E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 No. 193 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was Due to some outstanding journalism casualty policies, in many cases, re- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- that took place over the last couple of quire only coverage for a sudden col- pore (Mr. MARSHALL). years by a TV reporter by the name of lapse as opposed to something that f George Colli, Jr.; Hartford Courant edi- happens over a period of time. torial writer Carolyn Lumsden, who It is devastating for the homeowners DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO did a series on this problem; and Jour- who are affected by this. It affects TEMPORE nal Inquirer’s Eric Bedner, who has about 40 communities in north central The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- been consistently reporting on this and eastern Connecticut. fore the House the following commu- issue, it came forward and was flushed On Wednesday, the Treasury Depart- nication from the Speaker: out to the public that a quarry in north ment issued a ruling extending the WASHINGTON, DC, central Connecticut was supplying ag- property casualty loss Tax Code provi- November 28, 2017. gregate concrete for homes over the sions to allow these homeowners to I hereby appoint the Honorable ROGER W. last 30 years that contained a material take a deduction for their loss. This MARSHALL to act as Speaker pro tempore on known as pyrrhotite. was a 19-month process which took this day. Pyrrhotite is a metal substance place, from my office, with an out- PAUL D. RYAN, which, when it is exposed to moisture standing staffer, Beata Fogarasi; from Speaker of the House of Representatives. over a period of time, oxidizes or rusts Congressman JOHN LARSON’s office in f and creates a sickening spider web the Hartford area with an outstanding MORNING-HOUR DEBATE cracking that ultimately compromises staffer by the name of Sylvia Lee; and the foundation on homes. Estimates with Under Secretary Kautter, who The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- run as high as 19,000 homeowners who issued the ruling that will provide safe ant to the order of the House of Janu- unknowingly have this form of con- harbor for people who have suffered a ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- crete that threatens probably their loss to be able to claim that on their nize Members from lists submitted by family’s biggest asset, namely, their tax returns. the majority and minority leaders for home. We had the support of the departing morning-hour debate. As you can see in this picture, this is IRS Commissioner, John Koskinen, as The Chair will alternate recognition an example of a home in Coventry, well as the National Taxpayer Advo- between the parties. All time shall be Connecticut, where the home was lifted cate, who endorsed this request last equally allocated between the parties, with a house jack and the contractor, year under the prior administration— and in no event shall debate continue Don Childree, was actually able to re- two administrations working with beyond 1:50 p.m. Each Member, other move the concrete by hand. That is Members of Congress, presenting the than the majority and minority leaders how compromised and unstable the facts and the law and getting a deci- and the minority whip, shall be limited home was because of this terrible prob- sion which, actually, is a positive move to 5 minutes. lem. forward for homeowners who are in f This picture shows an example of a this affected region. condominium project that was com- It showed the interplay of the free CONNECTICUT’S CRUMBLING pletely jacked up for the repairs, which press, of the organizing that took FOUNDATIONS involved jacking up the house, remov- place, and the Connecticut Coalition The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ing the old foundation, pouring a new Against Crumbling Foundations, led by Chair recognizes the gentleman from foundation, and then lowering and re- Tim Heim from Willington, Con- Connecticut (Mr. COURTNEY) for 5 min- connecting the condominium to the necticut. Organized homeowners did utes. new foundation. rallies, did town halls, brought their Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I am For a homeowner of a rather average- case forward, and it resulted in real here today to talk about a positive, en- size house, we are talking about repairs change. The needle moved to allow peo- couraging decision that occurred last that total as much as $150,000 to ple much-needed relief. week for the State of Connecticut that $200,000. In some cases, it almost sur- We have more work to do. As Win- was issued by the Under Secretary of passes the family’s value in their ston Churchill said: ‘‘This is not the the Treasury, David Kautter. It con- home. end. It is not even the beginning of the cerned a terrible problem that has It has set off a wave of litigation and end. It is the end of the beginning.’’ swept through the State best known as claims against property casualty insur- The decision the day before Thanks- crumbling foundations. ers, with mixed results. The property giving by the Treasury Department b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H9437 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Nov 29, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A28NO7.000 H28NOPT1 H9438 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 28, 2017 gave great hope to these homeowners Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues in granddaughters behind them, and for that, actually, the system can work, the House and the Senate will support future generations. It certainly starts and that is probably the most powerful this very important bill. with me in my office, my sons, my emotion that people took away from f grandsons, the people who work with the decision that took place on me, and the people I choose to sur- A SALUTE TO THE BRAVE WOMEN Wednesday. round myself with. We can all be that We are going to continue to move WHO SPEAK OUT shining example, and I pray that my forward to help people, middle class, The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. colleagues will join me in making this hardworking people who pay their CURTIS). The Chair recognizes the gen- so. bills, have invested in their life’s big- tleman from Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL) f gest asset, their home, to make sure for 5 minutes. WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM that they are protected and they get Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, as a help. practicing obstetrician and gyne- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. MARSHALL). The Chair recognizes the f cologist for 25 years, I certainly had a very unique perspective of many of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. ARRINGTON) REAUTHORIZING FISH RECOVERY unique challenges faced by women in for 5 minutes. IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS IN the workplace. Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, his- UPPER COLORADO AND SAN For many women, I would see them tory is replete with examples of pros- JUAN RIVER BASINS once a year and, in a very casual greet- perous nations and powerful empires The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ing, ask them how they were and what whose demise was not as a result of ad- Chair recognizes the gentleman from was new. Once in a while, a woman versaries on the outside but, rather, Utah (Mr. CURTIS) for 5 minutes. would have a new job, and I would ask the enemy within. Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, most of us her: ‘‘Wow. You had a great job. Why Congress and our President face sev- know how important water is in our did you leave that?’’ Too often, the an- eral challenges to ensure the next gen- States and the impact it plays in swer was because of sexual harassment. eration inherits a safe, strong, and free growth. It is directly tied to economic Now, as a United States Congress- country. There is the rise of global Is- development and the health and beauty man, I think it is important that I do lamic terrorism, escalating nuclear of the places we live. more than just listen to these constitu- threats, increasing geopolitical insta- Today, in accordance with commit- ents of mine. I was sent here to be bility, the need to modernize our mili- ments I have made to build improved their voice, to be a strong voice for all tary and ensure it is prepared to ad- quality of life in the rural areas of my of my constituents, and especially to dress those threats, and, finally, the district, I am introducing bipartisan draw upon my experiences as an obste- need to revive our economy and give legislation that will reauthorize the trician and gynecologist to be an advo- more and better jobs to middle and Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost cate for women. working class Americans. While these are serious issues and sharing for the endangered fish recov- With the strongest and most un- they necessitate a sense of urgency and ery implementation programs in the equivocal terms I can voice, Mr. Speak- bold actions, they are all but irrelevant er, I rise to condemn sexual harass- Upper Colorado and San Juan River ba- if we experience a sovereign debt crisis.