Erik Paulsen

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, every year carbon monoxide kills over 400 people and sends an additional 20,000 people to the emergency room. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, and poisoning from it most often occurs in households with a malfunctioning heat source. Because of its nature, it can be extremely difficult to detect a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide detectors, however, are extremely effective in alerting families to a leak and have already saved lives. I am introducing bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Ann Kuster to allow States to apply for grants to purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors in schools, in low-income homes, and, also, senior residences at no cost to the taxpayer. The grants will also help and train local and State fire officials on the dangers of carbon monoxide and the best methods of prevention because, Mr. Speaker, it is important to educate the public on the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and what people should do to protect themselves. This is one more way to do so.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and dedication of Eden Prairie Officer of the Year Patrick Kenyon and the Department's Civilian Employee of the Year, Investigative Aide Pauline Sager. Pauline has been with the Eden Prairie County Police Department for 36 years and has proven herself as a tireless advocate for the public. She is known as an expert on financial fraud crimes. She has advised law enforcement throughout Minnesota and helped bring criminals to justice. Patrick, a 9-year veteran of the Department, worked as a patrol officer and a juvenile investigator. Officer Kenyon is known as a role model to other officers, and he is always willing to help his colleagues in their duties. Mr. Speaker, our law enforcement officers keep our communities safe due to the commitment of people like Pauline Sager and Patrick Kenyon. I thank them both for their service to Eden Prairie, and I congratulate them on their recognition.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, one of our country's most treasured values is helping others who are less fortunate. We see it all the time in communities around the Nation, with Americans raising money for a worthy cause, donating food, or volunteering their time to help their neighbors. It is important that our Tax Code reflect these exact same values. It was gratifying last month to see Congress come together passing a new law that will promote charitable giving. One of the charitable provisions in the new law was a bill that I authored. It makes permanent a provision to allow a rollover donation from an individual's IRA to go to an approved charitable foundation. In addition, the new law will encourage the donation of food to food banks from local businesses as well as promote environmental conservation through the granting of land easements. Mr. Speaker, there are many Americans who want to give back and help others, and it is important that our Tax Code reflect these same values and doesn't punish them for wanting to do so. Each of these provisions help make that possible.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker and Members, the United States is the only country in the world that lets important parts of its Tax Code expire each and every year, and we are changing that here today. This bipartisan tax package prioritizes permanent tax relief for families and businesses so that they can keep more of their own money, they can hire new workers, and they can invest in new equipment. It also does include the repeal of the medical device tax that has been in place, and it stops it for the next 2 years, a tax that has cost our economy jobs and has also reduced innovation. What has been the result of this tax? One small business I spoke with said it is pretty simple. Instead of having 10 projects, I will have 6, which means 2 fewer engineers and 2 fewer technicians. Another company I spoke to says, because it is a tax on sales and not on profit, they testified it is a 79 percent effective tax rate that they have. How can anyone justify a 79 percent effective tax rate? Another company said they are borrowing money from the bank every single month just to pay the tax in the hopes and taking the risk that they will actually become profitable. Of course, a constituent I spoke to, Jim, he told the story of losing his job at a medical device company that he had for 21 years. He was laid off. He eventually was rehired, but his job paid $40,000 less, his vacation time was halved, and his health costs skyrocketed. Of course, patients are suffering also because we have fewer lifesaving and life-improving technologies here developed in the United States. Mr. Speaker, this tax package helps our economy, and it gets us back on track with a progrowth Tax Code. I will say that our local businesses are really excited about ending the guessing game of 6- month, 1-year, retroactive tax policy and instead giving clarity, predictability, and certainty so they can invest in their people and they can invest in their equipment. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation. I thank the chairman for his leadership.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former Minnesota First Lady Gretchen Quie, who, sadly, passed away this past weekend. Gretchen grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Central High School before heading to St. Olaf College, where she met her future husband, Al Quie. Gretchen was active in local church and civic organizations and was by her husband's side as he served 21 years here in the United States Congress and 4 years as Governor of the State of Minnesota. With an eye for art, Gretchen was instrumental in upgrading the Minnesota Governor's residence and opening it up to the public. She would often host ``Night at the Mansion'' programs, where Minnesotans were invited to have dinner and then stay the night. Gretchen Quie was also a member of Minnetonka Lutheran Church and a community leader, serving on a number of nonprofit boards. Minnesotans' thoughts and prayers are with Governor Quie, his family, their five children, their 29 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the chairman for moving this bill forward and getting it one step closer to law after his long-term engagement in trade facilitation. Mr. Speaker and Members, trade facilitation and trade is key to growing our economy. This bill makes needed reforms to our Customs procedures; it strengthens enforcement measures behind our trade agreements; and it removes unnecessary barriers to trade. The bill couldn't come at a more important time. Think about it. We are in the midst of the opportunity to complete two of the most ambitious trade agreements in our Nation's history: one with countries in the Pacific Rim and the other with our allies in the European Union. The United States used to be at the top. We were at the top for our efficiency and trade and logistics and moving goods across the border, but our Customs procedures have become outdated, and we have slipped. Now we have too much paperwork and too much inefficiency. This bipartisan bill streamlines and modernizes our Customs system to get us back on track. Why is trade important? Of course, the answer is very simple: It is about jobs. Trade supports one in five American jobs. In my State of Minnesota, more than 774,000 jobs are connected to trade; so trade is driving our economy. Many of these jobs are held by people who do work at small- and medium-sized businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. In fact, 98 percent of all American exporters are small- or medium-sized employers. These are jobs that pay more. They pay higher than average wages, and they pay better salaries for American workers. In addition to supporting American jobs, the Customs bill also includes stronger enforcement tools that are essential to the trade agreements that we have with other countries so that they don't cheat. It provides fair and strong rules to hold other countries accountable for their unfair trade practices, and it will help tear down barriers that unfairly block our goods from foreign markets. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I am excited to see the Customs bill move forward on a bipartisan basis. It will improve trade facilitation so as to move goods and services more efficiently.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, the pinky swear promise is a universal symbol to keep one's promise and one's word. For the Pinky Swear Foundation, keeping that promise means helping children who are battling cancer and their families. The foundation's work was actually started 12 years ago, after 9- year-old Mitch Chepokas of Chanhassen, Minnesota, had been diagnosed with terminal bone cancer and, while in his hospital room, overheard others discussing that there would not be enough money for Christmas that year. Mitch decided that he would give away all of his money to those families so they could celebrate the holidays, and he made his father pinky swear to continue to make sure that they will help children with cancer after he was gone. Today the Chepokas family has been joined by others in the community and around the country who have agreed to help keep this promise and help in the fight against cancer. The Pinky Swear Foundation has raised millions of dollars for different events for this cause. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Pinky Swear Day and a great time to recognize the wonderful work of this foundation. Mitch's bravery, selflessness, and heart continue to live on to help others.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Osseo High School football team for winning the Minnesota State title with a tight victory over East Ridge in the championship game. The Orioles showed heart with close victories in both the semifinals and in the title game. With only 24 seconds left on the clock, Osseo scored the game-tying touchdown, and the successful extra point gave them the victory and State championship. Osseo's State run had the entire town buzzing as they sent off the team with a parade before the championship game. Mr. Speaker, winning a State title is only possible with years of dedication and hard work. At the same time, these student athletes must focus off the field as well, at the same time, in order to succeed in the classroom and make a positive impact in the school community. The families, friends, and fans of the players at Osseo High School should all be very proud of their fantastic season. Congratulations to the Orioles on their successful State championship.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, medical technology makes a huge difference for millions of Americans by giving them access to life-improving and lifesaving technologies, devices, and treatments. With new developments, we should be encouraging the use of these innovations to achieve better outcomes and lower long-term health costs. However, the agency that oversees Medicare has continuously made decisions that threaten the use of this technology. As Yogi Berra once said, ``It's deja vu all over again.'' First, the agency proposed rules that would limit access to critical speech-generating devices. Then, it was patients that use lower limb prosthetics that could see reduced access. Recently, we have seen proposed rules now that would limit access to pneumatic compression pumps for those managing a condition called lymphedema and those using individually configured Complex Rehab. Mr. Speaker, Congress has been forced to take action in some of these instances, like when we passed the Steve Gleason Act earlier this year. But the series of proposed rules are now alarming, in that they will raise long-term health costs and result in worse outcomes. We need to look at a new path forward when it comes to embracing and protecting access to medical technology.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, Minnesota lost a leader, a philanthropist, and a pillar in the community with the passing of Bruce Dayton this past week. Many will remember Bruce for his role in taking the family- owned Dayton's Department Store public and turning it into Target, the major brand that we know today, but there were many more sides to Bruce. For one, Bruce was a long-time patron of the arts, donating more than $80 million and 2,000 works of art to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I had the opportunity and privilege of serving as a trustee with Bruce at the Institute, where I saw his legacy of generosity. He also donated land to conservation efforts in our State. Bruce's civic-mindedness and business visions are reasons why the Minneapolis Star Tribune said he helped ``build a modern Minnesota.'' Mr. Speaker, the passing of Bruce Dayton is a loss for all of Minnesota, and I offer my condolences to Governor Dayton and everyone in the Dayton family.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, on November 11, Veterans Day, we will honor and remember the efforts of those who serve our country. We owe it to our veterans to keep the promises made to them when they first joined the military. Despite bipartisan action in Congress to increase efficiency and care at the VA, we are still suffering from a lack of transparency that makes it very difficult to determine what actions still need to be taken to ensure quality, timely care for our veterans. Now we have learned that there are over 140 investigations by the inspector general that were hidden. These investigations were shelved; they were not made available to the public or to Congress. That is why I am supporting bipartisan legislation, the Veterans Care and Reporting Enforcement Act, which will require reports from the investigations by the inspector general to be made public, to be made available to Congress. I want to thank my Minnesota colleagues, Congressmen Tom Emmer and Tim Walz, for bringing this legislation forward. It will go a long way toward making the VA more accountable so that our veterans get the care that they deserve.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, if it is fall, it means it is time for another Edina High School girls tennis State title. For the 19th year in a row, the Hornets won the Minnesota State championship. This year concluded with a very hard-fought victory over Prior Lake. Despite Edina's previous success, this year's title was never a sure thing, as the team needed to rebound from an early season loss. Led by strong performances in singles by Sophia Reddy and in doubles by Katie Engelking and Nicole Copeland, the Hornets came out with a 5-2 victory. Mr. Speaker, it is exciting to see the commitment from these athletes as they compete at a high level year in and year out while still excelling in school and setting aside time for family and other commitments. The parents, family members, friends, fans, and coaches are all very proud of what they have accomplished. Congratulations, again, to the Edina High School girls tennis team for winning the State championship.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, we lost a good man, mentor, and coach this past weekend with the passing of Flip Saunders. While the veteran NBA coach grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, he will forever be a true Minnesotan to many of us. It started with his career as a player at the University of Minnesota, where he started over 100 games for the Golden Gophers. After his playing career was over, he began his coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College before working his way up to the NBA. Flip coached the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first winning season, their first playoff appearance, and to an appearance in the Western Conference finals. More than accolades, though, Flip was a mentor to many. The outpouring of grief from players, coaches, sportswriters, and fans shows just what he meant to those who knew him. Mr. Speaker, Flip Saunders was a basketball icon in Minnesota, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Debbie and their four children.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just want to speak to a provision in the legislation that repeals the very harmful medical device tax. Mr. Speaker and Members, this will be the fifth time that the House has expressed its strong support for getting rid of this harmful and illogical tax. The last time was just this past June, when the House voted to repeal this tax by essentially a veto-proof margin, and that is because we had Republicans and Democrats voting together to repeal this very bad tax policy. That is because, also, everyone knows basic economics. When you tax something, you are going to get less of it. So why are we adding new taxes to lifesaving medical innovation? Why are we adding new taxes to an industry that is 98 percent small businesses with less than 500 employees? Why are we adding new taxes to an industry that has good, high-paying jobs for wage earners? And why we adding new taxes to an industry that has a trade surplus? We should be promoting this industry as much as possible. ObamaCare's medical device tax makes zero sense. That is because it is not a tax on profit; it is a tax on the revenue, on the sales of these innovative companies. So now some small businesses have over a 70 percent effective tax rate. It is a tax that is costing us jobs. It is a tax that is stifling innovation. It is harming patients, and it is hurting our healthcare system. Mr. Speaker, we need to repeal this destructive tax to help protect our seniors, to help protect American innovation, and to help protect American manufacturing.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, the word ``dynasty'' gets thrown around loosely these days, but with three championships in 5 years, the Minnesota Lynx fit the bill. Led by Maya Moore, who averaged over 23 points in the playoffs, the Lynx won the title with a hard-fought victory over the Indiana Fever in game 5. Coached by Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx overcame injuries and fatigue to clinch the top seed in the West during the regular season and set up their path to the title. Mr. Speaker, as the WNBA continues to grow, the players often are called upon to do more than just play basketball. In that vein, the Lynx players have been tremendous ambassadors to the community and are heroes to numerous girls who are pursuing their athletic dreams. I congratulate the Minnesota Lynx players and the coaches on yet another WNBA title.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor Aitkin County Sheriff's Investigator Steven Sandberg, who was killed in the line of duty last week. Investigator Sandberg was deeply respected by his community and was somebody who was always handling the county's toughest cases, which meant putting himself in harm's way. Those who knew Steven knew that he was a dedicated family man and a committed parent, not missing a single one of his daughter's basketball games. He was also a shining light for his entire community. He was a former three-sport athlete at Aitkin High School. He served as a volunteer firefighter for 17 years, and he taught Sunday school at the local Methodist church. Mr. Speaker, Steven Sandberg dedicated his life to serving others and keeping people safe. We honor his sacrifice. My thoughts are with his wife, Kristi, and with his daughter, Cassie, as well as with the entire community in Aitkin County.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, with just one change in the law, we could create nearly 400,000 American jobs, potentially help lower gas prices, and exert soft power that keeps bad actors around the world from destabilizing the price of oil. That change would be lifting the ban on crude oil exports. With all of these benefits for America, it makes sense that we should embrace that change and put it on the President's desk right away. The export ban is a relic of the past that needs to be lifted to help establish the United States as a preeminent energy leader in the world. The United States is the only country in the world that has a ban on exporting oil. With countries like Iran and Russia flexing their muscle on the world stage, lifting the ban would help enhance both our energy and our national security. But even more than that, removing the crude oil export ban means helping our economy with more good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans. Mr. Speaker, it is time to lift the crude oil export ban.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, American companies are facing a growing threat from cybersecurity attacks that aim to disrupt business, access personal information, and steal intellectual property. With October being National Cyber Security Awareness Month, we need to focus on ensuring our systems are safe, both in the private and public sectors. At a congressional hearing not long ago, the head of the FBI said there are two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that do not know they have been hacked. We have seen numerous companies in the past few years that have been the victims of massive cyber attacks. The Federal Government cyber breach recently at the Office of Personnel Management has also put the personal information of millions of Americans at risk. The House has taken action by passing the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act that protects critical information from hackers and ensures more cooperation between the businesses and the government to thwart cyber attacks. Mr. Speaker, we know the vulnerability of our information systems. We need a cybersecurity framework that ensures Americans' information is protected.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I was shocked and outraged to learn recently that a decorated Green Beret was dismissed from the military for blowing the whistle on a child rapist who was a member of the Afghan forces. When our forces are abroad, our military should strive to uphold American values, and that is exactly what Sergeant First Class Charles Martland did when he confronted Afghan officials engaging in perverse actions. However, instead of being commended, Sergeant Martland was punished for his actions and was taken out of the region, despite being a soldier that was critical to the mission. As someone who has worked to protect children and keep them safe from sexual exploitation, it is disheartening to see the military look the other way when children are being assaulted by our allied forces. This has to change. Steps must be taken to ensure that our military uphold American values while overseas. Mr. Speaker, our military should not be looking the other way when our allies are engaging in wrongful acts.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, when economic sanctions were lifted on Libya a decade ago, the United States secured an agreement that the Qadhafi regime compensate victims of terror attacks, such as the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Today Iran, a state sponsor of terror, owes more than $43 billion in damages to victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism from over 80 different court-ordered decisions. Not 1 cent has been paid by Iran. And, yet, the President is moving forward to lift economic sanctions, giving Iran a $100 billion windfall without compensating terrorist victims. Madam Speaker, we should make sure that American victims of Iranian terror receive their judgments before any economic sanctions are lifted. We need to pass the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act to ensure that Iran will not see any sanctions relief until it first pays the money they owe to the families of Americans killed by Iranian-sponsored terrorism.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's firefighters sign up for the job knowing the dangers they will often face in order to keep their communities safe. Tragically, we have seen these first responders give their lives in service to others. This past Sunday the 2015 Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service took place on the State Capitol grounds to honor the 9 Minnesota firefighters--and 216 nationwide--that have passed away in the line of duty this year. The event honors the sacrifice that these firefighters have made and also provides support for their families who are coping with a profound loss. As policymakers, it is important that we recognize what our first responders go through on a daily basis and support them. Earlier this year Congress passed my legislation, which is now law, that ensures that survivor benefits for families of those killed in the line of duty are not taxed. Mr. Speaker, we are blessed that so many men and women sign up to put themselves in harm's way to keep others safe. For those that give their life, we must not forget their sacrifice.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, having access to sound financial advice can make a big difference in the lives of Americans. It is about planning ahead and taking action to set money aside and invest so families can buy a home, send their children to college, and save up for retirement. However, a proposed rule by the Department of Labor threatens access for millions of hardworking Americans that seek financial advice. While well-intentioned, in reality, the proposed fiduciary rule will present operational challenges and force those who give financial advice to work under conflicting rules from two separate regulatory agencies. Unfortunately, those that will be most harmed from this rule will be families of modest means. Mr. Speaker, I have worked on this issue for years, and I continue to hear from Minnesotans sounding the alarm for what this will mean for those who are planning for their future. I urge the Department of Labor to reconsider this rule or to delay it until we can find a more commonsense alternative.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, Congress has a duty to ensure that taxpayer dollars by hard-working Americans are spent wisely and responsibly. However, too often, we have seen Federal agencies that have acted in a way that waste taxpayer money by holding excessive conferences with extravagant gifts, luxuries, and perks. We all remember the lavish Las Vegas GSA conference that cost $823,000 for 300 employees, including tens of thousands of dollars spent on gifts. The IRS spent a whopping $50 million--taxpayer dollars--on conferences alone during a 3-year period. These agencies need more accountability. That is why my colleague, Ron Kind, and I have introduced the bipartisan TRACE Act. This legislation simply requires the head of a Federal agency who is hosting a conference to submit a summary of that event to Congress for review. This initiative will hold agencies accountable. It will improve oversight and transparency. It will save hard-earned taxpayer money, and it will create a more efficient and effective government.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month and a time to shine a light on a disease that is deadly. While some may not be familiar with pulmonary fibrosis, approximately 200,000 Americans suffer from the disease. This serious illness takes the lives of 40,000 Americans every single year, which equates to about one death every 13 minutes. That is the same mortality rate as breast cancer. There is no known cure for pulmonary fibrosis. There is no known treatment to extend the life of a patient or improve the symptoms. As a result, the median survival rate is just 2\1/2\ years, and as many as 80 percent of patients die within 5 years of diagnosis. Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity to bring attention to this serious illness that affects so many. With more research and a renewed commitment, we will find a cure to this deadly disease, and I will keep working to make this a reality.