Brad Wenstrup

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I stand before you today to honor the life of Dr. Jerry Umanos, the father-in- law of my former staff member, Krista Umanos, and the father of her husband, Ben. Dr. Umanos was killed at the CURE International Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 24. He was a pediatrician, a man dedicated to his Christian faith, who felt called to serve those in need. Since 2005, this calling led him to Afghanistan to treat patients and to train Afghan medical personnel. Dr. Umanos had a love of and a dedication to the people of Afghanistan--a love that transcended the typical call to serve. His wife, Jan, asked that we honor her husband's memory by opening our hearts to the Afghan people and to everyone around the world who needs to see Christ's love for all. Dr. Umanos' caring for all mankind, regardless of country or creed or religion, is inspiring. His death is a loss for his family and friends, as it is a loss for all of those touched by his selfless service. While Dr. Umanos' earthly mission is complete, the positive effects of his works in this world shall never perish. God bless Dr. Jerry Umanos and his family. You have made the world a better place.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, in this House, we take the constitutional power of the purse very seriously. We also take the future of young Americans very seriously, and we take the notion of leaving something better for the next generation very seriously. Again, this year, the majority has proposed a budget that responsibly balances our budget within 10 years. It secures our social safety net for the most needy and for seniors. It repeals the uncertainty forced on Ohioans and all Americans by ObamaCare. The budget begins to unburden future generations from the tyranny of the debt being left to them by today's decisionmakers. The CBO estimates it will pay $223 billion in interest payments this year--$223 billion in interest. That is enough to build 100 new Brent Spence bridges, which is an aging bridge that spans the Ohio River in Cincinnati, a critical artery for our Nation's highways reaching from Michigan to Florida. Going back to those payments, left unchecked, they will balloon to $880 billion within 10 years. That is about how much we are spending on Social Security every year right now. American prosperity cannot afford to throw our money away to interest payments. Vice President Joe Biden is fond of saying, ``Don't tell me what you value; show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value.'' It is a revealing quote, Mr. Chair, especially since Senate Democrats yet again refuse to even consider a budget. I guess according to the Vice President, Senate Democrats don't really value anything at all. It is disrespectful to the American people and to hardworking Americans that this budget debate isn't happening in the Senate. As we have seen in recent years, the Senate Majority Leader has decided not to introduce a budget. In fact, the only time the Senate has introduced a budget recently was when the Senators knew that they wouldn't be paid unless they did so. I know that Ohio families and Ohio businesses budget and plan for the future. They should be able to expect at least as much from their government, and the House is meeting our obligation with this budget.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Thank you very much. I appreciate that, Mr. Kelly. Mr. Speaker, we have a problem. We have an inactive Senate with Harry Reid at the helm as the majority leader. Someone on the Senate side seems to have hit the pause button, and it has been stuck there for a while, and we are having to deal with that. But here in the House of Representatives, the people's House, we have passed over 200 bills since I came to Congress that just seem to be gathering dust over in the Senate. We have hardly been inactive on this side of Congress taking up important energy, education, health care reforms, and numerous jobs bills--some Republican bills, some Democratic bills--and most passed with bipartisan support. Yet Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has thrown them on the ground. Ohioans ask me what we are doing here in Washington, D.C. I am at my wit's end trying to explain that every reform-minded bill that I have supported that we passed on behalf of the American people is stuck in the Senate. It is a legislative purgatory. It just sits. And I don't wish that on my fellow Ohioans or my fellow Americans. I am not asking the Senate to agree with every bill that we pass, Mr. Speaker, but at least allow a vote and at least allow a discussion. One example is the Keystone XL pipeline. The energy security legislation passed the House with bipartisan support nearly a year ago; 241 Members of Congress voted for the Northern Route Approval Act. More than that, a filibuster-proof majority of Senators, Republicans and Democrats, are on the record as supporting this project. A recent Washington Post-ABC poll demonstrates that the American people also support the goals of this legislation of building the pipeline by nearly a three-to-one margin. But the Senate has thrown the bill on the floor blocking any vote. Does the Senate have a solution? Not really. They just seem to want to stand in the way. Another example is the SKILLS Act. I hear from Ohioans frustrated that Washington isn't working, especially in year 6 of this Obama economy with disappointing job growth. And as we continue to face unacceptable unemployment levels, the Senate refuses to take commonsense steps to get Americans back to work. Over a year ago, I was proud to support the SKILLS Act, legislation that would have helped job seekers, helped employers, reformed government, and cut bureaucratic costs so that more money can go directly to help people getting back to work. This legislation offers a long-term solution to help those looking for work, combined with smart government reforms. And what do we hear from Senate leadership? Nothing. It is bipartisan frustration, I think, on some parts because these aren't just Republican bills that are being blocked. Nearly three dozen Democratic-sponsored bills have passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle--no action in the Senate. These are noncontroversial bills. But some in the Senate are more concerned with demonizing individual Americans than helping every American. The legislative branch is the most direct representation of the American people, yet the Senate leader is content to hand over his constitutional responsibilities to President Obama and the executive branch rather than do his job and to legislate. It is a myth that this is a do-nothing Congress, but we are witnessing a do-nothing Senate. I ask Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: relieve this legislative backlog; hundreds of bills and millions of Americans are waiting. Here in the House, we have taken action. We are active. We have taken the vote. We have taken the action as far as we can take it, and America waits for a further response. Most of these bills that we pass usually involve having less government involvement, not more, not more involvement. The table is set. Our Founders set it up in such a way that we are to represent the people and we are to act, and the Senate is to act, and we are all supposed to come together at the table. I have been here just over a year, and I have been waiting at that table. I have been waiting for the Senate to engage with us. I have been waiting for the President to engage with us. But that hasn't happened. I left a medical practice to serve here, and I am proud and honored to be here. People often ask me, well, what is the difference between a doctor and being here? Well, as a doctor, I can make a diagnosis. I can get together with a patient and their family and provide a treatment, and together we go to work on that. It takes both of us to do that. Sometimes when you make the suggestion of a treatment, you even suggest that there be a second opinion. And I can tell you right now on all of these things that we have passed, all these treatments that we have recommended, we are still waiting for our second opinion from the Senate. The House is active. We are waiting for the Senate to take up the arm and do their job, as well.

Mr. WENSTRUP. The gentleman mentioned the Affordable Care Act, and you mentioned a phone and a pen. I would encourage all Americans to use their phone and to use their pen to let the other parts of our government know where you stand and know that you do want to see some action taking place. We are a Nation of laws, and we should live by the rule of law. It is very difficult for the American people to understand when certain laws are passed and signed by the President and then just changed as though it is a menu, you can just select which laws you want to enforce. That makes it very difficult for the American people to understand, and it makes our job more difficult, too, as we go ahead and pass laws. While we are talking about some of the things that we have done here in the House, both in the 112th and in the 113th Congress, we passed the REINS Act. For those who aren't familiar with the REINS Act, basically what it does is it brings more power back into Congress and into those who represent you. It gives you a voice. We have established, over the years, many agencies where we have empowered those agencies, and we have empowered the people within the agencies to make the decisions, and often, it is punitive, regulatory decisions that they are making, so this makes it very difficult for our businesses. What the REINS Act does is it says that, if a regulation has a negative economic impact of over $100 million, then it has to be approved by Congress. That gives you, the people, a chance to reach out to your Representative and let them know how you feel about these regulations, rather than just having a bureaucracy deciding that this is what is going to take place. As I said, I think, over the years, this body has given up some of that power to these agencies, and that takes it away from the American people, and we want to get that back. Now, we talk about if it is over $100 million of negative economic impact. Well, I tell you I rarely see a regulation that has a positive economic impact in America, and so this is an opportunity for us to get that back. Again, it is something that we passed in the last two Congresses here in the House of Representatives, and it has not been taken up in the Senate.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I was absent on March 27, due to a death in the family. If I were present, I would have voted on the following: Thursday, March 27, 2014: rollcall No. 148: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 4278, ``yea.''

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Colonel Wayne T. Frye of Manchester, Ohio. Colonel Frye was beloved in his community, and is remembered not only for his extraordinary achievements but also for his humble character. In 1948, Wayne Frye joined the United States Marines, and went on to attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis. While a student, he competed with the 1952 Olympic rowing team, known as the ``Great Eight,'' winning a gold medal for Team USA. After graduating from Annapolis, he joined the newly established Air Force and later served in Vietnam, where he was a commander with the 555th ``Triple Nickel'' Fighter Squadron, flying 266 combat missions. For his service, he received two Silver Stars for valor, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15 Air Medals, and a Purple Heart. Wayne Frye's legacy also lies in his deep-rooted commitment to his community, and his inspiration to future generations through his character, faith, and humility. Colonel Wayne T. Frye, thank you for your service. A grateful Nation salutes you. Rest in peace. Rest in peace.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on February 28, another member of America's Greatest Generation will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. William T. Magee--``Tom,'' as he is known--was an American and Cincinnatian we can all be proud of. Tom was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, and two Presidential Unit Citations during his service in World War II. Serving aboard a B-24 Liberator, Tom's plane was shot down over enemy territory, and he survived 10 days in enemy territory before returning to the fight. Later, with a different crew, Tom safely landed a bomber after the pilot and copilot were killed by enemy fire. Tom came home to Cincinnati, where he lived the rest of his life, devoted to his family, work, and community. Tom's legacy of serving his Nation inspired three children and two grandchildren to serve our nation in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you, Lieutenant Magee. A grateful nation salutes you. Rest in peace. Rest in peace.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. In 1788, over 225 years ago, James Madison wrote these words: It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood. If they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes, that no man who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be tomorrow. Oh, how relevant these remarks are today. Off-the-cuff changes and delays to the Affordable Care Act without proper legislative authority confuse and confound American individuals and businesses alike. We are formed as a Nation of laws, laws crafted by Representatives of the people. America achieved great things by adhering to the principles of our legal framework. The fundamental genius of the American Republic came from the simple, yet absolute, affirmation that we, as a Nation, operate by the rule of law, law crafted by the many, not the one.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, from 1942 to 1949, the African American marines who trained at Montford Point Camp, North Carolina, fought intolerance and segregation, yet they continued to serve their Nation proudly. I am honored to have one of these men, World War II veteran Corporal G. Robert Smith, amongst the ranks of constituents in Ohio's Second District. I am personally grateful for Corporal Smith's service and dedication to our Nation, and I would like to offer my sincere congratulations for being recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal. Corporal Smith lives up to the high standards that characterize the United States Marine Corps. The statement ``once a marine, always a marine'' is a reminder that these standards carry on long after the uniform has been put away. Corporal Smith, your fellow Americans take pride in your military service and your contributions to your community after that service. The freedom and liberty that we enjoy today is due, in large part, to the sacrifices made by individuals like Corporal G. Robert Smith. Corporal Smith, Semper Fi.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 272) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense joint outpatient clinic to be constructed in Marina, California, as the ``General William H. Gourley Federal Outpatient Clinic: A Joint VA-DOD Health Care Facility'', as amended.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, health care is a morale staple of our military, both in Active Duty and when we become veterans, whether it is in theatre or at home, as those who have served or who are serving know that, on the health care side, we have their backs. General Gourley understood that. I urge all to vote in favor of this bill in order to give him the recognition that is due. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close after my colleague has yielded back her time. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 272, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense joint outpatient clinic to be constructed in Marina, California, as the General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic. I want to commend Representative Sam Farr of California for sponsoring this legislation. Mr. Speaker, the late Major General William H. Gourley gave this Nation 36 years of committed and distinguished service in the United States Army. That service took him to far off places such as Vietnam, Korea, Turkey, and Germany, where he had an immediate and positive impact on the soldiers and officers with whom he served. When General Gourley's service to the Nation was done, he returned to his beloved Monterey, California, to retire. He became actively involved in the Monterey community, helping to oversee the restructuring of Fort Ord for civilian reuse following the Base Realignment and Closure decision to shut down that Army post. Mr. Speaker, General Gourley was also instrumental in paving the way for the joint VA-DOD outpatient clinic to be constructed in Marina, California, which is why it is fitting that that clinic, which when completed will serve our Active Duty and retired military, their families and veterans, be named the General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic. General Gourley dedicated his life to serving the military. The VA- DOD clinic will stand as a reminder of his service to all those who will benefit from the health care provided by the clinic in the future. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I was absent on November 12 and 13, 2013, due to the birth of my first child. If I were present, I would have voted on the following: Tuesday, November 12, 2013: Rollcall No. 571: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2871, ``yea.'' Rollcall No. 572: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2922, ``yea.'' Wednesday, November 13, 2013: Rollcall No. 573: On Ordering the Previous Question, providing for consideration of H.R. 982 and H.R. 2655, ``yea.'' Rollcall No. 574: On Agreeing to the Resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 982 and H.R. 2655, ``yea.'' Rollcall No. 575: Cohen of Tennessee Amendment No. 1, ``no.'' Rollcall No. 576: Nadler of New York Amendment No. 2, ``no.'' Rollcall No. 577: Jackson Lee of Texas Amendment No. 3. ``no.'' Rollcall No. 578: On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``no.'' Rollcall No. 579: On Passage of H.R. 982, ``yea.''

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give voice to my constituents. While I would expect that ObamaCare's thousands of pages would help at least a handful of people, a sampling of mail coming into any office lets me know that help by the Affordable Care Act is rare. Steve from Greenfield says he and his wife are in good health with current insurance costing $485 a month. Under ObamaCare, that goes to roughly $1,150 a month, a 237 percent increase. June from Batavia received a letter from UnitedHealthcare. They are discontinuing coverage for most of her family's doctors. And while she says she can handle it, it will be a problem for her husband. He has stage 4 kidney disease and is on dialysis and will soon not have his doctors. Don from Loveland says: If the Affordable Care Act is allowed to stand, my family will have to come up with an extra $6,600 next year. We can't afford that. Mr. Speaker, from what I am seeing, stress and anxiety are becoming an increasingly common diagnosis, all due to ObamaCare. The Web site isn't the only problem, Mr. Speaker, the law is the problem.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the members of Hillsboro VFW Post 9094 for their patriotism and volunteerism. This week, Post 9094 celebrates their 75th anniversary, which is a testament to the lasting commitment these veterans have to helping fellow veterans and non-veterans in Highland County. The Korean War Memorial is inscribed ``Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.'' In conflicts around the globe, the members of VFW Post 9094 answered this call. Southern Ohio and our nation are eternally grateful to them for their service, and deeply grateful that these dedicated veterans continue to answer the call to support and protect all veterans and families in need in Highland County, as Post 9094 has now done for 75 years.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bentivolio) for his words. I would like to take a moment to tell you about James McNaughton, Staff Sergeant James McNaughton, Army Reservist, an MP, New York City policeman. We served on the same base in Iraq; and one day he and some other sergeants were being tasked with a mission that was going to be dangerous, and one of them had to go. James McNaughton volunteered over the other two. He did that because the other two had children. On that mission, Staff Sergeant James McNaughton was killed by a sniper; and today there are two families that have their father because of James McNaughton. This is the type of selfless service that we see from our troops day in and day out. I had the opportunity to tell that story on TV one time, national cable TV. A couple of days later I got a call from James McNaughton's father who said they were so shocked to hear their son's name and so honored that he was remembered in that way. We need to honor and remember all of our veterans, especially those that have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of us. At this time, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Rodney Davis. Mr. Davis is not a veteran, but he is a supporter of veterans, and he will be speaking on behalf of one of his staff members. Outside of his office he has a sign that says, I hire veterans. I yield to you, Mr. Davis.

Mr. WENSTRUP. I thank the gentleman from Georgia, my dear friend, Chaplain Doug Collins, for those kind words. We are honored to serve here with so many that have served--not all of them are here tonight--on both sides of the aisle. I think of my colleague from Illinois, Tammy Duckworth, who suffered severe injuries in Iraq, has bilateral leg prosthesis. She had the courage to serve again and to continue to serve not only in the Guard but here as a Congresswoman from Illinois. It is an honor to serve with her here on Capitol Hill. Teddy Roosevelt said it so well when he said, ``It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.'' Our veterans serve. They fight in wars, wars they didn't start, and those who serve in war are probably the greatest lovers of peace, the ones who appreciate it the most. Our great American veterans, they may be best described in this way: they are what others care not to be. They go where others fear to go, and they do what others fail to do, and they ask nothing from those that gave nothing. I want to thank everyone for being here tonight to honor those that felt that they should give of themselves for something greater than themselves. You know, when I was a child, and we would go to bed at night, we would kiss my parents good night, and my father would come in one more time, and he would take his thumb, and he would make the sign of the cross on our forehead. When you tuck your children in at night, when you go to bed and you close your eyes and you feel safe and secure and unafraid, remember why. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for that fine tribute. I would like to share a story about Major John Pryor, John Pryor, MD, trauma surgeon from Philadelphia. He joined the Army Reserve in 2004; but on September 11, 2001, seeing that his Nation was under attack, he got in his car and he drove to Ground Zero, hitchhiked all the way in after he drove as far as he could. And after that, he took care of people. After that, he started thinking that there is more that he could do for his country. He joined the Army Reserve. We served together in Iraq, became good friends; and after returning, we did a trauma conference together in Cincinnati. John returned to Iraq in 2008; and on Christmas Day, after attending mass, he walked out and he was hit by a mortar and killed. John was the type of person that did all for others. He left behind, unfortunately, a wife and three children. Above his desk he had a quote by Albert Schweitzer that said: Seek always to do something good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it is a little thing, do something for those who need help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too. It is now my privilege to yield to the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Doug Collins. He serves as the Air Force Reserve Chaplain with the 94th Airlift Wing. Doug has ministered to members of our military as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve since 2002. He served a combat tour, stationed at Balad Air Force Base in Iraq in 2008. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. WENSTRUP. Thank you very much, Dr. Heck, Colonel Heck. Thank you for sharing that story. As a surgeon who served in Iraq, that was very moving to me and very familiar. I think about how my experience in war has changed the national anthem for me. When I hear the ``rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air,'' I think of those that we didn't save. When I think of ``home of the brave, land of the free,'' I think of those that have saved us time and time again throughout our history. At this time, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bentivolio). He is retired as a sergeant first class in the Army National Guard. He had service in Iraq in 2007 and served in Vietnam as an infantry rifleman from '70 to '71. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. WENSTRUP. I thank the gentleman from Utah for his profound words and for sharing such a nice tribute. Next, I yield to the gentleman from Nevada, Dr. Joe Heck. Dr. Heck is a colonel in the United States Army Reserve and commands the Medical Readiness Support Group. He was recently selected for general, and he continues to serve. Over time he has served us in Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. I yield to the gentleman from Nevada.

Mr. WENSTRUP. I thank the gentleman from Indiana, and thank you for sharing that story of heroism. So often we don't get to hear about our heroes today. They go unnoticed. What you just spoke on reminds me of a gentleman named Mike Spann. Very few people know who Mike Spann is. Mike Spann was a marine, and he joined the CIA. After 9/11, 2001, he was the first American killed in Afghanistan. What is even more impressive about Mike Spann is what he wrote on his CIA application. He said: I believe in the meaning of honesty and integrity. I am an action person who feels personally responsible for making changes in this world that are within my power, because if I don't, no one else will. These are the type of people that we are here to honor tonight. Next, it is my privilege to yield to the gentleman from Utah, Chris Stewart, an Air Force pilot for 14 years, flying both rescue helicopters and B-1 bombers. He holds three world speed records, including the world's record for the fastest nonstop flight around the world.