Keith Rothfus

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Chris Smith, for his long work in this endeavor. This past Monday, our country observed Martin Luther King Day. I had the privilege of participating back home in some events honoring Dr. King. While reflecting on Dr. King's legacy at one of the events, I recalled decades ago when I first read the letter from the Birmingham jail. Dr. King explained there are two types of laws: just and unjust. Dr. King asked: What is the difference between the two? He answered that a just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas, Dr. King said: an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Defending the natural law principles of the Declaration of Independence is one of the reasons I ran for Congress. The first right listed in the Declaration is the God-given right to life. This Friday marks the 45th anniversary of one of the most somber days in our country's history: the day that the Supreme Court issued Roe v. Wade. Associate Justice Byron White called this decision an exercise in ``raw judicial power,'' as the court invented a right to abortion that wiped out the laws of all 50 States. To echo the words from Dr. King's 1963 address at the Lincoln Memorial, the Supreme Court stamped the promissory note of the rights in the Declaration of Independence with ``insufficient funds'' for the unborn. As we observe this sad anniversary, let us, once again, restore the promise of our Declaration of Independence's right to life. I look forward to greeting constituents at the March for Life. Mr. Speaker, I, again, commend Congressman Smith for his tireless advocacy in defending the defenseless.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Garrett for organizing this Special Order today to shed light on what has been going on in Iran not just the last couple of weeks, but, really, since 1979. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out for the good people of Iran who are protesting against an oppressive regime that has imposed tyranny on them for nearly four decades. Scores of people have been arrested and some killed for daring to speak out against their government. Mr. Speaker, they have good cause. For far too long, the authoritarian terrorists of Tehran have pursued an aggressive military buildup and a massive police state that oppresses its people. Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, their leaders have chosen global and regional conflict instead of promoting a healthy domestic economy and peaceful relations with their regional neighbors. I could spend a long time highlighting the litany of basic human rights violations of the regime as well, but the Iranian Government's malfeasance, public corruption, and betrayal to their citizenry needs to be brought to light on the world stage. Mr. Speaker, as recently as last year, in the State Department's annual Country Reports on Terrorism, Iran was once again identified as the foremost state sponsor of terror. The crime and terror Iran spreads are conducted at the expense of ordinary Iranians whose taxes go everywhere but to themselves and their prosperity. The unemployment rate is over 12 percent, according to the World Bank, and youth unemployment is staggeringly high. And all of this, despite Iran being rich in natural resources and having potential for having a great economy. Two years ago, the U.S. entered a deal in hopes of encouraging a more peaceful Iran, not to mention passing along billions in direct cash payments to them. Furthermore, if that wasn't enough, it has been recently reported that the Department of Justice, under President Obama, abandoned a massive international narcotics investigation against one of Iran's international terrorist clients, Hezbollah, just to not upset the Iranian regime during the negotiation of the nuclear deal. That is right, Mr. Speaker. Hezbollah is not just in the global terror business; it is a transnational criminal organization that is a major global drug trafficker, including right here in the Western Hemisphere and Latin America. For anyone who has not read the recent article in Politico Magazine, titled, ``The Secret Backstory of How Obama Let Hezbollah Off the Hook,'' it is worth your time. You will learn how Hezbollah is operating throughout Latin America and, indeed, facilitating the transfer of drugs into this country. Despite all of their contrition and dealmaking, the Iranian regime has not changed. This perilous regime is still exporting and smuggling weapons to its clients in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Hezbollah and Iran continue to threaten Israel, among other nations, and are still a destabilizing force throughout the Middle East. After all of the Iranian regime's terror, crime, and corruption, do you think the Iranian people would have benefited from this? Mr. Speaker, all you have to do is turn on the TV to see the Iranian people's answer, and it is obvious that they have had enough. This kind of tyranny does not belong anywhere, especially in the 21st century. The everyday people in Iran want the same thing the average American wants: freedom to live without fear of their government, to live and work in peace, to be with their loved ones, and to worship as they see fit. The good people of Iran are standing up to tyranny, and we should stand with them. I want those protesters seeking freedom from oppression to know that we are with them, that the American people are with them. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Garrett, again, for organizing this Special Order on this very important topic.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, today, we remember the life of Robert ``Bob'' Wilmers, a visionary, successful business man, loving father and husband, who passed away this past Saturday. In 1983, he became Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank and held those positions until his recent passing. Under his leadership, M&T grew from $2 Billion to $120 Billion in assets in 35 years. He saw the bank's reach grow from Buffalo to Maryland and the D.C. area, as well as Pennsylvania. Through it all, he never lost touch with his customers. Bob's annual letters to shareholders were legendary and he was critical of over regulation that hurt regional banks. His even handed, steady analysis will be missed. In addition to his successful career, Bob shared a deep commitment to the city of Buffalo, New York through his charitable giving and service to the community. He was fiercely loyal to his work and bettering the community, an example we can all learn from. I extend my condolences to his family and friends. He leaves a large void that will be felt for years to come.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Today we move away from a trickle-down government redistribution economy to one that is bottom up, organic, and growing. While the trickle-down government of the last 8 years was great for Washington and the 1 percent, it did little for the rest of the country. Today we turn the tide and put money back in the pockets of hardworking taxpayers and Main Street businesses. This bill gives immediate relief to moderate income and middle class families. A single mom earning $41,000 with one kid will see a tax cut of $1,300, while a family of four making $73,000 will get more than $2,000 back. The questions are: Will we vote together and put this money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans? Or will we keep that money here in wealthy Washington, D.C.? Will we vote together to level the global playing field for America's businesses and end the unfair status quo that sends American companies and jobs overseas? It is an easy choice, Mr. Speaker: vote ``yes'' on this bill and let's make America prosperous again.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, not only was western Pennsylvania hit by a flurry of snow this past weekend, but by great pride in high school football. This past Saturday, my hometown Quaker Valley High School football team won the State championship trophy in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A division. With preseason rankings that would merit them as underdogs and a new coach that stepped in just before the start of the season, the Quakers tackled their way into history. They defeated their opponents handily by 17 points. Mr. Speaker, these State champions are to be commended for their grit and perseverance. It was an excellent game to cap off an outstanding season. Congratulations to Coach Jerry Veshio, the entire coaching staff, and the players who are excelling in this western Pennsylvania tradition. Congratulating Pine-Richland High School Football Team

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, in front of a crowd exceeding 2,000 people at snow-covered Hersheypark Stadium, western Pennsylvania's Pine-Richland Rams charged victoriously into the history books. With a 41-21 victory, the Rams won the State championship in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A division. Indeed, it was an unforgettable win that cemented their exceptional State championship season. Congratulations to Coach Eric Kasperowicz, the entire coaching staff, and the players for excelling in this great western Pennsylvania tradition. Well done, Rams. Your dedication and hard work has made Pine-Richland High School and all of western Pennsylvania proud.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3971, the Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act, and I thank Representative Tenney for her hard work on this piece of legislation. At the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, we often talk about right-sizing regulations. If we want to have a robust financial system that balances smart regulation and consumer protections with the need to make capital available to American consumers, we need to consider targeted opportunities to tailor requirements to fit the size and nature of the financial institution. Representative Tenney's legislation does just that. This Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act directs the CFPB to exempt creditors with $25 billion or less in assets from certain costly escrow and impound requirements on loans secured by a first lien on a consumer's principal dwelling. These requirements are especially burdensome for community financial institutions. They often force institutions to pass increased costs on to their consumers. This can drive business away from small banks and credit unions which are already suffering from overregulation and other economic challenges. As a result, in some cases, community financial institutions have exited the mortgage business altogether. This does not help consumers, and it further imperils our shrinking number of community banks and credit unions. This bill offers a targeted, reasonable fix so that these institutions can continue to serve their customers. This is smart. It is reasonable. It is common sense, particularly for those who understand how overregulation from Washington, D.C., has hurt consumer choice. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor Army Colonel Edward J. Swanson, a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our nation. After 30 years of exemplary service, Colonel Swanson will retire from active military duty in December 2017, leaving behind a legacy that will continue for generations to come. Colonel Swanson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Chemical Corps upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in 1988 and has served with distinction throughout his career. After completing the Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Germany, followed by the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, CO. Since joining the Acquisition Corp, Colonel Swanson has served as an instrumental and dependable leader. He deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in April of 2011, and served 13 months as the Security Cooperation Division Chief. Following this deployment, he successfully led Project Office for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) for four years. His career culminated as the Chief of Staff for Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, a position he was handpicked to fill. Colonel Swanson has performed at the top of his profession throughout his career and truly is an American patriot with the utmost character. He has spent his career ensuring that soldiers and their families are taken care of, as well as the safety and security of our nation. He has left a positive impression on every organization he has served. With profound admiration and respect, we pay tribute to the accomplishments and sacrifices that he has made for our nation. We thank Colonel Swanson, and his children, Benjamin and Abbie, for their unwavering support. It is my honor to recognize them and wish them peace and happiness in retirement.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act. As the vice chairman of the Financial Institution Subcommittee and the cosponsor of this legislation, I urge my colleagues to support its passage. Representative Barr's bipartisan bill--and I really appreciate the comments from Mr. Scott, my colleague from Georgia on this bill--will remove misguided barriers that block access to affordable manufactured homes while preserving consumers' protections. It is important to keep in mind that the challenge of finding affordable housing is not exclusively an urban problem. Housing affordability is a challenge in many rural areas, including parts of my district. Manufactured homes can be a solution to this affordability challenge. They can give many low- to moderate-income families the chance at homeownership. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, the current regulatory environment is taking competition out of this market to the detriment of consumers. Nationwide, 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes. In my State of Pennsylvania, manufactured homes comprise almost 5 percent of the housing stock. Manufactured homes account for 73 percent of all new homes sold under $125,000, and the average income of a manufactured home purchaser is less than $40,000 per year. The manufactured housing business also sustains thousands of families. Sixteen thousand workers in Pennsylvania are employed in this industry. Unfortunately, the misguided rules from Washington threaten to choke off access to manufactured housing. The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act will address these harmful rules that are making manufactured homes unaffordable for perspective customers while preserving important consumer protections. It is important to keep in mind that the Truth in Lending Act and State consumer protection laws will still apply after enactment of this legislation. Representative Barr's bill is narrowly focused, common sense, and a bipartisan effort to target a specific challenge facing perspective purchasers of manufactured homes. The bill will preserve access to this affordable option for millions of Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this rule and the underlying bill. As the vice chairman of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee and a cosponsor of this legislation, I want to underscore the impact that passing the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act would have on hardworking Americans. We all agree that we should work to ensure that everyone can afford a safe place to live. Representative Barr's bipartisan bill will remove misguided barriers that block access to affordable manufactured homes while preserving consumer protections. In many parts of this country, manufactured homes represent a cost- effective and customizable housing option. It is important to keep in mind that the challenge of finding affordable housing is not exclusively an urban problem. Housing affordability is a challenge in many rural areas as well, and manufactured homes can be a solution. This is an industry that offers millions, including many rural Americans with moderate incomes, a chance at home ownership. In fact, nationwide, 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes. In my State of Pennsylvania, manufactured homes comprise almost 5 percent of the housing stock. Manufactured homes account for 73 percent of all new homes sold under $125,000. The average income of a manufactured home purchaser is less than $40,000 per year. The manufactured housing business also sustains thousands of families. Sixteen thousand workers in Pennsylvania are employed in that industry. Unfortunately, misguided rules from Washington, D.C., threaten to choke off access to manufactured homes. When Washington bureaucrats sought to implement Dodd-Frank, they put forward rules that led some manufactured housing retailers and sellers to be considered loan originators. They also expanded the ``high-cost loan'' definition and swept many manufactured housing loans into that category. The increased restrictions, liability, and stigma that accompany these designations have led many in the industry to cut back on lending. As a result, fewer hardworking Americans will be able to afford a quality manufactured home for their families. The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act will address these harmful restrictions that are making manufactured homes unaffordable for prospective homeowners while preserving important consumer protections. This bill clarifies that a manufactured home salesperson is not a loan originator unless he or she is being compensated by a lender, a creditor, or a mortgage broker. It also adjusts the high-cost mortgage designation thresholds so that many manufactured housing loans are once again not included. It is important to keep in mind that the Truth in Lending Act and State consumer protection laws will still apply after the enactment of this legislation. Representative Barr's bill is a narrowly focused, commonsense, and bipartisan effort to target a specific challenge facing prospective purchasers of manufactured homes. This bill will preserve access to affordable housing for millions of American families. Mr. Speaker, I again urge support for the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act and this rule.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for his remarks regarding Officer Shaw. The Book of Wisdom teaches that ``the souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them.'' The family and friends of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Police Officer Brian Shaw today must trust in that Scripture as they continue to grieve his loss. Officer Shaw was only 25 years old when he was taken in an act of senseless violence, but in his short life, he learned a great deal, and what he learned allowed him to give even more. Brian Shaw knew his vocation, to serve as a police officer and, as he said, to make a difference. His former supervisor, Frazer Township Police Chief Terry Kuhns, recalled that when Brian gave that answer during his job interview, he knew he meant it as he looked in his eyes and his smile. Perhaps what Chief Kuhns saw in Brian were virtues our world desperately needs more of: authenticity and sincerity. Those virtues contributed to what New Kensington Police Chief Jim Klein described as Brian's incredible passion for his work. To Brian's parents and family, you raised him right. May Brian Shaw, a just man, evermore rest in the hands of God.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act we are considering today is the culmination of years of work, years of listening to the concerns of hardworking taxpayers at home, and several elections where the people spoke out for relief from a broken, special-interest laden Tax Code. Here are the questions we need to be asking today: Are you tired of the status quo? Do you think we can do better than the slowest economic recovery since the Great Depression? Do you want a healthier economy that creates the opportunities that offer you a real chance to get ahead, puts more money in your pocket, and helps you fulfill your American Dream? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is for you. As I travel across my district, I hear story after story from families with nothing left over at the end of the month, who are struggling to save for retirement, pay off loans, or simply make ends meet. It doesn't have to be this way. There is a better way. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix this. We can act now to put more money back into the hardworking taxpayers' pockets, make American business more competitive, and create a much healthier economy. Americans have toiled under a broken Tax Code filled with loopholes and special interest carve-outs for far too long. This legislation--the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act--is a giant step for everyday Americans looking to get ahead. This is for the family of four, making $59,000 a year, who can save $1,182 a year in taxes. This is for the single mom, making $30,000 working night and day to support her two children, who will also save more than $1,000 a year in taxes. Our legislation doubles the standard deduction, so people won't have to itemize their tax returns. It expands the child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600 and provides a $300 credit for adult dependents living at home. It will create more jobs in Pennsylvania and raise Pennsylvania's families' incomes. It will bring dollars back to America to be invested in American companies with American workers. It will empower the people of America who want to get ahead, and it will lessen the power of Washington, D.C. Vote for freedom, vote for prosperity, vote for this rule and this bill.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Mr. Thornberry, and the committee for their diligent work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this NDAA conference report. I applaud this bill's goal to improve the readiness level of our military which has been depleted of critical resources after many years of defending this country. Not only does this legislation begin to rebuild our forces, it includes a long overdue pay raise for our troops. I applaud the bill's reforms to improve the military healthcare system and make sure taxpayer resources are used appropriately. I especially want to highlight the current situation in Afghanistan, which needs drastic improvement. Shoring up Afghani security forces is only part of a short-term solution. We need a long-term strategy that brings stability to Afghanistan as well as the entire region. The NDAA directs Secretary Mattis to develop such a 5-year strategy. This is a good step, and I urge the military to continue thinking long term. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this report.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the 21st Century Flood Reform Act. I commend my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee for their hard work on this important bill, and I urge all Members to support its passage. As we all know, this hurricane season brought flooding and devastation to many parts of the country. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria added even more debt to the National Flood Insurance Program, leading to a taxpayer bailout of $16 billion. That is $16 billion taken from the pockets of hardworking Americans. Unless Congress passes the 21st Century Flood Reform Act, we will, once again, have to bail out this program. The NFIP, as it currently operates, is structurally unsound. This bill will help to prevent future bailouts by authorizing the NFIP to build up its reserves. It will also prioritize mitigation efforts and encourage the NFIP to engage in actuarially sound practices. Of course, this effort is not solely focused on taxpayer protection. Homeowners, too, will benefit from the 21st Century Flood Reform Act. This bill crucially fosters the development of a private market for flood insurance. This will provide consumers with better options and more competitive prices. My own State's former insurance commissioner testified in front of our committee last year in support of this idea after seeing benefits of private sector involvement. Commissioner Miller said: ``In Pennsylvania, competition is proving to be good for consumers. . . .'' ``We are finding in many cases that private carriers are willing to offer comparable coverage at substantially lower cost than the NFIP.'' Mr. Speaker, this is good for the people of western Pennsylvania and it is the right policy for homeowners across the country. I also want to thank Chairman Duffy for incorporating my amendment concerning Amish communities into the final bill. The Amish and similar religious communities have a tradition, informed by their religious obligations, of paying for community losses through mutual aid societies. My amendment to this bill accommodates those communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Jobs, jobs, jobs. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act. Whose side am I on? The tens of millions of folks who don't have jobs out there who want job opportunities. We know from some studies that, over the last 8 years of wrong regulation, 650,000 small businesses have not been created. That means 6\1/2\ million jobs, 6\1/2\ million people who are not paying Medicare tax, and 6\1/2\ million people who are not paying Social Security tax. We need these people in the game, Mr. Speaker, and this act can help them get into the game. This is an important piece of pro-jobs legislation, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Emmer, for introducing it. We all want our economy to become vibrant once again so it can generate opportunity and prosperity for all Americans. Unfortunately, regulatory burdens--both new and preexisting--often get in the way of raising capital and building a business. At hearing after hearing at the Financial Services Committee, we have heard from financial institutions that are unable to lend to small businesses or are afraid to do so. We have also heard from businesses that cannot find the capital they need to expand or to retool. All of this has an impact on jobs and wages as well as on our overall economy. The Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act is a targeted, commonsense bill that will make it easier for small businesses to access capital that they need to grow. Specifically, H.R. 2201 will permit businesses to issue a limited number of securities to individuals with whom principals have a preexisting relationship. This would include family and friends who are often early investors in startups. Businesses will only be able to issue a small amount of securities-- $500,000 a year--but that is a step in the right direction toward helping businesses that need funding. This is good policy that will make it easier for small businesses to get off the ground, grow, and add jobs. At the same time, this bill ensures that our regulators can continue to police fraud and abuse, and to do so aggressively. On that point, there is no ambiguity. Fraud is illegal, and it will not be tolerated or excused. Again, I strongly support the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act. It is good for the economy and good for hardworking Americans. It is good for jobs, jobs, jobs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday marks Veterans Day, a day on which we honor and cherish heroes like Lewis Villa from Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania. Nearly seven decades ago, Mr. Villa, a graduate of Aliquippa High School, followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers by enlisting in the Army. He joined the 456th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion of the 82nd Airborne and eventually became an Army Ranger assigned to 1st Company, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad of the Airborne Rangers. He deployed in 1950 to Japan, and then Korea, where he was captured by communist Chinese forces and spent 28 months in a prisoner of war camp. After returning home, Villa became a mailman, where he met his beloved late wife, Helana, and had two children. Lewis Villa is a treasure of the Aliquippa community, and he rarely fails to land a joke, and always lights up a room with laughter. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to him as well as to all our veterans. Happy Veterans Day, and may God bless them and their families.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Huizenga for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger) for leading on this important legislation. I rise today to express my support for the Clarifying Commercial Real Estate Loans act. The Financial Institutions Subcommittee has spent a significant amount of time analyzing the state of bank lending. Not surprisingly, aside from loans from major banks to major corporations, we found that bank lending in today's regulatory environment is weak. We need to jump-start our economic growth once again, so we are going to need to find ways to address some of the unintended consequences of the rules coming out of Washington, D.C. The high volatility commercial real estate loan designation is one such feature that has inhibited growth and opportunity. The complexity and ambiguity of HVCRE makes it hard for banks to comply. This drives up borrowing costs for real estate developers and prevents entrepreneurs from engaging in the types of activities that create jobs and opportunity. This legislation will bring clarity and common sense to HVCRE requirements, and I ask that my colleagues support the Clarifying Commercial Real Estate Loans act, which is important legislation.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 849, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act. The Independent Payment Advisory Board, known as the IPAB, was created under the ACA, and consists of a panel of 15 unelected, unaccountable government bureaucrats with the authority to single- handedly cut Medicare spending. By doing this, the IPAB reveals the truth that government, rather than the patient, is at the center of our Nation's healthcare policy. In repealing the IPAB, we begin to help get rid of the notion of the mentality that Washington knows best when it comes to our healthcare. It is imperative that we act now before nominees are put forward to serve on the board and access to care is greatly decreased or denied. My constituents in western Pennsylvania rely on these funds for their healthcare needs. I am proud to see Congress working together in a bipartisan manner on this commonsense legislation that will keep patients and doctors in control of healthcare decisions and preserve Medicare for current and future seniors.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, today House Republicans introduced H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This day has been a long time coming. Since Republicans gained the majority in 2011, there have been numerous congressional hearings and briefings, feedback from constituents on what tax reform might look like, and even the introduction of a comprehensive reform bill introduced in the last Congress. Republicans campaigned on a better way to tax reform in specified areas for reform, and we followed that up earlier this year with a framework document setting forth our principles. Today is the culmination of more than 6 years of work, but our work is not done. Now Members of Congress and the public will have the opportunity to study the legislation in detail. When all the dust settles, two questions will remain: Will this put more money in the average American's pocket? Will this put America in a much better position in the global economy and allow us to finally break through years of stagnation with much healthier growth, more jobs, and higher incomes? That should be our focus. I encourage everyone to visit fairandsimple.gop, and I look forward to a real debate on how tax reform and tax cuts will relight opportunities for all Americans.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Darryl DiOrio for his forty-seven years of service and leadership in the Johnstown community. Mr. DiOrio holds degrees from Saint Vincent College, the Pennsylvania State University and Saint Francis University. He has devoted his entire career to working in the steel industry, including twenty years at Bethlehem Steel Corporation, six years as President and CEO of Johnstown Wire Technologies, and nineteen years as President and CEO of Gautier Steel Ltd. Under Mr. DiOrio's leadership, Gautier Steel recovered from a near shutdown to a multi-million-dollar operation. Furthermore, Mr. DiOrio saved thousands of family-sustaining jobs by helping keep both Johnstown Wire and Gautier Steel in the Johnstown area. Mr. DiOrio's leadership and great care for the community will leave an impact on Johnstown for years to come. I would like to congratulate Mr. DiOrio on his recent retirement and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Neil Capretto, Medical Director of Gateway Rehabilitation, for his 30 years of service to the Beaver County community. Dr. Capretto graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to serve as chief resident in psychiatry at St. Francis General Hospital before settling in Western Pennsylvania. As an expert in the study of addiction, he has written scholarly articles and served as a medical commentator and consultant to both local and national media networks. Today, he serves as an innovator in the field of pain management and a leader in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Not only is Dr. Capretto incredibly knowledgeable, but he continues to display exemplary patience and kindness, even amidst his battle with cancer. I'd like to thank him for his 30 years of service and let him and his family know that we are praying for speedy recovery in this difficult time. God bless.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan legislation sponsored by my friend and colleague, Mr. Barr from Kentucky. This legislation sends a clear message to the rest of the world: you can either do business with the United States and the free world or you can do business with the brutal dictatorship of Kim Jong-un and the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea. You cannot deal with both. Mr. Speaker, the gravest threat facing our Nation today is North Korea, the world's worst perpetrator of human rights. Kim's contempt for human life animates both his human rights record and his nuclear ambitions. Just this past June, we learned how Kim's regime tortured University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier. His parents, Cindy and Fred, went public with the details of their son's suffering in September during an interview with CNN. These are just a few of the details that Fred and Cindy shared in that interview: ``Halfway up the stairs, we hear this loud, guttural howling, inhuman sound.'' They found him strapped to a stretcher. He has a shaved head. His eyes are darting around. He is blind, he is deaf, he is on a feeding tube. His bottom teeth looked like they had been taken with a pair of pliers and rearranged. His mother, Cindy, described how his hands and legs were totally deformed. Otto's story serves as a very real and very tangible reminder, and teaches a new generation of Americans of what happens under totalitarian governments and communist dictators. Now, as the brutal Kim regime continues its nuclear quest, the same barbarism that killed Otto threatens all Americans. This July, the dictatorship claimed they had the capacity to send an intercontinental ballistic missile anywhere in the world. In September, they conducted their sixth nuclear weapons test and claimed to have detonated a hydrogen bomb that could be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile. These actions must not be ignored. This legislation adds secondary sanctions to those passed in May. It not only prevents persons from trading with, facilitating trade with, investing in or participating in a joint venture with a North Korean entity, but it also targets foreign financial institutions from aiding in such actions. Simply put, this bill forces banks to cut off all participation with North Korea-related business interests, freezing out the capital that funds North Korea. Mr. Speaker, 56 years ago, at the height of the Cold War, when another godless communist regime threatened the world, President Kennedy reminded us of America's exceptional nature and consequent leadership in the world. His inaugural address included this reflection: ``And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation not just for Otto and his family, but for all those who might be harmed by North Korea if we do not act now. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his leadership on this vital issue.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Madam Speaker, buried in today's disaster supplemental spending bill is a $16 billion taxpayer bailout of the National Flood Insurance Program. That is nearly half the cost of this bill. This bailout does not come with a single reform that would put the program on the path to sustainability. This taxpayer bailout maintains a program that has resulted in taxpayer-subsidized development and reconstruction of homes that repeatedly flood. Madam Speaker, why are we not reforming this program that puts residents and first responders in harm's way? How much more debt are we willing to let this program pile onto the next generation? Americans in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands need help, and I would have liked to vote for the relief portion of today's legislation, but the multibillion-dollar taxpayer bailout of an unreformed program made the bill unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to reconsider the path we are on. We could have had a bill that not only provided relief to hurricane victims, but would have provided relief for taxpayers and the next generation as well, but we did not. We will get another chance for fiscal sanity in December, when we reconsider the additional disaster funding and funding for the rest of 2018. Let's hope we make better progress at that time.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule and the underlying legislation. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, or Micah's Law, is of utmost importance. Not only does the bill recognize the common humanity and inherent rights that we share with the most vulnerable members of our society, it offers our Nation an opportunity to prevent excruciating pain for those same members, and it will stop a form of violence that has gone on for too long. This bill is a step forward in reversing a culture of violence and restoring a culture of life. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that passage of this legislation will save 2,750 children per year. That is 2,750 girls and boys who will have a chance to contribute to our society. If you want to facilitate a culture of life, vote for this bill. If you want to begin to prevent violence in our country, vote for this bill. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, pre-born babies feel pain. The medical field has found clear evidence that pre-born babies have the capacity to feel intense pain at 20 weeks. That is what this legislation is about. When a child's body is gruesomely dismembered, they feel pain. When the abortion doctor attempts to use a ``less crunchy technique''--as we learned in last year's abhorrent videos about Planned Parenthood, which was their words--to procure more intact body parts, they feel pain. Mr. Speaker, I shudder to think of the millions of lives taken from this world in such a gruesome and violent manner. Equally disturbing is the thought of how much pain has been endured by millions of pre-born babies whose lives have been cut short since Roe v. Wade. We must do more to promote a culture of life in this country. We must do more to lessen a culture of violence. That is why I rise today in strong support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. By acknowledging that babies feel the pain of abortion at 20 weeks, this legislation affirms the inherent humanity of the most innocent--unborn babies--in our country. To add to that, this legislation also includes protections for babies that survive an attempted abortion. It ensures that children who do survive and are able to continue to live outside the womb are given the immediate medical attention they deserve so that they have a chance to live. With growing developments in the medical field, children are able to survive outside the womb at earlier points in pregnancy. Such was the case for Micah Pickering, for whom this legislation is name for. Micah was born at 20 weeks' gestation and is now a healthy 5-year-old. The Congressional Budget Office recently reported that approximately 2,750 lives per year will be saved through this bill. That is 2,750 girls and boys; daughters and sons; brothers and sisters; and not medical waste, like opponents of this legislation would like you to believe. The United States is only one of seven countries, including North Korea and China, that allow abortion after 20 weeks. Are we really that kind of Nation? Does our Constitution not grant all Americans the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they are? Mr. Speaker, this is commonsense legislation. I urge every single Member of this body to take a deep look inside themselves and ask if they support not only inflicting pain on unborn babies, but also denying these innocent babies their constitutional right to life. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Arizona, for his leadership on this important issue. If you want to stand for a culture of life, vote for this bill. If you want to take a stand against a culture of violence, vote for this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.