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I thank the City of Saint Paul -- Mayor Coleman and Anne Hunt, as well as Drive Electric Minnesota, Xcel Energy, and all of our allies here today for their tireless work to create the partnerships necessary to make this city and Minnesota a leader by example on clean energy. This project is yet more evidence that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping to re-power America.

On March 23, 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law historic health care reform legislation: the Affordable Care Act. At the two-year anniversary of this landmark law, new data demonstrates the benefits that the law has already provided to seniors, young adults, small businesses, and many others in Congresswoman McCollum's district. As a result of the law:

In March 2012, the Department of Defense announced that thousands of military men and women are still owed back pay for an extension of their service obligation under Stop Loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 5, the so-called HEALTH Act. This misguided legislation undermines Medicare, raises deficits and restricts states' rights.

Last year, House Republicans voted to end the Medicare guarantee for seniors. Fortunately, Senate Democrats blocked this dangerous proposal from becoming law. Now, House Republicans are trying again to dismantle the program in their fiscal year 2013 budget proposal.

Each year, an estimated 21,000 Americans die from lung cancer caused by exposure to radon. This invisible, naturally-occurring, radioactive gas concentrates at dangerous levels in homes and persists for years, often without a family's knowledge. Minnesota is a national leader in reducing the risk of radon exposure. Our state's voluntary program includes educational curriculum, control programs, and targeted citizen outreach. This program has saved countless lives and become a model for other states to follow.