Paul Ryan

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. First off, there are a few people I would like to thank. I would like to thank the committee chairs. I would like to thank Chairman Walden, Chairman Brady, Chairman Black, Chairman Sessions. I want to thank the members of those committees: Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Budget, and Rules. I want to thank all the Members who made constructive contributions throughout this entire deliberative, bottom-up organic process. I want to thank the President of the United States for his steadfast leadership. Mr. Speaker, in his address in this Chamber, he called on Congress to act; and today we take the next step to repeal and replace ObamaCare. I want to thank Vice President Pence, Secretary Price, Director Mulvaney, and all of their teams. Mr. Speaker, there is a fundamental and urgent choice at the heart of this debate. We can continue with the status quo under ObamaCare, and we know what this looks like. It means even higher premiums, even fewer choices, even more insurance companies pulling out, even more uncertainty, and even more chaos. Look at what has happened in Iowa this week. As is the case in so many areas in this country, Iowa is down to one insurer. That, of course, is not a choice. But now that one insurer is saying that it will have to pull out of 94 of the 99 counties in Iowa. This is happening right now. So tens of thousands of Iowans will go from having one option to no options. That is not a choice. This is a crisis, and it is happening right now. What protection is ObamaCare if there is no healthcare plan to purchase in your State? This is the direction ObamaCare is rapidly heading. So we can continue with this status quo or we can put this collapsing law behind us and end this failed experiment. Let's make it easier for people to afford their health insurance. Let's give people more choices and more control over their care. Let's make insurance companies come in and compete for your business. Let's return power from Washington to the States. Let's help give people peace of mind. Let's put the patient, not bureaucrats, at the center of this system. This bill does all of those things. This bill delivers the promises that we have made to the American people. A lot of us have been waiting 7 years to cast this vote. Many of us are here because we pledged to cast this very vote to repeal and replace ObamaCare, to rescue people from this collapsing law. Are we going to meet this test? Are we going to be men and women of our word? Are we going to keep the promises that we made? Or are we going to falter? No. After all of this--after seeing what is happening in Iowa and around the country, after seeing this law collapsing while we witness it across the country and knowing all this turmoil that is coming, we will not falter. We will replace; and today is the day that we are going to do this. Today this House has the opportunity to do more than just fulfill a promise. We have the opportunity to raise our gaze and set a bold course for our country. We have the opportunity to show that we have got the resolve to tackle the big challenges in this country before they tackle us; to stop the drift of arrogant, Big Government policies in our lives, and to begin a new era of reform based on liberty and self-determination, giving people choices and letting them control their own destinies. That is the day that is before us right here. So let us pass this bill to take the next step to put ObamaCare behind us; let us pass this bill to build a better healthcare system for American families; and let us pass this bill to leave this country better than we found it because that is why we are here. That is what is at stake today. That is why I am going to be so proud to cast my vote for this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the chairman, I want to thank the ranking member, the ranking members, the chairmen of the subcommittees, and all the staff for their very hard work in putting this big body of work together. I urge all of my colleagues to support this package. I want to explain why. Many of our priorities--not all, but many of our priorities are advanced in this, and that is because this is a bipartisan piece of legislation. So each side doesn't get everything they want, but we are able to come together and find a package that advances many of our important goals. For me, I think it is important because it turns the page on the last administration, on the Obama years. It completes the unfinished business of the previous administration. Remember, we came to December, we had a continuing resolution. We are halfway through the fiscal year now, we have got to do the job of actually getting the government specifically funded, meeting more of our priorities. This does that. This marks the beginning of a new era. No longer will the needs of our military be held hostage by the demands for more domestic spending. In my mind, that is what is most important here. Having negotiated a couple of the budget agreements in the prior administration, this, to me, is paramount and first among all things. The rule we lived under under the previous administration basically says: You want more money for the men and women in the field who are in our military who need more resources to do their jobs? Okay, but we are going to need more money for Washington programs; and not just more money for Washington programs, but the same exact amount of money. So no matter whether we need more money for our troops--we might need more ships, more bullets, more gas, and more planes--we had to have the exact same dollar amount, whether it was needed or not, for domestic spending. That is the old formula we had under the prior administration, and that is not in here. That is really important. I think that is one of the most important game-changing accomplishments that is in here because we really believe our military needs help. We believe our military has been hollowed out in so many areas, and this bill helps fix this. So that dollar-for-dollar parity rule is a rule no more. With this bill, we do not have that arbitrary standard--the standard that has contributed, in my opinion, to hollowing out our military and declining our readiness. While we have a lot more work to do to fully rebuild our military, this is a critical first step. With this bill, we will spend $25 billion more this year than last year on defense so that we can begin to rebuild our military readiness and our preparedness. We will do this without a corresponding increase in domestic spending. That, to me, is a new day under this new administration that we have with President Trump. Of course, this legislation also addresses many other priorities for Republicans and for this administration. For starters, there is a big and solid down payment on securing our border. In fact, it is the biggest increase in border security in a decade. Funding for the D.C. Scholarship Opportunity Program, which reverses the Obama-era crusade against school choice, that is in here; national resources to fight the opioid epidemic, which is something that is ravishing communities across America; no new money for ObamaCare and no bailouts for insurance companies. This bill protects life. This bill is a bipartisan compromise, as I mentioned, but it is, indeed, a good one for conservatives. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this bill. We all must agree that funding the government at all like this--and this is the last point I want to make--is not a process we want to continue. Yes, we are finishing unfinished business from last year, but let's all work together and endeavor to do these appropriation bills one at a time. That is the system that we are supposed to have, and that is the system that I think we all agree-- Republicans and Democrats--that we need to have. So let's work together to make sure that we don't just do one big bill, that we do this individually so that individual debate can occur, so that individual priorities can be met, and so that we can get back to regular order and we can better guarantee and maintain our Article I powers as the legislative branch of government exercising the power of the purse. I challenge every one of us to commit to that process. In the meantime, let's bank these wins. Let's get this done. Let's turn this page on this last year, and let's make sure that we give the troops the support that they so desperately need. With that, I ask everyone to support this bill.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because this is Lydia Strunk's last week working on the House floor. Before I talk about Lydia, I want to talk about the work that she and all the people here on the floor do for us, for the people's House, on both sides of the aisle. They are the ones who keep the floor running on time on a day-to-day basis. They make sure that the votes are counted and conducted impartially. They make sure that every Member, majority and minority, is treated fairly. And though the hours are long and unpredictable, they always set a fantastic tone of decorum. No one better exemplifies this professionalism than Lydia Strunk. She has been a part of this institution since 2008, when she started out in the Republican Cloakroom. We all knew her so well then and enjoyed watching her rise to these great responsibilities that she now holds. For more than 4 years now, Lydia has served as the Speaker's deputy floor director. As it turns out, she accepted this job on the night of her wedding. How is that for commitment? Lydia's quiet dedication to the people's House comes through in almost everything that she does; and because she does her job so well, almost no one ever notices. Think about it. If you ever wondered how a joint meeting with a foreign leader or a State of the Union goes off without a hitch, it is because of Lydia's doing. One of her jobs, of course, is to keep us on schedule. So I will make one last point before she tells me to wrap this up, because I assume that is what she will be doing in a minute. I want to thank Lydia's family. I want to thank Lydia's husband, Jeff, and I want to thank, in particular, her children. Graham and Evie, I want you to know that your mother is an incredible public servant. She has done so much for us, for this country and this institution, and we are grateful to you for sharing your mom--and your wife--with us. This whole House is in her debt.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Robert H. Michel, former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, died on February 17, 2017. On that day, I issued the following statement: ``On November 29, 1994, an extraordinary thing happened on the House floor. Outgoing House Speaker Tom Foley, a Democrat from the Pacific Northwest, asked outgoing Minority Leader Bob Michel, a Republican from central Illinois, to take the gavel and preside over the House. More than a symbolic gesture, it was a fitting sendoff for a happy warrior revered for his decency and commitment to what's right. ``A half-century earlier, as a combat infantryman, Bob Michel was in the Battle of the Bulge. He was at Normandy too. For his service in World War II, he received two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. ``I did not have the privilege to serve with Leader Michel. But I do have the honor of working every day in the office in the Capitol that bears his name. What a name and legacy it is. What a life well-lived by this great and gracious man. Today the members of the House--past and present--mourn with the family and friends of our former colleague and leader.'' The House took several steps to honor Mr. Michel. The flags of the U.S. Capitol were lowered to halfstaff in honor of his passing. A book of condolences was made available for the remembrances of friends and colleagues. On February 27, 2017, the House adopted House Resolution 151, honoring the life of former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Robert Henry ``Bob'' Michel. A memorial service was held in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol on March 9, 2017. The following is a transcript of those proceedings:

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, all of us have people in our lives, in these vocations, without whom none of this would be possible. Today, I want to say good luck and good-bye to one of those people. Joyce Meyer, whom many of you know on my staff, is heading to the White House after being with me in this office for 18 years--and, yes, there are some gray hairs here. She and I go back even further than that. Joyce and I started off as staffers together in the United States Senate. In many ways, we grew up together. We were just kids then, fresh out of college. She went by Joyce Yamat in those days. She was a good friend, but she was an equally good staffer, which is why she was, at that time, one of the first people I asked to come work with me when I, at 28 years old, got elected to the House of Representatives. She has been at the heart of our team ever since--through every up and down, every adventure, every budget, every run for office. So much of what we have accomplished has been because of her--because of her leadership, because of her planning, because of her caring nature, because of her deep understanding of how this place works. She really is a person of the House. Above all, she never, ever forgot and never let me forget whom I was working for: the people of the First District of Wisconsin. She is from Wisconsin. She is from Franklin, Wisconsin, which is a small town in southern Wisconsin, near Milwaukee. She is a Badger. Wisconsin is so much at the heart of who she is. She knows when the deer rut is. She knows that, on Sundays, there are only two things you do: Mass and Packers games in the fall. For all of her years here, she never forgot where she came from. The truth is we have been through it all together. In fact, she has not just been a confidant or a friend--she is family. I often refer to her as my sister; and, to Joyce, family is at the center of everything. She treated all of our staff like family. She hosted wedding showers and baby showers. She made sure that everyone on our team put their own loved ones first. It is her own family that, through all of these years, has really been her source of inspiration: her parents; her sisters; her husband, Don, who, himself, was part of our team; and, of course, their beautiful and sweet daughter, Eva. I know it is for a better life for Eva and her generation that Joyce has made serving government her life's work. She could have gone on and done something so much more rewarding to the pocketbook, but she is doing this because she believes in our country. I will cut this short because, for anyone who knows Joyce, she does not like attention; she does not like the fuss. She is here to serve. She is the best of what we aspire to in public service. This woman has done so much to make us successful, has done so much to make me successful. I just want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, a person who has done so much to make this House successful, and she is Joyce Meyer. Joyce, I wish you and your family the best of luck. Thank you for serving us so much. Joyce, you are always going to be considered a person of the House of Representatives. Thank you so much, Joyce. And there is her mom. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. My colleagues, I rise to urge our colleagues in the House to support this resolution, and let me tell you why. This provides Congress with the legislative tools that we need to repeal and replace ObamaCare. This is a critical first step toward delivering relief to Americans who are struggling under this law. In the weeks ahead, several steps will be taken to provide relief. Some steps will be taken by this body. Some steps will be taken by the new administration, including, after he is confirmed as HHS Secretary, our own colleague from Georgia (Mr. Price). Our goal is a truly patient-centered system, which means more options to choose from, lower costs, and greater control over your coverage. And as we work to get there, we will make sure that there is a stable transition period so that people don't have the rug pulled out from under them; so that this will be a thoughtful, step-by-step process, and we welcome ideas from both sides of the aisle. But today, I can't help but think back to, when we were debating this law in 2010, what was said at the time. I was a member of the minority then. I stood right here and pleaded with the majority not to do this. Don't take something so personal like your health care and subject it to a Big Government experiment. Don't do something so arrogant and so contrary to our founding principles. But they pushed it all the way through, making all kinds of promises. People were promised that their premiums would go down, but, instead, they are skyrocketing. Look at the new premium increases announced just this year: Kansas, 42 percent increase in their premiums; Illinois, 43 percent; Pennsylvania, 53 percent; Nebraska, 51 percent; Alabama, 58 percent; Minnesota, 59 percent; Tennessee, 63 percent increase in premiums; Oklahoma, 69 percent increase this year in premiums; Arizona, 116 percent increase in their premiums. People were promised: if you like your plan, you can keep it. Well, guess what? That was rated the lie of the year that year. People lost their plans. People were promised all sorts of choices. You will have all these great menus of choices to choose from. A third of all the counties in America today, you get one choice. Five whole States, one insurer. If you have one choice, that is not a choice, that is a monopoly. My colleagues, this experiment has failed. This law is collapsing while we speak. We have to step in before things get worse. This is nothing short of a rescue mission. By taking this step today, we are doing what is right. We are stepping in and stopping the collapse from doing more harm to the working families of America, to bring the kind of relief and bring the kind of solutions that we need to really achieve the noble goal here. Everyone in America should have access to affordable health care, including people with preexisting conditions. This is what we want to achieve, but that is not what is happening under ObamaCare. The law is collapsing. The insurers are pulling out. People can't afford it. The deductibles are so high it doesn't even feel like you have got insurance in the first place. This is a rescue mission. This is a necessary move, and I urge all of our colleagues to do what is right because the time is urgent. On top of this, to my colleagues, we need to keep our promise that we made to the American people, and this helps us do just that.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following memorandum regarding authorization of the Department of Homeland Security: We, the chairs of the committees with jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security or its components, are hereby recording our agreement on the following principles for the 115th Congress: 1. The Department of Homeland Security (``the Department'') and its components should be authorized on a regular basis to ensure robust oversight and improve its operation. 2. Committees with jurisdiction over the Department and its components will prioritize the authorization of the Department and any unauthorized or expiring component in that committee's authorization and oversight plan. 3. To the maximum extent practicable, the committees with jurisdiction over unauthorized or expiring components of the Department shall coordinate with the Committee on Homeland Security to produce a comprehensive authorization bill for the Department. 4. The Committee on Homeland Security shall coordinate with the committees with jurisdiction over unauthorized or expiring components of the Department in the development of any comprehensive authorization bill for the Department. 5. The Committee on Homeland Security and the committees with jurisdiction over components of the Department shall jointly develop a process for the vetting and pre-clearing of base text and amendments offered at subcommittee and full committee markups of a DHS authorization bill in the Committee on Homeland Security that fall within the jurisdiction of a committee other than or in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security. 6. The committees will expedite consideration of any comprehensive authorization bill for the Department, including timely resolution of any matters subject to a sequential or additional referral. 7. To the extent that there are policy differences between the committees regarding a provision of the comprehensive authorization bill for the Department, the committees will make best efforts to resolve any such dispute. 8. The Committee on Homeland Security Committee shall not include any provision in a comprehensive authorization bill that the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means has determined to be a revenue provision or a provision affecting revenue. If the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means makes such a determination, nothing in this agreement shall be construed to preclude that chair from exercising an additional or sequential referral over the measure, or a point of order under clause 5(a) of Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 9. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed as altering any committee's jurisdiction under rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives or the referral of any measure thereunder. 10. Further, nothing in this memorandum precludes a further agreement between the committees with regard to the implementation of a process to ensure regular comprehensive authorizations of the Department. Signed, Gregg Walden, Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce. Devin Nunes, Chair, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Jason Chaffetz, Chair, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Bill Shuster, Chair, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Michael T. McCaul, Chair, Committee on Homeland Security. Bob Goodlatte, Chair, Committee on the Judiciary. Lamar Smith, Chair, Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Kevin Brady, Chair, Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, since 1983, the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and interact on issues of mutual interest. A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany for ten days from Friday, May 26-Sunday, June 4, 2017. During this ten day exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat Members, Bundestag and Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic, and media agencies. A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States for ten days Saturday, April 29-Sunday May 7, 2017. They will attend similar meetings here in Washington. The Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States, and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The U.S. delegation should consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States. Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to the United States and Germany such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events. Please note that the U.S. participants are expected to plan and implement the meetings and program for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. Participants are selected by a committee composed of personnel from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State and past participants of the exchange. Members of the House and Senate who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated. Applications should be sent to the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, HC-4, the Capitol, by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read you a quote: ``Peace is hard work. Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the United Nations--if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. Ultimately, it is the Israelis and the Palestinians who must live side by side.'' That was President Obama in 2011, and he was right. I am stunned at what happened last month. This government--our government--abandoned our ally, Israel, when she needed us the most. Do not be fooled. This U.N. Security Council resolution was not about settlements, and it certainly was not about peace. It was about one thing and one thing only: Israel's right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state. These types of one-sided efforts are designed to isolate and delegitimize Israel. They do not advance peace. They make it more elusive. The cornerstone of our special relationship with Israel has always been right here in Congress. This institution, the heart of our democracy, has stood by the Jewish state through thick and thin. We were there for her when rockets rained down on Tel Aviv. We were there for her by passing historic legislation to combat the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement. And we have been there for her by ensuring Israel has the tools to defend herself against those who seek her destruction. In every one of those instances, Republicans and Democrats worked together to get these things done. That is because our historic alliance with Israel transcends party labels and partisan bickering. We see that bipartisanship right here on the House floor today in condemning this anti-Israel resolution. I want to thank our Chairman Ed Royce, Ranking Member Eliot Engel, and all of our Members on both sides of the aisle for speaking out on this issue and for helping assemble this legislation. It sends a powerful message, and it turns a page. It is time to repair the damage done by this misguided hit job at the U.N. It is time to rebuild our partnership with Israel and reaffirm our commitment to her security. It is time to show all of our allies that, regardless of the shameful events of last week, the United States remains a force for good. I ask the whole House to support this resolution on behalf of the American people.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it was thanks to an incredible stoke of good luck that, when I became speaker, I inherited an exceptionally talented director of House operations: the one and only Kelly Craven. I don't know what I would have done without her. First of all, she knows every nook and cranny of the building, which came in handy when she oversaw the first renovation of the Capitol dome in over 50 years. But more important than that, she seems to know every single person who works here. From working closely with House officers to helping up-and-coming staffers find the right job, she treats everyone with the same kindhearted respect--and she has a tireless work ethic to boot. But it shouldn't have been a surprise. Kelly has worked long and hard at building up this institution into the House we know and love. She started as a chief of staff to Rep. Steve Buyer and later served as deputy staff director of the House Veterans Affairs committee. She then became assistant director of the House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs and after that, staff director of the House Administration Committee. She rose through the ranks and it's not hard to see why. Kelly is simply first-rate. I know she also once served as a deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force--which is in and of itself an impressive achievement. But thanks to her many years of dedication to the House of Representatives, we're claiming her as the legislative branch's own. You might say we consider her congressional timber. It is hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful member of our team, but all of us know Kelly will continue her legacy of public service in the next chapter of her life. We wish her all the best, and on behalf of the members and staff, we extend our many heartfelt thanks to the great Kelly Craven.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. I thank the whip.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. I tried that.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I have the bittersweet task tonight of paying tribute to a valued member of our team, one of the most widely respected people in this institution. That is our director of floor operations, Anne Bradbury. As many Members now know, this is her last week on the job. When we return in November, this House will convene without Anne on the floor for the first time in 11 years. It was Speaker John Boehner who had the good sense to hire Anne for this post, and it is not hard to figure out why he did that. She is just absolutely first class, the absolute consummate professional, always focused on getting the job done. There may be times when we get hung up on small things, trying to figure out what the heck just happened on the floor, and she is always out there working on the plan for the next steps a mile ahead of everybody else. When everybody else is thinking short term, she is out there thinking long term, and not only in terms of this vote or that bill, but how to protect this institution. Anne Bradbury has been here for 11 years, protecting both the majority and the minority. She fights for this House as an institution, and I am sure that Leader Pelosi and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) would agree with that. As for me, Anne, I hope you thought through how this is a huge inconvenience for me. Who am I going to call when we are in a jam? Who do we get to take all the chocolate that is gifted to our office every day? Anne has been such an indispensable help to us, especially taking the job in the middle of a session, not having experience doing something like this. I just can't conceive of having gone through this past year without this brilliant woman. The last point I want to make is this. To do such a big job so well for so long, as Anne has, takes certain things. It takes a really thick skin, for one, but it takes a very, very deep desire to serve, and you have to have the support of the ones that you love. Anne has two great boys, John and Clayton, and they are 7 and 8 years old--great kids. On so many nights, just like this night tonight, they have had to share their mom with us. We owe them a debt of gratitude. And I want to say on behalf of every single Member of the House of Representatives: Anne Bradbury, thank you for serving this institution. Thank you for serving the people's House. You will be sorely missed. It is my pleasure to yield to the distinguished leader, Mr. Hoyer.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge what is happening in America. I think it is important that all of us, every single citizen, take stock of what is going on in our country. There are a lot of people hurting. There are a lot of people upset, high anxiety, a lot of confusion. I think this is a time for us to take stock as citizens and to think about how we can be better listeners to each others' concerns. I think this is a time for us to calm down and think deliberatively: How do we open our heart, open our ears, and see if we can understand the perspective that other people share? I think there is one thing that we must all reflect on the most as citizens. I think about Chief Brown in Dallas and that press conference he gave a week ago, where he said: Most days, we don't feel appreciated. Let's not make this most days. When a member of our law enforcement wakes up, gets out of bed, has breakfast with their family, kisses their loved ones good-bye, puts that badge on, and walks out the door, they go out there to keep us safe. They go out there to protect the streets. They go out there and risk their lives to preserve our lives. We throw a lot of big words around in this Chamber: ``duty,'' ``honor,'' ``sacrifice.'' They do it every single day. So I think it is so important that, as Americans, we take stock and we thank the men and women serving in our law enforcement all around this country for what they do for us. I think it is really important that we thank their families for enduring the stress and the hardship that comes with such a job. As we try to make most days different than most days in the past, and as we try to make sure that we give our law enforcement community the respect and the thankfulness that they deserve, let's make sure that we listen to each other in this country so we can better understand, so that we can make most days in the future better days than we have had in the past. Our country is hurting, and it needs to start healing. I urge all Americans to do their best to make this country better.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I think we can all agree that in this country no one should be forced to perform an abortion. Look, I know we disagree about when life begins; I know we disagree about what government should do about it; and, however strongly I hold my beliefs, I also know my friends on the other side of the issue feel just as strongly. I respect those disagreements. But whoever you are, whatever you believe, I think this is one thing that we all should agree on: no one should be forced to violate their conscience, least of all by the Federal Government. That is all this bill says. The Federal Government, or anyone who receives taxpayer dollars, cannot discriminate against healthcare providers who do not perform abortions; and if they do discriminate, this bill says that the victims will have two avenues of relief: either file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services, or file a civil suit in court. That is it. That is what this bill does. Now, opponents say that this kind of thing just doesn't ever happen, nobody in their right mind would force someone against their will to help with an abortion. Well, tell that to Cathy DeCarlo. She was a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. A few years ago, she was forced to help with an abortion. Madam Speaker, this is not an isolated incident. There have been cases of nurses being suspended or threatened with firing solely for the offense of following their conscience. And now the State of California requires all health insurance plans to cover abortion. So if you are a church or if you are a religious school, it doesn't matter, you must cover this procedure; and if it violates your conscience, too bad. This is a disturbing trend. What is more disturbing is that the Federal Government has not been protecting people's rights. There are already laws on the books to protect people's conscience rights. But after Cathy DeCarlo filed a complaint to HHS, she waited 3 years for a resolution; and when she filed a lawsuit, an appeals court said she didn't even have standing and threw out her case. That is why this bill makes it perfectly clear. People of faith have standing, and they deserve relief. This bill does not ban or restrict abortion in any way. This bill does not change any medical standards or contracts. It does not change any laws regarding emergency treatment. All it does is protect a person's conscience. Allowing this trend to continue, if we keep going down this path in this country, we will only erode our First Amendment rights further. It will continue to push people of faith into the sidelines of society. That is not the kind of country we want to live in, not any of us. There is nothing more fulfilling than living out your faith, and we want all people of all faiths to live freely in our country. But we can live out our faith only if our government respects our faith. That is why we need to pass this bill. I want to thank Congressman John Fleming and I want to thank Congresswoman Diane Black for their outstanding work on this. John and Diane have done the Lord's work on defending people's conscience rights. It is the First Amendment of the Constitution, and it is under assault. This is something that keeps us free. This is something that makes us uniquely American. This is something that says men and women of conscience have rights that must be protected. And when our own government tramples upon and throws under the bus those rights, we have to act. That is why we are here today. They have been out front on this issue constantly leading this charge, and I am thankful for these warriors. I have got to say to my colleagues, this is something that everyone should be in favor of, because if you believe in free speech, if you believe in freedom of religion, then you believe in freedom of conscience, then you believe in all of the First Amendment. That is why I ask each and every one of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, we are all stunned by the events last night in Dallas, and we are all outraged. An attack on the people who protect us is an attack on all of us. Our hearts are with the Dallas Police Department. Our hearts are with the victims, and especially with their loved ones. They wear the badge, too. I know that to be a cop's wife or a cop's husband is to prepare for the worst, but who could fathom such horror as this. There is no cause or context in which this violence, this kind of terror, is justified--none at all. There will be a temptation to let our anger harden our divisions. Let's not let that happen. There is going to be a temptation to let our anger send us further into our corners. Let's not let that happen. That script is just too easy to write. It is too predictable. Let's defy those predictions. A few perpetrators of evil do not represent us. They do not control us. The blame lies with the people who committed these vicious acts and no one else. As the President rightfully said: Justice will be done. We also have to let healing be done as well. This has been a long week for our country. It has been a long month for America. We have seen terrible, terrible, senseless things. Every Member of this body, every Republican and every Democrat, wants to see less gun violence. Every Member of this body wants a world in which people feel safe, regardless of the color of their skin. That is not how people are feeling these days. Sometimes we disagree on how to get there. Sometimes we disagree passionately on how to get there. But in having this debate, let's not lose sight of the values that unite us. Let's not lose sight in our common humanity, the values that brought those protestors to the streets of Dallas, the values that brought those protestors to the streets of Washington last night. Respect, decency, compassion, humanity, if we lose those fundamental things, what is left? We need to take a moment here for reflection, for thought, for prayer, for justice, for action. Right now, let's let justice be done, and also let healing occur, too.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. First of all, welcome everybody. I see a lot of familiar faces, a lot of folks I served with, people I know who came here before I served. I came here when I was 28, in 1998, and never thought I would be doing what I am doing. And it is just funny how this place can work its will. I would say a couple of things. I grew up with mentors. I lost my dad when I was young, so I went from mentor to mentor to mentor. When I came here to this job at a young age, I had a lot of mentors. Jack Kemp was my original mentor, who taught me about public service and politics and policy. A lot of you, like Jim, you served with Jack; you knew him well from the delegation and the rest. But then when I came here, I had mentors. I don't know if McCrery is here or not. Jim is a part of the organization, I assume; right? So Jim McCrery. Bill Thomas was a mentor of mine. Even though that is hard to imagine, he really was because he taught me to be scrutinous, how to really pay attention to detail. I see Tim Petri is here. Tim Petri was a mentor. He taught me kindness. He taught me how to relate to people. He taught me how to be like a nice person and still be a nice person after years in Congress. I try. But all I would say is it is great to have you home. So welcome home. I look at you, and I see relaxed faces. I see the lines have kind of gone away. I see happy people. I see people in a great phase and stage of life. So know that when we see you, it gives us happiness and hope because we know that, in the mix of the day and all the tumult we go through around here, a lot of this is just a tempest in the teapot; a lot of this is just noise that doesn't take us off the horizon where we are all going to. So I would say a couple of things. Thank you for being the mentors you have been, on behalf of the people you have been mentored to, number one. Number two, thank you for your passion and for keeping your dedication to the causes you believed in and the causes you came here to fight for. I came young, idealistic, you know, thinking I kind of knew everything. And then as time got on, in the ninth term, I realized discernment, temperament, and just good judgment is what matters the most. And I realized that there is so much we have yet to learn from people who have walked the same path and have been in the same kind of shoes. And because you are here giving the rest of our Members--on our side of the aisle, 65 percent of our people are first- or second- termers. So we have so many new people for whom it is important that they learn from those who have been through this. It is important that you make new friendships with new people so that they can get a little discernment and get a little wisdom from your pearls that you can drop them. So thank you for being here and being involved in doing that. Please mentor some of our folks. And the last point I would say is just thanks for showing that this life of public service continues on in a very graceful way, in a very relaxing way, in a way where you can really be in control of your own destiny in your own time. I mean, probably you look back at this and you remember time was my problem, time management, having time to do this, having time to do that. That is one of the big frustrations of the day to day around here. And just knowing that you can get back in control of your own time and your own life after these days of public service, that, to me, is very comforting. It is a very comforting thought. So your presence helps our Members kind of get their keel, get their groove, get their sense of peace and calm so that they can focus on what is really important and not get distracted by the things that knock us off our game. So all I would say is welcome. It is great having you, and thanks for doing what you do. I appreciate it.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gage Marine and the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Mailboat. Only a few places in the United States still deliver the mail by boat. Lake Geneva is one of those places. Mail delivery by boat was once a necessity; now, it is keeping a proud tradition alive. And this isn't your typical mail man, Mr. Speaker. The mailboat can't stop or slow down, or the mail route would take too long. Instead, it's delivered by mail jumpers; young men and women who hop off the boat, run with the mail to the mailbox, and sprint back before the boat passes by. The boat really never stops; if mail runners aren't fast enough, they'll soon be taking a swim in Lake Geneva. And as of June 14th this year, the U.S. Mailboat will have been operating in Wisconsin's First District for 100 years. I want to commend them for reaching this milestone. Our country is still quite young, and to see such history right in my own back yard is very special. So on behalf of the First District of Wisconsin, I want to say congratulations once again to the U.S. Mailboat's 100th anniversary.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, it is vital that we pass this bill. Let me tell you why. Puerto Rico is in trouble, and we need to act now before that trouble threatens taxpayers. Let me explain why. Puerto Rico's government owes $118 billion in bonds and in unfunded pension liabilities. It has already defaulted on much of it. Things are only going to get worse. Now the island is shutting down. You can see it in the news--closed schools, and hospitals are beginning to close. That is today. Tomorrow it could be policemen without cars. It could be blackouts at hospitals. This is a humanitarian disaster in the making. What is worse, if we do nothing, it could be a manmade humanitarian disaster. I know this goes without saying, but it is worth repeating: the Puerto Rican people are our fellow Americans. They pay our taxes. They fight in our wars. We cannot allow this to happen. I should also say that if we do nothing, the contagion will simply spread. About 15 percent of Puerto Rico's debt is already held by middle class Americans, and if the government can't meet its obligations, these families will pay the price--or even worse, taxpayers could be asked to bail it out. That is simply unacceptable. That is why we are taking action now, to prevent a bailout and to help the Puerto Rican people. What this bill will do is allow Puerto Rico to restructure its debts and set up an oversight board that will oversee this process. Congress and the President will appoint the members of this board. It will audit Puerto Rico's books and make sure the restructuring is open and fair. It will also make sure the restructuring honors the agreements. It will make sure the government changes its ways so we don't have to do this again. Let me set a few things straight. Some people say this will set a bad precedent. Some people say this will encourage reckless spending by the States. No, absolutely not. The bill applies only to territories and not to States. I also want to point one other thing out. The Puerto Rican Government is not getting off scot-free here. Not at all. It has not served the Puerto Rican people well. It has spent money recklessly for decades. This legislation will make sure that the government balances its budget. It will make sure that they pass reforms that will grow the Puerto Rican economy. It gives flexibility on the youth minimum wage so businesses will hire more young people. I also hear people say that this is a bailout. That is absolutely, categorically, undeniably false. This bill won't add a single dollar to the deficit. All you have to do is look at the Congressional Budget Office. Not a single taxpayer dollar added to the deficit. This bill prevents a bailout. That is the entire point. Let me tell you this: if we do not pass this bill, then there is much more likely going to be a bailout because there will be no other choice. But if we pass this bill, Puerto Rico will get a handle on its debt. Its economy will begin to grow. The people in Puerto Rico will see that help is on the way and there is a reason to stay because they are finally getting their act together. Taxpayers will be safe. I am telling all Members right now, the best chance to get this right is to pass this bill. The best chance for creditors to get what they are owed is this bill. This is our responsibility. The Constitution is really clear. The Constitution gives Congress the duty to oversee legislation for all U.S. territories. Now it is time that we do our constitutional duty. A lot of people have spent so much time on this legislation. Here is what we are doing. If we see a problem among our fellow citizens and it is in a territory where we have a constitutional responsibility, we have to address this problem, and we have to address this problem in a smart way so that we prevent the taxpayer from getting involved, we have to address this problem in a smart way so that we prevent any contagion from occurring in the bond markets, and we have to address this problem in a smart way so that Puerto Rico can get back on its feet again, so that the future for the people in Puerto Rico is a brighter future. There are so many people who have poured their hearts into this. I want to thank Rob Bishop from Utah, the chairman of the committee; I want to thank Sean Duffy from Wisconsin; I want to thank Raul Labrador from Idaho; I want to thank Jim Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin; I want to thank Pedro Pierluisi from Puerto Rico; and I want to thank the Members from the other side of the aisle who put so much time into this. This is a bipartisan bill. This is the best solution in a deepening crisis. This bill has my full support. I urge all of my colleagues in the House to give it their full support as well.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kenneth Kuehnl, the retiring Wisconsin state adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He is retiring after serving as department adjutant and chief operating officer for the past 11 years. Ken began his service in 2005 and served as department commander from 1996-1997. He has been a member of Kenosha Chapter 20 of DAV for 34 years. Ken is a Vietnam War veteran whose service started in April of 1971. Mr. Speaker, Ken has served his fellow veterans for decades with dignity. He is a strong advocate for his cause, and he works tirelessly on behalf of those who served before, alongside, and after him. Ken put his heart and soul into his work to serve his brothers and sisters in arms. I want to personally wish Ken and his wife Lynn all the best, both now and in the future.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and I rise today to commend Kerry W. Kircher for his service and dedication to the House of Representatives. Mr. Kircher is retiring as House Counsel, after serving more than two decades in the Office of General Counsel. Mr. Kircher first served as an Assistant General Counsel, then as Deputy General Counsel, and finally--over the last five years--as the General Counsel. Throughout his time, Kerry served five Speakers of the House, including each of us. During his service, Kerry zealously defended the rights and prerogatives of this institution and for this we are grateful. We wish Kerry well in his future endeavors and thank him for his service to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell, and today, I stand in support of the Little Sisters. Mr. Speaker, this is an order of Catholic nuns who serve the elderly poor in 31 countries. We talk a lot about public service up here. Well, these are the people who live it. They are the definition of public service. In fact, I had the honor of hosting two of the Sisters at the State of the Union address this January, and I was amazed to hear all the good work that they do. So the last thing the Federal Government should do is make their jobs harder, but that, unfortunately, is exactly what this administration is doing. Under the healthcare law, the Department of Health and Human Services is insisting on a regulation that requires the Sisters to offer benefits that violate their religious beliefs. The administration claims to have offered them an ``accommodation,'' but it is just a fig leaf. So this is the choice that they are facing: either violate your faith, or pay up to $70 million a year in fines. Mr. Speaker, there is no good reason for any of this. A full one- third of the American people are exempt from this regulation, so why insist that the Sisters, of all people, follow it? There are other ways to protect people's health that do not violate people's faith. Mr. Speaker, it is clear to anyone with eyes to see that this regulation is a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. A broad bipartisan majority in Congress voted for that law, and what Congress said was this: the burden is not on your faith to obey government mandates; the burden is on the government to respect your faith. Mr. Speaker, that is the very meaning of religious liberty. That is one of our founding principles, and that is why we should do everything we can to let people live out their faith. That is why many colleagues of mine and I have joined in an amicus brief asking the Court to grant the Sisters the relief that they deserve; and that is why I am here today: to stand in defense of the Sisters, to stand in defense of the law, and to stand in defense of religious liberty.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I rise today to urge Members to support this measure, House Resolution 639. Let me explain why, and why everyone should support this. This resolution authorizes me, on behalf of the House, to file an amicus brief to defend our Article I powers under the Constitution. Normally this question would be considered by what is known as the House's Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, but I am asking the whole House to go on the record, as an institution. I recognize that this is a very extraordinary step. I feel it is very necessary, though. In fact, I believe this is vital. This is not a question of whether or not we are for or against any certain policy. Members who are making immigration policy arguments are missing the entire point here. This comes down to a much more fundamental question. It is about the integrity of our Constitution. Article I. Article I states that all legislative powers are vested in Congress. Article II. Article II states that the President ``shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.'' Those lines, that separation of powers, could not be clearer. Article I: Congress writes laws. Article II: Presidents faithfully execute those laws. In recent years, the executive branch has been blurring these boundaries to the point of absolutely overstepping them altogether. As a result, bureaucrats responsible for executing the laws, as written, are now writing the laws at their whim. This just doesn't throw our checks and balances off-balance, it creates a fourth branch of government. This creates a fourth branch of government that operates with little or no accountability whatsoever. Most profoundly, this means that we the people, through our elected representatives, are not drafting the laws that we live under. This is the profound difference that is occurring here. This fourth branch of government is a danger to self-government itself. The Supreme Court has recognized the severity of this threat. In United States v. Texas, the Court has asked whether the President's overreach violates his duty to faithfully execute the laws. This House is uniquely qualified and, I would argue, obligated to respond. Colleagues, we are the body closest to the people. We are the ones who are directly elected by the American people every other year. And if we are going to maintain the principle of self-government, if we are going to maintain this critical founding principle of government by consent of the governed, then the legislative branch needs to be writing our laws, not the executive branch, and certainly not a branch of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats. This is what is happening. And it is not just this administration, although this administration has taken it to whole new levels. As Speaker, I believe the authority of the office that I have been entrusted by each and every one of you is to protect the authority of this body. I am prepared to make our case. We must defend the principle of self-determination, of self- government, of government by consent of the governed. This Constitution protects our rights, as people. It makes sure that the government works for us and not the other way around. It makes sure that we, as citizens, if we don't like the direction our government is going, if we don't like the laws that we are being forced to live under, that we can change that through the ballot box. And this is being undermined every day. I am prepared to submit this defense of our Article I powers, and I ask the whole House for its support.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, since 1983, the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and interact on issues of mutual interest. A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany for ten days from Friday, May 27-Sunday, June 5, 2016. During this ten day exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat Members, Bundestag and Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic, and media agencies. A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States for ten days from Saturday, April 16-Sunday, April 24, 2016. They will attend similar meetings here in Washington. The Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States, and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The U.S. delegation should consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States. Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to the United States and Germany such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events. Please note that the U.S. participants are expected to plan and implement the meetings and program for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. Participants are selected by a committee composed of personnel from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State and past participants of the exchange. Members of the House and Senate who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated. Applications should be sent to the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, HC-4, the Capitol, by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2016.

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our legislative counsel for all their help over the past few weeks, starting with Sandra Strokoff and Ed Grossman. I also want to thank all the senior and assistant counsels for their hard work: Tom Cassidy, Ryan Greenlaw, and Justin Gross on appropriations; Henry Christrup, Wade Ballou, and Scott Probst on taxes; Paul Callen, Marshall Barksdale, and Veena Srinivasa on housing and financial services; Hallet Brazelton, Megan Chasnoff, and Susan Fleishman on the 9/11 VCF and immigration; Jessica Shapiro, Warren Burke, Ed Grossman, Jesse Cross, and Michelle Vanek on the WTC health program; Tom Cassidy and Bob Weinhagen on budget; Justin Gross and Lucy Goss on Social Security; Hank Savage and Lisa Daly on Oceans, coastal security, and land and water conservation; and Tony Sciascia, Hadley Ross, and Mat Eckstein on intelligence and cybersecurity. Then there are the drafters who worked nights and weekends to produce all the other major legislation: Curt Haensel, Rosemary Gallagher, Tom Dillon, Karen Anderson, Tim Brown, Kakuti Lin, Sally Walker, Brady Young, and Chris Osborne on the highway bill; Sherry Chriss, Greg Kostka, Hadley Ross, Tony Sciascia, and Mark Synnes on the defense bill; Susan Fleishman, Anna Shpak, and Brendan Gallagher on the education bill; and Sandy Strokoff, Mark Synnes, and Mat Eckstein on trade and customs bills. Thanks also to Doug Bellis, Jean Harmann, Jim Grossman, Noah Wofsy, and Alison Hartwich for their work drafting other legislation. Finally, I want to thank all the office's support staff: Nancy McNeillie, Debby Birch, Kelly Meryweather, Elonda Rich, Tomas Contreras, Miekl Joyner, Ashley Anderson, Joe Birch, Angelina Patton, Craig Sterkx, Tom Meryweather, Matthew Loggie, Willie Blount, Peter Szwec, and David Topper, and GPO detailees Mel Gilbert, Theresa Harris, Toni King, and Preble Marmion.