Tom Petri

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill before us, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee).

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4268, a bill to amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to United States Route 78 in Mississippi, and for other purposes. H.R. 4268 allows commercial vehicles currently operating on United States Route 78 in Mississippi, between mile marker zero and mile marker 113, to continue to operate after that segment is designated as part of the interstate highway system. This bill is similar to H.R. 2353, a bill which I sponsored, that provides a similar allowance for commercial vehicles operating currently on Highway 41 in the State of Wisconsin. That bill passed the House by voice vote on July 22, 2013. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4268. It allows for commerce to continue in Mississippi in an orderly way. It would not involve any new use of the roads. The only thing that would change is the designation of the highway from U.S. to interstate. Otherwise, people that had special permits to operate or were operating under State law on the previous highway would continue operating. No new use would be permitted. I urge my colleagues to support this limited, basically technical piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. 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 the bill before us.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4268) to amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to United States Route 78 in Mississippi, and for other purposes.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern that protectionism could one day lead to a ``war on brats.'' Bratwursts are delicious. They are enjoyed around the world. In Wisconsin, we take our brats seriously. But nowhere more so than in the Sixth District, which includes the Bratwurst Capital of the World, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In 1970, the city of Sheboygan battled Bucyrus, Ohio, for the title and won. The battle was ended on August 14, 1970, when Judge John Bolgert issued an official decision bestowing the title upon Sheboygan and barring all other claimants from using it. Unfortunately, this title could soon be under attack. There is growing concern that the European Union could consider more geographic name restrictions on products including ``kielbasa'' and Wisconsin's own ``bratwurst.'' This is, frankly, getting ridiculous. If anything, we should be trademarking the name ``bratwurst,'' not them. I am currently circulating a letter urging the U.S. trade representatives to reject any attempt to include these provisions in further trade negotiations. I strongly urge my colleagues to consider signing this letter.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today to expand access to a new and innovative private financing option to help students pay for postsecondary education. The bill, entitled the Investing in Student Success Act, would create a legal framework where individuals or organizations can provide students with money for school in exchange for the student agreeing to make payments linked to their income for a set period of time after graduation. Students would have no loan balance to repay, so some students might end up paying less than the amount given to them and others more. These plans would serve as an alternative to student loans. This concept is extremely innovative in its approach to financing college. Far too many students struggle to obtain enough financing through traditional sources to pay for college, and many others are saddled with unaffordable payments after graduation. These plans would help all students get the financing they need--including students from disadvantaged backgrounds--but without the anxiety that comes with traditional loans. These ideas were originally proposed by Milton Friedman and were recently discussed in a report published by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). One of the recommendations of the report was for Congress to create a legal framework that would provide investors with clarity regarding tax treatment, consumer disclosures, and other relevant aspects of these contracts. While there are a few small companies operating in this market, the report argues that the lack of legal clarity has prevented the growth of these financing options on a wide scale. The AEI report also highlights the potential for these financing tools to help address the issue of college costs. It argues that investors will likely offer more generous terms to students for higher quality institutions and programs or for fields that are in high demand in the workforce. Therefore, by helping students navigate to programs that will set them up for success, these tools would likely put pressure on institutions to cut costs and improve quality. Mr. Speaker, as some form of postsecondary education becomes increasingly essential to success in today's economy, we should ensure that students have an array of beneficial tools to help them finance their studies. I hope that my colleagues will join me in helping to make this new and innovative financing option available to them.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4076, the HHEATT Act, that would allow propane to expeditiously move across our country and be delivered to the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on this resource to heat their homes. It is estimated that 250,000 people in my home state of Wisconsin rely on propane to heat their homes. Today, the temperature in my hometown of Fond du Lac is 11 degrees, with a high of 20 and a low of 6 degrees. The wind chill brings these temperatures down to the single digits and below zero. This is the way it's been for much of the winter during this exceptionally cold winter. Don't get me wrong, I'm from Wisconsin, we're used to the cold. But when you get home from work and you are unable to afford or even obtain the propane needed to heat your home, we have a serious problem. There are many factors that have contributed to the propane shortage we're now facing, and I am not here to list them all. My home state of Wisconsin and the utility companies that serve us have been going to great lengths to assist those who are running low on propane and seek out additional supplies as far south as Texas to get them to the people that need them. The U.S. Department of Transportation has temporarily suspended hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers carrying propane so supplies can make it where they need to go in an expedited manner. But these suspensions han been renewed in 30 day increments. Mr. Speaker, this bill simply continues the emergency suspension of federal hours-of-service requirements for truck drivers carrying propane through the end of May. It allows the transportation of propane to continue uninterrupted by federal rules that could literally be the difference between someone sleeping in a house with heat or without it. We are making progress in resolving this shortage, but this legislation would provide certainty for thousands in my district through the rest of the cold season that they will be able to receive this valuable resource to heat their home. I thank my colleague and Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster for introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, on January 28, 2014, I was incorrectly recorded as ``not voting'' on rollcall 30, final passage of H.R. 7--No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. I intended to vote ``yes.''

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us, S. 230, which would authorize the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to establish a memorial in our Nation's Capital to honor the formation of the Peace Corps and the thousands of volunteers who have represented our American ideals to communities around the world for over 50 years. I was honored to have the opportunity to serve in the Peace Corps in Somalia, and I saw firsthand the contribution that Peace Corps volunteers make to the communities they serve. The continued selfless and noble service outside our borders remains a testament to the American ideals embodied by the Peace Corps volunteers I served with and those who are serving our Nation today. The creation of the Peace Corps by Congress and President John F. Kennedy in 1961 marked a fundamental turning point in American foreign policy. The values and ideals of America were put into action to help meet the needs of people and communities in developing countries through volunteer service abroad. When I was serving, we were taught that we were representing the American people, not necessarily the American Government. Therefore, I believe that a memorial to mark over 50 years of service by our fellow Americans that is paid for with voluntary contributions is an appropriate indication of the public support for all the volunteers that have and will continue to represent America in many different societies around the world. The memorials in Washington, D.C., tell the story of the people and events that have shaped our Nation's history and our fundamental ideals. The founding of the Peace Corps was an expression of those ideals and will continue to inspire new generations of Americans to embrace the belief that we can and should reach out to uplift those around us. As such, I believe a memorial commemorating 50 years of Peace Corps history and volunteerism would be a meaningful part of the National Capital landscape. I encourage my colleagues to consider this bill in the spirit in which it is being offered, as a privately funded commemorative effort, and join me in supporting S. 230.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, today's elections are costing more and more each year. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, winning candidates spent an average of $1.5 million in the 2011-2012 election cycle. More than $4 billion was contributed to campaigns during the last cycle, with 63 percent of this total coming from donors who gave more than $200. Most would agree that the ideal way to finance political campaigns is through a broad base of donors. This is why I propose to bring back the Federal tax credit for small campaign contributions. Today, I have introduced the Citizen Involvement in Campaigns Act. Under this legislation, individuals who donate amounts up to $200 to a Federal campaign could receive a tax credit equal to that contribution. With more and more campaign operations moving to Web sites and online resources, campaigns could tilt the playing field away from special interests and large donors and empower small donors and average Americans. This bill is a step in the right direction of encouraging greater participation in our campaigns, and I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing legislation to establish a program of limited tax credits and tax deductions to get average Americans more involved in the political process. This bill, the Citizen Involvement in Campaigns (CIVIC) Act, will broaden the base of political contributors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, during the 2011-2012 election cycle candidates winning a seat in the House spent an average of more than $1.5 million. Viewed in the aggregate, more than $4.25 billion was contributed to campaigns for federal office, with more than 63 percent of this total given in chunks of $200 or more. Donors making contributions of $200 or more were a small segment of our population, about one-half of one-percent of all adults (Center for Responsive Politics). Is it any wonder then that some believe that large campaign donors have undue influence with the winning candidates? We need to take a fresh look at innovative approaches to campaign finance reform, with special attention paid to ideas that encourage, and not restrict, greater participation in our campaigns. Toward this end, I have been advocating tax credits and deductions for small political contributions for many years. An updated tax credit system would be a simple and effective means of balancing big donors and bringing individual contributors back to our campaigns. The impact of this counterweight will reduce the burden of raising money, as well as the appearance of impropriety that accompanies the money chase. Most would agree that the ideal way to finance political campaigns is through a broad base of donors. But, as we are all painfully aware, the economic realities of modern-day campaigning lead many candidates to focus most of their efforts on collecting funds from a few large donors. This reality alienates many Americans from the political process. The concept of empowering small donors is not a new idea. For example, from 1972 to 1986, the federal government offered a tax credit for small political contributions. This provided an incentive for average Americans to contribute to campaigns in small amounts while simultaneously encouraging politicians to solicit donations from a larger pool of contributors. Currently, five geographically and politically diverse states (Oregon, Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia, and Arkansas.) offer their own tax credits for political contributions. These state-level credits vary in many respects, but all share the same goal of encouraging citizens to become more involved. The CIVIC Act can begin the process of building this counterweight for federal elections. This bill is designed to encourage Americans who ordinarily do not get involved in politics beyond casting a vote every two or four years (that is, if they bother to vote at all) to become more active participants in our political process. The CIVIC Act will reestablish and update the discontinued federal tax credit. Taxpayers can choose between a 100 percent tax credit for political contributions to federal candidates or national political parties (limited to $200 per taxable year), or a 100 percent tax deduction (limited to $600 per taxable year). Both limits, of course, are doubled for joint returns. As long as political parties and candidates promote the existence of these credits, the program can have a real impact and aid in making elections more grassroots affairs than they are today. A limited tax credit for political contributions can be a bipartisan, cost-efficient method for helping balance the influence of large money donors in the American electoral process. Instead of driving away most Americans from participation in political life, we can offer an invitation for citizens to play a larger role in political campaigns. It seems to me that this will be a fruitful way to clean up our system, while at the same time convincing Americans that they actually have a meaningful stake in elections. I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor the Citizen Involvement in Campaigns Act.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced the Technology, Equality, and Accessibility in College and Higher Education (TEACH) Act to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the benefits of electronic instructional materials used in today's colleges and universities. Colleges and universities across the country are using a wide array of new technologies and instructional materials in the classroom. While the use of these new technologies is a positive development, it can also pose a challenge for accessibility. We have an obligation to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to obtain a quality education. The bill would require that any instructional technology, such as digital content, tablets, online platforms, interactive computer software, etc., used by a postsecondary school either be accessible to students with disabilities or that the school provide accommodations or modifications so that the ease-of-use and benefits of the technology for students with disabilities is on par with other students. These requirements are consistent with joint guidance issued in 2010 by the Departments of Education and Justice regarding the use of new technologies in the classroom and the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The guidance was issued in response to the use of electronic book readers by some colleges and universities that were not fully accessible to visually impaired students. To help schools meet these requirements, the TEACH Act directs the Access Board, an independent federal agency, to develop guidelines for electronic instructional materials used by institutions of higher education. Schools would not be limited to using materials or technologies that are consistent with the guidelines, but those materials that do conform to the guidelines would automatically be considered to be accessible under the law. In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act created the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities, otherwise known as the AIM Commission. One of the commission's recommendations was that the Access Board be directed by Congress to develop guidelines to help guide the development of accessible instructional materials in the marketplace. This bill would implement that recommendation. For decades, schools have been required to provide equal access to all students. What this bill would do is ensure that students with disabilities are given equal treatment now and in the future as new, innovative technologies are developed and used more often in the classroom. I hope that my colleagues will join me in support of this legislation.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. I thank my colleague from Alaska for yielding, and I rise to support the Young amendment. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of the amendment. It is important that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers be encouraged to use the private sector for surveying and mapping services whenever practical. Congress should take steps to end the increasing duplication of and competition with the private sector by the Corps of Engineers. This amendment would allow the Corps to continue to manage mapping and surveying for its projects, but it should rely on the private sector to perform the mapping and surveying services and activities that are commercially available to the maximum extent practical. At a time when Federal funds for infrastructure, including water resources projects, are limited, the Corps should be increasing its use of the private sector for surveying and mapping, where it makes sense, not wasting tax dollars by competing and duplicating the private sector. So I encourage the House to adopt the Young amendment to increase the Corps' reliance on the capable and qualified private sector surveying and mapping services wherever practical.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado, Representative Coffman. (Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado, Representative Gardner.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3174 is a bill with a clear and simple goal. This legislation allows the Department of Transportation to obligate previously authorized and appropriated funds for emergency relief projects without limitation to the amount a State can receive for a particular severe weather event. This bill does not increase spending and only applies to funds that have been previously authorized or appropriated. This bill is consistent with the authorizing language in MAP-21, which we passed with bipartisan support last summer. MAP-21 does not limit how much a State can receive from the emergency relief program for a particular severe weather event. This bill restores the flexibility provided in MAP-21 to the Department of Transportation to determine how funds that have already been authorized and appropriated should be spent. This bill has bipartisan support. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. 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 the bill before us.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3174) to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to obligate funds for emergency relief projects arising from damage caused by severe weather events in 2013, and for other purposes.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, America's health care system needs reform. There's no denying that. But the law signed by this President is not the answer most Americans are looking for. We know health insurance is too expensive. The average American family has seen their premiums rise by over $3,000 since 2008. But under ObamaCare, premiums could increase by as much as 413 percent. We know that young people in America are especially vulnerable. Under ObamaCare, young Americans could end up paying 19 percent to 30 percent more for their insurance. We also know that far too many of our fellow Americans are left with no insurance coverage at all. The Congressional Budget Office tells us that even after ObamaCare is implemented, 30 million people will still be uninsured. It's time to defund this law and replace it with commonsense health care reform.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all Members to support the bill before us, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our colleague from the State of Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).