Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 831 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Ways and Means Committee put out a discussion draft on March 26 entitled, ``The Taxpayer First Act.'' The committee provided 2 weeks to collect input from Members, stakeholder groups, and the public. I would say to my good friends across the aisle that there were a number of substantive comments received, and my understanding is the committee considered them prior to introducing this bill that we have today. So I would say let's honor that work. Let's move forward with this important piece of legislation, and I urge support of the rule.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Reclaiming my time, the bipartisan effort in this bill is reflected in a very, very good way, and I urge respecting that process, respecting the comprehensive, collaborative work that was done on this bill, and I urge support of the rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I, too, sit on the Rules Committee, and what we witnessed Monday was an amazing thing, coming together in a bipartisan fashion on some very important bills to bring reform to the Internal Revenue Service. And I might respond to the gentleman's comments. It was a very open process through the Ways and Means Committee. It was, as far as I recall, at least a 3-year process, working bipartisanly, very cooperatively, in a comprehensive fashion in order to get the work done that was brought together and culminated with the work that we see here today. So, as far as an open process, I don't know what could have been more open. It was one that we can be proud of, one that we should see more of in this institution, frankly, and I am very proud that we are able to be here today, following a long history of using the closed rule process when we are considering these kinds of bills as it pertains to revenue. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 831, providing for consideration of two important pieces of legislation: H.R. 5444, the Taxpayer First Act; and H.R. 5445, the 21st Century IRS Act. The rule provides for consideration of these measures under a closed rule. Both of these pieces of legislation were introduced with bipartisan cosponsors, and both were passed out of the Ways and Means Committee with unanimous support on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was not only tax day, but it was also the last time the American people had to file their taxes under an outdated and antiquated system. Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by President Trump, Americans have much to look forward to: a simplified tax system, lower rates, a doubled child tax credit to help everyday families, a doubling of the standard deduction, and the freedom to buy the healthcare plan that is right for their families rather than be forced to buy government-mandated health insurance. As these reforms continue to be implemented, and Americans across the country have begun to see their paychecks grow and small businesses begin to move forward with less regulatory burden, a bipartisan effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to modernize and reform the Internal Revenue Service has arisen. The goal is to redesign the IRS into a modern, 21st century agency focused on the ``taxpayers first'' service--reining in IRS abuses, protecting American taxpayers from fraud, and fairly and efficiently resolving disputes within the agency. H.R. 5444, the Taxpayer First Act, demonstrates a bipartisan, comprehensive effort to modernize and improve the Internal Revenue Service. This legislation makes numerous changes to reorganize the agency in an attempt to focus its efforts on customer service. It creates an independent appeals process to improve dispute resolutions and requires the IRS to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan to improve its customer service strategy. It requires the agency to maintain the IRS Free File Program, equipping low- and middle-income Americans with free individual tax preparation and electronic filing services. This legislation also requires the IRS to improve efficiency, enhance cybersecurity, and better meet the needs of taxpayers. By ensuring the agency sends notice to the actual taxpayer before contacting friends, neighbors, or clients when conducting an audit, we can ensure Americans receive fair notice and treatment. Mr. Speaker, the mission statement of the IRS is to provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, the IRS fails to provide the quality customer service they claim to strive for. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office reported in 2015 that the IRS had no strategy in place to define what quality and customer service should look like, nor did the agency have any plans to develop one. This is unacceptable, so I am pleased that the Taxpayer First Act requires the IRS to work to fulfill their mission statement. The 21st Century IRS Act similarly seeks to modernize the IRS by specifically focusing on improving cybersecurity and taxpayer identity protection as well as reforming the information technology systems within the agency. The IRS relies heavily on an aging, antiquated IT infrastructure to administer the tax system. This infrastructure, some of which dates back to the 1960s, is unreliable and is not keeping up. As we just saw yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the web page for paying tax bills using personal bank accounts crashed, leading to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin having to provide Americans with an extra day to file their returns. We must bring the IRS's infrastructure into the 21st century in order to prevent negative impacts on taxpayers seeking to comply with their tax responsibilities as we witnessed yesterday. Unfortunately, these potential threats can include much more serious threats as well, including potential cyber attacks and fraud schemes that seek to exploit stolen taxpayer information. The 21st Century IRS Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to work collaboratively with the public and private sectors to protect taxpayers from identity theft tax refund fraud. This legislation also requires the Secretary to submit a written report to Congress describing how the IRS can utilize new payment platforms to increase the number of tax refunds paid by electronic funds transfers, thereby streamlining the final leg of the filing process for taxpayers. It provides for further recommendations regarding methods to prevent identity theft and refund fraud and requires that State, local, or Federal agencies conduct on-site reviews every 3 years of all contractors or other agents receiving Federal returns and return information. These reforms are common sense and will prevent frustrating, prolonged interactions with the IRS that could be much more easily and seamlessly resolved online. Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward and bipartisan rule, allowing for consideration of two bills that will require the Internal Revenue Service to put customer service needs of the American taxpayer first, and to reform, modernize, and improve the agency's infrastructure. The IRS must prioritize cybersecurity and taxpayer identity theft protections. The underlying bills in this rule will do just that, and I encourage my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation to continue our historic efforts to reform our Nation's tax system. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Russell Jim, an elder of the Yakama Nation, who was highly regarded as a champion for central Washington's environment. Russell had a deep understanding of the Yakama Nation's culture, the region's natural resources, and the Hanford nuclear site. He spent his life and career protecting our environment and advocating for responsible nuclear waste management. He managed the Tribe's Environmental Restoration and Waste Management program for almost 40 years and served in Tribal leadership for almost 60. Russell was a key player in preventing Hanford from becoming the Nation's repository for radioactive waste, and he received an honorary doctorate degree from Heritage University for his work. Russell Jim will be remembered for his knowledge and passion for the Yakama Nation and their way of life. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his memory.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to honor the memory of Marine Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman of Richland, Washington. Dietrich grew up in Central Washington and had a strong love for the Pacific Northwest. He had a positive influence on everyone he came into contact with and a life full of potential. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps with the goal of becoming part of its Special Operations Command. He bonded with his brothers-in-arms, but he remained close with his friends and family in Washington state as he traveled around the world, honorably serving his country. Sergeant Schmieman achieved his goal and was serving in the 2nd Raider Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when he was tragically killed in a military cargo plane crash in July of 2017. He and the 15 other service members that passed away will never be forgotten for their sacrifice. Dietrich is remembered for his kindness, sense of adventure, and strong friendships. In honor of his service, I am introducing legislation--with the support of the entire Washington delegation in the House of Representatives--to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located on West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the ``Sergeant Dietrich Schmiean Post Office.'' I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation to honor the memory of Sergeant Schmieman who gave his life for our nation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to honor the memory of Marine Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman of Richland, Washington. Dietrich grew up in central Washington and had a strong love for the Pacific Northwest. He had a positive influence on everyone he came into contact with and a life full of potential. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps with the goal of becoming part of its Special Operations Command. He bonded with his brothers in arms, but he remained close friends with his family in Washington State as he traveled around the world honorably serving his country. Sergeant Schmieman achieved his goal and was serving in the 2nd Raider Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when he was tragically killed in a military cargo plane crash in July of 2017. He and 15 other servicemembers that passed away will never be forgotten for their sacrifice. Dietrich is remembered for his kindness, his sense of adventure and strong friendships. In honor of his service, I am introducing legislation, with the support of the entire Washington State delegation in the House of Representatives, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located on West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation to honor the memory of Sergeant Schmieman, who gave his life for our Nation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the good gentleman from Virginia for yielding me some time today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the balanced budget amendment, offered by my friend and colleague, Congressman Goodlatte. Reining in the Federal debt is not a partisan issue. In fact, the majority of Americans are united in consistently supporting a requirement to balance the Federal budget. Our national debt has surpassed a record $22 trillion. You have heard that several times today. That is more than $64,000 for every man, woman, and child in this country. It is more than $174,000 of debt for every U.S. taxpayer. If we continue to let this number grow, we will continue to dig a deeper hole for our children and our grandchildren. Since I came to Congress in 2015, I have worked to ensure the government does not spend above its means. I have cosponsored several resolutions in support of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to balance the budget and am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation that we consider today. In the 114th Congress, my colleagues and I offered an amendment to the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to appear before Congress and submit a report with solutions to control the national debt before raising the debt ceiling. I have also consistently voiced my strong concerns about fiscally irresponsible spending packages, as I did earlier this year with the deal to bust our budget caps and send our Nation further into debt. Mr. Speaker, we are on a high-speed train heading towards a very large fiscal cliff, and soon it may be too late to slow this train down. This insurmountable debt threatens our Nation's economic and national security, as well as future generations. The people of this country and of Washington State's Fourth Congressional District demand better and expect their representatives to promote fiscal responsibility. Over 20 years ago, when the Federal deficit was at $5 trillion, a balanced budget amendment failed by a single vote in the U.S. Senate. It is time to put a stop to the Federal Government's out-of-control spending and use our authority in Congress to prioritize spending. This balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a great step in the right direction.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Moyer, associate dean of research at Washington State University, and to congratulate him on his retirement. Jim graduated from Washington State in 1971 and went on to pursue several higher degrees and academic achievements. He is prominently renowned as a plant pathologist, having served as the president of the American Phytopathological Society, and his research contributions have earned him both national and international recognition. He received the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Morrison Medal before he returned to Pullman to serve as the associate dean of research for WSU's College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. In this position, he advocated for agriculture stakeholders and supported research in Washington State and across the country. He testified before the House Agriculture Committee and has led WSU to be number one in USDA research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2016. Jim and I have worked closely together since I came to Congress, and I am grateful for all he has done for my alma mater. I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating his successful career, and I wish him the best in his retirement. Go, Cougars.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), as well as the good gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), because I want to take just a minute. I think it is appropriate at this time during this debate on a rule to remember Ms. Louise Slaughter, our ranking member of the Rules Committee, a historical position. She was the very first woman to be the chairman of the Rules Committee. She gave three decades of service to our Nation through the U.S. Congress. As importantly--or, to me, more importantly--she was someone whom I consider a personal friend. Louise was an individual who I said yesterday could really transcend between politics and personal relationships. We had some very heated debates--a good example is today--and very strong differences of opinions, but we can do that. That is our job to do that. But Louise also taught us that we could do that without being negative to each other in a personal way. She was great at that. She embodied and personified the ability to have an objection without being objectionable, and I admired that greatly about her. She was a senior Member and I was a very junior Member. She didn't have to do this, but in many ways she took me under her wing when I became a Member of Congress. We served on the Rules Committee together, and I very much relished that relationship that we had. Another thing that we had in common was we joined a very exclusive club, one that several other Members of this body belong to, and that is those people who have lost their spouses. When I was going through that very personally difficult time, Louise had the similar experience. She was very gracious to me to be able to help me through that very difficult time. We exchanged books. Many Members of Congress have read books by C.S. Lewis. Louise and I had many discussions about some of the things in some of his writings. In kind of a funny way, as she would do in manipulating me into thinking I was helping her, she was actually having me help myself through that very challenging time. I will always be forever grateful to her for doing that. She stood strong, and she was a formidable opponent. When she was managing the rule for the Democrats on the other side of the floor, it was always a challenging task, and you had to be on your game when you were on this side making the debate with her. I count myself very fortunate to have been able to know her and to have been able to work with her. I join together with all of my colleagues and her family to be able to remember her and honor her memory; and I will continue to do so, as she has truly left a large mark on this institution.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History Month, I want to honor three incredible women who have had an enormous impact on central Washington State: Martha Yallup, Violet Lumley Rau, and Sister Kathleen Ross, who founded what would become Heritage University in 1982. With a vision to create a community and inspire others to serve, they brought education to the underserved populations of the Yakima Valley. Today, Heritage University has grown immensely and now offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate majors. The high-quality education and inclusive environment has led to over 9,500 graduated students who will continue to grow their legacy. Martha, Violet, and Sister Kathleen saw an opportunity to have an impact on the lives of their friends and neighbors, and it is safe to say they exceeded their goal. Their perseverance, ambition, and service to the community are an inspiration for all of us in central Washington, and it is a privilege and honor to serve them during Women's History Month.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the First Amendment free speech rights of pro-life pregnancy centers across the Nation. I want to thank my colleagues, Congressman Andy Harris as well as Congressman Doug LaMalfa, for leading this Special Order this evening. Mr. Speaker, our Declaration of Independence proclaims that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are God-given rights of all people. If we truly believe that, then we must be consistent that the right to life is inherent for every person, born or unborn. National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra is a case before the Supreme Court that centers on the right of free speech of pro-life licensed medical centers. Under California's State law, these centers are forced to violate their conscientious objections and post written advertisements for free or low-cost abortions subsidized by the State. I would ask: What could be more deeply offensive to any person who shares the strongly held belief that abortion takes innocent lives? I believe that this unjust law violates First Amendment protections under our Constitution, and the ramifications of this Court decision will be felt across the Nation. There are nearly a dozen crisis pregnancy centers in central Washington State, and most are in the Fourth Congressional District, which I represent. Life Choices Pregnancy Medical Center in Yakima, which I recently visited, is a pregnancy medical center that provides pregnancy testing, medical consultation, STD testing, and adoption referrals for expectant mothers. Crisis pregnancy centers exist to support mothers, fathers, and their children. Many provide free material resources for young families and ongoing parental support. These centers exist to further the progress and protection of innocent life. I signed onto the amicus brief supporting NIFLA with more than 140 colleagues because States do not have the right to force private individuals or entities to compel speech that violates their conscience. I am proud of the House of Representatives' work to protect the sanctity of life, such as the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which I supported, to ensure that children who survive an abortion or an attempted abortion are given proper medical treatment. Today I stand with my colleagues to be a voice for the voiceless and to stand for the right of free speech of all who believe in the sanctity of life.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Grant County Fire District Battalion Chief Dan Dishon from Moses Lake, Washington. Dan passed away on January 8, 2018. Dan was a husband, a father, a friend, and a highly respected fire servicemember. His love of firefighting and his dedication to his community were evident in his 15 years of volunteer service at both the Grant County Fire District 13 as well as District 5, where he eventually secured his dream job of shift captain. Local firefighters, members of his team, and the community will remember him for his leadership, humility, and commitment to keeping the citizens of Grant County safe. My prayers and sincere condolences go out to his family and his friends and all those affected by his passing during this difficult time. I urge all my colleagues to join me in thanking Dan Dishon for his inspirational life of service to Washington State in the Fourth District.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Los Hernandez Tamales in Union Gap, Washington, for winning the James Beard Foundation's 2018 America's Classics Award. Felipe and June Hernandez, as well as their daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and Dion Wilburn, have operated the tamale eatery in the Yakima Valley for the last three decades. Felipe came to America from Mexico to work in agriculture and opened Los Hernandez Tamales in 1990. This family-owned establishment is well known for its pork, chicken, and seasonal asparagus tamales and, until now, remained a relatively secret spot among us locals. The James Beard Foundation America's Classics Award honors locally owned restaurants that are cherished for quality food that reflects the character of their community, and Los Hernandez Tamales is the first restaurant in central Washington to be recognized by the foundation. I, my family, my friends, and my staff can all attest that this award is well deserved, and it is an honor to recognize the Hernandezes for their hard work and accomplishments.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the good gentleman from the Rules Committee for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in this most interesting debate on the rule that I have ever seen, I rise in support of restoring a fully functioning Federal Government. I, along with most all of my colleagues, supported the continuing resolution keeping the Federal Government open, keeping funding for our military, reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program. Senate Democrats rejected that solution. They voted against keeping the Federal Government open, fully funding CHIP, against giving certainty to the more than 60,000 low-income children in my own State of Washington. Now, our military professionals are working to reduce the impacts to national security due to the government shutdown. Secretary Mattis himself is giving shutdown guidance to the men and women in uniform, saying: ``Steady as she goes. Hold the line. I know the Nation can count on you. Stay alert.'' His message speaks to the admirable professionalism of our troops. These men and women deserve their pay, and their families should not have to worry about their paychecks. In no way does shutting down the Federal Government serve them or us.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, in my district, important work like the Hanford cleanup and our national laboratory must continue. Today, I find myself, as well as many, frustrated. As a supporter of the President's call for Congress to act to work on a bipartisan solution on DACA, let's reopen the government and continue our negotiations.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support of this rule and to provide consideration of H.R. 4712, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would ensure that children who survive an abortion, or an attempted abortion, are given proper medical treatment. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill to ensure that babies born alive are transported and admitted to a hospital immediately following emergency care. As a Christian and as a father of two, I hold maintaining the sanctity of life as my highest priority. The House of Representatives voted to pass this legislation in the 114th Congress, but it was met with an unresponsive Senate. I will vote again to support this bill to hold healthcare providers accountable, protect and empower mothers, and help ensure that these innocent children are provided the same medical care that any other newborn would receive. I remain hopeful that this time around we can send this important legislation to the President to be signed into law.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, we are already seeing the positive impact of tax reform. More than 100 businesses and corporations are giving back to their employees and their communities as a direct response to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This historic tax reform legislation has paved the way for a better American business environment, and hardworking people are benefiting from the contributions of major employers and service providers, including in my home State of Washington. Boeing announced a total investment of $300 million dedicated to corporate giving, employee training, and infrastructure improvement. Alaska Airlines provided $1,000 bonuses for more than 20,000 employees. Washington Federal is increasing salaries by 5 percent for employees making under $100,000, investing in training, technology upgrades, and making a $5 million philanthropic contribution. Pacific Power has committed to passing the company's benefits on to their consumers, which include ratepayers in the Fourth Congressional District. These benefits and tax relief will have a lasting effect on Washington families, and I look forward to continuing to work toward bigger paychecks, more jobs, and a prosperous economy.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize three high school students from Kennewick, Washington, as the winners of Washington's Fourth District 2017 Congressional App Challenge. Seth Florman, Damon Fuller, and Kyler Zimmerman spent many hours creating and refining an app they named Powerhouse, which enables the user to take on the role of businessowner of an energy company. These students designed the app to illustrate an energy company's responsibilities to the community and to draw attention to the challenges energy providers face. Thank you to our panel of judges and to the engineers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory who will be providing the winners with a tour of their great facility. The Congressional App Challenge highlights the value of computer science and coding, and I am proud to represent central Washington, where schools and teachers are dedicated to encouraging students to excel in STEM education. This year, the Fourth Congressional District's App Challenge had the highest number of entries since my office began participating in the contest, which is a testament to the creativity of our young people. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Seth, Damon, and Kyler on their wining app, Powerhouse, and I look forward to their continued educational and professional success.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.