Ann Wagner

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Trade Commission recently ranked the St. Louis metropolitan area, my district and hometown, as having the highest rate of identity theft regarding Federal income tax returns. This is absolutely unacceptable and why I introduced the Taxpayer Identity Theft Protection Act. My legislation would require the IRS to issue an identity protection personal identification number, or IP PIN, to any individual who requests one to better protect their Social Security numbers from criminals who are looking to steal their identity and file fraudulent tax returns. Missourians and all Americans deserve peace of mind when filing their taxes with the IRS, but, instead, we are seeing an unconscionable increase in data breaches and identity theft. A new GAO report found many deficiencies in the IRS' security program that blatantly expose taxpayers' personal and financial data. My legislation will help stop this reckless exposure. This essential bill holds the IRS accountable and forces the agency to do the most important job: assist and protect taxpayers. At a time when trust in government is so low, I am committed to fixing this growing problem and providing another level of security to protect Americans from fraudulent activity.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 639. Mr. Speaker, we are a Nation of immigrants. But, more importantly, we are a Nation of laws. We are also a Nation governed by a Constitution, a Constitution designed by our Founders to protect the people from government. This same Constitution enumerates specific powers to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, these same powers that this President has decided he does not need to uphold. As a result, we, as a united legislative body, will act this week against the President's executive amnesty and overreach. We must act because it is time that Congress--Republicans and Democrats--stand up for the Constitution of the United States and against President Obama, who has decided to turn his back on the American people. We must act because the security and economic opportunity that Americans are so desperate for today come with respecting, not undermining, the spirit of self-government for which our Nation was founded. Mr. Speaker, the President knows that he is not permitted to write laws. Yet, through his executive amnesty, he is directly attacking Congress' Article I power. Today Congress will once again say no to President Obama. We will come together as an institution representing the American people to promote self-government. I will vote in favor of the resolution on behalf of the great people of Missouri's Second Congressional District and in defense of the powerful words of James Madison in 1788: ``The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.'' I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution and prevent this very tyranny we see today.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Virginia, Barbara Comstock, for organizing this Special Order and for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, Father Paul Scalia said in his beautiful eulogy of his father, Justice Antonin Scalia, on Saturday: ``We give thanks that Jesus brought him to new life in baptism, nourished him with the Eucharist, and healed him in the confessional. God blessed Dad with a deep Catholic faith, the conviction that Christ's presence and power continue in the world today through His body, the Church.'' Mr. Speaker, last week our country lost one of its most outspoken and dedicated defenders of faith and liberty. For nearly 30 years, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia stood as a monument to a faith-based viewpoint on the Constitution that will be sorely missed. There is no one in the history of our country who better protected the original intent of our Constitution and upheld the God-given rights of all Americans than Justice Scalia. Shown by his fierce dedication to defending our Constitution, from protecting Americans from government intrusion to protecting the rights of the unborn, Justice Scalia was a man of conviction, a man of passion, and a man of integrity. His honor and vigilance toward the original meaning of the Constitution and his historic dissents will ring throughout history. Every single ounce of Justice Scalia's heart and soul was devoted to our country, his faith, and his family. His wit, his candor, and his character will be missed on our Nation's highest Court. The legacy of Justice Scalia must never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I stand committed today to ensure we continue to prioritize faith and freedom in this country, protecting our natural- born rights as citizens of the United States of America. It is simply the right thing to do.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, as elected Members of Congress, we must stand up for the powerless, and we must provide a voice for the voiceless. Today we are doing just that. Passing the International Megan's Law, which will provide advance notice of foreign travel by registered sex offenders, is critical. We owe it to the innocent angels like Megan to take these crimes out of the shadows and do everything we can to prevent future crime both in the United States and across the globe. Today I will vote to pass the International Megan's Law, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in providing protection for potential victims worldwide and greater peace of mind for those who love them.

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentlemen for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 515, the International Megan's Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking. I would like to thank, like so many have, Congressman Chris Smith for introducing this important legislation to protect innocent children from the evils of sexual predators in the United States and worldwide. As a mother who raised three beautiful children, I can tell you that the constant concern for their safety and protection never goes away. When they were young, I worried if they were safe at the playground down the street, if they were safe at the shopping mall or movie theater. Named after a young girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered at just 7 years old by her neighbor, Megan's Law and public knowledge of predators in our communities have been critical tools in protecting our children and easing some of the many fears that parents feel every single day. I cannot fathom the anger and anguish felt by Megan's parents and all parents whose children fall prey to such sick predators. I would do anything to protect my children and all children from sexual predators, and I feel blessed that I and my colleagues are in a position where we can make a difference. We will be able to better identify and scrutinize sex offenders' activity, ensuring that they do not engage in the ghastly practice of sex tourism either in our own neighborhood or any neighborhood around the world. The U.S. must take a leading role as a global defender of children from sexual abuse. Often planning their trips around locations where the most vulnerable children can be found, sex offenders should not be allowed to use the anonymity provided by foreign travel to help hide their hideous crimes. A 2010 Government Accountability Office report showed that in a single year, at least 4,500 registered sex offenders received U.S. passports to travel internationally. This is absolutely unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. During my time as a United States ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of sexual abuse and human trafficking on the international level.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 44, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Personal Explanation

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of life and in firm opposition to Planned Parenthood's unconscionable activities. But as I begin my remarks, I want to be very clear about one thing. The vote that the House will take today is a victory for women's health while also serving as a cry to end the monstrous actions of an organization that continually attacks our most vulnerable unborn children. There are more than 13,500 publicly supported alternatives for women's health care in the country and 588 in Missouri--alternatives that treat women without performing abortions, alternatives that will have more access to Federal money for women's health care. This means that in Missouri alone, there are 45 health clinics for every Planned Parenthood clinic in the State. So, please, please don't be distracted by political rhetoric. We are strengthening our support for women's health, and we are stripping Federal taxpayer dollars from an organization that performs more than 327,000 abortions a year. While I have long fought to stop this atrocious practice, I was especially shocked this summer by videos of Planned Parenthood's cold indifference and barbaric murder of the society's most vulnerable members. It is our duty as lawmakers, as citizens of a great nation, as friends, as neighbors, as family members to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is a tragic shame to watch employees of Planned Parenthood so willing to sell the body parts of unborn babies. These are truly some of the most horrifying and heartbreaking videos I have ever seen, even throughout all my work in combating sex trafficking, sexual assault, and abuse. The United States is a nation that seeks to protect the least among us in numerous ways, from medical research assistance for the needy to elderly care. It is time that we do the same for our precious unborn children. Mr. Speaker, today is an historic day when we will finally stop taxpayer dollars from funding Planned Parenthood's abortions. Surely, no Member of Congress can, in good conscience, claim that we should fund these heinous activities with your hard-earned dollars. After seeing these horrible videos, I was compelled to take action. I joined Congressman Sean Duffy and Congressman Chris Smith in sending a letter to Chairmen Upton and Goodlatte, requesting an immediate investigation into Planned Parenthood's actions. I would like to thank House leadership and the committee chairmen for granting our request and for the work that they have done on their committees already. Planned Parenthood has shamelessly tried to defend the indefensible before these committees. They have shown no remorse for the actions described in these videos, apologizing only for the tone of them. In response, they have effectively dared Congress to act. And today we do. Today Congress says enough is enough. Today we pass legislation that will give the President a very stark choice: continue paying for acts that are so disturbing, so horrifying, and so disgusting that they require congressional investigation, or simply respect life and respect the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. Mr. Speaker, the heart of my team's mission statement, which currently hangs in my office, reads: To confront injustice and serve as a voice for the most vulnerable in our society. Defunding Planned Parenthood is the right thing to do. Today I will give voice to the voiceless. I will proudly cast my vote for life, for these innocent angels. I will continue to fight for the day when abortion is not only illegal, but is unthinkable.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lisa Drake upon her upcoming retirement after 28 years with Monsanto. Since January 2007, Lisa has served as the Team Lead for U.S. State and Local Government Affairs for Monsanto. In that capacity, she has managed the company's government affairs and community relations teams in all fifty states and Puerto Rico. She also has served as Secretary of the Board of Colorado Biosciences Association. Prior to working in Government Affairs, Lisa was Director of Public Affairs for Monsanto's Agricultural Sector, managing global media relations and issues management for the company's leading herbicide, Roundup herbicide, and several of its biotechnology traits and seeds businesses. Before she joined Monsanto, Lisa earned a B.A. in technical journalism from Colorado State University and she worked for two trade associations in California. She also served as a reporter for several daily and weekly newspapers in Colorado, Mississippi and Alabama. As the Team Lead for U.S. State and Local Government Affairs, Lisa recruited, trained and developed an outstanding team of professionals to represent Monsanto before local and state governments. She and her team have built deep and effective relationships with legislative bodies, elected officials, and grower organizations throughout the nation. While she has had many accomplishments, one of note is her development and implementation of a strategy to engage and partner with communities around a number of Monsanto's facilities. Throughout her career, Lisa has represented Monsanto with professionalism, grace, and class and has been a strong advocate for American agriculture and farmers. After relocating from St. Louis some years ago, Lisa and her husband Jack and two children, Sam and Amanda, live and work in Denver, Colorado. In retirement, Lisa and Jack are looking forward to traveling and pursuing their hobbies and philanthropic activities. I wish them the best as they begin this exciting new chapter in their lives.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 524. Like all Americans, I was shocked and saddened by the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. As Americans, we must stand united with the people of France. The stories of innocent civilians being slaughtered on the streets of Paris serve as stark reminders that we must do everything in our power to prevent this type of attack from occurring in the United States of America. Investigations have revealed that one of the terrorists entered Europe with migrants fleeing the Syrian civil war. In light of these reports, it is essential that we pause the process of refugees coming into the United States. Mr. Speaker, the attacks in Paris show the danger of open border policies. The United States must not allow any refugees into our country without exhaustive security screenings. My congressional district and the Greater St. Louis region have a long and admirable track record of welcoming refugees fleeing war and turmoil. However, the safety and the security of the American people must always be our number one priority. We mourn with our brothers and sisters of France. I am Paris. Je suis Paris.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. I would like to thank Chairman Hensarling and Subcommittee Chair Garrett for their support on this tremendous issue. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to stand before the House as the sponsor of H.R. 1090, the Retail Investor Protection Act. This important legislation that I have sponsored and worked on for 3 long years now came about after my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee and I, along with Member of Congress on both sides of the aisle saw the potential negative effects that this rulemaking from the Department of Labor could have on millions of Americans seeking advice on how to invest their retirement savings. For that reason, we felt it was important to put the Securities and Exchange Commission--the primary and expert regulator for these financial professionals--in charge of studying and writing the rules on this issue. This isn't such a radical idea. In fact, this is what Congress intended when they included section 913 in the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. Mr. Speaker, the same legislation received the support of 30 House Democrats last Congress, and, once again, I hope that they heed the concerns and the warnings that their constituents have provided them about the dire consequences this rule will have on Americans' retirement savings. Make no mistake. There is a savings crisis in this country. About half of all households age 55 and over have no retirement savings at all. How does this happen? Unfortunately, for many people, like that single mother of two who gets paid on the 15th and 30th of each month, there is just too much month at the end of the money after paying for mortgages, groceries, medical bills, and other expenses, and saving for retirement ultimately gets pushed off until the next month and the next month and so on. For many American households, a trusted financial adviser is the key link to helping them see the benefits in saving early and helping them realize how to save and grow their investment. The vast majority of those financial professionals already provide advice and recommendations that are in the best interest--the best interest--of their clients. Unfortunately, this rulemaking from the Department of Labor could potentially cut access, limit choice, and raise costs for that kind of financial advice, putting the goal of retirement even further out of reach. The Department of Labor states that this rule simply would require financial advisers to act in the best interests of their customers. Well, who would argue with that? Unfortunately, when you start to get into the over 1,000 pages of regulatory text with the exemptions and addendums, it becomes clear that it isn't quite that simple. The increased compliance burdens and further legal liability that will be required under this regulation will make it very difficult for many brokers to continue servicing small accounts, which predominantly belong to low- and middle-income Americans who are just starting to save and haven't built up their retirement nest egg. Mr. Speaker, 98 percent of all IRAs with less than $25,000 are in a brokerage relationship today. For that reason, this rule will actually hurt the very people that it aims to protect. We must not play politics with their retirement savings, and that is what this administration is doing. We have already seen this happen in the United Kingdom. They enacted a similar regulation in 2013, and we have seen since then over 300,000 clients dropped by their financial advisers because their account balances were too small. Now the U.K. Government is launching an investigation into the ``advice gap'' that exists for those people who do not have significant wealth. With this regulation from the Department of Labor, the same thing will happen here in the United States of America where there will be two different classes of investors, those who can afford financial advice and those who cannot. Mr. Speaker, this is not a Wall Street issue. This is as Main Street as it gets. Washington should not be making it more difficult for Americans to save for retirement. Instead, we need to empower people to earn more and save more and have choices for where to get their help in making their financial decisions. Unfortunately, the Department of Labor is following along with everything else we have seen under the Obama administration, a top-down, Washington-knows-best-for-you government, whether it is what you see in your health care that you need, the food that you can eat, and now whom you can talk to for the financial advice for your retirement savings. According to President Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and now even Secretary Hillary Clinton--who are all big supporters of this DOL fiduciary rule--the only person whom you actually need to be protected from ultimately is yourself. I strongly disagree. I give the American people a lot more credit than that, and I refuse to stand by and let this administration advance another onerous regulation that ultimately takes your freedoms, makes decisions for you, and brings us closer to a government-planned life. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1090, the Retail Investor Protection Act, and I urge its passage.

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

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman again for his support and all my colleagues who have come down here to the floor to speak on behalf of those low- and middle-income investors that need good, sound advice when it comes to their financial security and their retirement. We all agree that every American who is saving for the future deserves to have the very, very best advice based on the needs for their retirement investments and savings for the future. With all due respect to the gentleman from Massachusetts, what his amendment does is completely flip-flop the Retail Investor Protection Act. It says that the DOL should go ahead of the SEC. The Department of Labor is completely out of its lane when it comes to this particular matter. It is the Security and Exchange Commission that is absolutely the expert when it comes to promulgating any kind of rule, regulation, or oversight in this area. We have laws and rules already on the books, through FINRA, through the SEC, to make sure that savers are getting the best advice they possibly can for the future. It is clear in Dodd-Frank--and I find it almost impossible to believe that the minority thinks that somehow that Section 913 of Dodd-Frank, which says specifically that the SEC should take care of this space, should be promulgating rules and regulations and deciding how to go forward in this space, that somehow they now think that the Department of Labor should be allowed to promulgate, including addendums and exemptions, another thousand-page rule on the American people. Mr. Speaker, the American people are tired of this ``Washington knows best, top-down government.'' It is wrong. We have heard it from the chairman and others, whether it had to do with food, energy, or health care. I believe in freedom. I believe in the American people that they can choose their investment advice, their savings advice themselves, and they are entitled to that freedom and to their right. We do not need another government-promulgated, ``Washington knows best'' rule from the Department of Labor that is going to put access people, choice people, and cost those low- and middle-income investors out of this entire savings retirement future. So I implore my colleagues to reject the amendment from my colleague, Congressman Lynch, and to support the Retail Investor Protection Act, H.R. 1090. I thank the chairman for his time and effort and the entire committee and, again, all the colleagues, those who even wanted to come to the floor to speak on this issue because their constituents are so very concerned about their personal retirement savings and freedom.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a simple request. Every day across the globe men and women of the United States Armed Forces make grave sacrifices for our country and are courageously protecting us from a number of evils. From an Iranian regime pursuing a nuclear weapon to the self- proclaimed Islamic State terrorizing the Middle East, to Russia looking to expand its influence in a world where American leadership is on the decline, we rely on the men and women in uniform to keep us safe. In Congress, we are tasked with supporting our military, promoting legislation that will give them the tools they need and providing for their families stationed back home. The House and Senate fulfilled these responsibilities by passing the National Defense Authorization Act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion, reassuring our military that, as they protect us, we will support them. It is totally irresponsible for the President to veto this bill while our troops are in harm's way, and I call on all Members of Congress to join together to override the bill. There is nothing political or partisan about the support for our military, and it is outrageous that the President would take this action.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very, very much for his indulgence in these three post office namings. I thank the ranking member, also. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a brave young man from Missouri's Second Congressional District. On June 23, 2007, Missouri's Second Congressional District lost a true American hero when United States Army First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan made the ultimate sacrifice for his country while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of this young patriot. Daniel Patrick Riordan was born to Rick and Jeanine Riordan on February 17, 1983. He had a twin brother, Nick, and an older sister, Suzanne. After graduating from Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, Dan attended Southeast Missouri State, where he was in the Air Force's ROTC program. After graduation, Dan decided to follow his father into the military and joined the U.S. Army, quickly becoming known as Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan became a tank commander, and in 2006 he was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a member of Demon Company in the 1st Cavalry Division, Dan served with courage and determination. Despite frequently being outnumbered in enemy territory, Dan was always out on point, leading his platoon into battle. Dan took his leadership responsibilities literally. As he put it: How can I order my men forward if I am not willing to go first? To those who knew Dan, his devotion to his country through service and sacrifice came as no surprise. He was both a fierce and dedicated warrior in the service of our country and a caring and loving gentleman who felt a duty to help those in need. From a very young age, Dan showed sensitivity beyond his years. At the age of 5 or 6, while attending a funeral, Dan's mom found him sitting with an elderly woman. When she asked him why he was sitting with her, he said she looked sad and lonely. It was this kind of compassion that drew him to the United States military: his desire to serve, help, and protect those in need. While at home on leave from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dan consistently reassured his family that our country's military efforts were truly bringing empowerment and freedom to the people of Iraq. He believed in a cause greater than himself, that of freedom, democracy, and the dignity of all people. While in the Army, Dan wrote his mother a letter in case he didn't return. One thing that he said was: Don't mourn for me, Mom. Celebrate my life. Today we celebrate First Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan's life by designating the Sappington Branch Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan Post Office. The United States of America owes Dan a priceless debt that we will never be able to fully repay, but we can do our part to ensure that his memory lives on. Therefore, it is my honor to sponsor H.R. 324, a bill that names the Sappington Branch Post Office after such a courageous young man, immortalizing a hero who gave up his life in the service to the Nation that he loved. This legislation will serve as a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan, standing as a physical reminder of the bravery of one American from Missouri's Second Congressional District.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a brave American hero, Sergeant Zachary M. Fisher, from my hometown of Ballwin, Missouri. On July 14, 2010, Missouri's Second District lost a brave young man when United States Army Sergeant Zach Fisher was killed by an IED while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Fisher was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion of the 20th Engineer Brigade based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was 24 years old when he died at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Afghanistan. Zach graduated in 2004 from Marquette High School in St. Louis, where his history teacher remembered him as a patriotic student with an interest in how the United States developed as a country. Zach met his beautiful and loving wife, Jessica, just before his earlier deployment in Iraq. At the time of his death, they had been married for just 2 years. Sergeant Fisher is survived by his parents, Sue and Jim Jacobs and Bob and Alicia Fisher; and three brothers, Andrew, Clayton, and Alexander; along with two sisters, Emily and Zoe. Zach initially enlisted in the United States Army Reserves. When he told his parents that he wanted to report for Active Duty, they asked him to give them two good reasons why he would choose to put himself in harm's way in the service of his country. His reply said a lot about the character of the man Zach Fisher. He wanted to join the Army because he wanted the discipline that it would provide, and he wanted to be part of something bigger than himself. Although the United States of America can never fully repay the priceless debt we owe to Sergeant Fisher, we can do our part to ensure that his memory lives on. Therefore, it is my honor to sponsor H.R. 322, a bill that names the Chesterfield main post office after such a courageous young man, memorializing a hero who gave up his life in service to the Nation that he loved. All of Zachary's friends would say that Zach was their best friend. He was a dedicated warrior whose commitment to family, friends, and country will be long remembered. I am proud that this legislation will serve as a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of Sergeant Zachary Fisher, standing as a physical reminder of the bravery of one American from Missouri's Second District who chose to serve a cause greater than himself.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of an American hero. On March 16, 2006, Missouri's Second Congressional District lost a brave young soldier when United States Army Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson was killed in a mortar attack while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of this courageous young woman. Army Sergeant Amanda Pinson was a signals intelligence analyst assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment of the 101st Airborne Division, based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles are personal to me. My oldest son, Raymond, is presently serving as a captain in the 101st Airborne. Growing up in Lemay, Missouri, Amanda enlisted in the Army after graduating from Hancock Place High School, where she won several scholarships and was on the basketball and softball teams. Amanda was always concerned with helping others. In high school, she started her own group called the Hancock Environmental Leadership Program, and she enlisted all of her friends to join her in making a difference. Amanda and her group of dedicated volunteers planted trees at local parks and volunteered with local seniors. The group also planted and maintained flowers at the entrance of Jefferson Barracks Park. The park where she used to plant flowers is adjoined to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where Amanda was laid to rest. A pink willow tree was also planted in her honor at her alma mater, Hancock High School, in 2006. Amanda clearly had the respect and the admiration of her fellow soldiers. She was described as a ``model soldier'' and ``a breath of fresh air'' by Lieutenant Colonel Lucinda Lane, who spoke at her service. Following her death, Sergeant Pinson was awarded a Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and a Purple Heart. Her impact on the people privileged to know her is evidenced by the several memorials that honor her life. In 2006, the U.S. Army honored Amanda by dedicating the building where she worked in Tikrit, Iraq, naming it Pinson Hall. Amanda is survived by her mother, Chris; her father, Tony; and her younger brother, Bryan. The Sgt. Amanda M. Pinson Post Office will join the other memorials in her honor as a testament to the bravery, valor, and kindness of this American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for her country. It is my honor to sponsor H.R. 323, a bill that names the Affton Branch, Grasso Plaza Post Office after such a courageous young woman, immortalizing a hero who gave up her life in service to the Nation that she loved. May it bring comfort to her family and their friends and give witness to Sergeant Pinson's bravery and sacrifice. To quote the face that adorns so many tributes and memorials to Amanda: ``If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.'' So today on behalf of a grateful nation, I say: Thank you, Amanda. You are indeed loved.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, due to extenuating circumstances, I was unable to attend votes for the week of September 14 through September 18, 2015. On passage of H.R. 1214--National Forest Small Tracts Amendments Act of 2015 (rollcall vote No. 495), had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On passage of H.R. 1949--National Liberty Memorial Clarification Act of 2015 (rollcall vote No. 496), had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On passage of H.R. 758--Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act (rollcall vote No. 501), had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On passage of H.R. 3134--Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 (rollcall vote No. 505), had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On passage of H.R. 3504--Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (rollcall vote No. 506), had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, today I speak in support of H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, to terminate taxpayer support of this deplorable organization. I'd like to thank my good friend, Congresswoman Diane Black for her leadership on this issue and her unwavering support for the lives of the unborn. This summer, we have learned of the shocking nature of Planned Parenthood's practice of selling babies' hearts, lungs, livers, brains and other organs, often for a profit, to the highest bidder. We were disturbed by what we learned about these practices, but perhaps even more so by the cold indifference in which countless employees dehumanized unborn children, effectively turning them into line item revenue sources, rather than human life in its most precious form. After discovering the grotesque nature of these practices, the U.S. House of Representatives responded to these abhorrent activities by launching investigative hearings, the first of which began in the House Judiciary Committee last week. Yet the very same week we began investigating the extent of the wrongdoing, the Executive Branch, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, awarded Planned Parenthood of Missouri, Iowa and Montana with over $1 million in taxpayer support. The only response to this unthinkable action is for the U.S. House of Representatives, the legislative body with constitutional authority over federal funds, to pass legislation expressly prohibiting the federal government from supporting Planned Parenthood. Madam Speaker, it is not enough for the U.S. House of Representatives to deny funds from a single continuing resolution or omnibus spending package. Instead we must do so permanently and Congresswoman Black's legislation gives Congress an opportunity to continue our investigations into Planned Parenthood and work toward the day when we are no longer funding this abhorrent organization. In the short term, there is much work to be done. The U.S. House of Representatives is responsible for acting on behalf of the American people and investigating the extent to which Planned Parenthood's has profited from this activity. Furthermore we must make sure that Planned Parenthood has not been engaging in illegal partial birth abortions. We must determine whether or not Planned Parenthood has been breaking the law by altering abortion procedures to preserve certain organs for sale. We must protect women and unborn children from these dangerous procedures that are designed to increase revenue for this group and profit from the destruction innocent life. And perhaps most importantly, we must provide funding for other organizations that provide women's health care support and services-- without also offering abortions. And we must not continue taxpayer funding for groups like Planned Parenthood that believe they are above the laws of the United States. We have a duty, as elected Representatives to stand up for the most vulnerable among us, to lend a voice to the voiceless, and fight back against injustice. And so I lend my full support to H.R. 3134, so that we may defund Planned Parenthood and provide vulnerable women with better options for their health care needs.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 14, my family and I said goodbye to a remarkable woman, my mother, Ruth Ann Trousdale. A devoted wife to our father, Earl, for 51 years until his death in 2012, she was a strong woman with an even stronger faith. As we mourn her passing, we also find comfort in knowing she is in the arms of our Lord and reunited with her beloved Earl, whom she missed so much. She was an inspiration to us all, and we will hold her memory in our hearts until we are reunited in heaven.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to reiterate my deep-seated belief that the Iran nuclear deal is a dangerous mistake of historic proportions. On my recent trip to Israel, I learned firsthand how the Iranian regime will use this deal to further its terrorist ambitions and threaten the peace and security of the entire Middle East. Because of the unprecedented number of concessions offered to the Iranians by the Obama Administration, this deal will do little to prevent Iran from ultimately obtaining a nuclear weapon. In actuality, instead of averting Iran's quest for the bomb, this deal will speed other nations' desire for nuclear arsenals and provide one of our greatest enemies with the resources it desperately needs. Resources that Iran will turn around and use to fund attacks on our interests in the Middle East and beyond. We are providing our sworn enemy with the means to attack us, and all we get in exchange is a brief delay in their unending quest for a nuclear weapon. This terrible deal not only affords Iran legitimacy for a partial nuclear program at present, but allows them a full and unfettered program after 15 years. Mr. Speaker, under this deal, Iran will receive hundreds of billions of dollars in sanctions relief and be allowed access to advanced weaponry and ballistic missiles it can use to threaten its neighbors and the United States. Iran will be free to use the weapons and money provided by this agreement to fuel its terrorist aspirations around the region, threatening our ally Israel and further inflaming a region already in crisis. Under this deal, the world's number one sponsor of terrorism will suddenly have access to enormous resources that it can distribute to its allies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria. This is a completely unacceptable outcome for the United States, Israel, and our allies in the Middle East. Wagering the peace and security of the U.S., Israel and the world on the small chance that a hateful regime will suddenly see the error of its ways is not only wrong, it is dangerous. Mr. Speaker, the truth is that, no matter how much the President may wish it to be so, Iran's decades long record of terrorism, extremism and hate will not suddenly change simply because this deal has been signed. Our allies are almost uniformly opposed to this deal. On my recent trip to Israel, I had the honor and privilege of meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for over two hours. We discussed the Iran deal at length, and I came away even more convinced that this deal is not only foolhardy, it is dangerous. Prime Minister Netanyahu explained to us how the Obama Administration has sold out our Israeli allies to strike a deal with a murderous and untrustworthy Iranian regime. The President expects Congress to stand idly by and do nothing while he trades the security of the U.S. and its allies for a legacy- burnishing accomplishment. He expects us to sit on the sidelines while his Administration offers one concession after another to the Iranians, and agrees on a deal that would endanger the stability of the entire Middle East and jeopardize U.S. national security. But that will not happen. We will not stand idly by while the American people's security is traded for some empty promises. A nuclear-armed Iran would start a new arms race in the Middle East and pose an intolerable threat to the national security of the United States and our allies, especially Israel. Mr. Speaker, for the sake of our children, and our children's children, we must face down this threat now before it is too late. I urge my colleagues to review this agreement with an eye towards history, towards the past, present and future of a region critical to America's national interests. Iran has a record of deception and hostility towards American interests, no amount of wishful thinking will change their core tendencies. Congress must use this opportunity to stand up for what is right. The United States must not capitulate in the face of persistent evil. We must stand together, united against the threat of a nuclear Iran, in order to guarantee a free and peaceful tomorrow.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my friend, Congressman Duffy, for leading this effort and leading this Special Order today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my continued outrage at, now, two abhorrent videos that have been released in the last week in which two Planned Parenthood senior doctors describe the process by which they and their coworkers kill unborn children and harvest their organs for sale. Like many Americans, I was shocked not only by what I learned about Planned Parenthood's standard practices, but by the cold, callous indifference in which its medical leadership detailed the barbaric murder of society's most vulnerable children. In the United States, we provide protections for the least among us in numerous ways from medical research, to welfare programs, to healthcare assistance; yet here, we stand on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to discuss whether the sale of human body parts harvested from aborted children violates basic human dignity and perhaps even the law. Mr. Speaker, the question that strikes me today is not whether this practice is immoral or illegal--for surely no Member of Congress or of humanity can, in good conscience, claim that we support these heinous activities--instead, I am left considering what could we have done or perhaps what should we have done to protect women and innocent children from this outrageous practice. I am left to think what kind of Nation allows these heinous acts to continue. We are the United States of America, a country founded on the belief that each individual holds dignity and worth in the eyes of our creator. If Planned Parenthood is discovered to have been altering abortion procedures so as to sell human baby hearts, livers, lungs, brains, and other organs, then they have violated their own guidelines as well as Federal laws from partial-birth abortion to the sale of human organs. It will be up to Congress to intervene on behalf of the thousands of unborn children. Mr. Speaker, it is clear to me that there is a prevailing attitude inside Planned Parenthood that is so disgusting, so horrifying, and so disturbing that it warrants a congressional investigation and action. I thank House leadership and our chairman for opening up this investigation and for following our request into this unconscionable activity now. I want to thank the Members of the Missouri State legislature, my own home State of Missouri, who have committed to investigating Planned Parenthood in the State of Missouri, assuring Missourians that our laws prohibit these unthinkable acts, and hold Planned Parenthood accountable for any wrongdoing. Mr. Speaker, we have a duty as elected Representatives to the United States to stand up for the most vulnerable among us, to lend a voice to the voiceless, and stand up for injustice. I will continue to fight for the day when abortions and the atrocities associated with it are not only illegal, but unthinkable.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 438, I was unavoidably detained by media. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Hurt, for yielding. I am glad that the House is taking up H.R. 1723, the Small Company Simple Registration Act, which will take a much-needed step in helping remove financial barriers and make it more efficient for small businesses to go public. This bipartisan legislation, which I have sponsored with Ms. Terri Sewell from Alabama and which was approved by the House Financial Services Committee on a completely unanimous vote of 60-0, would make a simple change in the basic registration form for new securities offerings, the form S-1. Specifically, it would allow smaller reporting companies to incorporate by reference any documents filed with the SEC after the effective date, which means that those companies will not have to go through the trouble of refiling the form S-1 again and again. This will have a profound impact on these small companies by cutting compliance costs, as they will not have to file redundant paperwork and wait on the SEC to approve their filing in order to raise capital and grow their small business. Small companies are increasingly leading the way in terms of technological innovation and job creation but consistently struggle with finding adequate access to capital in order to grow their business. It is a fact that small businesses are the main driver of economic growth in our country, as they create more jobs than any other business sector in America. In fact, the Kauffman Foundation, which is a nonprofit economic resource organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, estimated in 2010 that startups create an average of 3 million jobs annually and stated: ``Without startups, there would be no net job growth in the U.S. economy.'' It is clear that we must empower small businesses with every avenue to grow and, therefore, create jobs. For many small businesses looking to take the next step in expanding, going public is an attractive option that grants them access to the capital markets and allows them to issue stock to a wider range of investors. However, the ``price of admission'' for this avenue to raising capital is continually increasing through the amount of compliance and red tape required. For many, it simply is not worth it. Indeed, our securities laws are structured today in a way that favors large companies over small startups, which are struggling to gain market share, by increasingly requiring more legal compliance and providing exemptions for companies over certain revenue thresholds. The JOBS Act from 2012 made many improvements to this system and provided small companies additional access to the equity markets. My bill, the Small Company Simple Registration Act, expands upon the progress of the JOBS Act by making securities registration forms more efficient for the main driver of our economy, small business. During a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee earlier this year, a representative of BIO, Mr. Kovacs from PTC Therapeutics, testified about their experiences with doing a follow-on offering inside of a year of their IPO using form S-1. Ultimately, they had to go and update the entire S-1, which is a process that took weeks of work and required help from outside legal counsel. If the ``forward incorporation by reference'' provision from H.R. 1723 had been in place, they could simply include a reference to any additional documentation filed alongside their original S-1 form, which would have taken much less time and required significantly less legal help. Additionally, investors would still be protected by having access to all needed information from the S-1 form, as well as any additional documentation. I would like to close by urging support for this commonsense and strong bipartisan piece of legislation that would streamline the paperwork that small businesses are required to file. This is something that the SEC's own working group on small business capital formation has recommended for several years now, but which the SEC itself has failed to act upon. Furthermore, this piece of legislation passed the committee earlier this year on a unanimous vote 60-0. I urge passage of this legislation.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for having this Special Order. It is wonderful to join my female colleagues here on the House floor to talk about this very important issue. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to sound the alarm about the mistake of historic proportions agreed to by the Obama administration last night in Vienna. In his haste and desire to reach an agreement at any cost, the President has agreed to far-reaching concessions in nearly every area that was supposed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In contravention of his stated goal, the deal agreed to by the President last night affords Iran legitimacy for a partial nuclear program now and for a full and unfettered program after 15 years. Madam Speaker, let me repeat myself for the sake of clarity. Under this deal, Iran will be able to develop a nuclear program with absolutely no restrictions less than 15 years from now. Under this deal, Iran will be allowed to continue to operate more than 6,000 centrifuges and will hold on to nearly 300 kilograms of enriched uranium. Iran will also receive hundreds of billions of dollars in sanctions relief and regain the access to conventional arms and missiles that it has been denied for nearly a decade. Iran will be free to transfer these weapons to Hezbollah, the Syrian Government, and Yemeni rebels, who all threaten our ally Israel and further inflame the region already in crisis. Iran will be free to use the weapons and money provided by this agreement to fuel its terrorist aspirations around the region and the world. This is a completely unacceptable outcome for the United States, Israel, our allies, and the Middle East. Wagering the peace and security of the United States, Israel, and the world on a small chance that a hateful and deceitful regime will suddenly change its entire comportment is not only wrong, it is foolish and it is dangerous. Iran's decades-long record of state-sponsored terrorism will not change simply because this deal has been signed. Just this past Friday--this past Friday, Madam Speaker--in Tehran, Iranian mullahs led people in chants of ``death to America.'' Yet, less than 72 hours later, the President is signing a deal with those fanatics, a deal that will eventually pave the way for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. As Prime Minister Netanyahu told us in this Congress, in this very Chamber this year, ``a bad deal is worse than no deal.'' Madam Speaker, this is a bad deal. The President expects Congress to stand idly by and do nothing while he trades the security of the U.S. and its allies for a legacy- burnishing accomplishment. He expects us to sit on the sidelines while the administration offers one concession after another to the Iranians and agrees on a deal that would endanger the stability of the entire Middle East and jeopardize U.S. national security. That must not happen. As the 60-day review process mandated by the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act begins, Congress must unequivocally reject this agreement by voting for a resolution of disapproval. We will not stand idly by while the American people's security is traded for some empty promises. A nuclear-armed Iran would start a new arms race in the Middle East and pose an interoperable threat to the national security of the United States and our allies--especially Israel. Madam Speaker, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said in this very Chamber, again: ``Standing up to Iran is not easy; standing up to dark and murderous regimes never is.'' But for the sake of our children and our children's children, we must face down this threat now before it is too late. I urge my colleagues to review this agreement with an eye towards history, towards the past, towards the present, and towards the future of a region critical to America's national interests. Iran has a record of deception and hostility towards American interest. No amount of wishful thinking will change their core tendencies. Congress must use this opportunity to stand up for what is right. The United States must not capitulate in the face of persistent evil. We must stand together, united against the threat of a nuclear Iran in order to guarantee a free and peaceful tomorrow.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, my family and I said goodbye to a remarkable woman, my mother-in-law, Loretto Wagner. While she will be greatly missed, we are comforted in knowing that she lived a full and blessed life as a voice for the voiceless, and is now in Jesus' embrace as his good and faithful servant. Due to the extraordinary nature of this event, I was unable to be in Washington, D.C. and vote on legislative business during this time. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: On Passage of H.R. 1190--Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015 (Roll Call Vote #376), had I been present I would have voted yes. On Passage of H.R. 805--Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters Act of 2015 (Roll Call Vote #377), had I been present I would have voted yes. On Passage of H.R. 2576--TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 (Roll Call Vote #378), had I been present I would have voted yes.