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ISSUE GIVEN LITTLE ATTENTION
EXCEPT BY MR. MCKEON AND MR.
SMITH.
I ASK THAT YOU DO REVIEW THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH.
CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FLORIDA.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I AM PLEASED TO
YIELD TO MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
OHIO, MR. KUCINICH, TWO MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU.
AUTHORIZES PERMANENT
WARFARE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT GIVES THE PRESIDENT UNCHECKED
POWER TO PURSUE WAR.
IT DIMINISHES THE ROLE OF THIS
CONGRESS, THE FOUNDERS SAW
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8 OF THE
CONSTITUTION WHICH PLACES IN THE
HANDS OF CONGRESS THE WAR POWER
AS ESSENTIAL TO A CHECK AND
BALANCE AGAINST THE EXECUTIVE
ABUSE OF POWER.
THIS LEGISLATION DIMINISHES
CONGRESS' ROLE IN THAT REGARD.
THIS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES THE
MILITARY TO INDEFINITELY DETAIN
INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT CHARGE OR
TRIAL, INCLUDING THE DETENTION
OF U.S. CITIZENS ON U.S. SOIL.
IN SHORT, WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS
IT TAKES A WRECKING BALL TO THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
GIVES ENORMOUS POWER TO THE
GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE.
I WANT FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
STATE MORE
POWER OVER INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS
BILL.
IT'S THE WRONG DIRECTION.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A WORLD
WITHOUT END, NOT A WORLD WITHOUT
END, OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A
WORLD WHERE THEY KNOW THE
GOVERNMENT WILL PROTECT THEM
THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO RULE OVER
THEM BY INVADING THEIR VERY
THOUGHTS AND GOING AS THE
PATRIOT ACT DOES INTO THEIR
BEDROOMS OR INTO -- EXCUSE ME,
INTO THEIR BANKING RECORDS OR
INTO THEIR EDUCATIONAL RECORDS.
WE GOT TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT
OUT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, STOP THE
GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING MORE
INTO WAR WHICH GIVES THE
GOVERNMENT MORE CONTROL OVER
PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE TIME WE TAKE A STAND
FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND A STAND
SMALLER WHEN IT COMES ON MATTERS
OF WAR.
THANK YOU.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH.
MR. SPEAKER, I WISH
TO YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
RECOGNIZED.
--
IN THE YEAR WE HAVE
BEEN HERE DISCUSSING THESE
THINGS WE HAVE TALKED A LOT
ABOUT BUDGET PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN
THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S MY CONTENTION THAT OUR
BUDGET IS NOT JUST WE HAVE BEEN
SPENDING TOO MUCH BUT WE HAVE
BEEN SPENDING ON TOO MUCH.
ONE OF THE THINGS, THOUGH, THAT
WE SHOULD BE SPENDING IS OF
COURSE MILITARY ISSUES.
ARTICLE 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION
CLEARLY STATES THE DEFENSE OF
THIS COUNTRY IS A CORE
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND FOR THAT THERE MUST BE
GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO ARE
REQUIRED TO DO THIS.
THAT IS WHAT IT SHOULD INDEED
BE.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A
PRESIDENT AND ADMINISTRATION
THAT HAS DECIDED THERE SHOULD BE
SOME FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS ON
THIS PARTICULAR AREA, INDEED IT
MEANS REDUCING SPENDING
SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE MILITARY,
NOT NECESSARILY OTHER AREAS.
THE RESULT OF THIS WILL BE AS
HAS BEEN SHOWN IN TESTIMONY THAT
WE WILL CREATE AN ARMY SMALLER
THAN ANY ARMY WE HAVE HAD SINCE
WORLD WAR II, A NAVY AT ITS
SMALLEST SINCE WORLD WAR I, AND
AN AIR FORCE THAT IS SMALLER AND
OLDER THAN ANY TIME IN THIS
AND TO DO THAT THERE WILL AT
LEAST BE 100,000 UNIFORMED JOBS
245 WILL BE -- THAT WILL BE CUT,
DESTROYED, AND REDUCED.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK
THAT SIMPLY CUTTING A FEW
SOLDIERS, AIRMEN, FEW SAILORS
WILL BE AN EASY SOLUTION TO THIS
THAT IS NAIVE.
IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
WHAT IT MEANS, THOUGH, IS ALSO
PROGRAMS MUST BE CUT AT THE SAME
TIME.
WE HAVE ACQUISITION WHICH BUYS
NEW MATERIALS FOR OUR SOLDIERS
AND SUSTAINMENT WHICH FIXES IT.
THAT MEANS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS
OUR MAINTENANCE AND SUSTAINMENT
SITE WILL HAVE EVEN GREATER
REQUIREMENTS OF THEM BECAUSE OF
THE DECISIONS THE ADMINISTRATION
HAS FOISTED AND WE WILL BE
MAKING IN THIS AND THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO COME
LATER.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNITED STATES
OWNED AIR SUPERIORITY EVER
SINCE THE KOREAN WAR AND WE TAKE
IT FOR GRANTED.
YET THE F-16'S WE FLY TO
MAINTAIN THAT WERE FLYING AT
150% OF THEIR DESIGNED CAPACITY
WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THIS
YET THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATION
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THAT
WILL DEFICIT DECIDED NOT TO
BUILD ANY MORE F-22'S AND
PLAYING THE F-35 WHICH DOES
PRODUCE AND PUT OUR AIR
SUPERIORITY IN JEOPARDY.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLANE FOR AN
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BOAT FOR
A NAVY.
AND THEY COST MONEY.
IN EACH CASE WE WILL HAVE THE
OLDEST EQUIPMENT.
THAT MEANS WHEN MEN AND WOMEN GO
INTO BATTLE TO DEFEND THIS
COUNTRY WE ARE EEQUIPPING THEM
WITH THE OLDEST PRODUCTS THEY
WILL EVER HAVE TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND THAT OLD STUFF
REQUIRES MASSIVE MAINTENANCE IF
YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO DO THAT.
BUT WHAT WE ARE REQUIRING TO DO
IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET IF WE
GO ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT'S
REQUEST FOR MAKING BIGGER AND
BIGGER CUTS IN THE DEFENSE OF
THIS COUNTRY, IS TAKING THOSE
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE
THAT MAINTENANCE EFFORT, THAT DO
THAT SUSTAINMENT, THAT MAKE
THOSE EQUIPMENT LAST LONGER THAN
THEY WERE DESIGNED TO LAST.
WE ARE TAKING THEM OUT OF THE
THE END RESULT FOR THE MASSIVE
CUTS WE ARE LOOKING ABOUT IN THE
MILITARY BOTH PROPOSED BY THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND THEY GO
INTO EFFECT BECAUSE OF
RESCISSION BY THE FAILED
SUPERCOMMITTEE WILL BE ANYWHERE
BETWEEN 100 AND HALF MILLION
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND THIS
VITAL FUNCTION IN THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL FUNCTION, THAT
WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS.
IF YOU GO TO THE WORST CASE
SCENARIO IT MAY BE A MILLION
EMPLOYEES.
I MENTION THAT SPECIFICALLY
BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD OFTEN AND
OFTEN WHERE ARE THE JOBS BILLS?
THIS JOB HAS PASSED A NUMBER OF
JOB BILLS TO PROMOTE PRIVATE
SECTOR GROWTH.
YET AT THE SAME TIME WE NOW HAVE
A SITUATION WHERE INDEED THE
RIGHT HAND DOES NOT KNOW WHAT
THE LEFT HAND IS DOING.
THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO
ARE GOING AROUND SAYING THAT WE
HAVE TO PASS AND ARE NOT
PILLORING 24 CONGRESS FOR NOT
PASSING BIGGER AND BIGGER
MORE AND MORE
GOVERNMENT JOBS WHICH IS
QUESTIONABLE IF WE SHOULD BE
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT WE
ARE BEING PILLORED FOR NOT DOING
THAT, WE ARE BEING PRESENTED BY
THE LEFT HAND WITH A PROPOSAL
THAT WILL CUT EXISTING CIVILIAN
JOBS IN AREAS WHERE WE ARE
ACTUALLY -- ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO
HAVE THEM AND MAINTAIN THEM.
IF WE DON'T -- CONSTITUTIONALLY
REQUIRED TO HAVE THEM AND
MAINTAIN THEM.
IF WE DON'T FIND THAT
INCONSISTENT, IT IS A PROBLEM IN
NOT FACING REALITY.
WE HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT PASS MORE
GOVERNMENT JOBS, THE SAME PEOPLE
DEMANDING THAT NOW IN THIS AREA
CUT MORE GOVERNMENT JOBS.
THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY WITH
AND THE SAD PART IS THE LEFT
HAND, THE ONE THAT IS DEFENDING
THIS COUNTRY WITH THE NEEDS OF
THE MILITARY WHICH IS OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY,
THOSE ARE THE ONES WHICH ARE
APPROPRIATE AND THOSE ARE THE
JOBS THAT ARE NEEDED, AND THOSE
ARE THE JOBS THAT ARE NOT BEING
PROTECTED IN THE FUTURE.
WE MUST MAKE SOME DECISIONS IN
CONGRESS ON WHAT IS
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT TO US
AND THIS IS AN AREA WHICH WE
IN THE
WE MUST CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT
JOBS, BUT WE HAVE TO REALIZE IF
YOU WANT MORE JOBS, YOU CAN'T GO
ABOUT CUTTING THE JOBS, AND
UNFORTUNATELY THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO PLAY
BOTH OF THOSE ENDS AND IT IS
UNFORTUNATE.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, AFTER
MY GOOD FRIEND FROM UTAH SPOKE I
JUST -- I GUESS I SAY WOW.
LAST NIGHT I REMINDED HIM THAT
MILITARY PEOPLE ARE GOVERNMENT
WORKERS ALSO.
INDEED, I DO, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
AND TOWARD THAT END WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT CUTS AND MY FRIEND TALKED
ABOUT PASSING ON SPENDING, I'M
CURIOUS WHEN $1 BILLION WALKS
AWAY IN IRAQ AND NOBODY KNOWS
ASK MY FRIEND
TO TELL THOSE SOLDIERS THAT FORT
BRAGG, WHERE PRESIDENT AND MRS.
OBAMA HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM TODAY,
THAT ARE RETURNING HOME, WHY
THEY WERE IN IRAQ AND WHAT IS IT
THAT WE PROTECTED BY SPENDING $1
TRILLION, WHY IS IT WE ARE
SENDING MONEY TO CORRUPT
GOVERNMENTS AND SOMEWHERE ALONG
THE LINE I THINK WE'LL COME UP
WITH SOME ANSWERS THAT WE HAD
ENOUGH MONEY TO SPEND BUT WE
SPENT IT ON THINGS THAT WE
SHOULD NOT HAVE.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M VERY PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY VERY
GOOD FRIEND FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
ANDREWS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, FOR MANY AMERICAN
FAMILIES THEY WILL ONLY BE ABLE
TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY IF
THEY FORGET ABOUT THE BURDENS OF
THEIR DAILY LIVES.
SOME ARE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR
JOBS, OTHERS ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE
TIME.
SOME ARE WORRIED THEY CAN'T PAY
FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE.
OTHERS ARE WORRIED THEY ARE NEXT
THIS CONGRESS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY
ON THIS DAY TO ADDRESS THOSE
PROBLEMS.
YESTERDAY THE HOUSE TOOK ACTION
ON A BILL THAT, FRANKLY, ISN'T
GOING TO GO ANYWHERE TO ADDRESS
THESE PROBLEMS.
AND TODAY'S THE DAY WE OUGHT TO
ENACT A BILL THAT WILL.
ON JANUARY 1 EVERYONE WHO EARNS
WAGES IN THIS COUNTRY IS FACING
A TAX INCREASE IF THIS CONGRESS
DOESN'T ACT.
$1,000 A YEAR TAX INCREASE ON
THE MIDDLE CLASS.
WE SHOULD SUSPEND THAT TAX
INCREASE TODAY.
MANY PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THEY'LL
HAVE NO INCOME, NO CHECK, AND TO
THOSE WHO SAY, WELL, THEY SHOULD
GO FIND A JOB, YOU SHOULD WALK
IN THE SHOES OF THOSE WHO ARE IN
THAT PREDICAMENT BECAUSE HERE'S
WHAT YOU'D FIND.
FOR EVERY ONE JOB THAT'S
AVAILABLE IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE
ARE FOUR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR IT.
SO FAILING TO EXTEND
IS CRAVEN
IN MY OPINION.
ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY DOCTORS
WHO TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS,
OUR GRANDMOTHERS, OUR
GRANDFATHERS, OUR DISABLED
CITIZENS WILL SEE A 23% CUT IN
WHAT MEDICARE PAYS THEM.
IF WE DO NOT ACT BY DECEMBER 31.
YESTERDAY'S BILL WAS DEFICIENT
IN SO MANY WAYS, BUT HERE'S TWO
OF THE REAL BIG ONES.
FIRST OF ALL IT ATTACHED
EXTRANEOUS PROVISIONS ABOUT
WHETHER TO BUILD A OIL PIPELINE,
SOME PEOPLE ARE FOR IT, OTHERS
ARE NOT.
IT DOESN'T BELONG IN THAT BILL.
AND SECOND, A LARGE WAY THE BILL
WAS PAID FOR WAS TO BLAME THE
UNEMPLOYED AND TO SAY WE ARE
GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT'S IN THAT
BILL BY CUTTING THEIR BENEFITS.
THAT'S WRONG.
WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE SAYING IS WE
CAN HOLD DOWN THE TAXES -- I
WOULD ASK FOR 30 MORE SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN AN ADDITIONAL 30
SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 30 MORE SECONDS.
SPEAKER.
WE CAN HOLD DOWN THE TAXES OF
THE MIDDLE CLASS, WE CAN FAIRLY
EXTEND BENEFITS FOR THE
UNEMPLOYED, WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR
DOCTORS WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OUR
SENIORS AND DISABLED PEOPLE IF
WE ASK THE HEDGE FUND MANAGERS
AND THE MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES OF THIS COUNTRY TO
PAY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE WILL GIVE THE HOUSE AN
OPPORTUNITY THIS AFTERNOON TO
VOTE ON THAT BILL, THESE THE
BILL WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING.
IF WE DO WE CAN THEN PROCEED
IMMEDIATELY WITH PASSING THIS
BADLY NEEDED DEFENSE BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
YESTERDAY THE HOUSE DID ACT IN A
NOW IT'S UP TO THE SENATE TO
ACT, AMEND, CHANGE, ANYTHING
EXCEPT JUST SITTING THERE AND
NOT TAKING ACTION.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD A MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
FLAKE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I RISE IN
OF SECTION 1245 IN THE
CONFERENCE REPORT.
TO REQUIRE WHAT WE HOPE ARE
CRIPPLING SANCTIONS ON THE
CENTRAL BANK OF IRAN.
THESE PROVISIONS OFFERED IN A
BIPARTISAN AMENDMENT IN THE
OTHER CHAMBER AND APPROVED BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE WOULD SEVERELY
LIMIT THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO
THE IRANIAN REGIME TO USE IN ITS
PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION AS A
STANDALONE BILL HERE IN
CONGRESS AND WE URGED THE
CONFEREES TO ACCEPT THE
LANGUAGE, WHICH THEY DID.
THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET TO
STOP THE IRANIAN REGIME FROM
ACQUIRING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, BUT
IF THERE IS A SWEET SPOT TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IT IS THE
BANK OF IRAN.
I AM PLEASED WITH THIS, I WOULD
URGE ADOPTION OF THAT SECTION
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
I HOPE THAT THIS SIGNALS OUR
INTENT, CERTAINLY TO ENSURE
THAT IRAN DOES NOT OBTAIN
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA.
WOULD YOU BE SO
KIND AS TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME
REMAINING ON EITHER SIDE.
GENTLEMAN --
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FLORIDA HAS 10 MINUTES
REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH HAS 18
1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TO MY FRIEND THE
DISTINGUISHEDWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. DAVIS, TWO
MINUTES.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
S THAT POSITIVE BILL FOR OUR
MILITARY FAMILIES.
WHEN WE MOVE TO THE BILL I'M
GOING TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THAT.
WHILE WE'RE ON THE RULE, I HAVE
TO EXPRESS MY IMMENSE
DISAPPOINTMENT THAT STILL, TO
THIS DAY, WE AS A CONGRESS WILL
NOT EVEN BRING TO THE TABLE, WE
WON'T EVEN LOOK AT THE FACT
THAT IF A MILITARY SERVICEWOMAN
IS *** AND BECOMES PREGNANT,
SHE DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AN
ABORTION PROCEDURE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS REALLY AN
OUTRAGE.
WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO HELP OUR
SERVICEWOMEN, WE SAY WE ARE
FINALLY STARTING TO TREAT THEM
AS THE WARRIORS THAT THEY ARE.
AND YET I ASK YOU, HOW MANY
WOMEN HAVE TO FIGHT AND DIE FOR
OUR COUNTRY IN ORDER TO HAVE
THE SAME RIGHTS AS WOMEN
SITTING IN FEDERAL PRISON?
THIS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO
ALL MILITARY WOMEN.
THEY VOLUNTEER TO TRAIN, THEY
VOLUNTEER TO DEPLOY, AND FIGHT
FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND WE REPAY
THEM BY TREATING THEM AS LESS
WORTHY THAN PRISONERS.
HONORING WOMEN IN OUR MILITARY
MEANS CHANGING THIS POLICY.
AND TREATING THEM WITH RESPECT.
HAVEN'T THEY EARNED THIS?
IT'S WELL PAST TIME TO SHOW
HAVE.
I RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
UTAH RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.
IF WE DEFEAT THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION, I'LL OFFER
AN AMENDMENT TO THE RULE TO
DEPROVIDE THAT IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE HOUSE ADOPT THIS IS
RULE IT WILL BRING UP THE
MIDDLE CLASS FAIRNESS AND
PUTTING AMERICA BACK TO WORK
ACT OF 2011, WHICH EXTENDS
MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF,
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND THE
MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT DOC FIX.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
INSERT IN THE TEXT OF THE
AMENDMENT IN THE RECORD ALONG
WITH EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE
ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AT THIS TIME I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. HAHN, TWO
MINUTES.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
FLORIDA FOR GIVING ME THIS
TIME.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES TO
DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO PASS A
CLEAN EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS AND THE PAYROLL TAX
CUT.
YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY, THE HOUSE
CHAPLAIN BEGAN THE DAY WITH A
REMINER THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE A
TIME OF -- REMINDER THAT THE
HOL LAYS -- HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME
OF HOPE.
IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT OF HOPE
THAT CONGRESS SHOULD EMBRACE
HAVE DARKENED RECENT
DISCUSSIONS.
LAST NIGHT MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS PASSED LEGISLATION THAT
HOWEVER WELL INTENDED HAS NO
CHANCE OF PASSING IN THE
SENATE.
IT DID NOT RECEIVE MY VOTE
BECAUSE LIKE MANY OF MY FELLOW
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE
SHOULD BE DEBATING
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES AS PART OF
THOSE EXTENSIONS.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT BUILDING A
PIPELINE THROUGH THE UNITED
STATES IS A GOOD IDEA, LET'S
HAVE THAT DEBATE.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE E.P.A.
SHOULDN'T REGULATE EMISSIONS
FROM CERTAIN INDUSTRIES AND
MACHINES, LET'S HAVE THAT
DEBATE.
HOWEVER, THOSE ISSUES CLOUD THE
NEED FOR EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS TO THOSE WHO CAN'T
FIND WORK.
AND IT CLOUDS THE BENEFITS FOR
AMERICAN FAMILIES THAT WOULD
GET AN EXTENSION OF THE PAYROLL
TAX WITHOUT.
I WANT TO WORK WITH MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS TO GET THIS
DONE.
I KNOW I'M NEW AROUND HERE, BUT
I THINK THAT MEANS PUTTING
ASIDE THESE OTHER ISSUES TO
DEBATE THEM ON THEIR OWN MERIT.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT
OF HOPE.
VOTE AGAINST THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION AND COME BACK TO THE
TABLE AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
UTAH.
I RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FLORIDA.
I ADVISE MY
FRIEND FROM UTAH, I'M GOING TO
BE THE LAST SPEAKER IF HE'S
READY TO CLOSE.
THERE MAY BE
ANOTHER SPEAKER COMING DOWN BUT
HE OR SHE IS NOT HERE SO IF YOU
WANT TO GO, I'LL TAKE HIM OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
MAY CONSUME.
RECOGNIZED.
IN THE MAD RUSH
TO GET HOME FOR CHRISTMAS,
WE'RE DELIVERING AN EARLY GIFT
TO THOSE WHO CRITICIZE OUR
TO OUR IDEALS.
WITH THIS LEGISLATION, WE'RE
UNDERMINING OVER 200 YEARS OF
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS.
WE'RE RETURNING AMERICAN
SOCIETY TO AN AGE WHEN AN
ALL-POWERFUL EXECUTIVE CAN
COMMAND UNACCOUNTABLE POWER
OVER PEOPLE'S LIVES.
TO CODIFY IN LAW THE POWER OF
THE PRESIDENT TO INDEFINITELY
AMERICAN CITIZENS
WITHOUT CHARGE OR TRIAL IS AN
EGREGIOUS AFFRONT TO OUR
NATION'S SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.
FRANZ CALF KA WROTE ABOUT IT
YEAR -- KAFKA WROTE ABOUT IT
YEARS AGO, IT'S KNOWN AS
KAFKA-ESQUE.
10 YEARS OF WAR, OF RUNAWAY
DEFENSE SPENDING OR OF THE
PATRIOT ACT, TORTURE, AND
EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION, AND WE
ARE STILL RESPONDING TO THE
TERRORIST THREAT WITH A KNEE
JERK REACTION DEVOID OF REASON
AND COMMON SENSE.
THIS LEGISLATION SAYS THAT OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DO NOT
WORK, THAT OUR JUDICIARY, OUR
COURT SYSTEM, DOES NOT WORK.
THIS LEGISLATION SAYS THAT THE
PRESIDENT CAN, ALONE, DECIDE
WHO IS GUILTY OR INNOCENT.
I WOULD REMIND MY FRIENDS THAT
BRAUKING -- THAT BARACK OBAMA
MAY BE THE PRESIDENT ALL THE
TIME.
BUT NO PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE
UNTRAMMELED AUTHORITY TO
DETERMINE INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
IT PUTS THE LIE TO THE JUDICIAL
BRAMPLING OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND
TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF
OUR GOVERNMENT.
THIS LEGISLATION GOES TOO FAR.
IF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY WERE
SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING THIS BODY
CAREFULLY CONSIDER OUR NATION'S
DEFENSE POLICIES, MEMBERS WOULD
HAVE HAD MORE THAN TWO DAYS TO
REVIEW THE MORE THAN 1,000
PAGES COVERING $600 BILLION IN
SPENDING.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
AGAINST THIS RULE AND THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH.
LET ME REITERATE ONE MORE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RECOGNIZES HIMSELF FOR AS MUCH
TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.
I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO RECOGNIZE MYSELF FOR SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
OR EVEN LESS.
THIS BILL HAS GONE THROUGH
REGULAR ORDER AS NO OTHER BILL
HAS.
WENT THROUGH ITS COMMITTEE IN
REGULAR ORDER AND WAS PASSED
OUT IN AN OVERWHELMINGLY
BIPARTISAN VOTE, 60-1.
CAME ON THE FLOOR WITH 152
AMENDMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED AND
WAS PASSED OUT WITH AN
OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN VOTE.
WENT TO THE SENATE, WAS PASSED
OUT IN AN OVERWHELMING
BIPARTISAN VOTE AND THE
CONFERENCE REPORT WAS SIGNED BY
THE CONFEREES IN A CLEAR,
BIPARTISAN EFFORT.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE GOOD BILLS
THAT DOES AUTHORIZE OUR
MILITARY FORCES THROUGH FISCAL
YEAR 2012 AND IT IS
BUT I WOULD LIKE IN CLOSING TO
TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE ISSUES
THAT I THINK WAS BROUGHT UP AND
BROUGHT UP WITH SOME
EXAGGERATION TO THE CONTENT OF
WHAT IS THERE THAT DEALS
SPECIFICALLY WITH MILITARY
DETAINEES.
IT IS VERY CLEAR, BOTH
CONGRESSMAN MCKEON, CHAIRMAN OF
THE COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN
SMITH, THE RANKING MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE, SPOKE AT LENGTH
IN RULES COMMITTEE ON THIS
SPECIFIC ISSUE.
THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT THE
ISSUE, THEY ADDRESSED THE
ISSUE.
LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR.
EVERYTHING IN THIS LAW THAT
DEALS WITH RETIRE YESES DOES
NOT CHANGE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE,
OR FORM, EXISTING LAW.
IT DOES NOT DENY ANYONE HABEAS
CORPUS OPPORTUNITY.
THAT IS NOT WAIVED IN ANY WAY,
SHAPE, OR FORM.
LET ME QUOTE FROM MR. SMITH,
THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE
COMMITTEE, WHEN HE SAID, WHEN
TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS,
HE SIMPLY SAID THAT THERE IS
POSSIBILITY OF ATTENTION
WITHOUT A NORM -- DETENTION
WITHOUT A NORMAL CRIMINAL
CHARGE BUT EVEN IF YOU DO THAT,
WHICH ONCE AGAIN THE PRESIDENT
SAID HE WON'T DO, BUT EVEN IF
YOU DID THAT IN CERTAIN
ISOLATED CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT
COULD BE NECESSARY UNDER THE
LAW OF WAR, EVEN IF YOU DO
THAT, HABEAS CORPUS STILL
APPLIES, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE
TO HAVE A HEARING IN FRONT OF A
FEDERAL JUDGE TO MAKE YOUR CASE
UNDER THE LAW FOR WHY YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT TO DETAIN THIS
PERSON.
AND TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO
SHOW THERE IS A CONNECTION TO
AL QAEDA AND THE TALIBAN AND
YOU HAVE TO SHOW THERE IS A
THREAT THAT THEY PRESENT, SO
HABEAS CORPUS APPLIES TO
EVERYONE, WHETHER THEY ARE A
CITIZEN, ILLEGAL ALIEN, OR A
NONCITIZEN.
HABEAS CORPUS STILL APPLIES.
IT IS VERY CLEAR IN BOTH
SECTIONS 1021 AND 1022 THAT
PROTECTIONS FOR AMERICAN
THERE.
IN THE SENATE, THEY ADDED IN
1021 THE WORDS, NOTHING IN THIS
SECTION SHALL BE CON STRURED TO
AFFECTING EXISTING LAW --
CONSTRUED TO AFFECTING EXISTING
LAW OR AUTHORITYING RELATING TO
U.S. CITIZENS, LAWFUL RESIDENTS
OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY
OTHER PERPS CAPTURED OR
ARRESTED IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN 1022 IT MAKES IT VERY CLEAR,
BEFORE SOMEBODY CAN BE
DETAINED, THERE ARE TWO
STANDARDS WHICH MUST BE MET.
OF ALL, THERE HAS TO BE
ASSOCIATION WITH AN ARMED FORCE
THAT IS IN COORDINATION AND
ACTING AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
AND, NOT JUST MEMBER, BUT THEY
HAVE TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN
THE COURSE OF PLANNING OR
CARRYING OUT ATTACKS OR
ATTEMPTED ATTACKS AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES OR ITS COALITION
PARTNERS.
CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND PICK
PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, THERE
HAS TO BE A STANDARD, AND
EVERYONE GETS HABEAS CORPUS
RIGHTS IN ALL THESE EVENTS.
LET ME REPORT -- QUOTE AGAIN
FROM THE LAW, THE BILL WE ARE
DEBATING.
THE REQUIREMENT TO DETAIN A
PERSON IN MILITARY CUSTODY
UNDER THIS SECTION, THIS POWER,
DOES NOT EXTEND TO CITIZENS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T DO THIS
KIND OF DETAINMENT AGAINST A
CITIZEN OR LAWFUL AIM YEN OF
THE UNITED STATES.
ONLY IN THIS SECTION -- LAWFUL
ALIEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
ONLY IN THIS SECTION AND THE
OTHER SECTION YOU HAVE TO MEET
SPECIAL CRITERIA THAT ARE NOT
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE
IT MEANS IN THE PAST HISTORY OF
THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY
IN SOME OF OUR WARTIMES, THERE
HAVE BEEN PRESIDENTS WE USED TO
SAY WOULD THROW PEOPLE IN JAIL
WHO OPPOSED THEM.
PRESIDENT OBAMA COULD STILL DO
THAT, THUNDER STATUTE BUT NOT
WITH THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE,
IN THIS BILL.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS
WRITTEN FOR AMERICAN SIT ZEPPS,
FOR LEGAL ALIENS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
IT IS ONLY A VERY RESTRICTED
AUTHORITY AND VERY RESTRICTED
POWER AND DOESN'T AFFECT HABEAS
CORPUS OR CHANGE EXISTING LAW.
IN ESSENCE, THOSE PEOPLE WHO
WORKED IN COMMITTEE ON THIS
BILL HAVE DONE A OWEMAN'S WORK
IN COMING UP WITH -- A YEOMAN'S
WORK IN COMING UP WITH A GOOD
THEY CAME UP WITH A GOOD
CONFERENCE REPORT.
THIS IS A GOOD RULE A STANDARD
CONFERENCE RULE.
WITH THE ONLY EXCEPTION THAT WE
STILL MUST BE VERY CAREFUL THAT
IF WE FOLLOW THE
ADMINISTRATION'S ADVICE, AND
CUT OUR MILITARY SPENDING TOO
MUCH, NOT ONLY ARE WE PUTTING
OUR MILITARY IN JEOPARDY AND
OUR EQUIPMENT IN JEOPARDY BUT
WE ARE DESTOYING JOBS WHICH IS
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE DOING
IN THIS PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD.
I WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO VOTE
FOR THIS RULE AND I WOULD URGE
EVERYONE TO VOTE FOR THE
UNDERLYING BILL AND WITH THAT,
MR. SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN --
THE GENTLEMAN
YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN MOVE THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION?
MR. SPEAKER, IN
CLOSING I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
URGE ADOPTION OF THE RULE, THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION, YIELD
BACK MY TIME AND MOVE THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION.
THE QUESTION IS ON
ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO.
I ASK FOR THE
YEAS AND NAYS.
THE YEAS AND NAYS
ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOLT BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS -- A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE
20, THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO
FIVE MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME
FOR ANY ELECTRONIC VOTE ON THE
QUESTION OF ADOPTION.
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 235RK
THE NAYS ARE 173.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
ORDERED.
THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
PODSE THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
MR. SPEAKER.
I ASK FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
A
RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 245.
THE NAYS ARE 169.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
TABLE.