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ROLE ON WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE
ACT.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PREVENTION
WE WILL LIKELY HEAR MORE, TOO,
ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THE
LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THE
ECONOMY ADDED 216,000 NEW JOBS
GUE THE LABOR DEPARTM
REPORTING THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE DROPS TO 8.8%.
SPAN.
WE GO LIVE TO THE HOUSE ON C-
MR. SPEAKER, THE WORK ETHICS
OF THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT
GIVE ME GREAT OPTIMISM DESPITE
THE DAILY REMINDERS THAT OUR
NATION TEETERS ON THE EDGE OF
BANKRUPTCY.
IN SPIRIT, TRADITION AND
INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS ARE RICH
INNOVATION, BUT AS A COUNTRY
WE'RE BROKE.
ALL BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS MAXED OUT ITS
CREDIT CARD.
THIS HOUSE IS LISTENING TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WE HAVE
PASSED LEGISLATION REPRESENTING
SIGNIFICANT SPENDING CUTS BY
HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.
BUT HARRY REID AND
THE PRESIDENT ARE TRYING TO
SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE TRYING TO SHIFT THE
BLAME AND SAYING THE ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS ARE THE RESULT OF
THEIR FAILED POLICIES.
I BELIEVE AMERICA IS READY FOR
SOME TOUGH SPENDING DECISIONS.
WE MUST GIVE AMERICANS THE
TOOLS TO GROW THE ECONOMY
I HOPE MY FELLOW HE COLLEAGUES
INSTEAD OF GROWING GOVERNMENT.
WILL JOIN ME IN ASKING TWO
QUESTIONS WHEN ANY SPENDING
BILL COMES BEFORE THIS HOUSE --
HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST
AND WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
AND IF WE CAN'T AFFORD IT AND
IF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS ARE
GOING TO FOOT THE BILL, WE
SHOULD BE VOTING A RESOUNDING
NO.
I YIELD BACK, MR. SPEAKER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW MEXICO RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY
IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH AND TO HONOR A
VERY SPECIAL HERO STATIONED AT
KIRKLAND AIR FORCE BASE IN
ALBUQUERQUE.
CONSIDERIAN IS OUR NATION'S
FIRST FEMALE PILOT OF THE
CV-22, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
OFFSPRAY.
IT'S AN ELITE HONOR FOR A PILOT
TO FLY THE CV-22 AND IT'S
PARTICULARLY UNIQUE TO BE THE
FIRST WOMAN IN HISTORY TO DO
SO.
UNFORTUNATELY,
THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOMEN
MAKE TO OUR MILITARY AND OUR
NATION DON'T ALWAYS GET THEIR
DUE RECOGNITION, SO IT'S A VERY
SPECIAL HONOR TO ME TO
RECOGNIZE FIRST LIEUTENANT
KILLIAN AS PART OF WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH.
I TP TO BE INSPIRED BY THE
GREAT SACRIFICES MADE BY
LEADERS LIKE FIRST LIEUTENANT
KILLIAN IN SERVICE TO OUR
NATION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRST
LIEUTENANT KILLIAN AND HER
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND
SACRIFICE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY
IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1281, THE
RESTORING ECONOMIC CERTAINTY
ACT OF 2011.
THIS BILL PLACES A 24-MONTH
MORATORIUM ON THE MAJORITY OF
NEW REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY
AGENCIES GIVING SMALL
BUSINESSES THE CERTAINTY
REQUIRED TO CREATE JOBS.
THE GOAL OF THIS BILL IS TO
PROVIDE CONFIDENCE TO SMALL
BUSINESSES WHICH CREATE THE
IN AMERICA.
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF JOBS
I'M CALLING ON
CONGRESS TO ENACT A REGULATORY
COOLING OFF PERIOD.
LET'S GIVE AMERICA'S SMALL
BUSINESSES A CHANCE TO CATCH
THEIR BREATH FROM THE OVER
23,000 RULES AND REGULATIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN ENACTED SINCE
2004.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF,
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE HARMFUL
IMPACT THAT GOVERNMENT
HAVE ON JOB CREATION.
REGULATIONS AND UNCERTAINTY CAN
JOB CREATORS HAVE TO KNOW THAT
THEY CAN -- THAT THEY WON'T BE
PUNISHED BY UNELECTED FEDERAL
BUREAUCRATS WITH ADDITIONAL
RULES, REGULATIONS AND RED
TAPE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1281 TODAY.
LET'S SEND JOB CREATORS A CLEAR
SIGNAL THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
ALLOW GOVERNMENT --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
EXTEND.
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER,
HOW SOON WE FORGET.
THEN MINORITY LEADER BOEHNER
CALLED DEEM AND PASS BILLS A
SCHEME AND A PLOT.
ONE THAT HAS EMPLOYED
IMMEDIATELY UPON ENSUING THE
SPEAKERSHIP.
IT'S DOUBLY IRONIC BECAUSE THIS
PARTICULAR DEEM AND PASS BILL
IS BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AS IT ELIMINATES THE SENATE AND
PRESIDENT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 7, CLAUSE 2
OF THE CONSTITUTION READS,
EVERY BILL WHICH SHALL PASS THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
SENATE SHALL BEFORE BECOMES LAW
BE PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
IF HE APPROVES HE SIGNS IT.
IF NOT HE SHALL RETURN IT.
THIS DEEM AND PASS SPENDING
BILL WILL ELIMINATE THE
INCONVENIENCE OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE, PASSING OR THE
PRESIDENT SIGNING H.R. 1, THE
RADICAL REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO
ELIMINATE 700,000 TO 900,000
JOBS.
WHETHER OR NOT REPUBLICANS RAM
IT DOWN OUR THROATS TODAY IS
PROBABLY IRRELEVANT SINCE IT IS
CLEARLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT
WE SHOULD VOTE IT DOWN AS A
MATTER OF CONSTITUTIONAL
PRINCIPLE.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I
ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER,
DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE SHOULD
WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO ACT ON
THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS SUCCESSFULLY
PASSED A BILL OVER 40 DAYS AGO.
AND SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE STILL
NOT ACTED.
HAVE A PLAN OF THEIR OWN.
LIBERALS IN THE SENATE CLAIM TO
RATHER THAN VOTING ON THIS
PLAN, SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE
RESORTED TO PETTY POLITICAL
GAMESMANSHIP.
CONSERVATIVES WON THE ELECTION
IN NOVEMBER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SPOKE
CLEARLY.
THEY WANT TO PUT A HALT TO
RECKLESS SPENDING.
THIS IS THE CONSERVATIVE
POSITION IN CONGRESS.
ANY COMPROMISE SHOULD
INCORPORATE VIEWS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
DIFFERENCE.
THE TEA PARTY HAS MADE A
WHILE LIBERALS ARE ENCOURAGING
THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,
CONSERVATIVES IN CONGRESS HAVE
PASSED A BILL TO AVOID THIS
EVENT.
CONTINUING ONE-LINE GIMMICKS TO
COVER POLITICAL FAVOR IS
ANOTHER POLITICAL PLOY IN
WASHINGTON THAT LIBERALS ARE
JUST OUT OF TOUCH WITH AMERICA.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT
RECKLESS BORROWING IS A THREAT
TO AMERICAN FAMILIES.
BEING PASSED TO THEM.
YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW DEBTS ARE
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
ON TERRORISM.
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
FOR ONE MINUTE.
I RISE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
I ASK PERMISSION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE THIS
MORNING IN OBJECTION TO THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP'S BLATANT
DISREGARD FOR THE CONSTITUTION.
REPUBLICANS' PART SAN EXTREMISM
REACHED A NEW -- PARTISAN
EXTREMISM REACHED A NEW LOW
THIS WEEK IGNORING THE BASIC
CONSTITUTION.
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE
THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A SCHEME
CALLED DEEM AND PASS.
I AM OUTRAGED THAT THE
REPUBLICANS COULD BELIEVE THAT
THEIR BUDGET, THEIR JOB-KILLING
BUDGET COULD BECOME LAW WITH
JUST THE APPROVAL OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE
OFFENDED BY SUCH AN EXTREME,
RECKLESS AND CLEARLY
UNCONSTITUTIONAL SCHEME.
MADAM SPEAKER, AMERICANS WANT
CONGRESS TO MOVE, MOVE BEYOND
THE PARTISAN EXTREMISM AND
POLITICAL THEATER.
IT IS TIME TO NEGOTIATE A
BUDGET IN GOOD FAITH THAT
INVESTS IN OUR FUTURE.
PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND HELP
MOVE AMERICA TOWARD GREATER
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
PROSPERITY.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
EXTEND.
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THIS PAST FRIDAY I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND A CEREMONY
BEFORE 4,000 MID SHIPMEN AT
ANNAPOLIS HONORING FOUR
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES OF THE
NAVAL ACADEMY FOR THEIR LIFE
LEONG ACHIEVEMENTS TO THE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
DR. BRADFORD PARKINSON, THE
CLASS OF 1957, DEDICATED HIS
LIFE IN EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM.
MATTHEW COOPER SERVED TWO TOURS
IN VIETNAM AS A COMMANDER IN
THE MARINE CORPS, GROUND
RESERVE IN OPERATION DESERT
SHIELD AND DESERT STORM AND
TURNED AROUND THE TOYS FOR TOTS
FOUNDATION.
LIEUTENANT MCNEIL
BECAME THE CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O.
OF EXELON CORPORATION.
AND THE FOURTH HONOREE HOLDS A
PLACES SOMETHING IN MY HEART,
UNCLE BOB.
MY UNCLE BEGAN HIS FLIGHT
SCHOOL AND HIS CAREER IN THE
UNITED STATES NAVY.
IN 1965 FLYING HIS CRUSADOR HE
WAS TAKEN PRISONER BY THE NORTH
VIETNAMESE.
FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS HE WAS
HELD PRISONER AND MANY OF THOSE
YEARS IN THE HASWAY HILTON, A
NAME HE DOUBLED IN THAT PRISON
CAMP.
HE SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION TO
ME AND TO OTHERS.
I WAS GRADE TO SEE THIS AWARD
BESTOWED UPON HIM THIS PAST
WEEK.
I WANT TO THANK HIM AND HIS
FELLOW RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR
SERVICE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE THE
PRESIDENT AND LEADERS OF THE
HOUSE AND SENATE TO CRAFT A
LONG-TERM SPENDING PLAN TO
PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
AND GET OUR NATION'S FINANCES
BACK ON TRACK.
NO BUSINESS CAN THRIVE WITHOUT
A STABLE, LONG-TERM FINANCIAL
PLAN.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T
EITHER.
THE UNCERTAINTY WE'RE OPERATING
UNDER IS COSTLY TO TAXPAYERS
AND THREATENS THE HEALTH OF
BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTORS.
AS I TRAVELED AROUND MY
DISTRICT I HEAR TIME AND AGAIN
FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE TIRED
OF THE HEATED POLITICAL
RHETORIC.
WE CAN CATER TO POLITICAL
EXTREMES OR WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO RESOLVE PRESSING
ISSUES.
LET'S MOVE BEYOND THE WEEKLY
BATTLES ON DISCRETIONAL
SPENDING.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
I ASK PERMISSION
GENTLELADY FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY TO HONOR THE LIFE OF
ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT MILITARY
HEROES, LIEUTENANT GENERAL
SOLOMON WELLS, OR JIM, AS HE
WAS KNOWN TO HIS FAMILY.
GENERAL WELLS PASSED AWAY IN
DECEMBER AT THE AGE OF 94 AFTER
A LIFETIME OF DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY.
TODAY, HIS FRIENDS, FAMILY AND
LOVED ONES WILL GATHER TO
CELEBRATE HIS AMAZING LIFE AT A
SPECIAL SERVICE NEAR HIS HOME
IN CALIFORNIA.
AMONG THOSE WILL BE HIS
CHILDREN, THREE GRANDCHILDREN
AND SIX GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S NO WAY I
COULD DO IT JUSTICE TO ALL THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS AMAZING
MAN IN THE TIME I HAVE HERE.
JIM FIRST EARNED HIS WINGS IN
1941 AND WENT ON TO LOG OVER
12,000 HOURS OF FLYING TIME AS
A COMMAND PILOT WITH OVER 700
HOURS OF COMBAT TIME.
HE FLEW HUNDREDS OF MISSIONS
DURING THREE WARS.
WORLD WAR II, KOREA AND
VIETNAM, AND HAS BEEN HONORED
WITH ALMOST EVERY MEDAL
IMAGINABLE.
AFTER COMMANDING ALL OVER THE
WORLD, HE CULMINATED HIS CAREER
AS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE AIR
FORCE HERE IN WASHINGTON.
TODAY, I'D LIKE TO JOIN WITH MY
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
EXPRESS TO JIM'S FAMILY AND
LOVED ONES OUR HEART FELT
SYMPATHY ON HIS LOSS AND OUR
SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR HIS
SERVICE TO THE NATION HE LOVED.
MR. SPEAKER, DURING HIS
SERVICE, IT WAS THE HOPE OF
MANY THAT GENERAL WELLS WOULD
BE HONORED BY A MILITARY
FLYOVER.
I AM DISAPPOINTED TO SAY THAT
THE AIR FORCE WAS UNABLE TO
ACCOMMODATE THIS WISH, BUT I
KNOW THERE'S NO MILITARY AIRMAN
IN AMERICA WHO DOES NOT JOIN US
IN HONORING THE MEMORY OF THIS
HERO.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND
THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES OF
COMMAND IT WOULD BE JIM, AND I
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
EXTEND.
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
WELL, HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WE'RE ONE WEEK AWAY FROM A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
I FOR ONE WISH WE COULD FOCUS
ON CREATING JOBS AND GROWING
THE ECONOMY, BUT INSTEAD THE
MAJORITY CAN'T EVEN AGREE ON
HOW TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.
IN FACT, UNWILLING TO
COMPROMISE AND UNABLE TO BREAK
FREE OF THE CLUTCHES OF THE TEA
PARTY, THEY HAVE TRIED TO STUNT
THAT IS BEYOND BELIEF.
IT'S ALTOGETHER FITTING THAT WE
ARE DEBATING THIS ABSURD
MEASURE TODAY ON APRIL FOOLS
DAY.
WHY?
BECAUSE READING THE
CONSTITUTION ON THE FLOOR OF
THIS BODY JUST WEEKS AGO
THEY'RE IGNORING OUR FOUNDING
DOCUMENT, MOCKING ITS
PRINCIPLES AND ATTEMPTING TO
CIRCUMVENT 222 YEARS OF
HISTORY.
WHAT DO THEY WANT TO DO?
SAY THAT ANY BILL, ANY BILL
THAT PASSES THIS HOUSE IS GOOD
ENOUGH, NO NEED FOR THE SENATE
OR PRESIDENT, IT SHOULD JUST
BECOME LAW LIKE MAGIC.
THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON
CHECKS AND BALANCES AND LIMITED
GOVERNMENT.
INSTEAD OF DESPERATE ATTEMPTS
TO RAM THROUGH JOB-DESTROYING
LEGISLATION TO APPEASE THE
EXTREME WING OF THEIR PARTY,
PERHAPS THE MAJORITY IN THIS
HOUSE COULD TRY NEGOTIATING IN
GOOD FAITH WITH THE SENATE AND
OUR PRESIDENT TO KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON.
AFTER ALL, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
EXPECTS THAT OF THEIR PUBLIC
OFFICIALS.
.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM GEORGIA RISE?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
DIE DIRECTION OF
THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, I CALL
UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 194 AND ASK
FOR ITS MEET CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER
24, HOUSE RESOLUTION 194.
RESOLVED, THAT UPON THE ADOPTION
OF THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE
IN ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE
HOUSE THE BILL, H.R. 1255, TO
PREVENT THE SHUTDOWN OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
READ.
THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT ONE,
ONE HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
MAJORITY LEADER AND MINORITY
LEADER OR THEIR RESPECTIVE
DESIGNEES.
AND TWO, ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MINNESOTA RISE?
I RAISE A POINT OF
ORDER BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION
VIOLATES SECTION 406-2-A OF THE
RESOLUTION BUDGET ACT.
IT CONTAINS -- WHICH INCLUDES A
WAIVER OF SECTION 425 OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT WHICH
VIOLATES -- WHICH CAUSE AS
VIOLATION OF SECTION 426-A.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA HAS
MADE A POINT OF ORDER THAT THE
RESOLUTION VIOLATES SECTION
426-A OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET ACT OF 1974.
THE GENTLEMAN HAS MET THE
THRESHOLD UNDER THE RULE AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL
10 MINUTES OF DEBATE ON THE
QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION.
FOLLOWING DEBATE, THE CHAIR WILL
PUT THE QUESTION OF
CONSIDERATION AS A STATUTORY
MEANS OF DISPOSING OF THE POINT
OF ORDER.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
I THANK THE CHAIR.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RAISE THIS
POINT OF ORDER NOT NECESSARILY
OUT OF CONCERN FOR UNFUNDED
MANDATES, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE
LIKELY MANY IN THIS BILL, I
RAISE A POINT OF ORDER BECAUSE
IT'S THE OVERWHELM VEHICLE WE'VE
GOT TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THIS
RULE AND THIS BILL AND HOW WE
ARE BEING DENIED THE ABILITY TO
ACTUALLY ALTER THE -- OFFER THE
AMENDMENTS WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO
ILLUMINATE WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN
THIS BILL.
REPUBLICANS ARE PLAYING PARTISAN
POLITICAL GAMES WITH AMERICA'S
FUTURE, AMERICA'S SENIORS, AND
AMERICA'S VETERANS WITH THE
FOLLOWING.
WITH AMERICA'S GOVERNMENT.
SINCE TAKING CONTROL OF CONGRESS
OVER 13 WEEKS AGO, REPUBLICANS
HAVE FAILED TO INTRODUCE A
SINGLE BILL, NOT ONE SINGLE
BILL, TO CREATE ONE SUNGLE JOB.
INSTEAD, THE REPUBLICANS
MAJORITY ATTACHED A
UNCONSTITUTIONAL SCHEME TO FIRE
NEARLY A MILLION AMERICANS AND
FORECLOSE ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.
MR. SPEAKER -- MADAM SPEAKER, I
THINK IT'S IRONIC THAT TODAY IS
APRIL POOL'S DAY BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICAN PARAGRAPH -- APRIL
FOOL'S DAY BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS PLAYING
AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL WASHINGTON
TRICKERATION REFLECTED IN THE
UNDERLYING BILL WILL DESTROY AT
LEAST 700,000 JOBS, ACCORDING TO
THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE,
MARK ZANDI, CHIEF ECONOMIST AT
MOODY'S ECONOMICS, AND GOLDMAN
SACHS.
THE UNDERLYING BILL WHICH MR.
WOODALL IS A CO-SPONSOR SAYS --
IMPLIES THAT THE SENATE HAS
PASSED A BILL WHICH ALREADY
FAILED THERE, IT ASSUMES OR
DEEMS THE PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED
THE BILL, WHICH HE THREATENED TO
VETO.
APRIL FOOL'S AMERICA, THERE IS
NO SENATE OR OFFICE OF
PRESIDENCY TODAY UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY BILL.
THE REPUBLICAN SPENDING BILL
BADLY DAMAGES OUR FRAGILE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACCORDING TO
300 ECONOMISTS OF ALL POLITICAL
STRIPES AND THREATENS TO SEND US
SPIRALING INTO ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN RECESSION.
AND AS WE HAVE HEARD EARLY THIS
WEEK, THE REPUBLICAN ANSWER TO
14 MILLION AMERICANS WHO LOST
THEIR JOBS AND CAN'T FIND NEW
ONES IS, STOP TALKING ABOUT
JOBS.
SO AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO
YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN, MR.
WOODALL, FOR 15 SECONDS, TO ASK
HIM JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THE GENTLEMAN, HOW MANY JOBS
DOES THIS BILL CREATE?
BY ELIMINATING THE
CRUSHING FEDERAL DEFICIT THAT WE
HAVE TODAY, BY TAKING THE FIRST
STEPS WE HAVE SEEN IN A
GENERATION --
RECLAIMING MY TIME,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I DO APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN'S
DECISION NOT TO ANSWER MY
QUESTION.
BECAUSE --
I'D BE HAPPY TO TRY
AGAIN, MR. ELLISON: .
I DO APPRECIATE HIM
NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION HOW
MANY JOBS THIS BILL WILL CREATE.
IT CREATES JOHN.
IT DESTROYS JOBS.
I THINK IF THE GENTLEMAN WANTED
TO GIVE US A NUMBER, EVEN AN
ESTIMATE, JUST SOME SORT OF
ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MANY JOBS
THIS BILL IS GOING TO CREATE, WE
CERTAINLY COULD HAVE A GOOD
DIALOGUE ABOUT HOW AMERICA GOES
FORWARD.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MADAM SPEAKER
, THE GENTLEMAN CANNOT ANSWER
THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS BEEN
EXPOSED, THEY HAVE A NO JOBS
AGENDA, AND THIS BILL THEY
PROPOSE TO DEEM AND PASS TODAY
WOULD CUT UPWARDS OF A MILLION
JOBS AND AS LITTLE AS 700,000.
THIS IS A NO-JOBS AGENDA.
AT THIS TIME THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK, MR. PAUL TONKO, I
BELIEVE, WOULD LIKE TO -- I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THIS REPUBLICAN APRIL FOOL'S
RESOLUTION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
TODAY SEEMS TO LOOK FOR A WAIVER
OF ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL.
WHICH INCLUDES THE WAIVER OF
SECTION 425 OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET ACT WHICH CAUSES A
VIOLATION WE BELIEVE OF 426-A,
SECTION 426-A.
I'M NOT SURE IF THE RULES OF THE
HOUSE ARE DECLARED NULL AND VOID
ON ANY APRIL FOOL'S DAY, BUT I
HAVE A FEELING THAT WE ARE ABOUT
TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TODAY ON THE
FLOOR.
APPARENTLY THE NEW REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP AND THEIR MAJORITY
BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN TAKE
CONTROL OF A PARLIAMENTARY
SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM WE STILL
HAVE A BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE,
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES
SENATE AND A CONSTITUTION THAT
REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES TO SIGN
LEGISLATION.
SO THE RULES SEEM TO BE CHANGING
EVERY DAY AROUND HERE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO SEE
BILLS 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
THE BILLS WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID
FOR, PAID FOR UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN CUT-GO MEASURE, AND
THAT ALL BILLS, AGAIN ALL BILLS,
WOULD HAVE TO MEET A
CONSTITUTIONAL TEST BEFORE THE
FLOOR CONSIDERS IT.
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE
VIOLATED EVERY, EVERY ONE OF
THESE PRINCIPLES.
THERE ARE LIKELY SOME UNFUNDED
MANDATES IN THIS MEASURE.
I RAISE A POINT OF ORDER BECAUSE
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE
HAVE TO DEBATE THIS BILL AND WE
ARE BEING DENIED THE ABILITY TO
ACTUALLY OFFER THE AMENDMENTS
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TO
ELIMINATE WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN
THIS LEGISLATION AND HOW THIS IS
A BREAK, AGAIN, FROM THE
HALLMARK AND TRADITION OF THIS
GREAT HOUSE WHICH IS TO ALLOW
OPEN DEBATE ON APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS.
SO IN CONCLUSION WE SIMPLY
CANNOT TRASH THE RULES OF THE
HOUSE LIKE WE ARE DOING HERE
TODAY AND IRONICALLY ON APRIL
FOOL'S DAY.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MAY I INQUIRE TO
THE TIME?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA HAS
FOUR MINUTES REMAINING.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
I RISE TO CLAIM
TIME IN OPPOSITION ON THE POINT
OF ORDER AND IN FAVOR OF
CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 10
MINUTES.
IT APPEARS, MADAM
SPEAKER, THAT THIS IS GOING TO
BE AN APRIL FOOL'S DAY THEME
DAY, I SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE
KNOWN THAT WHEN I WOKE UP THIS
MORNING.
I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT IT
BEGINS WITH FOLKS CLAIMLING A --
CLAIMING A POINT OF ORDER
AGAINST UNFUNDED MANDATES THEY
ARE NOT SURE EXIST IN THE BILL.
THAT THEY CLAIM A POINT OF ORDER
AGAINST UNFUNDED MANDATES IN A
RULE THAT WAIVES THOSE POINTS OF
ORDER IF THEY DID EXIST.
I WANT TO SAY, MADAM SPEAKER,
I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF REGULAR
ORDER.
BIG PROPONENT OF ORDER.
AND THE PROPHYLACTIC WAIVER IN
THE RULE IS DESIGNED JUST IN
CASE THERE IS SOMETHING WE
MISSED, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS
THAT WE HAD THE LARGEST AND MOST
OPEN DEBATE WE HAD IN THIS HOUSE
IN A DECADE ON H.R. 1.
THE ONLY PROVISION THAT COULD
POSSIBLY HAVE AN UNFUNDED
MANDATE IN IT AND DOES NOT.
THERE'S TWO THINGS, THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION DOES TWO
THINGS, IT BOTH GIVES THE SENATE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT FROM
UNDER ITS PARALYZING INACTION
AND PASS H.R. 1, AND IT SAYS
THAT IF THE SENATE DOES NOT, IF
THE SENATE FAILS TO ACT, WE ARE
NOT ASKING THEM TO DO WHAT WE
WANT THEM TO DO, IF THEY FAIL TO
ACT, THEN CONGRESS WILL NOT GET
PAID.
CONGRESS WILL NOT GET PAID.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LEFT WON'T
GO PAID.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE RIGHT WON'T
GET PAID.
AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE
WON'T GET PAID.
AND I YIELD 15 SECONDS TO MY
GOOD FRIEND, MR. ELLISON, TO
ASK, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS
PROVISION THAT WILL PREVENT US
FROM GETTING PAID, FROM GETTING
PAID, FOR NOT DOING OUR JOB, IS
THE UNMUNDED MANDATE IN THAT
PROVISION -- UNFUNDED MANDATE IN
THAT PROVISION?
I BELIEVE THAT THE
REPUBLICAN NO-JOBS AGENDA IS A
PEOPLE.
SERIOUS AFFRONT TO THE AMERICAN
MILLION WOODALL: LET ME RECLAIM
MY TIME.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN'S
SUPPORT FOR MAKING SURE WE DON'T
GET PAID IF WE ARE NOT DOING OUR
WORK.
THERE IS A DIVIDE IN THIS TOWN,
MADAM SPEAKER, THERE IS A CROWD
JOBS.
THAT BELIEVES GOVERNMENT CREATES
AND THE MORE GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY
THAT TAKES PLACE THE MORE JOBS
THERE ARE.
THERE IS ANOTHER CROWD IN THIS
TOWN THAT BELIEVES THAT ONLY THE
PRIVATE SECTOR CAN CREATE JOBS.
AND THIS BILL WILL PUT MORE
CAPITAL INTO THE PRIVATE
MARKETS, IT WILL CREATE JOBS.
AS THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE MUCH
NEEDED CERTAINTY THAT WE CANNOT
HAVE UNDER THESE CONTINUING
RESOLUTIONS, THIS BILL WILL
CREATE JOBS.
AS THIS BILL GOES TO COMPLETE
THE WORK THAT SHOULD HAVE
HAPPENED LAST CONGRESS BUT DID
NOT, THIS BILL WILL CREATE JOBS.
IT IS A CRUEL APRIL FOOL'S DAY
JOKE ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
MADAM SPEAKER, THAT INSTEAD OF
DEBATING THE UNDERLYING
RESOLUTION, AND I HAVE A RULE
I'M PREPARED TO BRING TO THE
FLOOR THAT WILL ALLOW TIME TO
DEBATE THE UNDERLYING
RESOLUTION, WE ARE INSTEAD
FOCUSED ON POINTS OF ORDER THAT
EVEN MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LEFT
DON'T BELIEVE EXIST.
THEY AUSE US OF PERVERTING THE
PROCESS, MADAM SPEAKER, AND WE
HAVE HAD THE MOST OPEN PROCESS
IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF THIS
CONGRESS THIS CONGRESS HAS SEEN
IN A DECADE, AND IN DOING SO
THEY PERVERT THE PROCESS,
RAISING POINTS OF ORDER THAT
THEY DO NOT BELIEVE EXIST AND
KNOW IN THEIR HEARTS DO NOT
EXIST.
WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
TWO MINUTES FOR THE
GENTLELADY FROM MARYLAND, MISS
DONE -- CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA
EDWARDS.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MINNESOTA FOR RAISING THIS
POINT OF ORDER.
I JOIN IN SUPPORT OF THE POINT
OF ORDER.
FIRST OF ALL IT'S TIME FOR US TO
CREATE JOBS, WE HAVEN'T CREATED
JOBS FOR 13 WEEKS INTO THIS
CONGRESS AND WE ARE NOT DEBATING
JOBS TODAY.
SECOND, AS TO THE UNDERLYING
RESOLUTION, I'LL SPEAK TO THAT
LATER, MADAM SPEAKER, BUT TODAY
WE ARE SITTING HERE WITH A BILL
THAT VIOLATES THE RULES OF THIS
HOUSE, THAT CONGRESS SAID WHEN
THEY TOOK ON THIS NEW LEADERSHIP
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO COME
INTO THE CONGRESS OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT AND WITHOUT
HYPOCRISY AND NOT FOLLOWING THE
KIND OF RULES THAT THEY RAILED
AGAINST DURING THE PREVIOUS
CONGRESS, AND YET HERE WE ARE
TODAY WITH A RULE THAT DOESN'T
ALLOW US TO REALLY CONSIDER
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE WAY THAT
THIS CONGRESS NOT THE LAST
CONGRESS BUT THIS REPUBLICAN
CONGRESS ESTABLISHED.
WE ARE NEITHER OPEN, WE ARE NOT
TRANSPARENT IN THIS POINT OF
ORDER -- AND THIS POINT OF ORDER
RAISES A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS GOING
TO OPERATE ACCORDING TO THE
RULES THAT IT SET, NOT THE RULES
THE DEMOCRAT SET, BUT THE
REPUBLICANS THAT REPUBLICANS
SET.
SO, MADAM SPEAKER, I'M REALLY
TROUBLED TODAY BOTH BY THE
UNDERLYING RESOLUTION AND BY THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE HERE PERHAPS A
BILL THAT HAS UNKNOWN, UNFUNDED
MANDATES THAT WE AREN'T ABLE TO
LOOK AT AND FOR WHICH THERE
WON'T BE ANY AMENDMENTS.
I THINK THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA FOR RAISING THE POINT
OF ORDER AND I URGE STRONG
CONSIDERATION BY MY COLLEAGUES
TO MAKE THIS PROCESS AS THE
LEADERSHIP HAS COMMITTED TO MAKE
IT OPEN, TO MAKE IT TRANSPARENT,
AND TO MAKE IT WITHOUT
HYPOCRISY.
WITH THAT I YIELD.
15 SECONDS FOR A
QUESTION.
YOU CONTROL THE
TIME.
I'M WILLING TO
YIELD.
WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO STRIP
OUT ALL BUT THE MEMBER PAID
ISSUE THAT'S CONTAINED IN THE
BILL.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO THAT?
YOU WANT TO REMOVE
THE MOST DEBATED PROVISION WE
HAVE HAD IN THIS ENTIRE CONGRESS
THAT HASN'T BEEN DEBATED ENOUGH?
WE'LL DEAL WITH THE
PAY ISSUE.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?
THE MEMBER PAY
ISSUE IS CRITICALLY TIED TO THE
INACTION OF THE FOLKS --
RECLAIMING MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU FOR
GETTING AROUND TO THAT NO.
I THINK THAT MAKES THE POINT
HERE, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR
REPUBLICAN ACTION, YET ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO DEGRADE AND TAKE
AWAY THE BASIC SOCIAL SAFETY NET
OF AMERICA WHILE DOING NOTHING
TO DO -- TO GET AMERICANS BACK
TO WORK.
AMERICANS DESERVE TO WORK.
AMERICANS THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO GET A MAJORITY THAT
WOULD HELP THEM GET BACK TO WORK
LAST NOVEMBER.
BUT THEY WERE SORELY SURPRISED
WHEN THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY GOT
THERE AND DECIDED TO DO NOTHING
TO HELP AMERICANS GET BACK TO
WORK.
THAT ALL THEY DO IS STRIP AWAY
PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT WILL
HELP AMERICANS DO BETTER.
TO TAKE PROGRAMS AND MONEY FROM
POLICE OFFICERS, TO FIRE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, THIS HAS BEEN THEIR
AGENDA.
.
THIS IS TOO BAD.
THIS IS CERTAINLY A SHAME AND A
ABANDONMENT OF WHAT THEY WERE
TRYING TO GET IN NOVEMBER.
THIS POINT OF ORDER ADDRESSES
THE CRITICAL ISSUES WE NEED TO
ADDRESS.
AT THE BOTTOM WE ARE STILL
LOOKING AT 13 WEEKS WITH NO
JOBS AND REPUBLICANS OFFERED
LEGISLATION THAT LITERALLY
WOULD PUT NEARLY A MILLION
PEOPLE OUT OF WORK.
AND SO I ASK -- I ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE -- SO I ASK
-- YEAH, IN A MOMENT.
SO I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
LET'S MOVE AMERICA FORWARD.
LET'S REJECT THE UNDERLYING
RULE, THIS WASHINGTON TRICKERY,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
THE
MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED
TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MAKE
SURE THAT --
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MR. LUNGREN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
A PROVISION
DEALING WITH THE PAY OF MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE SENATE HAS SENT OVER A BILL
WHICH PROPORTED TO PAY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE CONGRESS FOR ANY TIME
THAT LAPSED DURING WHICH THERE
WAS NOT AUTHORIZATION FOR
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY.
IT IS ON ITS FACE BLATANTLY
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, VIOLATING THE
SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
THAT DEALS WITH PRESIDENTIAL
PAY AND SPECIFICALLY THE 27TH
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW US TO DO
THAT.
THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL BEFORE
US IN THE STATEMENT OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY MAKES
IT CLEAR THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE
LIMITS OF THE ACTION WE CAN
TAKE AND INSTEAD WE WOULD IN
THIS WAY COMMAND THOSE PAYMENTS
NOD TO BE MADE DURING THE
PERIOD OF TIME IN -- NOT TO BE
MADE DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME
THEREBY MAKING A VERY SERIOUS
AND GOOD FAITH ATTEMPT TO PUT
THAT PRESSURE ON MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES BUT IN A
CONSTITUTIONAL WAY.
AND SO MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE
OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
LANGUAGE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROVISION BEFORE US AND THAT
WHICH WAS SENT OVER HERE BY THE
SENATE WHICH ON ITS FACE BOTH
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS HAVE
LOOKED AT IT HERE ON THE HOUSE
SIDE AND SENATE SIDE AND THE
WHITE HOUSE HAS SUGGESTED THAT
BILL THAT CAME OVER FROM THE
SENATE WOULD NOT STAND UP TO
CONSTITUTIONAL EXAMINATION.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT ON OUR SIDE
TO TRY AND PROVIDE THAT ACTION
IF DEMANDED BY MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE
RENDERED CONSTITUTIONAL.
AND SO AT LEAST I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT AS WE DEBATE
THIS POINT OF ORDER THE RULE
AND THE BILL THAT IT IS CLEAR
WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE
AUTHOR --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IS IN THIS CASE
AND WHERE WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO
FOLLOW CONSTITUTIONAL
PROCEDURES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
CONSUME.
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
EXPLANATION BECAUSE
TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES ARE
PARAMOUNT, ARE ABSOLUTELY
PARAMOUNT ON THIS SIDE OF THE
AISLE AND SO IS ACCOUNTABILITY,
SO IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR
ACTIONS HERE IN THIS BODY AND
OUR ACTIONS ACROSS THE WAY AND
I CANNOT BE MORE PLEASED TO BE
THE CO-SPONSOR OF THE
UNDERLYING RESOLUTION BECAUSE
IT SAYS NO WORK, NO PAY, NO
WORK, NO PAY.
TYPICAL HERE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
JOBS EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY IN
THIS BODY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
JOBS AND YET THE DEBATE THIS
MORNING IS FOCUSED ON ARE WE
DOING ENOUGH DEBATING ABOUT A
BILL THAT HAS BEEN THE MOST
AGGRESSIVELY DEBATED BILL THAT
CONGRESS HAS SEEN IN OVER A
DECADE.
I WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO
JOIN ME AS A CO-SPONSOR OF H.R.
25.
H.R. 25 IS THE FAIR TAX BILL.
IT'S THE ONLY BILL IN CONGRESS
THAT ELIMINATES EVERY SINGLE
CORPORATE LOOPHOLE, EXCEPTION,
LOBBYIST-INSERTED PROVISION,
NOT A ONE SURVIVES THE FAIR
TAX.
IT'S THE ONLY BILL IN CONGRESS
THAT ELIMINATES THE PAYROLL
TAX, THAT LARGEST TAX THAT 80%
OF AMERICANS PAY.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AMERICAN
FAMILIES AND THEIR PAIN, LET'S
TALK ABOUT THE LARGEST TAX THAT
AMERICAN FAMILIES PAY.
IT'S THE PAYROLL TAX AND H.R.
25 IS THE ONLY BILL IN THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THAT ELIMINATES
THE PAYROLL TAX IN FAVOR OF A
FLAT RATE PERSONAL CONSUMPTION
TAX THAT CEASES TO PUNISH
PRODUCTIVITY AND BEGINS TO
REWARD THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT
BUILD JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S THE ONLY BILL IN CONGRESS
THAT PUTS AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING ON A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD WITH THE REST OF
THE WORLD.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT JOBS
OR DO YOU NOT?
DO YOU WANT TO GET AMERICA GACK
ON TRACK OR DO YOU NOT, BECAUSE
THIS IS A POINT OF ORDER THAT
WE KNOW DOESN'T EXIST?
IT'S A POINT OF ORDER THAT
FILLS THE AIRWAVES FIRST THING
IN THE MORNING.
IF YOU WANT TO FILL THE
AIRWAVES FILL IT WITH PROMISES
OF JOBS, FILL IT WITH PROMISES
OF ENDING THE TAX CODE THAT
DRIVES JOBS OUT OF THIS COUNTRY
AND BRINGING IN THAT CAPITAL
THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.
AGAIN, MADAM SPEAKER, THERE ARE
NO UNFUNDED MANDATES IN THIS
BILL.
THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST
AGGRESSIVELY DEBATED BILL THAT
THIS CONGRESS HAS SEEN IN A
GENERATION, I WOULD ARGUE, AND
THE ONLY TWO THINGS THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION DOES, IT
FORCES THE GOVERNMENT TO STAY
OPEN WITH FUNDING LEVELS, THOSE
FUNDING LEVELS PROVIDED IN H.R.
1, IF THE SENATE PASS THIS IS
BILL, AND IT INSISTS THAT NO
WORK IN CONGRESS RECEIVES NO
PAY.
40 DAYS WE WAITED ON THE SENATE
TO ACT.
THEY DEFEATED TWO BILLS BUT
THEY PASSED NOTHING, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THEY PASSED NOTHING.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT JOBS,
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
CERTAINTY, YOU HAVE TO BRING A
PROPOSAL TO THE TABLE.
THIS IS A FRESHMAN PROPOSAL
THAT REACHES OUT TO TRY TO DO
HAPPEN.
SOMETHING TO MAKE THINGS
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU BREAK
LOGJAMS IN THIS CITY.
CLEARLY IT'S NOT EASY.
LAST YEAR WITH A DEMOCRATIC
HOUSE, DEMOCRATIC SENATE AND
DEMOCRATIC WHITE HOUSE YOU
STILL COULDN'T PASS A BUDGET,
YOU COULDN'T GET AN
APPROPRIATIONS PASSED.
I AM HERE TO SOLVE LOGJAMS.
YOU SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN
PEOPLE TRYING TO COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
ALL TIME FOR DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS NOW WILL THE
HOUSE CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
--
THE QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION
I DEMAND THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS HAVE BEEN
REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
MADAM SPEAKER, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY I
YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES
TO MY GOOD FRIEND, THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK, MS.
SLAUGHTER.
THE