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HOUSE FLOOR HERE ON C-SPAN.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER COUGHLIN.
COGE COG TOGETHER, LET US TAKE
THE WORDS OF DANIEL WEBSTER
WHICH HANG HIGH OVER THE
SPEAKER'S CHAIR AND MAKE THEM
OUR OWN PRAYER TODAY.
LORD GOD, LET OUR AGE BE THE
AGE OF IMPROVEMENT.
IN A DAY OF PEACE LET US
ADVANCE THE ARTS OF PEACE AND
WORKS OF PEACE.
LET US DEVELOP THE RESOURCES OF
OUR LAND, CALL FORTH ITS
POWERS, BUILD UP ITS
INSTITUTIONS, PROMOTE ALL ITS
GREAT INTERESTS, AND SEE
WHETHER WE ALSO IN OUR DAY AND
OUR GENERATION MAY NOT PERFORM
SOMETHING TO BE REMEMBERED.
LET US CULTIVATE A TRUE SPIRIT
OF UNION AND HARMONY.
LET OUR CONCEPTION BE CHARGED
AND ENLARGED TO THE CIRCLE OF
OUR DUTIES.
LET US EXTEND OUR IDEAS OVER
THE WHOLE OF THE VAST FIELD IN
WHICH WE ARE CALLED TO ACT.
LET OUR OBJECT BE OUR COUNTRY,
OUR WHOLE COUNTRY, AND NOTHING
BUT OUR COUNTRY.
BY YOUR BLESSING, ALMIGHTY GOD,
MAY THE COUNTRY ITSELF BECOME A
VAST AND SPLENDID MONUMENT NOT
OF OPPRESSION AND TERROR, BUT
OF WISDOM, OF PEACE, AND OF
LIBERTY UPON WHICH THE WORLD
MAY GAZE WITH ADMIRATION
FOREVER.
AMEN.
THE
CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE JUREM OF
THE LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND
ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1,
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
MR. SPEAKER.
FOR
FROM ARKANSAS RISE?
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
MR. SPEAKER, PURSUANT TO
CLAUSE 1, RULE 1, I DEMAND A
VOTE ON AGREEING TO THE
SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE
JOURNAL.
THE
QUESTION IS ON AGREEING TO THE
JOURNAL.
SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY
AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
MR. SPEAKER, --
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARKANSAS SEEK RECOGNITION?
REQUEST THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE ON THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL PLEASE RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20
, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION ARE POSTPONED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL
BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS, MR. WOMACK.
THOSE IN THE
GALLERY PLEASE JOIN US AS WE
RECITE THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH
IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER
GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM IOWA RISE?
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER,
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST TO
REMOVE THE NAME OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
HUNTER, FROM H.R. 1093.
IT WAS ADDED INADVERTENTLY DUE
TO A CLERICAL ERROR.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN
REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER,
REMARKABLY THE RELIABLY
DEMOCRATIC "WASHINGTON POST" IN
A LEAD EDITORIAL LAST WEEK
QUOTED SENATOR BARACK OBAMA IN
2006 SAYING, QUOTE, THE FACT WE
ARE HERE TODAY TO DEBATE
AMERICA'S DEBT LIMIT IS A SIGN
OF LEADERSHIP FAILURE.
WASHINGTON IS SHIFTING THE
BURDEN OF BAD CHOICES TODAY ON
TO THE BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN.
END OF QUOTE.
TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA IS
WARNING THAT THE DEBT LIMIT
MUST BE PASSED OR THERE WOULD
BE ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON.
SADLY IT IS MORE CLEAR THAN
EVER THAT RECKLESS GOVERNMENT
BORROWING IS OUT OF CONTROL
WITH THE PRESIDENT PROPOSING A
NIGHTMARE OF ENDLESS BORROWING.
FOR A DEBT LIMIT INCREASE THERE
SHOULD BE REAL REFORMS TO END
OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING.
FORMER SENATOR PHIL GRAMM OF
TEXAS POINTED OUT REPUBLICANS
AGREE THAT FAMILIES AND NATIONS
SHOULD ALWAYS HONOR THEIR
DEBTS, IN SO DOING THEY SHOULD
ALSO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T PILE
UP NEW DEBT.
FOR A CONGRESS IT MEANS PASSING
BUDGET REFORMS THAT IMPOSE HARD
AND ENFORCEABLE LIMITS ON NEW
SPENDING AND DEBT.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO
WORK TOGETHER TRULY TO PROTECT
SENIOR CITIZENS, YOUNGER
GENERATIONS, AND CREATE JOBS.
SPECIFIC REFORMS ARE NEEDED TO
PROTECT AMERICAN FAMILIES.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SPENCH AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM.
-- SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL
WAR ON TERRORISM.
FOR
FROM CONNECTICUT RISE?
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
YESTERDAY GOLDMAN
SACHS, THE INVESTMENT FIRM,
CAME OUT WITH AN AMAZING
STATEMENT WHICH IS THAT $27 PER
BARREL OF OIL TODAY IS THE
RESULT OF EXCESSIVE SPECULATION
AND DEMAND.
AND HAS NO CONNECTION TO SUPPLY
WHAT THAT MEANS IS A MOTORIST
IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT WHO
IS NOW PAYING $4 A GALLON FOR
GALLON.
GAS SHOULD BE PAYING ONLY $3 A
BUT ALL THE SPECULATION WHICH
OIL DELIVERY GUYS AND GAS
STATION OWNERS HAVE BEEN
SCREAMING ABOUT FOR THE LAST
THREE MONTHS IS THE FACTOR
THAT'S DRIVING UP THE PRICE OF
GAS.
THE COMMODITIES TRADING
COMMISSION LAST YEAR IN THE
DODD-FRANKS WALL STREET REFORM
BILL WAS GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO
LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF OUTSIDE
SPECULATORS PARTICIPATION IN
THE ENERGY FUTURES TRADING
MARKETS.
THEY HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED THOSE
RULES.
IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO ACT.
I WOULD ASK, MR. SPEAKER, TO
ENTER A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE
COMMISSIONERS SAYING THAT THE
BLISTERING PACE OF SPECULATION
IS THE COST OF THE RISING GAS
PRICES.
IT IS TIME FOR THE CFTC TO
ISSUE THESE NEW RULES AND
PROTECT AMERICA'S CONSUMERS AND
SMALL BUSINESSES.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
SPEAKER FOR THE RECOGNITION.
MR. SPEAKER, TODAY
CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH CAUCUS WAS
JOINED BY GOVERNOR HALEY
BARBOUR OF MISSISSIPPI AS PART
OF OUR THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES.
HIS LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE
IN HIS HOME STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI IS AN EXAMPLE HOW
STATES CAN TAKE A MORE
PROMINENT ROLE AND IN DOING SO
BEND THE COST CURVE IN THE
CORRECT DIRECTION.
IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR
MEDICAID, WHICH IS A JOINT
FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAM, COST
OUR COUNTRY MORE THAN $400
BILLION.
AND THE PRICE IS ONLY EXPECTED
COME.
TO INCREASE IN THE YEARS TO
GOVERNOR BARBOUR HAS BEEN A
LEADER IN TRANSFORMING MEDICAID
IN HIS HOME STATE.
HE'S MADE COMMONSENSE DECISIONS
TO REDUCE RISING DRUG COSTS, TO
ENSURE PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE
PROGRAM ARE INDEED ELIGIBLE FOR
THE PROGRAM.
COORDINATED CARE, INCREASED
COMPLIANCE, ALL HAVE LED TO
IMPROVED OUTCOMES OF THE THE
PATIENT PROTECTION AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT WILL ONLY COMPOUND THE
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT STATES
ARE FACING.
IN 2014 STATES WILL SEE THEIR
MEDICAID ENROLLMENT GROW
SUBSTANTIALLY WHEN ALL PEOPLE
BELOW 138% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL WILL BE COVERED.
IT'S ESSENTIAL WE EXAMINE THIS
AND OTHER PARTS OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO ENSURE
THAT OUR STATES ARE NOT PUSHED
INTO AN EVEN DEEPER BUDGETARY
CRISIS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
$14.4 TRILLION.
THAT'S THE APPROXIMATE SIZE OF
OUR NATION'S ECONOMY.
$14.2 TRILLION, THAT'S THE SIZE
OF OUR NATION'S DEBT.
A RECORD HIGH AND GROWING.
SOON OUR DEBT WILL SURPASS OUR
ECONOMY.
LET'S BE CLEAR.
NO NATION THAT DEEP IN THE RED
CAN LEAD AS IT MUST OR GO ON
LIVING AS IT WISHES FOR VERY
MUCH LONGER.
OUR SPENDING DRIVEN DEBT CRISIS
IS ADDING SERIOUS UNCERTAINTY
TO OUR ECONOMY WHICH IS
PREVENTING BUSINESSES FROM
EXPANDING, INNOVATING, AND
CREATING JOBS.
ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF, HAS RIGHTLY CALLED OUR
DEBT, QUOTE, THE GREATEST
SINGLE THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY, END QUOTE.
IF WE WANT TO BRING CONFIDENCE
BACK TO OUR ECONOMY, JOBS BACK
TO OUR CITIZENS, AND HOPE BACK
TO OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE, WE
HAVE TO STOP SPENDING MONEY
THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
IT'S TIME FOR THE SENATE
DEMOCRATS TO STAND UP AND JOIN
THIS FIGHT.
I YIELD BACK, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK HER
TIME.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE