elaborate offensive and defensive units that scored at will and stifled their opponent's offense. The same can be said for the team's senior class leaders who, through their unique ability to lead their teammates, made game-winning adjustments and executed each play to the highest level. As a Driller myself, I join our community in congratulating the coaches and players for their achievement. The 2013 Division I State Championship Driller coaching staff includes: Head Coach Paul Golla, Darren Carr, Terry Chapman, DeMarcus Clear, Jay Durant, Adam Levinson, Johnny Maran, Lance McCullah, Eduardo Romero, Craig Buckey, Paxton Garner, Rick Mosher, Bill Solan, Devon Pitts, Kirk Erickson, and Chris Figueroa. The 2013 CIF Division I State Championship Driller football team includes: Derrick Vickers, Lameshio Hill, Asauni Rufus, Johnathon Malone, Darias Dallas, Nate Stancil, Amone Gragg, Jeremiah Reddick, Coleman Olivas, Joseph Conley, Joshua Maran, Kevin Hayes, Ryder Dilley, Noah Holley, Desmond Stancil, Kira Burton, Keayr Gragg, Eddie Sanchez, Marcus Watkins, Deion Nobles, Anthony Mackey, Desmon McGhee, Bryson Briggs, Alex Fulmer, Ben Sanchez, Darrious Eaton, Nick Marchetti, Nigel Flores, Brian Douglas, Marcus Bruce, Patrick Liles, Jake Vasquez, Chris Sierra, Chris Agtang, Ethan Carter, Patrick Crowley, David Bonilla, Dimas Ramos, Greyson Burt, Dillon Littles, Nigel Brooks, Paulie Salazar, Brenden Hacker, Albert Salas, Joshua Nunez, Benjamin O'Bannon, Seth Valdes, Jordan Beltran, Julian Sanders, Anastacio Barrientos, Fletcher Dilley, Dyllan Guillermo, Cassidy Johnson, McKenzie McCoy, Robert Trujillo, Sergio Barriga, Daniel Schoene, Ulunder Martin, and Tyler Alvarez. You all have made our community so proud. Once a Driller, Always a Driller.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for your work, and I appreciate your willingness and the opportunity to bring accountability, as many of you know, to the challenge that we have in California and the devastation of the drought, but what is wreaking havoc throughout the Valley--which is the breadbasket--we find many times much of this money is not being held accountable and the lack of water that is not being supplied throughout California. We appreciate your work on this.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act. The reason why we are passing this important legislation today is that credible and documented fears have been raised that this hastily constructed ObamaCare exchange Web site could jeopardize the security of our most sensitive personal information. One of the many reasons so many worry about ObamaCare is that it injects government and government bureaucrats into the most personal sphere of our lives, our health care, in new and alarming ways. Nothing could turn a life more upside down quickly than identity theft. It is our duty, as Members of Congress, to do everything in our power to protect and inform Americans about these potentially devastating events. I am confident that this concern is one of the law's most negative consequences that both sides of the aisle can come together and agree must be addressed. Absent its full repeal, instilling this type of transparency and accountability into ObamaCare is a worthy first step. I urge my Democratic friends to join with us today.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank our chairman of the Budget Committee for showing the leadership, finding the common ground, but actually moving this entire House. When I first came to Congress, debate was always about more spending, always about what would the future hold. Ever since the Republicans took the majority, within our first 4 months, we produced a budget that put us on to a path of a much different approach. It was a path led by our chairman and a path that would actually grow jobs and move us in a new direction. The challenge we had was in the Senate; there was no budget. The last time, since I have been here that the Senate produced a budget, the iPad wasn't introduced. But this House moved No Budget, No Pay, and the Senate began to move, but they came up with a different number than we had. We had a stalemate on the floor that the country was frustrated with, that we were frustrated with; and we knew that this was not the way Congress was designed. So this agreement moves us in a much different place. Every year that Congress failed to pass a budget, it ceded its power, intended by our Founders to be held by Congress, to the executive branch. As House Republicans continue to fight for more limited government that empowers the individual and makes smarter spending decisions, the standard set by this agreement will be critically important. The budget agreement takes steps to reform mandatory spending that starts out slow but compounds over the years and results in real and growing spending reductions year over year. It also moves us closer to more responsible entitlement reforms that lead to a balanced budget, paying down our debt, and a sustainable economic future. Today is a unique day. Today is a day that is a step in the right direction, and it shows the common ground that not only this body but the Senate can take as well. I thank all those involved, and I ask for a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank Chairman Upton. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2019, named in the memory of a remarkable young lady, Gabriella Miller. The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act gives pediatric research a shot in the arm through additional targeted funding, funding that is fully offset by reining in taxpayer funding of political conventions. The National Institutes of Health works admirably in distributing important Federal funding on basic medical research, but more can be done for childhood illness. In 2012, only 2 percent of NIH funding was spent on pediatric cases. Today's bill provides additional funding for the NIH to help address the need for coordinated research on various childhood diseases, including cancer, autism, and juvenile diabetes. It helps provide a down payment to the promise that we have to our next generation by helping our scientists and researchers find the cures today to childhood illnesses. There is no Republican or Democrat form of childhood illness, and there is no Republican or Democrat way to fight it. By working together on this bipartisan bill, we can put our children above the Presidential politics of every 4 years. I want to thank my good friends Congressman Gregg Harper and Congressman Peter Welch for their work on this legislation. I also want to thank Majority Leader Cantor for his continued leadership on these issues affecting America's families across the country. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2019.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank my colleague for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1900 and in support of the work this Chamber has accomplished this week. This was an important week in the House. We will have passed three bills that further the energy revolution that has propelled the U.S. to the forefront of the world's energy producers. So to hear a few of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle disparage this work, even so much as refer to it as egregious, is disappointing. First, we passed legislation that reduced bureaucratic delays on energy products on Federal lands that are providing resources to power our economy. As America, we will soon become the largest energy producer in the world. It is astonishing that this occurred while energy production on Federal lands has actually decreased. We guaranteed that energy production from hydraulic fracturing on Federal lands is overseen by the regulator with the best track record, the States. And today we are ensuring that, once harnessed, the energy resources will reach end-users in the safest, most efficient and reliable manner. In its lifecycle, the quality of all Americans improves; and there is no better example than, at the start of this month, November 1, the first pipeline to enter New York City in 40 years opened. That was 40 years that it took. What happened once it entered New York City? The price dropped. The price fell by 17 percent. Do you realize if you buy gas in New York City, it is cheaper than in Louisiana? But 40 years that it took. To me, that was egregious. The savings extend far beyond New York City. In 2012, affordable energy added $1,200 of disposal income to the average U.S. household. That will go to $2,700 by 2020 and $3,500 by 2025. That is real savings. Today we have an opportunity. We have an opportunity to streamline, to protect, and to lower the costs for all Americans, to actually be able to produce and create more jobs in America. That is why you see a very diverse group of support for this legislation, from unions, to associations, to Americans that want to keep more of what they earn, create more American jobs, and then, again, stop any egregious falsity that it takes 40 years to build a pipeline.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank the chairman for his work in keeping his pledge of bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act. From the start, ObamaCare has been a disaster. First, the individual mandate was a bad idea before and is even more dangerous now because it is forcing people to choose health care they do not want, cannot afford, and isn't right for themselves and their families. Second, the President's credibility continues to crumble as independent news sources have confirmed that he intentionally broke his promise to every American about whether they can keep his insurance under this law. We will continue to see the shock waves of ObamaCare. Today, it is the fact that Americans cannot keep their coverage. Tomorrow, it will be the staggering and unexpected cost. Next month, it will be about losing access to their doctors, and the list continues. No administrative fix will undo the harm this law has caused. Republicans believe that we must try and help Americans who have been harmed by ObamaCare. That is why, today, we will pass a bill to allow Americans to continue to enroll in plans currently offered without facing the individual mandate penalty. What the American people and our constituents need is certainty. The only approach that begins to provide them certainty is the bill before us today. Our bill allows Americans a choice. It lets individuals keep their health care plans while giving others who currently are uninsured an escape hatch from ObamaCare. Our bill will allow individuals, whether one is a mother of a sick child, a small business owner, or a young, invincible adult, to keep their current plans. The National Federation of Independent Business and senior groups, such as 60 Plus, are urging Congress to fulfill its duty and pass this bill. I urge my Democratic friends to join with us. Many of them voted for this bill. They stated they had an intent that Americans could keep their plans. Today is their opportunity to keep that pledge.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, the President's announcement today does little to change the need for Congress to act. The President's promise of ``if you like your plan, you can keep it,'' is an empty promise. Sadly, 1 million Californians are now finding out firsthand in the form of a letter that their current plan has been canceled. One of those 1 million Californians happens to be a constituent of mine from Bakersfield, California. He wrote me recently to tell me how ObamaCare has failed him. He writes: Our youngest son was born with a rare genetic condition that results in severe mental retardation, an inability to walk or talk, and a need to be tube-fed directly into a surgically implanted port in his stomach. Our longtime insurance carrier, Kaiser Permanente, has been great about caring for our son, who requires 24-hour care and special medication and formulas, all of which are very expensive. Well, we just learned today that our previous coverage, not cheap by any means, with a premium of nearly $1,000 a month, is no longer available, and that a far inferior replacement plan with less coverage and more out-of-pocket exposure will cost $626 a month more, bringing our total to over $1,600 a month. With the added out-of-pocket expenses, we anticipate for his care in the coming year we expect to pay about $24,000 more for care next year than this year, all thanks to ACA. That is why we must take up and pass Keep Your Health Plan Act, and we ask the Democrats to join with us, to keep a pledge, to keep a promise, and stop increasing the cost for the constituents.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 70th anniversary of America's premier weapons development center, the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, which is located in Ridgecrest, California, which I represent. China Lake was originally established as the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) in the Indian Wells Valley of California to serve the needs of the Navy-Caltech wartime rocket program. This location was chosen due to its near-perfect flying weather and incredible visibility. Testing began a month after NOTS was formally established and shortly thereafter the Secretary of the Navy expanded its mission to lead the Navy in research, development, and testing of weapons, a mission China Lake still carries out to this day. Since being founded during World War II, China Lake has been critical in the development of our nation's defense capabilities in every major conflict, including the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of China Lake's notable developments occurred in 1950, when scientists and engineers developed the air-intercept missile (AIM). Known more commonly as the Sidewinder, the AIM has become the world's most recognized air-to-air missile and is one of many weapons that have been developed or tested at China Lake. Other prominent rockets and missiles developed or tested at China Lake include the Mighty Mouse, Zuni, Shrike, Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW) and Joint Direct-Attack Munition (JDAM), all of which have given and continue to give our military the capabilities needed to maintain combat superiority over current and future threats. Spanning over three counties and covering more than 1,100,000 acres, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is currently home to several commands and detachments that work together each day in support of our warfighters. These include: the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), which serves within the Naval Air Systems command to maintain the highest standards of excellence in weapons development for the Navy; the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE (VX-31) and the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9), which provide the essential expertise needed to plan and execute ground and flight tests, air-to-ground weapons, air-to-air weapons, sensors, electronic warfare systems, and developmental weapons and weapons systems testing; the Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD), which focuses on the development of cutting-edge technologies for weapons systems; the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachments, which are forces comprised of highly-trained technicians who specialize in explosives, diving, and parachuting; the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest China Lake Detachment, which is responsible for the public works, planning, engineering design, construction, real estate, and environmental services of the facilities and real estate at NAWS China Lake. Together, these tenants are made up of the hardworking men and women of the China Lake community, who work each day to maintain a reputation of excellence for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense. For the past 70 years, NAWS has been critical to ensuring our military men and women have the latest cutting-edge technology to protect and defend America when called into harm's way. The weapons and weapons systems developed at China Lake help ensure these brave individuals complete their mission and return safely to their families. I have had the privilege to meet with the amazing individuals at China Lake who are responsible for these incredible innovations in American technology. Their dedication, commitment, and pride in the work they perform are unparalleled. This same commitment is reflected in the Ridgecrest community, where many of the men and women who work at this installation live and raise their families. Mr. Speaker, NAWS China Lake is a beacon of innovation and excellence in the military community and an important part of my community and my district. I am honored to represent so many individuals, active-duty military and civilians, who go to work each day for the purpose of maintaining and strengthening both the warfighter and this nation's defense. I look forward to another 70 years of amazing achievements, and I ask my colleagues to join me today in wishing the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake a very happy 70th anniversary.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the founding of the City of Ridgecrest in my district. Located in the southern portion of the Indian Wells Valley, Ridgecrest embodies what makes America exceptional--love of country, hard work, and dedication. The roots of Ridgecrest began much earlier than 1963, when the city was incorporated. In 1912, local dairymen James and Robert Crum established a small farming settlement named Crumville. As more farming families settled the Naval Ordnance Testing Station was created, the community continued to grow. By 1963, the town was officially incorporated as Ridgecrest and experienced exponential growth as the demand for expertise in the naval station's programs for weapons development increased during the Cold War. Today, the Naval Ordnance Test Station is now the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS) and home to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. Growing together with China Lake, the Ridgecrest community also grew, supporting the tireless mission of our nation's defense with zeal. One of the most patriotic communities in America, Ridgecrest remains dedicated to the defense of American ideals and helping members of the armed forces. Ridgecrest boasts a rich historic and educational history. The city has many cultural and recreational activities, such as the Maturango Museum, the China Lake Naval Museum of Armament and Technology, and the Petroglyph Canyons. Boasting National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished Schools, Ridgecrest schools, served by the Sierra Sands Unified School District, consistently perform at the highest academic levels. Additionally, with the establishment of Cerro Coso Community College in 1973, Ridgecrest carries a statewide reputation for hosting one of the top community colleges in California, serving over 8,500 students. Over half a century, Ridgecrest remains a California jewel, honoring and supporting America's great warfighter, and sharing in the success of one of the Navy's premier research, testing, development, and evaluation installations. Such success cannot be replicated without the hardworking people and the close-knit community that is unique to Ridgecrest. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and my friends in the Ridgecrest community as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of its incorporation as a city in the great state of California.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2189, legislation that will provide real relief to hundreds of thousands of our Nation's veterans. I first want to thank Chairman Miller because this bill includes the provisions that are a result of the GAO audit that Chairman Miller and I requested on the Department of Veterans Affairs due to the numerous complaints from veterans in all of our districts who had to wait months and, oftentimes, years for benefits. The audit confirmed these veterans' worst complaints about the severity of the claims and the backlog. The GAO identified the Los Angeles regional office, which serves many of my local veterans in my home district, as one of the worst in the country. According to the current data, 61 percent of the over 16,000 claims are still backlogged. Recent data from the VA shows that the Department processed 100,000 less claims than they planned for fiscal year 2013. Clearly, the VA is unable to implement needed reforms themselves. This legislation today addresses the backlog problems in the VA by focusing on streamlining required paperwork and communications between Federal agencies and ensuring continued and, if needed, relentless congressional oversight of the administration's timeline to clear the compensation claims backlog. When called to serve the United States of America, our Nation's veterans have answered. It is time Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs answer their call as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting our veterans and supporting this bill to end the backlog.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the anniversary of a California company that has dedicated itself to serving the residents of our state for 150 years. Founded in San Francisco, the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company has been protecting the future for individuals, families and businesses since 1863. The Fireman's Fund name, which is well-known across California, emanates from the founder's arrangement to pay 10 percent of the company's profits to support the widows and orphans of firefighters who died in the line of duty. That tradition continues today through the company's Heritage Program, providing fire departments throughout the nation with life-saving equipment and training. Working in combination with its employees, agents and brokers, the company has distributed more than $30 million to support firefighters for safer communities since 2004, with over $8 million contributed in California. The company has also been a benefactor for numerous charities in the San Francisco Bay Area and its generosity has added tremendously to the vitality of our communities. Over the past 150 years, Fireman's Fund's contribution to our nation's history extends far beyond California. The Fireman's Fund has insured the construction of some of our nation's most treasured landmarks, including the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge and even Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. During our nation's most trying times of crisis, the company delivered on its promises. Following the Chicago Fire of 1871 and the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, the Fireman's Fund played a critical role in rebuilding after the devastation. The company was also present when needed most for many displaced people after the Northridge earthquake of 1994, which devastated much of Southern California. Throughout its history, the Fireman's Fund has prided itself on also being innovative; it prides itself on being the first insurance provider to write a standing grain policy in the U.S., the first carrier to offer nationwide automobile insurance and standardized homeowners insurance, and the first company to add ``green rebuild'' insurance to their offerings for homes and businesses. Back in my hometown of Bakersfield, California, Fireman's Fund remains one of our region's largest agricultural insurers, providing essential risk control services to hundreds of farm producers in my Congressional District. Its 150 years of service has established a name and reputation which resonates well with insurance agents and brokers who distribute their product in our local communities. Today there are more than 1,200 Californians working for Fireman's Fund. Together they make up a great company that remains one of California's most enduring financial institutions. Given the time of rapid change in which we live, it is comforting to know that companies like Fireman's Fund still endure, and I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing them well with the hope that they will still be protecting the future for individuals, families and businesses for another 150 years.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, John Pilios, who will be retiring as news director at KGET Channel 17 in Bakersfield, California after dedicating 35 years of his life to the California broadcast industry. Joining the world of radio broadcasting in 1977 as a Disc Jockey with KSEE Radio in Santa Maria, John has done it all. From Program Director with KLOM Radio in Lompoc to News Anchor with KSMA Radio, John eventually went on to serve as a reporter with KCOY and, in 1990, became its News Director. In 1999, he joined the KGET family and in 2001 became the News Director. As one of the longest serving news directors in California, John is well known for his impeccable character and carries a reputation for high standards--standards that have helped make KGET the most watched station in the region. Yet, beyond these accomplishments is a truly admirable quality: his passion and commitment to community service. It is clear to me and thousands of Kern County residents that John's love for the Bakersfield community is genuine. Under his leadership at KGET, the station's viewers have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars that went to those most in need. From assisting our veterans and the elderly, to finding lost animals and helping the homeless, to his support for the annual Red Cross Real Heroes event, John's efforts have made our community healthier and stronger. I firmly believe that John's commitment to the highest standards of journalism has not only enriched our community, but carries on the American ideal that an informed public is the most important element of a free society. Though John's tenure at KGET is coming to an end, his ideas, values, and standards can be found in the work of reporters and journalists across the country who credit their success to him. And, as he enters this new chapter in his life, I know he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Cindy, daughter Dawn, and grandchildren, Landen and Paige. I know I join thousands of others in thanking John for his contribution to our community and wish him well in retirement.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. This issue is straightforward. It deals with Defense Working Capital Funds. This is just like owning a business. When you provide a service or a product, you get paid for it. That is how Defense Working Capital Funds operates. They're paid through reimbursements for the services they provide to the Department of Defense, which is already funded for the fiscal year. Thus, Working Capital Funds do not receive direct appropriations and, therefore, furloughing these individuals have no savings. They actually have the direct opposite effect. It will cost you more, there will be delays, and, most importantly, individuals will be harmed in the process. The specialized work the Defense Working Capital Fund employees perform is vital to our Nation's security and our warfighters around the globe. A blanket 11-day furlough policy, such as China Lake in my district, will only end up slowing down getting our warfighters the best and latest technology to complete their mission when called upon to protect and defend America and safely return home to their families. This is very simple. They are a business that performs work and they get paid for it, and the money is already there. That's why I ask and urge all of us to join in supporting this amendment.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Principal Willie Sandoval, who is retiring after dedicating 45 years of his life to the Kern High School District in California. In 1968, Willie began as a teacher and--how I remember him best--a coach at Bakersfield High School, my alma mater. In the mid-1980s during my time at BHS, Coach Sandoval taught me the importance of perseverance and a constant desire to learn, both on and off the field. By 1997, Willie was eligible for retirement. Instead, his passion for educating our young people led him to take on new challenges and continue to serve Bakersfield students. He is the only principal in Kern High School District's history to open two new schools--Golden Valley High School and Independence High School. And as principal of Independence, he was constantly innovating new opportunities and educational experiences for his students. For example, Willie partnered with the California Department of Energy and PG&E to found the New Energy Academy, which infuses career technical education into our students' traditional academic endeavors at Independence. Coach Sandoval is a living example of the mantra ``never give up.'' Though his tenure in the education system comes to an end, his legacy will forever be found in the halls of our schools. President John F. Kennedy once said, ``After the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.'' Mr. Speaker, Principal Willie Sandoval's contribution to the human spirit through the education of our young Americans is truly admirable. Throughout his illustrious career, he has remained steadfast to his vision, passion, and advocacy for education. I wish Willie well in retirement. And, as he enters this new chapter in his life, I know he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Nettie, their daughter Carrie, son William, and his four grandchildren. On behalf of thousands of parents and students, I salute and honor a truly exceptional teacher, coach, principal, and leader in our community, Willie Sandoval, who leaves a legacy of hope, education, and inspiration through Kern County and the State of California.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill. Now, if you're like me and you go across the country, you want to listen to the American people. The two things they talk about when you tell them you're a Member of Congress, the first thing is: Where are the jobs? The second thing they say: Why can't you work together? Why can't you solve this problem together? It's not often that we get to mesh those two together on the exact same day. But, you know, today is that opportunity. Last week, I watched our President of the United States go to a small business. I love it when he goes to a small business. I was a small business owner. He went to a small business to talk about job creation. He wants to move America forward. And I'll be frank, lots of time my philosophy isn't the same as the President, but I want to work together, especially when we agree. So I listened to his words and I listened to him closely because he talked about what was holding back job creation in America. The President said: One of the problems we've had in the past is that sometimes it takes too long to get projects off the ground. There are all these permits and red tape and planning, and this and that, and some of it's important to do, but we could do it faster. You know what? I agreed with those words of President Obama. And I looked for what could make that change. And you know when he spoke at that small business, it just so happened that the CEO of that small business was there with him. But you know where he was 24 hours before? He was right here in Congress. He was here testifying, as that small business, about what could get America moving. You know what he talked about? Build the Keystone pipeline. Build it. So when the President said that sometimes projects take too long to get off the ground, I think he was referring to if it was more than 1,700 days, that was too long. So when the President said that there's too much red tape, some is important, but we could do faster, I think the President probably meant that 15,000 pages of review that we've done for Keystone is probably too much. So there's a unique ability that, yes, we can move something that can create 20,000 jobs in America today. You know what? We could be less reliant on the Middle East for our energy as well. But you know what is more important when we listen to the American people and they ask, Why can't we do this in a bipartisan manner? You know what? It will come off this floor in a bipartisan vote. But you question, can it come off the Senate? Well, you know what? A majority of the Senators have voted for it, 17 Democrats on the other side as well. So I stand today as the majority whip saying I agreed with President Obama's words. The only thing that is missing is the action. Today we will do our job. We'll send it to the Senate, and it will be the start of a new beginning, to put people before politics and jobs and bipartisanship forward, and I look forward to the opportunity to do it.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. As we gather today in this House, we opened it with prayer--prayer to remember those families, those children, those runners, those spectators that were lost in Boston. As I watched that horrific incident, I paused for a moment. At the same time that I saw this tragic incident, I also saw the spirit of America. The spirit of America was with those individuals who rushed in to help, not knowing whether they would be injured or not, not knowing what would happen to them. But they rushed to help one another. I want this body to instill that same American spirit--that we are bound together--so that we will remember those lost, but more importantly, we will bring to justice those that perpetrated this action and that we will be stronger in the end as a Nation and never forget those who were lost.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, the Majority Whip Office asked Representative Michele Bachmann to work on a project during the RSC budget vote. We assured her that we would inform her prior to our closing the vote. We did not, and for that we take responsibility and apologize both to her and her constituents. Representative Bachmann would have voted in the affirmative for the Republican Study Committee substitute to H. Con. Res. 25.

Mr. McCARTHY of California

Mr. McCARTHY of California. I would like to thank the chairman for his work. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 667, to honor two great pioneers in American aeronautics and space exploration, Dr. Hugh Dryden and Astronaut Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong was a Navy fighter pilot, engineer, test pilot, astronaut, and educator who was always proud to serve this Nation. Before joining the Astronaut Corps in 1962 and eventually taking the first small step for a man, Armstrong served as a test pilot for 7 years at what is presently called the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Kern County, California, which I am proud to represent. Armstrong flew thousands of hours as a test pilot there, mainly in experimental jets and high-speed rocket planes. He was also part of the team in the early 1960s who developed the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle used to train our astronauts on how to safely land on the Moon. After the success of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong remained an active contributor to the aeronautical research programs at the Flight Research Center. Most notably of these was the digital fly-by-wire program, which is recognized today as a far-reaching technological breakthrough. He returned to visit the center in the years that followed and, throughout his life, remained a strong advocate of flight research. H.R. 667 would rename the NASA Center in his honor, the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center. H.R. 667 would also honor Dr. Hugh Dryden's contributions to aerospace engineering that made many of Neil Armstrong's career achievements possible. Dryden was a key figure in the development of America's aerospace programs from the early part of the 20th century to the much more complex programs that are still ongoing at NASA Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, and China Lake Naval Air Station in my district. He was an early pioneer in aerodynamics over the first half of the 20th century and enabled many scientific breakthroughs. When NASA was created in 1958, Dr. Dryden was chosen to be its first deputy administrator, focusing his energies on the programs that allowed our country to explore space and send our astronauts to the Moon. H.R. 667 will memorialize both men by redesignating the Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and naming the center's test range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and NASA Flight Research Center in eastern Kern County remain a hub of scientific discovery, aeronautic innovation and space exploration. I look forward to many more groundbreaking achievements from the men and women inspired by the legacy of Neil Armstrong and Hugh Dryden. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 667 is a fitting tribute to Armstrong and Dryden, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to celebrate the remarkable lives of both men.