Kristi Noem

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek).

Mrs. NOEM. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have heard the gentleman's points on reducing the IRS' budget over the last several years, and we have done that. In fact, we have done that in the environment of where we have seen the abuse that the IRS has wrought on this country. We have seen the lavish parties, and the American people said it was unacceptable. We have seen the extreme bonuses that were paid to employees. We have seen the targeting of individual groups based on what they work on. We had hoped that the reduction in spending would be a reminder to the IRS of who they are to be accountable to, which is to the hardworking taxpayers, and that it would be the perfect opportunity for them to identify their priorities of what they should be doing, which is helping and servicing taxpayers who are trying to comply with the law instead of targeting individuals and instead of stopping to answer phone calls. He talked about only 50 to 60 percent of the phone calls being answered. I think only 38 percent of those phone calls are being answered. And then, even if they are answered at times, they are dropped out of courtesy because the IRS simply isn't there to answer the questions the taxpayers have. Taxpayers are spending somewhere around 6 billion hours preparing their taxes, $30 billion on computer programs and/or professional help to try to pay their taxes accurately so they can comply with the laws this country has in place. The problem is that, by stopping this distribution of IRS publication 17, who we are harming the most are those who are disadvantaged, the elderly who don't have access to computers, the poor who don't have access to getting the kind of help that they need or have the funds to find and be able to pay professional tax preparers. That is who we hurt if we don't pass this bill today. Let's help those who are disadvantaged. Let's make sure that they have the instructions necessary to pay their taxes accurately and on time. Let's reprioritize what the IRS should have done to begin with when they were reminded what their job was. Let's support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4903) to prohibit the use of funds by Internal Revenue Service to target citizens of the United States for exercising any right guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let's not forget that what we are doing here today is ensuring that the IRS will never target Americans based on their political beliefs, on their First Amendment rights. This bill will just make sure that doesn't happen. Regardless of what the past was--and what is wonderful about the past and being at congressional hearings and taking part in them and serving on a committee or not serving on a committee is that they are public and that they are open, and that you can ask questions, and the general public at home can hear the answers that are given there. Let me remind you that in 2013, Lois Lerner admitted that the IRS had targeted taxpayers based on their political beliefs. She said that the Tea Party matter was very dangerous. She suggested how to deny the applications. We know for a fact that she inserted herself into the supposedly unbiased processes that she had created and then bypassed even these procedures and singled out certain taxpayers for additional scrutiny and audit. Do we think, really, that it was just a fluke that 100 percent of the audits and the groups that were selected for audit were right-leaning? I don't believe so, sir. While that investigation may be over, it is still important to have discussions like this to reassure the taxpayers back home that this type of targeting will never happen, that we have legislation before us today that will stop some of the abuses that may have happened in the past and ensure that they won't happen in the future. That is why I am going to urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, on March 23, 2016 I was absent. I would have voted Nay on the motion to recommit H.R. 2745. I would have voted Aye on passage of H.R. 2745. I would have voted Aye on H. Res. 658 Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, 2016, which murdered more than 30 innocent people, and severely wounded many more.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I want to remind everyone, in light of the debate that we have had today here on the floor, that this bill is extremely bipartisan. It is supported by tribes all across the Nation. It is something that they have been asking us for. In fact, in the last two Congresses, I carried the bill. I was the sponsor of it because it needs to be done, and I was asked to do so by tribes across the country. This is an issue of sovereignty. No other level of government in the country is subject to the National Labor Relations Act. It is time that Congress clarifies the law and reaffirms its commitment to tribal governments and self-determination. The bipartisan policy of economic development through self- determination has helped create economic opportunity in Indian country. Tribes across the country and in my home State of South Dakota work daily to overcome the high rates of poverty and unemployment that they face. They continue to develop their businesses and lands for the benefit of their people and communities. The last thing that they need is to have the National Labor Relations Board meddling in their economic development affairs when they are trying to make life better for the people who live in their communities. I urge my colleagues to support tribal sovereignty, support tribal governments, and vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Reverend Bill Vanderbush for serving as guest chaplain of this body today. When I was a little girl living on a ranch in South Dakota, every Sunday morning, my dad would load us up in a big Oldsmobile four-door diesel car and drive us the long way into town to church. And every Sunday morning he religiously would turn on the radio to KWAT, and we would listen to the sound of Henry Vanderbush's voice fill the car all the way to town. My dad loved Henry Vanderbush. He was proudly known as the ``cow barn preacher,'' and he spoke to us every single Sunday growing up. When I hear his voice today still, my eyes fill with tears thinking of my dad and how much he loved him. In a God-ordained meeting a few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Bill Vanderbush, his son, on an airplane. They have prayed for me; they have encouraged; they have lifted me up, and they have been wonderful friends and prayer partners throughout that. I want to thank him for coming today and opening this House floor with prayer. I ask God to continuously bless him and his ministry. They are working to expand it, not only just to people in the country, but people in the city and people across the world. They carry a burden for people's hearts in their souls, and I appreciate them and ask God to richly bless them and their family.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak on an issue that has weighed very heavy on my heart; in fact, it has kept me awake at night for many nights. Two videos have recently come out showing senior Planned Parenthood executives and doctors callously discussing abortion procedures and the costs of that fetal tissue from aborted babies. It has turned my stomach to hear these people at Planned Parenthood. They claim to act in the best interest of women, but instead they talk about compensation for tiny organs from aborted babies. I find myself asking: How did we get here? How did this great country that was founded on Biblical principles get to a place where we have federally funded organizations like Planned Parenthood who claim to care for women and provide health care for them instead deceive people and use those dollars to end lives--end lives of our future women that could potentially lead this country--and then turn around and sell their body parts to put even more dollars in their pocket? It reminds me of the Edmund Burke quote that says: ``The only thing that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'' And today, we have seen many good men and women come to this House floor and say that we will not ``do nothing.'' We have pushed on this issue before, but we are going to push even harder. We are going to talk even more. We are going to talk to people and have uncomfortable conversations about what is going on at Planned Parenthood. We are going to fight until we end the Federal dollars that flow into their bank accounts. We are going to fight until we make sure that our babies and our children are protected, whether they are born or unborn, and that every life is sacred; that we honor those Biblical principles that this country was founded on. Not only is what Planned Parenthood has been doing disgusting, but it raises questions about potential illegal behavior. Profiting from fetal tissue donation is illegal under Federal law, and so is altering procedures based on fetal tissue donation. So I have joined many of my colleagues here in the House, and we have asked our leadership team for an immediate investigation into Planned Parenthood and all of their practices. They need to be punished for what they have been doing. All lives matter, including the unborn. We need to do all we can to protect the most vulnerable among us. The world can be a very dangerous place, and it is dangerous because of the evil that is going on, but I believe it is much more dangerous when you have people who look on and do absolutely nothing to protect those among us. The duplicity of this organization needs to stop; and as long as Federal dollars flow to this organization, we all need to feel responsible and do all that we can to end it.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2722.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, today I rise to offer an amendment to prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from closing fish hatcheries across the United States. I want to thank the chairman and his staff for all their dedication and for preventing the closure of these hatcheries in the underlying bill. My amendment only clarifies their language to ensure that it prevents closure of hatcheries and archives, which operate a little bit differently within the hatchery system. For example, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives has been a cornerstone of the community in Spearfish, South Dakota, with over 150,000 visitors annually. It was originally established in 1896 to introduce and maintain trout in the Black Hills of South Dakota, but it is much more than a fish hatchery. It is home to an 1800's era museum, a 1910 railroad car, priceless artifacts, and educational opportunities for children. Moving these items would cost taxpayers, which doesn't make any sense, given the tens of thousands of volunteer hours and private funds that are leveraged to run this hatchery. I want to thank the chairman for working with me to preserve these hatcheries and archives that are certainly of cultural significance. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to prevent their closure. I yield to the chairman.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, South Dakota tells the true story of what the benefits of trade can bring. When we have a trade agreement with another country, we sell 11\1/2\ times more goods to that country than if there were no agreement in place. Trade has been and continues to be an important part of the American economy, but we cannot afford to fall behind. We have to continue to expand opportunities to export American-made products to these countries, but first we have to set the rules of the road. The Constitution allows the President to negotiate trade agreements, but only Congress can approve or disapprove them. What we are voting on today ensures that Congress sets the priorities and the rules that the President has to follow. It allows an open and transparent process where the public can view any potential trade deal for 60 days before it is sent to Congress. If the President doesn't follow our rules, we can take TPA away; or if we don't like future trade deals, we can simply vote them down. But we need to assert the power of Congress in the process and ensure that the public gets to weigh in down the road. That is what we are doing here today. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. America is counting on it.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, consumers deserve greater access to information about where their meat comes from, which is why I have always believed Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is a critical tool for American families and ranchers. I join many South Dakotans in being deeply disappointed by the World Trade Organization's recent ruling against COOL. While I don't necessarily concur with the WTO's conclusions, I agree with my colleagues that something ought to be done to make COOL workable and prevent any damages against our agriculture industry. After all, it is essential that South Dakota farmers and ranchers can continue to be competitive in the export market. The COOL repeal bill that the House is considering today, however, is premature. By moving on this legislation just weeks after the WTO ruling, we do not have the time necessary to explore what other options may be available. We owe it to consumers and producers to thoroughly consider alternatives. For these reasons, I am voting against the bill.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 301, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize May as Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Despite advances in treatment and technology across the medical field, the disease of preeclampsia continues to affect mothers and infants across the country. As one of the leading causes of premature birth, illness, and maternal death, preeclampsia afflicts one in 12 women, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure, and its symptoms mimic common difficulties associated with pregnancy, like abdominal pain, the cause of headaches, vomiting, and anxiety. Because they are so common, many women may simply ignore these symptoms. Worse, little is known about preeclampsia. While current research suggests it is related to the placenta, we do not know why it occurs, we do not know how to cure it, and we are still learning about its long-term effects on mothers and their children. Our lack of understanding about preeclampsia is why I strongly support the work of groups like the Preeclampsia Foundation to educate women about the symptoms of preeclampsia and how they can find care. I also support the research being done at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. I am hopeful that research and support from NIH and the Preeclampsia Foundation will help us understand and address this disease.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is an issue that I believe many people see as far removed from them and their families, but the reality is that it is happening all around us: in our schools, near our homes, on Web sites that our kids visit and frequent. My words are not intended to alarm people today but to bring into perspective that it isn't just happening overseas or in communities far away from our homes. It is happening across this country, even in my home State of South Dakota. In my State, there are three main ways that people are trafficked, according to Kimberly LaPlante, who works at an organization called Call to Freedom in Sioux Falls. One, trafficking victims are brought from bigger cities or from our Native American reservations and sent to the North Dakota oil fields. Two, they are sold at large events, like the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Or three, it is homegrown trafficking, meaning this demand originates in my State, and that, by the way, is the most common problem across this country. In 2013, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office held a 6-day undercover operation at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South Dakota. They put up an online ad and, over the 6 days, received more than 180 responses. Local law enforcement did the same thing in a community not far from my home. Over the course of 2 days, they received 110 responses. This form of slavery is happening almost every single day, and it is time we do something about it. This bill is our opportunity to do something about it. It is an opportunity for both Chambers of Congress to stand together and support legislation that protects our children and our communities. One of the components of this legislation is a provision that I wrote to help combat many of the problems that we are facing in South Dakota but also other places in the country. Today there are only about 200 beds for underage victims in the United States. The language that I wrote included in this bill ensures that shelters can get access to more resources to build safe housing for those trying to escape and recover from trafficking. There is also a severe lack of information about trafficking and its victims. To help prevent it and to intervene when it does occur, my language aims to make sure that the information on the state of trafficking in this country is analyzed and used to decide how those Federal resources should be used to combat it. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to see this package coming to the floor today. I urge the President to sign it quickly so that we can all join hands and act to prevent this human trafficking from continuing across our country and protect as many children and help them heal as we possibly can.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of the rule for H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This is a strong bill that prevents abortions after 20 weeks, except in certain circumstances, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill today. As a mother of three, I know the worry and anxiety that comes along with carrying a child. And many times, that worry doesn't end after birth. I still think about my children with concern every day, and I understand the difficulties and the decisions that many women have during this time. Motherhood is a big responsibility and a huge change. As a community, we need to help women through this time. But we also have the responsibility to come together as a country and protect the most innocent and the vulnerable among us. In this bill, we are talking about protecting unborn babies that are already 20 weeks old and mothers who are halfway through their pregnancy. That is about 5 months. At this stage, many women already have a baby bump and they are wearing maternity clothing. The baby can be as long as a banana is and kicking and moving around, even to the point where the mother will feel those kicks and that movement. More importantly, this is the stage where we know the baby can feel pain and could be viable outside the womb with proper care. In fact, there is evidence that the pain that the unborn baby feels is even more intense than what a young child or an adult would feel because their nervous system isn't developed enough to block that pain. The majority of women in the United States are with us on this bill. We must protect these innocent lives when they are the most vulnerable and sensitive among us to feeling pain.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Veterans Affairs is entrusted with the protection of a multitude of historic facilities. As I noted last year during debate on the VA's budget, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has found serious deficiencies in the manner in which the VA operates these facilities. These VA facilities, especially the medical facilities, are more important than ever. We are seeing thousands of veterans returning home after fighting in conflicts abroad, many suffering from chronic service-related injuries. The last thing we want to do is to force these veterans to travel hundreds of miles to receive treatment, as is often the case in rural States like South Dakota. The health of these historic medical facilities is directly connected to our veterans' health, and this amendment would prohibit the VA from curtailing healthcare services at the historic facilities located in rural areas. I thank the chairman and his staff for all of their assistance on this amendment, and I urge everyone's support for this amendment as well.

Mrs. NOEM. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mrs. NOEM. I thank the gentleman. I appreciate those words of support. It certainly is important to the veterans in our State and in many States across the country that often find it very difficult to travel to local VA facilities, but now, with the closure of some of these facilities, they would have to travel hundreds of miles. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. On March 10 of 1994, my dad was killed in an accident on our family farm. I was taking college classes at the time. I was 21 years old, and I ended up coming home with my family and trying to figure out how we were going to get by without him after this tragedy hit our family. All I could hear during that point in time were the words that my dad had said to me for many years. It wasn't very long after he was killed that we got a bill in the mail from the IRS that said we owed them money because we had a tragedy happen to our family. One of the things my dad had always said to me is, ``Kristi, don't ever sell land, because God isn't making any more land.'' But that was really our only option. We could either sell land that had been in our family for generations, or we could take out a loan. So I chose to take out a loan, but it took us 10 years to pay off that loan to pay the Federal Government those death taxes. That is one of the main reasons why I got involved in government and politics, because I didn't understand how bureaucrats and politicians in Washington, D.C., could make a law that says that when a tragedy hits a family they somehow are owed something from that family business. And it doesn't work for normal, everyday people. That is why this death tax is so unfair because, at one of the most vulnerable times of people's lives, the Federal Government says, We need to take what you have and what your family has worked for. A lot of the conversation today has been about that the rich need to pay more. Well, the rich will avoid this tax. They have the resources to do that. But it hits families like mine harder than ever. The rich certainly are not going to pay the burden of this tax. I will also say that some of the discussion has been about the deficit. The government does not earn money. The government takes other people's money, is what it does. It certainly is not going to earn more money by this policy. This previous administration and the members of the other party here on the House floor today talk about the people who have struggled. We have more people living in poverty today under your policies than we had before you were in charge of this country. One in 15 children are on food stamps because of the policies of this administration. Fifty percent of our college students can't find work or are underemployed because of the policies of this administration. We talk about income inequality, and we are seeing it because of those previous policies. This tax is a very unfair tax. It is double taxation. Please don't put any more families in the situation where they lose their family operation or are threatened by it because of a tragedy that happens to their family.