Erik Paulsen

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our Nation's law enforcement officers, the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities. This week is National Police Week, and thousands of officers from across the country will gather here in Washington to pay tribute to those who have fallen in the line of duty. Sadly, in the past year, 162 officers have died in the line of duty, including two from Minnesota, Sergeant Joseph Bergeron of Maplewood and Mahnomen County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Dewey. As we remember these officers, Mr. Speaker, I want to call attention to legislation that I have introduced that would help protect those who protect us. H.R. 1789, the State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act, would guarantee law enforcement officers have basic rights during disciplinary actions. I ask and urge my colleagues to sign on to this legislation so we can also help protect our law enforcement officers.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize the month of May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Since 1983, various individuals and organizations have focused on May as a time to promote awareness of the value of physical activity and the pursuit of happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Chronic diseases, including preventible illnesses like heart disease and stroke, cause 70 percent of U.S. deaths and are responsible for three-quarters of health care spending. The great majority of these conditions are linked to risky health behavior such as obesity and lack of exercise. Congress should be drawing attention to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the good work being done by many employers to encourage healthy behaviors through workplace wellness programs. Mr. Speaker, that's why I am partnering with my colleague, Ron Kind from Wisconsin, to create a Congressional Wellness Caucus that I encourage my colleagues to join.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the managers amendment. Currently, the Department of Transportation is working on a rule that would require finished medical devices and other products containing lithium batteries to be shipped as hazardous cargo. The rule would prevent medical devices, like this pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and blood glucose monitors, from being shipped by air, until special packaging can be developed. We don't know when this would be developed. These medical devices are heavily regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and undergo extensive testing to assure safety-- including testing to ensure devices withstand the rigors of shipping. If the DOT rule passes, it would severely disrupt the medical device industry's just-in-time delivery system, lead to bottlenecks in the supply chain, and prevent overnight or same-day shipping to patients all over the country even though these devices pose no demonstrable safety risk. It is important to note that the rule wouldn't just negatively impact medical devices. It will also have a significant impact on shipping everyday technologies such as laptops and cell phones. All in all, the rule will cost more than a billion dollars annually. The rule would have a devastating impact on patient access to life- saving medical devices and will increase health care costs. Thankfully, the managers amendment remedies this situation, and I applaud Chairman Mica for his work.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Eden Prairie High School boys' hockey team on winning the 2A State championship. It's the team's second State title in 3 years. The Eden Prairie Eagles were well matched in the championship game against the Duluth East Greyhounds. With the game heading into triple overtime, the Eagles came out on top 3-2. This game would actually prove to be the longest championship game in the 67-year history of the Minnesota State hockey tournament. I also want to recognize Eden Prairie senior Kyle Rau, who was named Minnesota's Mr. Hockey by a group of NCAA Division I coaches and NHL scouts. There's no doubt that Kyle's 41 season goals, including five in the State tournament, played a strong role in the Eagles' championship victory. Congratulations to Coach Smith and Eden Prairie's student athletes. We're all very proud of you.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Chair, last summer I met with a woman whose husband, who was born and raised in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, had died in Afghanistan; and we discussed issues that she was facing as the widow of a servicemember. One of the concerns she raised was absolutely paying her mortgage, given all the changes and stresses that had taken place in her life. This conversation led me to introduce legislation last year, which actually passed the House last fall, that directed the appropriate agencies to take into account and consideration the special circumstances of wounded servicemembers and widows of fallen soldiers and their families in housing programs. Along those lines, this amendment and my amendment today would add military servicemembers and veterans who have service-related injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals, to be included in the study on the use of the FHA refinance program. These families do face, often, new hardships. They may need modification to their houses if the servicemember is now in a wheelchair. They may have significant changes in their ability to move around, as well as the skills they are able to perform, which could have a significant impact on their livelihood. It's my hope, Madam Chair, through this amendment we can get a better understanding of how we can best provide for these families who have made that service and sacrifice. I urge adoption of the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAULSEN. Congresswoman, I am not aware of the exact number. The amendment applies, actually, for addition to the study. But I would be happy if you would share that information.

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, I also rise in strong support of the legislation here today that would repeal this burdensome 1099 tax requirement contained in the new health care law. Failure to eliminate this provision would result in vast amounts of new paperwork and additional accounting burdens for 30 million businesses that are still struggling in a very downbeat economy. Now, while having gone virtually unnoticed in the context of the entire health care debate, this provision has created quite a bit of concern for companies who are already facing increased regulatory compliance costs as they get ready for this new provision to take effect. Madam Speaker, almost every week I get a chance to visit with a small business back in Minnesota in my district; and nearly every one of them has asked me in bewilderment and in complete disbelief why they would be required to have to do this because of the amount of time and the amount of energy it will take to comply with this new requirement. So now, if there's a small business owner and they want to go into a Target store and they purchase $600 worth of office supplies annually, they are now going to be required to file a new 1099 form--not only with the IRS, but with the Target Corporation. It's a waste of time, and time is money. We need to be thinking about how we can help our Nation's small businesses get back on track by growing jobs and helping our economy move forward. It's not the way to do it by increasing more burdensome paperwork and bureaucratic paperwork. We need to let them be productive, to unleash their productivity, rather than filling out unnecessary forms. Madam Speaker, I know, with the elimination of this onerous reporting requirement, small businesses are now going to be able to focus where they should focus their resources: on growing jobs and creating a better economy instead of processing additional paperwork and navigating bureaucratic red tape.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Minnesota's 2011 AA State girls' hockey champions, the Minnetonka Skippers. In their first ever tournament appearance, the Skippers skated to victory with an impressive 3-2 win over the Edina Hornets. After nearly three periods of nail-biting action, with 39.6 seconds left on the clock, Amy Peterson scored her second goal of the game solidifying their place in Minnesota hockey history. Under the direction of Head Coach Eric Johnson, the Skippers ended their season with a remarkable 29 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie. The message on the team's T-shirt says it best: ``All Out. All Game. All Season. All It Takes Is All You've Got.'' The Minnetonka girls' hockey team gave it their all, all season. Their talent, dedication and passion truly makes the Minnetonka girls' hockey team champions. Congratulations, Skippers.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Minnesota's Fire Officer of the Year, Dale Specken of Hopkins. Known for his can-do attitude, loyalty, and fairness, Dale has long had the respect of all of his colleagues because of his passion for teaching others about fire prevention and going beyond the call of duty to help others and the community. Dale comes from a long line of firefighters and in 1981 joined the family business. Working hard and rising through the ranks, he became Hopkins fire chief in 2005. Being the dedicated community servant that he is, Dale also serves as the emergency manager and fire marshal for the City of Hopkins. I want to congratulate Dale on being named Minnesota's Fire Officer of the Year. Thank you for your many years of tireless service and for your unwavering commitment to our community.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to rise also in support of this resolution which directs committees to review Federal agency rules and regulations which indeed may unfairly harm the ability to create jobs and grow our economy. I continue to hear on a pretty regular basis from my small businesses in my community in Minnesota about new rules and new proposed regulations that absolutely could hamper their operations and opportunity for growth. I'm just going to give a couple of examples real quickly. I've heard from financial service companies in my district about a rule that the Department of Labor is proposing now that fundamentally changes a 35-year-old definition of ``fiduciary'' under ERISA. Now, if implemented, this new rule would cause a major disruption to the marketplace and directly result in higher costs and severely limited access to much-needed products and services to consumers. I've also heard from some of my medical device companies in my district that are leading the world in developing these new lifesaving technologies. And there's a new rule now that's been proposed by the Department of Transportation which would require finished medical devices and other products that contain lithium batteries to now be shipped as hazardous cargo. Now, this is going to have a devastating impact on the production of pacemakers, defibrillators, and neurostimulators. This is a new requirement that would severely disrupt the medical industry's just-in-time delivery system. It's going to lead to bottlenecks in the supply chain, and it's going to delay access to care for patients all over the country, even though these devices pose no demonstrable safety risk. And it isn't just medical devices, Mr. Speaker. The regulation is also going to have a significant impact on shipping of everyday technologies. All in all, it's estimated that this new regulation alone is going to cost about $1 billion annually to the economy and these businesses. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the examples, and we've heard others tonight of some of the burdensome regulations that are out there and being proposed, and it clearly outlines the need for some oversight and reform. I ask for support of the resolution.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, later this week, I plan on introducing legislation, the Patients Freedom to Choose Act, along with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas. This legislation would repeal two provisions of the new health care law that limit a patient's choice in how to use their consumer-directed health care plans. Beginning in 2013, contributions to flexible spending accounts will be limited by a new Federal cap of $2,500. The new health care law will also prohibit individuals from using their health savings accounts and their flexible spending accounts to purchase over-the-counter medication without a prescription from their doctor. Mr. Speaker, 10 million Americans now are enrolled in HSAs and over 35 million people have FSAs, while 85 percent of all large employers offer them as a benefit to their employees. This legislation is needed because these two provisions in the health care law will punish families at a cost of over $5 billion. Instead of limiting options as is happening under this new health care law, we should be empowering patients by giving them increased access to affordable, quality care.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a wonderful community in my district, Brooklyn Center. 2011 is no ordinary year for Brooklyn Center, as next week they will celebrate their centennial. A quaint suburb located west of Minneapolis, throughout its 100-year history, Brooklyn Center has embraced growth, the importance of family values, and the development of industry, all while maintaining its small-town charm. Brooklyn Center's residents take great pride in its many diverse and successful residents, its great schools, many shops and recreation options--including the famous Dudley/Budweiser Minnesota Classic Softball Tournament. As an avid biker, I appreciate Brooklyn Center's acres of picturesque parks and miles of trails. The city's many nature areas are a great representation of the community's pride and commitment to civic improvement. Congratulations Brooklyn Center on 100 years of being ``a great place to start and a great place to stay.'' I'm sorry I won't be there to celebrate with you, but I hope your Centennial Celebration is truly the ``Party of the Century.''

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this effort to repeal the job-destroying health care law that a majority of Americans oppose. Now, last year Congress put job creation on the back burner and instead pushed a very partisan, trillion-dollar overhaul of our health care system. Last year, at the Democrat leadership's request, Congress passed the bill to ``find out what is in it.'' Well, here is what we found: a laundry list of tax increases and job-crushing mandates that will make it harder for small businesses to make ends meet and further delay an economic recovery. This problem is so serious that the National Federation of Independent Business, an advocacy organization representing countless small businesses that drive the engine of our economy, found that the new employer mandate could cost 1.6 million jobs. In and around my district, hundreds of medical technology companies are now facing higher taxes to the tune of $20 billion. We are penalizing innovation when we should be encouraging it. We are preventing lifesaving technologies from coming to market when we should be promoting them. This is unacceptable. The American people deserve health care reform that doesn't break the bank. We need health care reform that lowers costs and doesn't increase premiums. We should repeal this law now and replace it with commonsense, patient-centered alternatives; otherwise, our economy will stagnate, our small businesses will not be able to expand, and the medical device industry in my district will continue to suffer.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to commemorate the service of my dear friend Arlene Bush, who is entering her 30th year as a member of the Bloomington School Board of Minnesota. Arlene, who turns 80 later on this year, first joined the school board in 1981. And while times have changed since then, Arlene's dedication to Bloomington students and the schools that they attend has not. She started her own educational journey in a small two-room schoolhouse in the tiny town of Odin, Minnesota. Later, she moved to Minneapolis, where she graduated from high school in 1948. Later, she got married and she settled in Bloomington, Minnesota, which at that time was a growing suburb of Minneapolis, where she raised six daughters before beginning her long career in public service. Arlene's big heart and humble demeanor immediately endeared her to new friends. She makes a point to be a community leader not only through the duties of her position but by being present at sporting events, plays, pep fests, musicals, concerts, and ceremonies celebrating the young people of Bloomington. She not only advocates for Bloomington's students on the board, she encourages them personally every chance she gets. She understands that children need not only financial and operational support in their education; she exemplifies a leader who invests in their interests, recognizes their achievements, and comforts them in times of adversity. Arlene's milestone isn't one that can be measured in the number of hours logged in meetings or the number of terms that she's served but rather in the lives of the thousands, the literally thousands of students that have benefited from her commitment to education. Over the years, the name ``Arlene Bush'' has become synonymous with education among the generations of Bloomington students whose lives have been enriched through her many years of service. She's a pillar of the community whose presence on the school board has absolutely provided a steady hand as times have changed. As a father with four daughters in public schools myself, it is reassuring to know there are dedicated public servants like Arlene out there working to give our children the best education possible. And like Arlene, these unsung heroes don't do it for the glory or admiration. They do it simply because they share a common desire to better our community. And these kind souls prove that you don't have to be a congressman or a senator to change the world or touch someone's life. Inside all of us is the ability to contribute to the public good and to make the world a better place for future generations. When asked recently to look back on her many years of service on the school board, Arlene replied in very true Minnesota fashion. She wasn't boastful or proud but rather humbled. She said that she was thankful for the opportunity to serve. Mr. Speaker, as I close, I just want to take the time to let Arlene know that we, too, are thankful--thankful for her desire to serve.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to my friend and colleague, Representative Gabrielle Giffords, one of many victims of a very senseless act of violence this past Saturday. I have had the pleasure of knowing Gabby and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, for several years--even before either of us stepped foot in this Chamber. In my district office, there is a photo of Gabby, myself, and others who were part of an Aspen Institute-Rodel fellowship program, which was created to explore the responsibilities of public leadership; advance thoughtful, civil, bipartisan dialogue; and help America's young leaders achieve their full potential. Gabby is so much about all of these ideals. Quite often, I found myself looking at this photo over the last few days; and I couldn't help but think that all of our communities could use a few more individuals like Gabby, whose bright smile and kind heart have come to define her tenure here in Congress. For many of us here today, the news of the tragedy was gut-wrenching. It's hard to believe that, just a few days before this senseless attack, my family and I were out visiting at the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport when we heard someone shout out my name. I turned around, and it was Gabby's husband, Mark, with Gabby and her parents in tow. We spent the next several minutes sharing a positive outlook about the new Congress that was upcoming and, as friends often do, recalling some of our good memories, such as when I joined Gabby with two of my daughters at one of Mark's space shuttle launches in Florida. Over the past few days, there have been many moving tributes to Gabby, and all of them are true. She leads by example with her fighting spirit, her diligent work ethic and friendly, constant smile. It is my hope that we can follow in Gabby's footsteps over the next several weeks and, as hard as it may be, can show the same bright smile and kind heart that she has shown all of us. My thoughts and prayers remain with Gabby, her husband, Mark; and their family; and with Gabby's staff--all of the victims and their families who are a part of this tragedy.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 658 (H.R. 6540) my flight was delayed due to weather and had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Winston ``Win'' Wallin: businessman, philanthropist, pioneer and one-of-a-kind Minnesotan. Born in Minneapolis in 1926, Win, like so many in his generation, served in the military during World War II. After two years as a Navy pilot, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. Following graduation, Win began a long and industrious career with Pillsbury, rising through the ranks to Chief Operations Officer. In the mid-80's, Win left Pillsbury to head a little-known, struggling medical device company based in Minnesota, named Medtronic. Win's leadership and determination, changed the face of Medtronic. Today it is the world's largest medical device company. Although Win brought great success to the companies he led, his life cannot simply be measured in their bottom lines, but rather in the countless lives he touched through his philanthropic endeavors. Win was a true believer in empowerment through higher education. Since 1986, Win and his wife Maxine have helped over 3,000 high school students make the dream of a college education a reality through their Wallin Scholarship. While Minnesota will never be able to replace Win, his legacy lives on through the lives he has touched and the state he has made better through his presence.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 657, (H. Res. 1771), my flight was delayed due to weather and had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, our number one priority in Congress should be enacting pro-growth policies that will put Americans back to work and get our economy back on track. Sadly, in the past 2 years, this body has done very little to accommodate the record high unemployment that this country has faced. And this tax bill before us today will give us an opportunity to finally change that, because in just 2 weeks our country's small businesses will see a huge job-killing tax increase imposed upon them. Now, we all know small businesses have been the backbone of our economy for a long period of years. They have served as our Nation's top and chief job creators, generating nearly 7 out of every 10 new jobs created. But according to the National Federation of Independent Business, small business optimism is still at a recessionary level, and only a net 4 percent of firms are even planning to create new jobs. Stopping these tax increases on January 1 will add jobs to the economy. On the other hand, imposing these job-killing tax increases on our small businesses is only going to further delay an economic recovery that has been denied to the American people. So we must act now to prevent this from happening. This bill also has a significant impact on our Nation's families. Voting against this bill will lead to a nearly $100 tax increase on every hardworking American family every single week. These are families that are already struggling to make ends meet in tough economic times, and increasing taxes on them is only going to make matters worse. Mr. Chairman, this bill is not perfect. Would I like to see these tax rates made permanent? Yes. Would I like to see the spending provisions and portions paid for? Yes. But well over 80 percent of this bill is tax relief. It prevents income tax rates from increasing; it prevents the alternative tax from hitting more middle-income families; it preserves the child tax credit; and it prevents the marriage penalty from being put in place. Unless we act, on January 1 we will see job-killing taxes. But tonight, and today, we will have an opportunity to support American families and the small businesses that employ them.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my distinguished colleague from Minnesota, the Dean of our delegation, Chairman Jim Oberstar. For nearly four decades, Chairman Oberstar has been faithfully serving the Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota in this great body. From humble beginnings, Chairman Oberstar worked to put himself through college in the Minnesota Iron Range mines. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the college of St. Thomas, he began his tenure in Congress as a congressional staff member. To his final post in Congress as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Oberstar has committed his life to public service and serving the great State of Minnesota. A native of Chisholm, Minnesota, Congressman Oberstar has proudly served the people of Northeast Minnesota for 18 terms, the longest serving Member of Congress from Minnesota. In his four years as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Oberstar has been instrumental in keeping America moving. From his efforts to create more cycling and hiking paths to his work on aviation and aviation safety, Chairman Oberstar has done remarkable work in Congress. His knowledge of transportation issues will be a great loss to this body. He leaves a strong legacy as his name will be forever tied to important highway, airline and rail safety legislation. His passion for intermodalism is unmatched. As Chairman Oberstar departs, I will miss his knowledge of all things historical and his linguistic talent, specifically his love for French Creole, a language which he picked up while studying in Haiti after college. In the few short years I have been in Congress, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Chairman Oberstar as a fellow Minnesotan. Chairman Oberstar is leaving some large shoes to fill. His wisdom, guidance and expertise will be greatly missed and I thank him for his service to our great State.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Minnesota's Children's Hospital and Clinics for being named a ``top hospital'' by the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Not long ago, I had a chance to visit Children's, and I saw firsthand how their commitment to improve patient safety is second to none. Their many safety initiatives have helped patients achieve one of the lowest rates of hospital-acquired infection in the Nation, and their use of electronic medical records has helped further reduce complications and improve patient care. Minnesota has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to health care. From life-saving technologies and medical technologies to continually striving to create the most effective and efficient health care system, our hospitals have earned a reputation for excellence and innovation in health care. Congratulations to Minnesota's Children's Hospital and Clinics, and thanks for your tireless efforts to provide your patients with the best possible care.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Wayzata High School football team on winning the Minnesota State high school championship this year. Sophomore Chad Underhill ran for a remarkable four touchdowns, leading the top-ranked Trojans to a 31-14 victory over Rosemount. The victory gave Wayzata their fourth State championship. Wayzata's perfect season included an overtime victory over last year's State champions in the final game of the regular season and a very gutsy victory over Minnetonka, converting a two-point conversion to win the game with no time left on the clock. In the playoffs, the Trojans held their opponents scoreless for 15 straight quarters. Wayzata's State championship continues an outstanding tradition of football excellence at Wayzata High School. Since the year 2000, Wayzata has now produced an NFL Pro Bowler in running back Marion Barber, a Butkus Award winner in linebacker James Laurinaitis, and four State championships. Congratulations to the student athletes, the parents, and the coaches at Wayzata High School.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that as Diabetes Awareness Month comes to a close, we must continue to work together to protect future generations from this disease. Cases of diabetes among Americans is growing at an alarming rate. Today, nearly 24 million children and adults suffer from this disease, that's nearly one in every three Americans, and another 57 million Americans are at risk. Madam Speaker, in addition to the alarming number of people affected by diabetes, the costs associated with this disease are far too great. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total cost associated with diabetes care costs approximately $174 billion annually. With health care costs rising and the number of diagnosed diabetics at an all-time high, we must work to prevent diabetes through education and awareness, as well as work to lower the cost of care associated with this disease.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, Americans donate their time and resources to charitable organizations not only because of their generosity, but because they know that these actions will help enhance our communities, improve opportunities for our children, and create higher standards of living for our neighbors. As our economy continues to stagnate, we need to do all that we can to help these charities who provide services for communities all over this country. That's why today I want to remind my colleagues that January is fast approaching, and that means the largest tax increases in American history are just around the corner. With the traditional season of giving well under way, tax uncertainly is causing individual and corporate charitable donors to think twice before opening their wallets; and that's, in turn, worrying many charities across this country in their greatest time of need. Mr. Speaker, it is time that this Congress take action and address this issue on behalf of all Americans.