Tim Walberg

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, like many States across the country, heroin and opioid addiction is shattering people's lives in my State of Michigan as well. To the families that are suffering, we are here to offer solutions, to provide hope, and help them recover and get back on their feet. There are many community-based programs and groups in my district working on the front lines to raise awareness and combat this public health crisis; groups like the Monroe County Substance Abuse Coalition, the Eaton County Substance Abuse Advisory Council, Andy's Angels in Jackson, and many more. In Lenawee County, my home county, community stakeholders recently came together to hold an addiction summit, and a recovering addict from Monroe County recently organized a march to show there is hope after heroin. Their work on the local level is absolutely critical. Here at the Federal level, we must work side-by-side with our State and local partners to stop the damaging trends of addiction in its tracks. The bipartisan legislation we are considering today establishes a comprehensive opioid abuse reduction program, and gives State and localities the flexibility to tailor prevention and treatment efforts to the specific needs of their communities. I want to thank my colleague, Representative Sensenbrenner, for his leadership on the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act, and I encourage its passage so we can help rebuild and save lives in our communities.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. I thank Mr. Barletta for what he is doing here today. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 4843, the Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act, which takes important steps in protecting our most vulnerable citizens from the damaging effects of addiction. As communities in Michigan and around the country fight against the growing opioid epidemic, it is important for stakeholders at all levels to work together to reverse the trends of addiction and find solutions for the families who are swept up by this public health crisis. Tragically, we know that, every 25 minutes, a baby is born in our country having been exposed to drugs and suffering from opioid withdrawal. A Federal law is already in place to help ensure these newborns have the necessary protections and care once they are born, but the system is still failing some of our most defenseless children and their families. Recent investigations have uncovered the failure of the Department of Health and Human Services to effectively monitor the implementation of State-level plans to prevent child abuse and neglect, and some States are still receiving taxpayer dollars despite their not following the laws that are in place to ensure the safe care of newborns. The bill we are considering today would require HHS to review and confirm that States are properly following and enforcing the policies that are outlined in Federal law to protect infants who are affected by drug dependency. It also strengthens protections for infants who have been exposed to illegal substances, and it ensures best practices are disseminated to States for developing plans to keep infants and their caregivers safe. Mr. Speaker, we must do better to provide these babies and their mothers with the help they need. I thank my colleagues, Representatives Barletta and Clark, for their leadership in crafting this bipartisan bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I proudly support the reauthorization of the SOAR Act because the SOAR Act provides the choice that parents in the District deserve. I supported H.R. 10 and I now support H.R. 4901, which made important improvements to H.R. 10. This legislation we are considering today continues to empower low- income families in D.C. to take advantage of opportunities they may not otherwise be able to do. That is because H.R. 4901 is a bill that focuses on people, public schools, charter schools, Opportunity Scholarship Program, people with choices in each of those areas. The SOAR Act is about improving the lives of students and families in the District in a profoundly personal way. Isn't that what true education is all about: personal achievement, improvement, and opportunity? Take the story of Carlos Battle, as written about in the National Journal and a recent book on educational choice. Carlos received a scholarship through the OSP and attended Assumption Catholic School and then Georgetown Day School for high school. As a result of this quality education, by choice, Carlos was able to attend Northeastern University in Boston. In fact, his mother says Carlos ``almost surely wouldn't have gone to college'' without the scholarship. Carlos now talks about how many of his friends from his time in public school are still in the neighborhood and not doing well for themselves, and he said some even are in jail. As he puts it: Everyone who was in my sixth grade class had the potential to achieve just as much as I did . . . that's just the unfortunate truth. The OSP allowed Carlos to take advantage of his potential, and he kept on achieving all the way to Northeastern. While in Boston, Carlos has spent time working at a nonprofit, helping give back to Boston public school students by helping them prepare for responsibilities of college where he has been able to lead workshops for public school students on college preparedness. He is currently preparing to pursue a Ph.D. in a career as a child psychologist, and that would be an appropriate time for an applause line. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, talk to your neighbors, turn on the local news, and you hear the tragic stories of how opioid abuse is devastating families across the country and in my State of Michigan. Combating this epidemic requires us to work together to tackle it head on. No effort is too small, and each of us can do our part. One way to help is participating in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which takes place this Saturday, April 30th. It is an opportunity for citizens to clean out their medicine cabinets of unwanted medications with no questions asked. Safe disposal of expired prescription drugs is an important step to preventing abuse. Authorized drop-off sites are located all across Michigan's Seventh Congressional District, and I will be stopping by one of those sites, the Jackson Police Department, on Saturday. Mr. Speaker, this is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It is a human issue, and it affects us all.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Auto-Owners Insurance Company--headquartered and founded in mid-Michigan. In 1916, a young Vern V. Moulton, along with four other associates, started the Insurance Company in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The startup agency operated out of one room in a bank building and had no capital. A year later, the small company--with only $174 in assets and one book of policyholders' names--made the big jump to the city where it is headquartered today--Lansing, Michigan. During the tough years of the Great Depression, Auto-Owners demonstrated its corporate toughness and financial stability by paying all claims promptly, daily, and in cash. In 1940, the company moved into the general causality insurance field, while also expanding operations into Indiana and Ohio. This growth was only the start, and over the next several decades the company would begin operations across the country. Today, Auto-Owners operates in 26 states throughout the United States and has opened offices from Arizona to Virginia. The company that originated with only five associates in a one room office now employs more than 4,500 associates and operates out of an expansive complex. The combined premium of all companies exceeds $6 billion and total assets exceed $20 billion, with more than 5 million policies in force for over 3 million policy holders. Throughout the company's history, Auto-Owners has upheld a high reputation for excellence. The Fortune 500 Company has the highest possible ratings from A.M. Best Company, A++ (Superior), and the Auto- Owners Life Insurance Company is rated A+ (Superior). I offer my best wishes to Auto-Owners Insurance as they continue to maintain their reputation of being the ``No Problem'' people.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I say thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to my colleagues for their hard work on this package of bills to rein in the IRS and make it more accountable to taxpayers. Earlier this week, the taxpayers in my home State of Michigan and across the country reflected on another year of a tax burden that is too high and take-home pay that is too low. But not only is our current tax system broken, the agency in charge of enforcing it is, too. Time after time, the IRS has proven that it can't be trusted to clean up its act and fails to practice what it preaches. In a report last year, the IRS inspector general found that hundreds of employees are violating IRS guidelines and failing to pay their personal tax obligations. Those are obligations, and I tend to think that the good employees of the IRS would be encouraged as well if their colleagues paid their taxes. The No Hires for the Delinquent IRS Act would simply--and this is what we are talking about--prevent the IRS from any additional hiring until it verifies that its current employees have paid their own taxes. Now, a good friend and colleague of mine has described this as a waste of time. The single mom in Monroe, Michigan, doesn't think that this is a waste of time. The family farmer in Jackson doesn't think that this is a waste of time. The small-business owner in Charlotte doesn't think that this is a waste of time. Why? Because they all have to pay their taxes on time. People who work at the IRS should have to play by the same rules as everyone else does. And, in fact, that might assist them in making sure that congressional employees pay their taxes too, and any other department of the Federal Government pays their taxes too, because why? They pay their taxes, and now they can do what their job asks them to do. The good colleague and gentleman from Georgia understands, I am certain, the principle that we both know well, where it says: To whom much is given, much is required. Much responsibility has been given to the IRS, and much is required. Pay your taxes. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, talk to any small-business owner, and they will tell you how challenging it is to operate in this environment: heavyhanded regulations, confusing paperwork requirements, a complex and unfair Tax Code. I hear it all the time as I travel Michigan's Seventh District, hold listening sessions, and tour local shops and manufacturing facilities. That is why I am introducing the Main Street Jobs and Opportunity Act. To grow a healthy economy, we need to foster policies that help small businesses do what they do best: bring their products to market and hire new workers in the community. It is time for Big Government to stop squeezing the small family farmer in Jackson County, the local diner in Eaton County, and the manufacturer in Monroe County. Instead of building up Washington or Wall Street, let's focus on helping Main Street.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the grand opening of the Consumers Energy Innovation Center. Located in downtown Jackson, Michigan, the center will be home to Consumers Energy employees, CP Federal Credit Union, the Heat and Warmth Fund and the Anchor Initiative headquarters. This initiative is an effort to promote Jackson's downtown area as a vibrant place to live, work, and innovate. Consumers Energy and CP Federal Credit Union are among the more than 20 area employers that have committed to the revitalization program. The building will feature a floor that is dedicated to community growth and will serve as a collaborative space available to the building's tenants. This will allow further collaboration between Consumers Energy and The Heat and Warmth Fund on the development of energy assistance options for Michigan residents in need. Consumers Energy--headquartered in Jackson--has demonstrated a commitment to its hometown by investing resources into the positive transformation of the city. On April 15, this innovative hub will open its doors for the first time. The building, which had previously stood vacant for over 10 years, will now serve as a center filled with new ideas and state-of- the-art tools to support economic expansion. I applaud Consumers Energy for its continued commitment to our community and congratulate them on the opening of the new Innovation Center. I look forward to the solutions, discoveries, and positive impact that will undoubtedly result from this investment.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, as I travel throughout Michigan's Seventh District, I have had the privilege of getting to know some incredible women who have made a lasting mark on our communities. Mary Smith from Coldwater is one of them. If you live in Branch County, you know Mary. She is family. Over the last 40 years, Mary has spent countless hours volunteering at the Community Health Center of Branch County. She also helped lead the effort to restore the beautiful Tibbits Opera House, and is a passionate advocate for this iconic theater. At 97, she rode to the Tibbits on the back of my Harley. Mary will turn 101 in June, and I continue to be inspired by her lifelong service to the community. This Women's History Month--and every month--we say thank you to women like Mary Smith, who have made invaluable contributions to Michigan, this country, and made our State a better place to live.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Spring Arbor University women's soccer team on their 2015 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship. Under the leadership of the NAIA National Coach of the Year, Jason Crist, the Cougars earned the program's first-ever national title on December 5, 2015. Led by a strong defensive effort, the team recorded its 10th consecutive shutout of the season against the defending champs, and top-ranked, Lindsey Wilson College. With the shutout, Spring Arbor became the only team in NAIA history to make it through the tournament without conceding a single goal. From tournament MVP and National Player of the year--Bethany Balcer-- scoring two goals, to tournament defensive MVP and goalkeeper--Sarah Yancer--refusing to surrender a single goal, the entire team rose to excellence in their championship victory. The record breaking season for the Cougars concluded with a program- best 23 wins and included a 19-match winning streak. The achievements of the team were not only limited to the field of play. Throughout the season, the team carried themselves in a way that proudly represented our community and the university. When faced with adversity, they responded with integrity, character, and selflessness. In the classroom, the team maintained an outstanding 3.5 cumulative grade point average. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Spring Arbor University women's soccer team on their remarkable accomplishments throughout the 2015 season.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act. This bipartisan bill would protect small businesses from overbearing FDA regulations that harm workers, job creators, our economy, and, oh, by the way, personal freedom of choice for individual citizens, who, in most cases, make good decisions and ought to have a choice in America. The FDA's poorly designed menu labeling requirements do not take into account the diversity of restaurants and of food products. That is America. The estimated cost for places like delis, convenience stores, and pizzerias to comply would be more than $1 billion. Mr. Chairman, we are here today to offer a practical alternative that would rein in and clarify the FDA's burdensome, one-size-fits-all approach. This commonsense bill offers an efficient and, I believe, an effective solution by giving small businesses greater flexibility to provide nutrition information in a way that best serves their customers. I urge its passage.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I express appreciation to my colleague who offers this amendment; yet I rise in opposition because, in fact, this amendment undermines a key provision of the Common Sense--I will repeat that--the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act, which is a bipartisan bill that makes necessary changes to the FDA's menu labeling regulations. If, indeed, as has been stated, the FDA is willing to work and be flexible, we wouldn't need this legislation. It is because they have shown no real flexibility that this legislation has been offered. Currently, FDA's menu labeling rules remain costly, ineffective, and overly burdensome for more than 70,000 restaurants. That is no small number, Mr. Chairman. For places like pizza shops, where the vast majority of orders are online--and, yes, they are providing a service, in most cases, online for their customers--they are voluntarily doing it and really doing it in a quality way. It is nearly impossible for a single menu board to be designed in a way that can provide accurate calorie counts for literally millions of combinations. The FDA sadly ignores the realities of a diverse market and the technological advances, innovation, creativity, et cetera, by applying the same menu standard as a one-size-fits-all, top-down approach, and that is the reality that is out there with the FDA. If the House accepts this amendment which strips the remote ordering provision from the bill, it would greatly harm a bill that seeks to provide an alternative method for thousands of small businesses to effectively share nutritional information with consumers. The FDA menu requirements simply do not make sense neither for the restaurant nor for consumers. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, however well meaning, and support the underlying bipartisan bill that protects small businesses from overbearing FDA regulations that harm workers, job creators, consumers, and our economy. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I will respond just briefly to that. It is truly about making this information meaningful. I watch my wife go online on her iPhone to check calories all the time. She does it better than I do. But consumers are moving in that direction. I have walked through various industries, including Domino's, and have seen the amazing technological advances that they have that are putting their consumers first and giving them the ability to know this in a far more meaningful way than you can do on a menu board. So I reject that argument, absolutely, in defense of the consumer as well as the industry. Mr. Chair, again, I appreciate the concern that my colleague expresses here; yet, I still stand in very strong support of giving this opportunity, making sure that FDA is pushed into a flexibility that I don't believe they are willing to go. This is for the consumer in the end. This allows advances to move within the market. I think we will find that all concerns are met and addressed very well, but we don't put unnecessary burdens upon businesses, job providers, and, ultimately, on the choice of citizens to have a better opportunity to make better choices. And, oh, by the way, we reaffirm in our country the desire to give people personal responsibility and personal choice together. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking my friends, Dan Kildee and Chairman Upton, for their work on this bipartisan legislation and ensuring a swift congressional response to the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. What have we learned, and what will we do both now and into the future, Mr. Speaker, is the question. What happened in Flint is not a natural disaster. It is a human disaster and a failure of government at every level. In my questioning at last week's Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, it became very clear that individuals with the EPA knew about the high lead levels in the drinking water for months but failed to communicate this information to the people of Flint, even under repeated Freedom of Information Act requests. The bill we are considering today takes important steps to strengthen Federal requirements on the EPA to notify the public when concentrations of lead in drinking water are above Federal requirements. I am glad the entire Michigan delegation is backing this bill; and I am committed to continuing to work together to get answers and help the families in Flint who need clean water and, for that matter, Mr. Speaker, learning from this for the families in the entire United States to make sure that this doesn't happen to them as well. Mr. Speaker, in America, in the 21st century, children should not have to worry about safe and clean drinking water. The Flint water crisis never should have happened, and we must take action to ensure it never happens again. Making things right must be a cooperative effort at every level, and this bill takes important steps to ensure proper coordination going forward. I offer all of my support, all of my assistance, all of my help and my votes to make sure this happens.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak up on behalf of the millions of people across the world who suffer under the injustice of modern-day slavery. Last month the House observed Human Trafficking Awareness Month to shine light on this horrific crime. The injustice of human trafficking knows no political party or geographical boundary. It happens right in our backyards. Yesterday the House took important steps in passing two bills to strengthen our response to trafficking. I have also recently introduced H.R. 4406, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act, legislation which ensures the Department of Labor effectively trains its employees to recognize and respond to the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain. It will take close coordination from stakeholders at every level to eradicate this unthinkable crime. Together, our voices and actions can help bring freedom to the oppressed.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1115, the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act, or as we call it, the GONE Act. As the lead House sponsor of this bill, I am proud of the bipartisan, bicameral effort that has gone into this legislation. I especially want to thank the Senate champion of this bill, my colleague in the Senate, Senator Deb Fischer, and also my Michigan colleague, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, along with the staff who have worked so hard to bring this bill to the floor today. Last year, we marked up this legislation in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and passed it on to the House floor. After some additional fine-tuning made by our colleagues in the Senate, I am pleased to have the opportunity to see the GONE Act take the final step toward becoming law. Even as we debate this bill today, the Federal Government is racking up service fees to administer thousands of expired empty grant accounts--costing taxpayers millions of dollars per year. I introduced the GONE Act to bring some common sense to the grant management process and require Federal agencies to finally take action to identify these accounts with a zero balance which should be closed out. Specifically, the GONE Act will direct agencies to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to identify the total number of grant awards that remain open but have been expired for 2 years or more. HHS was chosen for this role because of the work it has done in closing out expired accounts--good work--and for its role as the agency which houses the Payment Management System. In addition to the total number of expired grants, the bill requires each agency to explain to Congress why the 30 oldest grants that remain open have not been closed. The bill also directs inspectors general for certain larger grant-making agencies to conduct a risk assessment to determine if a further review of that agency's grant closeout process is necessary. All of this information will give agencies and Congress valuable insight into issues that agencies face when it comes to a timely closeout of grants. It is my hope that this information will inform future efforts to streamline the grant's lifecycle, specifically the closeout process. In fact, S. 1115 requires OMB and HHS to submit a report to Congress on potential legislative reforms that are necessary to improve the grants lifecycle. I look forward to hearing from OMB and HHS on this topic, and I thank those agencies for the feedback they have offered on this bill. For months, Members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle have worked to develop this bill into one that will serve to advance the efficiency of the grants process. OMB, HHS, and the inspector general community have all provided helpful comments as we worked to finalize this legislation, and I am grateful for their assistance. Mr. Speaker, spending taxpayer dollars on expired and empty grant accounts is the definition of government waste. I urge my colleagues to support this bill today and send the GONE Act to the President's desk.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 598, the Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act. This bill is a bipartisan and bicameral effort to provide more information about Federal programs and their activities online. I want to thank my colleague Jim Cooper for all his work in pushing this legislation forward. The American people deserve to know what their government does with their hard-earned dollars, don't you think? H.R. 598 will make it easier to evaluate Federal Government spending by requiring Federal agencies to identify their programs and provide basic information like what their programs do, how they perform, and how much they cost. Agencies must do a better job of managing their programs and identifying areas where taxpayer dollars are wasted. The Government Accountability Office is tasked with reporting on duplication and continues to find new areas of duplication across government. Over 5 years, GAO has identified 106 areas of duplication, overlap, and fragmentation; moreover, they identified an additional 72 areas for potential cost savings. While only 37 percent of recommended corrective actions have been taken, GAO estimates that these actions have saved the Federal Government and the taxpayer about $20 billion. While GAO's work has been invaluable, their ability to look comprehensively at the Federal Government is inherently limited because of the poor reporting by agencies about their activity. Quite simply, without better data, billions more will be lost and wasted. Current law, specifically, the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, requires agencies to report all their programs, their funding, and their performance information to the Office of Management and Budget. However, OMB's current inventory is incomplete and provides inconsistent information. This makes it more difficult and time consuming to identify areas of waste and inefficiency. H.R. 598 establishes an across-the-board definition of ``program'' and requires the publication of detailed information on each Federal program. This change will allow American taxpayers and Federal watchdogs to better evaluate the effectiveness and utility of government programs. The Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act is an important and necessary step forward for the government in providing programs that are accountable, effective, and efficient. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Senator Lankford for his work on the Senate companion bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. I thank Congressman Smith and Congressman Lipinski for their leadership in the Pro-Life Caucus. I thank Congressman Smith for his active involvement in promoting life not only here in America, but all over the world. Someone once said: Tell a lie long enough and it becomes the truth. That statement, sadly, is often true, but the lie is still a lie. Roe v. Wade was such a lie. It didn't offer freedom. It didn't offer opportunity or choice. It offered death and a diminished life, to boot. I will never forget the conversation with my wife over 40 years now in the hospital recovery room when she had just given birth to our first child. She said to me in that recovery room, with tears in her eyes: ``Wow, I have just added a life to the world. That is why pro-life and pro-women go hand in hand. She is the only being designed and capable to bring new life into the world. It is a God-given gift. We honor and celebrate that gift. We who are pro-life honor her for that. Let's give all that we can to honor and encourage our citizens to know the truth of the Psalmist who said: ``Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.'' And that is the truth.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment that will give us greater insight into the impact of Federal regulations on the wages of American workers. We already know from countless studies that the accumulation of regulations increases the cost of goods, which reduces the buying power of families and individuals to purchase the items they need and want. An area that we need to study more, though, is what impact regulations have on the wages of most Americans. Given the negative impacts of regulations on prices, it is reasonable to conclude that regulations could be a major contributing factor to flattening wages, especially-- and I say this clearly--for lower income individuals. According to the U.S. Census, the median wage in the U.S. is the same today as it was in 2007. That is 8 years of no income gain for families and workers in Michigan and across the country. The University of California's economists have also found that, since 2009, the average income of the top 1 percent grew by 11.2 percent in real terms while the bottom 99 percent saw their incomes decrease by 0.4 percent. During that same time, there have been over $100 billion in new regulatory costs, according to the Mercatus Center. Many employers I speak to would rather hire more workers or give their current staffs a raise. Instead, they are forced to spend limited resources on making sense of the thousands of pages of new regulations that are coming out of Washington. Employers are spending more on compliance than ever before, leaving little left in their budgets to increase the take-home pay of employees. Some of my colleagues here in Congress believe that more bureaucratic red tape and mandates from the Federal Government will actually increase wages and reduce inequality. While these regulations may sound good in theory--some of them--the hard truth is that, over time, they limit economic growth and career advancement opportunities. Most alarming is that these negative economic impacts affect lower wage workers the very most--immobilizing them from finding work, from rising in their careers, and from increasing their wages. Fortunately, the SCRUB Act is an innovative approach; and I commend its sponsor, Representative Jason Smith, for his work. My amendment, Mr. Chairman, will enhance this important bill by instructing the commission to review the impact of regulation on wages as part of their retrospective review. I encourage all my colleagues to support my amendment and the bill so we can unleash individuals and industry from regulatory burdens and create an environment where wages and economy can grow for everyone. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the concerns expressed by the ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, my friend from Virginia. I appreciate the fact he sits in on all of our Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearings that I have the privilege of chairing. We have looked at regulatory changes that the gentleman speaks to. He, as well as the rest of my colleagues on that subcommittee, have heard very clear testimony that while they are based on wonderful desires, we all want safe workplaces, we all want people making better pay, having better benefits, living wages. Yet, all of those come with costs, and, in fact, basically every one of those regulatory ideas would cost jobs and job security. I have seen that very clearly with several of those in the great State of Michigan as they have been implemented. Mr. Chairman, we should have commonsense, effective regulations that truly punish bad actors, but regulations cannot come at the overwhelming costs we are seeing now with anemic growth and stagnant wages. Sadly, we don't know how much wages have truly been hit by these regulations, which is why my amendment is needed. I ask for support for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight. As I stepped to the podium, I noticed two of the values that America has etched into or has carved into the Speaker's rostrum, ``liberty'' and then, to my left, ``peace.'' They are two values that we hold dear; yet, they are two values that are lost to people when they come under the cruel, cruel domination of heroin and other opiates. So it is good for us to talk about this tonight but, more importantly, for us to do something about it. I thank Congressman Guinta, Congresswoman Kuster, and my colleagues who are participating in this Special Order, which highlights the ongoing epidemic of heroin and prescription drug abuse. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic in order to discuss a growing public health crisis in the United States and, more personally, to discuss a crisis occurring in my home district, the Michigan Seventh. You see, we can talk statistics over and over again, but, really, this is all about lives: friends, family, neighbors, people who are highly respected, and people whom we wouldn't know. Yet, they are impacted. The tragic stories of prescription drug abuse and fatal overdoses hit close to home in far too many Michigan communities. Through September of this year, Washtenaw County, the home of the University of Michigan, suffered 41 opioid overdose deaths. Local law enforcement officials in Monroe County--the gateway to Michigan from Ohio--believe the number of heroin overdose deaths in 2015 will top those in 2014. In Jackson County, which is in the center of the State, the total number of drug overdoses has nearly tripled in the last 5 years. In 2015, 131 overdoses were reported. These are troubling statistics, but, again, they are about lives, people. Behind these numbers are real individuals and families who have been affected by this tragic epidemic. On May 17, 2010, Andrew Hirst died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24. For his father, Mike Hirst, a respected businessperson in Jackson, Michigan, this tragic loss has led him to dedicate himself to stopping heroin overdoses in the Jackson area by sharing the experience of his son's death and the life of his family. For the past 5 years, Mike has counseled addicts, supported families, and mentored at-risk youths away from heroin and opiate drugs through his foundation, Andy's Angels. In addition, he has led educational efforts to inform people of the link between prescription opioid use and heroin addiction. He has also teamed up with local police agencies to investigate heroin dealers in order to eliminate access points for this deadly drug. In recognizing his tireless efforts, the Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper recently named Mike Hirst their Citizen of the Year. Fortunately, Mike is not alone in this fight. Across Michigan's Seventh District, communities are ramping up education and prevention efforts as well as enforcement strategies. For example, Monroe County recently held its third annual Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit. Jackson County held its second drug summit in December, and the County Prosecutor's Office plans to host a series of additional meetings in 2016. I applaud them for that. Local efforts to raise awareness and to fight this growing epidemic are also underway in Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Washtenaw Counties. Fighting against heroin and opioid abuse will take the work of citizens, treatment providers, law enforcement, and elected officials at every level, including each of us. In Congress, we must continue to pursue legislative solutions to improve the coordination between Federal agencies and the States and to equip our first responders on the front lines. Just as importantly, Mr. Speaker, we can promote awareness in our communities and support those who have been affected by this crisis. Tonight's speeches aim to raise the profile of this issue, to increase education, and to honor people like Mike Hirst who are fighting to save others from the dangers of drug overdoses and to bring liberty and peace back to people's lives.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 617 on H.R. 22, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I intended to vote ``aye.''

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with Washington State High School football coach Joe Kennedy. For 7 years, Coach Kennedy has prayed midfield at the conclusion of his team's games. He didn't require anybody else to be there or listen. He simply knelt and quietly prayed to thank God for the safety of the kids on his team. Last month, the school district ordered him to stop. When he didn't, Coach Kennedy was placed on administrative leave. Can you believe the school district is trying to argue that you can pray, just as long as nobody sees it? But that is not what the Constitution says. It protects the free exercise of religion. It doesn't say the public square should be a faith-free zone. Faith must impact life. Mr. Speaker, I hope people of every faith background and no faith at all will stand together in defense of every American's constitutional right to religious freedom. We stand with you, Coach Kennedy.