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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
THE
HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
A COMMUNICATION FROM THE
SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER'S ROOM,
WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 13,
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
TOM MCCLINTOCK TO ACT AS
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE ON THIS DAY
SIGNED, JOHN A. BOEHNER,
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
MEMBERS FROM LISTS SUBMITTED BY
THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS FOR MORNING HOUR
DEBATE.
THE CHAIR WILL ALTERNATE
RECOGNITION BETWEEN THE PARTIES
WITH EACH PARTY LIMITED TO ONE
THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS AND THE MINORITY WHIP
LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES EACH,
BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE
CONTINUE BEYOND 11:50 A.M.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
BLUMENAUER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
AS AMERICA PREPARES FOR THE
HOLIDAY SEASON AND THE NEW
YEAR, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAUSE
TO REFLECT ON OUR GOOD FORTUNE
AND ON THIS SEASON OF GOOD WILL
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OTHERS.
I HOPE THAT CONGRESS WILL GIVE
THE LIFE, THE GIFT OF LIFE,
HOPE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY TO
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, A GIFT
MOST AMERICANS TAKE FOR
GRANTED, SAFE WATER.
ALMOST A BILLION PEOPLE AROUND
THE GLOBE LACK ACCESS TO SAFE
DRINKING WATER AND OVER 2.5
BILLION DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
ADEQUATE SANITATION.
NUMBER ONE
HEALTH CHALLENGE IS
WATER-RELATED DISEASE.
HALF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK
TODAY ANYWHERE ON THIS PLANET
ARE SICK UNNECESSARILY FROM
WATER-BORNE DISEASE THAT ARE
PARTICULARLY BRUTAL ON THEIR
IMPACT ON CHILDREN.
90% OF THE DEATHS CAUSED ARE
CHILDREN UNDER 5.
THE 1.8 MILLION LIVES ARE LOST
IS MORE THAN AIDS, T.B. AND
MALARIA COMBINED.
IT'S ALSO A MAJOR CAUSE OF THE
STRUGGLE FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN INDIA, THE
ESTIMATE IS OVER $50 BILLION A
YEAR, MORE THAN 6% OF ITS
ECONOMY IS LOST DUE TO
INADEQUATE WATER AND
SANITATION.
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?
CHILDREN CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL
IF THEY ARE SICK FROM UNSAFE
DRINKING WATER.
PEOPLE WITH ILLNESSES OVERWHELM
THE FEW HOSPITALS AND CLINIC
GO TO WORK.
HOURS SPENT LOOKING FOR AND
CARRYING CLEAN WATER USUALLY BY
GIRLS AND WOMEN MEANS THAT
THEY'RE NOT ADDING EITHER TO
EDUCATION OR THE ECONOMIC
WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES.
HISTORICALLY, WATER HAS BEEN A
SOURCE OF CONFLICT, AND WITH
OVER 260 RIVER BASINS THAT
CROSS COUNTRY BORDERS, MANAGING
THIS VERY FINITE RESOURCE
WITHOUT CONFLICT WILL BE ONE OF
THE WORLD'S GREATEST SECURITY
IN THIS SEASON OF GOOD TYDINGS,
THERE IS GOOD NEWS -- TIDINGS,
THERE IS GOOD NEWS.
HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE
NEED TO WASH THEIR HANDS OR
PROVIDING THEM WITH SIMPLE
COMMONSENSE TECHNOLOGY IS KEY.
CHURCHES, PARISHES AND
SYNAGOGUES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN
UP THIS CHALLENGE, AND HUNDREDS
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE
BENEFITED.
IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO ACT.
IN 2005 THE BIPARTISAN PAUL
SIMON WATER FOR THE POOR ACT
HELPED US GET OUR ACT TOGETHER,
AND NOW WE HAVE NEW
LEGISLATION, WATER FOR THE
WORLD, WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED
TOMORROW WITH MY COLLEAGUE AND
FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN TED POE
FROM TEXAS, THE CHIEF
REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSOR.
IT BUILDS ON CURRENT UNITED
STATES EFFORTS, NOT BY
INCREASING FUNDS.
MAKE NO MISTAKE.
I HOPE WE DO INCREASE THE
INVESTMENT AROUND THE GLOBE.
BUT RIGHT NOW THIS LEGISLATION
WILL INCREASE EFFECTIVELY,
TRANSPARENCY AND
GIVEN THE STRAINS ON FEDERAL
RESOURCES AND THE DEPTH OF THE
NEED, IT IS ESSENTIAL WE TARGET
OUR EFFORTS AS EFFICIENTLY AS
POSSIBLE.
THE WATER FOR THE WORLD ACT
GIVES THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND
USAID TOOLS TO LEVERAGE
INVESTMENTS.
IT HELPS ELEVATE POSITIONS
WITHIN THE AGENCY TO COORDINATE
DIPLOMATIC POLICY AND IMPLEMENT
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC WATER
STRATEGIES.
THE HOUSE FOREIGN OPERATIONS
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE,
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KAY
GRANGER AND NITA LOWEY, HAVE
DONE THE BEST THEY CAN IN THIS
DIFFICULT BUDGET CLIMATE WITH
RESOURCES FOR POOR PEOPLE WITH
WATER AROUND THE WORLD.
NOW, CONGRESS NEEDS TO STEP UP
TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
PRECIOUS RESOURCES ARE USED AS
EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
I SINCERELY HOPE MY COLLEAGUES
WILL JOIN CONGRESSMAN POE AND
ME IN CO-SPONSORING THE WATER
FOR THE WORLD ACT AND THEN WORK
TO ENACT IT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM NORTH CAROLINA,
MS. FOXX, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR MILITARY
DESERVE OUR CONSTANT THANKS.
THOSE WHO BECOME INJURED WHILE
SERVING DESERVE ALL THAT WE CAN
DO FOR THEM.
MR. SPEAKER, I RECENTLY LEARNED
ABOUT A WONDERFUL AMERICAN
ORGANIZATION THAT IS SERVING
WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
THE ORGANIZATION IS CALLED
LUKE'S WINGS, AND IT HAS A
SIMPLE MESSAGE -- SIMPLE
MISSION -- TO BRING WOUNDED
WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES
TOGETHER.
FOR MANY FAMILIES OF THOSE
WOUNDED IN COMBAT, TRAVELING TO
WHERE THEIR WOUNDED SPOUSE OR
PARENT OR SIBLING CAN BE
DIFFICULT AND COST PROHIBITIVE.
LUKE'S WINGS WAS ESTABLISHED TO
HELP FAMILIES OF THESE SERVICE
MEMBERS TRAVEL TO BE WITH THEIR
LOVED ONE DURING HIS OR HER
HOSPITALIZATION OR
REHABILITATION.
THEY PURCHASE AIRLINE TICKETS
SO THEY CAN HELP SUPPORT AND
CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER
WHILE THEY ARE RECEIVING
TREATMENT.
NOT ONLY DOES THE ASSISTANCE
THAT LUKE'S WINGS PROVIDE TO
FAMILIES OF WOUNDED WARRIORS,
BRING THESE FAMILIES TOGETHER,
IT ALSO HELPS BOOST THE SPIRITS
OF AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
MOTIVATION TO RECOVERING
SERVICE MEMBERS WHILE THEIR
FAMILIES ARE AT THEIR SIDES.
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON, AS WE APPROACH
CHRISTMAS, THE WORK THAT LUKE'S
WINGS IS DOING IS PRICELESS.
NOT ONLY DOES IT HELP FAMILIES
VISIT RECOVERING TROOPS, BUT
THEY ARE ALSO HELPING THESE
SAME WOUNDED WARRIORS GET HOME
FOR CHRISTMAS.
FOR JUST THE PRICE OF A PLANE
TICKET, LUKE'S WINGS IS ABLE TO
MAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON ONE
THAT MANY COMBAT-WOUNDED
SERVICE MEMBERS WILL NOT SOON
FORGET.
IT'S ALWAYS INSPIRING TO SEE
THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT
AMERICANS FROM SO MANY WALKS OF
LIFE FIND THE SUPPORT OUR MEN
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
LOOK'S WINGS IS A VOLUNTEER
ORGANIZATION -- LUKE'S WINGS IS
A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION,
DEDICATED TO GIVING OUR TROOPS
THE BEST.
DURING THIS SEASON OF JOY AND
THANKFULNESS, WHEN MANY BRAVE
MEN AND WOMEN ARE DEPLOYED AND
APART FROM THEIR FAMILIES,
LUKE'S WINGS REMIND US THAT WE
MUST NOT FORGET THOSE WHO SERVE
AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN INJURED IN THAT SERVICE.
LUKE'S WINGS REMINDS US THAT
EVEN SOMETHING, BRINGING
FAMILIES AND SERVICE MEMBERS
TOGETHER, WILL MAKE A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT FOR THEM.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THOSE
WHO SERVE AND ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO HAVE SUFFERED PHYSICALLY
AND MENTALLY, AND MAY GOD BLESS
THE EFFORTS OF LUKE'S WINGS,
PARTICULARLY IN THIS SEASON.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT, MR.
MURPHY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
LAST WEEK THE GIANT HOME
IMPROVEMENT CHAIN, LOWE'S,
DECIDED TO PULL THEIR ADS FROM
A NEW SHOW CALLED "ALL-AMERICAN
MUSLIM."
IT DEPICTS FIVE MUSLIM FAMILIES
AND SHOWS HOW FAITH AFFECTS
THEIR LIVES AND FAMILIES.
IT IS APTLY TITLED BECAUSE IT
SHOWS MUSLIM FAMILIES TO SHOW
EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE IN THIS
SITUATION AND MILLIONS LIKE
THEM AROUND THE NATION.
THEY'RE AMERICAN.
THEY FACE PROBLEMS JUST LIKE
THE REST OF US.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT
THEY WORSHIP AT A DIFFERENT
NOW, LOWE'S PULLED THESE ADS
BECAUSE ONE RIGHT-WING
ANTI-MUSLIM GROUP IN FLORIDA
SAID THE SHOW HIDES THE, QUOTE,
TRUE AGENDA OF ISLAM, WHICH
ACCORDING TO THIS GROUP, IS TO
DESTROY AMERICA.
NOW, THIS ANTI-MUSLIM BIGOTRY
WE ARE LEARNED ABOUT THE CREEP
OF SHARI'AH LAW OR A PEACEFUL
MOSQUE IS BEING RUN OUT OF A
COMMUNITY OR RADICAL PASTOR IS
TELEVISION.
BUT IT'S ONE THING WHEN A
FRINGE GROUP OR RADICAL
UNHINGED PASTOR IS DOING IT.
IT'S QUITE ANOTHER WHEN A
FORTUNE 100 COMPANY IS
ENDORSING THIS NONSENSE.
NOW, LOWE'S DEFENDS ITSELF BY
SAYING THEY ARE PULLING THESE
ADS BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR
CUSTOMERS HAD, QUOTE, STRONG
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL VIEWS ON
THIS TOPIC.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO LOWE'S
FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS
SOME REALLY BIGOTED PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT LOWE'S
OR ANY OTHER COMPANY SHOULD
ACQUIESCE TO THIS KIND OF
BEHAVIOR.
FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE
UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE
OUT THERE WHO STILL HOLD RACIST
VIEWS ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT MEANS
LOWE'S WILL BE PULLING THEIR
ADS FROM TELEVISION SHOWS
FEATURING AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
LOWE'S ALSO SAID THEIR STORY
FOR WALKING INTO A, QUOTE,
HOTLY CONTESTED DEBATE.
WHAT DEBATE ARE THEY TALKING
ABOUT?
YES, WE FACE THREATS FROM A
SECT OF RADICAL ANTI-AMERICAN
ISLAMISTS BUT THERE'S NO DEBATE
THAT MILLIONS OF PATRIOTIC,
PEACE-LOVING MUSLIMS WHO LIVE
IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE NO
CONNECTION TO THAT MOVEMENT AND
DO NOTHING BUT STRENGTHEN THE
FABRIC OF THIS NATION.
NOW, YOU MAY THINK THIS IS A
MINOR SIDE SHOW AND CONGRESS
SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT IT
ON THIS FLOOR.
I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT YOU ARE
THIS IS A AMERICAN COMPANY
RUBBER STAMPING BIGOTRY AGAINST
A MAJOR RELIGIOUS GROUP.
THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THE
BASIS OF RELIDGE OFOUS FREEDOM.
-- RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
AND THOUGH WE GOT MORE
IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT
LIKE FIXING THE ECONOMY, IT'S
TRADITIONALLY DURING THIS TIME
THAT MARGINALIZATION HAS BEEN
AT ITS WORSE BECAUSE PEOPLE
DON'T SPEAK UP AGAINST THIS.
THIS BIAS ENDANGERS OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
RECENTLY SAID THAT AL QAEDA'S
CORE RECRUITING ARGUMENT IS
THAT THE WEST IS AT WAR WITH
WITH THIS ACTION THEY ARE
SAYING WE ARE NOW BEING RUN OUT
OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, NOW OFF
THEIR TELEVISION SETS.
IT NOT ONLY ENDANGERS OUR
NATION'S SOUL, IT ENDANGERS THE
NATIONAL SECURITY.
FRANKLY ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH
SOUND MIND WHO IS GETTING
BEHIND THIS ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS.
YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS.
YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS
COUNTRY AND THIS WORLD NEVER,
EVER LOOKS KINDLY ON THIS KIND
OF MARGINALIZATION THAT YOU
ACTIONS.
WHETHER IT WAS AGAINST IRISH
AMERICANS OR JEWISH AMERICANS
OR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, THE
HISTORY BOOKS MAKES SURE THIS
KIND OF EXCLUSIONARY POLITICS
BECOMES A STAIN ON THE
REPUTATION OF ANYONE WHO TAKES
PART IN IT.
TODAY I'M LEADING A GROUP OF
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALLING ON
LOWE'S TO RECONSIDER THEIR
DECISION AND, LISTEN, WE DO
HAVE A LOT TO FEAR WHEN IT
COMES TO ISLAMIC GROUPS WHO
SEEK TO DO HARM TO AMERICA, BUT
WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM A
TV PROGRAM CALLED "ALL-AMERICAN
MUSLIM," AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO
FEAR FROM THE TENS OF MILLIONS
PEACE-LOVING PATRIOTIC
MUSLIM AMERICANS WHO ARE JUST
LIKE THOSE WHO ARE PORTRAYED IN
THIS SHOW.
WHILE WE NEVER HAVE BEEN
PERFECT OF LIVING UP TO OUR
IDEALS, WE HAVE GOTTEN PRETTY
GOOD OF CALLING OUT BIGOT TREE
WHEN WE SEE IT -- BIGOTRY WHEN
WE SEE IT AND STAMPING OUT
THOSE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. POE,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AT WAR
WITH THE STATES OVER ILLEGAL
ENTRY.
THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM IN THIS
COUNTRY, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE
LIVING HERE ILLEGALLY AND MORE
ILLEGALLY CROSS INTO AMERICA
EVERY DAY.
SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE BURDENED
WITH THE COST OF SUPPORTING
ILLEGALS WHO DO NOT CONTRIBUTE
TO OUR SYSTEM.
THEY REAP THE BENEFITS AND
SERVICES OFF THE BACKS OF
AMERICAN CITIZENS AND LEGAL
IMMIGRANTS.
27% OF THE PEOPLE IN U.S.
PRISONS ARE ILLEGALS.
IN THE BORDER COUNTIES IN
TEXAS, ACCORDING TO BORDER
SHERIFFS, OVER 30% OF THE
PEOPLE IN THOSE JAILS ARE
FOREIGN NATIONALS, ALL OF THIS
COSTS MONEY.
THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS IS
ALSO AT RISK, BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CHOOSES NOT TO
ADEQUATELY ENFORCE THE LAW.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
FOCUSED MORE ON FINDING REASONS
WHY THE LAW OF THE LAND SHOULD
NOT BE ENFORCED.
CASE IN POINT, THE 20-POINT
MEMO RELEASED THIS SUMMER BY
I.C.E. RELEASED THE CRITERIA
FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS WHO HAVE
BEEN DETAINED AND SHOULD NOT BE
DEPORTED.
AS A RESULT, LET THEM GO.
SEVERAL STATES HAVE BEEN
BURDENED WITH THE COST OF
ILLEGAL ENTRY TO HEALTH CARE TO
INCARCERATION COSTS, ARIZONA,
SOUTH CAROLINA, UTAH, GEORGIA
AND INDIANA HAVE BEEN FORCED TO
DO THE JOB THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT JUST WON'T DO --
PROTECT THE CITIZENS FROM THE
COST OF UNLAWFUL ENTRY INTO
AMERICA.
ARIZONA IMPLEMENTED A LAW THAT
REQUIRES AUTHORITIES TO CHECK
THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF
ANYONE WHO IS ALREADY LEGALLY
DETAINED FOR SOME OFFENSE AND
WHEN THERE IS REASONABLE
SUSPICION THE PERSON IS IN THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS NOT
SO FAST, IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT IS THEIR JOB.
THEY JUST REFUSE TO DO IT.
IT ALSO SEEMS GOVERNMENT IS
MORE INTERESTED IN SMUGGLING
GUNS TO MEXICO UNDER THE
BOTCHED OPERATION FAST AND
FURIOUS THAN IT IS PREVENTIVE
SMUGGLING OF PEOPLE AND DRUGS
INTO THE UNITED STATES.
NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
HAS GONE INTO THE BUSINESS OF
USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SUE
STATES FOR DOING THE JOB THE
GOVERNMENT WON'T DO.
YESTERDAY THE SUPREME COURT
AGREED TO HEAR THE CASE OF
ARIZONA VS. THE GOFF GOFF BREWER
OF ARIZONA SAID, QUOTE, ARIZONA
AND ITS PEOPLE SUFFER FROM A
SERIOUS PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY
REALINGSIC TOOLS FOR ADDRESSING
IT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEAVES
STATES WITH NO OTHER CHOICE THAN
TO DO THE JOB THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO DO.
IF ARIZONA IS NOT ALLOWED TO
ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT
ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS, THEN
ARIZONA AND OTHER STATES WILL
CONTINUE ON A DANGEROUS PATH TO
BECOMING A LAWLESS TERRITORY
WITH RAMPANT ILLEGAL ENTRY.
IGNORING LAWS AND OPEN DOOR
POLICIES WILL ONLY ENTICE MORE
PEOPLE TO COME INTO THIS COUNTRY
ILLEGALLY INSTEAD OF USING THE
I FULLY SUPPORT LEGAL ENTRY INTO
MY STAFF SPENDS A LOT OF TIME
HELPING PEOPLE COME TO THE
UNITED STATES LEGALLY.
AND THE IMMIGRATION MODEL WE
HAVE IS A MESS THAT NEEDS TO BE
STREAMLINED AND MORE EFFICIENT.
BUT PEOPLE SHOULD COME HERE THE
RIGHT WAY OR DON'T COME AT ALL.
AFTER ALL IT IS THE LAW.
BUT THE DEFIANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WILL
CONTINUE HIS CRUSADE AGAINST THE
STATES WHO TRY TO CRACK DOWN ON
ILLEGAL ENTRY.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO UPHOLD THE
LAW.
MEANWHILE, SANCTUARY CITIES GET
A PASS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR IGNORING THE LAW.
WE HEAR THE RHETORIC THAT
ILLEGALS ARE HERE TO DO THE JOBS
AMERICANS WON'T DO.
NOW STATE AFTER STATES ARE
GETTING SUED FOR DOING THE JOB
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WON'T
PROTECTING THE SECURITY OF THE
NATION AND ENFORCING THE LAW.
ARIZONA HAD TO ENACT THIS LAW TO
PROTECT ITSELF BECAUSE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
ADEQUATELY SECURE THE BORDER.
TIME FOR WASHINGTON TO STOP ITS
WAR ON THE STATES AND JOIN WITH
THE STATES IN ENFORCING THE LAW
OF THE LAND.
HOPEFULLY THE SUPREME COURT WILL
RULE THE ARIZONA LAW TO BE
CONSTITUTIONAL.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
I YIELD BACK.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PUERTO RICO, MR.
PIERLUISI, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
AMERICAN CITIZENS IN THE
CARIBBEAN ARE FACING A SECURITY
CRISIS.
WHILE THE NATIONAL *** RATE
HAS DECLINED IN RECENT DECADES,
THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN
PUERTO RICO ON THE U.S. ***
ISLANDS REMAINS UNACCEPTABLY
SINCE 2008, THE *** RATE IN
PUERTO RICO AND THE ***
ISLANDS HAVE BEEN ABOUT FIVE
TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND
ABOUT TWICE AS HIGH AS THAT OF
ANY STATE.
MOST OF THE MURDERS COMMITTED IN
THE U.V.I. ARE
LIPPINGED TO THE-USVI, ARE
LINKED TO THE DRUG TRADE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT
TO PREVENT TRAFFICKERS FROM
TRANSPORTING DRUGS ACROSS OUR
NATION'S SOUTHWEST BORDER IS
CAUSING TRAFFICKERS TO TURN
INCREASINGLY TO THE CARIBBEAN TO
STATES.
AND AS THE NATIONAL DRUG
INTELLIGENCE CENTER RECENTLY
OBSERVED, VIOLENCE BY
TRAFFICKERS IN THE TWO
TERRITORIES HAVE BECOME
INDISCRIMINATE, ENDANGERING THE
LIVES OF INNOCENT BYSTANDERS
WHOSE RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS I
POSED ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER
RECENTLY CALLED DRUG VIOLENCE IN
PUERTO RICO AND USVI A NATIONAL
SECURITY ISSUE THAT WE MUST
CONFRONT.
AT MY URGING CONGRESS HAS ALSO
TAKEN NOTICE OF THE PROBLEM.
DIRECTING FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON THREE
SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO DEVOTE
REGION.
ACCORDING TO BRIEFINGS PROVIDED
TO MY OFFICE, 70% TO 80% OF THE
*** THAT ENTERS PUERTO RICO
IS TRANSPORTED TO THE U.S.
MAINLAND BECAUSE PUERTO RICO IS
A U.S. JURISDICTION, ONCE DRUGS
ENTER THE ISLAND, THEY ARE
EASILY DELIVERED TO THE STATES
THROUGH COMMERCIAL AIRLINES AND
CONTAINER SHIPS WITHOUT HAVING
TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS OR
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY.
ONCE IN THE STATES, THESE DRUGS
DESTROY LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN
MY COLLEAGUES' DISTRICTS.
SO THIS IS A PROBLEM OF NATIONAL
NOT SIMPLY REGIONAL SCOPE.
THAT SAID, THE PRIMARY REASON
WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST
DO MORE TO REDUCE DRUG
TRAFFICKING IN PUERTO RICO AND
THE *** ISLANDS IS BECAUSE
U.S. CITIZENS IN THESE TWO
TERRITORIES ARE DYING IN
UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS.
OUR NATION HAS DEVOTED
CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES TO
CONFRONT DRUG GANGS OPERATING
ALONG THE SOUTHWEST BORDER, AND
RIGHTFULLY SO.
YET PUERTO RICO'S *** RATE IS
FOUR TO FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN
ANY SOUTHWEST BORDER STATE, AND
ACCORDING TO A RECENT PIECE IN
THE "WASHINGTON POST," SINCE
THE ISLAND HAS RECEIVED
LESS THAN 1/5 OF THE FUNDING THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED
TO COMBAT DRUG TRADE AND
ASSOCIATED VIOLENCE IN MEXICO
AND CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS.
THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
POSITIONS AT KEY FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN PUERTO
RICO IS TOO LOW.
THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IS TOO
HIGH.
AND INTERDICTION ASSETS LIKE
PLANES AND BOATS ARE IN SHORT
SUPPLY.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE I HAVE URGED
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DEVOTE
RESOURCES TO PUERTO RICO AT A
LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH THE
SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM IT
FACES.
SPECIFICALLY I HAVE ASKED THE
WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR TO
ESTABLISH A CARIBBEAN BORDER
INITIATIVE MODELED AFTER THE
SUCCESSFUL SOUTHWEST BORDER
INITIATIVE.
THE TIME FOR HALF MEASURES AND
PEACE MEAL EFFORTS HAVE PASSED.
WHAT IS NEEDED INSTEAD IS A WELL
PLANNED, WELL FUNDED, WELL
EXECUTED GOVERNMENTWIDE STRATEGY
THAT WILL ENCOMPASS ALL FEDERAL
AGENCIES CHARGED WITH DRUG
TRAFFICKING, FIGHTING DRUG
TRAFFICKING, AND RELATED
VIOLENCE.
THE LIVES OF THE U.S.
CITIZENS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND TO
REDUCE THE FLOW OF DRUGS HEADED
TO THE STATES THROUGH THAT
REGION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT OF
RESOURCES TO PUERTO RICO AND THE
USVI VERY SIMILAR TO THE COMMIT
T-HAS MADE TO THE SOUTHWEST
BORDER.
THE CHALLENGE WE FACE TODAY IS
SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE FACED BACK
IN 1994.
I WAS PUERTO RICO'S ATTORNEY
GENERAL BACK THEN AND LOBBIED
SUCCESSFULLY FOR PUERTO RICO AND
THE USVI TO BE FEDERALLY
DESIGNATED AS A HIGH DENSITY
DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA WHICH
CONTRIBUTED TO A SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION IN THE ISLAND'S
VIOLENT CRIME RATE.
THE PROBLEM HAS EVOLVED OVER
TIME AND THE FEDERAL RESPONSE
MUST EVOLVE ALONG WITH IT.
I WILL NOT REST UNTIL IT DOES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR.
CRAVAACK FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THIS
ADMINISTRATION PUT YET ANOTHER
HOLD ON IMPLEMENTING THE
KEYSTONE PIPELINE PROJECT AND
ADDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
AMERICAN JOBS TO OUR FRIDGELE
ECONOMY.
THIS DECISION IS BAD NEWS FOR
LABOR AND THE GREAT STATE OF
MINNESOTA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY
WHO ARE EAGER TO BEGIN THE WORK
ON THE PROJECT NEXT YEAR.
IF WE DO NOT APPROVE THIS DEAL
AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, THE
JOBS OF THE OIL COMPANY WILL
SIMPLY GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION,
SUCH AS CHINA.
AND THEY WILL NOT BE COMING BACK
TO THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT PART OF THIS BILL JUST
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO THE FOLKS
IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE?
WE CANNOT WAIT.
THE AMERICAN WORKER IS THE MOST
PRODUCTIVE WORKER IN THE WORLD,
AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN MY
DISTRICT THIRST FOR GOOD-PAYING
JOBS THAT WILL COME WITH
PROJECTS LIKE KEYSTONE.
SOME OF THESE REGULATORY
AGENCIES ARE SIMPLY OUT OF
CONTROL AND SEEM BENT ON
STIFLING JOB CREATION HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SIMPLY
GET OUT OF THE WAY AND PUT
POLITICS ASIDE AND DEDICATE TO
EMPOWERING THE AMERICAN WORKER,
WE COULD START DIGGING OURSELVES
OUT OF THIS RECESSION AND GET
AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
RANGEL, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
REMARKS.
OBJECTION.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE
THIS AUGUST BODY WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK UNTIL WE FIND SOME
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS FACING
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR HOMES,
THEIR SAVINGS THROUGH NO FAULT
OF THEIR OWN.
AND HAVE LIMITED INCOME.
IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME FOR THE
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE TO
PERSUADE THE MAJORITY THAT THIS
IS THE TIME THAT WE JUST CAN'T
LAY OFF PEOPLE AND STOP SPENDING
, EVEN THOUGH THAT HAS TO BE A
PART OF THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO
THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE.
BUT LAYING OFF PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE
YEAR, IS NOT ONLY AN INSENSITIVE
THING TO DO, BUT IN MY OPINION
THE ECONOMICS OF IT ALL IS THAT
IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO PURCHASE THEIR
NEEDS, THEN, OF COURSE, OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES
THAT SUFFER FINANCIALLY AND AS A
RESULT OF THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO
LAY OFF JOBS.
AND IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE
ECONOMIC SENSE, AS WELL AS
SENSITIVITY DURING THIS PART OF
THE YEAR.
NOW, SOON AND VERY SOON THIS
BODY WILL BE CONSIDERING WHAT IS
REFERRED TO AS THE MIDDLE CLASS
TAX RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT
OF 2011.
WHICH MEANS THAT WE WILL NOW
HAVE UNITED, APPARENTLY, APPEARS
UNITED, THIS ENTIRE
CONGRESS SAYING THAT WE MUST
CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS LOW-INCOME
TAX CUT THAT WORKING PEOPLE
ENJOY TO CONTINUE BEYOND ITS
EXPIRATION DECEMBER 31.
AND THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE THAT CLAIM THAT A
LOT OF AMERICANS DON'T PAY ANY
TAXES, WELL, YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN
THAT TO A PERSON THAT WORKS HARD
EACH AND EVERY DAY AND THEY FIND
OUT WHAT THEIR PAY WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE WHEN THEY GET HOME AND
LOOK AT THE CHECK, IT'S LESS.
BUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT
FEDERAL INCOME TAX, IT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT THEY ARE NOT PAYING
INTO THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, THEY
BENEFITS.
AND SO THE PRESIDENT AND HIS --
IN HIS WISDOM AND THIS CONGRESS
SUPPORTS THAT WE EXTEND RELIEF
OF THAT PAYROLL TAX FOR THE
REASON THAT WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE
HAVE THIS EXPENDABLE INCOME,
THIS DISPOSABLE INCOME, RATHER,
DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THIS
CONTROVERSY WHERE EVERY YEAR,
FOR WHATEVER REASONS,
REPUBLICANS CAN'T GRAB THE
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS ALL
AND I SHOULDN'T SAY REPUBLICANS,
I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE
THAT BELONG TO THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY THAT TRULY BELIEVE IF YOU
GIVE SOMEONE A HAND UP AT A TIME
WHAT THEY LOST THEIR JOB AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID THAT YOU
PAID INTO THIS SAFETY FUND, AND
YOU TRY TO HELP THEM FOR WHAT
THEY PAID INTO, THAT YOU ARE
CONVINCING THEM THAT THEY SHOULD
NOT LOOK FOR WORK.
NOW, THIS COUNTRY, THIS GREAT
COUNTRY IS BECAUSE OF OUR
WORKING MIDDLE CLASS.
IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ENJOY WORK,
BUT THEY HAVE THE DIGNITY OF
WORKING, THE PRIDE IN LETTING
THEIR FAMILY KNOW THAT THEY ARE
PROVIDING FOR FOOD AND CLOTHING
AND INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE.
AND SO NOTWITHSTANDING PERHAPS I
SHOULDN'T BLAME THE ENTIRE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT THEY HAVE
MANAGED EVERY YEAR NOT TO DEAL
WITH THIS EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.
SO AT LEAST THESE PEOPLE CAN
PLAN NOT JUST FOR THE HOLIDAYS,
BUT PLAN FOR THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
NOW, SOMEHOW WITH ALL OF THIS
FEELING THAT IT'S ABOUT TIME
THAT WE CAME TOGETHER AND DONE
SOMETHING, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
ADDED TO THIS THE KEYSTONE
ENERGY PIPELINE.
IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE EXPECTING RELIEF FROM
THEIR GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD BE
GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT WONDERING
WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO GET A BREAK ON TAXES
NEXT YEAR?
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GOING TO
GET A BREAK ON PAYROLL TAXES
THIS YEAR?
AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE
GOING TO GET EXTENDED
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ALL
DEPENDENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THE
CONGRESS SUPPORTS THE KEYSTONE
ENERGY PIPELINE.
LET'S GET RID OF ALL THE
PIPELINE LANGUAGE.
LET'S DO WHAT THE BILL IS
SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND LET'S NOT PUT IN SOMETHING
THAT COULD IMPEDE THE PASSAGE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE,
MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT TWO
LOCATIONS WOULD BE CLOSED AND
TRANSFERRING THE JOBS OUT OF
STATE.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO
TEXAS.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN THIS STORY OVER
AND OVER AGAIN WHETHER IT BE
TAKING JOBS TO WISCONSIN,
WHETHER IT'S TAKING JOBS TO
INDIANA, I BELIEVE THIS SPEAKS
VOLUMES ABOUT THE ECONOMIC
SITUATION NOT ONLY IN ILLINOIS
BUT IN OUR NATION.
AND THE POLICIES THAT I BELIEVE
THAT THIS BOD I -- BODY MUST PUT
IN PLACE IN ORDER TO EMPOWER
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, JOB
CREATORS ALL ACROSS THE LAND TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE,
INVEST IN THEIR BUSINESS, AND
GROW JOBS.
YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS IS THAT WE
RAISED IN ILLINOIS TAXES ON
BUSINESSES OVER 45% THIS LAST
YEAR.
THEY PUT ENORMOUS PRESSURES ON
SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE
STATE AND I WOULD ARGUE ALL JOB
CREATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WHAT'S EVEN WORSE, MR. SPEAKER,
IS THAT THOSE COMPANIES THAT
HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES, A LITTLE
BIT HIGHER CLOUD, HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO RATTLE THE SABER AND CALL THE
GOVERNOR AND SAY WE ARE GOING TO
PICK UP AND LEAVE THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS AND TAKE JOBS
ELSEWHERE.
WHILE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
KEEP THE JOBS IN ILLINOIS, THE
UNFORTUNATE THING IS WE HAVE
SOME CRONY CAPITALISM GOING ON.
SO THE STATE IS GOING TO BEND
OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE SURE SOME
OF THE LARGER EMPLOYERS STAY IN
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
THE PROBLEM IS SMALL BUSINESSES,
THE ONES THAT I TALK TO EACH AND
EVERY DAY, WHEN THEY CALL THE
PHONE CALLS RETURNED.
IT INDEED PUTS A GREATER BURDEN
ON SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND AS YOU KNOW, AMERICA, 2/3
OF ALL NEW NET JOBS ARE CREATED
BY SMALL BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS
THE LAND.
THIS IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE SUPPORTING, TO MAKE SURE WE
TO WORK.
THERE ARE 29 MILLION SMALL
BUSINESSES IN OUR NATION.
IF WE CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT
RIGHT HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
AND YOU HEAR ME SAY IT'S
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S NOT CREATING JOBS BECAUSE
THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CREATE
JOBS, IT'S THE PRIVATE SECTOR
THAT DOES.
BUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO
IS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT,
WHETHER IT BE THROUGH
REGULATION, WHETHER IT BE
THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE TAX
REFORM, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH A
VARIETY OF MEASURES THAT
ENABLES THOSE 29 MILLION SMALL
BUSINESSES IN OUR NATION TO
CREATE A SINGLE JOB, IF HALF OF
THOSE BUSINESSES CREATED A JOB,
MR. SPEAKER, THINK ABOUT WHERE
WE'D BE THEN.
THIS IS WHY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WANT CONGRESS TO ACT, AND I
THINK WE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY
TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND
FIND COMMON GROUND.
WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE CRONY
WE NEED TO CREATE A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD WHERE BUSINESSES
ALL ACROSS THE LAND CAN COMPETE
AND CAN WIN BECAUSE THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS ALIKE TO PUT FORWARD
COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM,
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TOUTED
BY THE SIMPSON-BOWLES
COMMISSION, TOUTED BY THE
PRESIDENT, TOUTED BY OTHERS.
IT'S TIME FOR ACTION.
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
BUSINESSES CAN OPEN THEIR DOORS
AND CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S
ABOUT COMMONDFINDING THAT
COMMON GROUND, IT'S ABOUT
ENABLING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN ALL SEE
AMERICA GET BACK TO WORK.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
TONKO, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RISE
AND ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE
MINUTES AND TO REVISE AND
EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
MR. SPEAKER, WHILE MY STATEMENT
MIMICS A WELL-KNOWN SEASONAL
CLASSIC, IT IS SHARED IN ALL
SERIOUSNESS AND WITH A SENSE OF
GREATEST URGENCY.
TOWARDS THE WEEK BEFORE
CHRISTMAS WHEN ALL THROUGH THE
HOUSE, A CRY ECHOED MUCH LOUDER
THAN A ROARING MOUSE.
DON'T RAISE OUR TAXES ON US,
PLEASE BE FAIR, OR OUR MIDDLE
CLASS WILL BE LOST IN DESPAIR.
THE MAJORITY WAS PLOTTING A
THOUGHT IN ITS HEAD.
WE SHOULD STAUNCHLY OPPOSE FROM
WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS LED.
MILLIONAIRES SHOULD NOT BE
SPARED, A PENNY, BUT A KEYSTONE
PIPELINE WE SHOULD NEVER, EVER
SCRAP.
WHEN AROWS OUT THE CHAMBER
THERE WAS A CLAMOR, THEY
A CHANGE IN THIS BILL OR ELSE
IT WILL CRASH.
END OF YEAR COMING AND NO JOBS
PLAN TO SHOW, THEY SAID NO
REGULATIONS WAS THE BEST WAY TO
GO.
THEN, WHAT TO OUR DEBATE SHOULD
SUDDENLY APPEAR BUT A SENTIMENT
FROM THE PUBLIC THOSE IN OFFICE
SHOULD FEAR.
COME ON, CONGRESS, BE FAIR AND
BE QUICK.
DON'T BE DECEIVING AND DON'T BE
SO SLICK.
THE CALLS AND EMAILS
THEY CAME, NO PIPELINE, SAID
SENATOR I WON'T NAME.
SO LET'S GET TO WORK AND NOT BE
GRINCHES THIS SEASON.
THE ECONOMY AND THE MIDDLE
CLASS ARE THE REASON.
WE SHOULD HAVE A STRAIGHT VOTE,
NOT THIS 400-PAGE SHOW, AND
HELP AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS AND
SMALL BUSINESS GROW.
LET'S SPRING INTO ACTION AND
GET THIS BILL DONE, WE HAVE
OTHER WORK AND IN FACT THERE'S
A TONS.
SPENDING BILLS, DOC FIX,
UNEMPLOYMENT AND MORE.
BEFORE THE YEAR END THEY MUST
ALL COME TO THE FLOOR.
WE SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
OUR NATION FIRST FOR JOBS AND
OPPORTUNITIES MANY OF US
THIRST.
CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER
SHOULD NOT BE ROLLED BACK.
DEREGULATORY RIDERS OUR BILLS
SHOULD WELL LACK.
THUS, WE GO FORWARD TO THE END
OF THE YEAR.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF
OUR MIGHT, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO
ALL AND FOR FAIRNESS LET'S
FIGHT.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
WOLF, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I WAS APPALLED AND
OUTRAGED TO LEARN YESTERDAY
THAT THE GENOCIDAL GOVERNMENT
OF KHARTOUM HAS HIRED A
LOBBYIST TO REPRESENT HIS
INTEREST HERE IN WASHINGTON.
A PUBLICATION CALLED AFRICAN
INTELLIGENCE REPORTED THAT THE
SUED NIECE LOBBY -- SUDANESE
LOBBYIST WAS ON RETAINER.
THE ARTICLE FURTHER SAID THAT
THE LAW OFFICE OF BART FISCHER
WOULD BE PAID $20 MILLION A
MONTH TO REPRESENT THIS
GENOCIDAL GOVERNMENT, A
GOVERNMENT WHICH LITERALLY HAS
BLOOD ON ITS HANDS.
RECORD.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MR. FISCHER
SLEEPS AT NIGHT.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING --
PRESIDENT, BASHIR, IS
CRIMINAL.
HE'S ACCUSED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT OF
FIVE COUNTS INCLUDING ***,
***, TORTURE AND EXTERMINATION
AND TWO COUNTS OF WAR CRIMES.
BUT KHARTOUM'S CRIMES ARE NOT A
THING OF THE PAST.
IN A RECENT HEARING BEFORE THE
TOM LANTOS HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, A WITNESS WITH THE
N.G.O.'S HUMAN RIGHTS BROUGHT
TESTIMONY ABOUT THE SITUATION
ON THE GROUND AND SO IT SAID,
QUOTE, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES
WE INTERVIEWED AND OTHER
SOURCES, GOVERNMENT FORCES
SHELLED CIVILIAN AREAS, SHOT
PEOPLE IN THE STREETS AND CARRY
OUT HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCHES AND
ARRESTS BASED ON THE NAME OF
SUDAN'S PEOPLE LIBERATION
MOVEMENT SUPPORTERS IN THE
FIRST WEEKS OF THE FIGHTING,
END OF QUOTE.
MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED REGULAR
RELIABLE REPORTS FROM
INDIVIDUALS ON THE GROUND
ECHOING THESE CLAIMS.
WE HAVE LEARNED OF ONGOING
IN THE BLUE
NILE AND SORT CORE DEFONT
STATES.
WE'VE HEARD OF KILLINGS,
DISAPEERINGS AND INDISCRIMINANT
ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS.
FURTHERMORE, EVIDENCE GATHERED
THROUGH SATELLITE IMAGERY BY
THE SATELLITE SENT NATIONAL
PROJECTS SHOWED EIGHT MASS
GRAVES, MASS GRAVES IN AND
AROUND THE CAPITAL OF SOUTHERN
DORE DEFOLLOWING.
LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF -- CORE
DE FONTE.
WHO IS THEIR LOBBYISTS?
THEY ARE FACING MALNOURISHMENT
AND PROLONG DISPLACEMENT.
WHO IS THEIR LOBBYISTS TO PUT A
FACE ON THIS?
THIS PICTURE SHOWS A
MALNOURISHED CHILD WITH A
FEEDING TUBE INSERTED IN HIS
NOSE TO GET THE FOOD HE NEEDS.
IS ONE OF ROUGHLY 25,000
PEOPLE IN YIDA REFUGEE CAMP
THAT HAVE FLED THE FIGHTING AND
CROSSED THE BORDER INTO
SOUTHERN SUDAN.
I ASKED MR. PHISHY, THE
LOBBYIST, WHERE IS THE CHILD
LOBBYISTS, THE LOBBYIST FOR
THIS CHILD?
TODAY I'M SENDING A LETTER TO
PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT SEEKING IMMEDIATE
CLARIFICATION ON WHAT APPEARS
TO BE AN INDEFENSIBLE
SITUATION.
ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WEBSITE,
MR. BART FISCHER IS
REPRESENTING THE GOVERNMENT OF
SUDAN.
WAS HE GRANTED A LICENSE FROM
THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS
CONTROL AT TREASURY AS IS
REQUIRED TO REPRESENT THE
GENOCIDAL COUNTRY OF SUDAN,
GIVEN THE U.S. SANCTIONS WHICH
HAVE BEEN PLACED AGAINST IT?
IF NOT, IS HIS REPRESENTATION A
VIOLATION OF THE LAW?
IF SO, WHY WOULD THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION, WHY WOULD THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ALLOW THIS
TO MOVE FORWARD?
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS WHICH
DEMAND ANSWERS, BUT ONE THING
IS CLEAR, IT APPEARS THAT MR.
FISCHER'S CONTRACT WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN WENT INTO
EFFECT IN NOVEMBER.
IF HE'S RECEIVED ONE PENNY FROM
THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN HE
SHOULD RETURN IT IMMEDIATELY OR
BETTER YET, HE SHOULD DONATE IT
TO ONE OF THE N.G.O.'S SEEKING
TO HELP THE SUFFERING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED,
BRUTALIZED BY THEIR OWN
GOVERNMENT, I.E., MR. FISCHER'S
CLIENT, AND YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
CONNOLLY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, ONCE
AGAIN WE'RE PRESENTED WITH A
FALSE CHOICE TODAY.
IN THE HOURS AND WONDERLAND
WORLD OF THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS
OPPOSE PAYROLL TAX CUTS UNLESS
IT CAN BE USED AS A VEHICLE TO
CUT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
ACCORDING TO THE MAJORITY, IT
ISN'T WORTH PASSING A SIMPLE
PAYROLL TAX CUT WITHOUT
EVISCERATING -- PAYROLL TAX CUT
EXTENSIONS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED
BY MEASURES TO PUNISH FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES AND CIVIL SERVANTS
LIKE BORDER SECURITY AGENTS AND
F.B.I. AGENTS AND, OF COURSE,
THE MAJORITY SEEMS SINGULARLY
INCAPABLE OF WRITING ANY BILL,
ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF THE
YEAR, CHRISTMAS, THAT DOESN'T
CONTAIN SEVERAL SPECIAL
PROVISIONS TO BENEFIT THE BIG
OIL AND GIVEAWAYS.
SADLY, THIS BILL IS CONSISTENT
WITH REPUBLICAN PATTERN OF
EXTORTION.
ON BEHALF OF AN EXTREME SPECIAL
INTEREST AGENDA.
FURLOUGHING F.A.A. EMPLOYEES,
BLOCKING APPOINTMENT OF THE
DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION CONSUMER BORED.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SENT A SIMPLE
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE TO CONGRESS
TAX CUTS,
SAVING THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
FAMILY $1,500 A YEAR.
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
INSURANCE TO CREATE ONE MILLION
JOBS AND ADD ONE FULL
PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH TO THE
THIS PROPOSAL RECEIVED A
MAJORITY VOTE IN THE SENATE BUT
OF COURSE WAS BLOCKED BY A
REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER.
IT DID WHAT THE REPUBLICANS SAY
THEY WANT TO DO, CUT TAXES AND
GROW THE ECONOMY.
TOO BAD THEIR ACTIONS DON'T
MATCH THEIR WORDS.
BASED ON THEIR RHETORIC, ONE
WOULD THINK THAT REPUBLICANS
WOULD SUPPORT A SIMPLE TAX CUT.
THAT IS AFTER ALL THEIR
SOLUTION TO EVERY ECONOMIC
CHALLENGE, CUT TAXES,
ESPECIALLY FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
LARGE CORPORATIONS.
YET, WHEN PRESENTED WITH A
SIMPLE TAX CUT TARGETED TO HELP
THE MIDDLE CLASS IN AMERICA,
REPUBLICANS REBEL AND REJECT IT
IN FAVOR OF PIECE OF SPECIAL
INTEREST SAUSAGE SO LAYDENED
WITH LOBBYIST GIVEAWAYS AND
IDEOLOGICAL POISON PILLS THAT
IT WOULD MAKE THE AUTHOR OF
"THE JUNGLE," UPTON SINCLAIRE'S
NOSE TURN BLUE.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY
SLASHES UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
FROM VIRGINIA, MY HOME STATE,
BY 38%.
IT INCREASES FEDERAL EMPLOYEE
PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS BY 63%
WHILE REDUCING TOTAL PENSION
PAYMENTS.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, IN OTHER
WORDS, WILL PAY MORE AND GET
LESS, RETIREMENT SECURITY AFTER
A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
FOR GOOD MEASURES IT EXTENDS
PUBLIC PAY RAISE TO FIVE YEARS.
IT HAS A RIDER THAT WILL
INCREASE ALL EXPORTS TO CHINA
AND RAISE AMERICAN GAS PRICES.
IT REPEALS PART OF THE CLEAN
AIR ACT, ALLOWING POLLUTERS TO
SPEW FORTH MERCURY, ARSENIC AND
OTHER TOXIC POLLUTANTS FROM
IN FACT, REPEAL OF THE CLEAN
AIR ACT PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARD
WILL BURDEN THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY WITH $20 BILLION TO $52
BILLION OF ADDITIONAL HEALTH
CARE COSTS EVERY YEAR.
WE MUST REMEMBER WHAT STATE WE
ARE IN ECONOMICALLY.
THANKS TO THE RECOVERY OF THE
-- THANKS TO THE RECOVERY ACT,
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS
DROPPED TO 8.2%.
IT WOULD BE 8.6%.
THE NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED AND
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS
HAS FALLEN.
AS PEOPLE HAVE FOUND STEADY,
FULL-TIME JOBS AND PRIVATE
SECTOR JOB GROWTH HAS BEEN
GROWING EVERY MONTH FOR 21
CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.
WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS BUT
WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN
ADVISOR, MARK ZANDI AND A BANK
SAID EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS WOULD INCREASE THE
ECONOMY BY A FULL 1% AND ADD
ONE MILLION JOBS.
THAT'S BECAUSE UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS HAVE A MULTIPLIER
EFFECT.
THEY'RE SPENT AS SOON AS THEY
ARE GOTTEN.
THE PAYROLL TAX CUT, IN
ADDITION, WILL PROVIDE
WITH AN AVERAGE OF
$1,500, CREATING SOME $250
BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
AND ADDING ONE FULL PERCENTAGE
POINT TO THE G.D.P.
MR. SPEAKER, THE CONTROLS WHICH
BILLS COME TO THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE, LET'S JUNK THIS BILL AND
COME UP WITH A CLEAN PAYROLL
TAX EXTENSION AND UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS FOR ALL AMERICANS,
ECONOMY.
I YIELD BACK.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
SHIMKUS, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AT THE END OF LAST WEEK I WAS
ABLE TO TAKE TO THE FLOOR TO
TALK ABOUT HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR
WASTE IN YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
PART OF THAT TIME I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE AS I HAVE EACH WEEK
HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN LOCATIONS
THIS COUNTRY WHERE HIGH
LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE IS STORED
BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS, I
WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT, SO I
TAKE TO THE FLOOR THIS MORNING
TO HIGHLIGHT NUCLEAR POWER
PLANT IN FLORIDA CALLED TURKEY
POINT.
THE WAY I DO THIS, MR. SPEAKER,
IS I HAVE THIS POSTER IN FRONT
OF ME AND I COMPARE THE LOCATION
OF HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE AT
TURKEY POINT TO THE DEFINED BY
LAW LOCATION FOR A SINGLE
REPOSITORY IN THIS COUNTRY,
WHICH IS YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
LOOK WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN WE HAVE
CURRENTLY NO NUCLEAR WASTE ON
SITE.
AT TURKEY POINT THERE'S 1,074
METRIC TONS OF SPENT FUEL ON
SITE.
THAT'S QUITE A LOT OF FUEL.
AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN IF WE HAD
WASTE STORED AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN,
THE WASTE WOULD BE STORED 1,000
FEET UNDER GROUND.
A MOUNTAIN.
AT TURKEY POINT WASTE IS STORED
ABOVE GROUND IN POOLS.
WHY IS THAT AN IMPORTANT POINT
TO CONSIDER?
THE NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE IN JAPAN
, FUKUSHIMA, PART OF THE MAJOR
DISASTER BECAUSE OF HIGH LEVEL
NUCLEAR WASTE STORED IN POOLS.
THE EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED, EITHER
THE WATER THAT WAS THERE BOILED
OUT OR THERE WAS CRACKS IN THE
CONTAINMENT AND IT SPILLED OUT,
THEN THE NUCLEAR WASTE HEATED UP
AND HENCE YOU HAVE A VERY
DANGEROUS SITUATION STILL IN
JAPAN.
AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN THE WASTE
WOULD BE STORED 1,000 FEET ABOVE
THE WATER TABLE.
BUT HERE AT TURKEY POINT WHICH
IS THE -- THE
WASTE IS ON THE BISCAYNE BAY AT
SEA LEVEL.
IT'S AT SEA LEVEL.
NOT IN A MOUNTAIN IN A DESERT.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE ALSO IS LOOK
AT IF YOU'RE AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN,
HOW FAR ARE YOU AWAY FROM THE
LARGEST BODY OF WATER WHICH
WOULD BE THE COLORADO RIVER?
YUCCA MOUNTAIN'S 100 MILES FROM
THE COLORADO RIVER.
TURKEY POINT AND THE NUCLEAR
WASTE STORED THERE IS 10 MILES
FROM THE EVERGLADES.
10 MILES.
SO WE PASSED, I WASN'T A MEMBER
OF THIS CHAMBER AT THAT TIME, A
FEDERAL LAW CALLED THE NUCLEAR
WASTE POLICY ACT, IN 1982.
WHEN WE PASSED THAT LAW, WE
DEFINED YUCCA MOUNTAIN AS THE
NATIONAL REPOSITORY.
A SINGLE REPOSITORY.
FOR NOT JUST NUCLEAR WASTE FROM
OUR NUCLEAR POWER FLEET, BUT
ALSO THE NUCLEAR WASTE FROM OUR
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LOCATIONS,
FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE STILL -- WE ARE
VERY CLOSE, BUT THIS
ADMINISTRATION ALONG WITH THE
N.R.C. COMMISSIONER HAS DELAYED
AND POSTPONED AND TRIED TO STOP
ANY MOVEMENT ON YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
THAT'S WHY I TAKE THE FLOOR AS
THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OF THE
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE, PART OF MY
JURISDICTION IS HOW LEVEL
NUCLEAR WASTE, AND THAT'S WHY I
COME TO THE FLOOR WEEKLY TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
NOW, THIS IS VERY TIMELY THIS
WEEK AS THE CHAIRMAN AND N.R.C.
MEMBERS APPEAR BEFORE THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
THE CHAIRMAN SAID I WELCOME
DEBATE, I WELCOME DISCUSSION, I
WELCOME CRIT SEARCH.
BUT A LETTER SENT TO THE CHIEF
OF STAFF OF THE WHITE HOUSE, MR.
BILL DALEY, BY THE OTHER FOUR
COMMISSIONERS, BIPARTISAN, TWO
DEMOCRATS, TWO REPUBLICANS,
THREE APPOINTED BY THE
PRESIDENT, SAY THIS ABOUT
CHAIRMAN JASS COULD YOU --
JASKO, HE'S INTIMIDATED THE
SENIOR STAFF THAT HE'S CREATED A
LIE LEVEL OF FATHER -- HIGH
LEVEL OF FATHER.
HE ALSO ORDERED RECOMMENDATIONS
INTENDED FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE
COMMISSION.
HE HAS ALSO IGNORED THE WILL OF
THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION
CONTRARY TO THE STATUARY
FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
AND HE'S ATTEMPTED TO INTIMIDATE
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
REACTOR SAFEGUARDS.
THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM OF
US NOT HAVING A NATIONAL POLICY
TO MOVE TO CENTRALIZED LOCATION
FOR HIGH LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE IN
A DESERT UNDERNEATH A MOUNTAIN
AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
WE HAVE SENATORS WHO HAVE VOTED
FOR THAT IN THIS AREA.
THE TWO SENATORS FROM FLORIDA,
TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
PAYNE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF H.R.
3630, THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX
RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT.
THIS BILL IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF REPUBLICANS BRINGING A
PARTISAN BILL TO THE FLOOR WHICH
HAS NO CHANCE OF BECOMING LAW.
AT THIS CRITICAL TIME IN OUR
ECONOMY, REPUBLICANS ARE
CONTINUING TO PURSUIT THEIR OWN
IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN REPUBLICANS
CONTINUE TO CHOOSE BRINGSMANSHIP
OVER CONSTRUCTIVE --
BRINKSMANSHIP OVER CONSTRUCTIVE
ENGAGEMENT WITH DEMOCRATS.
ALLOWING THESE EXTENSES TO
EXPIRE WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING
IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND JOB CREATION.
REPUBLICANS MUST PUT ASIDE
PARTISAN DIFFERENCES AND WORK
WITH DEMOCRATS SO THAT WE CAN
ASSIST MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO
LOST THEIR JOBS THROUGH NO FAULT
OF THEIR OWN.
PUTTING MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES SHOULD BE ONE
OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE COMMON SENSE.
ALTHOUGH H.R. 3630 EXTENDS THE
EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION PROGRAM UNTIL
JANUARY, 2013, IT ALSO LOWERS
THE AMOUNT OF TIME BENEFITS ARE
APPROVED FROM 99 WEEKS CURRENTLY
TO 59 WEEKS.
FURTHERMORE, THE BILL ALSO WOULD
ALLOW STATES TO REQUIRE A HIGH
SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR BEING ENROLLED
IN CLASSES FOR CLASSES FOR
G.E.D. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
THE BILL ALSO OFFSETS THE COSTS
BY FREEZING FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PAY
FOR ANOTHER YEAR THROUGH 2013.
ALTHOUGH RECENT DATA HAS SHOWN
THAT THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HAS DROPPED FROM 8.6% -- TO
8.6%, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
EMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE AT THE SAME
TIME TO 15.1% TO 15.5%.
HIGH AFRICAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE HIGH
JOB LOSS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
DURING THE PAST YEAR WHILE THE
PRIVATE SECTOR HAS ADDED 1.6
MILLION JOBS, STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE SHED AT LEAST
142,000 POSITIONS.
BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY THERE HAS
BEEN RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN
EMPLOYMENT, BLACKS HAVE RELIED
ON GOVERNMENT JOBS IN LARGE
NUMBERS SINCE THE RECONSTRUCTION
ERA.
AS A MATTER OF FACT ONE OF THE
FIRST JOB OPENINGS FOR OUR FREED
ENSLAVED PEOPLE WAS THE UNITED
STATES POST OFFICE WHICH OPENED
THEIR DOORS AND HIRED QUALIFIED
PERIOD.
WE WILL BE PASSING LEGISLATION
THAT HELPS THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR INSTEAD
PAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE PRIVATE
SECTOR HAS BEEN VERY DERELICT.
DURING WORLD WAR II PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT, EVEN THOUGH THE
UNITED STATES WAS WAY BEHIND IN
OUR DEVELOPMENT OF A WAR
MACHINE, SHIPS AND TANKS AND
BOATS, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAD
TO SEND AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
COMPANIES INSISTING THAT THEY
HIRE AFRICAN-AMERICANS BECAUSE
WE WERE LOSING THE EFFORT.
BUT THEY REFUSE TO BREAK DOWN
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION EVEN AS WE
WERE BEING OUTMANNED BY OUR
ENEMIES.
SO WE FIND THERE'S STILL
DIFFICULTY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS
TO GET INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR
AND WE FIND THAT, THEREFORE,
MANY ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS IN
PUBLIC SECTOR.
H.R. 3630 ALSO MAKES LARGE CUTS
IN HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS.
IT CUTS OVER $21 BILLION FROM
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
WHICH WILL INCREASE THE
UNINSURED BY 170,000 AMERICANS.
ADDITIONALLY, H.R. 3630 ROLLS
BACK THE EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION PROGRAM
SUBSTANTIALLY MAKING DRASTIC
CUTS TO MEDICARE AND CONTAINS
CONTROVERSIAL RIDERS THAT SHOULD
NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS BILL.
WE HAVE -- WE SHOULD NOT RISK
TAX INCREASES ON THE MIDDLE
CLASS FAMILIES, DROPPING
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THOSE
OUT OF WORK OR PREVENTING
SENIORS FROM ACCESSING THEIR
DOCTORS THROUGH MEDICARE BY
INCLUDING UNRELATED AND
CONTROVERSIAL PROVISIONS.
THE BILL IS FISCALLY CARELESS
AND IT INCREASES THE DEFICIT BY
$25.3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS, ACCORDING TO C.B.O.
DUE TO MORE THAN $21.5 BILLION
IN PROVIDER CUTS, THE AMERICAN
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS URGING
CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THIS BILL
THAT WILL HARM HEALTH CARE IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA.
IMPORTANT FUNDING FOR PREVENTIVE
CARE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS ALSO
SUBJECT TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN CUTS.
CHANGES IN THE BILL WOULD RESULT
IN 170,000 MORE UNINSURED
AMERICANS.
SO THEREFORE I URGE DEFEAT OF
THIS UNFAIR PLAN WHICH ALSO
THROWS IN THE PIPELINE WHICH
MAKES NO SENSE.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS, MS.
JACKSON LEE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER,
JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO I HEARD
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON ANOTHER
MATTER DEALING WITH CHILDREN
RAISE THE QUESTION, WHO LOBBIES
CHILDREN?
FRANKLY I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN
A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HOLD OUR
CHILDREN AS THE FRESHES
RESOURCES THAT THEY ARE.
TO BE CODDLED AND NURTURED,
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITIES OF LIFE,
IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR ETHNIC
BACKGROUND, RELIGIOUS
BACKGROUND, ECONOMIC BACKGROUND,
WHERE THEY LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK THE GREATEST TESTIMONY
OF A COUNTRY'S MORAL VALUES OF
HOW THEY PROTECT AND RESPECT
THEIR CHILDREN, JUST AN HOUR OR
TWO AGO, MR. SANDUSKY IN A
PENNSYLVANIA COURTROOM DECIDED
NOT TO LISTEN TO NUMBERS OF HIS
ACCUSERS IN THIS SORDID SCANDAL
OF CHILD *** ABUSE.
THAT IS HIS LEGAL PRIVILEGE, AND
AS SOMEONE WHO ADHERES TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF DUE PROCESS AND
THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY ONE'S
PEERS, I'M NOT HERE TO KARL WITH
LEGAL SYSTEM -- QUARREL WITH
A LEGAL SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS AN
ACCUSED, IN THIS INSTANCE A
PROPOSED DEFENDANT, TO DEFEND
THEMSELVES.
BUT I AM HERE TO CHALLENGE THE
CRISIS OF *** ABUSE OF
CHILDREN IN AMERICA AND THE
SORDID SALACIOUSNESS OF THE
COVER-UP THAT ADULTS HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN.
SHAME ON US.
SHAME ON US.
AS THE CHAIR AND FOUNDER OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL CHILDREN'S CAUCUS,
I RAISE MY IRE AND I ASK THE
MEDIA AROUND THIS COUNTRY TO
COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE ROCKS
AND BEGIN TO ATTACK THE COVER-UP
AND QUIETNESS OF PROFESSIONAL OR
AMATEUR SPORTS OF COLLEGE
SPORTS, HIGH SCHOOL AND PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY SPORTS, MUCH
NONPROFITS WHO DEAL WITH
CHILDREN -- OF NONPROFITS WHO
DEAL WITH CHILDREN, WHO HAVE AN
INC.LING OR KNOWLEDGE OF THE
SORDIDNESS OR DASTARDLY ACTION
OF SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN AND
NOT SAYING ONE WORD.
AND SO THIS WEEK I'M GOING TO
ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN
INTRODUCING LEGISLATION THAT
WILL CEASE AND DESIST FUNDING,
FEDERAL FUNDING GOING TO
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
NONPROFITS WHO ARE FOUND TO HAVE
COVERED UP CHARGES OF CHILD
*** ABUSE.
WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP?
THE EVENOUSNESS OF THE ALLEGED
ACTS OF MR. -- HEINOUSNESS OF
THE ALLEGED ACTS OF STEIN IN
SYRACUSE SAY THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATION CAN NOT REACH HIM OF
THE FEDERAL LAW MUST SPEAK.
THE VOICE OF AMERICA MUST SPEAK.
AND THE IRONY OF IT IS AS I
LISTENED TO COMMENTATOR THIS
MORNING SAY HOW LONG WILL THE
COACH BE ABLE TO STAY AT
SYRACUSE?
IN THE PROMINENCE OF THEIR
SEASON THIS YEAR?
AS LONG AS HE WANTS.
AND NO ONE HAS GOTTEN TO THE
WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE
BOYS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
ADDED TO THAT THE ESPN TAKE THAT
THEY SAT ON FOR HOW MANY YEARS
AND NO RECRIMINATION, NO
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST AN ENTITY
THAT ENJOYS THE TRUST AND
CONFIDENT CONFIDENCE AND
ENJOYMENT OF THE AMERICAN-AND
CONFIDENCE AND ENEMPLOYMENT OF
AMERICAN SPORTS FAN TO HELD A
TAPE AND DENY THAT TAPE TO AT
LEAST BE VETTED TO DETERMINE THE
HARSHNESS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO A
CHILD.
CHILD *** ABUSE CASE, 90,000
ARE REPORTED, BUT THE NUMBERS OF
UNREPORTED ABUSE IS FAR GREATER
BECAUSE IT IS DOCUMENTSED THAT
CHILDREN WAIT AT LEAST TWO YEARS
BEFORE THEY ARE WILLING TO TELL
WHY?
, BECAUSE WE AS ADULTS HAVE MADE
IT SO HARSH, SO ACCUSE TORREY
FOR THE CHILD.
THE CHILD IS IN FACT THE
DEFENDANT, THE WRONG PERSON, AND
A FAMOUS
ADULT FOR THEN YOU ARE
COMPLETELY MALIGNED.
THROWN ON THE TRASH HEAP OF
LIFE.
THE BOYS THAT MR. SANDUSKY WAS
ALLEGEDLY ACCUSED OF ACTING
AGAINST HAPPENED TO BE
VULNERABLE CHILDREN, VULNERABLE
FAMILIES, AT-RISK CHILDREN,
PARENTS, SINGLE MOTHERS WHO WERE
LOOKING FOR A MALE ROLE MODEL,
ISN'T THAT ALLOWED IN AMERICA?
AREN'T WE FAMILIAR WITH RAISING
THAT IMPOVERISHED CHILD UP AND
GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
RAISED UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS,
GETTING SOME WONDERFUL MALE ROLE
MODEL, IN THE INSTANCE OF GIRLS
A WOMAN ROLE MODEL, ISN'T THAT
THE AMERICAN WAY?
THAT EVERYBODY HAS A DOOR OPENED
WORLD.
BUT THAT TRUST WAS VIOLATED AND
THOSE CHILDREN, NOW BASICALLY
GROWNUPS, DID NOT SURVIVE AND
WILL NOT SURVIVE THE MENTAL
CONDITIONS THAT WILL BE
SUBJECTED OR HAVING THEM
SUBJECTED.
MR. SPEAKER, AS I CLOSE, LET ME
SAY THAT CHILDREN HAVE DIED
BECAUSE OF CHILD *** ABUSE.
JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION, TO BE ABLE TO SAY
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THE COVER-UP
OF *** ABUSE OF CHILDREN.
IT'S --
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THAT LOBBYIST.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLELADY