Keith Rothfus

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Reclaiming my time, I urge my colleagues to stand with our veterans and their families by supporting this amendment and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHFUS. I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to stand with our Nation's veterans and their families. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. As public servants, we have a solemn obligation to make sure that our veterans receive the respect, support, and care that they have earned and rightly expect. That responsibility extends to employees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Unfortunately, the VA has failed veterans in western Pennsylvania and around the Nation. This failure has resulted in the outrageous disability claims backlog and the unconscionable death of five veterans at the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System. In light of these unresolved problems, no one in the senior leadership of the VA should be paid a performance bonus. Today, over 865,000 veterans around the Nation are waiting to receive disability benefits from the VA. Of those veterans, almost 576,000 are considered part of the VA backlog, meaning their claims have been pending for more than 125 days. On average, our Nation's veterans must wait between 316 and 327 days for their first-time disability claims to be processed. Wait times in major population centers and in my district are often longer. For example, veterans must wait 642 days in New York, 619 days in Los Angeles, 542 days in Chicago, 517 days in Philadelphia, and 625 days in Pittsburgh. The number of veterans who have been forced to wait more than a year to receive their benefits has grown by more than 2,000 percent over the last 4 years, despite significant increases in the VA's budget during the same time period. In addition, a study conducted by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review found that veterans who disagree with the VA's initial decision must wait even longer. That study found that it takes an average of 1,040 days for the agency to make decisions in appeals cases. That's almost 3 years. In fact, some veterans wait so long that they die before their claims are processed. The Trib-Review study found almost 3,000 cases between 2009 and 2013 in which veterans or their surviving spouses died before getting decisions on their disputed claims. Western Pennsylvania veterans have recently seen even more egregious failures of the VA firsthand in the death of five veterans due to an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. The VA Inspector General found that the systemic failure of the Pittsburgh VA to follow its own safety protocols and a breakdown in communication resulted in these unconscionable deaths. Four days after the Inspector General's report was released, the regional director of the Pittsburgh VA was awarded an almost $63,000 bonus and presented with the Presidential Distinguished Rank award. In total, the VA gave its senior executives bonuses totaling $2.8 million in 2011 and $2.3 million in 2012. Paying bonuses to executives of an organization with this kind of abysmal performance record is ridiculous. In the private sector, this level of performance achievement is rewarded with a pink slip, not a bonus check. Rather, this hard-earned taxpayer money should be properly directed towards fixing the problems at the VA and ensuring that our veterans receive the first-rate service and care they rightfully deserve. VA executives need to take responsibility, fix these problems, and do their jobs. I urge my colleagues to stand with our veterans and their families and support the Rothfus-Roby-Tipton-Kelly-Huelskamp amendment.

Mr. ROTHFUS. I have an amendment at the desk printed as No. 3 in the Congressional Record.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the twenty-fourth anniversary of the massacre of unarmed civilian protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. 1989 was a momentous year in human history. We saw a new birth of freedom in many nations that had suppressed their people for more than a generation. That year, we also witnessed the People's Republic of China violently crush those who had the courage to stand up to their government. These protesters came from all walks of life. They were mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. Many were students. They were united in their thirst for democracy and in their desire for the universal human freedoms of assembly and expression. They were silenced because they dared to defy their government. However, no government can crush the universal aspiration of people to be free. These protesters became martyrs in the cause for human rights and their thirst for freedom lives on in those who continue to struggle for human rights and dignity in China and around the world. We will never forget the heroes of Tiananmen Square.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day we take time to honor all those who sacrificed so much to secure our Nation's freedom, peace, and prosperity. This week, I came together with a bipartisan group of my freshman colleagues to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. We paid respect to our Nation's fallen heroes, especially those known only to God. In my opinion, there is no more special place in our Nation's capital than Arlington. When you enter the gates, all labels but American are shed. And no words are necessary, for the countless rows of white markers speak volumes. With the sometimes vigorous debate in this Chamber, it is important to remember those who rest just 4 miles from here. There we find what holds our country together. The Book of Wisdom teaches that: ``The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They are at peace.'' What comfort, indeed, for our fallen heroes.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Borough of New Brighton on the 175th anniversary of its founding in 1838. The Borough of New Brighton is located on the east bank of the Beaver River, about two miles from its junction with the Ohio River. The present site of New Brighton was first settled by United States Army Colonel Josiah Harmar, who built a blockhouse with the help of troops from nearby Fort McIntosh in 1788. William and David Constable surveyed and laid out the site of the new town, which they named Brighton, after their old home in England. Residents soon popularized the name to New Brighton, and the new town was incorporated as such by an Act of Assembly in 1838. New Brighton's early settlers were skilled tradesmen drawn by good factory sites, water power, and the demand for their specialized skills. Others sought religious freedom and economic opportunity. Today, New Brighton's residents take pride in their community, which balances suburban living with a walkable downtown area. New Brighton is one of Beaver County's Rivertowns, and it offers a variety of recreation and cultural attractions including Big Rock Park, the New Brighton Fishing Park, and the Merrick Art Gallery. Mr. Speaker, fellow Members, please join me in congratulating the Borough of New Brighton on the 175th anniversary of its founding.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, it has been 1 year since human rights activists Chen Guangcheng and his wife, Yuan Weijing, arrived in the United States of America. I recently had the honor of meeting both Chen and Yuan. They are heroes in the cause of human rights, and their story of fighting forced abortion and sterilization in the People's Republic of China has captivated and inspired all those who love freedom. Their courageous stand has not come without a personal price. Chen and Yuan's extended family in China has been subject to continued harassment. It is time for this to stop. Respect for human life and freedom are universal aspirations, and Chen and Yuan serve as witnesses to these transcendent values. I encourage Beijing to protect Chen Guangcheng's family and all those who serve as advocates for freedom and human rights.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (BAMP) on the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founding. A group of Pittsburgh-area home builders founded BAMP in 1938 to ``protect and promote the interests of general contractors engaged in the construction industry.'' The organization continues to promote home ownership and the improvement of the residential building industry in Western Pennsylvania. Today, BAMP is nationally recognized for its work in advocacy, education, and community service. BAMP represents nearly six hundred members today, including home builders, remodelers, trade contractors, suppliers, and licensed professionals. These small businesses support thousands of well-paying jobs for workers across Western Pennsylvania. BAMP members are dedicated to and active in their communities. They have organized countless service projects and lent expertise, products, and services to build and improve homes for neighbors in need. BAMP has also sponsored National Association of Home Builders student chapters in eight local secondary-level career training centers to help young people prepare to enter the workforce. Many of today's members are second-, third-, and even fourth- generation home builders and tradesmen. They are dedicated to their trade and take great pride in the work they do for customers in the same neighborhoods where they live and work. Mr. Speaker, fellow members, please join me in congratulating the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, an important part of our community and one of the oldest and most respected home builder associations in the nation, on the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founding.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 45. President Obama made a lot of promises when pushing his health care law through Congress. He promised that it would make health care more affordable and accessible. He promised that if you liked your health care plan, you would be able to keep it. Western Pennsylvanians will tell you that President Obama has failed to keep these promises. We recently saw one of these failures when the Community College of Allegheny County reduced the hours of many part-time employees because it could not afford the increased cost of health insurance. This is just one of the many sad side effects of a law that puts the government in the driver's seat of our health care system while taking patients and doctors along for the ride. Western Pennsylvanians do not want a law that will turn a doctor's waiting room into the waiting room for the Department of Motor Vehicles. They want commonsense and patient-centered reform that makes health care more affordable and accessible for workers, seniors, and families.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage at the behavior of the IRS. Last week, the IRS admitted that it targeted organizations based on group names and political ideologies. Based on their conservative leanings, these organizations were often forced to divulge their donor lists and answer invasive questions about their affiliations, requirements the IRS did not extend to other groups seeking similar treatment under the Tax Code. These actions are unacceptable. IRS officials cannot infringe on any person or organization's constitutional rights simply because of a difference in political ideology. We expect our government to be a guardian of rights. Those responsible for this violation of the public's trust must be held accountable. IRS employees and officials are public servants, and those involved with this scandal have violated a fundamental precept of public service.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for organizing this important discussion with our freshman colleagues. President Obama made big promises while pushing his health care law through the House and Senate. He promised the American people that it could create jobs, that it could increase access to health care, that it would promote economic growth, that it wouldn't add to the deficit, that it would not raise taxes on the middle class. He promised that if you like your health care plan, you could keep it. He said that it would lower the cost of premiums. He said that it would strengthen Medicare. Three years later, President Obama's health care law has proven to be a string of empty and broken promises. We are seeing premiums rise. One business in my district that employs 13 workers expects a 26 percent increase in its premiums, totaling more than $30,000. That's $30,000 that cannot go to increasing wages for workers. Another company in my district with 17 employees expects a 19 percent premium increase with an annual cost of more than $20,000. Companies are being forced to change their health plans and pay more for them. Some companies may even drop their plans and put their employees in the ObamaCare exchanges. That means they're not keeping their plans. That's a broken promise. ObamaCare is also raising taxes on the middle class. The Supreme Court made that clear. One little known tax in ObamaCare is a medical device tax. This is a tax on the middle class because it is going to be passed directly to the consumers. Pennsylvania has the fourth largest medical device industry in the Nation. The medical device tax threatens health care businesses and innovators, like ZOLL Medical Corporation in my district, that supports 600 good-paying jobs. ObamaCare does not strengthen Medicare. It cuts $716 billion from the program and creates the Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as IPAB, which puts unelected bureaucrats in between seniors and their doctors. President Obama's health care law is causing folks to lose their health plans; it's raising taxes; it's hurting Medicare; it's increasing the deficit; and it won't bring universal coverage. More than 30 million people will still be uninsured in 10 years. The fact remains that 3 years later, President Obama's health care law is a trillion-dollar string of broken promises. It's damaging our families, seniors, hardworking Americans and their health care. It's killing jobs, and it's violating the First Amendment rights of people of faith. It's a small wonder that even some of the authors of this misguided health care law are now calling it a train wreck. The American people deserve better. This law should be repealed. Then all Members of Congress should sit down and do their jobs to craft commonsense, patient-centered reforms that reduce costs, preserve Medicare, and increase access to all Americans.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleagues from Alabama, Ms. Sewell and Mr. Bachus for their work on H.R. 360. I was pleased to support awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley in commemoration of the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Bestowing this honor is a fitting tribute to these young girls who are martyrs in the cause for freedom and justice. May we never forget the sacrifice of these young girls and their families and the impact it had on the United States civil rights movement.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to continue to shine the light on the human rights abuses that are the subject of the Kermit Gosnell trial in Philadelphia. Dr. Gosnell's practice included a procedure he called ``snipping.'' This appalling procedure ended the lives of some of the youngest members of the human family. A culture of life needs to reject the philosophy that gives rise to such horror, and no organization that would support the ending of such young lives should receive one dime of Federal funding.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. I rise today in support of the rule, H.R. 1549, the Helping Sick Americans Now Act, and the Pitts amendment. President Obama's health care law is a train wreck. We learn more every day about its failures. H.R. 1549 addresses a problem with the law's provision for those with preexisting conditions. The bill takes millions of dollars that the administration intends to spend on advertising its failed law and instead helps some of the sickest Americans get health insurance. Not only that, the bill will also end the ObamaCare slush fund and reduce the deficit. H.R. 1549 is a win on all fronts. We should applaud Chairman Joe Pitts and Congresswoman Ann Wagner for bringing this commonsense solution forward. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the bill.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky, and I rise today in solidarity with the middle class workers and families who call western Pennsylvania home. President Obama's war on coal is a threat to their livelihood and to our communities. From the mine and power plant workers who have received pink slips because of misguided regulations, to the middle class moms who are trying to pay monthly utility bills, to the restaurants and barbershops and other small businesses concerned about costs, President Obama's onerous regulations will negatively impact our communities. Coal is an essential part of our economy and infrastructure. It is an abundant, affordable, and reliable source of energy that powers our streetlights, schools, and factories. Coal-fired power plants generate 40 percent of electricity in Pennsylvania and 37 percent around the country. Electricity derived from coal is more affordable for families and businesses. The coal industry employs more than 41,000 hardworking women and men across our commonwealth. Unfortunately, these workers, their families, and their communities are the ones who will suffer as a result of the EPA's unreasonable regulations and President Obama's war on coal. These burdensome regulations have forced the electric generating industry to shutter coal-fired power plants and lay off workers. Six of these coal-fired power plants in our commonwealth--including several in Western Pennsylvania--have been marked for closure since the beginning of last year. The power company placed part of the blame on the burdensome cost of federal environmental regulation. The resulting slowdown in demand and surge in costly regulation have forced coal mines to shut down or reduce production. Last summer, the head of a Western PA coal company attributed the idling of some of its mines to the escalating costs and uncertainty caused by EPA regulations. Layoffs caused by shuttering of power plants and idling of coal mines--and job losses in related industries--devastate middle-class workers, their families, and their communities. It is too easy for unelected federal elites in Washington to write regulations without an understanding of the human costs of their actions. That is why I am working with my colleagues to pass the REINS Act. The REINS Act will provide a check and balance on the Obama Administration by requiring that any regulation with an annual economic impact of $100 million or more be subject to the approval of the House and Senate. Last week, I voted in favor of the REINS Act in the House Judiciary Committee. The Act was approved and now moves to the full House for consideration. Middle-class moms and dads, coal miners, seniors, and those on fixed incomes deserve the support of all of my colleagues in the House and Senate on a pro-growth agenda. I call on both chambers to pass the REINS Act as a good first step towards sensible regulation that helps grow all parts of our economy. There is a war on coal in this country, and it needs to stop. It's time to keep the lights on in America. It's time to relight America, and we need to do that here in this House and stop this war on coal. With that, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, the solution to our economic challenges is one simple word: growth. Unfortunately, the only place really growing in our country today is Washington, D.C. As I travel my district, workers, job seekers, and small business owners tell me they're concerned about jobs and economic security. Washington must unleash their economic potential by spending less, taxing less, and regulating less. Washington has to stop growing so the rest of the country can start to grow. Small business owners this year spent upwards of 2 billion hours trying to comply with our Tax Code. Simplifying the Tax Code will help them save time and money that they can then put towards growing their businesses, hiring new employees and raising wages. Washington must also streamline regulations that are strangling growth. The REINS Act would require that any regulation with an annual impact of $100 million or more be subject to a vote of this House. With the right tax and regulatory policies, America's economy can thrive again.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Thank you. ``Troubling'' is the word for what we see happening in Philadelphia. I think if you look at what this trial is about, about 20 years ago we had a decision from our Supreme Court that basically said: At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of the human life. I suggest that at the heart of Dr. Gosnell's trial is this understanding on the part of Dr. Gosnell that he had the liberty to define his own concept of existence and of meaning and of the universe. But that's to be juxtaposed with what our Founders described as self- evident truths, that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That concept was enshrined in our Constitution, where our Fifth Amendment provides that no person is to be deprived of life without due process of law; and, again, our 14th Amendment adds that no State shall deprive a person of life without due process of law. As we watch this trial unfold in Philadelphia and continue to hear the daily testimony of what's happening, I think it's appropriate that we reflect on those words of the Founders and how far we've come from those days. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the President to get serious about our getting our fiscal house in order. While imperfect, the continuing resolution passed today is an important step in the right direction. Today's legislation provides the Defense Department and VA some relief from President Obama's sequester by granting flexibility to prioritize spending, helping ensure the needs of our Armed Forces are met. It is time for the Senate to follow the House's lead and pass this legislation. Instead of campaigning, President Obama should be devoting time and resources to finish his budget submission to Congress, which is already 4 weeks overdue. When mothers, fathers, and small business owners face budget problems, they sit down around the kitchen or office table with notepads, pencils, calculators, and get to work. They prioritize spending and make tough but necessary decisions. It is time for the President and our friends across the aisle to adopt the same commonsense practices of budgeting and prioritization that hardworking women and men in the private sector use every single day.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Ann Marie Kilcourse Wilson of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, an extraordinary woman. She passed away on February 19, 2013, at the all-too-young age of 47, following a brief and courageous battle with cancer. Mrs. Wilson could have been anyone's daughter, anyone's wife, anyone's mother, co-worker, employer, or fellow church member. She was extraordinary because she excelled in each of these roles. She was a woman for all seasons. Ann Wilson was born in 1965 in the Bronx of Irish stock, the daughter of Thomas and Francis Kilcourse. She graduated from St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip, New York, and earned a degree in political science from the Catholic University of America. She worked in New York City before moving to Johnstown, the hometown of her husband, Bill. In the mountains of western Pennsylvania, this daughter of the Bronx became an adopted daughter of Johnstown, and she has thrived there. She brought into the world three beautiful children: Katie, Billy, and Clara, whom she and Bill loved dearly. And while she was raising her family, Ann pursued her professional calling with excellence and determination as the marketing director of The Gleason Agency. Her energy was incomparable. The energy of her professional work could also be seen in her commitment to public service. In 2005, Ann made her first attempt at public office and won a 4-year term on the Johnstown City Council. She took the oath of office in January 2006 and was the first Republican woman elected to the council. Notably, Ann was the top vote-getter on the ticket, beating out seven incumbents. In a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-3, she was the top vote- getter, demonstrating her broad bipartisan appeal. She was reelected in 2009 and appointed deputy mayor of Johnstown in January of 2010. She also served as executive director and later chairman of the Cambria County Republican Committee. In 2012, Governor Tom Corbett appointed her to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, and she was elected as a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention. While her energy and professional accomplishments were remarkable, the two things that mattered most to her were her family and her church. Mrs. Wilson lived for her husband and children, and she rarely missed a sporting or school event that involved the kids. She loved family time and family vacations, and she was deeply committed to her Catholic faith. She was also a strong advocate for the right to life and compassion for all. In a world and time given to cynicism and doubt, Ann Wilson stands out in stark contrast. She is a role model for excellence in family life, professional work, and community engagement. Indeed, she was full of passion for the things of life that really mattered. It is a privilege to stand here today to remember Mrs. Ann Wilson of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Her family's and Johnstown's loss is Heaven's gain. May she rest in peace and may her family be comforted in their loss. She will be missed not only by her husband and children, but by her community.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, today we observe the 102nd birthday of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. I take this opportunity to again thank Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan family for sharing their husband and father with this country. Their sacrifices allowed this Nation to move from an era of doubt and decline into one of a brighter future. Today, we find ourselves facing another era of doubt and decline: chronic unemployment, staggering debt, international crises, and advocates of Big Government pushing for more failed Big Government to fix our problems. I suggest that those who think America cannot turn the state of affairs around to think again. As President Reagan said-- and these words are inscribed at his final resting place in California: I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life. With that perspective, let us again renew our commitment with President Reagan's trademark optimism to a renewal of the American spirit and a re-lighting of the American Dream.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, last week we received troubling economic news. In January, unemployment went up and 169,000 people gave up looking for work. And the economy stopped growing and actually shrank. I rise today in solidarity with those looking for work and a higher income to pay their bills, loans, and mortgages. Those seeking a better lot want to know: Where are the jobs? Before we address any other issue grabbing headlines today, Congress and the President need to make a priority of unleashing the potential of hardworking Americans and creating the conditions for a healthy economy. We must balance our budget, reform the Tax Code, reduce excessive regulations, and expand energy production. I call on my colleagues in this House to refocus their attention and to work to accomplish these goals so that the American people can get back to pursuing their dreams.