Erik Paulsen

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young), a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, who is also concerned about the impact of this tax on his home State of Indiana.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) who has also been a leader as part of the Indiana delegation on the issue.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik) who has also been doing an awesome job of organizing a lot of the freshman Members and recognizing the importance of this issue to the State of New York.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman), someone I traveled with in the State of Indiana who showed me firsthand the impact this device tax had in Indiana.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello), who knows the importance of this issue.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mooney) to speak on this issue.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), a physician who works with patients each and every day and understands the importance of repealing this tax.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), a State that has been a leader in developing new medical technologies.

Mr. PAULSEN. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from California.

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire the amount of time remaining?

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I have a couple of points right off the bat. My friend from Michigan claims that the tax hasn't necessarily impacted jobs, that there are only certain stories. I would just point out that, in his home State, there is a company named Stryker--now, it is a larger company--that laid off 1,000 employees back in November of 2011 to provide efficiencies and realign resources in advance of the new medical device excise tax. As to a lot of data that was mentioned earlier, those figures that are talking about how well the industry is doing and as to the growth and the sales numbers are global data. These are companies that have global awareness and a global presence. Those are not U.S. jobs. We want those jobs in the United States. If we can repeal this tax, we can make sure that job growth is here in the U.S. instead of outside of the United States. Mr. Speaker, this is not smart tax policy. It is hurting our innovators, and it is costing us jobs. This industry is an American success story. We all know the names of the larger companies because some of those were mentioned here in debate on the floor today, but there are thousands of these companies--the vast majority--because, again, 98 percent have fewer than 500 employees, and over 80 percent have fewer than 50 employees. These are companies you have never heard of, but there is a doctor or an engineer or an entrepreneur who has started or who has come up with an idea to create a company in the backyard or in the garage to help improve lives or to save lives. That is what we are trying to protect here, Mr. Speaker. These are not technicians in some white lab coats who are trying to improve widgets or to build a widget faster. These are, literally, small businesses that are on missions to save lives. If you think about it, what could be more entrepreneurially worthwhile than that? We in Congress have a responsibility to give America's innovators the best shot, the best opportunity possible, by removing any obstructions to those inventions that are going to bring us all a better quality of life. We have the ability to help create a new age of American innovation, and we can help kick-start that process this week--today, tomorrow, with a vote--by repealing the destructive medical device tax. It was mentioned as a part of the debate also that the industry came forward and that there was vast support for the Affordable Care Act, and they agreed to the tax. Mr. Speaker, there are no letters from the industry whatsoever that support their buy-in for a 2.3 percent excise tax--a tax on revenue, not on profit. It is true that there were letters that were put out that said they were committed to healthcare reform and that they wanted to see that process move forward, but then they were very vocal when this excise tax idea was floated as a part of the new healthcare law and even after the law passed. It has been continuous, this awareness about their opposition in their knowing of the detrimental effects that it would have. Mr. Speaker, this is also not about the Affordable Care Act because we have had many votes on that--to repeal it, to change it, to move in a different direction. This is about a tax that is going into the general fund, that is not going into some special account to fund ObamaCare. That is not what this tax is doing. This is going into the general fund. That Affordable Care Act discussion will come up at another time with the Court case coming up in the near future. This is more of an opportunity to stand up with a bipartisan voice to declare our support for American manufacturing, for American jobs, and for protecting our patients, including our seniors. I just want to remind my friends that the President has said that he has been open to any ideas that will improve accessibility, that will improve affordability, and the quality of health care. That is exactly what this bill does. It is about protecting access to those devices. It is also important to point out the 281 cosponsors. The bipartisan support is deep, and it is broad. If you think back to the sustainable growth rate debate we had just a little over a month ago, that is important to bring up. Why? It is because there was broad, bipartisan support and a belief that the policy was harming patient care and innovation. This is good policy now if we can repeal this tax. It is about doing the right thing for our constituents, which outweighs the concerns of the offsets. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Chanhassen High School baseball team on winning the Minnesota State title last week with a 2-0 championship game victory. The Storm rode the arm of Jack Schnettler in the finals as the senior tossed a complete game shutout to clinch the second State athletic title in the school's short history. Chanhassen's two runs came courtesy of a Ty Denzer single in the third inning. In addition, fine work with the glove behind the Storm ace helped hold their opponents from Lakeville North at bay. Madam Speaker, baseball is a game of skill and mental toughness, and it is clear that the players from Chanhassen have both. In addition to the time spent on the practice field, student athletes have to balance their work in the classroom and any family responsibilities they have as well. Their dedication and commitment is commendable. Congratulations to the Chanhassen baseball team on their State title.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Eden Prairie High School Girls Lacrosse Team for clinching the Minnesota State Championship. Winning the title was no easy task for the Eagles as it took back-to-back overtime wins in both the semifinals and finals before they were crowned champions. In the finals, it even took a second overtime before junior Kelly Wolfe tossed in the winning goal with just over a minute left to deliver the title to Eden Prairie. Mr. Speaker, in order to compete at a high enough level to win a State championship, these student athletes devote countless hours honing their athletic skills, while still excelling in the classroom and juggling family and social responsibilities. The parents, the families, friends, and fans and the entire Eden Prairie community is very proud of these high school athletes. Once again, congratulations to the Eden Prairie Girls Lacrosse Team on a job well done.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, the actions of the brave men and women in the military sacrifice so much for our country. Many of these soldiers on the front lines are aided by military working dogs who perform countless, dangerous actions on the battlefield. So it is easy to understand why there is a special bond that is formed between servicemembers and their military service dogs. Currently, the Department of Defense is not required to bring these dogs home after they are retired, and this means veterans are often forced to spend their own money to transport them back to the United States for adoption. That is why I have introduced bipartisan legislation with my colleague, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, that would fix this problem by ensuring that military working dogs are returned to the United States for adoption. Mr. Speaker, there is a waiting list of over 1,200 people looking to adopt these canines, and ensuring that our troops and veterans can easily adopt these dogs honors their service and their partnership.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. It is difficult to overstate the importance of trade with other countries. The benefits of trade are huge and enormous for our economy. If you take all the trade agreements that we have with other countries around the world and you add them together, we have a trade surplus. If you take the nontrade agreements with the countries we don't have trade agreements with, we have a deficit. These agreements help us; they benefit us. There is no doubt that the U.S. has been on the sidelines in recent years. This gets us back in the game, making us create a healthier economy here at home, changing and making sure that our status as a global leader will be right back on top, higher-paying jobs, better- paying jobs. This is an opportunity also to make sure the United States is setting the rules for our economy, for the world economy, instead of China. Mr. Speaker, if you are for these things, you should be for this legislation. Trade promotion authority allows these agreements to move forward with congressional oversight.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate two Wayzata High School students for doing so well in the National Securities Industry and Financial Market Association Foundation's student essay competition. Tyler Carlstrom, a sophomore, placed second in the InvestWrite essay competition, and senior Megan Plummer placed fifth. The InvestWrite essay competition is a component of the stock market game that asks students around the country to analyze an investment scenario in 1,000 words or fewer. Tyler and Megan both used their analytical skills that they learned in their investments class at Wayzata High School, taught by their teacher, Candy Lee. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus, I believe our youth need more opportunities to learn how to effectively manage money in order to plan and achieve their financial goals. Events like this certainly strongly encourage our students to learn the ins and outs of our financial and economic world views. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Tyler and Megan on their great opportunity and doing so well in this tough competition.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marlene Isbell Devine who retired from Allianz of America on April 10, 2015 after working for over 38 years at the firm and its antecedent companies, most notably Allianz Life, which is headquartered in my district in Golden Valley. Marlene began her career in the typing and steno pool of North American Life Insurance and Casualty Company on August 16, 1976 and moved up in fast order to become the Executive Assistant to CEO Howard Barnhill. Her tenure with the company coincided with its purchase by the German Insurance giant Allianz AG in 1979. Marlene served four other company CEOs and at the time of her retirement she was the Personal Assistant to Allianz of America Chairman and Member of the Allianz SE Board of Management, Gary Bhojwani. Office technology, fashion styles and even eating habits have changed dramatically since Marlene started in the mid-1970s, sometimes for the better and sometimes not. However, one thing that is constant is that every CEO and organization needs a person like Marlene Devine who can be counted on to keep things organized, communicate information, and serve as a friend and counsel to everyone around them. As we all know, today's work life can at times be all-consuming, and Marlene's greatest strength was her ability to make everyone feel special and appreciated. In doing so, she was mentor to hundreds of people within the company, many of whom rose to the highest executive positions within Allianz. Marlene's personal warmth, integrity, good judgment, dedication, and humor made her very valued and beloved. Marlene is married to Dan Devine, and they reside in Savage, Minnesota. They have three grown children, Stephanie, Kyle, and Whitney; and two grandsons, Joshua Stewart and Hunter Johnson, who are all a source of pride and happiness. Marlene is an avid gardener, enjoys her cats and reading, and loves a good day on the river fishing with Dan. She and her twin sister Marilyn Wille are known for their long ``Thelma and Louise'' automobile excursions that have taken them all across the United States. Mr. Speaker, we live in a period of time of fast movement where people change jobs and companies regularly during the course of their careers. However, as we all know from our own offices, institutional knowledge is essential, and those dedicated people who have it are the key to our success. Marlene Devine deserves our praise for an exemplary life that touched so many people. I offer my best wishes to her and Dan on the next chapter of their lives, and for many years of good health and happiness.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Minnetonka's Maxwell Meyer, who is a seventh-grader at Minnetonka Middle School East, for his performance at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Maxwell was among the 49 survivors of the preliminary round last Wednesday when 234 other spellers were eliminated. Maxwell then spelled both of his words right in the nationally broadcast semifinal round on Thursday and, unfortunately, came up just short of the finals after failing to score enough points on a written vocabulary test. The National Spelling Bee, Mr. Speaker, showcases some of the brightest, most dedicated young students across the country, and Maxwell makes his community and the State of Minnesota proud. To reach this stage of the spelling bee takes countless hours of hard work, learning the skills and knowledge to be an accurate speller. For some, that means even reading the dictionary. Maxwell's efforts had folks all over the State of Minnesota cheering him on, and we congratulate him on his success.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Numbers 264 through 267, I was not present due to airplane equipment problems. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on Roll Call Vote No. 264, ``no'' on Roll Call Vote No. 265, ``no'' on Roll Call Vote No. 266, and ``aye'' on Roll Call Vote No. 267.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember and celebrate a wonderful public servant from Bloomington, Minnesota, Arlene Bush. Arlene Bush served on the Bloomington School Board for 33 years and volunteered for many more. But the longevity of Arlene's service is just part of the story. Arlene was known for the kindness she showed to everyone whom she interacted with. Superintendent of Bloomington Public Schools Les Fujitake remembered how Arlene always approached decisions that the school board faced by asking, ``What is best for the children?'' Arlene was a fixture at school events and at the annual Congressional Art Competition in Bloomington. In fact, she often took the time to tag along with me when I visited schools. Arlene's positive, kind, and supportive spirit was contagious to those around her. Her legacy will be remembered far beyond the Bloomington School Board meeting room and the Minnesota School Boards Association award that bears her name. My condolences go out to Arlene's family, to the Bloomington Public Schools, and to the entire Bloomington community who mourn the loss of Arlene but who celebrate a wonderful public servant.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, while it may feel like a case of deja vu, the sad fact of the matter is, we are once again talking about real problems at the IRS. This time, the Treasury inspector general reports that 1,600 IRS agents in a 10-year period did not pay their taxes. While it is bad enough to think that those tasked with collecting our taxes can't manage to pay their own, what makes this case worse is that a majority of these employees were given reduced penalties instead of facing the full consequences of their actions. A number of these employees even received promotions and bonuses. Mr. Speaker, taxpayers deserve better than a government agency that can't seem to follow the rules, and hard-working Americans should be treated with more respect. It is time for more oversight and more transparency at this agency and holding employees accountable who break the rules.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this legislation and on the Ways and Means Committee. Mr. Speaker and Members, America has long been a place where an idea that is thought up in a garage or in the backyard can become the next revolution in manufacturing or the next lifesaving technology. We need a Tax Code that promotes innovation, that promotes entrepreneurship, that promotes growth. We need a Tax Code that allows the inventors and the dreamers with a good idea to be able to go out there and succeed. This is critical legislation that comes at a very critical time. Modernizing and making the research and development tax credit permanent will ensure that the United States remains competitive in the global marketplace. It has been around since 1981; it has been renewed 16 times, but when you renew a credit for 1 year, for 2 years, or you make it retroactive, that doesn't work very well for some companies that are allocating their capital for 5 or 10 years on the horizon that want to invest in research and development. In Minnesota, we are the home to 400 medical device companies. Research and development is their lifeblood, and these manufacturers use research and development to invent new devices, new techniques, new procedures. These companies are also a very essential component to our economy in Minnesota and also around the United States. We should be making America the number one destination to create and grow a business. Making the research and development credit permanent will provide our Nation's innovators that incentive and that certainty that they need to develop the next big idea and help America win the future.

Mr. PAULSEN

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership on combating this issue because today is a very important moment in the fight against modern-day slavery. For several years, members of both parties have been working diligently with law enforcement, with victims, with social service providers and policy experts to end the sale and victimization of innocent girls. This bill today is the culmination now of all the initiatives previously passed in the House that will increase penalties for pimps and johns, that will enhance the Federal Government's response to trafficking, that will increase cooperation with governments overseas, and it will go after the Web sites that aid in the trafficking of minors. I am pleased that this package also includes my legislation, the safe harbor legislation, that ensures that we will be treating minors who are trafficked as victims, rather than as criminals, and improve the services that they receive. Mr. Speaker, the traffickers that we see today, they use every tool they can use to keep victims silent and under their control, whether it is by using threats, violence, drugs, or deception. And trafficking victims all share one thing in common: it is a loss of freedom and a loss of the ability to speak out. Today we stand with these victims to bring them out of the shadows and say, enough is enough, because our girls are not for sale.