Pat Tiberi

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), a member of the Ways and Means Committee and an outstanding member of the Select Revenue Subcommittee.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume, and then I will yield to Mr. Roskam. To the American people it must be really confusing. So we have had bonus depreciation, this tax policy, temporary for over 10 years, unpaid for; supported by many on the other side of the aisle, unpaid for; temporary, many times retroactive. And yet, moving that policy forward for 10 more years, the same way it has been paid for over 10 years, costs money, bad policy, even though we are giving for the first time certainty, predictability to people who actually create jobs in America, who must have a business plan and must make those big purchases. Amazing. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam).

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains?

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, before I yield to the gentlewoman from Kansas, I would like to submit, for the Record, a letter from over 100 associations that represent thousands of employers and job creators, of whom represent hundreds of thousands of employees. In the letter they say, this piece of legislation that we are about to vote on today helps them create jobs and increases productivity. July 9, 2014. To Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: The undersigned associations--and the companies we represent-- appreciate the efforts of the House Ways and Means Committee to make permanent important tax provisions that expired at the end of 2013. In particular, we support swift action on legislation (H.R. 4718) to permanently extend bonus depreciation, creating a pro-investment tax climate that will spur much needed economic growth and jobs and provide a bridge to broader tax reform. Continued uncertainty about bonus depreciation is discouraging investment in the United States and, in some cases, keeping companies totally on the sidelines. This impacts both companies that make investments and companies that manufacture capital equipment. In contrast, since 2008, members of our associations have responded positively to the availability of 50 percent expensing, including an important part of the legislation allowing companies to utilize Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) credits in lieu of 50 percent expensing. Many of our companies have been recognized for this commitment to domestic investment that creates jobs and increases productivity. Renewing bonus depreciation and the comparable AMT credit in lieu of bonus depreciation will provide an immediate incentive for businesses to make additional capital investments, thereby boosting the U.S. economy and job creation. Thank you in advance for supporting this important legislation when it comes to the House floor for a vote later this week. Our associations and member companies will continue to support comprehensive tax reform, but until an agreement becomes effective, extending bonus depreciation is essential to maintaining the nation's economic momentum. In order to plan with certainty, companies must know as soon as possible what the tax rules for capital investment and job creation in America will be in 2014 and beyond. Sincerely, Aeronautical Repair Station Association; Aerospace Industries Association; Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; Airlines for America; American Boat Builders & Repairers Association; American Composites Manufacturers Association; American Concrete Pressure Pipe Association; American Farm Bureau Federation; American Foundry Society; American Lighting Association; American Petroleum Institute; American Trucking Associations; AMT--The Association For Manufacturing Technology; Arizona Manufacturers Council; Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce; Associated Equipment Distributors; Associated Industries of Arkansas; Associated Industries of Florida; Associated Industries of Missouri; Association of American Railroads. Association of Equipment Manufacturers; Association of Washington Business; Auto Care Association; Biotechnology Industry Organization; Book Manufacturers' Institute, Inc.; California Manufacturers & Technology Association; Chemical Coaters Association International; Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry; Corn Refiners Association; Council of Industry of Southeastern New York; CTIA--The Wireless Association; Forging Industry Association; Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association; General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Georgia Association of Manufacturers; Greater North Dakota Chamber; Illinois Manufacturers' Association; INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry; Indiana Manufacturers Association. Industrial Energy Consumers of America; Industrial Fasteners Institute; Industrial Heating Equipment Association; Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries; Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute; International Sign Association; Iowa Association of Business and Industry; IPC-- Association Connecting Electronics Industries; ISSA--The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association; ITTA--The Voice of Mid-Size Telecommunications Carriers; Kansas Chamber of Commerce; Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association; Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA); Metals Service Center Institute; Mississippi Manufacturers Association; Missouri Association of Manufacturers; Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association; National Air Transportation Association; National Association of Electrical Distributors; National Association of Manufacturers. National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers; National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM); National Automatic Merchandising Association; National Business Aviation Association; National Cable & Telecommunications Association; National Council for Advanced Manufacturing; National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA); National Marine Manufacturers Association; National Mining Association; National Propane Gas Association; National Roofing Contractors Association; National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association; National Tooling and Machining Association; National Waste & Recycling Association; Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Nevada Manufacturers Association; New Jersey Business & Industry Association; Non- Ferrous Founders' Society; North American Die Casting Association; North Carolina Chamber. NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Convening Technologies; NTCA--The Rural Broadband Association; Outdoor Power Equipment Institute; Portland Cement Association; Precision Machined Products Association; Precision Metalforming Association; Resilient Floor Covering Institute; Rhode Island Manufacturers Association; San Antonio Manufacturers Association; Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART); South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association; Specialty Equipment Market Association; Specialty Graphics Imaging Association. SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association; Steel Manufacturers Association; Texas Association of Manufacturers; Textile Rental Services Association; The Hardwood Federation; The State Chamber of Oklahoma; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; United States Telecom Association; USA Rice Federation; Valley Industrial Association; Window and Door Manufacturers Association; Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce; Woodworking Machinery Industry Association; World Alliance for Decentralized Energy.

Mr. TIBERI. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Health Subcommittee chairman.

Mr. TIBERI. I yield myself such time as I may consume for my closing. Mr. Speaker, the choice is very clear. As the gentleman from Massachusetts--who is a friend of mine and who I agree with on a lot-- said we should be here to talk about comprehensive tax reform and not temporary tax policy. In my years here in this United States Congress and my years, more importantly, on the Ways and Means Committee, there hasn't been a chairman that has been more bipartisan, more inclusive, and made a stronger effort to comprehensively reform our Tax Code than Chairman Dave Camp. If he would have had a partner in the White House and a partner in the Senate to move the ball along as far as he did, quite frankly, in a very bipartisan way, we wouldn't be here today. But here are the facts: for the past 5\1/2\ years, Barack Obama has been the President of the United States of America. Here is a fact: the first quarter of this year, our economy retracted 2.9 percent. This bill is a jobs bill. Simple enough. And, in fact, during my time on the Ways and Means Committee--putting Chairman Camp aside--without Chairman Camp, with other chairmen, we haven't had any bipartisanship. We haven't had tax bills. We didn't have an effort to comprehensively, in a bipartisan way, have a Tax Code rewritten. It has only been Chairman Camp. So we can talk about theory and academics. But here we are today, with one choice in an economy that is not near where any of us want it to be after 5\1/2\ years of Barack Obama as President. We have a piece of legislation that we know creates jobs that for 10 out of the last 12 years hasn't been paid for. For 10 out of the last 12 years, it hasn't been paid for. And there is no benefit to job creators for long-term certainty. None. Zero. Ladies and gentlemen, we have already submitted for the Record a list of hundreds of associations that represent thousands and thousands of employers around the country who create jobs for hundreds of thousands of employees who say this is one of the best job-creating tools they have. I know people who want a job. They would rather have a job than unemployment insurance. They want a job really badly. Something my dad said to me a long time ago when he lost his manufacturing job of 25 years: ``The most important thing is a job.'' And that is how simple this is, ladies and gentlemen. That is how simple this is. In 5\1/2\ years, we have higher taxes, more regulations. This is about jobs. This is what job creators want. Let's give them what they want. Let's go to the Senate. Let's have a conference committee. Let's work it out the good old-fashioned way. I know the gentleman from Massachusetts and I, if we got locked in a room, we could work it out the good old-fashioned way. Let's do it. I urge my colleagues, let's not make this partisan. Let's make this bipartisan, as it should be, as it has been, and go work with the Senate to get this done and help Americans get a job. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Kiracofe on the occasion of his retirement as the District Program Administrator for the Licking Soil and Water Conservation District. Jim can be very proud of his service to the people of Central Ohio. His steady commitment to his duties and the well-being of the residents of Licking County inspires everyone around him. The current state of the district stands as a significant affirmation of his role as a guardian of our vital resources. For consistent and outstanding achievement in his management practices and conservation philosophy the people of the district express their gratitude. Such recognition honors him and reflects well on our entire community. I have enjoyed working with Jim over the last fourteen years and consider his leadership to have been an asset to our community. His advice, professional opinion and effectiveness in achieving success provided invaluable assistance to me and my staff on many occasions. I have relied on his guidance more than once, and he has always provided me with his wisdom. His leadership and administrative abilities will be sorely missed, and his expertise and experience will be very difficult to replace. However, Licking County will reap the benefits of his stewardship of the Soil and Conservation District for many years into the future. Therefore, his friends and colleagues wish to recognize him and his achievements by holding a ceremony in his honor at the Agriculture Service Center in Newark, Ohio, and I am very pleased to wish him well and much success as he embarks on many new challenges.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your leadership on the Ways and Means Committee. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you. You have been a great leader, and we look forward to allowing you to lead us the rest of this year on our committee as we continue the debate on the extenders and making some permanent. H.R. 4457 would permanently extend the small business expensing for equipment and property outlined in section 179 of the Tax Code. As many of you know, section 179 first came into existence in 1958. I wasn't yet born. My parents were not yet married. They got married in 1958, so they didn't see the debate here in Washington. It may not have been quite like the debate today, though, I would say, because, ladies and gentlemen, Members of Congress, this is a mystifying debate. This shouldn't be this difficult. No wonder Congress has a low approval rating. Section 179 of our Tax Code is very simple, and as the chairman said, it has been very bipartisan over the years. It allows businessowners to immediately deduct the cost of the investments of property and computer software rather than depreciating such cost over time. In fact, on January 1, what had been an extender that allowed for the maximum expensing of $500,000 and the deduction phased out of investments exceeding $2 million went back to what is current law today. That is why this is so important. It is the essence of this debate, and it is the essence of what my bill does because it went down. The limit went down to $25,000 and up to $200,000 of investments. If you talk to Tom and Judy Price, who are from my district, they think that what we do here is just crazy and mystifying because they have to make real decisions in real time and with real money, not make- believe, not theory. They have to make decisions that impact real lives and real costs and real jobs. This is a jobs bill. That is what this is about. If you ask Tom and Judy Price, we have had expensing, and we have had higher limits than $25,000. We don't today. We had them before, but they weren't paid for. We have had them for the 10 years since I have been here, and they haven't been paid for. But do you know what? Here is the reality of life. In Delaware County, Ohio, I talked to Tom Price this morning. He has a mulching business. He needs to buy a loader. Is Congress going to provide certainty? Oh, 2 years is fine. Retroactivity is fine. That is the narrative around here, Mr. Speaker. We've done it before. Let's do it again this way. The Senate won't accept it. Let's surrender our card today. Let's surrender my voting card, Mr. Speaker. It is somewhere here. Let me give it to the Senate. My daughter, going into sixth grade, understands there are two Houses. We shouldn't be surrendering this card, Mr. Speaker, to the Senate because, oh, the Senate is going to do it their way; have always done it that way. Ladies and gentlemen, a bill becomes a law this way. The House passes a bill. That is what we are trying to do today, Mr. Speaker, add permanency. Tom and Judy Price, in their mulching business, they would like certainty to plan, not oh, we will make it retroactive and we will go out a year. Oh, by the way, Mr. Price, we are going to do it in November. We are going to make it retroactive to January. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? You guys couldn't survive running a business in Washington, D.C. You couldn't survive. That is what this debate is all about. It is about reality. My daughter knows that the Senate has the right to do anything they want, but we have our right with our card. Guess what? There is supposed to be a conference committee. There is supposed to be a real debate and oh, my God, compromise between the House and the Senate. That is what this is supposed to be about. That is what I tell my daughter who is going into sixth grade. But no, let's surrender to the Senate right now. Let's just surrender. We have surrendered before. And oh my goodness, these deficits. These businesses pay taxes. You all want to raise taxes on them. When we had a debate on this floor, and I was here in 2009, we passed a $1 trillion stimulus bill. $1 trillion. Nobody cared about the deficit then. But Mr. Price and Mrs. Price are trying to buy a loader for $200,000, and we are debating over the deficit and temporary Tax Code and retroactivity and surrendering to the Senate. That is what this debate is about. That is what this has come to. And you wonder why, Mr. Speaker, Americans think Washington is broken; because we don't understand what real-life Americans who are trying to run a business and hire employees and raise their wages, they don't understand why we are having these mystical debates because they are living in the real world, the real world. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the Hoosier State, Indiana (Mr. Young), a great member of the Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Select Revenue Subcommittee. He has provided great leadership on the subcommittee, and I appreciate his work.

Mr. TIBERI. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Just for the record, the gentleman from Texas has voted for the policy of either increasing or extending section 179, without offsets, six times on a temporary basis for a total of 8 years.

Mr. TIBERI. The gentleman from Michigan has time to yield to the gentleman from Texas. The motion to recommit that the minority keeps talking about today will add billions to the deficit as well, and as I explained earlier, the problem with the narrative of We have done it this way, we are going to do it again, and the problem with surrender, as was talked about by the gentleman from Massachusetts, who I have a great deal of respect for, is the fact that we are missing the point of what is happening in the real America. Real Americans see that we, on this floor, get a stimulus bill by the other side, in 2009--and I was here--jammed down our throats that added $1 trillion to the deficit. Today, the minority is concerned about the deficit, and I assume they want those same small business owners who are trying so hard to create jobs with additional regulations--like Tom and Judy Price face--and they want them to pay more taxes, that is the bottom line; but when they have increased the debt before--whether it is for temporary tax policy or additional spending--there was no concern about the deficit and the debt. It is interesting, Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Secretary Lew, in a speech at the Economic Club in New York, said, ``The U.S. could face a permanent downturn in economic growth without increased business investment.'' How timely--because if you go to my district and talk to Tom Price or talk to Gary Skinner, who owns a farm--and I had the privilege of being in his combine, that combine costs $250,000--guess what: it is about this provision today. The reality with our unpermanent extender policy, with respect to the investments that Mr. Lew talked about yesterday, is that real job creators who are trying to grow their businesses, hire more people--so people like my dad, when I was in high school--wouldn't have to get unemployment, like he did or my dad--who was an immigrant, so I understand a little bit about immigration--despite the fact that the gentleman from Maryland might not think so--and mom, another immigrant--could get jobs. That is what this is all about. All you have to do is go talk to these job creators who are looking at us with a whole lot of perplexed looks as to: Why can't we change the narrative? Why can't the House have a position to negotiate with the Senate? Why does it have to always be, well, this is the way we have done it retroactively for 2 years, this is the way we will do it again? That gives no certainty to these job creators, to these farmers. That is what this debate is all about, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record a letter addressed to me and the gentleman from Wisconsin, Representative Ron Kind, dated June 9, from many employers. In fact, it represents millions of job creators throughout America and their support for making permanent this provision of section 179 of our Tax Code. National Association of Manufacturers, June 10, 2014. Dear Representatives: The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest manufacturing association in the United States representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states, urges you to support H.R. 4457, America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014, introduced by Reps. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Ron Kind (D-WI). This bipartisan legislation restores and makes permanent the enhanced Section 179 expensing provisions that expired at the end of 2013. Enhanced Section 179 expensing allows small and medium- sized manufacturers to immediately write off up to $500,000 of investments in new property and equipment in the year purchased, rather than depreciating the cost of the investment overtime. Making this provision a permanent part of the tax code will provide these job creators with the certainty needed for effective business planning. In reducing the after-tax cost of investments, the legislation will help spur much-needed investments in new property and sales of capital equipment. Since 2003, Congress has steadily increased the amount of investment that small businesses can expense, from $25,000 to $500,000. Capital investment is key to economic growth, job creation and competitiveness. Thus, NAM members strongly support H.R. 4457 and urge Congress to pass this important legislation. The NAM's Key Vote Advisory Committee has indicated that votes on H.R. 4457 may be considered for designation as Key Manufacturing Votes in the 113th Congress. Thank you for your consideration.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read from the letter that I received from the National Association of Manufacturers. Having certainty over the tax treatment of critical investments will make planning for future investments significantly easier. Capital investment is key to economic growth, job creation, and competitiveness. Consequently, enactment of this policy would amount to a major step towards a Tax Code that will promote investment. Mr. Speaker, again, this is all about jobs. Whether it is on a family farm, whether it is in a mulch business, whether it is a small manufacturer, this is about increasing jobs. Even Mr. Lew said we have a significant problem that we are facing about capital investments. This is, over the last 50 years, a tried-and-true provision that we know creates jobs. And to provide certainty is so critical. If we talk to those job creators--I have talked to them, Mr. Speaker. This is so important to give them certainty over time, not retroactivity like the narrative that we fall into. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. I have no further speakers, sir, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will tell the gentleman from Michigan my constituents don't have to be scared. They watch us. I don't have to tell them anything. And I am certainly not going to tell Mr. Skinner or Mr. Price, trust us, we will retroactively, we will, ladies and gentlemen, we will retroactively-- because we are going to surrender today--we are going to retroactively pass a policy in November or December to allow you to expense something that you bought in June, because today Mr. Price needs to buy a loader for his mulch business. And he scratches his head; retroactively? Retroactively? You guys don't know what operating businesses are all about if you are talking about retroactively, because that has been the narrative here. The other narrative is that the Senate is not going to do it. Well, with all due respect, after the R&D tax credit debate on this floor when the same argument was used, Senator Barbara Boxer--not someone who I agree with a lot on things--said that maybe we should look at making that permanent. Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois, a member of the Democrat leadership, opened up the possibility of maybe we should make some of these permanent. Tom and Judy Price would be proud of Mr. Durbin. I don't know if Mr. Durbin has run a business or not, but Mr. Price does with his wife. Ladies and gentlemen, this should be about common sense. Nobody is pure here. We have all added to the deficit. I would argue that the deficit was much higher when the other side was in control. Those are numbers. Less today, less last year, a lot more than 2009, I think we would all agree, the deficit, yearly deficit, the debt is certainly higher. The MTR will create debt. According to the Joint Tax, my bill will as well. But this is about job creators, about allowing them to invest, invest to grow their businesses, to hire more employees, the American Dream that my mom and dad came here to believe and live in, ladies and gentlemen. In a House that my daughter--my daughter in sixth grade understands that we have a right as a House to pass a bill and have a position that might be different than the Senate's. God forgive us for having a different position than the Senate. But just because the Senate wants to do 2 years doesn't mean we have to do 2 years. I don't understand that narrative. Even some of my colleagues say, well, why are we doing this because the Senate doesn't agree? Give me a break, ladies and gentlemen. Let's have a conference committee for once. Wouldn't that be great? That would be grand. And we can fight it out in conference committee just like the Founders told us we should. Ladies and gentlemen, with respect to tax policy, there has been no Member of the House, the Senate, and the administration that has provided leadership to get to comprehensive tax reform like David Camp. He has been bipartisan, he has been open, and he has provided incredible leadership. But as all of us know in looking at history, one House can't provide leadership. You need an executive at the White House who is going to provide leadership. And, quite frankly, we have had none. I credit Ron Wyden, the chairman of the Senate, he has got a bill at least. He has got a draft. I might not agree with his draft, but he has a right to have a draft, and the Senate has a right to have a position. And do you know what? Maybe one day we will get there soon, Mr. Neal. I know you are for that. I am for that. But we should have a House position. We should not surrender to the Senate. But to get comprehensive tax reform done, ladies and gentlemen, we have to have leadership in the White House. We can't do it alone. I thank Mr. Camp for his service. He has moved the ball on comprehensive tax reform greater than anybody has here since I have been here. But today is not about comprehensive tax reform, unfortunately. It is about providing certainty to small businessowners--our job creators in America. This is what they want. This is what they need. This is what has been proven to be successful to allow them to expand their businesses. And today, if Tom Price buys a loader for $200,000, he has to expense it over 7 years. His cash flow is killed, and I am not going to go tell him, ``don't worry. Trust me. We will do it in December retroactively.'' I will not do that. We need to have a position. We need to do it today. We need to do it right. This is about policy. This shouldn't be about politics. This should be about the House's position. I urge each and every one of my colleagues to put the politics aside, quite frankly, and support this bill, have the House have a position, and let's challenge the Senate, and let's do it before November, before December. Let's do it now. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcalls No. 241 and No. 242 I did not cast my vote due to a weather-related flight delay. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan for his kind words about the honoree today. I rise in support of the bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to a Buckeye native, Jack Nicklaus. As Mr. Huizenga said, often called the ``Golden Bear,'' named after the mascot of his high school in Upper Arlington, he is widely known today as the greatest golfer of all time. Mr. Huizenga mentioned the incredible athletic accomplishments on the golf course. I won't repeat those that Mr. Nicklaus achieved, but as Mrs. Beatty of Columbus mentioned, it is his philanthropic work that continues today that directly impacts tens of thousands of children and adults. Through the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, he has raised nearly $24 million to support health assistance and services for more than 4,000 children and their families. He continues to host the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, on the golf course that he built and designed, the Muirfield Village Golf Club in the congressional district I am so honored to represent. And in that tournament, he has raised over $5.5 million for Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus that Mrs. Beatty recognized, giving children access to world-class health care. He serves as a spokesperson and trustee for the First Tee Program, an organization dedicated to bringing golf to children in areas that aren't normally exposed to it across our country. He serves as the honorary chairman for the American Lake Veterans Golf Course in Tacoma, Washington, a course designed to help rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans. He has donated his time to design services for improvement of the American Lake Veterans course and has raised contributions for the addition of nine new holes and the construction of the course's rehabilitation and learning center for these veterans. His accolades are many, as Mr. Huizenga has said, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Jack's devotion to helping others and giving back to his community is only matched by his devotion to his wife Barbara, their children, and their grandchildren. I would like to thank, in addition to Congresswoman Beatty and Congressman Stivers from Ohio, Congressman Yarmuth for his work in building support for this measure on the floor today. I would also like to thank Senator Rob Portman for spearheading this effort in the U.S. Senate; and I would also like to give a special thank you to my senior legislative assistant, Rebecca Kastan, for her work in helping move this bill through the legislative process. I urge my colleagues to award this gold medal to Jack Nicklaus to recognize not only his success on the golf course, but more importantly, for his incredible success, his incredible work off the course in helping tens of thousands of children and veterans across our country.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Robert Cochran upon his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives. Bob has dedicated his life to public service. He came to the U.S. House of Representatives in October 1989. During his time Bob has reported the Joint Session speeches of Queen Elizabeth II, Boris Yeltsin, a State of the Union speech by President Bill Clinton, and the post-9/11 speech of President George W. Bush. Bob was born into a family of court reporters. His grandfather founded and operated a court reporting school in St. Paul, Minnesota. He taught stenotype to Bob's father, Robert Cochran, who later became an Official Reporter with the House of Representatives from 1964 to 1984. Bob's father was the first machine stenographer to report on the House Floor. Bob first began his work for the federal government as a GS-2 file clerk for the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He began his court reporting career as a free-lance reporter for Alderson Reporting in Washington, D.C., where he reported government agency hearings for the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and National Institutes of Health. He also covered congressional hearings for Alderson. In 1971, Bob moved to American Samoa to serve as court reporter for the High Court in Pago Pago. It was while he was in American Samoa that he met his wife, Mona. Bob and Mona returned to the continental United States in 1975. Bob began working as a free-lance reporter then went on to serve as an Official Reporter with the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, and later the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, Maryland, until he joined the U.S. House of Representatives. Bob earned a BS in Business Administration from Salisbury State University, Salisbury, Maryland, in 1983. Bob is an avid photographer and runner, having completed several marathons and ultra-marathons (50-milers). He coached Little League and was a member of the Lions Club. He currently serves as an Official Reporter to House Committees, where he covers open and classified hearings and interviews, as well as Leadership press conferences. Bob is the proud father of four children and has eight grandchildren. Upon his retirement on June 2, 2014, Bob will leave behind a legacy that will permeate throughout the House for years to come. Through his dedication to this institution, Bob will always be a part of this nation's history. His talent and his wry humor will be missed.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Velvet Ice Cream in Utica, Ohio upon its 100th anniversary. In a quintessential American story, 15-year-old Joseph Dager came to America from Lebanon in 1903 without knowing a word of English. Eleven years later he started his ice cream business in the basement of a local confectionary. His hand-cranked ice cream batches set his family and Central Ohio on a path that would make Velvet Ice Cream and Central Ohio famous. Although they no longer hand-crank ice cream in a basement, the company strives to maintain its connection to those by-gone years. In homage to Velvet's adherence to old time values and tradition, Velvet is now housed in a refurbished grist mill from the 1800s. The ``Ye Olde Mill'' now manufactures ice cream, plays host to thousands of visitors and marks the center of activity during each annual Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival. Thousands stream into Utica each year for the festival. Having attended many myself, I know the joy locals and outsiders alike find in a bowl of good, old-fashioned ice cream. In a way, the festival commemorates the simple beginnings of a business started by an immigrant named Joseph Dager. Like so many other enterprises, Velvet Ice Cream started humbly but grew into a Central Ohio institution. America is richer for Velvet's founder's contributions to our country and Central Ohioans are grateful he chose to settle here. As the fourth generation of the Dager family carries Joseph Dager's legacy into its 2nd century, Central Ohio proudly celebrates one man's vision, hard work and sweet legacy.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 64 (On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1123) I was unavoidably detained and did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``yea.''

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and accomplishments of Jeffrey D. Rouch, on the occasion of his passing from this life to the next. Jeff was an avid political and government affairs professional, spending twenty-one years of his career with the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Jeff began his professional career in the Pennsylvania Senate in 1982 as the Director of Policy Development and Research, before becoming the Director of Government Affairs for the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1985. He later became an integral member of the Nationwide team, and he retired as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations and Public Affairs. His more than twenty-five years as an advocate for the insurance industry enhanced the industry's ability to see to the needs of countless individuals affected by unforeseen misfortune. He was instrumental in providing Nationwide Insurance and its members a voice in Washington, DC by establishing an office in the nation's capital in 1997. I and my colleagues are fortunate to work with dedicated private citizens such as Jeff, who advocate for public policies that address the needs of millions of our friends and neighbors. On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I thank Jeffrey Rouch for his contributions and his unrelenting service to his industry. I offer my deepest sympathies to his family. Their sense of loss at this time is shared by many who knew and loved Jeffrey Rouch, and he will be dearly missed.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of The Ohio State University Marching Band. Their outstanding innovation and halftime shows were recently featured in a national commercial for the Apple iPad that aired during the Super Bowl. Since being founded in 1878, the all-brass and percussion Marching Band at Ohio State has led the way by creating new techniques and utilizing innovative technologies. Their iconic Script Ohio has in recent years been joined by animated formations that seem to float across the field. Recently the Band gained more national prominence as their performances have garnered a lot of attention on YouTube. The Band's halftime show on October 6, 2012, celebrated many popular video games including Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and The Legend of Zelda, and has received over 16 million views. For the 2013 season, the Band began using iPads to learn formations more quickly and more effectively, while saving money and paper. Seniors Ryan Barta and Charlie King deserve recognition for the idea, while the Band's director, Jon Waters, deserves credit for embracing it. The project would not have been possible without support from Ohio State's Digital First Impact Grant and its Office of Energy and the Environment. As a result, the 2013 season saw many halftime shows grab national headlines, with tributes to Hollywood and Michael Jackson receiving over 16 million and almost 10 million views respectively. Their use of cutting-edge technology while honoring the Band's traditions has made it a well-respected part of Buckeye Nation. As an alumnus of the band, I am proud to extend heartfelt congratulations to all those who have helped The Ohio State University's Marching Band--The Best Damn Band in the Land--continue to be such a complete and resounding success!

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and achievements of First Sergeant David Bradley, United States Army-- Retired, on the occasion of his passing from this life to the next. David was a linchpin of the central Ohio veterans community for more than thirty years. In 1983, Dave took his first major steps in veterans advocacy as the Executive Director of the Vietnam Veterans of America-- Department of Ohio. Over nine years in this position, he became a distinguished advisor throughout Ohio as a valued member of the Ohio Veterans Employment and Training Council and the Ohio Job Training Council. In 1991, he began his tenure as the Director of the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission and gave immeasurably to the service and care of hundreds of thousands of central Ohio's veterans. I am extremely honored to play a small role in recognizing the life and accomplishments of such a uniquely dedicated public servant. Dave generously gave his time and energies to the many organizations and projects that have grown to shape the central Ohio veterans community. His leadership in these capacities was recognized by the Ohio Department of Veteran Services when he was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2012. I personally partnered with David on many projects, including advocating for the construction of the Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, Ohio. This facility stands, in part, as a testament to David's relentless work to better serve the veterans of Columbus and the surrounding area. His tireless efforts embodied the devotion and honor of our nation's military, and his service to central Ohio reflected the very best of what we the people demand from our public servants. His wisdom and indefatigable drive will be sorely missed in our communities, and I will miss his advice and counsel. On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I thank David Bradley for his sacrifices for our nation and his unrelenting service to our community. I offer my deepest sympathies to his family. Their sense of loss at this time is shared by many of us who knew and loved David Bradley, and he will be dearly missed.