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THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER CONROY.
CHAPLAIN CONROY: LET US PRAY,
GOD OF THE UNIVERSE WE GIVE YOU
THANKS FOR GIVING US ANOTHER
DAY.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THOSE
WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD THESE
PAST FEW DAYS TO HELP BRING OUR
NATION TO A LEVEL OF SECURITY.
NOT ALL ARE COMPLETELY SATISFIED
, BUT HELP US ALL TO PROCEED
GRACIOUSLY, REMAINING VIGILANT
FOR THOSE VALUES HELD MOST DEAR
WHILE BEING JUST.
IN THE DAYS THAT COME, HELP EACH
MEMBER TO UNDERSTAND WELL AND
INTERPRET POSITIVELY AS THEY ARE
ABLE THE POSITIONS OF THOSE WITH
WHOM THEY DISAGREE.
GRANT TO EACH THE WISDOM OF
SOLOMON AND TO US ALL THE FAITH
AND CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT NO
MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THINGS
APPEAR TO BE, YOU CONTINUE TO
WALK WITH OUR NATION AS YOU HAVE
DONE FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES.
MAY ALL THAT IS DONE TODAY IN
THIS PEOPLE'S HOUSE 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,
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
MR. SPEAKER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE
1, RULE 1, I DEMAND A VOTE ON
AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S
APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL.
THE
SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE
JOURNAL.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
OBJECT TO THE VOTE ON THE
GROUNDS THAT A QUORUM IS NOT
PRESENT AND MAKE A POINT OF
ORDER A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION ARE POSTPONED.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED
-- THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL
BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN, MRS. MILLER.
PLEASE JOIN ME AND
FACE OUR FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 37 A 5, THE
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS IS NOT
DISPENSED WITH ON THIS DAY.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO
15 REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
GENTLEMAN FROM -- THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND.
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, TODAY
THE AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL BE
VOTING ON IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
A HISTORIC PIVOT HERE IN
WASHINGTON BECAUSE NEVER BEFORE
IN HISTORY HAS AN INCREASE IN
OUR NATION'S DEBT LIMIT BEEN
TIED TO CUTS IN SPENDING.
NO LONGER WILL THE DEBATE BE
ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT GOING TO SPEND.
THE DEBATE NOW IS HOW MUCH
SPENDING IS GOING TO BE CUT.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL REQUIRE
MORE THAN $2.1 TRILLION IN
FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS, PUTS IN
PLACE VERY FIRM CAPS TO HOLD
DOWN FUTURE SPENDING, BOTH
HOUSES OF CONGRESS MUST HAVE AN
UP OR DOWN VOTE ON A BALANCED
IT DOES NOT IMPOSE ANY
JOB-KILLING TAX INCREASES.
IT AVOIDS A DEFAULT ON FEDERAL
OBLIGATION THAT IS WOULD BE
DISASTROUS TO OUR ECONOMY, AND
IT BEGINS A PROCESS TO PUT THIS
NATION ON A PATH TO PROSPERITY.
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE SO MUCH
MORE THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE
DONE, BUT THIS IS FURTHER
PROGRESS IN TURNING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TOWARDS FISCAL SANITY
SO THAT WE CAN LEAVE A BETTER
AMERICA FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
IT SEEMS WHENEVER
IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE MADE BY
A FEW PEOPLE INSIDE A ROOM,
INSIDE THE BELTWAY ORDINARY
FOLKS ARE NOT ONLY EXCLUDED FROM
THE ROOM BUT SEEM TO BE EXCLUDED
FROM THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ORDINARY FOLKS
WORKING TO KEEP THEIR HEAD ABOVE
WATER.
THEIR MORTGAGE.
TO KEEP THEIR HOMES.
RETIREES LIVING ON A FIXED
STUDENTS HOPING TO HAVE HELP IN
GOING TO COLLEGE.
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE
PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND OUR NATION'S
ORDINARY FOLKS.
WHAT MAKES ANYONE THINK THAT A
SUPERCOMMITTEE OF 12 PEOPLE
OPERATING IN A ROOM INSIDE THE
BELTWAY IN NOVEMBER IS GOING TO
DO A BETTER JOB LOOKING AFTER
THE INTERESTS OF ORDINARY FOLKS?
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS
WEEKEND SOUTH CAROLINA LOST ONE
OF ITS GREATEST LEADERS.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
MATTHEW J. PERRY.
JUDGE PERRY SYMBOLIZED COURAGE
IN LEADERSHIP AND WAS A TELLING
FIGURE DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT OF THE 1950'S THROUGH
THE 1970'S.
AFTER HAVING SERVED IN THE U.S.
ARMY FROM 1944 TO 1945, AS A
SERGEANT IN THE QUARTER MASTER
CORPS, JUDGE PERRY GRADUATED
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA STATE WITH A
B.S. IN BUSINESS.
HE WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM LAW
SCHOOL IN 1951.
AS A YOUNG ATTORNEY, JUDGE PERRY
ESTABLISHED HIS CREDIBILITY IN
SOUTH CAROLINA BY DEFENDING MANY
OF THE STUDENTS PROTESTING
SEGREGATION DURING SIT-IN'S.
IN 1976 HE WAS NOMINATED BY
SENATOR STROM THURMOND TO U.S.
WASHINGTON.
IN 1979, HE WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO BE APPOINTED
AS THE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
SOUTH CAROLINA.
HE HAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF THE
ORDER OF PALMETTO, THE HIGHEST
SOUTH CAROLINA.
OUR NATION HAS TRULY LOST A
LEGEND WHO HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA.
TROOPS.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET SEPTEMBER
11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OREGON RISE?
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
IT'S A LITTLE
DIFFERENT THAN THE REID BILL WE
VOTED ON SATURDAY.
IT ACTUALLY INCREASES MILITARY
SPENDING $78 BILLION OVER THE
BILL THAT WE VOTED ON ON
SATURDAY.
AND IT DECREASES DOMESTIC
SPENDING BY $80 BILLION.
AND IT DOESN'T END THE WARS
UNLIKE THE REID BILL WE VOTED ON
IT HAS ONE SPECIFIED CUT.
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID.
THAT'S THE ONLY CUT SPECIFIED.
WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO YOU PEOPLE
AND OF COURSE IT DOESN'T ASK A
SINGLE THING OF MILLIONAIRES,
BILLIONAIRES, CORPORATIONS THAT
AVOID TAXES.
DOESN'T CLOSE A SINGLE LOOPHOLE.
DOESN'T ASK ONE MILLIONAIRE OR
BILLIONAIRE TO GO BACK TO
CLINTON ERA TAXES.
AND IT DOES DOES NOTHING ABOUT
OUR MOST SERIOUS DEFICIT IN THIS
COUNTRY AND THAT IS A JOBS
DEFICIT.
UNLESS YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT
TAX LOOPHOLES, TAX CUTS, AND
CUTTING INVESTMENT IN AVIATION
AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
CREATES JOBS ON YOUR PLANET,
THIS BILL CREATES NONE HERE
TODAY.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE IN THE
IT'S NOT A CRISIS OF TELLING
CEILING.
IT'S A CRISIS OF DEBT, OF
WASHINGTON SPENDING TOO MUCH NOT
TAXING OR BORROWING TOO LITTLE.
THE PROBLEM ISN'T THE DEBT
CEILING, IT'S THE DEBT.
WE CAN NO LONGER
CONTINUE OUR THEFT ON OUR
UNCONTROLLED SPENDING HABITS TO
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
LUCKILY THE CONGRESS HAS MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE
FIRST SIX BUCKETS BILLS IN
CUTTING REAL SPENDING FOR THIS
UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE DEBATE
IN WASHINGTON.
WE ARE NO LONGER TALKING ABOUT
JOB-KILLING TAX INCREASES.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING
CUTS.
AND LONG-TERM SPENDING REFORM.
OUR GOALS FROM DAY ONE.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S TIME FOR
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE SENATE
DEMOCRATS TO JOIN US IN OUR
EFFORTS TO CONTROL SPENDING
BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT.
WE MUST SOLVE THIS CRISIS TO
ENCOURAGE JOB CREATION AND
RETURN AMERICA TO ITS GREATNESS.
AMERICA'S GREAT PEOPLE ARE
READY.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
ONE MINUTE.
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
IT REALLY IS ABOUT JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
THE QUESTION BECOMES AS WE GO
INTO OUR CONFERENCES AND
CAUCUSES, WHO WILL THIS HELP?
WILL IT HELP THE SMALL
OF AMERICA?
WILL IT HELP THE STUDENTS WHO
ARE NOW STANDING AT THE DOORS OF
SHUT?
WILL IT HELP THOSE IN NURSING
HOMES WHO NOW BECAUSE OF DRASTIC
CUTS IN MEDICAID WILL SEE THEIR
PLACE OF ABODE LOST?
WILL IT HELP THE HOSPITALS WHO
CARE FOR THE SICK BECAUSE THERE
IS NO MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT OR
MEDICAID?
WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
THIS TO SEE HOW IT HELPS OR
HURTS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BUT I TELL YOU WHO IT HELPS.
BIG BUSINESSES, ARE THEY GOING
TO NOW STEP IN AND CREATE JOBS
BECAUSE WHEN WE CUT ACROSS THE
BOARD PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS WILL BE
CUT ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE
GOVERNMENT THAT STOOPS AND COMES
IN TO RAISE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
UP WHEN THERE IS A NEED.
ARE WE GOING TO HELP THE
RETURNING SOLDIERS, 160-,000
PLUS WHO HAVE PTSD?
WORKPLACE?
WILL THE CORPORATE SECTOR NOW
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED?
MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE, THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE
IS JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE IS
BIPARTISANSHIP ON SOMETHING THAT
HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE 100 TIMES.
THE SIMPLE RAISING OF THE DEBT
CEILING.
NOW ON THE BACKS OF THOSE WHO
CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
INSTEAD OF APPEALING TO
AMERICA'S GREATEST ASPIRATIONS,
HOPES AND DREAMS, THERE ARE
THOSE WHO APPEALING TO OUR
BASIS CHARACTER USING FEAR AND
ENVY AND GREED TO PREY UPON
THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAD.
WE CAN NO LONGER
FEED IT WITH DESPAIR AND ALL
THE WHILE WEAKENING THE IRON
WILL OF THIS NATION AND
PLUMMETING IT INTO MEDIOCRITY.
WE MUST NOT ATTACK AND MOCK
THOSE WHO WORK HARD.
IT IS NOT A PATH TO GREATNESS
BUT A ROAD TO MEDIOCRITY AND
SERVITUDE WHILE PEOPLE ARE
ENCOURAGED NOT TO REACH FOR THE
STARS BUT TO GRAB WHAT THEY CAN
GET FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
THOSE WHO PREY UPON THE WEAK
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF
UNEMPLOYMENT, OF THE WEAKENING
OF OUR NATION, THE DRAMA OF
HAND WRINGING, THE COWARDNESS
OF BLAMING, FINGER-POINTING AND
INFELIX, INSULT TO JOB CREATORS
AND THE RANSOM WE PAY TO OTHER
NATIONS SUCH AS ENERGY,
MANUFACTURED GOODS AND THE
MASSIVE INTEREST ON OUR MASSIVE
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S TIME FOR
PEOPLE USING LEADERS AS A DIRTY
WORD.
WHETHER -- ALL WORK IS GOOD AND
NOBLE AND IT'S TIME WE
ENCOURAGE IT, NOT TO CRITICIZE
THE WORK.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM THE ***
ISLANDS RISE?
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER.
TODAY THE SENATE WILL BEGIN TO
DEBATE ON THE DEBT CEILING
AGREEMENT.
IT'S BEING BILLED AS A TWO
SEPARATE APPROACH TO HOLD
PRESIDENT OBAMA ACCOUNTABLE.
TO HOLD THE PRESIDENT
ACCOUNTABLE OR TO REDIRECT OUR
ECONOMIES TO DOMESTIC
MANUFACTURING AND TO CLEAN
ENERGY OR TO HELP EDUCATION AND
HEALTH CARE?
TO HOLD THE PRESIDENT
ACCOUNTABLE OR TO MAKE IT
HARDTORY CREATE JOBS AND TO
LOWER THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, TO
HOLD OUR PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE
OR TO USE THE FORCED CAPS TO
UNDERMINE THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT?
IN SAYING THERE WILL BE NO CUTS
TO MEDICARE IS A SHAM BECAUSE
IT WILL REDUCE BENEFICIARIES
ACCESS TO CARE.
REDUCE THE DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING SINCE THE EISENHOWER
YEARS, WE MUST LOSE OUR
LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD.
YES, WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR
DEFICIT.
I DIDN'T LIKE THE SUGGESTION OF
ALL OF THE BUSH TAX CUTS EXPIRE
WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT.
BUT AS WE END THEM NOW WE COULD
SAVE $.5 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT
10 YEARS, -- $2.5 TRILLION OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
NOT A BAD PLACE TO START.
FOR
WHAT REASON DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DEBT
CEILING DEBATE, HOUSE
REPUBLICANS MADE IT CLEAR THAT
IF THE PRESIDENT AND
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS WANT US
TO PAY THEIR BILLS THEY WERE
GOING TO HAVE TO COMMIT TO
CUTTING UP THE CREDIT CARDS.
THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT IN
JUST SEVEN MONTHS HOUSE
REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY
CHANGED A BROKEN POLITICAL
SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON TO MOVE
AWAY FROM, QUOTE, HOW MUCH WE
CAN SPEND, END QUOTE, TO
FOCUSING ON HOW WE CAN STOP
SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
REPUBLICANS HAVE SAVED OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN FROM
NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY.
VOTING TO ACTUALLY SHRINK THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS
DONE NOTHING BUT EXPAND FOR 40
YEARS.
THE CUTS MAY BE SMALL RELATIVE
TO THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM BUT
THE CHANGE IN THAT DIRECTION IS
HISTORIC.
HISTORY OF MODERN FEDERAL
BUDGETING, HOUSE REPUBLICANS
WILL CUT DISCRETIONARY FEDERAL
SPENDING FOR TWO STRAIGHT
YEARS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTED A,
QUOTE, BALANCED APPROACH, END
QUOTE, TO SOLVE OUR DEBT
CRISIS.
THAT MEANS HISTORIC TAX
INCREASING ON JOB CREATORS.
WE DON'T NEED A BALANCED
APPROACH, MR. SPEAKER.
WE NEED A BALANCED BUDGET.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARE RANA ISLANDS RISE?
-- MARIANA ISLANDS RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MANY
INDIVIDUALS WHO FOUNDED,
DEVELOPED, AND -- IN THE
AMERICAN ISLANDS WHERE THE
AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE WAS
LIBERATED IN THE ISLAND IN 1944.
THE WORLD WAR II GOVERNMENT
ESTABLISHED A TWO-TIERED
GOVERNMENT OF COURTS.
THE PACIFIC ISLANDS JUDICIARY
WAS LAST A THREE-TIERED COURT
WHEN THE COMMONWEALTH WAS FORMED
IN 1978, A COMMONWEALTH TRIAL
COURT LATER RENAMED THE
COMMONWEALTH SUPERIOR COURT WAS
ESTABLISHED.
DURING THIS TRIAL COURT'S
INFANCY, THE FEDERAL DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE NORTHERN MARIANA
ISLANDS RETAINED REGIONAL JURIES
DECKS OVER LOCAL MATTERS N 1989
THE COMMONWEALTH SUPERIOR COURT
WAS CREATED.
FINALLY, IN 2004, THE NINTH
CIRCUIT WAS ENDED AND THOSE
DECISIONS ARE -- THE HISTORY OF
OUR COURT SYSTEM IS COLORFUL AND
UNIQUE AS OUR ISLANDS AND
PEOPLE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN PAYING TRIBUTE
TO THE MANY JUSTICES WHO HAVE
SERVED OUR ISLANDS WITH
DISTINCTION.
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM WYOMING RISE?
I RISE TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
THE
MINUTE.
I RISE TODAY TO
HONOR THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ONE
OF THE FINEST PHYSICIANS AND YES
I HAVE EVER MET, DR. ROBERT
MCGUIRE, OF CHEYENNE WYOMING.
DR. MCGUIRE'S CAREER BROUGHT TO
HIS ATTENTION AND TO HIS CARE
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN IN MY STATE.
AND HE MADE THEIR LIVES BETTER,
INCLUDING MY OWN.
THROUGH HIS SKILL, THROUGH HIS
PATIENCE, AND ATTENTION TO THE
PEOPLE HE WAS TREATING, HE MADE
THE PROFESSION OF MEDICINE
HONORABLE AND CHERISHED BY THE
PEOPLE THAT HE SERVED SO WELL.
HIS CAREER HAS ENDED SO HE MAY
FIGHT HIS OWN BATTLES WITH
I WISH HIM THE VERY BEST REGARDS
IN HIS FIGHT WITH CANCER.
I THANK HIM FOR THE DIFFERENCE
HE MADE IN MY LIFE AND THOUSANDS
OF WOMEN IN MY STATE OF WYOMING.
I WISH HIM GODSPEED, TAKE CARE,
DR. ROBERT MCGUIRE.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS SEEK RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
OUR ECONOMY HAS SEEN INCREDIBLY
WEAK ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER THE
LAST TWO QUARTERS.
JUST TODAY WE FOUND
OUT THAT MANUFACTURING IS AT ITS
LOWEST LEVEL IN THE PAST TWO
YEARS.
MY DISTRICT, THE 10TH DISTRICT
OF ILLINOIS, IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
IN OUR NATION.
AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT
FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING.
I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WASHINGTON
IS FINALLY COMING TOGETHER AND
FINDING COMMON GROUND ON THIS
DEBT CEILING DEBATE.
WE MUST, I EMPHASIZE, WE MUST
MOVE FORWARD.
HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS HAVE HAD
ENOUGH AND I GET IT.
WE MUST HAVE SPENDING DISCIPLINE
HERE IN WASHINGTON.
NO MORE BUDGET TRICKS, NO MORE
ACCOUNTING GIMMICKS, NO MORE
EMPTY PROMISES.
AMERICAN FAMILIES HAVE HAD TO
TIGHTEN THEIR BELT AND THEY
SHOULD EXPECT THAT WASHINGTON DO
THE SAME.
NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD
AND FOCUS ON JOBS.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PAYING
DOWN THE DEBT AND INCREASING
REVENUE, WE MUST EMPOWER JOB
CREATORS.
SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR NATION
ARE OVERBURDENED BY ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY, GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS, AND RED TAPE.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT COMMONSENSE
SOLUTIONS AND CREATE JOBS AND
GET OUR ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THE DUTY WE
PERFORM TODAY TO CUT AND CAP
AMERICA'S SPENDING TO PUT US ON
TRACK TO A BALANCED BUDGET,
PASSING A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT, BUT PAIL
IN COMPARISON TO THE SACRIFICES
AND DUTIES OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
IT'S WITH PROFOUND SADNESS TODAY
THAT I JOIN WITH THE FAMILY AND
THE FRIENDS AND THE NEIGHBORS OF
UNITED STATES FIRST ARMY --
UNITED STATES ARMY FIRST
LIEUTENANT CASTILLO IN MOURNING
HIS LOSS ON JUNE 25, 2011.
HE WAS KILLED IN FIGHTING IN
AFGHANISTAN IN SUPPORT OF
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
IN 2004 IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO
NOMINATE HIM FOR AN APPOINTMENT
AS A CADET TO THE UNITED STATES
MILITARY ACADEMY IN WEST POINT.
UPON HIS GRADUATION HE WAS
COMMISSIONED IN THE INFANTRY
WHERE HE SOUGHT OUT THE ARMY'S
TOUGHEST CHALLENGES IMMEDIATELY.
HE GRADUATED FROM THE DEMANDING
AIRBORNE RANGER COURSES AND PAST
THE TEST TO GET THE INFANTRYMAN
WHILE CONDUCTING COMBAT
OPERATIONS, HE WAS TRAGICALLY
KILLED WHEN HIS UNIT CAME UNDER
FIRE BY ENEMY FORCES.
FOR HIS HEROIC ACTION THAT IS
DAY, DIMITRI WAS AWARDED
POSTHUMOUSLY THE BRONZE STAR
MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART.
THOUGH WE FOURTH DOWN HIS LOSS,
WE IMMENSELY PROUD OF HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT FOR
US EVERY DAY TO TAKE IT POSSIBLE
TO SAVOR THE FREEDOM LEFT TO US
BY OUR FOUNDERS.
MAY GOD HELP HIS FAMILY.
AND MAY THEY FIND COMFORT IN THE
NOBILITY AND VALOR OF HIS DEEDS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
THE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
WE ARE IN A HISTORIC HEAT WAVE
IN THIS COUNTRY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DEBATE ON
THE DEBT LIMIT, I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE.
WHAT'S NOTED IS THAT MANY
LEADERS THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY
WHETHER LOCAL MAYORS OR
GOVERNORS ARE SAYING, IF YOU'RE
POOR, GET TO A COOLING SHELTER.
IF YOU'RE -- STAY INSIDE.
STAY IN THE AIR CONDITIONING.
WELL, WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THIS
COUNTRY TO HAVE LOW-COST POWER.
LOW-COST POWER GENERATED BY
COAL.
IN RURAL ILLINOIS THE AVERAGE
SALARIES THE AVERAGE BILL IS
WHICH MEANS THEY PAY ABOUT
$1,500 A YEAR FOR UTILITY COST.
HOWEVER IN FRANCE, THEY PAY 20
CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.
JUST THINK WHAT THE COST WOULD
BE HERE IF WE HAD TO DOUBLE OUR
ELECTRICITY RATES.
TALK ABOUT HOW -- A BURDEN ON
THE POOR AND RURAL AMERICANS ARE
WHEN INSTEAD OF $1,500 A YEAR
THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY $3,000 A
YEAR JUST TO SEEK RELIEF FROM
THESE HOT WINTERS.
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM LOUISIANA SEEK RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
AS WE ARE
DEALING WITH THE DEBATE OVER THE
DEBT LIMIT, ONE THING HAS BECOME
CLEAR AS PEOPLE HAVE FOLLOWED
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS THAT
WASHINGTON HAS A SPENDING
PROBLEM.
REGARDLESS OF THE RESOLUTION OF
TODAY'S ACTION IN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE, I HOPE NOBODY THINKS
THAT THIS IS THE END OF THIS
FRANKLY THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING OF THE DEBATE TO
FINALLY CUT SPENDING IN
WASHINGTON AND PUT REAL CONTROLS
I THINK AS WE LOOK OVER THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO PUSH FOR A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO OUR CONSTITUTION.
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE
KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE
NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE CHANGE
THE CULTURE OF SPENDING IN
WASHINGTON.
CLEARLY TAX CUTS WILL NOT SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM.
THEY WILL ONLY MAKE MATTERS
WORSE, BUT IF THE PROBLEM IS
SPENDING, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO
SEND EVEN MORE MONEY UP TO
WASHINGTON TO LET THEM SPEND
WE GOT TO CONTROL SPENDING.
WE GOT TO START MAKING CUTS
TODAY.
BUT WE ULTIMATELY NEED THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT COMES WITH A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
THE CHAIR WILL POSTPONE FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS TODAY ON MOTIONS TO
SUSPEND THE RULES ON WHICH A
RECORDED VOTE OR THE YEAS AND
NAYS ARE ORDERED.
OR ON WHICH THE VOTE INCURS
OBJECTION UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
20.
RECORDED VOTES ON POSTPONED
QUESTIONS WILL BE TAKEN LATER.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE
RULES AND PASS H.R. 398, A BILL
TO AMEND THE IMMIGRATION
NATIONALY ACT TO TOLL, DURING
ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE ABROAD IN
THE ARMED FORCES, THE PERIODS OF
TIME TO FILE A PETITION AND
APPEAR FOR THE INTERVIEW TO
REMOVE THE CONDITIONAL BASIS FOR
PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
THE
THE BILL.
CLOUP UNION CALENDAR NUMBER 89,
H.R. 398, A BILL TO AMEND THE
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT
TO TOLL, DURING ACTIVE DUTY
SERVICE ABROAD IN THE ARMED
FORCES, THE PERIODS OF TIME TO
FILE A PETITION AND APPEAR FOR
AN INTERVIEW TO REMOVE THE
CONDITIONAL BASIS FOR PERMANENT
RESIDENT STATUS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH,
AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LOFGREN, EACH
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS.
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS
ON H.R. 398 CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
SUPPORT THIS BILL WHICH PROVIDES
RELIEF TO MILITARY SERVICE
MEMBERS SERVING OVERSEAS WHO
MARRY FOREIGN SPOUSES.
OUR NATION'S MILITARY SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RED TAPE
WHILE THEY ARE ABROAD PROTECTING
OUR FREEDOMS.
WHEN A U.S. CITIZEN OR PERMANENT
RESIDENT MARIS A FOREIGN SPOUSE,
THAT SPOUSE BECOMES A
CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT.
AFTER TWO YEARS, THE COUPLE
FILES A PETITION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE
CONDITIONAL STATUS.
IF THE PETITION IS SUCCESSFUL,
THE IMMIGRANT BECOMES A
PERMANENT RESIDENT.
THE PETITION GENERALLY MUST BE
FILED BEFORE THE SECOND
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPOUSES
BECOMING A CONDITIONAL PERMANENT
RESIDENT.
UPON THE FILING OF THE PETITION,
D.H.S. INTERVIEWS THE COUPLE TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS ANY
MARRIAGE FRAUD.
THE INTERVIEW MUST BE CONDUCTED
UNLESS D.H.S. WAIVES THE
DEADLINE FOR THE INTERVIEW OR
RETIREMENT FOR THE INTERVIEW.
THIS TIMETABLE IS REASONABLE IN
NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE U.S.
CITIZEN OR PERMANENT RESIDENT
SPOUSE IS SERVING OVERSEAS AND
FORCES?
IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A
DISRUPTION TO THE MILITARY TO
HAVE A MEMBER OF THE ARMED
FORCES DEPLOYED OVERSEAS TRAVEL
FOR A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH
D.H.S.
OUR MILITARY'S FOCUS SHOULD BE
ON DEFENDING FREEDOM NOT
BUREAUCRACY.
WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT D.H.S. CAN
CHOOSE TO DELAY THIS PROCESS IN
APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS
BILL'S PROVISION SHOULD BE
STANDARD POLICY WHILE THE SPOUSE
IS SERVING ABROAD.
OF COURSE THE PETITION AND
INTERVIEW WOULD STILL TAKE PLACE
WHEN THE SPOUSE IS NO LONGER ON
ACTIVE DUTY.
THIS BILL IS GOOD FOR OUR
MILITARY AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT IT.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
AS THE AUTHOR OF H.R. 398 I
SUPPORT THIS BILL.
IT'S A SMALL MEASURE TO HELP
SUPPORT MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED
FORCES WHO ARE SERVING OVERSEAS.
AND THEIR FAMILIES HERE AT HOME.
OUR TROOPS WHO TAKE UP OUR
COUNTRY'S CALL TO SERVICE AND
VOLUNTEER TO PLACE THEMSELVES IN
HARM'S WAY FACE UNCERTAINTIES
EVERY DAY.
FOR COUNTLESS SOLDIERS, THE
PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY GET FROM
FAMILY BACK HOME HELPS TO KEEP
THEM FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT
JOB AT HAND.
FOR THAT REASON IT IS CRITICAL
THAT WE NOT ADD TO THEIR BURDENS
AND INSTEAD SEIZE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ALLEVIATE EVEN
THE SMALL AMOUNT OF THE ANXIETY
THEY FEEL.
AS THE CHAIRMAN HAS INDICATED,
THERE IS A CONDITIONALITY PLACED
ON RESIDENTS GAINED THROUGH
MARRIAGE.
COUPLES ARE GIVEN A 90-DAY GRACE
PERIOD JUST BEFORE THE SECOND
ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRANT TO FILE
TO REMOVE THE CONDITIONS, AND
THEN THEY GET ONLY 90 DAYS TO
APPEAR IN PERSON FOR AN
INTERVIEW.
NOW, ONLY AFTER THIS IS DONE ARE
THE CONDITIONS REMOVED.
AND IF THE CONDITIONS --
CONDITIONAL STATUS IS NOT
REMOVED IN THIS WAY, THE REST
DENSE IS TERMINATED AND THE
FOREIGN NATIONAL SPOUSE COULD BE
THAT MEANS THAT EITHER SPOUSE
AND ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS COULD BE
DEPORTED OR THE SOLDIER HIMSELF
COULD BE DEPORTED.
IT'S PRETTY HARD-TO-A PIER FOR
THE INTERVIEW -- HARD TO APPEAR
FOR AN INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE
SERVING IN IRAQ AND WE CERTAINLY
DON'T WANT OUR SOLDIERS OR
SPOUSES TO BE DEPORTED.
I SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
IN 2008 AS CHAIRWOMAN OF THE
HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE I
CONVENED A HEARING ON THE
IMMIGRATION NEEDS OF AMERICA'S
FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN.
AT THE HEARING WE HEARD FROM
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
ABOUT COUNTLESS CHALLENGES THAT
THEY FACE BECAUSE OF OUR RIDGED
SYSTEM.
. I
COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES, LAMAR
SMITH, ELTON GALLEGLY, AND JOHN
CONYERS FOR JOINING THE --
JOINING ME IN THIS BILL.
THIS BILL MAY BE SMALL BUT IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FEW DOZEN
YEAR.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE BILL.
UNLESS THE CHAIRMAN HAS
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS, I'M
PREPARED TO YIELD BACK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AS WELL.
THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS ON THAT BILL.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS
VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL
RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL
COUNTED.
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS H.R. 1933 AS AMENDED, A
BILL TO AMEND THE IMMIGRATION
NATIONALITY ACT TO MODIFY THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION OF
NONIMMIGRANT NURSES IN HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS.
THE
THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 99, A BILL TO AMEND THE
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT
TO MODIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR
ADMISSION OF NONIMMIGRANT
NURSES IN HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
SHORTAGE AREAS.
PURSUANT TO THE EWELL, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
SMITH, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LOFGREN, EACH
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE
FIVE LEDGE SLAVE IT --
LEGISLATIVE TAIS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS ON
H.R. 1233 AS AMENDED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I OFFER THIS
LEGISLATION ON MAFF OF MYSELF
AND REPRESENTATIVES WAY CAR,
HINOJOSA, ROSKAM, AND RUSH.
A NUMB OF AMERICAN HOSPITALS
HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY
ATTRACTING NURSES.
THESE INCLUDE HOSPITALS THAT
SERVE MOSTLY POOR PATIENTS IN
INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND
SOME HOSPITALS IN RURAL AREAS.
HOSPITAL IN CHICAGO IS THE ONLY
REMAINING HOSPITAL IN THE AREA
OF OVER 100,000 PEOPLE AND
ALMOST ALL OF ITS PATIENTS LIVE
IN POVERTY.
ST. BERNARD ALMOST CLOSED ITS
DOORS IN 1992, PRIMARILY PAUSE
OF ITS INABILITY TO ATTRACT
REGISTERED NURSES.
CONGRESS PASSED THE NURSING
RELIEF FOR DISADVANTAGED AREAS
ACT TO HELP HOSPITALS LIKE ST.
BERNARD.
IT CREATED A NEW TEMPORARY
REGISTERED NURSE VISA PROGRAM
WITH 500 VISAS EACH YEAR THAT
ALLOWED NURSES TO STAY FOR TEE
YEARS.
NURSE, AN PLOFERE HAD TO MEET
FOUR CONDITIONS.
IT HAD TO BE LOCATED IN A
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
AUTHORITYAGE AREA, HAVE AT
LEAST 190 ACUTE CARE BEDS AND A
CERTAIN EMPLOYER OF THE
PATIENTS HAD TO BE MEDICARE
PATIENTS AND FOURTH A CERTAIN
PERCENTAGE HAD TO BE MEDICAID
PATIENTS.
THE H1C PROGRAM ADOPTED THE
MEASURES CONTAINED IN THE
MEASURE.
THE HOSPITAL HAS TO AFREE TO
TAKE TIMELY AND SIGNIFICANT
STEPS TO RECRUIT AMERICAN
NURSES AND THEY HAD TO PAY THE
PREVAILING WAGE.
THE H1C PROGRAM CONTAINED
REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS THAT
FOREIGN NURSES COULDN'T
COMPRISE MORE THAN 1/3 OF THE
HOSPITAL'S REGISTERED NURSES.
IT WAS EXTENDED IN 2006 BUT
EXPIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2009
THOUGH MANY NURSES REMAIN ON
THREE-YEAR VISAS ISSUED BEFORE
THAT DATE.
SISTER ELIZABETH VAN STRATEN,
OF ST. BERNARD HOSPITAL, SPOKE
TO ME AND SAID BECAUSE OF THE
SUNSET NURSES ARE FORCED TO
LEAVE OUR INSTITUTION AND THE
RATE OF LOSS CONTINUES TO
INCREASE THIS LOSS CANNOT BE
SUSTAINED.
AS THE ONLY HOSPITAL SERVING
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT
SECTIONS OF CHICAGO AND PERHAPS
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, WE NEED TO
EXTENSION OF THE VIDEO IS A
PROGRAM TO SURVIVE, END QUOTE.
I INTRODUCED H.R. 1933 TO HELP
ST. BERNARD AND OTHER SIMILAR
HOSPITALS.
THE BILL RE-AUTHORIZED THE
PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER THREE
YEARS.
THE NUMB OF VIDEO IS AS THAT
MAY BE ISSUED CANNOT EXCEED
300.
AN ALIEN MAY BE ADMITTED FOR
THREE YEARS AND THEIR STAY MAY
EXTENDED ONCE FOR AN
ADECISIONAL THREE YEARS.
IT ENSURES CONTINUED CARE FOR
PATIENTS IN INNER CITY AND
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION AN I'LL
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
I WON'T REPEAT WHAT MR. SMITH
SAID, I WILL SIMPLY SAY IT WAS
CREATED IN 1999 TO ADDRESS
SHORTAGES IN RURAL AND INNER
CITY HOSPITALS.
THE 500 VISAS FOR YEAR ONLY GO
TO 14 HOSPITALS IN THE UNITED
AMERICA.
OF COURSE THE PROGRAM HAS NOW
EXPIRED.
AS CHAIRMAN SMITH HAS
INDICATED, THIS BILL WOULD
RE-AUTHORIZE BUT RECUSE THE
NUMBER FROM 500 TO 300, CREATE
CERTAIN OTHER PROTECTIONS AS
MENTIONED BY THE CHAIRMAN, AND
ALLOW THE MAXIMUM STAY TO GO TO
SIX YEARS.
BECAUSE THE BILL WOULD DOUBLE
THE DURATION OF H1C STATUS I
OFFERED AN AMENDMENT IN
COMMITTEE, ACCEPTED BY ALL TO
MAKE THE VISAS PORTABLE AMONG
THE 14 HOSPITALS AUTHORIZED TO
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ENTIRELY
DEPENDENT ON THEIR EMPLOYERS TO
PROVIDE THEIR IMMIGRATION
STATUS.
THIS WOULD LEVEL THE PLAYING
FIELD AND ALLOW A NURSE TO
SWITCH EMPLOYERS IF THERE WAS A
PROBLEM.
I THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR
INTRODUCING THIS BILL AND
WORKING WITH ME TO ENSURE THAT
THE NURSES ARE BETTER PROTECTED
AGAINST EXPLOITIVE SITUATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE BILL.
UNLESS THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
YIELD BACK.
THEN I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED.
I HAVE NO OTHER
REQUESTS BY ANYONE WHO WISHES
TO SPEAK ON THE BILL, SO I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME AS WELL.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
1933 AS AMEPPEDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
I REQUEST THE YEAS
AND NAYS ON THAT BILL.
THE
YEAS AND YEAS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS
VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL
RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL
COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS H.R. 2480RK THE
ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF
2011 AS AMENDED.
THE
THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 100, H.R. 2480, A BILL
TO AMEND TITLE 5 UNITED STATES
CODE TO AUTHORIZE
APPROPRIATIONERS IN
ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED STATES FOR FISCAL
YEARS 2012, 2013, AND 2014 AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
SMITH, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TENNESSEE, MR. COHEN EACH WILL
CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE
FIVE LENNELL SLATIVE DAYS TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS
MATERIALS ON H.R. 2480 AS
AMENDED, CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I OFFER THIS BILL ON
BEHALF OF MYSELF, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NORTH CAROLINA, AND ON
BEHALF OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TENNESSEE, MR. COHEN.
LATELY THE NEED TO REFORM
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW HAS BECOME
URGENT.
EVERY DAY THE PROMISED ECONOMIC
RECOVERY SEEMS LIKE AMY RAJ.
OUR TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO
CREATE JOBS.
PROTECTING JOB CREATORS FROM
REGULATION BURDENS WILL HELP
CREATE JOBS RESM DEUCING THIS
BURDEN WILL HASTEN OUR ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE
OF THE UNITED STATES IS A SMALL
BUT IMPORTANT INSTITUTION.
IT IS A NARROWLY FOCUSED,
NONPARTISAN BODY THAT OFFERS AN
OUTSTANDING FORM TO -- FORUM TO
REFORM LAW.
THIS IS THE HEART OF THE
CONFERENCE'S HISTORICAL
MISSION.
THEY'VE SAVED TAXPAYERS TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLAR.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION SAVED $85
MILLION TO -- BY ADOPTING A
RULE TO SKIP AN UNNECESSARY
STEP.
THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION SAVED MORE THAN $9
MILLION IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS
OF A PITE PILOT RAM
IMPLEMENTING A RECK MEPPEDATION
TO MAKE BETTER USE OF
RESOLUTION.
THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPAND
USE OF VIDEO HEARINGS.
-- THEY HAVE SAVED $59 MILLION
BY DOING MORE HEARINGS BY VIDEO
CONFERENCE THIS RECOMMENDATION
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE
MILLIONS MORE ACROSS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING THEY
ARE CONFERENCE WENT DORMANT IN
1996.
IT WAS REVIVED IN THE 111TH
CONGRESS AND I'M GLAD THAT ONCE
AGAIN IT IS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE
TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW REFORM.
THE CONFERENCE IS UNIQUELY
POSITIONED TO GENERATE MUCH
SAVINGS FOR VERY LITTLE COST.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
CONFERENCE SAVE TAXPAYER TCHAR
PIS HELPING AGENCIES WORK MORE
EFFECTIVELY.
THE CONFERENCE ALSO HELPS
AGENCIES ADOPT BETTER AND LESS
BURDENSOME REGULATIONS TO
REDUCE THAT $1.7 TRILLION
REGULATORY BURDEN ON THE
ECONOMY.
ADDITIONALLY THE SUBCOMMITTEE
ON COMMERCIAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE LOSS 2006
INTERIM REPORT CONTAINS
NUMEROUS SUGGESTED REFORMS THAT
A.C.S. COULD EXSM.
DURING THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC
TIMES, EVERY HAS TO TIGHTEN
THEIR BELTS, INCLUDING FEDERAL
AGENCIES.
IF AMERICAN FAMILIES HAD TO
MAKE TOUGH ECONOMIC CHOICES, SO
SHOULD CONGRESS.
THE AM AUTHORIZED BY THIS BILL,
$2.9 BHL ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT
THREE FISCAL YEARS WAS A
BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE.
IT REDUCES THE CONFERENCE
AUTHORIZATION LEVEL BY ALMOST
10% WHILE ENABLING THE
CONFERENCE TO PERFORM ITS MOST
HAVE IT CALL WORK.
THE CONFERENCE HAS -- THE
CONFERENCE'S PAST SUCCESSES
RAISED THE PROSPECT FOR A HIGH
RETURN ON THE TAXPAYERS'
INVESTMENT.
IT IS A REASONABLE
AUTHORIZATION LEVEL IN LIGHT OF
THE CURRENT NEED TO REDUCE
FEDERAL SPENDING AND I
RECOMMEND IT TO MY COLLEAGUES
TIME.
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKING WITH MR. SMITH WHO
YIELDS THE TIME, NEVER AS MUCH
AS I MAY CONSUME, BUT QUEELED
THE TIME WHICH I APPRECIATE.
WE WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY
ON THIS, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
EACH YEAR AGENCIES ISSUE
REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE FOOD
REEAT, THE AIR WE BREATHE, THE
CARS WE DRIVE ARE SAFE.
THOUGH REGULATIONS PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN VIRTUALLY
EVERY ASPECT OF THE -- OF OUR
DAILY LIVES THERE'S ONLY ONE
NONPARTISAN FEDERAL ENTITY THAT
CONGRESS CAN RELY ON TO ENSURE
THAT THEY WORK AS INTENED.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE
OF THE UNITED STATES, KNOWN AS
ACUS, THAT'S THE CRITICAL
ENTITY WE HAVE.
FIRST ESTABLISHED BY PRESIDENT
JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY, IT'S A
NONPARTISAN, PUBLIC-PRIVATE
RESOURCE THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE
TO CONGRESS ABOUT HOW TO
IMPROVE PROCESSES.
THEY ARE CHARGED WITH MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
THEIR PROCEDURES, PARTICULARLY
WITH RESPECT TO EFFICIENCY AND
FAIRNESS.
THEY'VE HELPED AGENCIES
IMPLEMENT MANY COST-SAVING
PROCEDURES.
JUST WITHIN AGENCY ALONE, THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
ESTIMATES THAT THE CONFERENCE'S
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE THAT
AGENCY'S APPEAL POSSESS YIELDED
$85 MILLION IN SAVINGS.
ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION, NAMELY
THAT THEY USE ALTERNATIVE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS
RESULTED IN MORE THAN $100
MILLION IN SAVINGS
GOVERNMENT-WIDE.
SEVERAL OTHER ACUS
RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE INCREASED
THE EFFICIENCY BY ELIMINATING
DUPLICATIVE HEARINGS, THEREBY
ALSO RESULTING IN COST SAVINGS
IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WHAT IS TRULY IS A -- TRULY A
RARE AND HISTORIC EXAMPLE OF
AGREEMENT, SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES STEVE BREYER AND
ANTONIN SCALIA HAVE TESTIFIED
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND I'VE
ENJOYED BOTH OF THEIR COMMENTS
AND FRIENDSHIP.
JUSTICE BRIAR -- THE JUSTICES
AGREED THAT ACUS IS AN ENORMOUS
BARGAIN.
THEY CAN HELP AGENCIES EVEN
MORE BECOME EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
PRESENT BUNNELL TEAR
CONSTRAINTS.
AS REPORTED BY THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, THE RE-AUTHORIZATION
ACT OF 2011 AUTHORIZED $2.9
MILLION TO BE APPOINTED TO THE
CONFERENCE.
WITH THIS MODEST
RE-AUTHORIZATION, WE ENSURE THE
CONFERENCE WILL CONTINUE TO
RETURN TO THE TAXPAYERS MANY
MULTIPLES OF THAT INVESTMENT.
H.R. 2480 REFLECTS A LONG
HISTORY OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
FOR ACUS.
ONCE AGAIN, I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE,
LLAMA SMITH A GENTLEMAN AND
SCHOLAR, AND HOWARD COBLE A
GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR AS
WELL, FOR WORKING WITH ME ON
THIS LEGISLATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO
SECURE FINAL PASSAGE OF H.R.
2480.
ACCORDINGLY, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
SOAP THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
I HAVE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS FOR TIME.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS YIELDS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE IS
I YIELD BACK AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2480 AS AMENDED.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION
UPON THE TABLE.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS ON THIS BILL.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
THE BILL H.R. 2715.
THE
THE BILL.
H.R. 2715, A BILL TO
PROVIDE THE CONSUMER PRODUCT
SAFETY COMMISSION WITH GREATER
AUTHORITY AND DISCRETION AND
ENFORCING THE CONSUMER PRODUCT
SAFETY LAWS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
MRS. BONO MACK, AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,
MR. BUTTERFIELD, EACH WILL
CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND TO INSERT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE BILL.
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
2715, A BILL THAT MODIFIES THE
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008, ALSO
AND PROVIDES RELIEF TO ADDRESS A
NUMBER OF UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT AROSE AFTER IT
THIS BILL IS A WIN-WIN.
IT'S GOOD FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS
AND AMERICAN BUSINESSES AS WELL.
IT IS ALSO A BIPARTISAN BILL AND
I WANT TO THANK ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
UPTON AS WELL AS RANKING MEMBER
WAXMAN AND MY COUNTERPART, MR.
BUTTERFIELD, FOR ALL OF THEIR
HARD WORK IN GETTING THIS
IMPORTANT BILL TO THE FLOOR
TODAY.
WE PASSED IT ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY
IN 2008 AND MANY OF ITS FEATURES
HAD ADVANCED THE CAUSE OF
CHILDREN SAFETY.
BUT THERE ALSO HAVE BEEN
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR MANY
BUSINESSES, SMALL AND LARGE
FOR THREE YEARS NOW WE HAVE
HEARD THE PLEAS OF THESE
BUSINESSES ASKING FOR RELIEF
FROM THE MANDATES.
WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM THE CPSC
IT LACKS THE AUTHORITY AND
WHERE NEEDED.
ON AUGUST 14, THE LAST DEADLINE
LOOMS, THE FINAL DROP DOWN TO
0.01% LEAD CONTENT LIMIT.
WITHOUT SWIFT ACTION WE FACE
EMPTY STORE SHELVES THAT HAVE
BEEN CLEARED OF PERFECTLY SAFE
PRODUCTS BECAUSE OF WHAT I
BELIEVE WAS SIMPLY A DRAFTING
OVERSIGHT.
THE BILL MAKES THE AUGUST 14
LIMIT PROSPECTIVE IN NATURE
PERMITTING RETAILERS TO SELL
THEIR EXISTING INVENTORY SO LONG
AS IT WAS MADE PRIOR TO AUGUST
14 AND IS COMPLIANT WITH THE
CURRENT LEAD LIMIT OF .03% WHICH
WAS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY
CONGRESS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IN A TRUE SPIRIT OF
BIPARTISANSHIP, RANKING MEMBERS
WAXMAN AND BUTTERFIELD, AGREED
TO ACT SWIFTLY TO ADDRESS THIS
SITUATION.
WHILE WE DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE
ON THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS ALL
OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES,
WE MOVED THE BILL IN RESPONSE TO
THE ENORMOUS THREAT FACING
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CHILDREN'S
THAN TWO WEEKS.
IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE
IMMEDIATE DEADLINES, THIS BILL
GOES A LITTLE FARTHER TO ADDRESS
THE PAIN SO MANY OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE FACING.
A.T.F., BLIKES, BOOKS, THINGS
NEVER INTENDED TO BE COVERED BY
THE LAW BUT WERE ENSNARED BY THE
WIDE REACH WILL NO LONGER FACE
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE AND EXEMPTED
FROM TESTING REQUIREMENTS.
THESE PRODUCTS WERE ALSO BANNED
FOR SALE AS A RESULT OF THE 2008
LAW.
THRIFT STORES AND RETAIL OUTLETS
SUCH AS GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES AND
EVEN THE LOCAL CHURCH BAZAAR'S
WERE FORCED TO TOSS ANYTHING
MADE FOR A CHILD UNDER THE AGE
OF 12 BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO TELL WHETHER AN ITEM WAS MADE
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW
WITHOUT ORIGINAL PACKAGING OR
DATED SALES RECEIPT.
AS A RESULT THE LAW ESSENTIALLY
MADE ALL USED CHILDREN'S
PRODUCTS CONTRABAND.
THIS WASTEFUL RESULT REMOVED
PERFECTLY SAFE PRODUCTS FROM THE
REACH OF INDIVIDUALS TO RELY ON
THE VALUE AND SAVINGS SUCH
STORES PROVIDE IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE DECENT CLOTHING FOR
THEIR CHILDREN.
MANUFACTURERS OF OTHER PRODUCTS
WILL ALSO SEE RELIEF FROM THE
MOST COSTLY MANDATE.
THIRD PARTY TESTING AND
CONTINUING COMPLIANCE TESTING.
THIS BILL DIRECTS CPSC TO SEEK
COMMENTS WITHIN 60 DAYS ON HOW
THE CURRENT THIRD PARTY TESTING
REGIME CAN BE ALTERED TO REDUCE
COSTS.
SMALL BATCH MANUFACTURERS AMONG
THE HARDEST HIT WILL ALSO FIND
THESE MANUFACTURERS ARE
GENERALLY STAY AT HOME MOMS WITH
A ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OR MOM
AND POP RETAIL OUTLETS THAT
HANDPICK UNIQUE TOYS AND OTHER
ICE THAMES FOR SALE.
THEY GOT INTO BUSINESS BECAUSE
THEY WANTED TO ENSURE THEIR OWN
CHILDREN HAD SAFE TOYS.
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY THE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE EITHER CLOSED
SHOP OR ARE ON THE VERGE OF
CLOSING SHOP BECAUSE THE ONEROUS
REQUIREMENTS AND THE COSTS
THE BILL DIRECTS THE CONSUMER
PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE SPECIAL SITUATION OF
THESE BUSINESSES BY FINDING
ALTERNATIVE, MORE AFFORDABLE
TESTING METHODS OR BY EXEMPTING
THESE BUSINESSES FROM TESTING
ALTOGETHER IF NO OTHER
ALTERNATIVE EXISTS.
IT CREATES A FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE
EXCEPTION PROCESS WE HOPE WILL
GIVE THE CPSC MORE POSSIBILITY
TO EXEMPT PRODUCTS WHERE THERE
IS NO HEALTH RISK.
THE EXEMPTION PROCESS CREATED IN
THE ORIGINAL HAS FAILED TO ADMIT
ANY EXCEPTION FOR ANY PRODUCT
FROM THE STATUTORY LEAD LIMITS
EVEN IN CASES WHERE THE CPSC
DETERMINED SUCH PRODUCTS POSED
NO RISK TO CHILDREN.
WE HAVE A NARROW WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE
MANDATES THAT THREATEN THE
SURVIVAL OF SCORES OF BUSINESSES
AND THE LIVELIHOODS OF
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHOSE
BUSINESSES SUPPORT AND I'D LIKE
TO THANK THE RANKING MEMBER OF
THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MR.
BUTTERFIELD, AS WELL AS RANKING
MEMBER OF THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE, MR. WAXMAN,
AS WELL AS THEIR STAFF FOR
WORKING THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND
TO FIND A COMPROMISE WE BOTH CAN
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
SPEAKER.
I I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THIS VERY IMPORTANT BILL.
ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO PRESIDENT
BUSH SIGNED H.R. 40E40, THE
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT ACT INTO LAW.
WHILE THAT BILL PASSED THIS
HOUSE BY A VOTE OF 424-1, IT
SOON BECAME EVIDENT TO ALL OF US
THAT PROVIDING SOME OF THE
EXTRAORDINARY PROTECTIONS FOR
CHILDREN IN THAT BILL WOULD BE A
CHALLENGE FOR SOME BUSINESSES,
ESPECIALLY OUR SMALLEST
MANUFACTURERS.
MANY OF THEM TESTIFIED BEFORE
THEIR CONCERNS.
SO I HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY
WITH CHAIRMAN BONO MACK IN
CRAFTING THIS COMPROMISE TO
PROVIDE TARGETED AND SENSIBLE
RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES FROM SOME
OF THE REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT
SACRIFICING THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
I AM PLEASED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
PRESENT IT TO THE HOUSE TODAY
FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE BILL IS A MARKED CHANGE FROM
WHERE WE STARTED WITH H.R. 1939.
AND I AM PLEASED WITH THE
BIPARTISAN CHANGES REFLECTED IN
TODAY'S BILL.
BUSINESSES ARE PROVIDED WITH
RELIEF THROUGH PROSPECTIVE
APPLICATION OF THE 100 PARTS PER
MILLION LEAD CONTENT LIMITS.
THAT MEANS, MR. SPEAKER,
BUSINESSES WON'T HAVE TO PULL
PRODUCT FROM STORE SHELVES THAT
MEET THE CURRENT LEGAL LIMIT OF
300 PARTS PER MILL ON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE 100 PARTS
PER MILLION LIMIT.
WE ALSO INCLUDE AN EXEMPTION FOR
OFFROAD VEHICLES LIKE A.T.V.'S,
SNOWMOBILES, AND DIRT BIKES FROM
MEETING THE LEAD CONTENT LIMIT.
THE SAFETY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
IS PARAMOUNT WHEN DESIGNING AND
BUILDING OFFROAD VEHICLES.
AND CONSTRUCTING STRONG RIDGED
PARTS FOR THESE VEHICLES OFTEN
REQUIRES MORE LEAD THAN WOULD
OTHERSWISE BE ALLOWED.
FURTHER THE BILL CODIFIES A STAY
OF ENFORCEMENT BY THE CPSC WITH
RESPECT TO THE LEAD CONTENT
LIMIT OF BICYCLES UNTIL DECEMBER
31, 2011, AND RELAXES THE
ULTIMATE LEAD CONTENT OF
MILLION.
THIS BILL, MR. SPEAKER, PROVIDES
SIGNIFICANT RELIEF FOR SMALL
BATCH MANUFACTURERS.
I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
RESPECT FOR AMERICA'S SMALL
BUSINESSES AND BELIEVE WE MUST
DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT THEM
FROM OVERLY BURDENSOME
REGULATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT
AMERICA'S CHILDREN FROM
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PRODUCTS.
THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW IF THOSE
PRODUCTS ARE SAFE IS TO TEST
THEM.
TAKING THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF SMALL BATCH MANUFACTURERS,
THE BILL REQUIRES CPSC, THE
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION, TO CONSIDER
POTENTIAL ECONOMIC AND
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS TO SMALL
BATCH MANUFACTURERS WHEN
DEVELOPING THIRD PARTY TESTING
REQUIREMENTS.
IT FURTHER PERMITS THE CPSC TO
PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TESTING
REQUIREMENTS AFTER NOTICE AND A
HEARING, IF THE COMMISSION
DETERMINES THERE IS NO
ECONOMICALLY PRACTICABLE
ALTERNATIVE, THEY CAN EXEMPT THE
PRODUCT FROM THIRD PARTY TESTING
ALL TOGETHER.
I AM PLEASED THAT THIS BILL
PROVIDES SPECIFIC RELIEF FROM
TESTING FOR ORDINARY BOOKS AND
MAGAZINES.
OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. TOWNS FROM
NEW YORK, HAS BEEN CONCERNED
ABOUT ORDINARY BOOKS BECOMING AN
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT ACT.
MANUFACTURERS OF ORDINARY BOOKS
AND MAGAZINES SHOULD NOT BE
SUBJECT TO THIRD PARTY TESTING.
STILL SUBJECT TO TESTING WILL BE
BOOKS THAT HAVE PLASTIC PARTS
LIKE POP-UP BOOKS.
THOSE WITH NONPAPER BASED
ACCESSORIES, OR ANYTHING ELSE
THAT HAS INHERENT PLAY VALUE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CONSUMER
PRODUCT SAFETY INFORMATION DATA
BASE CREATED BY H.R. 4040, AND
THAT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT
CONTROVERSIAL.
BUT I SUPPORT THE DATA BASE
CREATION.
-- IT WENT LIVE EARLIER THIS
YEAR AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY
SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING TO EDUCATE
THE PUBLIC ABOUT POTENTIALLY
UNSAFE PRODUCTS.
THIS BILL TAKES SOME SENSIBLE
STEPS TO MAKE THE DATA BASE EVEN
MORE EFFECTIVE.
THE BILL REQUIRES THE
COMMISSION, THE CONSUMER PRODUCT
SAFETY COMMISSION, TO SEEK OUT
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PRODUCTS REPORTED BY CONSUMERS
TO THE DATA BASE.
LIKE THE PRODUCT SERIAL NUMBER,
MODEL NUMBER, OR PHOTOGRAPH OF
THE PRODUCT IN QUESTION.
I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION
THAT IS PROVIDED, THE BETTER AND
MORE EFFECTIVE THE DATA BASE
WILL BE FOR CONSUMERS AND
BUSINESSES ALIKE.
MR. SPEAKER, AS I SAID EARLIER I
SUPPORT THIS BILL, I BELIEVE
THAT IT PROVIDES A STRONG
COMPROMISE THAT WILL REDUCE
BURDENS ON BUSINESSES AND
CONTINUE TO PROTECT AMERICAN
CONSUMERS.
AGAIN I WANT TO THANK OUR
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN BONO
MACK, FOR WORKING WITH ME IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION TO FIND
SOLUTIONS, COMMONSENSE,
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE FULL COMMITTEE, THE RANKING
MEMBER OF THE FULL COMMITTEE,
ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAD
A PART IN CRAFTING THIS
COMPROMISE.
WITH THAT SAID, MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA