John Garamendi

I think I have been through too many of these. Electronic health records are now standard in virtually every health system in the Nation. And every one of them have made mistakes and in most every system the first effort failed. But we…

I would appreciate it if you could provide to the committee a continuous update on the progress by both the Coast Guard and the shipping industry in addressing the multiple recommendations that you have made.

Our role here with regard to the Coast Guard is to make sure they are doing their task of maritime safety.

If you have a system in place to improve the review and oversight not only of the work you--that the Coast Guard is doing, but also of the various organizations to whom you have assigned responsibility, this committee would like to have…

Well, we are towards the end of January here, and I suppose you have a tracking system in place so that you know that there are improvements underway?

The question is, why are we back with the same recommendations to address the tragedy of the El Faro?

Let's get on with the hearing. Without objection, my testimony will be in the record.

We can avoid that, I think, by working together here.

The disaster supplemental has a very special opportunity for certain parts of the Nation.

I intend to continue talking about this until we do get a new start, or maybe we will just get ourselves something called an earmark.

If just 5 percent of that were on American-built ships, we are talking some seven ships.

I couldn't agree with you more on your point about the Jones Act and a cornerstone.

Well, our goal is to make sure this industry remains strong for the benefit of the committee members here.

Is there a timeframe in which that letter of nonavailability is applicable, or is it just available and then goes on for an unlimited period of time?

So there is doubt as to whether or not the Outer Continental Shelf is subject to the Jones Act?

It seems to me that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act is very, very clear that it is a Jones Act region.

We will hold you accountable for your efforts and for your activity and investigating, quantifying, and fully developing the information about all cargo that is impelled on American ships.

If you are not willing to do that, and if you are not active--and I hope you would be very, very aggressive at this--it will move us towards more cargo, rather than less.

The more active and the more aggressive you are in investigating, quantifying, and reporting on these cargo opportunities and missed opportunities, the more likely it is that we will develop the cargo.

Second, we need to address the need to find new cargoes for the U.S.-flag vessels in both the international and coastwide trades.

First and foremost, we cannot become complacent in our defense of the Jones Act and our efforts, along with many other organizations, some of whom will be testifying this morning, to raise public awareness of the need for and the many…

Well, let's start with Russia.

Reclaiming my time, I thank Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Cicilline, and Mrs. Bustos for developing the Better Deal program for our caucus. Mr. Speaker, I am going to end where I started. So, for the American people, I want them to know where we are…

However, a corporation that decides to close that plant, that facility, that laid off that individual, and open a factory in China can deduct the cost of doing that?

Reclaiming my time, did I hear the gentleman correctly that an individual who lost their job, for whatever reason, and moves to another State can no longer deduct the moving expense? Is that correct?