Adrian Smith

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin).

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from New York an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I would remind my colleague who just spoke that the average family of four in his district received a benefit through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of about $5,000 per year. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin).

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, if there are no other speakers on the other side, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, in the interest of spreading holiday cheer, I will be brief. I believe the bill we are about to vote on is bad policy. If you look at the SALT cap, it is good policy. A State that has lower taxes should not be forced to pay more to subsidize a State that has higher taxes. There are generally reasons that a State is a higher tax State, and that was generated locally or at that State level. But I think it is bad policy, as Mr. Zeldin was pointing out, to have a permanent tax increase to pay for a temporary tax benefit. That is bad policy. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out against this attempt to remove the duly elected President of the United States. Impeachment is importantly established in our Constitution. The impeachment of a President has only happened twice in our country's 243-year history. Yet, today, for highly political purposes, the House majority is trying to remove President Trump from office based on secondhand, indirect accounts. The Articles of Impeachment we are voting on today offer no evidence of a crime but, instead, are purposely broad to fit the majority's narrative. Less than 1 year until the next Presidential election, we are being asked to override the choice of the American people. This lopsided, hyperpartisan, biased impeachment process has been predetermined as an outcome from the very beginning. This is an unfortunate day in the history of our great country. We must hope this political game does not set a precedent of which to follow in the future. Surely, there will be disagreements between the President and Congress for many years to come. Instead of unnecessarily dividing our country, as we are seeing today, we should be looking at ways to bring our country together.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Scotts Bluff National Monument's official designation. Having grown up in Gering, Nebraska, I am proud of the monument and the uniquely American story of the role it played in our westward migration. As one of the highest points in Nebraska, dominating the landscape, it stood as an unmistakable part of the Oregon Trail. When I look at the monument, I can't help but think of the brave pioneers of the Oregon Trail. Stunning sights and Oregon Trail landmarks, such as Scotts Bluff Monument, must have been a source of awe on the arduous journey west. It had to have served as motivation to keep going and a relief to know they were well on their way. Scotts Bluff was named for Hiram Scott, a fur trader who died nearby in 1828. Just as the monument's name comes from early economic activity in our region, the monument is still important to our regional economy, drawing 150,000 people from across America and around the world each and every year. I thank the great folks who dedicate their time and hard work to keep the park in great condition so others may enjoy it for generations to come. It is with great pleasure I join with all Nebraskans to celebrate the centennial of this Oregon Trail icon.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as we know, a senseless act of violence struck the Virginia Beach community on May 31 of this year. A disgruntled city employee, for no apparent reason other than he may have been offended by some negative reviews of his job performance, walked into a public works building in Virginia Beach an hour before closing and opened fire on innocent and defenseless people, killing 12 and injuring 6 others. These kinds of events are hard to understand, but it is great to see the community reach out and help. We know that there are always many folks who help around these communities when it is so obvious, and, when confronted with tragedy, they always respond with bravery and generosity. In acknowledging the bravery of helpers, we would be remiss if we do not honor the first police officers who arrived on the scene, who ran toward danger instead of away from it. They took down the mass murderer before he could cause even more bloodshed. In the process, one of their own was injured in the firefight, his life spared only by a bulletproof vest. The bill we are considering and, hopefully, passing today is about another set of those who helped, those who also responded with generosity. As was the case with many other tragic events in our history, a special fund was set up to help the victims of the May 31 shooting. Under normal tax rules, a special fund like this raises at least three questions: First, are the payments to these victims from the special fund subject to taxes? Second, since charities are not supposed to operate for the benefit of special individuals, would payments to a relatively small number of individuals destroy the tax-exempt status of any charity or foundation administering the victims' fund? And third, are donations to the special fund for victims eligible for a charitable tax deduction? The Virginia Beach Strong Act ensures the answers to these questions match what common sense tells us they should be: No, victims of the Virginia Beach shooting and their families will not be taxed on these payments to provide some financial relief for the harm caused by horrors they suffered. No, these payments will not threaten the tax-exempt status of organizations which make the payments to victims and their families. And, lastly, yes, donations to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund will be eligible for the charitable tax deduction. Mr. Speaker, this is our opportunity to be assisting those who need help, as well as by clarifying the tax questions of victims, donors, and charitable organizations. This should be actually considered as a no-brainer. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Virginia Beach Strong Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, just to add emphasis to the reason why we are here: We appreciate those around the community and, actually, probably around the country who want to help, certainly, victims in need, and I would hope that we would adjust our tax policy accordingly, certainly to perhaps meet expectations that could not otherwise be met, but also to encourage others to contribute as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 645.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate my colleagues and their support of our effort to change the name from Homestead National Monument of America to the Homestead National Historical Park. Obviously, some of the reasons have been outlined. I appreciate the chairman and ranking member for bringing this legislation to the floor. It is supported by the entire Nebraska delegation, and even more importantly, by local stakeholders. And as was mentioned, the Homestead Act of 1862 was signed by President Lincoln, and it absolutely helped shaped the American West. It allowed U.S. citizens to earn ownership of a portion of the vast public lands owned by the Federal Government across the Western U.S. Ultimately, the Federal Government granted title to 10 percent of the land in the U.S. through this program. It gave millions a chance to build a new life for themselves, their families and for future generations. In order to claim a 160-acre parcel of land under the Homestead Act, a homesteader was required to be at least 21 years of age or the head of a household, build a home on the land, improve and farm the land for 5 years, and pay an $18 filing fee. The Homestead Act remained in place through 1976, with provisions allowing for homesteading in Alaska through 1986. President Ronald Reagan said the Homestead Act ``ensured that the great western prairies of America would be the realm of independent, property-owning citizens--a mightier guarantee of freedom is difficult to imagine.'' We are very proud that the very first claim under the Homestead Act was made by a man named Daniel Freeman, near Beatrice, Nebraska, in Nebraska's Third District. To memorialize this milestone, as well as the 1.6 million other claims which built the American West, the Homestead National Monument of America was established, also near Beatrice. Unfortunately, referring to this site as a monument brings images of a single, static monument, such as a statue, an obelisk, or even a natural feature like the Scotts Bluff National Monument near my hometown of Gering, Nebraska, not of an extensive park that celebrates the pioneering homesteaders of many years ago. Homestead National Monument consists of a heritage museum, the Freeman School mentioned earlier, as well as the tallgrass prairie, hiking trails, a forest, farming demonstrations, and much more. Referring to this site as a historical park instead of a monument would far more clearly describe the opportunities to take in this living-history site. In fact, according to the Friends of Homestead, 89 percent of first-time visitors to the facility were confused by the name. On behalf of the people of Nebraska and, particularly, the citizens of Beatrice and Gage County, Nebraska, I appreciate this opportunity to advocate in support of this proposal today.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to reconsider the unilateral push forward with impeachment. We have important and timely bipartisan issues to work on, such as passing USMCA. Canada and Mexico represent 34 percent of all U.S. exports--by far, our most important trading partners. The North American Free Trade Agreement that we know as NAFTA was written more than 25 years ago, and the world has changed dramatically since its enactment. President Trump has made the modernization of trade between our three countries a top priority and has allowed us the chance to make some much-needed updates. USMCA upgrades and modernizes NAFTA. It will boost our economy, and it is a win for farmers, producers, and, definitely, consumers. We have an opportunity to take action on trade, but the work must come first. It is our constitutional duty to start this process in the House. Delaying the enactment of USMCA hurts American jobs, border security, and agriculture, as well as innovation. We cannot afford to let this opportunity pass. Mr. Speaker, let's begin the work in the Ways and Means Committee, and let's get this done. It is time to pass USMCA.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 573. Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 525.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, today I honor five individuals and businesses from Nebraska for receiving the Inaugural Third District Young Entrepreneur Awards. Throughout the 75 counties of the Third District, entrepreneurs and innovators are working hard to grow opportunity in our state. In May, I called for nominations as part of a new initiative to recognize the young individuals, businesses, and organizations in the Third District who strengthen their communities through fresh ideas, hard work, and entrepreneurship. Papa Moon Vineyards of Scottsbluff began in 2007 as a grape growing hobby for the Massey family, and has since evolved into an absolute passion for grape cultivation and craft-wine production. Over the next several years, their passion evolved into a family business. Named for the moniker the youngest Massey family member gave his grandfather, winery owner Jim, it has truly become a family project. The Masseys opened their tasting room in 2018 to share their passion for viticulture and love of winemaking. They are a proud family-owned farm winery, with a focus on the cultivation and production of high quality product. Upstream Farms of Albion, is led by brothers Matthew and Joseph Brugger. They work every day to bring new meaning to the phrase, ``Farm to Table.'' The Bruggers co-founded Upstream with the goal of establishing better rural communities. They saw few opportunities for young people to become involved in agriculture, and wanted to create a business that would inspire young agriculturalists and entrepreneurs to pursue their passion in a rural community. To demonstrate their desire to embrace their vision, Upstream is more than just a traditional farm. Upstream strives to demonstrate diversification through action, offering services in agronomy, technical innovation, resale of market ready produce, and angus products. Striv Inc. of Henderson, is Jed by Taylor Siebert. He discovered his passion for sharing stories when he started the Heartland Beat, an online blog and newsletter, to reach out to alumni of Heartland Community School. This experience inspired Taylor to explore other avenues for schools and their alumni to create and share content. This discovery process led to the founding of Striv Inc. in 2012. Today, Striv Inc. has taught hundreds of students the necessary skills to provide high quality streaming access and coverage of school events and activities for their schools and communities. The business currently provides educational and streaming services to over 100 school districts in Nebraska. Ever the innovator, Siebert has never stopped creating. The purpose of his latest development, ``Class Intercom,'' is to help school districts more effectively utilize social media to maximize connection, promotion, and information sharing in their communities. Taylor could have created his internet-driven business in any state in the country. He chose to come back to Nebraska, back to his hometown, and invest his talents in training tomorrow's leaders and creating a better version of the, ``The Good Life.'' The Medina Street Vault Coffeehouse & Bistro of Cairo is owned by Jenna Schweitzer. Through the experiences of her high school job as barista, owner Jenna Schweitzer realized her life's passion was coffee. She knew she wanted to open her own coffee shop, and to attempt to share her passion with her hometown. In 2017, thanks to Jenna's vision, hard work, and the support of her family she opened her coffee shop and bistro in a former bank building in Cairo, and strategically selected her food and drink menu to ensure she complemented, and supported other local businesses. Schweitzer feels The Vault has become an experience area residents turn to when they want a place to meet their friends, relax, and lose two or three hours in conversation. Her goal of creating a family-centered environment to share her passion with others has become a reality. Game On of McCook is owned by Cody Dame. Thanks to a 2007 submission to the Hormel Business Plan Competition permanently changed his professional direction. Winning the business plan competition allowed him to transition from owning his own traveling videography and disc jockey service to pursuing his passion of building a community through creating a fun and experiential environment for all ages. Quickly growing from a 1,000 square foot retail space to a much larger location in the community of McCook, Cody has expanded into the communities of North Platte, Kearney, and Grand Island as well. Game On has become a successful regional retail business, committed to strengthening the communities in which they are present. I am proud to recognize each of these award winners today, and I thank them for their many contributions to Nebraska.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I agree we have a serious problem with multiemployer pensions which needs to be addressed. However, this bill, I believe, will actually set us back. It does nothing to address the underlying structural issues of these plans. It actually does nothing to protect younger workers, who will be asked to keep paying into a system which remains troubled. And it saddles taxpayers with liabilities which are unlikely to be paid back, at a massive cost to taxpayers. Let me provide just one alarming example of how flawed this proposal is, which I also highlighted in our committee markup. Under this legislation, if a pension plan applies for a loan and the newly created Pension Rehabilitation Administration cannot make a determination on that plan's ability to repay in order to approve or deny the loan within 90 days, the loan would be automatically deemed approved. Taxpayers deserve timely responses from Treasury, but no reputable financial institution would rubberstamp loans like this. Pensioners and taxpayers both deserve better. Let's work together to deliver a real solution. Mr. Speaker, I certainly urge opposition to this bill so that we can, together, focus on a better solution.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Vera Dulaney who passed away July 5. Last November, I was able to recognize Vera on the floor for her retirement and how much she meant to our community. For more than 30 years, she served the community through her position as Scotts Bluff County clerk and election commissioner, as well as in various other volunteer capacities. Throughout her public service, Vera's diligent work maintained the integrity of our local elections and assisted the effective and efficient operation of Scotts Bluff County. Her outstanding efforts across the community were recently acknowledged when she was presented the Community Volunteer Award for Public Service. Vera was well-known in our community for her years of official service, humble demeanor, and dedication to family. Her smile always lit up the room. Her devotion to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Chicago Cubs was only surpassed by her devotion to her family and our community as a whole. Throughout her long and prosperous life, she touched countless others. Now in passing, we celebrate her life and keep her family and friends in our prayers.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could immediately be sent to the President's desk for his signature.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Nebraska State Trooper Jerry Smith. Jerry was killed last week in a tragic accident while on duty. Jerry dedicated his life to serving. First, he served our Nation in the Army, where he won a Bronze Star. After his retirement from the Army, he served our great State with the Nebraska State Patrol. He was highly respected in our community of Scottsbluff and Gering, Nebraska, and we grieve with his family. His memorial service today was a testament to how many lives he touched and a tribute to his service. People from all around the State, and even law enforcement from out of State, joined together to pay their respects to Jerry. He is survived by his wife, Karen, their children, and their grandchildren. Our hearts go out to them during this time, and they can be assured the entire State of Nebraska is with them. We thank Jerry for his service to our State and remember him for his service as well.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Frank LaMere, who died last Sunday night. A member of the Winnebago Tribe, Frank was proud of his heritage and worked tirelessly for the Native American community. Frank spent the majority of his life fighting for Native American causes and, as a result, was known across Nebraska and other States for his determined efforts. I had the opportunity of interacting with Frank for several years and was always impressed by the civility he showed, his respect for others, and, most of all, how considerate and thoughtful he was. Frank had an interest in politics and policy and sought to build relationships with folks on both sides of the aisle. He was devoted to making life better for others and was a role model in his civic engagement. Frank will be dearly missed, but the people of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and the entire State will remember him for his loyalty, his passion, and his ability to build friendships along the way. Madam Speaker, I offer my condolences to his family and community.

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I do want to say that I plan to vote for this bill. I support the improvements it makes to savings and retirement, which have gained bipartisan approval, both in the Senate and here in the House. In particular, I appreciate hearing from agricultural cooperatives across Nebraska's Third District about the importance to them of the language in this bill reducing PBGC premiums for nonprofits. I am also incredibly pleased we are moving quickly to address the Gold Star families tax issue and hope we can complete work on that problem as quickly--if not more quickly--as the rest of the provisions in this bill. I do have reservations and concerns about the process which got us here and some provisions which are no longer in the bill. As we know, the bill was marked up in the Ways and Means Committee on April 2. We reported it out unanimously, a very bipartisan effort. It was moved out of committee by a voice vote. Prior to the markup, there were no concerns raised about the provisions in the bill, provisions that would help families pay for the education of their children, whether in home school or public school. As we know, many expenses come up for various reasons. It is unfortunate that that took place, and I know that this wasn't the first time. Actually, it was the second time in 2 weeks that we are here considering legislation that was a product of bipartisan agreement in committee, but it was altered before it came to the House. It is very unfortunate. And as I said at the beginning, I am going to support this bill. It has many good provisions, but I hope that we can avoid similar situations from undermining the committee process, undermining the integrity of the committee system that we have that empowers individual Members to work together with colleagues on a bipartisan basis. Let's not undermine that. Again, I will vote for this bill. It could have been a better bill, and I hope next time we can address the shortcomings, moving forward.