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THERE WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE DATES
BACK TO THE WILDERNESS ACT OF
1964, DESCRIBED AS A WAY TO
PUBLIC LAND.
BUT A REPORT FINDS IT MAKE CLEAR
THE WAY FOR MOTORIZED VEHICLES
AREAS.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2012]
THE CHAIR WILL ALTERNATE
RECOGNITION BETWEEN THE PARTIES
WITH EACH PARTY LIMITED TO ONE
HOUR AND EACH MEMBER OTHER THAN
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
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS,
MR. MCGOVERN, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS
PAST SATURDAY THE FOOD NETWORK
PREMIERED THEIR FIRST-EVER
DOCUMENTARY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES AND INDEED
ALL AMERICANS TO WATCH IT BY
GOING TO FEEDNOT WORK.COM AND
SEARCHING FOR HUNGER HITS HOME.
IT'S FITTING THAT THE FOOD
A CABLE NETWORK WHICH
FEATURES COOKING, WOULD CHOOSE
TO SHOW HUNGER FOR THE FIRST
DOCUMENTARY.
WHILE 435 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AND 100 SENATORS WILL NOT HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT GOING HUNGRY,
THERE ARE MILLIONS THAT
STRUGGLE.
17 MILLION KIDS EACH YEAR GO
HUNGRY IN AMERICA AND THOSE
NUMBERS ARE GETTING WORSE, NOT
BETTER.
THE FOOD NETWORK AIRED THIS
DOCUMENTARY BECAUSE OF THE HARD
WORK LIKE BILLY SHORE.
IT IS TODAY WITHOUT THEM.
WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD
IN AMERICA TO FEED EVERYONE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE DELIVERY
SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THAT FOOD
GETS TO WHAT WE LACK, MR.
SPEAKER, IS THE POLITICAL WILL
TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT WHILE
THERE WAS A COST TO ENDING
HUNGER, THE COST OF DOING
NOTHING IS SO MUCH MORE.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE
CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS,
HUNGER COSTS AMERICA MORE THAN
$261 BILLION EACH YEAR.
THAT'S BILLION WITH A B.
SPECIFICALLY, HUNGER COSTS, AND
I QUOTE, AT LEAST $165.5
MILLION DUE TO THE COMBINATION
OF LOST ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY
EACH YEAR, MORE EXPENSIVE
PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE
RISING COSTS OF POOR EDUCATION
OUTCOMES, AVOIDABLE HEALTH CARE
COSTS AND THE COST OF CHARITY
TO KEEP FAMILIES FED.
THIS $167.5 MILLION IS NOT --
DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF
THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE
OTHER KEY FEDERAL NUTRITION
PROGRAMS WHICH RUN AT ABOUT $94
BILLION A YEAR.
WE CALL THIS $167.5 BILLION
AMERICA'S HUNGER BILL.
IN 2010 IT COST EVERY CITIZEN
$542 DUE TO THE FAR-REACHING
CONSEQUENCES OF HUNGER IN OUR
NATION.
AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL THE
HUNGER BILL CAME TO AT LEAST
$1,410 IN 2010, AND BECAUSE OUR
$167.5 BILLION ESTIMATE IS
BASED ON A CAUTIOUS
METHODOLOGY, THE ACTUAL COST OF
HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY TO
OUR NATION IS PROBABLY HIGHER,
AND I END THE QUOTE.
MONEY.
IT'S A STAGGERING AMOUNT.
YET WE CONTINUE TO IGNORE THOSE
COSTS AND ALLOW HUNGER TO GROW
IN AMERICA.
WE KNOW THAT HUNGER WOULD BE
EVEN WORSE IN THIS COUNTRY IF
IT WEREN'T FOR PROGRAMS LIKE
THE SNAPSNAP -- LIKE THE SNAP
THESE PROGRAMS ARE LITERALLY
LIFELINES FOR CHILDREN, PARENTS
AND SENIORS.
I BELIEVE WE CAN END HUNGER IN
AMERICA IF WE HAVE THE
POLITICAL WILL TO DO SO.
FIGHTING HUNGER HAS BEEN A
BIPARTISAN EFFORT.
UNFORTUNATELY THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP IN THIS HOUSE IS
PUSHING AN AGENDA THAT WILL
WORSE IN A
SECOND.
$33 BILLION FOR THE MOST
IMPORTANT ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM
IN THIS COUNTRY, SNAP IS A
PROGRAM THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES
FOOD TO LOW-INCOME PARENTS,
SENIORS AND CHILDREN, IT ALSO
PROVIDES A MOST EFFECTIVE FORM
OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS AND IT
ACTUALLY REDUCES POVERTY.
YET, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
CONTINUES TO DEMAGOGUE THE
PROGRAM AS WASTEFUL, AS
FRAUDULENT AND SOMETHING THAT'S
GROWING OUT OF CONTROL, BUT
TRUTH.
SNAP IS AMONG THE MOST
PROGRAMS.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THE SNAP
ERROR RATE IS AROUND 3%.
THAT ERROR RATE INCLUDES PEOPLE
WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE BENEFIT
THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.
I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO FIND HERE
A DEFENSE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM
WITH AN ERROR RATE AS LOW AS
3%.
I LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME WHEN
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP STOPS
USING HUNGER AS A WEDGE ISSUE
AND LETS THIS BECOME A
BIPARTISAN ISSUE ONCE AGAIN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET, MR.
SPEAKER, BUT MUST IT BE ON THE
BACKS OF THE POOR AND THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR COUNTRY?
ARE WE GOING TO END HUNGER ONCE
AND FOR ALL OR NOT?
SO FAR THE ANSWER FROM THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS A
RESOUNDING NO, AND I REGRET
VERY MUCH THAT DECISION.
MR. SPEAKER, HUNGER IS A
POLITICAL PROBLEM.
IF WE HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL
WE CAN END IT ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
KINZINGER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN.
I WANT TO JUST SAY BEFORE I
ACTUALLY GET STARTED, WE JUST
SAW THE SPACE SHUTTLE FLY OVER
ON THE BACK OF A 747 AND I
SALUTE THE END OF AN AMAZING
ERA IN SPACE EXPLORATION AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT DAY OF
NASA BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT
SPACE EXPLORATION AND HOW WE'RE
GOING TO GET OUT THERE SO WE
DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON RUSSIANS
TO GET TO SPACE TO CONTINUE TO
DO WHAT I THINK IS A VERY
IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
I WAS IN HOUSTON, I ACTUALLY
WENT THROUGH THE NASA CENTER
HERE ABOUT THREE, FOUR DAYS
AGO, BUT I WAS IN HOUSTON FOR
MILITARY DUTY.
I AM A PILOT IN THE AIR
NATIONAL GUARD.
I FLY AN AIRPLANE CALLED AN
RC-26, WHICH IS A
RECONNAISSANCE PLANE.
I DID NINE DAYS OF DUTY AND
WHAT WE DID IS WE WERE IN TEXAS
FLYING MISSIONS ON THE BORDER
OF MEXICO IN ORDER TO HELP
BORDER PATROL TO SECURE THAT
BORDER, TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO COME HERE COME
HERE LEGAL ANSWERED IF NOT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, TO ENSURE THAT THE
DRUG TRADE IS NOT BEING BROUGHT
IN OUR COUNTRY, REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF DRUGS BEING BROUGHT
IN FROM MEXICO, AS WELL AS TO
ENSURE THAT TERRORISTS ARE NOT
MAKING THEIR ROY THROUGH THE
BORDER BY SNEAKING IN THROUGH
THAT BORDER OF MEXICO.
NOW, BEFORE I WENT I EXPECTED
TO SEE A BORDER THAT WAS
BASICALLY SECURE BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION, THAT THE BORDER
IS BASICALLY SECURE.
THE OTHER EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE
COMING OUTSIDE OF THAT, BUT FOR
THE MOST PART IT'S PRETTY GOOD
TO GO.
BUT WHAT I SAW WAS SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, I AM GOING TO TELL
YOU A QUICK STORY ABOUT SOMEONE
WHO'S ON THE BORDER EVERY DAY
TRYING TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY
AGAINST DRUGS AND AGAINST
TERRORISM COMING THROUGH THAT
BORDER.
THIS GUY AS A BORDER PATROL
AGENT, EFFICIENTLY, I GUESS
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN OOZEY.
HE WAS A MARINE FOR ABOUT FIVE
YEARS.
STARTED A SMALL BUSINESS AND
MADE THE DECISION THAT, YOU
KNOW, HE WANT TO GO CONTINUE TO
SERVE AND PROTECT THIS COUNTRY.
I FLEW MISSIONS WITH OOZIE.
HE WAS ONBOARD MY AIRCRAFT AS
WE ASSISTED BORDER PATROL AND
THE ONE THING HE SAID TO ME IS,
CONGRESSMAN, LOOK, WE'RE OUT
HERE EVERY DAY IN THE HEAT, THE
SWELTERING SUN TRYING TO
CONTINUE TO PROTECT THIS
COUNTRY, MAKE SURE YOU GIVE US
WHAT WE NEED HERE.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE
STORIES ABOUT HAMSTRUNG THEY
ARE ABOUT ACTUALLY ENFORCING
THE BORDER AND HOW THERE ARE
MANY TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THEM
THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
USE, IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY SAD.
NOW, LOOK, WE WANT TO BE A
NATION OF IMMIGRATION.
WE WANT TO BE A NATION OF LEGAL
IMMIGRATION, BUT ONE THING WE
DON'T WANT TO BE A NATION THAT
WAKES UP ONE DAY AND FINDS OUT
THERE WAS ANOTHER TERRORIST
ATTACK IN A MAJOR UNITED STATES
CITY, AND THAT POTENTIAL
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OR
THOSE TERRORISTS THAT ACTUALLY
CAME IN THROUGH AN UNSECURED
BORDER WITH MEXICO.
I WENT DOWN THERE REALLY
BELIEVING THERE WAS REALLY A
FENCE ALONG THE LINE AND I SAW
NOTHING OF THE KIND IN SOUTHERN
TEXAS.
LET'S TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH IS WE WANT TO BE A
NATION THAT RESPECTS
IMMIGRATION BECAUSE MOST OF US
HERE ACTUALLY ARE IMMIGRANTS
REMOVED OURSELVES.
WE WANT TO BE A NATION THAT HAS
A LEGAL PROCESS TO DO IT.
AND WHEN WE HAVE AN OPEN
BORDER, WE'RE ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO GO AROUND IN A LEGAL
PROCESS AND WE'RE OPENING
OURSELVES UP TO ATTACK.
LET'S STAND TOGETHER.
LET'S SAY TO RESPECT THE
AND THE IMMIGRANT
HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, BUT
LET'S DO IT IN A LEGAL WAY.
MY EYES WERE OPEN AS I DID
MILITARY DUTY ON THE BORDER FOR
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LONG
WAY TO GO.
THIS CAN BE A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE
REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT.
BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING WE
ACTUALLY FINALLY DO AND WE
STAND TOGETHER AND WE SAY WE
WILL BE A NATION THAT IS SAFE
ONCE AND FOR ALL.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
BLUMENAUER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
TODAY'S THE DEADLINE FOR FILING
TAX RETURNS.
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GIVEN TWO
EXTRA DAYS THIS YEAR, WE ARE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME FOR THE TAX
CODE.
THE TAX SYSTEM DOESN'T GENERATE
ENOUGH MONEY FOR WHAT AMERICA
NEEDS AND SPENDS TODAY.
IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE
EVERY YEAR TO CONTINUE THE HUGE
EVEN AS THE
CODE ITSELF BECOMES MORE
UNFAIR, COMPLEX AND
INEFFICIENT.
IT COSTS OVER $160 BILLION A
YEAR FOR AMERICANS JUST TO
COMPLY WITH THE TAX CODE.
THE PATH FORWARD SHOULD BE
SIMPLE.
FIRST WE SHOULD STOP MAKING THE
CODE MORE COMPLEX BUT SADLY THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN WORKING ITS WAY
FORWARD WILL DO WITH $50
BILLION OF ADDITIONAL UNFOCUSED
TAX BREAKS.
AT LEAST IF WE'RE GOING TO
BORROW ANOTHER $50 BILLION FROM
THE CHINESE WE SHOULD USE IT TO
FUND JOB-CREATING
INFRASTRUCTURE.
FOR INSTANCE, THAT $50 WOOL
WOULD ENABLE US TO -- WOULD
ENABLE US TO FUND A MULTIYEAR
TRANSPORTATION
RE-AUTHORIZATION.
WE SHOULD REPEAL THE PERNICIOUS
ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX.
IT WAS ONCE DESIGNED AS A TAX
ON VERY RICH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T
PAY TAXES.
TODAY, NO BILLIONAIRE HEDGE
FUND MANAGER PAYS THE
ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX.
INSTEAD, IT FALLS ON UPPER
MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES,
THOSE WHO PAY A LOT
OF TAX.
EVERY YEAR WE FIND SOME
CREATIVE WAY TO AVOID THE
CONSEQUENCE OF IT NOT BEING
INDEXED FOR INFLATION.
EVERY YEAR WE FIND SOME WAY TO
HAVE A FIX, TO HAVE A PATCH TO
AVOID ITS FULL IMPACT.
UNLESS, UNLESS SOMEHOW THERE IS
A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS WHICH SADLY
IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE AS WE SAW
THIS LAST YEAR WITH THE F.A.A.
RE-AUTHORIZATION.
IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THEN AT
LEAST THE FULL FURY OF 20
MILLION TO 30 MILLION OF UPPER
MIDDLE INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS WHO WOULD BE FORCED
TO PAY IT, THEY WOULD FORCE IT
TO BE REPEALED.
WE SHOULD COMBINE THE
ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX REPEAL
WITH THE IMPOSITION OF THE
SO-CALLED BUFFETT RULE WHERE
MILLIONAIRES AT LEAST PAY AS
MUCH AS THE PEOPLE WHO ANSWER
WORK.
THIS WILL GET BACK TO THE
INTENT OF THE
ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX, BUT IN
A WAY THAT SIMPLIFIES THE TAX
CODE RATHER THAN FURTHER
COMPLICATING IT.
WE SHOULD STOP THE DANGEROUS
PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING SOME OF
THE PAYROLL TAX IN THE NAME OF
ECONOMIC STIMULUS.
WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO
DESTABILIZING THE LONG-TERM
FUNDING MECHANISM FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY.
INSTEAD OF THE PAYROLL TAX CUT,
LET'S TARGET A TAX CREDIT FOR
LOWER AND MIDDLE-INCOME
FAMILIES THAT WILL BE FAIR,
AFFORDABLE AND HELP NURTURE OUR
FRAGILE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
WITHOUT THREATENING THE
LONG-TERM SOCIAL SECURITY
STABILITY.
WE SHOULD TARGET FOR
ELIMINATION TAX BREAKS THAT ARE
OUT OF DATE LIKE THE SUBSIDY OF
OIL THAT DOESN'T REFLECT
CURRENT PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
OR THE REALITY OF GLOBAL
PETROLEUM MARKETS.
WE SHOULD INSTEAD PROTECT
SUBSIDIES THAT ARE KEY FOR OUR
FUTURE, ESPECIALLY EXPIRING
RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDITS.
WE SHOULD RENEW THE SECTION
1603 TREASURY GRANT PROGRAM
WHICH REFLECTS CURRENT MARKET
REALITIES AND WOULD ACTUALLY BE
LESS EXPENSIVE THAN TRADITIONAL
TAX CREDITS.
ON THIS TAX DAY WE SHOULD LOOK
FOR SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS
BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR REAL TAX
REFORM.
THE ROMNEY REPUBLICAN HOUSE
BUDGET REFUSES TO IDENTIFY ANY
OF THE MASSIVE TAX INCREASES
THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO MEET
THEIR PLAN OF EVEN MORE TAX
CUTS FOR THE RICH AND NOT
INCREASE THE DEFICIT.
WITH $4 TRILLION IN EXPIRING
TAX PROVISIONS LATER THIS YEAR,
WE SHOULD USE SOME OF THAT
ECONOMIC CAPACITY TO MAKE THE
TAX SYSTEM MORE FAIR, SIMPLE
WHILE WE REDUCE THE DEBT.
THE TIME TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS
IS NOW, NOT MAKING THE TAX CODE
MORE COMPLEX, NOT FAVORING
THOSE WHO NEED HELP THE LEAST,
NOT RISKING LONG-TERM SOCIAL
SECURITY FUNDING AND NOT
BORROWING FOR UNFOCUSED NEW TAX
RELIEF.
INSTEAD, LET'S DEAL WITH
INVESTMENTS LIKE RENEWABLE
ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
LET'S USE SOME OF THIS BUDGET
CAPACITY TO REDUCE THE OVERALL
CORPORATE TAX BREAK WHILE
BROADENING THE BASE AND CLOSING
LOOPHOLES.
SIMPLER, FAIRER, BETTER FOR
BUSINESS.
LET'S ELIMINATE THE TYRANNY OF
THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX,
PROTECT OUR ENERGY FUTURE,
SUPPORT RENEWABLES, AND THERE
IS A PATH FORWARD THAT WE
SHOULD START ON NOW.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO HONOR
AMERICAN TAXPAYERS ON FILING
DAY THAN GETTING SERIOUS WITH
AN AGENDA THAT WITH ACTUALLY BE
BE.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM, CALIFORNIA, MR.
MCCLINTOCK, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
DEFINING ASPECT OF THE AMERICAN
TRADITION IS THAT GROUPS OF
CITIZENS BAN TOGETHER FOR A
WIDE VARIETY OF CIVIC PURPOSES.
THEY RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, RAISE
FUNDS AND SPEND THOSE FUNDS TO
PROMOTE WHATEVER PROJECT OR
CAUSE BRINGS THEM TOGETHER.
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY OUR TAX
LAWS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT SUCH
VOLUNTEERARY ASSOCIATIONS, THE
NON-- VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS,
THE NONPROFITS, AS WE CALL IT,
SHOULD NOT BE TAXED BECAUSE
THEIR PROCEEDS ARE IMPROVING
OUR EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY AND
CIVIC ACTION.
SECTION 501 OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE RECOGNIZES THEM
TODAY AND CIVIC GROUPS, AS
DIVERSE AS MOVEON.ORG, THE
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS,
THE ACLU, THE NATIONAL RIFLE
ASSOCIATION AND VARIOUS
TAXPAYER GROUPS HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS
DEFINITION.
WE DON'T APPLY A POLITICAL TEST
TO THESE CIVIC GROUPS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT OF AMERICANS TO ORGANIZE
AND TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES TO
PROMOTE WHATEVER CAUSES THEY
BELIEVE IN, LEFT OR RIGHT.
INDEED, WHATEVER THEIR
POLITICAL PERSUASION, THESE
CIVIC GROUPS PERFORM AN
ABSOLUTELY INDENNIS PENCIBLE
RULE IN OUR -- INDISPENSIBLE
ROLE IN OUR ECONOMY.
HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND
TO ADDRESS GRIEFANSES.
ABOLITION, WOMEN SUFFRAGE, THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ALL WOULD
HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT
THEM.
IN ORDER TO BE RECOGNIZED AS
NONPROFIT GROUPS THESE
ORGANIZATIONS MUST REGISTER
WITH THE I.R.S., A PURELY
MINUTE STEERIAL FUNCTION THAT
IN THE -- MINISTERIAL FUNCTION.
AT LEAST UNTIL NOW, IT SEEMS
THAT TEA PARTY GROUPS ARE TODAY
BEING TREATED VERY DIFFERENTLY
THEIR COUNTERPARTS ON THE
POLITICAL LEFT.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS MANY
HAVE BEEN STONE WALLED BY THE
I.R.S. WHEN THEY SOUGHT TO
REGISTER AS NONPROFITS AND MOST
RECENTLY THEY HAVE BEEN
BARRAGED WITH INCREASINGLY
AGGRESSIVE AND THREATENING
DEMANDS VASTLY OUTSIDE THE
LEGAL AUTHORITY OF THE I.R.S.
AND INDEED THE ONLY CONCEIVABLE
PURPOSE OF THESE DEMANDS IS TO
INTIMIDATE AND HARASS.
A GROUP SUBMITTED ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION AS A NONPROFIT TO
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND
THEY RECEIVED APPROVAL WITHIN A
BUT THEN THEY TRIED TO REGISTER
AS A NONPROFIT WITH THE I.R.S.
DESPITE REPEATED AND NUMEROUS
INQUIRIES, THE I.R.S. STONE
WALLED THIS GROUP FOR A YEAR
AND A HALF AT WHICH TIME
DEMANDED THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF
DOCUMENTATION AND GAVE THE
GROUP LESS THAN THREE WEEKS TO
PRODUCE IT.
THE I.R.S. DEMANDED THE NAMES
OF EVERY PARTICIPANT AT EVERY
MEETING HELD OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, TRANSCRIPTS OF EVERY
SPEECH GIVEN AT THOSE MEETINGS,
WHAT POSITIONS THEY HAD TAKEN
ON ISSUES, THE NAMES OF THEIR
VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS AND
COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS THEY
ON AND ON.
PERHAPS MOST CHILLING OF ALL,
THE ORGANIZER OF THIS
PARTICULAR GROUP SOON FOUND
HERSELF THE OBJECT OF A
PERSONAL INCOME TAX AUDIT BY
THE I.R.S.
MR. SPEAKER, THESE ARE GROUPS
OF VOLUNTEERS WHO PASS THE HAT
AT MEETINGS TO PAY FOR RENTING
THE HALL.
THEY GIVE THEIR OWN TIME TO
RESEARCH ISSUES AND PAY OUT OF
THEIR OWN POCKETS FOR PRINTING
THE DONATIONS MADE TO THEM
AREN'T TAX DEDUCTIBLE, SO THERE
IS NO RELIT JT PURPOSE IN
ASKING FOR THE NAMES OF THEIR
DONORS, LET ALONE OF THEIR
VOLUNTEERS UNLESS, AND THIS IS
THE FINE POINT OF IT, UNLESS
THE PURPOSE IS TO HARASS AND
INTIMIDATE.
TAXICS WE'LL SEE USED BY THE
I.R.S. AGAIN TEA PARTIES WERE
ONCE USED IN THE SOUTHERN STATES
TO INTIMIDATE CIVIL RIGHTS
GROUPS LIKE THE NAACP.
NO SUCH TACTICS HAVE BEEN
REPORTED BY SIMILAR POLITICAL
GROUPS ON THE LEFT SO THE
CONCLUSION IS INESCAPABLE.
THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS VERY
CLEARLY, VERY POINTEDLY, AND
VERY DELIBERATELY ATTEMPTING TO
INTIMIDATE, HARASS, AND THREATEN
CIVIC MINDED GROUPS WITH WHICH
THEY DISAGREE USING ONE OF THE
MOST FEARED AND POWERFUL
AGENCIES.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO DO
SO.
MR. SPEAKER, THESE FACTS SPEAK
THEY NEED NO EMBELLISHMENT FOR
INTERPRETATION.
THEY SHOULD ALARM EVERY AMERICAN
OF GOOD WILL REGARDLESS OF
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY.
FOR THIS PRECEDENT IS ALLOWED TO
STAND, NO ONE'S FREEDOM IS SAFE.
I BRING THESE FACTS TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE HOUSE TODAY AND
ASK THAT THEY BE RIGOROUSLY
INVESTIGATED AND IF FOUND
ACCURATE THAT THOSE OFFICIALS
RESPONSIBLE BE EXPOSED,
DISGRACED, DISMISSED, AND
DEBARRED FROM ANY FURTHER
POSITION OF TRUST OR POWER
WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT, MR.
WELSH, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
REVISE AND EXTEND.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, IN74
DAYS THIS CONGRESS MAY WELL HANG
A FINANCIAL ALBATROSS AROUND THE
NECK OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
THAT'S BECAUSE ON JULY 1 STUDENT
INTEREST RATES ARE SCHEDULED TO
GO FROM 3.4% TO 6.8%.
LITERALLY DOUBLING THE INTEREST
COSTS THAT OUR KIDS AND THEIR
PARENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY
ON THEIR EDUCATION.
WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TO
WORK TOGETHER IN A N -- AND
AVOID THIS PUNISHING INTEREST
RATE INCREASE ON OUR STUDENTS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT REPUBLICANS OR
DEMOCRATS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT RED STATES OR
BLUE STATES.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE 2012
ELECTION.
IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS THAT WE ALL
REPRESENT.
IT'S ABOUT THE PARENTS THAT WE
ALL REPRESENT.
IN MY CASE IN THE STATE OF
VERMONT IT'S ABOUT STUDENTS LIKE
MICHAEL WHO IS A FRESHMAN AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND HE
LITERALLY DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER
HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ON
IN COLLEGE IF THE INTEREST RATES
DOUBLE.
IT'S ABOUT PARENTS LIKE BEN
TRUMAN AND JENNIFER WHO LAST
MONTH WERE SITTING AROUND THE
TABLE WITH THEIR SON ABOUT TO GO
TO COLLEGE AND TRYING TO FIT THE
PIECES TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD IT.
WHAT THIS ALSO IS ABOUT IS
GROUND ZERO FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
THIS COUNTRY FACES A VERY
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.
ARE WE A COUNTRY, ARE WE A
CONGRESS THAT IS GOING TO REMAIN
COMMITTED TO EXPANDING AND
BROADENING THE MIDDLE CLASS?
MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR
LOW-INCOME FOLKS TO FIND THEIR
WAY INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS,
MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS IN
THE MIDDLE CLASS TO STAY THERE?
IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO
INVEST IN THE FUTURE AND THAT
MEANS MAKING IT POSSIBLE, MAKING
IT AFFORDABLE FOR OUR KIDS TO
GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO
GET THAT START.
STUDENT DEBT IN THIS COUNTRY IS
AT A CRISIS POINT.
IT OUTPACES CREDIT CARDS, AUTO
LOANS, AND NO END IN SITE.
IN VERMONT NEARLY 70% EVER OUR
COLLEGE GRADUATES -- AGAIN THIS
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT
THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IS.
70% OF OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN
VERMONT GRADUATE WITH DEBT ABOUT
THAT'S REAL MONEY.
TEES A TOUGH JOB MARKET.
STUDENTS ARE TOTALLY AT THE
MERCY OF A SYSTEM OUT OF
TUITION AT FOUR-YEAR
PUBLIC KWLUSTS ROSE BY 8%.
COSTS ARE GOING UP.
IN A RECENT POLL FOUND THAT 7 A%
OF 5ERS OF AMERICANS IS
UNAFFORDABLE.
THAT CAN'T BE PEOPLE NEED TO
HAVE THE TICKET TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS IS THERE AND AFFORDABLE.
THAT'S WHY WE TOGETHER HAVE TO
FIND A WAY TO AVOID THIS
DOUBLING OF INTEREST RATES.
FOR OVER EIGHT MILLION STUDENTS
IN THIS COUNTRY, STAFFORD LOANS
ARE VERY CRITICAL RESOURCE
HELPING THEM AFFORD THE COST OF
THAT COLLEGE EDUCATION WE ALL
WANT THEM TO GET.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT NOW BORROWING MONEY
AT CLOSE TO 2%, WHY ARE WE
ASKING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES TO
PAY 6.8%?
THESE ARE NOT COMBRANTS.
THESE ARE LOANS.
THEY'LL BE REPAID.
LET'S FIND A WAY TO HELP OUR
KIDS AND HELP OUR PARENTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,
MR. JONES, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
HOUSE, I WAS HOME FOR THE LAST
TWO WEEKS ON OUR EASTER BREAK,
AND IT CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME
WHY WE IN CONGRESS DO NOT
LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I REPRESENT THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH
CAROLINA, THE HOME OF CAMP
LEJEUNE MARINE BASE, SEYMOUR
JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE AND OVER
60,000 RETIRED VETERANS.
NOT ONE PERSON SAID TO ME WE
NEED TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN.
I'M NOT EXAGGERATING, MR.
SPEAKER.
EVERY ONE THAT I SAW AND HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH AND THE ISSUE
OF AFGHANISTAN CAME UP IN THE
CONVERSATION SAID, GET OUT, GET
OUT NOW.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE ON THE
FLOOR TODAY BECAUSE THE
ADMINISTRATION KEEPS SAYING,
WELL, 2014, 2014.
AND YESTERDAY DRIVING BACK TO
D.C. I WAS LISTENING TO C-SPAN
AND I HEARD AN INTERVIEW WITH
SECRETARY PANETTA AND GENERAL
DEMPSEY AND I HAVE A LOT OF
RESPECT FOR BOTH MEN, BUT IT
WAS KIND OF VAGUE WHEN
SECRETARY PANETTA SAID TO THE
REPORTER THAT ASKED HIM OUR
PLANS FOR 2014.
WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPING WE
CAN TRAIN THE AFGHANS TO
STABILIZE THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
MR. SPEAKER, I SAY THIS
RESPECTFULLY, THAT'S AN IFFY
PROPOSITION AT BEST.
IN A WEENT "WASHINGTON
POST"/ABC NEWS POLL, ONLY 30%
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAY THE
WAR HAVE BEEN WORTH FIGHTING.
THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY
ARE TIRED OF SENDING THEIR
LOVED ONES DYING FOR A COUNTRY
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CHANGE
IN A DECADE.
I WILL GO TO EVEN SAY THIS, IT
HAS NOT CHANGED IN THE HISTORY
OF AFGHANISTAN GOING BACK TO
ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
BUT WHY ARE WE STILL THERE?
AGAIN, PEOPLE SAY WELL,
WE GOT TO STABILIZE THE
COUNTRY.
WE CAN'T EVEN STABILIZE
AMERICA'S ECONOMY.
AND SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE
BIT RIDICULOUS WHEN I LOOK AT
ALL THE MONEY BEING SPENT
OVERSEAS AND PARTICULARLY IN A
COUNTRY LIKE AFGHANISTAN AND WE
SAY TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA AND THE PEOPLE
IN THE 50 STATES, WE DON'T HAVE
MONEY TO FIX YOUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT YET, MR. KARZAI, YOUR
CURRENT LEADER, AND WE ARE
PROUD TO KEEP SENDING YOU $10
BILLION A MONTH.
TALKING ABOUT MR. KARZAI BRINGS
ME TO AN EDITORIAL, SYNDICATED
COLUMNIST, AND IT'S TILED
"AFGHANISTAN: AN INDEFENSIBLE
COST" AND I FEEL THAT MR.
ROBERTSON, WHO WROTE IT THEN
COULD HAVE WRITTEN IT NOW AND I
QUOTE FROM THE COLUMN.
THIS IS FROM MR. KARZAI.
THE TIME HAS COME TO REDUCE
MILITARY OPERATIONS.
THE TIME HAS COME TO REDUCE THE
PRESENCE OF, YOU KNOW, BOOTS IN
TO REDUCE THE INTRUSIVENESS
INTO THE DAILY AFGHAN LIVES.
THIS IS WHAT PRESIDENT KARZAI
SAID TO THE "WASHINGTON POST".
WELL, IN HIS COLUMN IN 2010
THAT HE COULD BE WRITING TODAY,
APRIL, 2012, THIS IS WHAT MR.
ROBERTSON SAID IN RESPONSE TO
KARZAI.
ALL RIGHT THEN.
LET'S SAVE AMERICAN LIVES AND A
TON OF MONEY.
LET'S OBLIGE HIM.
MR. ROBERTSON, THANK YOU.
I HOPE THAT THIS CONGRESS, WHEN
WE DEBATE THE D.O.D. BILL IN
MAY, AND WE HAVE AMENDMENTS
FROM BOTH SIDES SAYING THAT WE
MUST HAVE A MORE DEFINED END TO
THIS INVOLVEMENT IN
AFGHANISTAN, I HOPE AND PRAY
THAT WE WILL PASS SOME OF THESE
LEGISLATION -- LEGISLATIVE
MR. SPEAKER, I BROUGHT WITH ME
MANY OF THESE
POSTERS OF A TRAGIC SCENE OF A
SOLDIER, MARINE, AIRMAN, NAVY,
WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE IN A COFFIN
GOING TO HIS OR HER GRAVE.
THAT BRINGS ME TO MY LAST
POINT.
THE BODY OF WAR, A PRODUCTION
BY PHIL DONAHUE AND MARIA
SCHAPIRO.
I AM GOING TO BE TALKING MORE
ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS YOUNG
MAN IS PARALYZED FROM HIS
BREAST DOWN, AND WHAT HE HAS TO
GO THROUGH TO LIVE.
THIS CONGRESS NEEDS TO MEET ITS
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
ANY OTHER INVOLVEMENT BY OUR
COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE A
DECLARATION OF WAR.
MR. ROBERTSON, THANK YOU,
AGAIN, AND I CLOSE, GOD,
PLEASE, GOD, PLEASE CONTINUE TO
BLESS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN
UNIFORM.
THE FAMILIES OF OUR MEN AND
WOMEN IN UNIFORM AND THE
WOUNDED.
GOD, CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
GREEN, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
THIS MORNING WITH GOOD NEWS AND
BAD NEWS.
THIS NEWS COMES BY WAY OF MY
HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER, "THE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE" AND I AM
PROUD THAT THEY HAVE PRINTED
AND PUBLISHED THE NEWS I AM
ABOUT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC.
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT MR.
JOHNSON WAS BEATEN ON THE
STREETS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS,
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HIS RACE.
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HIS RACE.
THIS IS BAD NEWS FOR ANYONE IN
OUR GREAT COUNTRY, A COUNTRY
THAT BELIEVES IN LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
IT'S BAD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS, HOWEVER, IS THEY
THEY WERE
CONVICTED IN A FEDERAL COURT
PURSUANT TO THE JAMES BYRD HATE
CRIME LAW.
AND I'M HONORED TO TELL YOU
THIS LAW PASSED IN THIS
CONGRESS IN 2009 AND WAS SIGNED
INTO LAW.
IT IS PROPERLY FILED THE
MATTHEW SHEPARD-JAMES BYRD HATE
CRIME PREVENTION ACT.
IT WAS SUPPORTED BY MANY PEOPLE
AND ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSING
GOOD WILL.
THE NAACP SUPPORTED IT.
THE A.D.L. SUPPORTED IT AND
MANY OTHERS SUPPORTED THIS LAW.
A GOOD MANY MEMBERS OF THIS
CONGRESS SUPPORTED IT.
THIS LAW ALLOWS THE PROSECUTION
TO TAKE PLACE IN A FEDERAL
COURT WHEN THESE MEN, THREE OF
THEM, WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED
IN A STATE COURT AND IF
CONVICTED FACED MISDEMEANOR
CHARGES.
GREATEST COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE
TO FEAR FOR LIFE OR LIBERTY
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE,
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE,
YOUR ETHNICITY, YOUR GENDER,
YOUR SEXUALITY.
IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THE TRUTH IS THAT IN THIS CASE
THERE WAS SOME TESTIMONY WITH
REFERENCE TO ONE OF THE
DEFENDANTS HAVING DATED A
PERSON OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY.
THAT WAS TESTIMONY THAT HE DID
NOT APPEAR TO BE THE KIND OF
PERSON THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED
A WHITE SUPREMACIST.
BUT HERE IS A ANOTHER TRUTH WE
HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE IS
LAW.
THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING.
THIS LAW DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO
IMPOSE DASTARDLY DEEDS UPON
PERSONS SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU ARE
OF THE SAME RACE AS THE PERSON
ARE ASSAULTING.
THE TRUTH IS IF YOU ASSAULT AND
TARGET A PERSON BECAUSE OF
RACE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
YOUR RACE IS.
YOU ARE COMMITTING A HATE
CRIME.
THE TRUTH IS YOU CAN BE OF THE
SAME RACE AND COMMIT A HATE
CRIME.
THE VICTIM AND THE PERPETRATOR
CAN BE OF THE SAME RACE AND YOU
WILL STILL HAVE A HATE CRIME.
WE NEED TO RID OURSELVES OF
THIS FOOLISH NOTION THAT THIS
LAW WAS PASSED IN SOME WAY TO
ASSAULT PERSONS WHO ARE OF AN
ETHNICITY OR RACE THAT WE HAVE
TRADITIONALLY IN THIS COUNTRY
FOUND TO BE ENGAGED IN SOME OF
THESE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
IT'S NOT TARGETED AT ANY GIVEN
RACE.
IT'S TARGETED AT PEOPLE WHO
COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST OTHER
PEOPLE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO
THESE PEOPLE ARE.
I REMIND YOU INJUSTICE
AGAINST ANY ONE OF US IS A
THREAT TO JUSTICE FOR EVERY ONE
OF US, AND WE ALL HAVE A DUTY
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEND
OUT SOME SILLY NOTION THAT THIS
LAW WAS DESIGNED FOR ONE RACE
OF PEOPLE.
THIS LAW WAS DESIGNED FOR EVERY
PERSON WHO WOULD COMMIT A HATE
CRIME AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON.
SO I'M SADDENED TO SAY THIS
MORNING THAT THE BAD NEWS IS
MR. JOHNSON HAD TO FIGHT OFF
SEVERAL PERSONS, STOOD HIS
GROUND FOR 10 MINUTES, BUT
INDICATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS
HIM.
THAT'S THE BAD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE LAW
HAS WORKED, THAT THIS LAW IS
BRINGING NEW MEANING TO THE
NOTION OF JUSTICE FOR ALL AND
THIS LAW WOULD NOT ALLOW THOSE
WHO WOULD COMMIT DASTARDLY
DEEDS AND BE PROSECUTED IN
STATE COURTS FOR MISDEMEANORS
TO GO UNCHECKED.
FELONY
CHARGES IN OUR FEDERAL COURTS.
THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE IN
THIS GREATEST COUNTRY.
GOD BLESS ALL THOSE WHO ARE
LISTENING AND GOD BLESS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS, MR. SHIMKUS, FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I COME TO THE FLOOR AGAIN TO
CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY AND
EDUCATE YOU, MR. SPEAKER, ON
THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS WHERE WE
STORE HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE
AROUND THIS COUNTRY AND THE
VARIOUS POSITIONS THAT OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER CHAMBER
HAVE VOTED, EITHER FOR OR
AGAINST, IN HOPES THAT
EVENTUALLY THE PUBLIC WILL
BECOME WELL INFORMED AND THAT
THEY WILL TAKE THE ACTIONS
THROUGH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS
TO DO EVEN WHAT THE BLUE RIBBON
COMMISSION SUGGESTED WHICH IS
DECIDE AND LOCATE A LONG-TERM
GEOLOGICAL STORAGE FACILITY.
NOW WE'VE -- THIS IS NOT NEW.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR
THE NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982.
THE AMENDMENTS WERE PASSED BY
THIS CHAMBER, SIGNED INTO LAW
IN 1987 WHICH IDENTIFIED A
LONG-TERM GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY
AT A PLACE CALLED YUCCA
MOUNTAIN AT A PLACE IN THE
DESERT IN NEVADA.
WHAT I HAVE BEEN TEMPTING TO DO
THROUGHOUT THIS -- ATTEMPTING
TO DO THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR
AND A HALF, I CHAIR A
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT HAS DIRECT
RESPONSIBILITY TO IT, IS TO
IDENTIFY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE A PLACE CLOSE HERE.
IN FACT, IT'S 43 MILES FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND
THAT'S A PLACE CALLED CALVERT
AND I LIKE TO COMPARE AND
CONTRAST IT WITH WHERE WE
SHOULD BE STORING OUR LONG-TERM
-- IN A LONG-TERM GEOLOGICAL
REPOSITORY WHERE OUR NUCLEAR
WASTES SHOULD BE STORED -- NOT
IN A DECADE OR TWO FROM NOW,
BUT AT THIS VERY MOMENT WHERE
IT SHOULD BE.
SO CALVERT CLIFFS IS IN
MARYLAND, AND IN CALVERT CLIFFS
THERE ARE 1,300 METRIC TONS OF
URANIUM OF SPENT FUEL ON SITE.
VERSUS YUCCA MOUNTAIN WHICH IS
A MOUNTAIN IN A DESERT WHERE WE
HAVE NO NUCLEAR WASTE ON SITE.
AT CALVERT CLIFFS, THIS NUCLEAR
WASTE, SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL IS
STORED ABOVE THE GROUND IN
POOLS AND IN CASKS.
ABOVE THE GROUND.
WHERE IF IT WAS STORED IN YUCCA
MOUNTAIN IT WOULD BE 1,000 FEET
UNDERGROUND.
CALVERT CLIFFS, THE NUCLEAR
WASTE IS STORED 85 FEET ABOVE
THE GROUNDWATER, WHERE YUCCA
MOUNTAIN IT WOULD BE 1,000 FEET
ABOVE THE WATER TABLE.
YUCCA MOUNTAIN,
THE NEAREST BODY OF WATER IS
THE COLORADO RIVER, 100 MILES.
WHEREAS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS
PHOTO, CALVERT CLIFFS IS RIGHT
NEXT TO CHESAPEAKE BAY.
NOW, YUCCA MOUNTAIN IS ABOUT 90
MILES FROM LAS VEGAS.
MAYBE 100 MILES FROM LAS VEGAS.
CALVERT CLIFFS IS 43 MILES FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SO WHAT ARE THE SENATORS FROM
THE SURROUNDING AREAS, HOW HAVE
THEY VOTED?
YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULDN'T
WANT NUCLEAR WASTE STORED NEAR
CHESAPEAKE BAY, 43 MILES AWAY
FROM D.C.
WELL, SENATOR CARPER VOTED NO
IN 2002.
SENATOR ***, NEW MEMBER, WE
DON'T KNOW HIS POSITION.
THAT'S PART OF THE -- PART OF
COMING DOWN HERE.
PRETTY SURE IF THE MAJORITY
LEADER OF THE SENATE WOULD CALL
A VOTE AND THIS ISSUE WAS
THOROUGHLY DEBATED, IT WOULD
POONS THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF
SENATORS WHO HAVE YET TO
DECLARE THEIR POSITION.
HERE, SENATOR CARDIN, FORMER
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, VOTED YEAH
IN 2002 FOR YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
SENATOR MIKULSKI, SAME YEAR,
DIFFERENT CHAMBER, VOTED NO.
SO HOW DOES OUR NATIONAL TALLY
GO?
WELL, CURRENTLY WE HAVE -- WE
BELIEVE 47 U.S. SENATORS WHO
HAVE STATED POSITION IN SUPPORT
OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
WE HAVE OVER 16 THAT HAVE NEVER
CAST A VOTE OR DECLARED THEIR
POSITION ON WHAT WE DO WITH
HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE.
EITHER SPENT FUEL OR NUCLEAR
WASTE IN THE PROCESSING OF
NUCLEAR ENERGY, OUR NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
WE HAVE 19 WHO'VE HAD A
POSITION OF NO AT SOMETIME IN
THEIR CAREER.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE THIS DEBATE, MR.
SPEAKER, TO CONTINUE TO COME
DOWN ON THE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT
THE FEDERAL LAW AS IS TODAY.
THE NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT
WAS PASSED IN 1982.
THE AMENDMENT WAS AGREED TO IN
1987.
THE AMENDMENT IDENTIFIED YUCCA
MOUNTAIN AS OUR LONG-TERM
GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY TO STORE
HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE, BUT
TIME HAS WELL PAST SINCE WE
SHOULD BE DOING THIS.
IN FACT, WE ACTUALLY PAY
UTILITIES TO HOLD THE NUCLEAR
WASTE SINCE IT'S OUR
WASTE.
SO WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEVADA, MS.
BERKLEY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR FIVE MINUTES AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE BUFFETT BILL, BUT I
JUST CANNOT ALLOW WHAT MR.
SHIMKUS HAS JUST SAID TO GO
UNRESPONDED TO, BECAUSE IT'S
SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.
THE SO-CALLED NUCLEAR ACTS THAT
HE DISCUSSED THAT WAS PASSED IN
1982 AND AMENDED IN 1987 IS
KNOWN IN NEVADA AS THE SCREW
YOU WHAT IT IS.
IT'S A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD SHIP
77,000 TONS OF RADIOACTIVE
NUCLEAR WASTE ACROSS 43 ESTATES
TO BE BURIED IN A HOLE IN THE
NEVADA DESERT WHERE IT IS 90
MILES FROM A MAJOR POPULATION
CENTER OF LAS VEGAS WHERE WE
HAVE GROUNDWATER ISSUES,
SEISMIC ACTIVITY AND VOLCANIC
ACTIVITY.
THE E.P.A. CANNOT COME UP WITH
ANY RADIATION STANDARDS THAT
WOULD PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF NEVADA OR ANYONE ELSE
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THEY -- LET ME TELL YOU
ORIGINALLY WHEN THEY CAME UP
WITH THIS NONSENSICAL PLAN
WHICH IS PURELY POLITICAL HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH SCIENCE.
COULD STORE
THE RODS, THE NUCLEAR WASTE IN
YUCCA MOUNTAIN WITH NO PROBLEM.
THEN WE REALIZED THAT THAT
WOULDN'T WORK BECAUSE OF THE
SO THEN WE DECIDED THEY WOULD
PUT NUCLEAR WASTE IN CANISTERS.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NO
CANISTERS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST
THAT CAN SAFELY STORE THIS
STUFF.
SHIELDS THAT WOULD GO AROUND
THE CANISTERS THAT DON'T EXIST
TO BE PUT INTO YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
AND THEN THE LAST REPUBLICAN
SECRETARY OF ENERGY TALKED
ABOUT AN ARMY OF ROBOTS THAT
WOULD WALK DOWN YUCCA MOUNTAIN
AND BE ABLE TO CHECK ON THE
NUCLEAR WASTE WHILE IT'S
LEAKING AND REACHING IN THE
GROUNDWATER.
IT'S A RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL AND
IT'S TIME TO GO TO PLAN B
BECAUSE PLAN A ISN'T GOING TO
HAPPEN.
77% OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF NEVADA DO NOT WANT NUCLEAR
WASTE STORED AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
END OF THAT.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
EXPRESS MY DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT
VOTE IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
ONCE AGAIN, SENATE REPUBLICANS
SIDED WITH WALL STREET
MILLIONAIRES AGAINST THE
INTEREST OF STRUGGLING
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT NEVADA.
THE BUFFETT RULE IS SIMPLE AND
IT'S COMMON SENSE.
IT MEANS IF YOU'RE A
HOUSEKEEPER, A NURSE, A BLACK
JACK DEALER, A WAITRESS OR ANY
OTHER MIDDLE CLASS PROFESSIONAL
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY
HIGHER TAX RATES THAN
MULTIMILLIONAIRES WHO OWN
YACHTS AND TRAVEL IN PRIVATE
JETS.
IT MEANS IF YOU'RE A NEVADAN
LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK YOU
SHOULDN'T BE CARRYING THE
BURDEN FOR WALL STREET HEDGE
FUND MANAGERS AND BIG OIL
COMPANY EXECUTIVES.
THE SENATORS WHO VOTED AGAINST
BASIC TAX FAIRNESS YESTERDAY
NEED TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE
TIME PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF
THEY'RE STRUGGLING.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE, TO FILL UP THEIR CARS
WITH GAS AND TO PAY THAT ARE
MORTGAGE OR RENT.
THE FACT THAT THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY PAY
THEIR TAXES AT A LOWER TAX RATE
THAN THEIR SECRETARIES AND
THEIR CHAUFFEURS DOESN'T PASS
THE SMELL TEST.
IT STINKS AND THAT'S WHY I'M
PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT I'M A
CO-SPONSOR OF THE BUFFETT RULE
IN THE HOUSE, AND I URGE ALL OF
MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME AND
LET'S BRING SOME FUNDAMENTAL
TAX FAIRNESS TO THE PEOPLE OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
72% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AGREE WITH ME THAT THE BUFFETT
RULE SHOULD BE MADE INTO LAW,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
DOLD, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, JUST MINUTES AGO I
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE
OUTSIDE AND SEE THE SPACE
SHUTTLE FLYING AROUND THE
UNITED STATES CAPITOL ON ITS
WAY TO DULLES WHICH BROUGHT
THOSE
THAT STUDY HISTORY REALIZE BACK
IN THE 1960 IT WAS PRESIDENT
KENNEDY, PRESIDENT KENNEDY WHO
SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES
WILL TAKE A MAN AND DELIVER HIM
TO THE MOON AND BRING HIM
SAFELY BACK TO THE EARTH.
WHICH CONSEQUENTLY TOOK OFF THE
SPACE RACE AT THAT POINT IN
TIME AND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BECAME MORE
ENGAGED IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
MATHEMATICS, SOMETHING I THINK
WE NEED TO REKINDLE TODAY.
MR. SPEAKER, I REPRESENT ONE OF
THE LARGEST MANUFACTURING
DISTRICTS IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND WHEN I TOUR SMALL
BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE 10TH
DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, EMPLOYERS
CONTINUALLY TELL ME THAT THEY
GOT JOB OPENINGS AVAILABLE.
YET THEY CAN'T FIND PEOPLE,
INDIVIDUALS, WORKERS ABLE TO
FILL THOSE ROLES, ROLES THAT
NEED TO BE FILLED BY THOSE THAT
HAVE TAKEN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
MATHEMATIC COURSES OR THE STEM
FIELDS.
AND THE DEPTHS OF THIS
RECESSION THAT WE ARE -- HAVE
BEEN GOING THROUGH,
MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION,
600,000 JOBS ACROSS OUR NATION
WENT UNFILLED.
THEY WENT UNFILLED BECAUSE NOT
ENOUGH PEOPLE WERE TRAINED IN
THE STEM FIELDS.
THESE ARE NOT LOW-PAYING JOBS,
THESE JOBS ON AVERAGE PAY
$77,000 ANNUALLY.
WE MUST EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS
AND JOB SEEKERS TO PURSUE STEM
EDUCATION SO THEY CAN FILL
THESE GOOD, HIGH-PAYING JOBS
HERE AT HOME.
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE PILLARS OF
MY MAIN STREET JOBS AGENDA IS
THAT OF STEM EDUCATION.
IF WE CAN PREPARE OUR STUDENTS
AND THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR
WORK, WE CAN HELP EMPOWER THESE
PEOPLE TO FIND GOOD-PAYING JOBS
AND KEEP OUR MANUFACTURING AND
INNOVATION RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
THE COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY, A
COLLEGE IN MY DISTRICT, HAVE
TEAMED UP WITH LOCAL
MANUFACTURING TO HELP PROVIDE
EDUCATION, EDUCATION THAT IS
NECESSARY IN THE STEM FIELDS
FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR
TO PURSUE A
MANUFACTURING CAREER.
I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT ONE OF
THE LOCAL MANUFACTURERS WENT TO
THE COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY AND
SAID WE ARE PULLING STUDENTS
FROM IOWA AND OHIO.
IS THERE ANY WAY YOU MIGHT BE
ABLE TO OFFER COURSES HERE AT
THE COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY SO
THAT WE CAN START HIRING PEOPLE
LOCALLY TO FILL THESE JOBS?
THEY WERE ALL TOO HAPPY TO
OBLIGE.
I TOOK INTERESTED STUDENTS FROM
HIGH SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS THE
10TH DISTRICT TO DIFFERENT
HIGH-TECH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
REGION.
THESE STUDENTS LEARNED HOW THEY
CAN APPLY THEIR EDUCATION
FIRSTHAND AND PURSUE ADVANCED
CAREERS IN THIS FIELD.
JUST LAST WEEK I HOSTED THE
FIRST-EVER MANUFACTURING AND
EDUCATION SUMMIT TO BRIDGE THE
MANUFACTURERS.
WE HAVE FOLKS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS
AND COLLEGES.
WE HAD MANUFACTURERS THERE
TRYING TO SAY WHAT WAS IT THAT
THEY NEEDED, WHAT WERE THEY
LOOKING FOR IN STUDENTS THAT
WERE GOING TO BE GRADUATING
HIGH SCHOOL OR
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO
BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THE SUCCESS STORIES OF
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN
EDUCATION AND MANUFACTURING IS
THAT OF WHEELING HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL DR. LOPEZ.
HE'S WORKED WITH LOCAL
BUSINESSES TO FIND OUT WHAT THE
ACTUAL NEEDS ARE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND OFFERING STUDENTS
OPTIONS IN PURSUING A STEM
EDUCATION.
TODAY DR. LOPEZ HAS BEEN
RECOGNIZED AS STARTING ONE OF
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STEM HIGH
SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTRY.
JUST THIS LAST FRIDAY I JOINED
HIM AND OTHER STEM STUDENTS
FROM VARIOUS HIGH SCHOOLS
AROUND THE AREA WHILE THEY
COMPETED IN A STEM COMPETITION,
FOCUSING ON NANOTECHNOLOGY AND
HIGH-POWERED COMPUTING.
THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY
BRIGHT STUDENTS WHO ARE BETTER
PREPARED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
WORK FORCE.
STEM EDUCATION IS AND SHOULD BE
A BIPARTISAN IDEA.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN AREA
OF COMMON GROUND AND THAT WE
SHOULD BE PROMOTING LOCAL
EFFORTS ALL ACROSS OUR NATION
TO HELP MANUFACTURERS FILL OPEN
JOBS AND BETTER PREPARE OUR
EMERGING WORK FORCE FOR 21ST
CENTURY CAREERS.
WE MUST NOT STAND IDLY BY AND
HOPE THIS HAPPENS, RATHER WE
MUST BE PRO-ACTIVE BY
DEMONSTRATING THE -- PROACTIVE
BY DEMONSTRATING THE SKETS OF
STEM EDUCATION.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS IS
ONE WAY WE CAN HELP SPUR OUR
ECONOMY TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK
TO WORK.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR LOCAL
SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO
FIND OUT HOW THEY CAN BETTER
PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A CAREER
IN THE 21ST CENTURY THROUGH
STEM EDUCATION.
IT WAS NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT
JOHN KENNEDY GAVE US A CHARGE
TO BRING A MAN TO THE MOON AND
SAFELY BACK TO THIS EARTH.
SPURRING ON STEM EDUCATION, WE
HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN TODAY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THAT PIPELINE OF STUDENTS
TO BE ABLE TO TAKE JOBS RIGHT
HERE AT HOME.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS, MS.
JACKSON LEE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
LET ME THANK
THE SPEAKER FOR HIS KINDNESS
AND YIELDING THIS MORNING, AND
I JOIN MY COLLEAGUE THAT JUST
SPOKE ON THE VITALITY AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF STEM EDUCATION AS
A 12-YEAR MEMBER OF THE SCIENCE
COMMITTEE AND I ALSO HAD A
SENSE OF EMOTION AS DISCOVERY
FLEW MANY TIMES OVER THIS GREAT
INSTITUTION, DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTION.
THAT EMOTION COMPELS ME TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR A PLACE
FOR ONE OF THE SHUTTLES IN THE
HOMETOWN OF WHICH IT WAS BORN,
THE PLACE WHERE JOHN F. KENNEDY
SPOKE AT THE RICE HOTEL AND
TO GO INTO SPACE
NASA JOHNSON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
CONTINUED BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO
HAVE AN APPROPRIATE
REPRESENTATION OF THE FOUR
SHUTTLES BACK IN HOUSTON WHERE
THEY BELONG.
I RISE TODAY AS WELL TO SPEAK
ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS AND,
MR. SPEAKER, I WILL TRY TO
ENSURE THAT I INCLUDE THEM
WITHIN THE TIME ALLOTTED.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO
SORT OF LOOK AT FOR MY
COLLEAGUES A SERIES OF ISSUES.
I SUPPORT THE BUFFETT RULE NOT
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN ANY KIND
OF CLASS WARFARE.
I CELEBRATE CAPITALISM AND
APPLAUD MR. YOU HAVETTE AND
OTHERS, BUT IT'S A GOOD -- MR.
BUFFETT AND OTHERS, BUT IT'S A
GOOD WAY TO HELP OUR DEFICIT.
THE ONLY THING THAT THE
ENHANCE
THE POCKET MONEY OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T NEED IT.
I WILL JOIN IN A BIPARTISAN WAY
TO LOOK AT IT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE
ABLE IN MAKING THE TAX CODE
FAIR TO BRING DOWN THE DEFICIT.
BUT THE BILL THAT WE WILL SEE,
AS I SAID, WILL INCREASE THE
POCKET CHANGE OF MILLIONAIRES.
IT WILL BE A JOB KILLER.
AND, OF COURSE, IT WILL CUT THE
MEDICARE GUARANTEES OF THOSE
WHO HAVE WORKED HARD FOR THEIR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
I CANNOT SUPPORT LEGISLATION
THAT ISN'T FAIR AND BALANCED
AND I WOULD PLEA TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO FIND THE MIDDLE
GROUND OF FAIR TAX CODE,
BRINGING DOWN THE DEFICIT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK
AT H.R. 3710, AN ENERGY BILL,
MYSELF WHO PRACTICED OIL AND
GAS LAW FOR 15 YEARS.
IT ADDRESSES THE QUESTION OF
THE WETLANDS.
IT USES EXPLORATION DOLLARS TO
BRING DOWN THE DEFICIT AND IT
ALLOWS AN EXPANDED EXPLORATION
IN THE GULF REGION.
PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN VETTED BY
MANY ENERGY ORGANIZATIONS,
ENERGY COMPANIES AND THEY
BELIEVE THAT IS A BIPARTISAN
APPROACH.
H.R. 3710 IS READY FOR THE
COMBINED WORK OF ALL OF US.
I ALSO BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT
TO SPEAK ABOUT THE VALUE OF
EDUCATION IN SEVERAL WAYS, AND
I'M HERE TODAY TO JOIN H.R. --
PROUDLY SO, STUDENTS WHO CARRY
THE BULK OF THE DEBT IN AMERICA
, CREDIT DEBT, STUDENTS WHO ARE
SIMPLY TRYING TO DO AS MY
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS IN
RATES ON STAFFORD LOANS WILL
DOUBLE, TRIPLE TO 6.8%.
YOU MAY HAVE BORROWED AT 2% AND
HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT
GOING UP TO 6.8%.
I WITH EVERY FIBER IN MY BODY
STAND AGAINST THAT.
I STAND WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS
AND SCHOOLS, WE MUST HAVE A
LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO STOP THAT
STEALING OF MONEY FROM OUR
CHILDREN WHO ARE SIMPLY TRYING
TO BE IN THE BEST COLLEGES,
STATE COLLEGES TO BE EDUCATED.
PARENTS, WAKE UP.
IN 74 DAYS THE INTEREST RATES
ON YOUR CHILDREN'S LOANS ARE
GOING UP TO 6.8%.
CALL OUR OFFICES.
GET ON OUR WEBSITE.
BEG US TO H.R. 3826 BY MY GOOD
FRIEND, MR. COURTNEY FROM
CONNECTICUT.
PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, AND I
WILL BE THERE WITH YOU FROM THE
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO
HOUSTON BAPTIST TO THE HOUSTON
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WE ARE GOING
TO WORK THIS.
LET ME ALSO MOVE VERY QUICKLY,
MR. SPEAKER, TO THE FACT THIS
IS THE FIFTH COMMEMORATION OF
THE TERRIBLE KILLINGS OF TEXAS
TECH, AND THIS CONGRESS HAVE
BEEN CHARGED OF BEING FEARFUL
WITH DEALING WITH GUN
OVER THE YEARS I HAVE
INTRODUCED THE CHILD GUN SAFETY
AND GUN ACCESS BILL.
I HAVE IN FACT SUPPORTED BILLS
DEALING WITH GUN CHECKS, TO
CLOSE GUN LOOPHOLES AT GUN
SHOWS.
I SUPPORTED BILLS TO STOP THE
PROLIFERATION OF ASSAULT
WEAPONS.
NOT BILLS AGAINST THE SECOND
AMENDMENT, BUT BILLS THAT WOULD
HAVE STOPPED MR. ZIMMERMAN
WALKING AROUND WITH A .09
MILLIMETER AND HE WAS ONLY
SUPPOSED TO BE THE EYES AND
EARS OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
MR. SPEAKER, I JOIN IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER, EVEN TO THE
EXTENT OF SAYING WE MUST CLEAN
UP THE SECRET SERVICE.
I SUPPORT MR. SULLIVAN AND EVEN
CLEAN UP THE G.S.A., BECAUSE
GILBAIN HAVE REFUSED TO BE
DIVERSED TO THE C.E.O. OF
GILBANE.
THIS CONGRESSPERSON YOU NEED TO
CALL, YOU ARE AN UNFAIR COMPANY
AND YOU'RE USING FEDERAL
DOLLARS THROUGH THE G.S.A. IN
AN INAPPROPRIATE WAY.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
GARRETT, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, I
COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY WITH A
HEAVY HEART, SADNESS AS WE
HONOR ANOTHER FALLEN SOLDIER.
ALSO TO HONOR THE LIFE AND
LEGACY OF STAFF SERGEANT JOSEPH
AUGUSTINE.
JERSEY.
THE YOUNG MAN WAS KILLED JUST
RECENTLY ON MARCH 27, 2012,
WHILE CONDUCTING COMBAT
OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST ONE DAY,
ONE DAY AFTER GRADUATING FROM
HIGH SCHOOL THIS YOUNG MAN
ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES
MARINE CORPS.
AFTER THAT HE WAS ASSIGNED TO
THE EIGHTH ENGINEER SUPPORT
BATTALION, THE SECOND MARINE
LOGISTICS GROUP, SECOND MARINE
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, AND ALL
THIS TIME HE SERVED OVER TWO
YEARS OR TWO TOURS OF DUTY, I
SHOULD SAY, IN IRAQ AND HE WAS
JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY, ONLY TWO
WEEKS AWAY FROM COMPLETING THIS
HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN
AFGHANISTAN.
STAFF SERGEANT AUGUSTINE WORKED
AS AN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THAT MEANS HE WENT AHEAD OF THE
OTHER SOLDIERS, OF THE OTHER
MARINES, OF THE OTHER SAILORS,
OF THE OTHER AIRMEN AND HE WAS
THE ONE THAT CLEARED THE WAY
FOR THEM SO THEY COULD GO ON
AND DO THEIR WORK.
AND SO IT WAS WITH THIS
GREATEST ACT, SACRIFICE
POSSIBLE STAFF SERGEANT
AUGUSTINE, HE GAVE HIS LIFE
PROTECTING HIS FELLOW MEN
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
HE WAS JUST 29 YEARS OLD.
NOW, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW
THE NUMEROUS NUMBER OF LIVES
THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SAVE IN HIS
WORK.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE TREMENDOUS
OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT
THAT WE HAVE SEEN FOR HIS
FAMILY IN THE DAYS SINCE HIS
DEATH PERHAPS PROVIDED MAYBE A
GLIMPSE INTO THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE THAT HE TOUCHED IN HIS
SHORT LIFE.
THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO KNEW
HIM BEST, HIS PARENTS, ANTHONY
AND PATRICIA, HIS SISTERS,
NICOLE, JENNIFER, MICHELLE, TO
HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, LYNN.
TO ALL THEM HE WAS A LOVING
SON, LOVING BROTHER, AND HE
WILL BE REMEMBERED AS SUCH.
THROUGH HIS MANY FRIENDS THAT
HE GREW UP WITH AND IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND WHAT HAVE YOU, HE'S
GOOD GUY, A
FRIEND, BY HIS NICKNAME,
THROUGH HIS FELLOW MARINES, HE
IS REMEMBERED AS, WHAT, BROTHER
IN ARMS IN THE SERVICE, AND TO
ALL OF US HERE NOW WHO MAY BE
HEARING HIS NAME FOR THE FIRST
TIME THROUGH AMERICA, THROUGH
AMERICANS HE WILL BE REMEMBERED
AS A PATRIOT.
AS A MAN WHO LOVED HIS COUNTRY,
WHO LOVED THE MARINE CORPS, A
MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ALL
OF US, FOR PROTECTING OUR
FREEDOMS AND OUR LIBERTIES IN
THIS COUNTRY.
LET US REMEMBER THIS YOUNG MAN.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MS. LEE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
AS CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CHAIR OF
THE CONGRESSIONAL
OUT-OF-POVERTY CAUCUS, I RISE
TODAY TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT
THE TIDE OF POVERTY THAT
IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT
COUNTRY.
I RISE TO CALL ON ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO COME TOGETHER TO
REIGNITE THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR
ALL AMERICANS BY HELPING TO
CREATE THE MILLIONS OF NEW JOBS
THAT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.
MR. SPEAKER, SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE AND THE CRITICAL
BENEFITS TO FEED HUNGRY
CHILDREN IN AMERICA DO NOT
CAUSE OUR DEFICIT.
OUR NATION'S DEBT IS A DIRECT
RESULT OF THE REPUBLICANS TWO
UNFUNDED WARS, THEIR FAILED
ECONOMIC POLICIES AND THE
TOTALLY FAILED OVERSIGHT OF THE
FINANCIAL SMBTS SECTOR BY THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION -- SERVICES
SECTOR BY THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION REGULATORS.
AND THE SUPERRICH AND THEIR
CORPORATIONS WILL ONLY MAKE THE
DEFICIT WORSE AND WILL DO
NOTHING TO GROW OUR ECONOMY.
MR. SPEAKER, LET'S NOT PASS
ANOTHER $46 BILLION LOOPHOLE
FOR THE WEALTHY 1%.
MR. CANTOR'S H.R. 9 IS YET
ANOTHER TAX HOLIDAY THAT WOULD
THE DEFICIT AND
WILL FAIL TO CREATE NEW JOBS.
WE SHOULD BE PASSING LAWS TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF OUR NATION'S MOST
VULNERABLE, LIKE OUR CHILDREN
AND OUR SENIORS.
WE MUST PASS LAWS THAT PROVIDE
SOME RELIEF FOR THE MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS STILL STRUGGLING TO
FIND A GOOD JOB.
MR. SPEAKER, ANY SO-CALLED
JOBLESS RECOVERY WHERE YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY ARE STILL OUT OF
WORK IS REALLY NO RECOVERY AT
ALL.
THAT IS WHY WE SIMPLY CANNOT
SEEK TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON
THE BACKS OF THE POOR AND OUR
SENIORS AND STRUGGLING FAMILIES
ACROSS AMERICA.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET, THE RYAN
BUDGET SEEKS TO DO JUST THAT.
ACTUALLY, THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
REALLY IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT
BALANCING THE BUDGET AT ALL.
THEIR BUDGET GUTS, MIND YOU,
GUTS FOOD STAMPS FOR OUR
FAMILIES IN THE TIME OF SUCH
DESPERATE NEEDS.
IT CRIPPLES MEDICAID AND ENDS
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
THEIR BUDGET MAKE THESE
DRACONIAN CUTS, NOT TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET, BUT GIVE TAX
GIVEAWAYS TO MILLIONAIRES AND
TO MASSIVE CORPORATIONS.
MR. SPEAKER, WE CAN DO BETTER
THAN BLAME THE POOR AND THE
POWERLESS FOR THE GREED AND THE
CORRUPTION OF THE RICH AND
POWERFUL.
WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE MUST DO
BETTER FOR ALL OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
AND WE CAN PROTECT THE MOST
VULNERABLE AMERICANS, GROW OUR
ECONOMY AND REDUCE OUR DEFICIT.
CRITICAL PROGRAMS LIKE THE
PICKUP LAMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, BETTER
KNOWN AS SNAP, NOT ONLY FEEDS
HUNGRY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
BUT IT SUPPORTS THE OVERALL
ECONOMY.
EVERY DOLLAR OF SNAP BENEFITS
GENERATES $1.84 IN THE ECONOMIC
-- IN OUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
IT REDUCES LONG-TERM HEALTH
CARE COSTS, IMPROVE THE
EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF
CHILDREN AND HELPS STABILIZE
AND IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM
ECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF THE
FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE THESE
BENEFITS.
ALL OF THOSE POSITIVE OUTCOMES
HELP BOOST THE ENTIRE ECONOMY
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BUY A
LITTLE MORE IN THE GROCERY
STORE, SOMEONE HAS TO GROW IT,
PACK IT AND SHIP IT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS LEAD
DIRECTLY TO MORE JOBS.
SO MAKING CUTS ON STRUGGLING
FAMILIES DURING HARD TIMES IS
NOT ONLY HEARTLESS AND MEAN AND
IMMORAL, BUT IT ALSO MAKES NO
SENSE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REDUCE
THE DEFICIT.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS A
PROPOSAL TO GET OUR FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER EVEN WHILE WE
PROTECT AMERICAN FAMILIES AND
INVEST IN THE STRONGER AND MORE
PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE
CAUCUS BUDGET, THE BUDGET FOR
ALL, WOULD DO JUST THAT.
THIS BUDGET MAKES SMART AND
TARGETED CUTS THAT PRESERVE OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY, PROTECTS
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
AND EXTEND AND EXPAND CRITICAL
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE HIT 99
WEEKS WHERE THEY'RE NO LONGER
ELIGIBLE, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE
STRUGGLING TO FIND A GOOD
THE BUDGET FOR ALL WOULD ASK
THAT THE WEALTHIEST 1% AND THE
WORLD'S BIGGEST CORPORATIONS
PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE SO WE CAN
AFFORD TO INVEST IN OUR
CHILDREN'S FUTURE AND GROW OUR
ECONOMY.
AMERICA CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER
YEAR OF INACTION AND BILLS THAT
ARE FOR THE NARROWED INTEREST.
LET'S PASS THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS
ACT AND FUND OUR NATION'S
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PRIORITIES, FUND GREEN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND
CREATE REAL JOBS.
IT'S TIME WE ALL COME TOGETHER
TO PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
MR. FITZPATRICK, FOR FIVE