Luke Messer

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Northeastern High School on its 2017 IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 41 championship in boys' basketball. The Knights faced off against the Union County Patriots, defeating them 54-41. I am proud of these young men for not only their remarkable win, but also for the Hoosier sportsmanship that they displayed throughout this exciting season. I want to commend Coach Brent Ross as well as all of the assistant coaches who led these young men to victory. Congrats, Knights.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hauser High School on its 2017 IHSAA Class 1A Sectional 60 championship in boys' basketball. The Jets faced off against the Oldenburg Academy Twisters, defeating them 64-61. I am proud of these young men for not only their remarkable win, but also for the Hoosier sportsmanship that they displayed throughout this exciting season. I want to commend Coach Bob Nobbe as well as all of the assistant coaches who led these young men to victory. Congrats, Jets.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Chair, my amendment is simple. It would require an executive agency to report any new rule or regulatory action that would duplicate or otherwise overlap with existing agency rules and regulations. So much of government's excess is created by unelected officials who wield enormous influence over our everyday lives. Last year, Federal agencies issued 18 rules and regulations for every one law that passed Congress. That is a grand total of 3,853 regulations in 2016 alone. In 2015, Federal regulations cost the American economy nearly $1.9 trillion --T, trillion dollars--in lost growth and productivity. Think about that for a second. A $1.9 trillion tax, a government burden on the American people. That means lost jobs, stagnant wages, and decreasing benefits for workers. When the House passed the REINS Act in January, I offered an amendment to require at least 1 rule be overturned for every new rule finalized by the executive branch. President Trump recently took that one step further by issuing an executive order which required at least 2 rules be overturned for every new rule. My amendment builds on those initiatives by requiring any agency issuing a duplicative regulation to indicate as much when making the online disclosure required by the underlying bill. The truth is, the federal government is all too often a fountain of unnecessary regulations. And while some may debate the merits of any given regulation, few would agree the federal government should issue identical iterations of the same regulation multiple times over. Mr. Speaker, it is past time we stop bureaucratic abuse and shift the balance of power from government back to the people, where it belongs. That can start today by passing the Regulatory Integrity Act and putting our government on a path to reduce the amount of red tape that our businesses and the American people deal with every day. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Michigan for his hard work on this commonsense legislation. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Madam Speaker, the Federal Government should not fund abortions, and it should not force States to fund them either. That is one reason this body recently voted to make the Hyde amendment permanent and governmentwide. The vast majority of Americans support this policy as a matter of conscience and agree that tax dollars should not fund abortion procedures. Today's bill is consistent with that principle. But despite the rhetoric across the aisle, the bill permits, but does not require, States to direct title X funds to health providers that do not provide abortions. Without this bill, States would be forced to fund the abortion industry by Federal bureaucrats. This is an issue of states' rights as well as one of conscience. I am proud to support this measure, stand up for States, and defend life. I want to thank my colleague, Diane Black, for her hard work and leadership on getting this bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend of mine--a policy leader who dedicated his life to providing better educational opportunities for Hoosier kids. His work spanned decades. I am speaking of Indiana's own, Stan Jones. Most recently, Stan founded Complete College America in order to build a network of states committed to substantially increasing the number of Americans with a postsecondary credential. Earlier in his career, Stan was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives at age 24. As a member of both the House Education and State Budget committees, he developed expertise in higher education and higher-education finance. All told, Stan served 16 years in the Indiana state legislature and more than five years as a senior advisor to Governor Evan Bayh. His service as Indiana commissioner for higher education spanned 12 years and the tenure of four different governors from both political parties. As commissioner, he was credited as a primary architect of several landmark education policy initiatives in Indiana. These initiatives included the 21st Century Scholars program, an early promise scholarship program aimed at increasing the number of low- income students attending and completing a postsecondary education; the development of Indiana's new community college system; the creation of Indiana's Education Roundtable; and the implementation of Core 40, a college prep curriculum that has contributed to a significant increase in high school seniors going to college. Stan was also instrumental in the high school drop-out reform legislation that I authored as a state legislator a decade ago. Those reforms helped drive Indiana's extraordinary progress with its statewide graduation rate improving to nearly 90 percent--an almost 20 percent increase from a decade before. It is no exaggeration to say those reform ideas were hatched over cheeseburgers and fries at Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery right across from the Indiana State Capitol. Truth be told, Stan had the ideas, and I simply worked to implement them. Another great Hoosier, former champion UCLA basketball head coach John Wooden once said, ``it's amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets credit.'' At his very core, Stan Jones exemplified that ideal. You will be missed, my friend.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend, Jack Stanton, who passed away last Friday in Anderson, Indiana. Jack was born in Mishawaka, Indiana on November 3, 1935. He served in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and dedicated fifty-five years of his life to the Indianapolis Life Insurance Company. He was known by his colleagues as a hard worker, dependable teammate, and humble leader. On a personal note, Jack Stanton was my friend. He was always quick with a smile and an encouraging word. And he was one of my most trusted advisors on issues impacting the insurance industry. I will miss him. He will be mourned most by those who knew him best, and he will be missed by all. Jack is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Hattie Mae Stanton, his daughters Deborah Kay Coats and Wendy Lou Haines, his three grandsons Joseph David Haines, Daniel Jackson Haines, and Jessie Coats, his twin sister Janet Byer, his son-in-law R. Dean Coates, and many nieces and nephews to whom I give my deepest sympathies. Mrs. Stanton, your husband was a great man who had a profound impact on countless Hoosiers, and his life should be an inspiration to us all.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, ObamaCare is built on broken promises. President Obama promised that, through his healthcare law, premiums would go down. Instead, they have gone up. In most States, premiums have increased by double digits. In some States, like Oklahoma, premiums are going up by as much as 76 percent. I am from Indiana. In Indiana, in 2017, based upon current enrollments, the average rate will increase by 18.7 percent. Overall, the premiums in Indiana have gone up by 70 percent since the Affordable Care Act was first enacted. Not only are Americans paying more for coverage, the costs have gone up as well: out-of-pocket costs, deductibles. For 2017, four carriers will be selling on the Indiana Marketplace. I have one county in my district, Wayne County, where no carriers provide for the local hospital. Today, we will start a process of keeping our promises, Mr. Speaker. We promised the American people that we would repeal and replace this failed healthcare law. Only in Washington would keeping your promise somehow be controversial.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, nothing unites Indiana's Sixth Congressional District quite like the simple phrase, ``we must stand with Israel.'' Throughout most of my rural district that has far more Christian churches than synagogues, Hoosiers are united in their support of the Jewish state. Hoosiers, myself included, were deeply distressed when the Obama administration stood silent as our great ally was demonized by the U.N. Israel is our most important friend in the region, and among America's best partners in the world. President Obama's silence and defection from Israel was unconscionable, and he has made our ally less safe and peace less likely. I am eager to vote today to send a strong signal to the world that the American people reject the U.N.'s one-sided, shortsighted U.N. Security Council resolution, and the American people stand united with Israel. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his help on this amendment as well. It is an amendment designed to take an already very good bill and make it just a little better. A good friend of mine, former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, used to say ``you'd be amazed how much government you'll never miss'' when talking about reducing the size of government bureaucracy. So much of government's excess is created by unelected officials who wield enormous influence over our everyday lives. Last year, Federal agencies issued 18 rules and regulations for every one law that passed Congress. That is a grand total of 3,853 regulations in 2016 alone. In 2015, Federal regulations cost the American economy nearly $1.9 trillion--T, trillion dollars--in lost growth and productivity. Think about that for a second. A $1.9 trillion tax, a government burden on the American people. That means lost jobs, stagnant wages, and decreasing benefits for workers. My amendment looks to help change all that. Very simply, my amendment requires every agency issuing a new rule to first identify, then repeal or amend at least one existing rule to offset any annual costs the new rule would have on the U.S. economy. This isn't some new radical idea. President- elect Trump announced his administration will implement a new practice that for every new regulation, two would have to be repealed. Governments in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands have all implemented similar versions of one-in/one-out when addressing new rules and regulations. In fact, in Canada, bureaucrats used the new direction to find and cut more red tape than was even required by the law. My amendment gives the new administration that same flexibility. Mr. Chair, it is past time we stop bureaucratic abuse and shift the balance of power from government back to the people, where it belongs. That can start today by passing the REINS Act and putting our government on a path to reduce the amount of red tape that our businesses and the American people deal with every day. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment and the underlying bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), my good friend and the chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Chairman, I think it is long past time to stop the runaway train of the Federal regulatory bureaucracy. I urge support for the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for organizing today's celebration of Indiana's 200th birthday. I thank him for his distinguished little giant career at Wabash College and all of his service to our great State. It is an exciting time to be a Hoosier any year, but it is a pretty big birthday coming up this year when, on December 11, 2016, we will be celebrating our State's 200th birthday--200 years since Indiana became our Nation's 19th State. I am holding this basketball because when you think about Indiana, you can't help but think about basketball. And my district, Indiana's Sixth Congressional District, has a couple of pretty important distinguishing factors in Indiana's great history as a basketball State. First, the Milan Indians, the great Milan Indians team that were the 1954 State champions that showed that our single-class basketball, the small little engine that could, can win a State title, that is from Ripley County in the middle of my State. And then the Knightstown gym, where the movie ``Hoosiers'' was filmed, is also in Indiana's Sixth Congressional District. I am going to throw a chest pass of this basketball over to my colleagues from Indiana, where we will show you can catch it. Here you go, Mr. Bucshon. Let the Record show he caught the ball, all right, showing he is a Hoosier. Bring the House to order, as Marlin said.

Mr. MESSER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Sunday, we celebrate two centuries of statehood, history, tradition, and accomplishment in Indiana. We Hoosiers have a great deal to be proud of in our State, and in the Sixth District that I represent. The Sixth District is home to renowned architecture, historical landmarks, beautiful parks, and famous Americans. The Wright brothers spent part of their childhood in our corner of Indiana. Wilbur was born in Millville, and Orville first took up kite building in Richmond, Indiana. Richmond was also the home to Gennett Records, where some of the earliest jazz recordings were ever produced in the late 1910s and early 1920s, earning Richmond the nickname of the ``cradle of recorded jazz.'' David Letterman attended school at Ball State University in Muncie, as did Jim Davis, who is famous for the ``Garfield'' cartoon. Hancock County in the Sixth District is the home of the famed Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley, who wrote, among other things, ``Little Orphant Annie.'' Columbus is known for beautiful architecture and for being the home of the oldest theater in the State, The Crump Theater, built in 1889 by John Crump. A centuries-old tree grows atop the Decatur County Courthouse Tower, giving Greensburg, my hometown where I grew up, the nickname ``Tree City.'' Famous Hoosiers from the Sixth District include Vice President Thomas Hendricks, from my adopted hometown of Shelbyville, where my kids began our family's life, together with my wife, Jennifer; three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Wilbur Shaw; racecar driver Tony Stewart, from Columbus; Shelbyville basketball player Bill Garrett; actresses Joyce DeWitt and Jamie Hyneman; cinema and television pioneer Francis Jenkins; and the list goes on. We have also had two Governors hail from our part of the State, Oliver Morton, and current Governor, Mike Pence. Now the Sixth District will be lucky enough to claim another Vice President, Vice President- elect, and former Sixth District Congressman, Mike Pence, who we are all very proud of. In fact, I am so proud of our State, and I don't know that the gentleman would know this--I know at least one of our colleagues were surprised to learn--but my wife, Jennifer, and I actually wrote a book about this great State of Indiana called, ``Hoosier Heart.'' It is a book that celebrates the history and traditions of our State, the people, its places. I am just going to read the sort of closing passage of this book as I wrap up my comments today. The book closes this way: The word ``Hoosier'' is a mystery. No one knows where it comes from for sure. Some say it was a pioneer greeting. The gentleman here says, Whose year? Others say someone once lost an ear, and this young guy asks, Whose ear? But whatever a Hoosier used to be, we all know what a Hoosier is today. A Hoosier is someone with Indiana roots, someone who loves our State in every way. Hoosiers come in all shapes and sizes, all races, and all creeds. Some Hoosiers don't even live in our State. Over time, some Hoosiers do leave. But wherever Hoosiers now live, they are never far apart because the key to being a Hoosier is having a big Hoosier heart. Happy birthday, Indiana.

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, when given the opportunity to say something nice about Dan Coats, I didn't want to pass it up. If I could give one word to describe U.S. Senator Dan Coats, it would be ``Hoosier.'' He is a person of grace and humility, hard work and humor. He never worried about who got credit, loved his country, and made the sacrifices through his life and career to make our country better. I am honored to call Dan a friend, and I appreciate his mentorship of our entire delegation in the time that I have had an opportunity to serve here. I suspect Dan's service for our country isn't quite over yet, and I look forward to whatever he does next. One of the other great things about Dan Coats is he is a family man. I certainly wish Dan, Marsha, and their entire family a great future.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of my good friend Charles Joe Helms of Butlerville, Indiana. Charlie was born on May 8, 1948 in Richmond, Indiana, to Myron and Esther Dennis Helms. Charlie lived a long, full life dedicated to his family and his community. Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Vickie; three sons, Jon, Lennie, and Arnie; daughter, Nichelle Burkhardt; stepdaughters, Traci Baldwin, Amy McCanlis, and Bekah Hunsucker; one sister, Lynda Schmidt; and seven grandchildren. Raised in Indiana, Charlie graduated from Brookville High School before serving his country in the U.S. Navy. Following his service, he worked for Ford Motor Company in Connersville and then General Motors Delphi in Dayton, Ohio for several years. Charlie officially retired in 2010, after working for the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. As the Good Book says in Acts 20:35, ``It is more blessed to give than to receive.'' Charlie truly lived this scripture throughout his life. Everyone who knew him, knew of his steadfast faith and compassion for serving the Hoosier community. Charlie was a member of the Nebraska Church of God, Masonic Lodge Number 219 in Butlerville and American Legion Post Number 77 in Brookville. In his free time, he enjoyed exploring the outdoors, boating and spending time with his family I am lucky to have called Charlie Helms a close friend. I know first- hand his faith, his extraordinary friendship and his consistent encouragement. I will never forget his support and belief in me. Charlie will be missed dearly by his family and his community, but his memory will live on in those who were blessed to know him. Today, it is my privilege to honor the life of Charlie Helms. My thoughts and prayers go out to Charlie's family, and may God comfort those he left behind with His peace and strength.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, October 10, 2016 is Taiwan's National Day, marking the founding of the Republic of China 105 years ago. I rise today to congratulate the people of Taiwan on this important occasion. I've had the opportunity to visit Taiwan in the past. The country's evolution into a free society that espouses the values of free elections, human rights, free markets, and the rule of law is a significant one in which the United States has played an important role. Taiwan remains a great friend and strategic ally to the United States. Beginning with passage of the Taiwan Relations Act, Congress has been at the forefront of bilateral relations with the island nation, playing a key part in ensuring Taiwan's military needs are addressed and assisting Taiwan with its democratic and economic development. That cooperation continues today. Congress has played a critical role in assisting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly and facilitating its entrance into the Visa Waiver Program. Most recently, through the assistance of the United States, Taiwan was granted observer status in Interpol. As a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Forum and World Trade Organization, Taiwan is an important trading partner and export market for the United States in almost every major sector. It is our ninth largest trading partner overall, and the sixth largest international market for U.S. agricultural products. Taiwan has been a full participant in trade negotiations and initiatives, devoting a great amount of effort to multilateral trade and investment activities, working to ensure that any trade agreements are both free and fair. Given its economic strength and dedication to global trade and investment, Taiwan should be given fair and equal treatment when considering future U.S. partnerships and trade deals. As we continue to discuss the merits of a Trans-Pacific Partnership, we must carefully examine the implications of excluding countries that are not only robust trading partners, but critical geopolitical allies as well. It is my hope that the U.S. Government thoughtfully consider all these relevant factors and allow them to inform our path forward in an evolving landscape of international trade. I look forward to the continued collaboration with Taiwan in the months and years ahead as we continue to enhance our bilateral security, economic, and trade relations.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the ten-year anniversary of Navient's Muncie, Indiana facility in my district. As one of the largest employers in the region, Navient has recognized the talent and value that Hoosiers bring to the table. Today, Navient has two locations in Indiana and employs more than 2,000 people who are on the front lines providing superior customer service to both private and public sector clients. The employees in Muncie play an integral part in providing quality loan counseling and guidance to over 12 million customers nationwide whose loans are serviced by Navient. Companies have a choice in where they do business, and I am confident Navient has chosen well in Muncie, Indiana. I want to congratulate the employees in my district for ten years of tremendous work, and I wish them the best in the years to come.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 166) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of today, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 30, 2016, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 166, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life, legacy and accomplishments of David Fulton of Centerville, Indiana. At the age of 73, David passed away surrounded by his loved ones. A longtime educator and volunteer in Wayne County, David was the fourth chancellor of Indiana University East and recipient of the IU President's Medal for Excellence in honor of his 36-year-long career of service to the university. Beginning his teaching career at Earlham College in 1971, David was promoted to an assistant professor in history and political science and held several administrative positions before becoming Indiana University East's chancellor in 1995. Fulton is credited with fostering local partnerships in the community as well as managing significant campus growth, most notably the construction of Springwood Hall in Richmond, the Connersville Center and the Danielson Learning Center in New Castle. He held this role until his retirement in 2007. In addition to teaching, David will also be remembered for his devoted volunteer efforts on behalf of the Starr-Gennett Foundation. David joined the nonprofit foundation's board in 1999, served as president from 2001 to 2003, and then worked as treasurer for 13 years before his passing. The organization tirelessly promotes Richmond's musical heritage, and Fulton's involvement at Starr-Gennett mirrored his passion for showcasing Richmond's musical talent nationwide. Specifically, David had a vital role in the development of the Gennett Walk of Fame, honoring artists who recorded at Gennett's local studio. Additionally, he was heavily involved in generating a working partnership between Starr-Gennett and the Archives of Traditional Music at IU Bloomington, digitizing over 600 songs recorded at the studio. Fulton also served his community in many other capacities, including his membership on the Wayne Bank and Trust, the Planning Group CEO Roundtable of the Richmond Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the IU Foundation Development Committee, the Board of Historic Landmarks of Indiana and the Greater Richmond Progress Committee. Further, Fulton served on the Community Services Council, Social Services Planning Board, and he was a member of the Reid Hospital and Health Care Services Board from 2001 to 2004. I thank David for his steadfast commitment to the community, and I know both the residents of Wayne County and the student body of IU East will always be grateful for his selfless contributions. Today, it is my privilege to honor the life of David Fulton, who is survived by his loving wife Marilyn. My thoughts and prayers go out to David's family, and may God comfort those he left behind with His peace and strength.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank Chairman Forbes for his leadership on this issue and for his distinguished career here in Congress. The gentleman certainly will be missed. Mr. Speaker, some issues just boil down to common sense. Despite the rhetoric of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, there is no evidence of Good Samaritan sweet peas being kept at Guantanamo Bay. Common sense would tell you that it is a very bad idea to bring the world's worst criminals to America's shore. It is an equally bad idea to release them. That is why I rise today in support of H.R. 5351, a bill that would stop the transfer of individuals detained at the United States Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Last Sunday, our Nation recognized the 15th anniversary of the worst attack on U.S. soil, an attack where we lost nearly 3,000 American lives. That tragic event marked the beginning of a war against terrorists who espouse radical Islam. Since then, Guantanamo Bay has been instrumental in detaining enemy combatants engaged in that war. Today, there are 61 suspected terrorists remaining at GTMO. They are largely regarded as the worst of the worst. They are the folks that no other country would take--too dangerous to transfer, the most dangerous criminals in the world. But the President wants to release these terrorists or, worse yet, bring them to American soil, putting Americans at risk. That is a really bad idea, and we can't, in good conscience, let that happen. That is why we have had bipartisan support for keeping GTMO open in the past. There are simply not enough standards in place to make these transfers without endangering American lives. I am proud of the leadership of my colleague, Jackie Walorski, on this important issue, and I urge my colleagues to stop any reckless transfers of terrorists to American soil. Not one American life is worth the risk.

Mr. MESSER

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3178) to simplify and streamline the information regarding institutions of higher education made publicly available by the Secretary of Education, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3178.