Pat Tiberi

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. As the previous speaker said, he supports the bill, which I am pleased to hear that, but as the chairman has said, as the ranking member has said, this is just the beginning. This is just the beginning, and we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good in this piece of legislation because there is very important bipartisan legislation that is meaningful to people in a home today somewhere in Ohio or Massachusetts where home infusion is really important or dialysis is really important. I am pleased that the ranking member from Massachusetts has been so helpful on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just say ``ditto'' to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), whom I have a great relationship with, for all the words about the staff. In particular, I also want to thank Abby Finn from my staff, and Emily Murray and her team; but it has been a pleasure working with the gentleman from Massachusetts' team as well, and Mr. Levin, the ranking member of the Health Subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, this is a good step in the right direction and the first step in expanding access to high-quality care and improving efficiency and delivery of care so seniors can better receive the care they need where they need it, which is so incredibly important. I really appreciate the comments of the ranking member. And again, I want to remind everybody what the chairman said, that this is just the beginning, and hopefully this will be a template to much more bipartisan support for the remainder of this year. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Gibbs for yielding. The Akron Beacon Journal, a few days ago, wrote an extraordinary editorial about Ralph Regula. The last paragraph sums Congressman Regula up best: ``What would benefit Congress and the country today are more lawmakers like Ralph Regula, devoted to their districts without losing sight of the larger picture. He wasn't just superb at legislating. He delivered what governing requires.'' I couldn't say it any better. We in Ohio lost a truly wonderful person, a great American. Ohio has lost three of them in the last year who I served with here in the United States Congress who made this body a better place and who made this country a better place: nearly a year ago, Steve LaTourette from northeastern Ohio; earlier this year, Mike Oxley; and now Ralph Regula. Ralph Regula was the dean of the delegation even before I got here, and he was the dean of the delegation when I came here in 2001. One of the great things that Ralph Regula did on our side of the aisle when we were in the minority and then when we were in the majority is he strategically placed members of our team from Ohio throughout all the committees. So you had people on the Appropriations Committee, you had people on the Ways and Means Committee, on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and on the Armed Services Committee. Ralph was so thoughtful that way trying to make sure that we represented our State in all sorts of ways. I got to know Ralph mostly sitting in that corner with Dave Hobson, Ralph Regula, and Steve LaTourette. The dean of the delegation didn't speak loudly. He often spoke softly, but his words were meaningful--and usually right. He was a thoughtful guy who cared about our State, who cared about our country, and who taught so many of us how to legislate not just on the Appropriations Committee, but actually how to get things done. I have fond memories of the lessons that he gave us on an ongoing basis. I only got to serve with Ralph for 8 years. There are others in the room who got to serve with him a lot longer. But it is safe to say what the Akron Beacon Journal said is right: He knew how to get things done. He did it in a bipartisan way, he did it with his constituents in mind, and he did it because it was the right thing to do. There is a long list of things that he accomplished and that got done. He didn't brag about it. He just did it in his soft-spoken, nice, gentlemanly way. The gentleman from Navarre contributed and gave more than he ever got. His former staff knows, the former Members on both sides know it, and he will always be remembered for that great spirit that he had around this place--a true gentleman describes the gentleman from Navarre. It was an honor and a privilege to serve with him.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 322 (passage of H.R. 2842), I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on this vote.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lexington High School boys track team for winning the 1600 meter event at the Ohio High School Division II State Track and Field Tournament. An achievement such as this certainly deserves recognition. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has enabled talented teams and individuals to earn state titles since its founding in 1907. Throughout this time, the champions of OHSAA state level competitions have represented the highest achieving and most talented athletes in Ohio. Each year these elite competitors join the long ranks of those who embody Ohio's proud history of athletic success. The Lexington High School boys 1600 meter relay team's victory caps a tremendous season. This sort of achievement is earned only through many hours of practice, perspiration and hard work. They have set a new standard for future athletes to reach. Everyone at Lexington High School can be extremely proud of their performance. On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate Hunter Biddle, Tony Gerrell, Forest Volz and Mason Kearns on their state championship. I wish them continued success in both their athletic and academic endeavors.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joe Ellis for winning the high jump event in the Ohio High School Division I State Track and Field Tournament. An achievement such as this certainly deserves recognition. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has enabled talented teams and individuals to earn state titles since its founding in 1907. Throughout this time, the champions of OHSAA state level competitions have represented the highest achieving and most talented athletes in Ohio. Each year these elite competitors join the long ranks of those who embody Ohio's proud history of athletic success. Joe Ellis' victory caps a tremendous season. This sort of achievement is earned only through many hours of practice, perspiration and hard work. You have set a new standard for future athletes to reach. Everyone at Mansfield Senior High School can be extremely proud of your performance. On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate Joe Ellis on his state championship. I wish him continued success in both his athletic and academic endeavors.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 319 (passage of H.R. 1654), I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on this vote.

Mr. TIBERI

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

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 379, I call up the bill (H.R. 2579) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the premium tax credit with respect to unsubsidized COBRA continuation coverage, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to add my thoughts and prayers for our colleague and friend, Congressman Steve Scalise, and the victims of yesterday's shooting. May God be with them during this time. Mr. Speaker, my bill, Broader Options for Americans Act, is before us today. We have all heard about COBRA continuation coverage, which allows someone with group health insurance who experiences a qualifying life event to keep their job-based coverage when they no longer have a job and, most importantly, their plan's networks of providers--doctors, hospitals, et cetera--for a certain amount of time. Currently, consumers with COBRA coverage, who could face a cost of up to 102 percent of plan costs, are not eligible for ObamaCare's Federal subsidies. My bill allows individuals who pay for the full cost of such continuation of coverage to qualify for the tax credit established under the American Health Care Act. This allows those consumers, including clergy, church lay workers, and their dependents who are experiencing similar circumstances and who get their coverage through church plans, who have been affected by sudden life changes to receive assistance to pay for their unsubsidized health premiums. This bill represents another step forward in our continuing work to help Americans access more options for true patient-centered healthcare. Mr. Speaker, this hits close to home for me. As a high school student, my dad lost his job of 25 years. I think the gentleman from Massachusetts has heard that story before. We, as a family, lost our healthcare and went into COBRA coverage. This is a solution that impacts people across America, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, on a personal basis, I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Mr. Neal. We, obviously, have a disagreement. I tell my daughters about how a bill becomes law, and I don't need to tell the gentleman from Massachusetts how a bill becomes law, but we certainly, I think, believe that there are opportunities to not only improve what you say is the Affordable Care Act but the bill that we passed. That is what we are doing today. I hope to work with him to continue to do that, as the Senate passes its own bill, and, hopefully, go to a conference committee. Hopefully, the gentleman will be on that conference committee.

Mr. TIBERI. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. TIBERI. Reclaiming my time, not lately. Two years ago. One of the frustrations about the CBO report that never gets reported is the fact that millions of people will choose not to have healthcare. That is what the CBO says. It is not often repeated in the national media or on the floor here, but I would just kind of remind everybody that, often, the other side of the aisle speaks a lot about choice and the freedom to choose. And with respect to healthcare, that is what millions of people will do, according to CBO. I would also like to remind my friend--and I do mean that--that there are millions of Americans in my State alone who have insurance but don't have the choice of provider they once had or the choice of a hospital they once had. That is pretty traumatic. There are people who have insurance, but premiums have doubled and tripled in the last several years and out-of-pocket expenses for those who are not subsidized have gone to levels that are unprecedented. I surely appreciate and would remind the gentleman from Massachusetts that this bill before us today simply says that we expand choices, we expand options for Americans by allowing them for the very first time to receive financial assistance if they lose their healthcare insurance. I know it is not perfect, but it is good. I hope that we can improve on all these aspects that the gentleman and I have talked about today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 300 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2292), and 301 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2457), I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both of the votes.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Nos. 269 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 1862), 270 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 1842), and 273 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2288) I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on all of these votes.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, this week is Police Week, a time we honor all our officers, especially those who have fallen in the line of duty keeping us safe. So today I rise in honor and remember Kirkersville, Ohio, Police Chief Steven DiSario. Chief DiSario, a father of six with a baby on the way, was killed in the line of duty on May 12, 2017. He died at the hands of a gunman who also killed two employees at a local nursing home, Marlina Medrano and Cindy Krantz. This is a tragedy that truly tests the strength of a community, the strength of neighbors, and the strength of our law enforcement community. To Chief DiSario's family: I can't imagine the grief and the anguish you must be feeling. We are heartbroken for your loss. Please know that your husband, your father, your son, was an American hero. His memory will never be forgotten, and it is there that I pray you find hope. Today and every day, may God bless you and all our police officers and their families.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two Members of our congressional delegation, and two of my friends, Congressman Steve Stivers and Congressman Brad Wenstrup, upon their military promotions. Now Brigadier General Stivers in the Ohio National Guard, and Colonel Brad Wenstrup in the United States Army Reserve, they both have served their country beyond the boundaries of their district. Today I am humbled and honored to join my colleagues in congratulating them on their distinguished public and military careers. Congressman Stivers, 30 years ago as a young Buckeye, assumed the title--one very important to him and to us--as citizen soldier. In 1998, Congressman Wenstrup joined the U.S. Army Reserve after already establishing himself as a doctor in the Cincinnati area. To Congressman Stivers and Congressman Wenstrup, as faithful Representatives to your constituents, as members of our military, and veterans of the Iraq war and recipients of the Bronze Star, you have always put service to our country first. Thank you from a grateful Congress and a grateful nation. Congratulations on your respective promotions.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Westerville Central High School Boys Bowling team for winning the Division I Boys Bowling Tournament. An achievement such as this certainly deserves recognition. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has enabled talented teams and individuals to earn state titles since its founding in 1907. Throughout this time, the champions of OHSAA state level competitions have represented the most dedicated and accomplished athletes in Ohio. Each year these elite competitors join the long ranks of those who embody Ohio's proud history of athletic success. The Westerville Central Boys Bowling team's victory caps a tremendous season. This sort of success is earned only through many hours of practice, perspiration and hard work. They have set a new standard for future athletes to reach. Everyone at Westerville Central High School can be extremely proud of their performance. On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate the boys bowling team on their state championship. I wish them continued success in both their athletic and academic endeavors.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership in this important matter, and I echo his words with respect to the staff, Emily Murry and her team, as well as Whitney Daffner and Abby Finn in my office. Mr. Speaker, like the chairman, I had a front row seat in 2009 and 2010 to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and a front row seat to all the promises made about this wonderful bill called the Affordable Care Act. Then, over the last 6 years, like the chairman, I heard from my constituents and fellow Ohioans. I heard about their sad ObamaCare stories of a road of broken ObamaCare promises. There was a lady east of Columbus who had cancer. She was a survivor. Fast-forward to a few years ago. She gets cancer again and finds out that the oncologist that she had, she could no longer have. He was not in the network. She could not go to the hospital in her community. She had to go 60 miles away. Or there is the small-business owner and his wife and family on the individual market and now on the exchange not getting employer-provided health care and, therefore, not getting the benefit. They saw their plan price quadruple in the last several years. Mr. Speaker, we are going to take care of that person and give them a tax credit so they have the ability, just like employer-provided employee's health care. In Ohio, last year, our CO-OP collapsed. We had 20,000 people without health care. Many saw bills not being paid. Twenty counties in my State had one provider and fewer choices. Broken promises. Constituents can't keep their doctor, can't keep their hospital. Constituents saw emergency room visits go up. It was supposed to go down under the Affordable Care Act. Premiums and deductibles are going up, not down, in my district. One promise wasn't broken, and that is a government-mandated, one- size-fits-all Washington plan that many of my constituents didn't want and others couldn't afford. That was their ObamaCare. We can do better, and in this bill we do. In one step, in the first step, more steps to come, we begin creating a patient-centered healthcare system that will not only put more power in the hands of our constituents, but it will also drive down healthcare costs. Remember what they said in Ohio newspapers in my State about ObamaCare: a tough pill to swallow, a nightmare, very taxing, just more red tape. These aren't my words, Mr. Speaker; these are hardworking Ohioans' words. They deserve better. They deserve more choices. They deserve better access, the access and the choices they want for them and their families. We begin, Mr. Speaker, with this bill. We don't end here. There is much more to do. We are putting the people's power back in their hands, not in Washington's hands. Today, it is time for us to deliver.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend and neighbor, the Honorable Joseph DiGenova. Delaware, Ohio Councilman Joseph DiGenova has dedicated his life to quietly, but profoundly, serving his nation and community. As a young man, he answered his nation's call, risking life and limb in service during the Vietnam War. Upon completing his military commitment, Joe returned home and devoted the next several decades to advocating for youth, veterans, local schools, and countless civic projects. For decades, he and his beloved wife, Vonie, invested themselves in their local school district, creating new programs and fighting for improved facilities. Of special note, Joe co-founded a Youth-in- Government program that has introduced students to local and state governance for more than twenty years. Further, they have campaigned actively for land acquisitions, levy and bond issues, and athletics boosters. As a result of his unwavering support for local schools and students, Joe received the 2014 Friend of the District Award from the Delaware City Schools. Knowing the value and challenges of military service firsthand, Joe selflessly sought new ways for central Ohio to honor its truest patriots. He led the charge toward a permanent veteran memorial to recognize veterans from every era of our history. In addition, he partnered with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans Association to help fellow veterans receive the recognition, care and benefits they so richly deserve. Joe's tireless work ethic and humble attitude garnered him the highest admiration of his neighbors. They saw fit to elect him to public office repeatedly for more than twenty-five years. As a city Councilman in Delaware, he spearheaded efforts to modernize infrastructure and spur the local economy. The resurgence of a vibrant downtown area is in no small measure a reflection of his dedication to making Delaware a great place to live, work and raise a family. Joe has long maintained an eye on what the future will bring to Delaware. Today, Joe and Vonie can look fondly on all he has accomplished. I am confident that his impact will be lasting and his efforts cherished for generations to come. I am deeply proud to recognize my dear friend and fellow Italian- American for his lasting friendship and innumerable contributions to central Ohio. It is with great pride that today I recognize, on behalf of the residents of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, the Honorable Joseph DiGenova.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 66 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 374), and 67 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 538) I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both of the votes.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Chairman, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure for me to be here in my role as chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. I am also pleased to have a couple of our new Members here today. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), a new member of the Joint Economic Committee.