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THE CHAMBER WILL RECESS AT
ABOUT 6:00 FOR A WHITE HOUSE
CONGRESSIONAL PICNIC BUT ARE
SCHEDULED TO RETURN LATER ON TO
RESUME WORK ON TRANSPORTATION
SPENDING.
ALSO, THEY'LL CONSIDER SEVERAL
MOTIONS TO INSTRUCT HOUSE
NEGOTIATORS WORKING ON THE
PROGRAMS BILL.
AND NOW LIVE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR
HERE ON C-SPAN.
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY OUR
CHAPLAIN, FATHER CONROY.
CHAPLAIN CONROY: LET US PRAY.
LOVING GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS
FOR GIVING US ANOTHER DAY.
AS THE ENERGY AND TENSIONS OF
THE SECOND SESSION GATHER, MAY
THERE BE PEACE AMONG THE
MEMBERS OF THIS PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
GRANT THAT ALL MIGHT BE
CONFIDENT IN THE MISSION THEY
HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND BUOYED BY
THE SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS WHO
BUILT OUR REPUBLIC THROUGH MANY
TRIALS ANCON TEN, DEBATES.
MAY ALL STRIVE WITH NOBLE
SINCERITY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF
OUR NATION.
MANY CENTURIES AGO, YOU BLESSED
ABRAHAM FOR HIS WELCOME TO
STRANGERS, BLESS THIS CHAMBER,
THIS DAY WORK THE SAME SPIRIT
OF HOSPITALITY SO THAT ALL
AMERICANS MIGHT KNOW THAT IN A
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, ALL VOICES ARE
RESPECTED, EVEN THOSE WITH WHOM
THERE IS DISAGREEMENT.
MAY ALL THAT IS DONE BE FOR
YOUR GREATER HONOR AND GLORY.
AMEN.
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE
LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND
ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1,
STANDS APPROVE THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE
LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO, MR. COFFMAN.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH
IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER
GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE CHAIR WILL
ENTERTAIN UP TO 15 REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON EACH
SIDE OF THE AISLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER,
AMERICANS WILL FIND OUT WHAT WE
HAVE BEENEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO
FIND OUT FOR TWO YEARS, WHETHER
THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE
TAKEOVER BILL IS
CONSTITUTIONAL.
TOMORROW AT 10:00 A.M. PEOPLE
OF AMERICA WILL BE WATCHING AND
LISTENING AS THE SUPREME COURT
ANNOUNCES ITS DECISION.
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY
PELOSI OUTRAGED AMERICANS AT AS
PRECONFERENCE BY STATE, QUOTE,
WE HAVE TO PASS THE BILL TO
QUOTE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NOW KNOW
THIS BILL AND OVERWHELMINGLY
DISAPPROVE OF THIS BILL WHICH
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES REVEALS
WILL DESTROY 1.6 MILLION JOBS.
IT IS MY HOPE THE SUPREME COURT
WILL SET ASIDE WORK THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, AND OVERTURN THE JOB
DE-DESTROYING, OUT OF CONTROL
SPENDING HEALTH CARE BILL WHICH
WILL HURT SENIOR CITIZENS WITH
WAITING LISTS, RATIONING AND
DENIAL OF SERVICES.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERRORISM.
CONGRATULATIONS JOHN RICE OF
MYRTLE BEACH.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
TOMORROW WE RISK BRINGING
DISHONOR TO THIS HOUSE.
FOR MEMBERS WHO REVERE CONGRESS
AS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT, THIS UNPRECEDENTED
CONTEMPT VOTE IS JUST ANOTHER
SAD CHAPTER IN OUR
INSTITUTIONAL DECLINE.
I IMPLORE MY
COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER IF WE
WANT TO BE THE FIRST CONGRESS
IN HISTORY TO HOLD A SITTING
CABINET MEMBER IN CONTEMPT OF
CONGRESS.
DO WE WANT THIS TO BE ONE OF
THE MOST PARTISAN HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVESES OF ALL TIME
SO CLOUDED IN JUDGMENT, SO
BESOTTED WITH RAIN COR AND
PARTISANSHIP THAT WE'RE
INCAPABLE OF ADDRESSING VITAL
SEPARATION OF POWERS CONFLICTS
IN A SERIOUS AND FAIR FASHION.
FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS ARE
CLEARLY AVAILABLE IF WE WANT A
SOLUTION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN RESTORING HONOR AND DIGNITY
BY OPPOSING THE
NUCLEAR OPTION, A CONTEMPT
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO SEEK RECOGNITION?
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK YAMS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND
EXTEND MY RASHES.
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE GENTLEMAN
IS RECOGNIZED.
A VITAL PART OF OUR ECONOMIC
VIABILITY IS CONTINUED ACCESS
TO CAPITAL.
THEY NEED TO INCREASE LENDING
TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
THAT'S WHY TODAY I HAVE
INTRODUCED THE SMALL BUSINESS
LENDING FOR JOBS ACT OF 2012.
THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
WILL ALLOW COMMUNITY BANKS TO
SPREAD LOSSES IN COMMERCIAL
REAL ESTATE OVER A SEVEN-YEAR
PERIOD.
THIS WILL ALLOW
BANKS TO RETAIN MORE CAPITAL
AND USE THE FUNDS TO MAKE LOANS
TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN THEIR
IT ALSOEST TABLIES A DUAL
MISSION FOR FEDERAL BANKING
REGULATORS AND THE CONSUMER
FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU.
MANDATING THESE ENTITIES
PROMOTE CREDIT AVAILABILITY SO
LONG AS THAT CREDIT IS PROVIDED
IN A SAFE AND SOUND MANNER.
THIS WILL BRING A GREATER
BALANCE TO BANKING REGULATIONS,
A DUAL MISSION WILL LEAD TO
REGULATORS FACTORING IN THE
IMPACT ON BANKS, COMMUNITIES
DECISION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE BIPARTISAN SMALL BUSINESS
LENDING FOR JOBS ACT OF 2012.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND
SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE TO
RECOGNIZE THE WORK DONE IN MY
HOME STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN
SERIES.
-- AMERICA'S CUP WORLD SERIES.
TEAMS HAVE COME FROM AROUND THE
WORLD FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP
WORLD SERIES.
THOUGH NEW PORT HOSTED THE
AMERICA'S CUP FROM 1930 TO
1983, THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME
IN HISTORY THAT AMERICA'S CUP
RACES ARE ACTUALLY BEING HELD
INSIDE NARRAGANSETT BAY.
THIS PROVIDES A SOURCE OF REAL
ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR MY STATE
BUT ALSO AN INTANGIBLE LEVEL OF
PRIDE FOR ALL RHODE ISLANDERS.
THANK YOU TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR
THEIR HARD WORK.
I WISH THE COMPETITORS GOOD
LUCK AND TOAL THOSE LIKELY TO
BENEFIT FROM THE ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF THESE EVENTS, I WISH
THEM MUCH SUCCESS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARKANSAS SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE TODAY TO HOB NOR THE
MEMBERS OF THE MOUNTAIN HOME
HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM WHO
WON THE ANNUAL OF INSPIRATION
AND TECHNOLOGY CHAMPIONSHIP.
THE TEAM WAS MADE UP OF 14
STUDENTS AND FOUR ADULTS.
THEY BUILT A ROBOT THAT
COMPETED IN THE ROBOT RUMBLE, A
BASKETBALL INSPIRED GAME.
THEY HAVE BEEN
COMPETING FOR 17 YEARS AND FOR
THE FIRST TIME WON THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
THE FOR INSPIRATION AND
RECOGNITION CHAMPIONSHIP HAS
HELPED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PURSUE
HIGHER EDUCATION IN ENGINEERING
AND SCIENCE REALED FIELDS.
STUDENTS ARE 50% MORE LIKELY TO
ATTEND COLLEGE AND TWICE AS
LIKELY TO MAJOR IN SCIENCE AND
THIS.
SQUAD.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
EVERY DAY, CANCER PATIENTS
CUPRY ARE DENIED
COVERAGE FOR SMART DRUGS
BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES
REFUSE TO COVER THEM.
A RESIDENT OF MY DISTRICT
CALLED MY OFFICE TO SAY HER
INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO
PAY FOR AN ORAL CHEMOTHERAPY
DRUG BECAUSE IT ONLY COVERED
GENERIC DRUG.
THAT'S WHY I'VE INTRODUCED H.R.
2746, THE CANCER DRUG COVERAGE
PARITY ACT TO MANDATE PARITY IN
COVERAGE FOR ALL FORMS OF
CHEMOTHERAPY WHETHER
ADMINISTERED ORALLY OR THROUGH
THE VEIN.
I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE CANCER
TREATMENT SHOULD BE DETERMINED
BY A PHYSICIAN NOT BY OUTDATED
INSURANCE POLICIES.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
TWO YEARS AGO, THE PRESIDENT
SIGNED INTO LAW ONE OF THE MOST
EGREGIOUS ATTACKS ON OUR
SEEN.
TWO YEARS LATER, ALMOST 60% OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT TO SEE
OBAMACARE REPEALED BEFORE THE
PRICE OF HEALTH CARE GOES UP
EVEN MORE THAN IT HAS.
BELIEVE ME IF WE LET THIS LAW
TAKE EFFECT AS PLANNED, COSTS
WILL SKYROCKET AND MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS WILL LOSE THEIR
INSURANCE ALL TOGETHER.
ON TOP OF STRICTER MANDATES,
CUTS AND MORE GOVERNMENT
OVERREACH, OBAMACARE IS FLAT
OUT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT FORCE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE
IF THEY DON'T WANT IT.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT TOMORROW THE
SUPREME COURT WILL DO ITS JOB
AND APPLY THE CONSTITUTION AS
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS INTENDED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO REPEALING
OBAMACARE AND GETTING STARTED
ON REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM AS
SOON AS THE COURT REACHES A
DECISION.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK SEEK
RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER
WORK SO FEW --
MADAM SPEAKER,
THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE COULD BE
TALKING ABOUT HOW TO CREATE
JOBS AND LOWER THE DEFICIT.
THAT'S SURELY WHAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT.
INSTEAD, THE GREATEST
DELIBERATIVE BODY IN THE WORLD
IS QUARRELING ABOUT BRINGING A
CONTEMPT CHARGE TO THE FLOOR OF
CONGRESS AGAINST THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE
AND LET'S BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT
ABOUT FINDING THE TRUTH.
OR CREATING REFORMS.
OR FINDING OUT HOW GUN WALKING
STARTED.
WE KNOW HOW THAT STARTED.
IT STARTED UNDER THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION.
IS JUST THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP PURSUING
SINGLE MINDEDLY A POLITICAL
VENDETTA, A POLITICAL
OBSESSION, LIKE AHAS BEEN GOING
AFTER THE GREAT -- LIKE AHAB
GOING AFTER THE GREAT WHITE
WHALE, THEY ARE HOPING TO SPILL
THIS IS THE TYPE OF
GAMESMANSHIP AND PARTISANSHIP
THAT UNDERSTANDABLY MAKES THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE LOSE FAITH IN
THEIR CONGRESS AND IN THEIR
LEADERS.
SO TOMORROW, IF IT COMES TO THE
FLOOR, VOTE NO AND LET'S GET
BACK TO WORK ON THE REAL
PROBLEMS.
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE SEEK
RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
TOMORROW, THE HOUSE IS
INTENDING TO VOTE ON A CONTEMPT
OF OUR OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY
GENERAL, ERIC HOLDER.
IT'S BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH FAST
AND FURIOUS.
FAST AND FURIOUS WAS
A PLAN THAT WENT AWRY.
STARTED BY THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION AND WENT AWRY.
IT WAS FATALLY FLAWED AND
RESULTED IN THE TRAGIC DEATH OF
A BORDER AGENT.
BUT NOTHING IN THIS RESOLUTION
WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT
AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE IT.
THE FACT IS, FAST AND FURIOUS
IS MISNAMED.
FAST AND FURIOUS IS WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS, STARTING WITH
SENATOR MITCH MCCOBBLE, HAVE
BEEN DOING SINCE PRESIDENT
OBAMA WAS ELECTED, IN A FAST
AND FURIOUS WAY THEY HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO TAINT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE QUITES AND
ANYBODY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE AFTER WITH
ERIC HOLDER, THEY WANT TO
BLEMISH HIM AND THE PRESIDENT.
THEIR FAST AND FURIOUS ATTACK
ON THE HEALTH CARE BILL WHICH
WILL SAVE LIVES IN AMERICA AND
ON THIS ADMINISTRATION IS
SHAMELESS.
WE SHOULD BE CREATING JOBS,
HELPING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND
PUTTING AMERICA ON THE ROAD TO
RECOVERY.
INSTEAD WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
THIS ADMINISTRATION.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM THE ***
ISLANDS SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WHILE WE
DECRY BULLYING IN OUR SCHOOLS,
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S GOING ON
HERE IN THE HOUSE.
TOMORROW, THE ISSA RESOLUTION
HOLDING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
FLOOR.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PUT AN
END TO THIS POLITICALLY
INSPIRED ATTACK ON ATTORNEY
GENERAL HOLDER AND PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION.
MR. HOLDER HAS TESTIFIED BEFORE
CONGRESS NINE TIMES ON THE
OPERATION FAST AND FURIOUS
WHICH WAS STARTED IN ARIZONA
UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH'S
ADMINISTRATION.
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT ALOUD ONE
WITNESS OR HEARING THAT WOULD
HAVE MADE THIS A FAIR,
BALANCED, AND LIKELY CLOSE THE
INVESTIGATION.
AT THE END OF THIS EXTREME,
UNPRECEDENTED PARTISAN ATTACK
ON THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
WHICH IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT,
AND WHAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED A
POLITICAL WITCH HUNT WHAT YOU
WILL FIND IN ATTORNEY GENERAL
INTELLIGENT,
COMPETENT, DEDICATED, HUMBLE
PUBLIC SERVANT UPHOLDING THE
INTEGRITY OF HIS OFFICE AND
SERVING THIS COUNTRY WITH
HONOR.
MADAM SPEAKER, I URGE THE HOUSE
NOT TO SULLY THE HISTORY AND
DECORUM OF THIS BODY WITH ITS
FIRST EVER VOTE TO HOLD A
SITTING ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MISSOURI SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
TOMORROW THIS HOUSE
IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING
UNPRECEDENTED AND UNWARRANTED.
MOTIVATED SOLELY BY POLITIC THE
LEADERSHIP OF THIS HOUSE ARE
PLANNING TO SMEAR A DEDICATED
PUBLIC SERVANT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR
HISTORY, THEY ARE PLANNING TO
HOLD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
THE UNITED STATES IN CONTEMPT
OF CONGRESS.
THIS IS SHAMEFUL, NOT EVEN
DURING THE NAKEDLY PARTISAN
SPEAKERSHIP OF NEWT GINGRICH
HAS THIS HOUSE EVEN CONSIDERED
SUCH A RESOLUTION.
BUT EVEN MORE SHAMEFUL IS THAT
THEY ARE IGNORING THE REAL
ISSUE, THE EASILY AVAILABLE
ASSAULT WEAPONS AND THE
GUN-RELATED VIOLENCE THAT
CONTINUES UNABATED IN THIS
COUNTRY.
MADAM SPEAKER, THEY NEED TO PUT
ASIDE POLITICS AND START CARING
ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR
CITIZENS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CONNECTICUT SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN
IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I LIVE
IN THE VILLAGE OF COST COULD BE,
CONNECTICUT, WHERE YEARS AGO A
MAJOR BRIDGE SPANNING THE HARBOR
ON ROUTE 95 FELL INTO THE HARBOR
KILLING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
DEVASTATING THE QUALITY OF LIFE
IN THE AREA, AND HURTING
BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN THE
COASTLINE.
IT FELL IN THE HARBOR BECAUSE WE
FAILED TO INVEST IN OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE FAILED TO DO SOMETHING THAT
WE ALL UNDERSTAND IS CRITICAL TO
OUR ECONOMY AND JUST PLAIN GOOD
SENSE.
ON JUNE 30, THOUSANDS OF
PROJECTS LIKE KEEPING THE HARBOR
BRIDGE INTACT WILL COME TO A
HALT BECAUSE THIS HOUSE WILL NOT
APPROVE A RE-AUTHORIZATION OF
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
THAT'S BAD ECONOMICS.
IT'S BAD FOR JOBS, AND IT'S BAD
FOR SAFETY.
WHAT DO WE DO?
74 SENATORS, LOTS OF REPUBLICANS
AND LOTS OF DEMOCRATS, PASSED A
TWO-YEAR BILL THAT WOULD KEEP
THE FUNDING GOING AND PRESERVE
OR SAVE OR CREATE TWO MILLION
JOBS.
BUT NOT IN THIS HOUSE, NO.
IN THIS HOUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET
THE PRESIDENT TO APPROVE
NOW, WE SHOULD DO THAT, BUT
LET'S DO IT SEPARATELY AND
INVEST IN JOBS AND OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM HAWAII SEEK
RECOGNITION?
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER,
TOMORROW THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO
RULE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
LET US ALL STEP BACK AND
RECOGNIZE THOSE PORTIONS OF
PEOPLE LIKE, THESE ARE THE
FOR SENIORS IT CLOSES THE
DOUGHNUT HOLE FOR PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS.
THIS MEANS TO DATE ABOUT 5.3
MILLION SENIORS HAVE EXPERIENCED
THE SAVINGS OF $3.7 BILLION.
THAT DOUGHNUT HOLE WILL CLOSE
FOR WOMEN, WE ARE NO LONGER
GOING TO SUFFER THE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST US.
90% OF THE PLANS TODAY CHARGE
MORE FOR WOMEN THAN THEY DO FOR
MEN FOR THE SAME PROCESS.
2014, THIS STOPS.
WOMEN CAN NO LONGER BE
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR WHAT
THEY CALL PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT THESE PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS ARE?
BREAST CANCER, C-SECTION, AND
CHILDBIRTH, PREGNANCY, VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
AND THERE WILL BE A BAN ON
MAXIMUM COVERAGE IN YOUR
LIFETIME FOR MEDICAL CARE.
YOU NO LONGER NEED TO HAVE A
REFERRAL TO SEE AN OB/GYN.
CHILDREN WILL ALSO BENEFIT.
RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, IF
YOU KNOW YOU ARE APPROACHING A
CLIFF, WOULDN'T YOU TAKE STEPS
TO AVOID IT?
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
IS FLAGGING, IT'S FLAGGING IN
PART BECAUSE SOME MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE HAVE TAKEN TO BRANDISHING
THE DEBT CEILING AS A WEAPON
DESIGNED TO UNDERCUT ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
WELL, THAT JUST ISN'T
RESPONSIBLE.
WE HAVE TO PUT OUR HEADS
TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO PUT OUR HEADS
TOGETHER NOW TO FIND A
RESPONSIBLE WAY TO CUT SPENDING
AND INCREASE REVENUES RATHER
THAN PLAY THE BLAME GAME.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS YEAR'S
APPROACHING FISCAL CRISIS TO GO
THE WAY OF THE BUDGET
BOTH PARTIES MUST
FIND COMMON GROUND, I KNOW
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO
EXPECT.
OUR REAL PROBLEMS.
THOSE WHO ARE UNDEREMPLOYED NEED
JOBS.
DOCTORS FACING REIMBURSEMENT
CUTS MUST BE PAID, AND
EVERYTHING CANNOT BE PAID FOR ON
THE BACKS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S
MY HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HIS
HOLINESS, AHMAD.
HE IS WITH US TODAY IN THE
GALLERY.
HIS HOLINESS IS THE WORLDWIDE
LEADER OF THE AMADIA
MUSLIM COMMUNITY WHICH HAS TENS
OF MILLIONS OF ADHEREANTS AROUND
THE WORLD IN 190 COUNTRIES AND
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ADHEREANTS
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
TODAY IN AN HISTORIC EVENT IN
THE GOLD ROOM IN THE RAYBURN
BUILDING, WE RECOGNIZED HIS
COMMITMENT TO WORLD PEACE, TO
BROTHERHOOD, JUSTICE, AND
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
I'M PROUD TO JOIN WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES, ZOE LOFGREN AND
OTHERS, IN INTRODUCING A
RESOLUTION TODAY IN HONOR OF HIS
HOLLYNESS' -- HOLINESS' VISIT
HERE TO OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
IN THE UNITED STATES THE
COMMUNITY SOMEONE OF THE OLDEST
AND MOST ORGANIZED ISLAMIC
COMMUNITIES.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE TWO
DISTINGUISHED LEADERS FROM LOS
ANGELES, DR. MAHMOUD, AND KAREEM
AHMED, WHO ARE ALSO IN THE
GALLERY HERE AND WHO SHOWED SUCH
LEADERSHIP OF THE MUSLIM
COMMUNITY IN THE LOS ANGELES
AREA.
IT IS MY HOPOR TO RECOGNIZE HIS
HOLINESS -- HONOR TO RECOGNIZE
HIS HOLINESS, TO INVITE HIM TO
BE WITH US HERE IN THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE.
AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE
AHMADDY MOTTO, LOVE FOR ALL,
HATRED FOR NONE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR WILL REMIND ALL
PERSONS IN THE GALLERY THAT THEY
ARE HERE AS GUESTS OF THE HOUSE
AND THAT ANY MANIFESTATIONS OF
APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF
PROCEEDINGS IS IN VIOLATION OF
THE RULES OF THE HOUSE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM SPEAKER, ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR
ONE MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO THE OVER
ONE MILLION ONLINE SUPPORTERS OF
MY LEGISLATION TO FORGIVE
STUDENT LOANS, I WANT TO THANK
YOU-ALL FOR CREATING A NATIONAL
MOVEMENT, A MOVEMENT SO STRONG
THAT WE ARE NOW DEMANDING THAT
THIS HOUSE AND THIS CONGRESS DO
SOMETHING TO CAP STUDENT LOAN
BUT WE CAN'T GIVE UP.
WE CAN'T STOP THERE.
WE'VE GOT TO CUT THIS DEBT TO
BRING PEOPLE HOPE AND TO CREATE
JOBS.
AND I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
OBJECTION.
SPEAKER.
EVERY YEAR CALIFORNIA DAIRIES
PRODUCE OVER 17 MILLION POUNDS
OF MILK PRODUCT THAT IS PROVIDE
FAMILIES WITH AFFORDABLE
NUTRIENT RICH PRODUCTS THAT WE
CONSUME.
CALIFORNIA IS THE NATION'S TOP
MILK PRODUCING STATE AND MUCH OF
THE PRODUCTION TAKES PLACE IN
THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY THAT I
REPRESENT A PART OF.
MANY OF THESE DAIRIES IN MY
DISTRICT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION,
INCLUDING THE ONE THAT I GREW UP
ON NEAR FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.
THE LAST FEW YEARS DAIRY
PRODUCERS HAVE SEEN MILK PRICES
CONTINUE TO DROP AND FEED PRICES
INCREASE AND SKYROCKET.
IN THE COMING WEEKS THE AG
COMMITTEE IS SLATED TO BEGIN THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE 2012 FARM
IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A
WAY TO PREVENT THE -- TO BRING
MORE CERTAINTY IN PRICES AND
PREVENT EXTREME MARKET VOLUME
TILLITY TO HELP OUR PRODUCES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY STAY
AS A NATIONAL DAIRY MONT COMES
TO A CLOSE, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND
OUR DAIRY MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE
WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY ON THE
FARM, 365 DAYS A YEAR, THAT
ALLOWS FAMILIES NATIONWIDE TO
ENJOY THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT
THEY ARE PUTTING ON OUR TABLES
WHICH IS COST-EFFECTIVE.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN
IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, SEVERAL WEEKS
AGO MY FRIEND FROM NEW YORK,
CONGRESSMAN HANNAH, AND I SENT A
BIPARTISAN LETTER TO THE
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
ASKING THEM TO HOLD A MOMENT OF
SILENCE DURING THE OPENING
CEREMONIES OF THIS YEAR' OLYMPIC
GAMES IN COMMEMORATION OF THE
VICTIMS OF THE 1972 MUNICH
SEPTEMBER 5, 1972,
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE START OF THE
OLYMPIC GAMES IN MUNICH, MEMBERS
GROUP, BLACK SEPTEMBER, BROKE
INTO THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, 11
ISRAELIS WERE KILLED IN THAT
MASSACRE.
NOW, 40 YEARS LATER IN LONDON,
WE ARE CONVENING ANOTHER OLYMPIC
WE ASKED THE INTERNATIONAL
OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO RECOGNIZE
THIS 40-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
AND THE RESPONSE WE GOT WAS NO.
THAT IS THE WRONG RESPONSE,
MADAM SPEAKER.
WE AGAIN ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS
APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL
OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN LONDON WHEN
THESE OLYMPICS BEGIN COMMEMORATE
THOSE ISRAELIS WHO WERE
MASSACRED.
WHICH FIXED THE IDEALS OF THE
OLYMPICS, THAT IS INTERNATIONAL
FRIENDSHIP AND FRATERNITY.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER THEM IN
LONDON WHEN THE OLYMPICS
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
TODAY I RISE TO DRAW
ATTENTION TO THE FACT THERE ARE
ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT UNTIL
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN INTEREST
RATES DOUBLE.
ON JEWEL 1, THE INTEREST RATE
FOR SEVEN MILLION STUDENTS COULD
RISE TO 6.8%.
BETTER TO ACT NOW IT WOULD ADD
$.3 BILLION DEBTS BURDEN IN ONE
YEAR ALONE.
FRANKLY, MADAM SPEAKER, THERE
ARE RISE IN RATE WOULD HAPPEN AT
A TIME WHEN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN
LEAST AFFORD IT.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE RECENT
COLLEGE GRADUATES HAVE THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF ANY
AGE GROUP IN THE NATION AND MORE
OF THEM ARE GRADUATING WITH DEBT
THAN EVER BEFORE.
IN FACT, 2/3 OF THE CLASS OF
2010 GRADUATED WITH STUDENT LOAN
DEBT.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS A REAL
PROBLEM.
IT SHOULD BE SOLVED NOW AND IT
SHOULDN'T BE SOLVED ON THE BACKS
POOR.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
LET'S STOP THE INTEREST RATE
LATE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES, PURSUANT TO
SCLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, THE --
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS ON
THE QUESTION OF SUSPENDING THE
RULES AND PASSING H.R. 0418
WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY
TITLE.
H.R. 4018, A BILL TO
IMPROVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICER'S BENEFITS PROGRAM.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
UPON THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT MIFES -- ALL
MEMBERS BE ABLE TO INCLUDE
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL MATERIAL AND
I INCLUDE TABULAR MATERIAL ON
THE SAME.
OBJECTION.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 697
AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES
THE HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION FOR THE FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5972.
WOULD THE GENTLELADY FROM
FLORIDA, MS. ROS-LEHTINEN,
CHAIR.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR THE
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
5972, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT BY TITLE.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION
AND HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2013, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE ROSE ON TUESDAY, JUNE
26, 2012, AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK, MR. NADLER, HAD
BEEN DISPOSED OF AND THE BILL
HAD BEEN READ THROUGH PAGE 74,
LINE 6.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR AN AMENDMENT.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. BROUN OF GEORGIA, PAGE 74,
LINE 6, AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT,
BY $6,500,000.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN HIS
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD REDUCED THE
PROPOSED FUNDING FOR THE
SALARIES AND EXPENSES OF THE
PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING BY
THIS IS ONE OF 13 OFFICES WHICH
WOULD RECEIVE INCREASES FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES IN THE
UNDERLYING BILL.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, WE'RE IN AN
ECONOMIC EMERGENCY AS AN A
WE'RE BROKE.
WE ABSOLUTELY MUST STOP
SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
WE'RE BORROWING 40 CENTS OR
MORE ON EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS.
RAISING THE FUNDING FOR THE
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AND INDIAN
HOUSING BY $6.5 MILLION WHILE
WE'RE BROKE MAKES NO FISCAL
SENSE TO ME.
THIS PARTICULAR INCREASE IS
AMONG THE HIGHEST FOR ALL THE
OFFICES FUNDED UNDER THIS
LEGISLATION.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD SIMPLY
FREEZE FUNDING FOR THIS OFFICE,
FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.
PASSAGE OF MY AMENDMENT WOULD
BRING THIS ACCOUNT BACK TO THIS
YEAR'S F.Y. 2012 LEVELS.
I URGE SUPPORT OF MY AMENDMENT
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I
RISE TO OPPOSE THE GENTLEMAN'S
AMENDMENT.
IT'S A GOOD TALKING POINT,
REDEUCING SQUAD MRGS ACCOUNTS
THAT RECEIVED INCREASES.
WE'VE SCRUBBED THESE ACCOUNTS,
HELD HEARINGS, ASKED QUESTIONS
AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT
WHAT SHOULD BE FUNDED RATHER
THAN LOOKING AT AN ARBITRARY
NUMBER.
THE BILL CUTS $4 BILLION FROM
FISCAL YEAR 2012 WHICH IS A
FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE LEVEL.
I WOULD URGE A NO VOTE AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
SEEK RECOGNITION?
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEEN
OFFERED REMOVES A 3% INCREASE
IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNT
FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AND
INDIAN HOUSING.
AND I RISE TO OPPOSE THE
AMENDMENT.
IN THIS INSTANCE, THE CUTS IN
THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AND INDIAN
HOUSING COVERS A NUMBER OF
THE VASH
PROGRAM, WE'RE INCLUDING AN
ADDITIONAL SEVERAL MILLION
DOLLARS FOR THE VASH, THE
VETERANS HOMELESS BENEFITS, AND
THAT HAS TO BE ADMINISTERED.
THE ARBITRARY $6.5 MILLION
DOESN'T HELP WITH THAT EFFORT.
IT HURPTS THAT EFFORT.
THE OFFICE ALSO IMPLEMENTS THE
OPERATING AND CAPITAL FUNDS FOR
PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE NATIVE
AMERICAN HOUSING GRANTS WHICH
-- AND THE -- ALL OF THESE
REQUIRE EITHER LAYOFFS,
REMOVALS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THE
SALARIES AND EXPENSES OF THE
NORMAL
INCREASES, TO SMALL INCREASES,
YEAR BY YEAR, FOR SALARIES FOR
PEOPLE IN THOSE PLACES AND THEY
ARE CLEARLY GOING TO END UP
HAVING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
PERSONNEL WHILE THEY'RE
ADMINISTRATING -- ADMINISTERING
MORE AND MORE -- MORE AND
PARTICULARLY THE HOUSING AND
HOMELESS PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.
SO ON THAT BASIS, I THINK THIS
IS AN UNWISE REDUCTION AND ONE
THAT IS UNJUSTIFIED AS WELL AS
UNWISE AND I WOULD URGE A NO
VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MADAM CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.
I REQUEST A RECORDED
VOTE.
A RECORDED VOTE IS
REQUESTED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE -- THE CLERK
WILL READ.
PAGE 74, LINE 7,
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT, $103,500,000.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.
AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. BROUN OF GEORGIA, PAGE 74,
LINE NINE, AFTER THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT, INSERT REDUCE BY
PAGE 150, LINE NINE, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT INCREASE
BY $3,500,000.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED TO
EXPLAIN HIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD REDUCE THE
PROPOSED FUNDING FOR SALARIES
AND EXPENSES FOR THE OFFICE OF
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT BY $3,500,000.
THIS AMENDMENT, LIKE THE ONES I
PRESENTED LAST NIGHT AND THE
ONE I JUST PRESENTED, WOULD
FREEZE THE FUNDING FOR THESE
OFFICES.
I'VE HEARD MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
IOWA AND MY GOOD FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE TALK ABOUT HOW THE
UNDERLYING BILL HAS CUT
EXPENSES FOR THIS WHOLE
UNDERLYING BILL.
BUT HERE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, WE REDUCED OUR
EXPENSES BY OVER 11%.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT MAKES
FISCAL SENSE TO FREEZE FUNDING
FOR THESE OFFICES IN THE
UNDERLYING BILL AND NOT RAISE
THEM.
WE'RE IN AN ECONOMIC EMERGENCY
AS A NATION.
WE ARE SPENDING MONEY THAT WE
SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP THE
OUTRAGEOUS SPENDING THAT'S
GOING ON HERE IN WASHINGTON.
I'M JUST ASKING A SIMPLE THING,
LET'S FREEZE ALL THESE OFFICES
AT CURRENT YEAR'S LEVELS FOR
ONE MORE YEAR.
HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE
POLICY PUT IN PLACE THAT WILL
INCREASE OUR ECONOMY AND START
CREATING JOBS HERE IN THIS
NATION BUT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT
THIS YEAR, WITH THIS
ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICIES
WE SEE IN THE OTHER BODY ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL.
SO LET'S JUST FREEZE THE
EXPENSES OF THIS OFFICE AND I'M
PROPOSING TO FREEZE THE
EXPENSES OF VIRTUALLY ALL THE
OFFICES IN THIS BILL, MOST OF
THEM, ANYWAY, AND MY AMENDMENT
WOULD BRING THE SPENDING LEVEL
THAT'S PROPOSED BACK TO THE
CURRENT SPENDING LEVEL OF 2012.
WHEN FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES
GET OVEREXTENDED THEY DON'T
CONTINUE TO RAISE THEIR
SPENDING LEVELS.
AND WE SHOULD NOT BE RAISING
THIS ONE, EITHER.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD JUST FREEZE
IT AT THE CURRENT SPENDING
LEVELS.
I URGE SUPPORT OF MY AMENDMENT
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RISE?
I RISE TO CLAIM TIME
IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE YELL IS
RECOGNIZED.
CHAIRMAN.
THIS AMENDMENT, AGAIN, IS, AS
THE GENTLEMAN HAS SAID, AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD FREEZE AT
THE LEVEL OF THE 2012 FUNDING
HERE FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES
OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
NOW, THIS OFFICE, IT TURNS OUT,
THE
CDBG PROGRAM WHICH IN THE BILL
AS PRESENTED BY MY CHAIRMAN IS
INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY,
SUBSTANTIALLY, SEVERAL HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARS IN THE CDBG
PROGRAM, AND INCREASES THE
FUNDING -- FUNDING FOR THE HOME
PROGRAM WHICH HAD BEEN -- WHICH
HAD BEEN HELD AT A MUCH LOWER
LEVEL IN THE LAST YEAR'S
PROGRAM, IN BOTH OF THOSE
CASES, THEY WERE CONSIDERABLY
LOWER, AND JUST LAST NIGHT, WE
ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE
THE FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING FOR
PERSONS WITH AIDS.
ONE OF THOSE VULNERABLE
WE HAVE AND
THAT OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, AS
WITH VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS,
OTHERS WHO ARE HOMELESS, THOSE
WHO ARE VULNERABLE, AS WITH
LIVING WITH AIDS, AND THESE
HAVE PROVEN TO BE RATHER STRONG
, STRONG PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
STRONG SUPPORT.
FURTHERMORE, ALREADY ACROSS THE
BOARD IN H.U.D. THERE'S BEEN A
REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL SERVICES
AND IN THE SALARIES AND
EXPENSES OF $20 MILLION ALREADY
COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR'S
OVERALL, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT
OF H.U.D.
SO THIS IS A DUPLICATE AND
HITTING AT VULNERABLE
NOT WANT
TO, OR SHOULD NOT WANT TO BE
AND THE REDUCTION AGAIN
REQUIRES THAT THERE BE SOME
SOME REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL
BECAUSE PEOPLE'S SALARIES GO
UP, THEY GO UP BECAUSE PEOPLE
GET A COLA OR COST OF LIVING
INCREASE OF SOME SORT WITH
THEIR SALARIES OR THEY MOVE UP
IN THEIR SAT GOIR WITHIN THE --
BECAUSE OF LONGEVITY.
SO IT ENDS UP PUTTING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE JOBS OUT OF WORK AND
REDUCING THE PERSONNEL TO
PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND SLOWS DOWN THE WORK
OF THE OFFICES IN ALL THESE
PLACES WHERE WE, I THINK, ALL
HAVE A STAKE IN MAKING CERTAIN
THAT THEY ARE EFFICIENTLY
IMPLEMENTED.
SO I WOULD URGE A NO VOTE ON
THE AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZE.
I JUST RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT, WE
WENT THROUGH ALL THE HEARING
PROCESS, WE HAVE WORKED ON
THESE NUMBERS TO TRY AND,
NUMBER ONE, TO STAY WITHIN OUR
ALLOCATION, WHICH WE HAVE DONE,
WE'RE ACTUALLY CUTTING $4
BILLION IN THIS BILL, BUT ALSO
TO PRIORITIZE, THERE'S NO ONE
MORE SENSITIVE ABOUT
HARDWORKING TAXPAYER DOLLARS
THAN I AM.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
FUNCTION.
THE INCREASE THAT IS HERE IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SO THAT
THESE PROGRAMS CAN BE CARRIED
OUT PROPERLY WITHOUT WASTE,
FRAUD, AND ABUSE, AND FOR THAT
REASON, I WOULD AGAIN URGE A NO
VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MADAM CHAIR.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I REQUEST A RECORDED
VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WILL BE
POSTPONED.
THE CLERK WILL READ.
PAGE 74, LINE 10,
HOUSING.
MADAM CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT BY MR.
BROUN OF GEORGIA, AFTER THE
FIRST DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT
MILLION.
PAGE 59 LINE 12, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSEERT INCREASE
BY $5 MILLION.
MY AMENDMENT AGAIN
WOULD CUT THE SPENDING ON
SALARIES OF BUREAUCRATS HERE IN
WASHINGTON BY $5 MILLION THIS
AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS ALL OF MY
AMENDMENTS WILL NOT CUT THE
PROGRAMS.
WILL NOT CUT THE PROGRAMS ONE
IOTA.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT REDUCES
THE SALARIES.
I JUST HEARD MY GOOD FRIEND
FROM MASSACHUSETTS TALKING
ABOUT FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS
GETTING RAISES.
I HAVE FROZE THEN SALARIES OF
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME AND I
KNOW MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
HAVE, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WHY SHOULD WE BE GIVING FEDERAL
BUREAUCRATS MORE MONEY WHEN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING
RAISES?
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME,
PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE IN AN
ECONOMIC EMERGENCY, WE'RE
SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE,
WE'VE GOT TO STOP THE
OUTRAGEOUS SPENDING THAT'S
GOING ON HERE IN WASHINGTON.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
AND RAISING THIS OFFICE AS WELL
AS ALL THESE OFFICES ABOVE THE
2012 LEVEL MAKES NO ECONOMIC
SENSE TO ME WHATSOEVER.
LET'S BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
MY GOOD FRIEND FROM IOWA, WHO I
HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR,
HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN
THIS BILL AND I DO APPRECIATE
THE TREMENDOUS HARD WORK THAT
HE AND HIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE.
I APPRECIATE THE $4 BILLION
THEY'VE CUT.
BUT WHY RAISE THE SALARIES OF
MY AMENDMENT WOULD SIMPLY REDUCE
THE PROPOSED FUNDING BACK TO THE
2012 LEVELS.
I URGE SUPPORT OF MY AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WORD.
RECOGNIZED.
I AGAIN RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE GENTLEMAN'S
I THINK THERE'S SOME FACTORS
THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION.
FOR ONE THING NEXT YEAR, FISCAL
YEAR, WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
COMPENSABLE -- COMPENSIBLE DAY
WHICH HAS TO BE PAID FOR.
WE HAVE G.S.A. THAT HAS RAISED
RENTS.
WE HAVE ALREADY CUT $14 MILLION
OUT OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES.
SO WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MEET
OUR REQUIREMENTS.
WE ARE NOT GIVING FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES RAISES.
BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS
THAT COME INTO PLAY BECAUSE OF
RENTS, BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL
DAY THAT OUR FEDERAL WORKERS
WILL BE WORKING NEXT YEAR, AND
FOR THOSE REASONS, AND AGAIN I
WANT TO REITERATE, WE HAVE CUT
$14 MILLION OUT OF THIS ACCOUNT.
AND I WOULD JUST URGE A NO VOTE.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
SEEK RECOGNITION?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
RECOGNIZED.
IN THIS INSTANCE IT
IS AGAIN A CASE OF RAIDING A
SALARIES AND EXPENSES ACCOUNT AT
THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S LEVELS, BUT
THIS ONE HAS AN INTERESTING SIDE
LIGHT IN THAT IN THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US WE HAVE
ADOPTED A PRESIDENTIAL
RECOMMENDATION FOR A PARTIAL
YEAR FUNDING FOR PROJECT BASE
SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS WHICH IS
GOING TO CAUSE CONSIDERABLE
ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATION THAN
THE USUAL PROGRAM, NOT ALWAYS
BUT THE USUAL PROGRAM OF DOING
FULL YEAR CONTINUATION OF THOSE
VOUCHER PROGRAMS, THERE IS GOING
TO BE MUCH UNCERTAINTY IF THIS
GOES ON ALL THE WAY TO ADOPTION,
AND THERE WOULD BE MUCH
UNCERTAINTY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE THE OWNERS AND PROVIDERS OF
THAT HOUSING AND PROBABLY SOME
LOSS IN ACTUAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AVAILABLE UNDER A PRO
JECT SECTION 8 PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS A CASE WHERE THEY
NEED THAT ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS WHERE THE -- WHERE THE
HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR ELDERLY AND
DISABLED, THE SO-CALLED 202
PROGRAMS AND 811, CHAPTERS 202
AND CHAPTER 811 PROGRAMS FOR
ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE, AS
WELL AS THE HOUSING COUNSELING
ASSISTANCE.
AND IN ADDITION WE HAVE THE
HOUSING ADMINISTRATION,
WHICH IS HAVING MUCH LARGER
LEVEL OF ACTIVITY AS WE ARE
TRYING TO DIG OUT OF THE
FORECLOSURE CRISIS IN THE PAST,
AND -- FROM THE PAST, AND THAT
AGENCY NEEDS TO HAVE PERSONNEL
THAT ARE QUALIFIED AND ABLE TO
DO THE RIGHT JOB.
SO, AGAIN, HERE, AND BY THE WAY
I MADE AN EARL ROAR IN MY
PREVIOUS COMMENTS -- ERROR IN MY
PREVIOUS COMMENTS, WHEN I SAID
THERE WAS A REDUCTION ACROSS THE
BOARD FOR H.U.D., WHAT I SHOULD
HAVE INDICATED WAS IT WAS A
REDUCTION IN THE SALARY AND
EXPENSES ACCOUNT OVER A PERIOD
OF TIME GOING BACK TO 2010 OF
$20 MILLION ACROSS THE PROGRAMS
OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES WITHIN
H.U.D. OVER THAT TIME SO I MADE
IN SAYING IT WAS $20
MILLION REDUCTION IN ONE YEAR.
FOR ALL THOSE REASONS I URGE A
NO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND
YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I ASK FOR A RECORDED
VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WILL BE
POSTPONED.
THE CLERK WILL READ.
PAGE 74, LINE 14,
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH,
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. BROUN OF GEORGIA, PAGE 74,
LINE 16, OF THE -- AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT REDUCE BY
$115,000, PAGE 150, LINE 9,
AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT
INCREASED BY $115,000.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
AGAIN I RISE TO PROPOSE AN
AMENDMENT TO JUST FREEZE THE
SALARIES AND EXPENSE OF THIS
OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY
DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH BY A
MERE $115,000.
I HEAR COLLEAGUES AROUND HERE
TALKING AS IF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, TENS OF MILLIONS,
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IS NOTHING, WELL, MOST OF MY
CONSTITUENTS AT HOME IN GEORGIA,
MOST AMERICANS, THINK THAT $1
MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.
I CERTAINLY THINK $1 MILLION IS
A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT WE ARE PROPOSING IN THIS
UNDERLYING BILL TO RAISE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AND
SALARIES.
MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE PREVIOUS
AMENDMENT SAID WE NEED TO
INCREASE THE SALARIES IN THE
BUREAUCRATS.
I HOPE MY GOOD FRIEND FROM IOWA,
MR. LATHAM, WHEN HE STOOD UP ON
THE LAST AMENDMENT, SAYING THAT
WE WEREN'T GOING TO INCREASE
SALARIES OF FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS,
IS FACTUAL.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT GOES IN THE
RECORD AND IT BECOMES TRUE THAT
WE ARE NOT GOING TO RAISE THE
SALARIES OF FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS.
BUT THEY ARE PROPOSING RAISING
THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AND
SALARIES IN ALL OF THESE
OFFICES.
SO I'M PROPOSING JUST TO FREEZE
THEE THESE EXPENSES FOR --
FREEZE THESE EXPENSES FOR ONE
MORE YEAR.
BRING THESE ACCOUNTS BACK DOWN
TO THIS CURRENT YEAR'S LEVEL OF
SPENDING.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE ON THIS ROAD.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'M A MEDICAL
DOCTOR.
AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR PART OF MY
MEDICAL PRACTICE FOR MANY YEARS
AS BEEN INVOLVED IN TREATING
ADDICTIONS.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS.
AND WE HAVE A SAYING, WHEN THERE
IS NO DENIAL, THERE IS NO
ADDICTION.
CONGRESS AND GOVERNMENT HAVE A
SPENDING ADDICTION.
IT'S A SPENDING ADDICTION AND
THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
DENIAL HERE IN THIS CITY.
IN ALL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT,
ACTUALLY.
WE NEED TO FACE THE FACT WE ARE
BROKE AS A NATION.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP THE OUTSTAGE
ROUSE SPENDING.
-- STOP THE OUTRAGEOUS SPENDING.
I AM PROPOSING A MERE $115,000
TO FREEZE THE EXPENSES FOR THIS
OFFICE AND SALARIES FOR THIS
OFFICE FOR ONE MORE YEAR.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH
FOR ME TO ASK.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH
FOR THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER, THE
HARDWORKING AMERICAN TAXPAYER,
TO ASK FOR US TO FREEZE THE
SALARIES OF THESE BUREAUCRATS
HERE IN WASHINGTON AND FREEZE
THEIR EXPENSES FOR ONE MORE
YEAR, NOT ONLY FOR THIS
AMENDMENT BUT FOR THE AMENDMENTS
THAT I HAVE ALREADY PRESENTED
PRESENT.
LET'S FREEZE THIS SPENDING FOR
ONE MORE YEAR, KEEP IT AT THE
F.Y. 2012 LEVELS.
I URGE SUPPORT OF MY AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
SEEK RECOGNITION?
MADAM CHAIRPERSON, I
RISE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
I GUESS THAT WILL BE ENOUGH.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA JUST
WANTS TO FREEZE EVERYTHING, BUT
OUR PERSONNEL IN AN AGENCY LIKE
THIS, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE
CIVIL SERVICE LAWS, TO THE
PERSONNEL LAWS UNDER O.P.M., AND
THEY ARE ASSIGNED IN GRADES AND
STEPPED, AND THEY HAVE
SEVERAL STEPS AS THEY GAIN
SENIORITY AND GO FROM SEPTEMBER
SIT FOR A WHILE.
BUT YOU END UP WITH PEOPLE,
UNLESS YOU ARE REALLY TRYING TO
PUT PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, UNLESS
YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT PEOPLE OUT
OF WORK, AND THERE IS NO REASON
TO DO THAT, FOR THIS KIND OF AN
AGENCY AT ALL, THEN THERE HAS TO
BE A SLOW, SMALL INCREASE FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WHO MOVE FROM STEP
TO STEP ALONG THE SALARY SCALE.
AND SO THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD CAUSE DISRUPTION IN THE
SYSTEM FOR THE AGENCY WHICH HAS
LOTS OF WORK TO DO.
WORRYING ABOUT HOW
TO GET PRODUCTIVITY IN THE
PROCESSING RATHER THAN ABOUT
TRYING TO JIGGER AND FREEZE A
STEP SYSTEM PAY SCALE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER -- WHO ARE
THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK AT
THIS AGENCY.
AND I AGAIN URGE THIS AMENDMENT
NOT BE ADOPTED.
AND RESERVE THE BALANCE --
RETURN THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
-- FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I RISE TO DISAGREE WITH THE
RHETORIC AND THE METHOLOGY
PROPOUNDED HERE BY THE GENTLEMAN
FROM GEORGIA.
THE MYTHOLOGY IS WE HAVE A
TREMENDOUS SPENDING BINGE THAT
WE MUST REDUCE.
THAT THE COUNTRY IS BROKE, AND
IT'S BROKE BECAUSE THEY ARE
SPENDING MUCH TOO MUCH MONEY,
AND WE GOT TO REDUCE THE
SPENDING.
SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
11 YEARS AGO, OR 12 YEARS AGO IN
2000 WE WERE LOOKING AT A $5.6
TRILLION SURPLUS OVER THE NEXT
10 YEARS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL
RESERVE BOARD, ALAN GREENSPAN,
TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT
BUSH'S TRUCKSES SAID, WE HAVE TO
REDUCE TAXES BECAUSE IF WE DON'T
WE WILL PAY OFF THE ENTIRE
NATIONAL DEBT BY 2012.
THAT WOULD BE A BAD THING FOR
SOME REASON, WHICH I WON'T GO
INTO NOW, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
A BAD THING IF WE PAID OFF THE
ENTIRE NATIONAL DEBT.
HOW DID WE CHANGE -- AND THE
ENTIRE DEBATE BETWEEN THE TWO
CANDIDATES, BUSH AND GORE THEN,
WAS WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THIS
$5.6 TRILLION SURPLUS?
A $5.6
TRILLION SURPLUS TO THE BUDGET
DEFICITS WE HAVE NOW?
NOT BY INCREASING SPENDING.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPENDING
AMOUNT OTHER THAN MILITARY, IF
YOU LOOK AT THE DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
OTHER THAN MILITARY, ADJUSTED
FOR INFLATION AND POPULATION
GROWTH, IT HAS NOT INCREASED BY
A NICKEL SINCE 2001.
NOT BY A NICKEL.
WHY HAS IT CHANGED?
WHAT HAS CHANGED TO CREATE THE
DEFICIT?
BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO SOLVE A
DEFICIT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT
CREATED IT TO UNDO IT.
WHAT HAS CHANGED TO CREATE THE
DEFICIT IS SEVERAL THINGS.
ONE, 40% OF THE DEFICIT IS
CAUSED BY THE BUSH TAX CUTS.
WHICH WILL EXPIRE IN TSH-AT THE
END OF THE YEAR UNLESS WE CHANGE
THAT.
40% OF THE CURRENT AND
ANTICIPATED DEFICITS WERE CAUSED
BY THE BUSH TAX CUTS OF 2001 AND
2003.
SECOND, TWO UNFUNDED WARS IN
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN
HISTORY WE FOUGHT MAJOR WARS
WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES TO PAY
THIRD, ASIDE FROM THE WARS,
COMPLETELY ASIDE FROM THE WARS,
WE HAVE DOUBLED PENTAGON
SPENDING SINCE 2001 IN REAL
TERMS.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE A
DEPRESSION -- OR RECESSION.
WHEN YOU HAVE A RECESSION THAT
STARTED IN 2007 OR 2008, TAX
RECEIPTS GO DOWN, EXPENSES AND
THINGS LIKE FOOD STAMPS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE GOES UP,
DEFICIT.
YOU SHOULD RUN A SURPLUS IN GOOD
TIMES, DEFICIT DURING A
DEPRESSION OR RECESSION IN ORDER
TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND GET
IT BACK UP.
IF WE WANT TO DEAL WITH THE
DEFICIT, AND WE SHOULD DEAL WITH
THE DEFICIT, WE SHOULDN'T REDUCE
NECESSARY GOVERNMENT SPENDING
AND CERTAINLY NOT NICKEL AND
DIME STEP PAY INCREASES TO
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
IF WE WANT TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT, WE SHOULD UNDO MOST OF
THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE BUSH TAX
CUTS WENT TO RICH PEOPLE.
AND TO VERY LARGE CORPORATIONS.
WE ARE ONLY COLLECTING ABOUT 14%
OR 15% OF G.D.P. IN TAXES THIS
YEAR.
THE NORMAL RANGE IS BETWEEN 19%
AND 21%, I SAY NORMAL MEANING
THE ENTIRE POST-WORLD WAR II
PERIOD.
WE ARE COLLECTING 14%, 15% THE
LAST COUPLE YEARS.
BECAUSE OF ONE, THE RECESSION,
AND TWO, BECAUSE WE GREATLY
REDUCED EFFECTIVE TAXES ON
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND
ON RICH PEOPLE.
UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, WE HAD
25 DIFFERENT TAX PRACTS.
SOMEBODY MAKING $25 MILLION
PAID A HIGHER TAX THAN SOMEONE
MAKING $1 MILLION, PAID A
HIGHER TAX RATE THAN $250,000.
NOW THE HIGHEST TAX RATE MAKES
-- KICKS IN AT UNDER $250,000.
SO SOMEONE MAKING $1 MILLION
DOESN'T PAY MY NESS THAN -- ANY
LESS THAN SOMEONE MAKING $250
MILLION.
WE HAVE GREAT NEEDS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE TO FIX OUR HIGHWAYS,
OUR ROADS, OUR BRIDGES, OUR
HOSPITALS OUR BROADBAND.
WE HAVE TO INVEST SO THIS
COUNTRY WILL BE ECONOMICALLY
COMPETITIVE.
OUR SCHOOLS, TEEFERS --
TEACHERS, COPS, IF YOU WANT TO
FIX THE DEFICIT, CHANGE WHAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING TO INVEST IN
THIS COUNTRY.
GET RID OF THE BUSH TAX CUTS,
OR MOST OF THEM, WHICH WENT
INTERLY -- OR GET RID OF THE
ONES THAT WENT TO RICH PEOPLE,
HIGH INCOME PEOPLE,
CORPORATIONS, MAKE LARGE
CORPORATIONS PAY AN EFFECTIVE
TAX RATE AGAIN, INSTEAD OF A
LARGE NUMBER OF CORPORATIONS
PAYING $0 IN TAXES.
REDUCE THE PENTAGON BUDGET.
WITH ENO LONGER NEED THE TROOPS
IN GERMANY TO PROTECT AGAINST A
SOVIET TANK INVASION, SINCE THE
SOVIETS DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.
BUT DON'T HAVE THE MYTHOLOGY
THAT WE HAVE A GREATLY EXPANDED
FEDERAL SPENDING OVER THE LAST
10 YEARS OR EVEN THE LAST THREE
YEARS WHICH IS SIMPLY NOT
THOUGH CASE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THE