Luke Messer

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Work One Southeast to the success of the 6th District job fair. On October 21, 2013, over 150 job seekers from across the district met with 36 businesses looking to hire new employees. In a time when jobs are still hard to come by these job fairs are an important tool in linking job seekers with perspective employers. I am proud we were able to bring community leaders together and provide this service to the people of the 6th District. The job fair would not have been the success it was without the help of Work One Southeast. I want to recognize the work of both Jamie Geyer and Angela Black. Their efforts in planning and organizing the job fair show a deep commitment to their community and the economic health of Southeastern Indiana. We could not have done the job fair without them. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in recognizing Work One Southeast. I look forward to working with them in the future as we strive to serve the people Southeastern Indiana.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a community leader and friend, Mayor Dick Pasco of Greenfield, Indiana. Dick Pasco was a dedicated public servant who spent the better part of his life serving the people of Greenfield. Dick's work for the city began in 1972 when he was appointed to the Greenfield Park Board. He was later elected to the city council where he would serve for twenty years. Dick would go on to hold a variety of positions on the Greenfield Planning Commission, Council for Economic Development, Hancock Boys and Girls Club, United Way, and Kiwanis International. Dick Pasco served on the Hancock County Council before being elected Mayor in 2011. The City of Greenfield has lost a pillar of the community and a dedicated civic leader. Mayor Pasco set an example we can all aspire to. His life, including four years in the United States Navy, has been dedicated to serving others and making his community a better place to live. His commitment to Greenfield will be forever appreciated. I will forever appreciate his friendship and ask the citizens of the 6th Congressional District to join me in keeping his wife Joan, daughters Jennifer Pasco-Beck and Patricia Pasco and son Richard Pasco II in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., INC. which recently moved its North American headquarters to Columbus, Indiana in my congressional district. Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., INC. (TMHU) has been operating in North America for 45 years and in 1990 began lift truck production at the Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing facility in Columbus. The company has been producing the number-one selling lift truck in the U.S. since 2002. The majority of all Toyota lift trucks sold in the U.S. are manufactured in Columbus. Recently Toyota celebrated the official grand opening of their multi- million dollar investment in their new campus and the line-off of the first large capacity Toyota 8-Series lift truck. The same event also marked the 450,000th lift truck produced at the Columbus plant. By moving their headquarters to Columbus TMHU continues its investment in Southeastern Indiana and support for the community's economic vitality. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in recognizing Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., INC. Their leadership and economic impact on our state has been invaluable. TMHU is a great community partner, and I look forward to working with them often in the future.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of the Columbus East High School football team. The Columbus East football team recently captured the team's second state championship. The Olympians won the Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 4A State Final 28-27 over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. With 3:42 left in the game, Columbus East scored a touchdown, giving them the one point lead that won the championship. The team embodied the best of Hoosier sportsmanship with their dedication, grit, and execution shown not only in the championship game but throughout the season. For the leadership and support of this championship team, congratulations and accolades go to the Athletic Director and Coach, Bob Gattis, Superintendent John Quick, Principal Mark Newell and the assistant coaches. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in congratulating the Columbus East Olympians for their impressive victory. I look forward to seeing what each of these talented young athletes will achieve in the future.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker I rise today to congratulate former Senator Richard Lugar of my home state of Indiana. Senator Lugar received the Medal of Freedom today from President Obama at a ceremony at the White House. Few other political leaders in our state's history have rivaled Senator Lugar's accomplishments during his over 40 years of service to Indiana. His work as the chairman of the Agriculture Committee and support for biofuels research has helped Hoosier famers and brought jobs to rural Indiana. Senator Lugar is recognized around the world for his work on stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In 1991, Senator Lugar partnered with Senator Sam Nunn to establish a program aimed at eliminating latent weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union. Over 7,500 nuclear warheads have been deactivated through the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, making the world a far safer place. As the President of the Lugar Center, Senator Lugar continues to lead, lending his knowledge and wisdom to policy makers working to tackle the foreign policy issues of our day. Like so many others, Senator Lugar has played an essential role in inspiring my own career in public service. My grandmother Helen Rotzien was a Ward Chairman in Indianapolis when Dick Lugar was first elected mayor. Throughout my childhood, my grandparents repeatedly cited Senator Lugar as a model of achievement and integrity in public service. Later, as I began my own career in public service in Indiana, Senator Lugar took special interest in a young state legislator and Executive Director of the Indiana Republican Party. I will always be grateful for his friendship and guidance. I ask the entire 6th District to join me in congratulating Senator Lugar on receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As a Navy veteran, Indiana public servant and internationally respected statesman Richard Lugar's life has been dedicated to service to his country. Senator Lugar's leadership and public service is an example that all Hoosiers can aspire to.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dave Ross of Muncie, Indiana. Dave is the Chairman and CEO of National Catastrophe Adjusters, Inc., doing business as NCA Group, which is a leading provider of insurance management services. Incorporated in 1984, the company originally specialized in catastrophe claims management, handling claims throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. NCA Group currently services both daily and catastrophe claims for 5 of the top 10 carriers in the United States and the second largest insurer in Canada. NCA Group has since expanded its service offering well beyond that of a traditional catastrophe firm, providing a complete suite of claims service solutions. As a veteran, Mr. Ross knows the importance of service to his community and country. He employs over 300 people in Indiana's 6th Congressional District and all over the country, including a large number of veterans. Mr. Ross has developed a very unique and beneficial program for veterans returning back home that helps them translate their military experiences and traits into private sector skills. He then employs many of those veterans at NCA Group or recommends them highly to positions elsewhere. I recognize Mr. Ross' exemplary conduct as both a soldier and citizen. He truly has used his time and talents for the betterment of his fellow Hoosier and American.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Again, I thank the gentleman. Thank you for your leadership. As we have talked about before, the American people needed health care reform before the disaster of ObamaCare rolled out. Obviously, we need it now more than ever given the failings of recent days. H.R. 3121, the American Health Care Reform Act, is an answer. There are several principles upon which we should all be able to agree when it comes to genuine health care reform. First, patients should not be denied health insurance because of preexisting conditions. Second, any Federal policy changes must be designed to drive costs down, not up, as we have seen under the so-called Affordable Care Act. Third, you should be able to keep your health care plan if you like it. I agree with former President Bill Clinton when he has said that, given that very clear promise that was made by President Obama on behalf of the Federal Government to the American people, we need to pass legislation--we have already passed a bill in the House--but we need to pass legislation that makes sure that promise is kept. Fourth, we need commonsense medical liability reform that puts an end to the expensive system of defensive medicine that we have now. Health care decisions should be left up to you and your doctor, not Washington bureaucrats. The American Health Care Reform Act is centered on these five principles. Frivolous lawsuits are driving up health care costs and forcing good doctors out of the medical field. The American Health Care Reform Act improves medical liability law. Frankly, Indiana has been a leader in this area because of leadership from former Governor ``Doc'' Bowen, a physician back in the 1960s. The Indiana medical malpractice reform approach would be a great Federal model, and its principles from that plan is a part of H.R. 3121, which we are talking about today. We need improved medical liability law that allows doctors to continue practicing medicine without fear of excessive and unfair penalties. I also would like to talk to you a little bit about the importance of medical savings accounts. Fellow Hoosier Pat Rooney is known as the ``father of health savings accounts'' from his work as the president and CEO of Golden Rule. They were established in 2003 while Pat Rooney was the chairman of the Golden Rule Insurance Company. Pat believed people should own their own health care. Health savings accounts have proven to be a useful tool for individuals and families while navigating the health care system. Our plan, H.R. 3121, expands health savings accounts and enhances their performance by increasing the cap on contributions and expanding the allowable uses of health savings account funds. This gives people more control over how they spend their health care dollars and allows them to invest pretax dollars toward their future health care needs. Mr. Speaker, no one doubts that real reform is needed, but there are two distinct visions for the future of health care in our Nation. The President's plan expands the Federal Government's role in health care, raises taxes, and imposes unfair and unworkable mandates on the American people. Our plan, H.R. 3121, the American Health Care Reform Act, puts people in charge of their own health care. It encourages competition to lower costs and expand coverage. American families, businesses, and individuals deserve real solutions to the very serious problems that exist in health care in America today. The American Health Care Reform Act provides a path to true reform. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MESSER. I certainly appreciate the gentleman from Louisiana and his leadership. I know you were quoted over the weekend on FOX News by George Will describing the tragic circumstances that most Americans see themselves in, those that have lost their health care plan. I would like you to expand on that just a little bit, if you don't mind.

Mr. MESSER. Thank you very much. For months, the President has unilaterally enacted modifications, repeals, and delays to his own law, yet none of those so-called ``fixes'' have fixed this flawed law. Health care costs have continued to skyrocket. This is a huge burden on employers, individuals, and families. The American Health Care Reform Act will drive down the cost of health care through increased competition, individuals will be able to purchase health insurance across State lines and, as my colleague highlighted, businesses can pool together to get the same buying power as large corporations. Under the American Health Care Reform Act, families will have the flexibility to pick the coverage that best fits their needs. When people are in charge of their own health care, they become better consumers, which will encourage competition in the health care market. Real savings will only happen when people, not Washington bureaucrats, are in charge of their own health care. Next up, I would like to highlight a real leader on this important issue of providing an alternative to the failed programs of the President's health care law, my friend and colleague from Louisiana, the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Mr. Scalise. Great to have you here.

Mr. MESSER. Thank you. I certainly appreciate the gentleman and his leadership. I am sure you have been asked by many, both privately and publicly, the same thing that I have been asked, which is: Aren't you just really rooting for ObamaCare to fail? The comment I make every time I am asked that question is, no, I am rooting for the millions of Americans who are now being harmed by this bill. All the moms and dads that are worried about whether they are going to have insurance that had it before. The people who were promised things, that they would suddenly magically have insurance, and now they are not getting it. In the areas across the country where there were promises that rates would go down and now rates are going up, those folks now are caught at this point. I do think we have a responsibility. You and I both know, anybody that has been following here, we were opposed to ObamaCare and led efforts, along with many others, to try to make sure that we didn't have it. We also have always recognized that the status quo wasn't acceptable in health care either. That while we had a lot of great things in our system--certainly some of the best health care treatment in the world-- we had a program that was unaffordable and rates were going up. We have free enterprise-based, patient center-based solutions that can make a difference. I appreciate your leadership and highlighting this.

Mr. MESSER. Thank you. Once again, I appreciate the gentleman's leadership. I appreciate your longstanding leadership on this important issue and your longtime leadership in Texas as well. As you have said, nobody wants to say, ``I told you so,'' but, unfortunately, what has unfolded in the most recent weeks and months is exactly what was predicted by folks on your committee and elsewhere because you could see from the beginning that the bill was fundamentally flawed and just didn't work. I want to cite to this Chamber the number 701. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, that is the number of Hoosiers who have successfully signed up for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Indiana isn't alone. States across the country are experiencing dismal enrollment numbers. What is worse is that millions of Americans, including 108,000 Hoosiers, are getting policy cancelation notices from their health insurance companies. These notices are coming at a faster rate than people are able to sign up for the health care plans under the President's health care bill. The President called a press conference once again last week to announce to the American people that, if you like your health care plan, you can keep it. The problem is, no matter how many times the President makes that promise, the promise still isn't true. Saying the promise over and over again doesn't magically make it true. One of my constituents, Michael Sturgis of Greensburg, called to let me know that he received a cancelation letter from his insurance company. He was told his monthly premium was going to increase from $397 a month to $831 a month--an almost $500 increase per month. His $5,000 deductible will now go up to $7,300. So he is spending more money for a plan that gives him less. This is unacceptable, and it is certainly not affordable. That is why we need to pass the American Health Care Reform Act. It is so people like Michael and the millions of Americans like him all across this country can remain in charge of their own health care. Now I would like to yield to a colleague of mine, another person who has shown great leadership on this important issue and who is a close personal friend of mine as well, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Mr. MESSER. Unbelievable.

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for an important Special Order--this time, to focus on Republican solutions to our national health care crisis. The President's health care law has hurt more people than it has helped. Taxes are going up, premiums are rising to unaffordable levels, workers' hours are being cut, and people are losing the plans they like. After more than $500 million spent, the Web site doesn't even work. The truth is that, despite all these problems, the American people needed genuine health care reform before President Obama signed his signature law--and we still do. The American people deserve an alternative to the failures of the President's health care law, and we have one: The Affordable Health Care Reform Act. This important bill replaces the President's health care law with patient-centered reforms that genuinely lower costs while keeping you in charge of your health care. I have a few colleagues with me here today to join in this conversation. I certainly would like to start by yielding to Congressman Barton. Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, once again today the President said to the American people, if you like your health care plan, you can keep it--at least for 1 more year, if you're lucky. The problem is saying something many times does not magically make it come true. Right now, only 701 people in the State of Indiana have been able to sign up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. According to the Indiana Department of Insurance, more than 108,000 Hoosiers will receive or have received cancelation letters. One of those people is Michael Sturgis of Greensburg. He called my office after receiving a cancelation letter from his insurance company. Michael was told his monthly premium was going to increase from $397 a month to $831 a month. His $5,000 deductible will go up to $7,300. That is unacceptable, and it is certainly not affordable. That is why we need to pass H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013, and let the American people remain in charge of their health care.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of the U18 USA Power Soccer Team. Team USA recently traveled to Paris, France to compete in the Powerchair Football World Cup. After defeating Ireland's National Team in the semifinals, 13-0, Team USA went on to win the championship with a 5-0 victory over the host French team. The Americans showed incredible strength and team-effort, not surrendering a single goal during the entire tournament. Team USA included three Hoosiers Lexi Heer, Zackary Dickey and Michael Rodriguez. Their contributions helped the USA bring home another world cup championship. These young athletes embodied the best of American sportsmanship and competition and I was proud to have them representing our country in this tournament. I join the entire 6th District and Americans across the Nation in congratulating the U18 USA Power Soccer Team for a fantastic and thrilling 2013 Powerchair Football World Cup championship. I look forward to seeing what each of these talented young men and women will achieve in the future.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of my constituents, Jane A. Davis, of Greensburg, Indiana. Jane was a longtime resident of Greensburg, working in manufacturing at PrintPack for 33 years before her retirement in 1999. On a personal note, my brother Rich and I have very fond memories of summer evenings spent at Jane's house after days playing ball and riding bikes with her son Chad. Their friendships, and the friendship of their entire family, were a very important part of our childhood. Those memories will never be forgotten. I ask the entire 6th District to keep Jane's children, Kim, Tammy, Lee Ann, Jodi, Brad, and Chad, along with the entire extended Davis family in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora. After serving as President of Ball State for 10 years, President Gora announced she will be retiring from the position in June of 2014. After serving as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Old Dominion University and then as Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Jo Ann Gora became the fourteenth President of Ball State in 2004. She is the first woman to serve as president of a public university in the history of the state of Indiana. President Gora's dynamic leadership brought transformative improvements to the Ball State community. During her tenure as president, Ball State University undertook massive renovation and construction projects dramatically transforming the campus. The University raised more philanthropic funds than in the history of the institution. President Gora also oversaw the raising of admissions standards, and numerous academic programs achieved national rankings and recognition under her leadership. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in honoring President Jo Ann Gora for her service as the president of Ball State University. I am confident she will bring the same tenacity and leadership to the next chapter of her life.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Indiana State Representative Bill Davis. After serving House District 33 for 9 years, State Representative Davis will begin the next chapter of his career, serving the State as the Executive Director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. During his time in the State legislature, Bill Davis served on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he helped craft balanced budgets that included no tax increases for Hoosiers. As a legislator, Bill Davis was committed to efficient government that used the taxpayers' money wisely. Bill served as Chairman of the Committee on Public Policy and was a leader on issues affecting Hoosier farmers and teachers. Bill's leadership in business and government will greatly benefit Hoosiers as he serves as the Executive Director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. On a personal note, Bill and I served together in the Indiana General Assembly. He was a great colleague and an even better friend. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in honoring Bill Davis for his years of service in the Indiana General Assembly and in congratulating him on his next role as Executive Director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, ``If you like your health plan, you will be able to keep your health plan.'' That is what the President said in 2009, but now NBC News is reporting that this administration knew for at least 3 years that that wasn't true. Now millions of hardworking Americans in the individual market will not be able to keep their plans even if they like them. People across the Nation are experiencing sticker shock as they receive cancelation letters from their insurers and see their monthly premiums rise up to 400 percent. More people have received cancelation letters than have enrolled so far through all of the Affordable Care Act exchanges. The Affordable Care Act has proven to be anything but. It is time for the President and my Democratic colleagues to work with us to suspend this flawed law and to work to fix it. We have to find a better way to deliver the reforms people really need because this law isn't working.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mike Wickersham of Winchester, Indiana on being selected by Governor Mike Pence to chair the Indiana Region 6 Works Council. Mike is President of Wick's Pies, Inc., which has produced pies and pie shells for more than 50 years in Winchester. He serves his community as a member on the Randolph County Economic Development Board, the Region 6 Local Elected Officials Executive Council, the Randolph County YMCA, and as a Randolph County Commissioner. Mike's civic leadership and business experience will be an asset for Hoosiers as he serves as Chair of the Indiana Region 6 Works Council. The Indiana Works Councils, created by Governor Pence, are responsible for submitting evaluations of the career, technical and vocational education opportunities that will be used to better prepare high school students for entering the workforce. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in congratulating Mike Wickersham on having been selected to serve the State of Indiana as Chair of the Indiana Region 6 Works Council.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chris Lowery of Batesville, Indiana on being selected by Governor Mike Pence to chair the Indiana Region 9 Works Council. Chris has worked at Hillenbrand, Inc. for 19 years, currently as the Director of Public Policy and Engagement. A graduate of Indiana University, Chris previously was the Executive Director of the Association of Indiana Counties as well as an aide to former Indiana Governor Robert Orr and Senator Dan Quayle. Chris has also dedicated his time to education serving on the Batesville Community School Corporation's Board of Trustees as President and founding the Batesville Community Education Foundation. Chris' leadership in business and education will greatly benefit Hoosiers as he serves as Chair of the Indiana Region 9 Works Council. The Indiana Works Council, created by Governor Pence, is responsible for submitting evaluations of the career, technical and vocational education opportunities that will be used to better prepare high school students for entering the workforce. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to join me in congratulating Chris Lowery on having been selected to serve the State of Indiana as Chair of the Indiana Region 9 Works Council.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Honda Manufacturing of Indiana on celebrating their fifth anniversary of mass production. Honda's Indiana facility is located in Greensburg, in my congressional district. On October 9, 2008, Honda opened their seventh North American auto assembly plant in my hometown of Greensburg, Indiana. The facility has grown to employ over 2,000 associates and has been a valued asset for the economy of Greensburg and Southeastern Indiana. Each vehicle produced at the Greensburg facility contains about 900 parts from hundreds of suppliers, many of them in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. In 2011 alone, Honda spent $16 billion with suppliers, supporting good jobs throughout the region. To-date more than 650,000 vehicles have rolled off the Greensburg facility production line. These include the Civic Sedan, Civic Natural Gas, and the Acura ILX. I ask the entire Sixth Congressional District to join me in congratulating Honda Manufacturing of Indiana on this milestone. Their leadership and economic impact on our state has been invaluable. On a personal note, I am very appreciative of the impact Honda has had on my hometown of Greensburg and the Decatur County community at large. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana is a great community partner, and I look forward to celebrating many more milestones in the future.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. I want to thank my colleague and friend from Illinois, Congressman Davis, for his incredible leadership on this issue. I know of nobody in Congress who is working harder for the American family farmer than Congressman Davis. This Special Order today is just one more example of your leadership. Farming is hard work, and it is vital to Indiana. Ag industries contribute almost $38 billion a year to the Hoosier economy, supporting nearly 190,000 jobs. The farmers who provide these jobs work from dawn until way past dusk and face great risks when withering droughts or excess rains threaten to wreck their crops. Despite these challenges, Hoosier farmers manage to overcome adversity, succeed in their businesses, and feed the world. Too often, their work is made even harder because of uncertainties and inefficiencies in Federal farm policy. The problems with Federal farm laws are many: Price supports inflate the prices of some consumer goods; payments are made to people not actually farming; outdated and duplicative programs waste money that could be put to better use; rules regarding disaster assistance are too complicated; and they fail to provide enough certainty about whether and what return farmers will receive when they reinvest any profits in their family business. Many are surprised that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called ``food stamps,'' is administered by the Department of Agriculture, the USDA. Most agree the program is not well managed. It pays too many people who should not be eligible for help, diverting help from those who really need the assistance. There aren't enough incentives to encourage people to find work, and there is too much waste, fraud, and abuse. That's why we need a farm bill. The farm bill which passed the House is not perfect, but it would save $40 billion over the next decade, in part, by repealing or consolidating more than 100 programs that don't work, could work better, or are duplicative in purpose. The bill would stop the nonsense policy of paying people not to farm. Instead, it would give farmers greater flexibility to utilize federally backed crop insurance to manage risk. It also would require food stamp recipients to work more, get drug tested, and become self-sufficient. American icon Paul Harvey once said: And, on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ``I need a caretaker,'' and so God made the farmer. Others have spoken about how important it is that we stand up and be a champion for those who farm. A defeat of the farm bill maintains the status quo. We need a conference, and we need a farm bill. A defeat would hurt farmers and taxpayers, but both need the certainty of knowing that farm and nutrition assistance programs work as they should so scarce taxpayer resources aren't wasted on food stamp fraud or on programs that just don't work. We need commonsense farm reform policy to prevent waste and to make sure the next generation of farmers gets its chance to run the family farm.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, it is an honor for me to recognize the National Day of the Republic of China, which is celebrated every year on October 10, also referred to as Double Tenth. The Republic of China, more commonly known as Taiwan, continues to be an anchor for peace and security in the Asia Pacific region and one of the United States' most trusted allies. Taiwan's National Day is a time for celebrating and commemorating its establishment on January 1, 1912. Since its establishment, Taiwan has established itself as a stable democracy; one whose leaders are democratically elected and where civil and human rights of the citizenry are respected. These shared values serve as the foundation for the U.S.-Taiwan alliance. I have had the pleasure to meet with Taiwan's Representative serving in Washington, DC, Ambassador Pu-tsung King and his family. I have witnessed firsthand their kindness, grace and dedication to their home country. Ambassador King and his family are eloquent representatives for the people of Taiwan. The friendship between Taiwan and the U.S. is long-lasting and all facets of the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship--cultural, economic, and strategic--have expanded and grown stronger since the signing into law of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) in 1979. A strong, prosperous Taiwan serves both our nations' interests. In 2012, Taiwan was the United States' 11th largest trading partner, and the 7th largest export market for U.S. agriculture. For my home state of Indiana, Taiwan is one of its top export markets in Asia. Hoosier farmers and my state's economy have benefitted greatly from trade agreements with Taiwan. There is no denying that Taiwan's contributions to the global community are immeasurable. It is a membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). On July 12, 2013, President Obama signed into law legislation that calls for the Secretary of State to endorse Taiwan's entry into the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This will help strengthen the safety of air travel between the United States and Taiwan. I congratulate Taiwan on its National Day and I look forward to many years of continued cooperation between our two countries.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, Irish leader Henry Boyle once said: The most important trip you can make in life is meeting people halfway. Unfortunately, in this debate, the President and Harry Reid's latest offers are way short of halfway. They won't even come to the negotiating table. During this shutdown, the Republicans in the House have passed nine bills to fund and reopen vital functions of government. Let me go through some of them for you: Twenty-five of my Democratic colleagues voted with House Republicans to fund pediatric cancer research. Twenty-three of my Democrats colleagues voted with Republicans to reopen national parks, memorials, and monuments; Thirty-five of my Democratic colleagues voted with Republicans, honoring our promise to give veterans the benefits they have earned; Thirty-six of my Democratic colleagues voted with Republicans to pay our National Guard and Army Reserve personnel; Twenty-three of my Democratic colleagues voted with Republicans to make sure funds are available to provide disaster relief; and One hundred eighty-nine of my Democratic colleagues voted with House Republicans to provide backpay for furloughed Federal employees. Each of these are reasonable proposals, yet Harry Reid insists that virtually all of them will not be considered in the Senate, and the President has threatened a veto. Let me repeat. House Republicans have passed bills to fund pediatric cancer research, reopen national parks, provide benefits to veterans, pay salaries for our National Guard, fund disaster relief programs and other vital services. Dozens of my Democratic colleagues have voted for each of these bills, yet the President and Harry Reid won't budge. The American people are disappointed in this shutdown--after all, this is not the way government is supposed to work--but the American people are also figuring this out. This shutdown can end if Harry Reid and President Obama meet House Republicans at the negotiating table-- but their chairs sit empty. The American people don't want the President's health care law, but they are ready for this shutdown to end. It's time for both parties to listen to the American people, work out our differences, and find a commonsense way forward.