Brad Wenstrup

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Edward Lee McClain High School of Greenfield, Ohio, on their 100-year anniversary and celebration. For a century, McClain High School has stood proudly at the heart of Greenfield, educating the community's next generation and preparing them for the future. Originally donated by Edward Lee McClain and his wife Lulu in 1915, McClain High School has since fulfilled its stated mission of ``producing graduates who are well equipped to meet the challenges of education, work, and life.'' Alongside the 100 years of quality education it has provided to the children of Greenfield, McClain has become famous for the historic art contained within its walls. Truly a jewel of culture, students are immersed in a rich history of art and tradition, including murals, statues, and architecture. The institution and its graduates owe a debt of gratitude to the community of Greenfield, for the continued support in preserving and maintaining the magnificent building. McClain High School is a living legacy of Edward McClain's hopes that the Greenfield school would be an institution which encouraged ``higher education, purer morals, and broader and better citizenship.'' I am honored to represent a district which contains such a quality and historic educational institution within its borders. I applaud Edward Lee McClain High School on this historic milestone, and I wish the school the very best over their next 100 years.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, Planned Parenthood must be defunded. Taxpayers should no longer fund inhumane actions. Between sips of red wine, a top official with the organization shares the dark nature of their work of altering abortion procedures to better harvest body parts. In another, after talking about the price for body parts, an official muses of buying a Lamborghini. In yet another, human dissection, geared toward harvesting body parts, is exposed. Such callousness. Planned Parenthood resists the use of ultrasound during pregnancy when a mother considers abortion, yet uses ultrasound to guide the harvesting of body parts. Such disregard for life. I am not only disgusted but am very saddened, and so are millions of Americans. Is nothing off limits? Is nothing sacred? This is why I have long cosponsored legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, but we must do more. This body is obligated to investigate wrongdoings.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on July 25, 2015, we congratulate the Candle-Lite Company of Leesburg, Ohio, for 175 years of continuous business in Southern Ohio, dating back to 1840. Across three different centuries, the Candle-Lite Company has manufactured quality candles, lighting the region for generations. The company thrives on the American values of hard work and entrepreneurial perseverance as its employees craft beautiful, quality goods to share with residents throughout Ohio, the United States, and the world. Candle-Lite Company's story is the American story. Founder Thomas Emery, an immigrant from Europe to Southwest Ohio, started simply enough: door to door sales. Innovation and dedication led to a growing business and new formulas for higher quality candles that continued Emory's tradition of maintaining a vision for the future. 175 years later, Emery's vision and persistence is now the largest employer in Highland County with products around the world. As we recognize this historic anniversary, we follow the example of the Candle-Lite Company and look to the future, knowing that the Candle-Lite Company will continue to flourish as a company and employer we are proud to have in Ohio.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on July 14, Cincinnati will host the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and I want to take the opportunity to recognize a famous Redleg, Charles ``Chuck'' Harmon, the first African American to play for the Cincinnati Reds. Chuck Harmon paved the way for many African American major league baseball players, like fellow Redleg Frank Robinson, who credits Harmon as helping launch his career. Mr. Harmon entered the 1954 season on April 17 as a right-handed infielder with the Reds. With a .242 batting average during his Reds career, he was also known as the fastest player on the team during his rookie season. Ohio's Second District continues to celebrate Mr. Harmon's legacy by celebrating his career at the Great American Ball Park at the All-Star game 50 years after his first at bat, by renaming a street in his hometown of Golf Manor to Chuck Harmon Way, and by unveiling a statue for the Reds Urban Youth Academy in Roselawn. Thank you, Chuck Harmon, for your pioneering contributions to breaking the color barrier in our Nation's pastime. Your accomplishments will forever be recognized by generations of Americans to come.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 420, I mistakenly voted ``no'' on the Salmon Amendment. I meant to vote ``yes.'' Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, last week, Cincinnati lost a hero in blue. A 27-year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department, Officer Sonny Kim lived a life of service to his family, his department, and his city. We mourn for a life cut short while serving in the line of duty. Officer Kim is remembered as a model police officer, husband, and father, an officer with 22 commendations during his decorated career. His lasting memory stands as a testament to the best of our community and society. Mr. Speaker, police officers deal with people every day, usually people at their very worst, and they do so selflessly and tirelessly, but we must never take that service for granted. We mourn with Officer Kim's wife, his sons, and his sisters and brothers who served alongside him. Rest in peace, Officer Kim. Your good deeds will not be forgotten.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress and the U.S. Military medical community, I congratulate Colonel Romney C. Andersen, M.D. on his longstanding dedication to our nation. With over 30 years of service, Colonel Andersen exemplifies the values of a model Soldier with his utmost commitment to caring for the combat injured casualty. Colonel Anderson's distinguished service to our nation began as a cadet at West Point, followed by leadership as an infantry officer and continued training including Ranger school. Dr. Andersen's time in uniform is celebrated by the advancements he made in the military medical community. It has been my honor to serve under Colonel Andersen at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; he is an irreplaceable asset to military medicine. As an exemplary man of many roles, Dr. Romney Andersen has brought unparalleled virtue to himself, his family and his nation. Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your service to the United States of America. May God bless you.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, let me take a couple of minutes to explain why Americans fear the Independent Payment Advisory Board, as it meddles with their health care. As I stand here today, I will tell you that I am a physician, and I can tell you what is already taking place within private insurance with these peer reviews when you recommend something. I recommended an MRI to a patient. That afternoon, I get on the phone. The woman says: I have had a problem for 10 years. I have had cortisone injections, physical therapy, blah, blah, blah. I said: You need an MRI. I am being denied the MRI by the insurance company because I have only seen her once. And I said to the gentleman, the doctor on the phone: How many times have you seen her? None. I said: What State do you have a license to practice in? Not Ohio, which is where we were. And so I said: Tell me your specialty. My specialty is foot and ankle. This woman was in for a foot problem. He said: I am an emergency room doctor. I said: Well, then you would refer her to a specialist, which is where she is today. He said: Well, I am not going to let you get that MRI. I said: I hope this call is monitored for quality assurance, because I want someone to hear what you said to me today. And then I asked the patient if she would go to her HR director and call the insurance company and say: We are going to drop the insurance because you are not letting the patients get the care their doctor recommends. And then we got it. Within 3 weeks, I had her better because I knew what was wrong once I had the MRI. Imagine trying to have that type of a discussion with the Independent Payment Advisory Board. If they pick up their phone, will they have a conversation with you about the patient? This is a problem. This is what Americans are fearing today. And this is why the Independent Payment Advisory Board should go away.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 474) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a five-year extension to the homeless veterans reintegration programs and to provide clarification regarding eligibility for services under such programs.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous material on H.R. 474.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 474, the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2015 would extend this very good job training and placement program for homeless veterans. This bill would also make some commonsense changes to the program's eligibility rules by making veterans housed under the HUD-VA supported housing program and formerly incarcerated veterans eligible for HVRP. Mr. Speaker, by making those eligibility changes, we will be offering training and placement services to groups of veterans who are largely unemployed and have significant barriers to employment. The program's history of a job placement rate of 70 percent has been recognized by many as among the best in the Federal Government and I believe warrants its continuation. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support my bill, H.R. 474. I have no further speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Again, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support my bill, H.R. 474, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1382) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in awarding a contract for the procurement of goods or services, to give a preference to offerors that employ veterans, as amended.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, to improve employment opportunities for veterans and business opportunities for the companies that employ them, H.R. 1382, as amended, would require the Secretary to consider the number of veterans working for an offerer in the decision to award a contract. Under the bill, the Secretary may give a preference to such employers based on the percentage of the workforce made up by veterans. The bill would also provide the Secretary with debarment authority for any offerer who willfully and intentionally misrepresents the number of veterans they employ. Mr. Speaker, the unemployment rate among certain age groups of veterans still exceeds their nonveteran peers, and this is one commonsense step to increase job opportunities for veterans of all ages. I thank Miss Rice for her hard work on this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on H.R. 91, as amended.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 91) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue, upon request, veteran identification cards to certain veterans, as amended.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1038) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to retain a copy of any reprimand or admonishment received by an employee of the Department in the permanent record of the employee.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous material on H.R. 1038.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, currently, if a VA employee is either reprimanded or admonished for their performance, all records of those administrative punishments are removed from the employee's personnel file within 3 years and 2 years, respectively. Subsequent to the removal of these personnel actions, there is no record of their poor performance or acts regardless of how many different jobs they hold within the VA or how long they remain a VA employee. Mr. Speaker, personnel policies and rules such as we are addressing today are part of the culture of no accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs that have contributed significantly to the recent public scandals. The list of scandals now includes the abuse of the purchase card program where some VA employees were spending $5 billion annually on goods and services without contracts, which was exposed at the Veterans' Affairs Committee hearings last Thursday. Mr. Speaker, it is time to ensure that only the most ethical and most qualified employees who benefit from the tax dollars that support them move up through the ranks at VA. One way to assist that is to retain an employee's entire history in their personnel file. Now, no one is saying that employees can't improve their performance after being reprimanded or admonished, but managers should know the complete history of their staff or potential staff members. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello), the author of this bill.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 1038, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1313) to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the treatment of certain small business concerns for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on H.R. 1313.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1313 would amend title 38 to allow certain surviving spouses of service-disabled small-business owners to continue to be classified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business for a 3-year period following the death of the veteran owner. Current law limits the continuation to just the surviving spouses of disabled veterans rated at 100 percent by VA. By changing the law, we will enable surviving spouses of the vast majority of small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans to make the transition from a preferred VA contractor to the private sector market. This small change will also provide a large measure of financial stability to surviving spouses. I see this as another commonsense bill, and I thank Mr. McNerney for bringing it to us. I reserve the balance of my time.