John Rutherford

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I first want to congratulate my colleague, Miss Rice, for what I think is a great bill that is going to bring some accountability to TSA. Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1294) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for congressional notification regarding major acquisition program breaches, and for other purposes.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1294, the Reducing DHS Acquisition Cost Growth Act. The Department of Homeland Security, DHS, spends over $7 billion, annually, on major acquisition programs. These programs secure our borders, protect our shores, safeguard our airports, and defend our cyber networks, among other critical missions. Unfortunately, the Government Accountability Office has reported that DHS acquisition management is on its high-risk list, since 2003, of areas most susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Recent watchdog reports have revealed alarming findings regarding DHS' acquisition efforts. For example, in just 2016 alone, 8 out of 25 major acquisition programs experienced cost growth, schedule slips, or both. These program cost estimates increased by $1.7 billion, and their schedules slipped by an average of 11 months. Given the enormous threats that are facing our homeland, it is unacceptable to make our frontline operators wait for the tools that they need to secure the homeland. My bill will require much-needed oversight of DHS' acquisition programs to safeguard tax dollars and hold program managers accountable. When programs incur significant cost, schedule, or requirement problems, my bill requires that DHS leadership be informed. These programs will be required to put a remediation plan in place that corrects the problem and also analyzes the root causes of why the problems occurred in the first place. The Homeland Security Committee in Congress must also be informed of such significant problems. No longer will the people's representatives in Congress be kept in the dark. These requirements are similar to those used in the Department of Defense and will help DHS better safeguard tax dollars and more effectively secure our homeland. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, once again, I just urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1294. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1297) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other purposes.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1297, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2017. Congress mandated through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/ 11 Commission Act of 2007 that the Department of Homeland Security conduct a quadrennial Homeland Security review every 4 years. This review is intended to outline DHS' vision and strategy to effectively implement its mission to protect the homeland. Given the threats that we face from terrorists, it is vital that DHS has a sound strategy to help keep the American public safe. Last year, the Government Accountability Office reported on opportunities for DHS to improve the QHSR process, and the GAO made four recommendations for executive action. This legislation leverages GAO's findings to enhance the QHSR and make it better. Specifically, this legislation requires DHS to conduct a risk assessment to better inform the QHSR, and the bill also mandates that the DHS maintain a paper trail of communications related to the QHSR. This should allow Congress and watchdogs to conduct more effective oversight of DHS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for introducing this legislation, and I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mrs. Watson Coleman on a very commonsensical bill here that is really going to help protect tax dollars and help keep our country safe. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1297, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague from Tennessee for this opportunity. I rise today, Mr. Chairman, in support of H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act, because our veterans deserve to receive the best care possible, and our VA personnel deserve to work alongside only the best qualified and professional caregivers. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to serve almost 100,000 veterans in northeast Florida, and this important bill will ensure that veterans throughout the Nation get the care and respect that they have earned. In addition, thousands of good and caring VA employees dedicate their lives to serving our veterans in some of their greatest times of need. But it is unfair--unfair--to these many hardworking VA employees when those working alongside of them engage in misconduct and they are not held accountable. Mr. Chairman, our veterans deserve better, and our caring, hardworking VA employees deserve better. As has been stated multiple times, this bill does not eliminate employee due process. My colleagues and I in Congress carry a sacred obligation to our veterans, have a sacred obligation to our Nation to improve accountability at our VA.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to speak of fairness, to speak of equity, to speak of parity for America's hardworking taxpayers. I want to talk about bringing parity between Americans who get their insurance coverage through their employer and those who are forced to purchase theirs on the individual market. Currently, over 150 million Americans who have employer-sponsored health insurance enjoy a tax benefit to purchase that health insurance. However, Americans who purchase their insurance in the individual marketplace, like farmers, small-business owners, plumbers, and mechanics, do not have a similar kind of benefit. Mr. Speaker, simply put, this is just unfair. However, the American Health Care Plan helps fix this inequity by offering a portable tax credit to help these Americans purchase the health insurance they choose. These credits are also age-adjusted so older Americans who have higher healthcare costs will also see a larger credit to assist them in purchasing that insurance. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you, many individuals and families in Florida's Fourth Congressional District will benefit from this reform and for the first time will be on a more level playing field in purchasing their health insurance. We are fighting for basic fairness. No American, no small-business man or woman, no farmer, plumber, or mechanic should be disadvantaged because of where they work or where they are forced to purchase their insurance.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the medical staff of The George Washington University Hospital who cared for me during my stay in January. On the evening of January the Eleventh I suffered an allergic reaction and was taken to The George Washington University Hospital for treatment. During my stay, I was cared for by an incredible medical team. I offer my most sincere gratitude to Dr. Mayce Haj-Ali for her insight and swift action to treat the allergic reaction I suffered. I also wish to commend the incredible nursing staff who cared for me: Andrea Gavurin, Megan Johnson, Alelcunda M'mari, Ophelia Hunter, Mary Synder, Christina Gale, Danielle Sier, Chaquonna Watson, Crystal Nyguyen, Perla Adames-Castillo , Mamta Jazier, and Jaquece Mudd. In particular, I want to acknowledge Andrea, Megan, and Alelcunda for their continued diligence in looking after me to make sure I made a quick and full recovery. I owe this entire group a debt of gratitude. It is because of their care that I was able to recover and return to work representing the people of Florida's Fourth Congressional District. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that more than 2.5 million nurses work in the United States. These women and men provide and coordinate patient care, educate individuals about their health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family. I am grateful, not only for the nurses who recently took care of my needs, but for all nurses across the U.S. who work diligently to ensure the health of their patients. I ask my colleagues to take a moment to remember these individuals who work in the nursing profession and the care they provide to the American people.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and I missed the following roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call 36 NAY on Roll Call 37 NAY on Roll Call 38 NAY on Roll Call 39 NAY on Roll Call 40 NAY on Roll Call 41 NAY on Roll Call 42 NAY on Roll Call 43 NAY on Roll Call 44 YEA on Roll Call 45 NAY on Roll Call 46 NAY on Roll Call 47 NAY on Roll Call 48 NAY on Roll Call 49 NAY on Roll Call 50 YEA on Roll Call 51 NAY on Roll Call 52 NAY on Roll Call 53 YEA on Roll Call 54 YEA on Roll Call 55 YEA on Roll Call 56 NAY on Roll Call 57 YEA on Roll Call 58 YEA on Roll Call 59

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for House roll call vote No. 34 on H.R. 39, the Tested Ability to Leverage Exceptional National Talent Act. Had I been present, I would have voted `yes'.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. ``If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law.''