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INTEREST IN CHANGING THE RULES
FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS WORK
REGULATIONS.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2012]
HE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT
11.
TALENTS.
THE SERVICE TO
DURING THESE TRAVELS, RICKY
NEVER ONCE MET A STRANGER.
WITH HIS EASY SMILE AND OPEN
DEMEANOR, RICKY WOULD MAKE
SOMEONE FEEL HE KNEW THEM FOR A
LIFETIME.
HE NEVER FORGOT THAT HIS HOME
WAS COMANCHE, TEXAS.
IT WAS A COMMUNITY HE WAS
RAISED IN, A COMMUNITY THAT
TAUGHT HIM THE CHARACTER AND
LIFE.
MORAL THAT WOULD GUIDE HIS
PERHAPS THAT IS ALSO WHERE HE
INHERITED HIS STUBBORN STREAK.
HE HAS THE CONFIDENCE AND THE
POSSIBILITIES THAT COULD BE IN
SPITE OF THE LIMITED VISION OF
THOSE AROUND HIM.
YOU COULD SEE THIS IN HIM EVERY
DAY AS HE QUIETLY REFUSED TO
YIELD TO MEDIOCRITY.
IT WAS HIS STUBBORNNESS THAT
SET RICKY ASIDE FROM THE CROWD
AND THAT'S WHERE HE FELT
COMFORTABLE.
SHOWING THE REST OF US THE WAY.
TODAY, RICKY IS STILL JUST A
LITTLE FURTHER UP THE PATH,
SHOWING US THE WAY, AS HE
SHOWED US HOW HE CARRIED
HIMSELF IN THE FACE OF THOSE
DEEP DIFFICULTIES TOWARD THE
END OF HIS LIFE.
WE'LL REMEMBER RICKY AS HE WILL
WANT TO BE REMEMBERED, A
FAITHFUL FRIEND, A TIRELESS
WORKER WHOSE HOPEFUL,
IDEALISTIC AND DECENT WAY OF
LIFE INSPIRED US ALL.
TO THOSE WHO WORKED WITH HIM
AND KNEW HIM, HIS LOSS WILL BE
FELT EVERY TIME WE GATHER
TOGETHER WITHOUT HIM.
HE'LL NEVER BE REPLACED OR
FORGOTTEN AND I ASK YOU FOR
YOUR PRAYERS FOR RICKY AND HIS
FAMILY AND FOR THOSE WHO LOVED
HIM.
I MISS MY FRIEND.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
BLUMENAUER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO STRUGGLES
TO MAKE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
WORK.
FIRST WAS WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE
TO VOTE.
ORIGINALLY ONLY THOSE WHO WERE
WHITE, MALE, PROPERTY OWNERS
OVER 21, PERHAPS A QUARTER OF
THE POPULATION.
MORE THAN 3/4 OF A CENTURY
LATER HAVING FOUGHT A CIVIL
WAR, AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE
GRANTED THE FRANCHISE.
IT WOULD BE ANOTHER 2/3 OF A
CENTURY BEFORE VOTING RIGHTS
WERE EXTENDED TO WOMEN.
FINALLY IN A BATTLE I WAS PROUD
TO BE PART OF AS A COLLEGE
STUDENT CAMPAIGNING AND
TESTIFYING BEFORE CONGRESS, WE
ADOPTED THE 26TH AMENDMENT,
EXTENDING THE VOTING RIGHTS TO
YOUNG PEOPLE AT AGE 18.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A
SECOND BATTLE.
WHO AMONGST THE THEORETICALLY
ELIGIBLE VOTERS ARE ACTUALLY
ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT AND
HAVE IT COUNTED?
IT'S NO SECRET IN THE STATES OF
THE OLD SOUTH WAGED A BRUTAL
EXTRA LEGAL WAR TO PREVENT
NEWLY ENFRANCHISED
AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM
COMPRFERING IT.
THE DISCRIMINATION,
INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE ARE
WELL CHRONICLED AND THAT'S WHY
ALMOST A CENTURY AFTER
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE GIVEN
THE LEGAL RIGHT TO VOTE WE
STILL NEEDED THE VOTING RIGHTS
ACT OF 1965 TO GIVE THEM THE
VOTES SUPPOSEDLY GUARANTEED
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
DESPITE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT
AND TWO CENTURIES OF STRUGGLE
THERE'S STILL A BATTLE TODAY.
PART OF THE REPUBLICAN GAME
PLAN FOR 2012 IS TO MAKE VOTING
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR
SOME OF THE SAME GROUPS WHO
HAVE LONG SUFFERED
DISCRIMINATION WHO ARE NOW
SERIOUSLY DISADVANTAGED BY NEW
VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS THAT
HAVE BEEN PASSED BY REPUBLICANS
IN STATES LIKE OHIO,
PENNSYLVANIA AND FLORIDA.
BECAUSE VOTER FRAUD IS A
FEDERAL OFFENSE WITH SERIOUS
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, EVEN JAIL
TIME, IMPROPERLY CAST BALLOTS
ARE VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT IN
THE UNITED STATES.
THERE ARE FAR MORE VOTES THAT
ARE LOST DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING
MISTAKES AND SLEIGHT OF HAND BY
LOCAL OFFICIALS THAT ARE INEPT
OR CHEATING THAN ALL OF THE
CASES THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED
NATIONWIDE.
IN TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS
ANOTHER EFFORT TO PASS
AGGRESSIVE VOTER I.D.
LEGISLATION, THEY COULD FIND
ONLY FIVE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS
OF VOTER FRAUD IN 13 MILLION
BALLOTS CAST IN THE LAST TWO
ELECTIONS.
IN PENNSYLVANIA, THERE HAVE
BEEN FEWER THAN YOU CAN COUNT
ON YOUR FINGERS AND UP TO A
MILLION PEOPLE MAY BE DENIED
THE RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE OF
THESE LEGAL CHANGES.
MILLIONS OF POOR, ELDERLY,
MINORITY AND STUDENT VOTERS
DON'T HAVE PASSPORTS, DRIVER'S
LICENSE.
SOME DON'T EVEN HAVE BIRTH
CERTIFICATES.
THEY MAY FACE THE MODERN
VERSION OF A POLL TAX AND
THAT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.
THE MEDIAN COURTS ARE PUSHING
BACK ON SOME OF THE MORE
OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR LIKE OHIO
SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WAS
CALLED OUT AND FORCED TO BACK
DOWN AFTER HE TRIED TO LIMIT
EARLY VOTING IN COUNTIES WITH
DEMOCRATS IN THE MAJORITY WHILE
EXPANDING THEM IN REPUBLICAN
COUNTIES.
BUT COME ELECTION DAY, THE
PROBLEMS WILL STILL PERSIST,
BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION.
PRY PARTISAN FINGERS OFF THE
CONTROLS OF A VARIED ELECTION
PROCESS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE TREATING THE
PRECIOUS RIGHT TO VOTE AS A
GAME WHERE PARTISAN ADVANTAGE
COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR
CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE -- OREGON HAS BEEN INVOLVED
FOR 25 YEARS WITH WHAT IS NO
LONGER AN EXPERIMENT BUT A
DISPLAY OF A BETTER WAY, VOTE
BY MAIL.
EACH REGISTERED VOTER IN THE
STATE IS MAILED A BALLOT TO
THEIR RESIDENCE 19 DAYS BEFORE
THE ELECTION.
THEY ARE GIVEN OVER 400 HOURS
TO EXAMINE THE BALLOT, THEY
MAKE THEIR DECISIONS ON THE
ISSUES OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND
THEY MAIL IT BACK.
OREGONIANS DON'T WORRY ABOUT
PEOPLE GAMING VOTING MACHINES,
CLOSING PRECINCTS EARLY, HAVING
LONG LINES FOR WORKING PEOPLE
AT THE END OF THE DAY OR
MYSTERIOUSLY RUNNING OUT OF
BALLOTS AT PRECINCTS THAT ARE
LIKELY TO VOTE AGAINST YOU.
IN OREGON, THERE'S NO PROBLEM
WITH ILLEGAL VOTING.
EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE
BALLOT AND RESULTS ARE
PROCESSED IN A TIMELY FASHION.
IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT AFTER MORE
THAN TWO CENTURIES OF STRUGGLE
FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE WE'RE
STILL PLAYING GAMES WITH PEOPLE
'S OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THAT
HARD WON PRIVILEGED UPON WHICH
OUR DEMOCRATIC TRADITION RESTS.
I WILL BE CHAMPIONING THE
OREGON SOLUTION OF VOTE BY MAIL
TO MAKE THE PROCESS SIMPLELER,
RELIABLE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
FAIRER WHILE SAVING MONEY IN
THE PROCESS.
I HOPE THESE BLATANT ATTEMPTS
OF DISCRIMINATION BACKFIRE SO
THAT THE NEXT CONGRESS AND THE
ADMINISTRATION IS POSITIONED TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
A COUNTRY THAT PRIDES ITSELF AS
THE OLDEST DEMOCRACY DESERVES
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO
WORK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM SOUTH DAKOTA,
MS. NOEM, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS THE SECOND
TO THE LAST DAY THAT WE WILL BE
HERE AND BE IN SESSION BEFORE
WE HEAD HOME TO OUR DISTRICTS
AND WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A FARM
BILL THAT GIVES CERTAINTY TO
OUR PRODUCERS AND RANCHERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK THE
2008 FARM BILL WILL EXPIRE.
WHILE MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS
WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE FOR
MONTHS AHEAD, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SAVE
MONEY AND GIVE OUR PRODUCERS
CERTAINTY AS THEY BEGIN
PLANNING FOR THE COMING YEARS.
LAST WEEK I SAT DOWN AND I
VISITED WITH MIKE AND LORI.
THEY'RE PRODUCE NEAR THE TOWN
OF HERON, SOUTH DAKOTA.
THEY RAISE SOYBEANS, BEEF
CATTLE AND THIS YEAR WAS
DIFFICULT FOR THEM IN LIGHT OF
THE DROUGHT SITUATION THAT
PRODUCERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA WERE
PRODUCING.
THANKFULLY THEY HAD PROGRAMS
LIKE CROP INSURANCE THAT HELPED
THEM MANAGE THEIR RISK IN SUCH
A DIFFICULT YEAR.
THEY WROTE ME A LETTER ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE FARM BILL AND
I WANT TO READ A PORTION OF
THAT LETTER TO YOU.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING A SEVERE
DROUGHT IN OUR AREA THIS YEAR.
WE PUT UP HALF OF THE HAY THAT
WE NORMALLY DO, DOUBTS ARE
STARTING TO DRY OUT -- DUGOUTS
ARE STARTING TO DRY OUT.
CROP INSURANCE WILL BE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OFFSET
LOSS CROP PRODUCTION AND LOST
REVENUE DUE TO POOR CROP
CONDITIONS.
CROP INSURANCE IS A VITAL PART
OF ALLOWING US TO STAY A VIABLE
FAMILY FARM, DEDICATED TO
GROWING A SAFE, AFFORDABLE FOOD
SUPPLY FOR THE GROWING WORLD.
THEY WENT ON IN THEIR LETTER TO
DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT THIS
MEANS TO THEIR FAMILY AT HOME.
WE HAVE A 6-YEAR-OLD SON AND A
4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
WE TELL THEM DAILY HOW
FARMERS.
IMPORTANT OUR JOBS ARE AS
HOW WE ARE TRULY FEEDING THE
WORLD.
THEY ARE TAKING TRUE PRIDE IN
OWNERSHIP OF THAT AND PASSING A
FARM BILL ONLY HELPS STABILIZE
OURS.
THEIR DREAMS, THEIR FUTURES AND
A FIVE-YEAR FARM BILL GIVES US
THE STABILITY TO PLAN AHEAD FOR
OUR OPERATION LONG TERM.
WITH THE LIMITED TIME CONGRESS
HAS TO PASS THE FARM BILL
BEFORE THE CURRENT ONE EXPIRES,
I WOULD ENCOURAGE LAWMAKERS TO
LOOK TO RURAL AMERICA AND TO
REALIZE HOW MUCH WORK WE CAN
GET DONE IN A WEEK.
WE KNOW IF A FARM BILL IS MADE
A PRIORITY THERE'S STILL ENOUGH
TIME TO GET ONE PASSED.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK
AND WE URGE CONGRESS TO PASS A
FARM BILL NOW.
THIS PAST WEEK I WAS TRAVELING
THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OUR STATE
IN AN AREA THAT'S BEEN HIT
PARTICULARLY HARD BY THE
DROUGHT, STOPPED AT A TRUCK
STOP AND VISITED WITH MANY
PRODUCERS THAT WERE THERE
FILLING WITH FUEL AND GETTING
SUPPLIES TO HEAD BACK OUT TO
THE FIELDS.
YOU SEE RIGHT NOW IN SOUTH
DAKOTA PRODUCERS ARE PLANTING A
WINTER WHEAT CROP AND THEY'RE
HAVING TO MAKE THE DECISION, DO
WE PUT THAT CROP INTO DRY
GROUND OR DO WE WAIT AND SEE IF
WE GET A FARM BILL AND CROP
INSURANCE INTO THE FUTURE SO
THEY HAVE THE CERTAINTY THAT
THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEIR RISK IS MANAGED?
MANY OF THOSE PRODUCERS WERE
ELECTING NOT TO PLANT.
THEY WERE WAITING TO SEE IF
PROGRAM THAT WOULD ACTUALLY
THEY COULD GET A RAIN AND GET A
KEEP THEIR FAMILY IN BUSINESS.
SOME WERE PUTTING IT IN THE
GROUND SHOWING THAT THEY TRULY
ARE BRAVE PRODUCERS WHO HAVE
LITTLE FAITH THAT THE SKIES
WILL BE DIFFERENT.
WILL OPEN UP AND THAT NEXT YEAR
I TELL YOU AND MIKE AND LORI
AND OTHER PRODUCERS ACROSS THE
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE
BEEN PARTICULARLY HIT IN THESE
TOUGH TIMES ARE LOOKING TO US
HERE IN CONGRESS TO PROVIDE
THEM CERTAINTY DURING THIS
DROUGHT.
THE FARM BILL'S ONE OF THE
REASONS THAT OUR FAMILY FARMERS
ARE ABLE TO STAY IN BUSINESS
DURING TOUGH YEARS.
MANY OF THE PROGRAMS IN THE
FARM BILL GIVE THEM THE
STABILITY, THE CERTAINTY WHICH
IN TURN GIVES EVERY AMERICAN
CERTAINTY IN HAVING A RELIABLE,
AFFORDABLE FOOD SUPPLY.
YOU KNOW, I RAN FOR CONGRESS TO
BRING MORE COMMON SENSE TO THIS
PLACE, TO BE EFFICIENT AND
DAKOTA.
EFFECTIVE LEADER FOR SOUTH
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A
FARM BILL DONE THIS YEAR THAT
PROVIDES A SAFETY NET AND REAL
REFORMS FOR OUR PRODUCERS AND
COST SAVINGS FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
WHILE THE CLOCK HASN'T RUN OUT
YET, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE
GET OUR WORK DONE ON TIME AND
I'M DISAPPOINTED IT HASN'T BEEN
SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THE
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
GUTIERREZ, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
TODAY WE WILL VOTE ON A
REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE
GREEN CARDS TO CERTAIN
IMMIGRANTS AND TO CUT THE SAME
NUMBER OF GREEN CARDS AVAILABLE
TO OUR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHO GETS
MORE GREEN CARDS AND WHO GETS
FEWER?
FOR MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
THAT'S EASY.
THEY WILL PROVIDE MORE GREEN
CARDS TO A VERY NARROW NUMBER
OF IMMIGRANTS THEY CAN
TOLERATE.
SMART IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN
EDUCATED IN U.S. COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES.
THEY WILL MAKE OTHER LEGAL
IMMIGRANTS, ONES THEY CAN'T
TOLERATE, PAY FOR THAT
INCREASE.
MEANWHILE, DEMOCRATS HAVE
INTRODUCED BILLS THAT WOULD
PROVIDE GREEN CARDS TO
IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN
EDUCATED IN U.S. COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES.
OUR DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL,
HOWEVER, DOES NOT TAKE GREEN
CARDS AWAY FROM OTHER DESERVING
IMMIGRANTS WHO CAN'T TO COME
LEGALLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THIS
-- WHO COME LEGALLY AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COUNTRY.
OUR BILL RECOGNIZES THE VALUE
OF ALL OF THEM TO OUR ECONOMY
AND INDEED TO OUR FUTURE.
WE SHOULD NOT EDUCATE SOME OF
THE WORLD'S MOST TALENTED
PEOPLE IN THE STEM FIELD,
THAT'S SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS,
AND THEN SEND THEM AWAY TO WORK
IN FOREIGN LANDS TO COMPETE
AGAINST US.
DEMOCRATS STRONGLY SUPPORT
PROVIDING THESE VISAS TO HELP
THE U.S. ECONOMY AND CREATING
JOBS, NOT JUST FOR IMMIGRANTS
BUT FOR THE U.S. WORKERS THEY
WILL EMPLOY AND THE ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY THEY'LL GENERATE.
DEMOCRATS WANT PROGRESS.
GRADUATES.
WE WANT VISAS FOR STEM
WE'LL WORK IN A BIPARTISAN
MANNER WITH REPUBLICANS TO GET
IT DONE.
IT'S SMART POLICY AND IT'S A
JUST POLICY.
AND THERE IS NO REASON -- LET
ME BE CLEAR -- NO ECONOMIC
REASON, NO BUDGET REASON, NO
JOBS REASON TO PUNISH OTHER
IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE WE GIVE UP
STEM VISAS.
ABSOLUTELY NONE.
LET ME TRY TO MAKE IT SIMPLE.
LET'S PRETEND WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE ANY
TIME SOME OF MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS HEAR THE WORD IMMIGRANT
THEY IMMEDIATELY WANT TO PUNISH
SOMEONE.
SO LET'S SAY INSTEAD OF
IMMIGRANTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A FAMILY OF THREE CHILDREN,
THREE HONEST HARDWORKING
CHILDREN.
COLLEGE TO BECOME AN INDUSTRIAL
ONE CHILD WANTS TO GO TO
ENGINEER.
ANOTHER WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE
BECOME A MATH PROFESSOR.
THE THIRD DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO
COLLEGE.
LET'S SAY HE WANTS TO START A
LANDSCAPING BUSINESS, HE WANTS
TO WORK WITH THE LAND AND GETS
HIS HANDS DIRTY.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN IS SIMPLE.
HELP THE KIDS GO INTO COLLEGE
AND CUT THE OTHER KID OFF.
HE'S OUT.
TOUGH LUCK.
NOT SMART ENOUGH FOR THIS
FAMILY.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN IS JUST
SIMPLE.
WE NEED SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS
AND MATHEMATICIANS, BUT WE NEED
OTHER WORKERS TOO, CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS, MACHINISTS, CHEF,
ENTREPRENEURS AND WE NEED
IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD, FROM EVERY CONTINENT,
INCLUDING AFRICA.
EVERYONE WHO WORKS HARD HELPS
OUR ECONOMY, SO LET'S BE
HELPFUL TO EVERYONE.
THAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC BELIEF.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN TODAY.
MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE
SURPRISED.
AFTER ALL THIS PROPOSAL COMES
FROM A PARTY WHOSE PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINEE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT 47%
OF AMERICA.
CALL IT THE MITT ROMNEY
DEADBEAT DOCTRINE, HALF OF
AMERICANS ARE FREELOADERS AND
MAYBE THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THIS REPUBLICAN
PLAN.
I SUPPOSE IN THE REPUBLICAN
WORLD, STEM VISAS ARE FOR THE
THAT WORK AND
THE OTHER VISAS ARE FOR THE
DEADBEATS THAT MITT ROMNEY
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT LIKE THE
FREELOADERS LIKE YOUR PARENTS
ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR YOUR SON
OR DAUGHTER WITH THAT STUDENT
LOAN OR THE PELL GRANT.
OR LIKE MY PARENTS WHO CAME
FROM PUERTO RICO WITH ONLY AN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATION BUT
WORKED HARD EVERY DAY AND PUT
TWO KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE AND
ONE OF THEM IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
YES, THOSE DEADBEATS.
IF MY PARENTS HAD NEEDED VISAS
TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY TODAY
UNDER THIS NEW PLAN THEY WOULD
HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE CHANCE.
WE'RE CHANGING THE RULES ABOUT
WHO CAN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
WHO CANNOT COME TO AMERICA.
SO UNLESS YOU VIEW THE WORLD
THROUGH MITT ROMNEY'S US VERSUS
THEM VISION OF AMERICA, THERE'S
NO REASON TO CUT VISAS TODAY,
NONE.
I WANT TO STAND UP FOR THE ZOE
LOFGREN VISION OF IMMIGRATION,
IMMIGRATION.
THE DEMOCRATIC VISION OF
WE ARE NOT DIVIDED INTO A
COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE WHO GATHER
AT A FANCY COUNTRY CLUB AND
WRITE $50,000 CHECKS TO
POLITICAL CANDIDATES ARE GOOD
WHO STAND AROUND
AND SERVE THEM THE FOOD ARE
BAD.
AMERICA'S NOT HALF DEADBEATS.
CHANCE TO PROVE IT TODAY.
WE'RE ONE AMERICA AND WE HAVE A
DEMOCRATS ARE OFFERING A
SENSIBLE PLAN THAT DOESN'T
DIVIDE US.
IMMIGRANTS.
IT VALUES ALL WORK FROM ALL
IT ACHIEVES OUR COMMON GOAL OF
CREATING A STEM VISA PROGRAM,
KEEPING MORE SCIENTISTS,
ENGINEERS RIGHT HERE IN
AMERICA, MAKING US STRONGER.
IN MITT ROMNEY'S WORLD, IF YOU
HELP ONE PERSON, YOU HAVE TO
PUNISH ANOTHER.
.
I THINK THAT'S WRONG.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PASS A
FAIR AND SENSIBLE PLAN AN LET'S
DO IT WITHOUT PUNISHING A SINGLE
PERSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR.
MURPHY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THIS MORNING I RISE WITH A HEAVY
HEART BUT ON BEHALF OF A
GRATEFUL NATION TO HONOR A
IN
SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHO
GAVE HIS LIFE ON SEPTEMBER 14 IN
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
THIS WEEK HE RETURNED TO HIS
HOME IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE
HE WILL BE LAID TO REST.
LIEUTENANT COLONELRIES TO EVER
VRABEL, COMMANDING OFFICER OF
MARINE ATTACK SQUADRON 211 DIED
IN THE ASSAULT IN THE AMERICAN
RUN BASE CAMP LEATHER NECK IN
HELL MUN PROVINCE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
IT WAS A DESS PICK ABLE ATTACK
THAT NOTE ONLY TOOK THE LIFE OF
THIS DEDICATED, RESPECTED, AND
BRAVE MARINE BUT ALSO RUTTED IN
THE WORSE LOSS OF U.S. MILITARY
AIRCRAFT SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR.
BUT THIS MORNING I RISE TO MY
COLLEAGUES, MY CONSTITUENTS AT
HOME IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY AND
ENTIRE NATION WILL KNOW MORE
ABOUT THIS COURAGEOUS MARINE WHO
COMMANDED THE MARINE HARRIER JET
SQUADRON.
AFTER GRADUATING TOP OF HIS
CLASS FROM NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL
WHERE HE WAS A STARTING
DEFENSIVE BACK FOR THE NORMAN
KNIGHTS, HE EARNED HIS DEGREE IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM
PITTSBURGH'S PRESTIGIOUS
CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY.
FOLLOWING HIS COLLEGE
GRADUATION, HE JOINED THE UNITED
STATES MARINE CORPS AND BY 19
AVIATOR.
THE 8 -- 1998 HAD BECOME A NAVAL
A NATIONAL LEADER HE ROSE TO THE
RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAST
SUMMER, HAVING RECEIVED NUMEROUS
MILITARY HONORS ALONG THE WAY,
INCLUDING A MERITORIOUS SERVICE
MEDAL, AND THE NAVY AND MARINE
A FEW.
CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL TO NAME
IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM AND OPERATION IRAQI
FREEDOM, HE EMPLOYED MANY TIMES
TO SERVE OUR NATION.
COLONEL VRABEL COMMANDED THE
ONLY MARINE HARRIER SQUADRON IN
AFGHANISTAN WHERE HE FLEW OVER
2,000 HOURS IN HARRIER AIRCRAFT.
A SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA IN
THEIR HEART IT SHOULD COME AS NO
SURPRISE THAT OTIS WAS KNOWN
WHILE SEATED IN THE COCKPIT TO
LISTEN TO THE STEELERS WHILE
FLYING IN THE SKIES OVER IRAQ,
MORE THAN ANYTHING LIEUTENANT
COLONEL VRABEL FROM A FATHER,
HUSBAND, AND SON.
A PROUD DAD OF THREE CHILDREN
AGES 11, 9, 2.
OTIS SO LOVED AND WAS LOVED BY
HIS FAMILY.
AS HIS MOTHER SAID, HER SON DIED
DEFENDING ALL THAT HE HELD DEAR.
QUOTE, HE WAS THE BEST OF THE
BEST, SHE SAID.
INDEED, MRS. VRABEL, HE WAS.
TODAY WE AS A NATION SAY THANK
YOU TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL VRABEL
AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND YOUR SACRIFICE
PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM.
YOU HAVE MADE YOUR FAMILY AND
YOUR NATION BETTER.
THROUGH YOUR SACRIFICE YOU HAVE
MADE AMERICA STRONG.
THROUGH YOUR COURAGE YOU HAVE
MADE AMERICA PROUD.
AND MANY TIMES I'M SURE YOU
SOARED ABOVE THE CLOUDS WHERE
YOU COULD TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD,
NOW YOU REST IN HIS LOVING ARMS
FOR ETERNITY.
THANK YOU, KOHL MEMBER.
OUR NATION THANKS YOU AS WELL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZINGS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PUERTO RICO, MR.
PIERLUISI, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
ON NOVEMBER 6, THE U.S.
TERRITORY OF PUERTO RICO WILL
HOLD A PLEBBY SITE ON THE
ISLAND'S POLITICAL FUTURE.
VOTERS WILL BE ASKED IF THEY
WANT TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT
STATUS OR TO SEEK A NEW STATUS.
VOTERS WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO
EXPRESS THEIR PREFERENCE AMONG
THE THREE TO THE CURRENT STATUS,
RECOGNIZEED LEGALLY AND
POLITICALLY VIABLE BY THE FERBLE
GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL
LAW, INDEPENDENCE, NATIONWOOD IN
FREE ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNITED
STATEHOOD.
THIS PLEBISCITE.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT
ISLAND RESIDENTS HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER YES OR
KNOW TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER
THEY SUPPORT THE STATUS THAT
PUERTO RICO HAS HAD SINCE 1898.
THIS QUESTION HAS INHARNTE
VOLUME IN DEMOCRACY WHERE A
GOVERNMENT'S LEGITIMACY IS BASED
ON THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.
AND THIS PLEBISCITE WILL ONLY
INCLUDE THOSE STATUS OPTIONS
IDENTIFIED AS VALID BY CONGRESS
AND THE WHITE HOUSE.
TRUE SELF-DETERMINATION IS A
CHOICE AMONG OPTIONS THAT CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED NOT AN EXERCISE IN
WISHFUL THINKING.
IF A MAJORITY OF VOTERS EXPRESS
SATISFACTION WITH THE CURRENT
STATUS, PUERTO RICO'S STATUS
WOULD NOT CHANGE AT THIS TIME.
LIKEWISE, IF THERE IS MAJORITY
SUPPORT TO CHANGE THE CURRENT
STATUS BUT NOT MAJORITY SUPPORT
FOR ONE OF THE THREE
ALTERNATIVES, PUERTO RICO'S
CURRENT STATUS WOULD ALSO
CONTINUE.
HOWEVER, IF A MAJORITY VOTES
STATUS QUO AND IN
FAVOR OF STATEHOOD, FREE
ASSOCIATION, OR INDEPENDENCE,
CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD TAKE ACTION THAT HONORS
THAT CHOICE.
TOP DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
LEADERS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY
WILL TAKE THE RESULTS OF THIS
PLEBISCITE SERIOUSLY.
THAT IS AS IT SHOULD BE.
THE UNITED STATES IS THE
GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN HISTORY
AND CHAMPION OF PEACEFUL
SELF-DETERMINATION AROUND THE
WORLD.
CONSISTENT WITH THIS PRINCIPLE I
AM CONFIDENT DEPARTMENT THAT
FEDERAL OFFICIALS WILL RESPECT
THE CHOICE -- CONFIDENT THAT
FEDERAL OFFICIALS WILL RESPECT
THE CHOICE MADE BY THEIR FELLOW
CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO IF THEY
DECIDE TO CHANGE THE ISLAND
STATUS.
NOW I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO
THE MEN AND WOMEN I REPRESENT IN
CONGRESS.
THIS PLEBISCITE WILL HAVE A REAL
IMPACT ON YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND
LOVE.
THE FUTURE OF THE ISLAND WE
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAKE
YOUR VOICE HEARD AND YOUR VOTE
COUNT.
IT IS WELL-KNOWN THAT I OPPOSE
THE CURRENT STATUS AND ADVOCATE
FOR STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO.
WHETHER IT IS CALLED TERRITORY,
COMMONWEALTH, OR COLONY, THE
CURRENT STATUS DENIES US THE
MOST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN A
DEMOCRACY, THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE
THE LEADERS WHO MAKE OUR
NATIONAL LAWS AND THE RIGHT TO
EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THOSE
LAWS.
IN MY VIEW, THE CURRENT STATUS
IS AN AFFRONT TO OUR DIGNITY.
IN MY OFFICE HANGS A FRAMED
PHOTO OF SERVICE MEMBERS FROM
THE ISLAND WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
LIVES SINCE 2001.
THEY ARE THE LATEST IN A LONG
LINE OF PUERTO RICAN PATRIOTS
WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND FALLEN FOR
THIS NATION.
THIS PHOTO INSPIRES ME, BUT IT
ALSO MAKES ME SAD.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE SUCH
A PROUD PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTARILY
SUBMIT TO A STATUS THAT MAKES US
SECOND CLASS CITIZENS IN THE
COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE DEFENDED
FOR GENERATIONS.
I REALIZE THAT AFTER NEARLY 115
YEARS THE PROSPECT OF CHANGE CAN
BE UNSETTLING, BUT I ALSO KNOW
THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE
POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME
HAS COME.
WE DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT WE
HAVE AND THE TIME HAS COME FOR
US TO SEEK A NEW STATUS THAT
WILL EMPOWER US TO REALIZE OUR
FULL POTENTIAL.
AMONG THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE
CURRENT STATUS I BELIEVE
STATEHOOD IS THE RIGHT CHOICE.
INDEPENDENCE AND FREE
ASSOCIATION ARE WORTHY OPTIONS,
BUT BOTH WOULD PLACE AT RISK OUR
U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND FEDERAL
SUPPORT UNDER PROGRAMS LIKE
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL
SECURITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
OF PUERTO RICANS.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PUERTO
RICANS ARE OPPOSED TO BREAKING
OUR SUBSTANTIALLY WEAKENING THE
STRONG POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND
ECONOMIC BONDS THAT HAVE BORN
BETWEEN PUERTO RICO AND THE
UNITED STATES, I THINK THE ONLY
VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE STATUS
QUO IS STATEHOOD.
AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT IN
HISTORY WE SHOULD ASPIRE TO
IT.
PERFECT OUR UNION NOT TO SEVER
THE CURRENT STATUS IS ABOUT
CLASS CITIZENSHIP WHICH
WE SHOULD RISE UP TO REJECT.
INDEPENDENCE AND FREE
ASSOCIATION ARE ABOUT SEPARATION
WHICH WOULD DIMINISH THE
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
STATEHOOD IS ABOUT EQUAL
TREATMENT.
IT WOULD DELIVER TO PUERTO RICO
AND ALL FREE PEOPLE DESERVE FULL
VOTING RIGHTS, FULL
SELF-GOVERNMENT, AND FULL
EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW.
THIS NOVEMBER I HOPE THAT THE
U.S. CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO
WILL SEND THE CLEAR MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS THAT THEY ARE READY TO
MAKE A CHANGE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN -- CHAIR
RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. FITZPATRICK,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE THIS MORNING
TO HONOR THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF
PENNSYLVANIA POLICE OFFICER
BRADLEY FOXX.
BRAD FOXX WAS A FIVE-YEAR
VETERAN OF THE PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
HAVING GROWN UP IN MY HOME OF
BUCKS COUNTY, OFFICER FOXX
GRADUATED FROM WILLIAM TENET
HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT ON TO SERVE
HIS COUNTRY FOR 10 YEARS IN THE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
A WELL DECORATED SOLDIER,
OFFICER FOXX RECEIVED AMONG
OTHER ACCOLADES THE NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL,
THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AND
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE
MEDAL.
UPON RETURNING FROM HIS MILITARY
SERVICE, OFFICER FOXX JOINED HIS
LOCAL POLICE FORCE IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY WHERE HE BUILT A LIFE FOR
HIMSELF, HIS WIFE, LINDSAY,
THEIR DAUGHTER, AND A SECOND
CHILD WHO IS ON THE WAY.
ON THE NIGHT OF THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 13, THE FAMILY,
FRIENDS, AND FELLOW OFFICERS OF
BRAD FOXX RECEIVED THE PHONE
CALL THEY HOPED WOULD NEVER
COME.
OFFICER FOXX WAS RESPONDING TO A
REPORT OF A HIT-AND-RUN IN HIS
SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA TOWNSHIP.
AS HE WAS INVESTIGATING THE
INCIDENT, BOTH OFFICER FOXX AND
HIS CANINE COMPANION WERE
AMBUSHED BY THE SUSPECT, AN
ATTACK WHICH LEFT OFFICER FOXX
FATALLY WOUNDED.
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON I ATTENDED
THE BURIAL SERVICES FOR OFFICER
FOXX AT THE WASHINGTON CROSSING
NATIONAL CEMENTTARY IN BUCKS
COUNTY.
THE SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM THE
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY
AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AS A WHOLE WAS
INSPIRING AND IT WAS HEARTFELT.
TO SEE THAT IN SUCH A SHORT
LIFETIME THIS FATHER, HUSBAND,
BROTHER, SON, VETERAN, AND
POLICE OFFICER HAD TOUCHED SO
MANY LIVES WAS A TESTAMENT TO
THE KIND OF PERSON THAT BRAD FOX
WAS.
HE DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO
SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY AND TO
HIS COUNTRY.
AND SHOULD SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE
TO EVERY ONE OF US.
EVERY DAY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
AND IN BUCKS COUNTY AND IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS GREAT
NATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND
PARAMEDICS ARE WORKING TO
PRESERVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN WAKE UP
EVERY MORNING AND HEAD TO WORK
NOT KNOWING WHAT DANGERS THEY
MAY ENCOUNTER DURING THEIR
SHIFT.
THE LOSS OF OFFICER BRAD FOXX
SERVES AS A SOMBER REMINDER OF
THE RISKS OUR POLICE OFFICERS
FACE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
HERE IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL,
JUST A FEW MILES FROM WHERE I
STAND AT THIS VERY MOMENT, IS
THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS MEMORIAL.
ETCHED INTO THIS MEMORIAL ARE
THE NAMES OF COUNTLESS MEN AND
WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN
SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SADLY, OFFICER BRAD FOXX WILL
JOIN THAT ROLE OF MONOR.
-- HONOR.
ALSO CARVED ON THE MEMORIAL ARE
QUOTES WHICH CAPTURE THE SPIRIT
OF THOSE HONORED THERE,
INCLUDING ONE FROM FORMER
PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH WHICH
READS.
CARVED ON THESE WALZ IS THE
STORY OF AMERICA.
OF A CONTINUING QUEST TO
PRESERVE BOTH DEMOCRACY AND
DECENCY AND TO PROTECT A
NATIONAL TREASURE THAT WE CALL
DREAM.
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT OF OUR
GRALTTOOD TO OFFICER FOXX AND
HIS FAMILY TO THE SACRIFICE HE
MADE AND THEY MADE TO KEEP HIS
COMMUNITY A SAFE PLACE TO WORK
AND TO LIVE AND TO RAISE A
FAMILY.
.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MS. WOOLSEY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, IN APRIL OF THE
YEAR 2004, I ROSE IN THIS
CHAMBER TO SPEAK FOR FIVE
MINUTES ABOUT MY CONVICTION
THAT THE WAR IN IRAQ WAS A
DANGEROUS, IMMORAL POLICY AND
IT WAS HURTING AMERICA AND OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
SIMILAR MESSAGE NEARLY EVERY
SINCE THEN I DELIVERED A
DAY THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE WHEN
WE WERE IN SESSION, AND ONCE
THE IRAQ WAR FINALLY DREW TO A
CLOSE, I MOVED ON TO FOCUS ON
MILITARY OCCUPATION
IN AFGHANISTAN WHICH WILL SOON
BE IN ITS 11TH YEAR, COSTING
MORE THAN 2,000 AMERICAN LIVES
AND MORE THAN HALF A TRILLION
DOLLARS AND COUNTING.
TODAY IS MY 440TH SPECIAL ORDER
FOR FIVE MINUTES, CALLING FOR
AN END TO THESE WARS AND THE
SAFE RETURN OF OUR TROOPS TO
THEIR FAMILIES RIGHT HERE AT
HOME.
I'M NOT PROUD OF HAVING REACHED
THAT NUMBER.
I WOULD MUCH PREFER THAT THE
SPEECHES WERE NO LONGER
NECESSARY, BUT SINCE I'M
RETIRING FROM THE HOUSE AT THE
END OF THIS YEAR, MY 20TH YEAR
IN CONGRESS, ONE OF MY BIGGEST
DISAPPOINTMENTS IS THAT WE
HAVEN'T SHOWN THE LEADERSHIP,
THE COURAGE AND THE RESOLVE TO
FINALLY SECURE PEACE.
WE ARE STILL MIRED IN THIS
AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT, EVEN
THOUGH THE EVIDENCE IS
OVERWHELMING THAT IT'S DOING
MORE HARM THAN GOOD, EVEN
THOUGH IT'S EMBOLDENING
TERRORISTS AND INSURGENTS
RATHER THAN DEFEATING THEM,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S BREEDING
RESENTMENT OF AMERICA INSTEAD
OF WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS.
WE ARE STILL MIRED IN THIS
CONFLICT EVEN THOUGH A CLEAR
MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
NO LONGER WANT ANY PART OF IT.
I WILL NOT RETURN TO THE HOUSE
IN 2013, SO THIS WILL BE ONE OF
MY FINAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESS
THIS POINT.
BUT AS LONG AS OUR TROOPS
REMAIN IN HARM'S WAY AND AS
LONG AS THIS DREADFUL POLICY
CONTINUES, I WILL CONTINUE TO
SPEAK OUT AND SPEAK UP.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE PROUD
SUPPORTERS OF THIS WAR ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO WILL
CONTINUE TO LEAD THE EFFORT IN
CONGRESS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHAT I'VE
ADVOCATED IS NOT JUST AN END TO
THESE WARS BUT THE BEGINNING OF
A NEW APPROACH TO COMBATING
SAFE.
TERRORISM AND KEEPING AMERICA
WE NEED TO LEAVE WITH THE
AMERICAN COOPERATION AND
COMPASSION AROUND THE WORLD,
NOT AMERICAN WEAPONS AND TROOP
FORCE.
WE NEED SMART SECURITY, A PLAN
THAT PUTS THE FOCUS ON
DEVELOPMENT AND DIPLOMACY.
WE NEED A STRATEGY THAT GIVES
PEOPLE HOPE AND IMPROVES THEIR
LIVES INSTEAD OF INVADING AND
OCCUPYING THEIR LAND.
THIS IS NOT ONLY THE HUMANE
APPROACH, MR. SPEAKER, IT'S
ALSO THE MORE PRAGMATIC ONE,
THE ONE THAT WILL TRULY ADVANCE
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY GOALS,
AND IT'S A LOT MORE
COST-EFFECTIVE.
HELPING PEOPLE CUTS PENNIES ON
THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO WAGING
WAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME
OVER THE YEARS, WOOLSEY, YOUR
PROBLEM IS THAT YOU THINK WE
CAN HAVE A PERFECT WORLD.
CHARGED.
WELL, CONSIDER ME GUILTY AS
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S
ANYTHING WRONG WITH IDEALISM
AND AMBITIOUS GOALS BECAUSE I'M
ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT IF WE
DON'T STRIVE FOR A PERFECT
WORLD WE WON'T EVER COME CLOSE
TO PROVIDING A SAFE, SECURE AND
PEACEFUL WORLD FOR OUR
GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR
GRANDCHILDREN AND THAT'S OUR
JOB HERE IN CONGRESS AND I
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. THOMPSON, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS WEEK ANOTHER
AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCING
COMPANY ANNOUNCED PLANT
CLOSURES AND WORKER LAYOFFS
CITING THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION'S AUTHORITARIAN
REGULATORY REGIME IN PART AS A
RATIONALE REASON FOR CLOSING.
ONE IS LOCATED IN THE FIFTH
DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA WHICH
I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT.
THEY ANNOUNCED A REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT THAT'S AGGRESSIVELY
RESTRAINING THE USE OF COAL,
END QUOTE.
IT WILL RESULT IN LAYOFFS OF
1200 WORKERS AND IMMEDIATE 400
JOBS LOST IN VIRGINIA, WEST
VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA.
THE FACT THAT THE COAL INDUSTRY
IS FACING TOUGH TIMES ISN'T
NEWS.
THEY HAVE OTHER ENERGY
COMPETITORS INCLUDING NATURAL
GAS, LABOR COSTS.
THE ISSUE THAT'S NEWS WORTHY IS
THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN BEING
PLACED ON AMERICAN EMPLOYERS
DURING SUCH DIFFICULT AND TOUGH
ECONOMIC TIMES.
ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED
INTENTIONS TO ELIMINATE COAL.
OUR MOST ABUNDANT NATURAL
RESOURCE FROM OUR FUEL MIX WITH
NO CLEAR PLAN TO REPLACE IT
WITH ANY EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE
HAS TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT TOLL ON
EMPLOYERS AND INDIVIDUALS
ACROSS MY HOME STATE.
HERE ARE THE SEVERAL NEWS
HEADLINES OF CLOSURES AND
LAYOFFS IN MY HOME DISTRICT
FROM THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
SEPTEMBER 18, HEADLINE,
FINANCIAL RESOURCES CLOSING
EIGHT COAL MINE.
400 JOBS CUT IN VIRGINIA, WEST
VIRGINIA AND MY HOME STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
AUGUST 30 HEADLINE.
ANOTHER ROUND OF JOY WORKERS
LAID OFF, THE DAIRY.
IN AUGUST, MANUFACTURING IN
FRANKLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,
POSTED ANOTHER ROUND OF
EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS.
43 MOST WERE NOTIFIED THEY'VE
BEEN FURLOUGHED FROM THEIR
JOBS.
THE WEEK BEFORE THAT 19 OTHERS
WERE LAID OFF.
THIS IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE
SECTOR EMPLOYER IN THE COUNTY.
FEBRUARY 9 HEADLINE.
RESPONDERS RESPOND TO
POWER PLANT CLOSURES.
THEY HAVE 80 WORKERS IN
SHAWVILLE AND CONTRIBUTES
ROUGHLY $225,000 ANNUALLY IN
LOCAL TAXES.
THEY OFFER JOBS NOT THROUGH ITS
PLANT BUT THROUGH TRUCKING
FIRMS WHICH MEANS A LOSS OF 100
TO 200 WORKERS IN THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS.
JANUARY 26 HEADLINE.
FIRST ENERGY SHUTTING DOWN SIX
SITES IN OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA AND
MARYLAND.
IN JANUARY, FIRST ENERGY
ANNOUNCED THAT THE NEW
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS LED
TO A DECISION TO SHUT DOWN SIX
OLDER COAL POWERED POWER PLANTS
AFFECTING MORE THAN 500
EMPLOYEES.
COAL OPERATIONS ARE CLOSING,
FORCING MORE WORKERS INTO
UNEMPLOYMENT AS COUNTLESS
INDIRECT COAL JOBS HAVE BEEN
PUT AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE
PRESIDENT'S UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO END COAL.
OUR MOST ABUNDANT NATURAL
RESOURCE AS A SOURCE OF
DOMESTIC ENERGY.
IN THE AFTERMATH OF ALL THESE
CLOSURES AND JOB LOSSES IN MY
DISTRICT, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS
ACROSS MY STATE AND THE
IT IS BECOMING
INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION EXPECTS THE
CONSUMERS OF PENNSYLVANIA TO
BEAR THE COSTS OF A POORLY
THOUGHT OUT, POORLY DEFINED AND
AGENDA.
POORLY EXPLAINED ENVIRONMENTAL
BUT IT'S NOT JUST A WAR ON
COAL.
IT'S A WAR ON ELECTRICITY AND
JOBS.
THE SHUTTING OF RECORD NUMBER
OF COAL POWERED PLANTS
THREATENS THE 270 DIRECT AND
INDIRECT COAL-RELATED JOBS THAT
HELP SUPPLY AMERICA WITH NEARLY
HALF OF ITS GENERATED
ELECTRICITY AND PAY $36 BILLION
IN WAGES.
THE NONPARTISAN U.S. ENERGY
INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION HAS
ALL BUT CONFIRMED THE
PRESIDENT'S AGGRESSIVE PUSH
AGAINST COAL DEVELOPMENT WITH A
REPORT DEALING A RECORD NUMBER
OF COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS TO
BE CLOSED THIS YEAR LARGELY
BECAUSE OF THE BURDENSOME
REGULATIONS AND OTHER
COMPLIANCE COSTS.
THAT'S WHY THIS WEEK THE U.S.
HOUSE HAS PASSED -- WILL PASS
H.R. 3049, TO PUSH BACK ON THE
PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO END
COAL AS A SOURCE OF DOMESTIC
ENERGY AND PROTECT THE
COUNTLESS JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN
LOST OR PUT AT RISK AS A RESULT
OF HIS POLITICS.
H.R. 3049 INCLUDES THE
FOLLOWING PACKAGE OF BILLS --
THE COAL MINERS EMPLOYMENT AND
DOMESTIC ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
PROTECTION ACT WHICH BARS THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
FROM ISSUING ANY REGULATION
BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2013, THAT
WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT COAL
MINING EMPLOYMENT.
THE COAL REIDE SIDUAL REUSE AND
MANAGEMENT ACT WHICH HAS
PERMITTING PROGRAMS FOR THE
STORAGE OF COAL COMBUSTION
RESIDUALS UNDER THE SOLID WASTE
DISPOSAL ACT WHICH IS NOW
PRIMARILY USED TO REGULATE THE
MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE
LANDFILLS AND SEWAGE LANDFILLS.
THE ENERGY TAX PREVENTION ACT
WHICH PREVENTS THE E.P.A. FROM
REGULATING GREENHOUSE GASES IN
ANY EFFORT TO ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE.
ONE THAT PROHIBITS THE E.P.A.
FROM ISSUING A NEW OR REVISED
WATER QUALITY STANDARD WHEN A
STATE STANDARD HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE E.P.A.
AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND
REGULATION ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS
ON THE NATION ACT, OR THE TRAIN
WHICH CREATES AN
INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE TO
EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF CURRENT
AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON U.S.
ENERGY AND MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES, U.S. GLOBAL
COMPETITIVENESS AND U.S. ENERGY
PRICES.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST A WAR ON
COAL.
IT'S A WAR ON THE USE OF
CARBON-BASED FUELS, COAL, OIL,
NATURAL GAS, WHICH SUPPLY OVER
80% OF OUR ENERGY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MS. CHU, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY AS A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE RESOLUTION
785, CONDEMNING THE HATE
CRIMES, BULLYING AND BRUTAL
VIOLENCE PERPETRATED AGAINST
SEEK AMERICANS AND ALL ACTS OF
STATES.
THOSE AMERICANS IN THE UNITED
IN THE FACE OF UNRELENTING AND
UNPROVOKED VIOLENCE IT'S CLEAR
THAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN.
THE SIKH COMMUNITY HAS A LONG
HISTORY OF CONTRIBUTING TO THIS
NATION.
FARMERS, FARMING A THIRD OF THE
LAND AND PROVIDING NATURE'S
BOUNTY TO ENJOY.
THE VERY FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN
ELECTED TO THE U.S. CONGRESS
WAS A SIKH AMERICAN, ELECTED IN
CALIFORNIA IN 1957.
AND SIKH TEMPLES ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY HAVE SHOWN THEIR
BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT BY GIVING FREE
FOOD CALLED LANGER, TOIVE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO'S HUNGRY.
AND YET TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE
SEE THE GOOD DEEDS OF SIKH
AMERICANS MET WITH UNDUE
VIOLENCE FROM OTHERS.
AND IN THE WAKE OF 9/11 THIS
HATE SPIKED SHARPLY.
JUST DAYS AFTER THE ATTACKS
TOOK PLACE AS THE SOOT STILL
LINGERED OVER MANHATTAN AND
SMOKE STILL SMOLDERED FROM A
FIELD IN PENNSYLVANIA, BOB
FIRST VICTIM OF
MISPLACED VIOLENCE.
A GUNMAN SHOT AT HIM AND TOOK
HIS LIFE.
THROUGH THE YEARS THE VIOLENCE
HAS NOT ABATED.
LAST YEAR IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA, TWO ELDERLY SIKH
AMERICANS WERE DOING WHAT THEY
ALWAYS DID EVERY AFTERNOON,
TAKING A WALK IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN SUDDENLY
THEY WERE SHOT.
THEY WERE MURDERED IN COLD
BLOOD, NOT FOR MONEY OR
JEALOUSY OR REVENGE.
THEY WERE MURDERED BECAUSE OF
THEIR TURBINES.
AND THEN THERE WERE THE
OVERWHELMINGLY SHOCKING EVENTS
OF AUGUST 5 OF THIS YEAR IN OAK
CREEK, WISCONSIN.
THE SIKH COMMUNITY WERE
PREPARING MEALS FOR SUNDAY.
BUT THAT PEACE WAS SHATTERED
WITHOUT WARNING AT THE HANDS OF
A GUNMAN FILLED WITH HATE AND
RAGE.
HE FIRED DISCRIM NATALIE AND
AND WHEN --
DISCRIMINATELY AND WITHOUT
CAUSE.
SINCE 9/11 STEREOTYPING IS
STILL FAR TOO COMMON.
WE MUST COMBAT THE GROWING WAVE
THE VIOLENCE THAT THREATENS THE
SAFETY AND LIBERTY OF THE SIH
COMMUNITY.
WHILE THE F.B.I. TRACKS THE
OVERALL NUMBER OF HATE CRIMES,
IT DOESN'T TARGET SIKHS DESPITE
THAT WE ARE SEEING THAT SIKHS
ARE SINGLED OUT BECAUSE OF
THEIR APPEARANCE AND FAITH.
THAT'S WHY THIS RESOLUTION
DENOUNCES THE VIOLENCE BEFALLEN
THIS COMMUNITY OR CALLING ON
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO
FINALLY BE DOCUMENTING AND
QUANTIFYING HATE CRIMES AGAINST
SIKH AMERICANS.
AS MANY AS THREE OUT OF FOUR
SIKH BOYS ENDURE TORMENT AND
BULLYING FROM THEIR PEERS AND
SO WE'RE EDUCATORS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO HELP END VIOLENCE.
AND WE'RE ERGING LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN EVERY
LOCALITY TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO
PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST THIS
AND ALL COMMUNITIES.
AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON THE
PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM, ACCEPTANCE AND
TOLERANCE.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EVERY
AMERICAN CAN LIVE SAFELY AND IN
PEACE.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EVERY
AMERICAN IS PROTECTED.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. POE,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
OVER THE LAST WEEK, WE HAVE
WATCHED AS ANTI-AMERICAN GROUPS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAVE
KILLED AMERICANS, ATTACKED OUR
EMBASSIES, HAD PROTESTS, BURNED
THE AMERICAN FLAG, DESTROYED
OUR PROPERTY IN MANY PARTS OF
THE WORLD.
AND THESE EVENTS AND EVENTS
THAT HAVE PRECEDED THEM BRING
UP THAT QUESTION AGAIN, THESE
COUNTRIES THAT WE GIVE AID TO
SEEM TO BE COUNTRIES THAT THERE
.
IS VIOLENCE AGAINST AMERICA.
SO I WANT TO SPIKE ABOUT THE
AMERICANS WHEN THEY WRITE THAT
CHECK, TO THAT GOVERNMENT, OUR
GOVERNMENT, THAT WE SPEND ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
THIS MAP HERE IS A MAP OF
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TAXPAYERS GIVES ASSISTANCE TO
WORLDWIDE.
YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE THREE
COLORS.
THE RED ARE COLORS THAT THE
TO.
UNITED STATES GIVES FOREIGN AID
YOU CAN SEE THAT'S MOST OF THE
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
AND IT IS MOST OF THE COUNTRIES.
IT IS 191 COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD.
SOMETIMES THERE'S 193, DEPENDING
ON WHETHER THOSE LAST TWO ARE
REALLY COUNTRIES OR NOT, AND
AMERICAN TAXPAYERS GIVE MONEY TO
158 OF THEM.
SO YOU SEE THOSE THAT ARE IN THE
RED.
THE GREEN REPRESENTS COUNTRIES
THAT WE GIVE MILITARY AID TO.
AND THIS FEW LITTLE -- EXCUSE ME
BLUE COUNTRIES, COUPLE IN
EUROPE, COUPLE IN AFRICA, THOSE
ARE COUNTRIES WE DON'T GIVE ANY
MONEY TO.
BY FAR THE MINORITY.
SO YOU SEE THE MASSIVE WORLD AS
WE KNOW IT, AMERICAN MONEYS GOES
TO MOST OF IT.
YOU NOTICE OVER HERE THERE'S A
COUNTRY.
RED BLOCK IN THIS PART OF THE
AND I'M SURE, MR. SPEAKER,
YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THIS MASSIVE
COUNTRY HERE, THAT'S RUSSIA.
YEAH.
AMERICAN AID GOES TO RUSSIA.
AND DID YOU KNOW EVEN THOUGH
CHINA CONTROLS SO MUCH OF OUR
DEBT, AMERICAN MONEY, YES, GOES
TO CHINA AS WELL.
WILL'S A LIST -- THERE'S A LIST
OF COUNTRIES AND I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SUBMIT TO THE RECORD
THE 158 COUNTRIES THAT THE
UNITED STATES GIVES AID TO.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
SO MAYBE WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW
WE DO THIS.
WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS WE GOT IN
THE UNITED STATES, TAXPAYERS
WRITE THE CHECK FOR COUNTRIES
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AND HERE'S HOW WE VOTE ON
FOREIGN AID.
I SUSPECT THE SENATE DOES IT THE
SAME WAY.
WE PUT ALL THE COUNTRIES IN A
LIST, IN A BILL, AND THE STATE
DEPARTMENT USUALLY SMITS THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WOULD LIKE
US TO GIVE TO THAT COUNTRY, AND
THIS HOUSE VOTES UP OR DOWN ON
ALL 158 COUNTRIES.
NOW MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO
BUSINESS A LITTLE BETTER.
MAYBE WE SHOULD VOTE COUNTRY BY
COUNTRY.
SOME SAY, IT TAKES TOO LONG.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AMERICAN
MONEY HERE.
IT WOULDN'T TAKE VERY LONG AT
ALL.
I THINK THAT IF WE VOTED UP OR
DOWN, COUNTRY PER COUNTRY, MOST
OF THESE COUNTRIES HERE, THEY
ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY AID
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
OF COURSE PROBABLY ISRAEL WOULD
AND 80% OF THE MONEY SPENT IN
ISRAEL OR GIVEN TO ISRAEL IS
SENT BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
I THINK MOST MEMBERS SUPPORT
ISRAEL.
MAYBE ONE OR TWO OTHER
COUNTRIES, BUT LET'S VOTE UP OR
DOWN, COUNTRY BY COUNTRY.
SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES THAT WE
HAVE HAD UNREST IN IN THE LAST
COUPLE WEEKS, LIKE LIBYA, LIKE
EGYPT, MAYBE WE NEED TO
RE-EVALUATE THE MONEY WE SEND TO
THEM.
AT THE VERY LEAST WHAT WE OUGHT
TO DO IN COUNTRIES LIKE LIBYA
AND EGYPT AND SOME OF THESE
OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE
DESTROYING AMERICAN PROPERTY AS
WE SPEAK, WHO ARE -- WHO HAVE
LOOTED, AND DESTROYED OUR
EMBASSIES, LIKE IN EGYPT, WE AT
LEAST OUGHT TO TAKE THE MONEY WE
ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM IN AID
AND TAKE A PORTION OF IT OUT TO
HELP REBUILD THE EMBASSIES THAT
ARE IN THAT COUNTRY.
AND PAY FOR THE PROPERTY DAMAGE.
AND PROBABLY TAKE EVEN MONEY OUT
GIVEN TO LIBYA, PAY REPARATIONS
TO THE FOUR AMERICANS KILLED IN
LIBYA.
LET'S USE SOME COMMON SENSE WHEN
WE ARE SPENDING MONEY OVERSEAS
AND MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE TRYING
TO GO ALL OVER THE WORLD AND
PLAY NICE WITH PEOPLE.
WE HAVE HAD A FOREIGN AID
PROBLEM SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN
AND WE CONTINUE TO GIVE MONEY TO
COUNTRIES IN THE HOPE THAT THEY
WILL LIKE US.
WELL, HOW'S THAT WORKING FOR
YOU?
NOT TOO GOOD.
IS THE WAY I SEE IT.
YOU KNOW, MR. SPEAKER, WE DON'T
NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
COUNTRIES LIKE PAKISTAN.
I'M ASTONISHED WE STILL GIVE
MONEY TO PAKISTAN.
THEY HARBORED OSAMA BIN LADEN.
THEY PUT IN PRISON THE INFORMANT
HIDING.
THAT TOLD US WHERE HE WAS
I BELIEVE SOME OF THE MONEY WE
GIVE BACK STAND ENDS UP IN THE
HANDS OF THE TALIBAN AND CORRUPT
MILITARY GOVERNMENTS.
BUT YET WE KEEP PAYING.
NOW, THIS SUMMER THE HOUSE DID
PAKISTAN.
VOTE TO CUT $625 MILLION FROM
BUT YET WHEN THE C.R. CAME
THROUGH LAST WEEK, THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION, THAT
MONEY IS BACK IN GOING TO
PAKISTAN.
PAKISTAN IS JUST ONE OF MANY
EXAMPLES, MR. SPEAKER.
WE DON'T NEED TO PAY THESE
COUNTRIES TO HATE US.
WE DON'T NEED TO PAY THEM, THEY
WILL DO IT FOR FREE.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
GRIJALVA, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THIS WEEK MARKS THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION'S 225TH
ANNIVERSARY.
OUR CONSTITUTION IS A PRODUCT OF
REALISTIC COMPROMISE.
A STATE THAT'S MISSING IN THIS
CHAMBER.
IT LAYS OUT THE PRINCIPLES FOR A
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND THE
RIGHTS OF CITIZENS CAN EXPECT TO
ENJOY IN THAT GOVERNMENT.
AND WITH THE INCLUSION OF SIX
VOTING RIGHTS AMENDMENTS, WE
HAVE FORMED A MORE SOLID
DEMOCRATCY.
THE VOTING RIGHTS AMENDMENT
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED OUR SYSTEM
OF GOVERNMENT.
OUTLAWING -- GIVING ORDINARY
AMERICANS THE RIGHT TO ELECT
THEIR SENATORS, AND ALLOWING THE
CITIZENS OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL
TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND
GUARANTEEING THAT ALL AMERICANS
REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION,
GENDER, OR AGE WOULD ENJOY THESE
PROTECTIONS.
AND WITH THESE PROTECTIONS AND
THESE AMENDMENTS WE AFFIRM THE
INHERENT VALUES OF OUR
-- DEMOCRACY.
CONSTITUTION AND OUR DEMOCRATCY.
AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS STILL
TO THIS DATE THE ESSENTIAL PIECE
OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
THINK ABOUT IT.
TO DENY AN ELIGIBLE VOTER THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IS TO
UNDERMINE THE VERY FREEDOM THAT
DEFINES US AS A NATION.
THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS ESSENTIAL
TO OUR DEMOCRACY.
HOWEVER WHILE THE MARK OF THE
STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS AND
RELIGIOUS LEADERS ONCE DROVE
ELECTORAL REFORM IN THE UNITED
STATES, A DARK MOVEMENT IS
SWEEPING ACROSS THE COUNTRIES.
STATE LAWMAKERS PUSHED BY
CORPORATE INTERESTS, AND DRIVEN
BY A CYNICAL POINT OF VIEW THAT
DENY OTHER PEOPLE
THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE TO KEEP UP OUR -- AND
WE MUST TARGET THOSE GROUPS AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT AGREE
WITH OUR POINT OF VIEW AND THIS
ELECTIVE PROCESS, THE CYNICAL
EELECTIVE PROCESS, WOULD KEEP
POWER AND WE ONLY CONCENTRATE ON
THE PEOPLE AND EXTEND THE
PRIVILEGE TO THOSE THAT AGREE
WITH OUR POINT OF VIEW.
BY MAKING VOTER NEW LAWS THAT
ARE NOW BEING PROPOSED AND HAVE
PASSED STATE LEGISLATURES, MAKE
VOTER REGISTRATION MORE
DIFFICULT AND CUMBERSOME, CUT
THE AVAILABILITY OF EARLY
VOTING, AND REQUIRE VOTERS TO
PRESENT CURRENT GOVERNMENT
ISSUED IDENTIFICATIONS AS A
PREREQUISITE TO CASTING A
BALLOT.
THESE EFFORTS THREAT THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRATIC
SYSTEM AND VERY TARGETED.
THE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING
WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDEN
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, LATINOS,
ASIAN AMERICANS, YOUNG VOTERS,
AND AMERICANS NEW TO THE
POLITICAL PROCESS.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE, THE
RESTRICTIVE VOTER LAWS DIRECTED
TO DISENFRANCHISE POOR, ELDERLY
VOTERS AND OTHERS WHO LACK
FORMAL GOVERNMENT ISSUED I.D.
DESPITE THE FACT IT IS MORE
LIKELY AN AMERICAN WILL BE
STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING
THAT HE WOULD IMPERSONATE
ANOTHER VOTER AT THE POLLS.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THESE VOTER
SUPPRESSION LAWS MEAN.
IN TEXAS THE FEDERAL COURT
RECENTLY FOUND THE TEXAS VOTER
I.D. LAW VIOLATED THE VOTING
RIGHTS ACT BECAUSE IT MADE IT
HARDER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
LATINOS TO VOTE.
THE STATE HAD EVIDENCE THAT
CONCLUSIVELY SHOWS THE
QUALIFYING I.D. WILL FALL MORE
HEAVILY ON THE POOR AND
DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF
AND LATINOS IN
TEXAS.
IN PENNSYLVANIA, A JULY 5
"PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER" ARTICLE
REPORTED THAT 758,000 REGISTERED
VOTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA DO NOT
HAVE AN I.D., A NEW STATE LAW
THAT REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING.
THAT FIGURE REPRESENTS 9.2% OF
THE STATE VOTERS THAT WOULD BE
STOPPED FROM VOTING.
A REPORT BY THE VETERANS CENTER
FOR JUSTICE FOUND THAT
ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD VOTER
EXAGGERATED.
FRAUD OFTEN PROVE GREATLY
MOREOVER, THESE CLAIMS ARE
FREQUENTLY USED TO JUSTIFY
POLICIES THAT DO NOT -- COULD
VOTERS.
WELL DISENFRANCHISE LEGITIMATE
IN SOME STATES VETERANS' I.D.
CARDS WON'T BE SUFFICIENT AS A
PHOTO I.D. TO VOTE.
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN MY
STATE OF ARIZONA, THERE'S BEEN
AN ACCELERATED EFFORT TO
SUPPRESS THE VOTE.
THESE NEW EFFORTS REPRESENT A
COORDINATED EFFORT CLEARLY
DESIGNED TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE OF
WHO NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS
PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR NEEDS.
PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, YOUNG
PEOPLE, SOME LOST THEIR LIVES TO
GAIN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THIS
NATION OF OURS.
THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY OR
COUNTRY HAS FOUGHT TO REMOVE
OBSTACLES TO VOTER
PARTICIPATION, MAKING THE RIGHT
TO VOTE ACCEPTABLELE TO --
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE
CITIZENS.
WE CANNOT TURN OUR BACK ON THAT
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
BETTER OF US.
OUR LEGACY AS A NATION DEMANDS
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR. AUSTRIA
, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER AS
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
AS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY
MENTAL HEALTH SUICIDE PREVENTION
CAUCUS, MY GOAL IS TO INCREASE
AWARENESS IN AID AND PREVENTION
OF SUICIDE.
ALTHOUGH SUICIDE AFFECTS
OF AMERICANS EACH
YEAR, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON OUR
VETERANS AND MEN AND WOMEN WHO
ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN OUR
UNITED STATES MILITARY.
SUICIDES ARE INCREASING AT AN
ALARMING RATE THIS YEAR FOR OUR
SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, AND
MARINES.
RECENT STATA SHOWS THAT SUICIDES
ARE OCCURRING AT A RATE OF
APPROXIMATELY ONE PER DAY FOR
THE MILITARY.
THIS MAKES SUICIDE THE SECOND
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR OUR
TROOPS, SURPASSED ONLY BY
COMBAT.
THE ARMY IN PARTICULAR HAS SEEN
A 22% SUICIDE INCREASE WHEN
COMPARING THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS
IN BOTH 2011 AND 2012.
THESE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS AND
STATISTICS.
THESE ARE REAL SOLDIERS AND REAL
FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THIS
GROWING TRAGEDY.
THE ARMY IN PARTICULAR HAS SEEN,
AGAIN AN INCREASE IN THIS, AND
THIS INCREASE BECAME VERY
PERSONAL FOR ME AGAIN LAST
WHEN I ATTEND ADD
MEMORIAL DEDICATION -- ATTENDED
A MEMORIAL DEDICATION FOR LANCE
CORPORAL BOBBY WILY.
HE WAS A LIMA COMPANY MARINE AND
SON OF MY CLASSMATE AND FRIEND.
AS A RESULT OF HIS DEATH, A
LOVING FAMILY AND NATION GRIEVE
WITH LOSS.
ON BEHALF OF BOBBY AND HIS
FAMILY, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY
TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS THIS GROWING
TREND AND ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS AS
WELL AS HIGHLIGHT PREVENTION
EFFORTS WITHIN MY DISTRICT AND
NATIONWIDE BY BOTH THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
MORE THAN TWO MILLION TROOPS
HAVE SERVED IN THE WARS IN IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN, AND THAT'S A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN WAR
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
IT CAN AFFECT SOME OF THEM
ADVERSELY WHEN THEY COME BACK
HOME.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2009 ALONE, 1,868
VETERANS OF THESE WARS MADE
ATTEMPTS.
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER,
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TIPPING 12%
FOR OUR VETERANS AND A LOSS OF
THE MILITARY CAMARADERIE, MANY
VETERANS REPORT FEELING LIFELESS
UPON RETURNING HOME.
WE ARE AWARE OF THREE CONDITIONS
TO MANY OF THE SUICIDES OF OUR
VETERANS.
THEY ARE POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER, PTSD, TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY, T.B.I., AND DEPRESSION.
WE KNOW THE VETERANS WITH THESE
THREE MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE AT
HIGHER RISK OF SUCCUMBING TO
SUICIDE BEHAVIOR.
AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF
OUR VETERANS AND THOSE SERVING
OUR COUNTRY, THESE -- THERE'S
SOME THINGS WE CAN DO.
FIRST RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS
THAT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS
PROBLEMS.
UNDERSTAND WHERE AND HOW TO GET
ASSISTANCE WHILE STILL PART OF
THE MILITARY AND KNOW THE
AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT AFTER
SERVICE.
AS A MEMBER OF THE VETERANS
AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE, MY
COLLEAGUES AND I ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE HAVE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND DISCUSS
SOME OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUES.
AND I'M PLEASED WITH SECRETARY
OF THE V.A. SHINSEKI'S RESENT
OUTREACH EFFORTS SUCH AS STAND
BY THEM AND SIDE BY SIDE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE JOINT D.O.D.
AND B.A. STAND BY THEM CAMPAIGN
AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT,
SIDE BY SIDE, IS TO INCREASE
AWARENESS WITH FOCUS ON SUPPORT
NETWORKS FOR MILITARY MEMBERS.
THESE ARE KEY COMPONENTS
REQUIRED FOR RESOLUTION.
THOSE CLOSEST TO THE MILITARY
MEMBER CAN OFTEN SEE A SIGNAL OF
DISTRESS BEFORE THE MEMBER
HERSELF.
RECOGNIZES IT HIMSELF OR
THE QUICKER THE DETECTION, THE
QUICKER THE TREATMENT.
YESTERDAY I JOINED BACK IN MY
HOME DISTRICT, THE DIRECTOR AND
DR. KNAPPS AT THE V.A. MEDICAL
CENTER TO BRING AWARENESS TO
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
WITH A LARGE GEOGRAPHIC
RESPONSIBILITY IN MY DISTRICT,
THE DAYTON V.A. MEDICAL CENTER
PROVIDES SERVICES TO VETERANS IN
16 COUNTIES.
DURING THE JOINT PRESS
CONFERENCE THE V.A. -- AT THE
V.A. WE ANNOUNCED THE ONGOING
EFFORT IN THE PROMOTION OF THE
V.A. AND D.O.D. PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW COMMUNITIES ACROSS
OUR NATION ARE DOING SIMILAR
AWARENESS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
. AS OUR YOUNG MEMBER MEN
AND WOMEN ARE EXPOSED TO
STRESSFUL SITUATIONS IN COMBAT,
INCLUDING DEATH, WE CANNOT LOOK
THE OTHER WAY AND HOPE THAT
THESE ISSUES DISAPPEAR.
THE REALITY IS WE ARE FACED
WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF PTSD,
DEPRESSION, SUICIDE WITHIN OUR
MILITARY AND VETERANS.
THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, AND IF
WE CAN ALLEVIATE ONE OF THE
SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES OF SUED
SIDE, PTSD, WE MAY SET A CHANGE
IN THE CURRENT TREND LINE
BEFORE A PROBLEM BECOMES
SYSTEMATIC ACROSS OUR FIGHTING
FORCE.
LET ME SAY AS THESE MEMBERS IN
OUR GRATEFUL COMMUNITIES TO
WISH THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN
TO RETURN, WE MUST DO WHATEVER
POSSIBLE TO HELP THEM GET THE
ASSISTANCE THEY NEED.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO, MR.
LUJAN, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO CELEBRATE A PROUD
MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE
GREAT STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE CENTENNIAL
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAND OF
ENCHANTMENT.
WHILE FILMMAKERS HAVE SPENT
YEARS DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY
AND BEAUTY OF NEW MEXICO,
SHARING THE IMPORTANCE OF
STORIES AND HISTORY OF
TRADITION AND KINGS OF POWER,
STORIES AND TALES DON'T BY
RAOUX DOLL FOE, CAPTURED BY
GEORGIA O'KEEFE.
NEW MEXICO HAS A LONG AND RICH
HERITAGE THAT'S ROOTED IN A
POPULATION.
SHARED HISTORY OF A DIVERSE
A HISTORY THAT RESPECTS
DIVERSITY AND LANGUAGE, A LAND
WHOSE STATE CONSTITUTION WAS
DRAFTED AND ADOPTED IN BOTH
ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AND WHILE SANTA FE, THE CITY OF
FAITH, HOLDS THE DISTINCTION AS
THE OLDEST CAPITAL CITY IN THE
COUNTRY, CELEBRATING 400 YEARS
LAST YEAR, STATEHOOD CAME LATER
IN 1912 WHEN A TERRITORY KNOWN
FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL SCENERY,
NATURAL WONDERS AND PRISTINE
LANDSCAPES WAS ADMITTED INTO
THE UNION AS THE 47TH STATE.
NEW MEXICO IS BLESSED WITH RICH
CULTURE AND LANDMARKS.
CHACKO CANYON, THE BLUE GORGE,
THE PLAZA IN SANTA FE.
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EACH YEAR
TRAVEL TO LEARN OF THE UNIQUE
TRADITIONS AND SPIRIT THAT MAKE
NEW MEXICO SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE
WITH BLUE SKIES, SUNSETS AND
SUNRISES AND STARRY NIGHTS YOU
WON'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
WORLD.
THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT IS HOME
TO A DIVERSE POPULATION THAT
CAN TRACE ITS ROOTS BACK TO
SPANISH, MEXICAN AND NATIVE
AMERICAN CULTURES AMONGST
OTHERS.
AS HOME TO ONE OF THE RICHEST
INDIGENOUS TRIBAL POPULATION IN
THE UNITED STATES, NEW MEXICO
IS PROUD OF THE INFLUENCES AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 19 PUEBLO
NATIONS, TWO APACHE NATIONS AND
NAVAJO NATIONS.
THEY SHARE A COMMON BOND OF
CALLING NEW MEXICO HOME, HAS
SERVED AS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH
FOR OUR STATE AS THE INFLUENCE
OF ART, ARC TRECTURE AND
AGRICULTURE CAN BE FELT TO THIS
VERY DAY.
DURING THE PAST 100 YEARS, NEW
MEXICO HAS A PROUD TRADITION OF
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
IN WORLD WAR II, NAVAJO CODE
TALKERS CONTRIBUTED TO THE
VICTORY FOR THE ALLIED FORCES
WHILE MANY NATIVE SONS OF NEW
MEXICO SACRIFICED IN THE BATTLE
OF BATON.
IN THE KOREAN WAR, ONE WAS
AWARDED FOR A MEDAL OF HONOR
FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
MOST RECENTLY, SERGEANT PETRI
HAD A MEDAL.
IN EVERY WAR THEY'VE ANSWERED
THE CALL OF DUTY WHEN THEY WERE
NEEDED MOST.
NEW MEXICO HAS ALSO SERVED OUR
NATION AS A CENTER FOR
SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION AND
RESEARCH.
LOS ALAMOS LABORATORY HAS BEEN
A HOME TO A NUMBER OF
SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS THAT HAS
BEEN IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE REMINDED HOW
SPECIAL THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND WE
CALL HOME IS.
AS A NATIVE NEW MEXICAN, IT IS
WITH GREAT PRIDE IN OUR PAST
AND HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE THAT I
COME TO THIS FLOOR TO RECOGNIZE
THE ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS OF
NEW MEXICANS DURING THE COURSE
OF OUR STATE'S HISTORY.
A SPECIAL LOVE FOR OUR LAND AND
WATER HELPED SHAPE OUR LIVES.
A LAND OF FAITH AND FAMILY,
CULTURE AND TRADITION AND, MR.
SPEAKER, THE BEST CHILI FOUND
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
OURS IS AN AMERICAN STORY, ONE
PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO
THE LAST, THE BEST COMING FROM
OUR ELDERS.
AND WHEN THEY SEND ME OFF ON
ANY JOURNEY WHEN I DEPART FROM
HOME, MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM OREGON, MS.