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WE CAN STRIKE A BLOW FOR FREE
AND FAIR TRADE AND PROTECT
AMERICAN JOBS BY ALLOWING FOR
FREE AND FAIR COMPETITION
AMONGST NATIONS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA
AMENDMENT.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THE BILL ALREADY
INCLUDES IMPORTANT INCREASES FOR
TRADE ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING $15
MILLION FOR THE INTERAGENCY
TRADE ENFORCEMENT CENTER, AN
INCREASE IN NEARLY $11 MILLION.
KIRK TO ADD CHINESE
SPEAKERS.
HE WOULDN'T EVEN DO IT.
HE WOULDN'T EVEN DO IT.
WE HAVE PUSHED HIM TO DO IT.
THIS IS A BAD AMENDMENT.
THE OFFSET IS A PROBLEM.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN COME HERE AND
BE FOR ONE THING, BUT ALSO WANT
TO BE TO PROTECT THE OTHER.
THE CROSS-AGENCY SUPPORTED COUNT
IS NOT FREE MONEY THAT CAN BE
CUT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
THE COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY
EXTRACTED MORE THAN $150 MILLION
OF SAVINGS FROM THIS ACCOUNT
RELATIVE TO FISCAL YEAR 2012.
AND NASA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
ABSORB THE ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS
THROUGH FSHTSIES.
NASA HAS ALREADY BEEN CUT, NOW
WE WANT TO CUT IT MORE.
THESE CUTS WILL INCLUDE CRITICAL
PROGRAMIC FUNCTIONS.
THESE FUNCTIONS THAT THEY WANT
TO KIND OF CUT IN THEIR
CYBERSECURITY, CYBERSECURITY TO
FEND OFF RELENTLESS ATTACKS BY
CHINA.
THEIR COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN HIT
WHILE NASA, ALSO MUCH OF ITS
TECHNOLOGY HAS MILITARY
IMPLICATIONS AND THIS IS A
NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC.
THAT AREA, THEY'LL BE TAKING
MONEY FROM THAT.
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT SAFETY
OVERSIGHT.
WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY ON THE
CHALLENGER AND COLUMBIA
TRAGEDIES THAT RELENTLESS
ATTENTION TO SAFETY IS
NECESSARY.
CUTS TO THIS ACCOUNT COULD
HAMSTRING NASA'S EFFORTS TO
MINIMIZE THE RISK OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY.
SOFTWARE THAT OPERATES
SATELLITES AND SPACE STATION.
WE SEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON
THESE SPACE PROJECTS AND THESE
INVESTMENTS COULD EASILY BE
WASTED BY FUNDAMENTAL SOFTWARE
ERRORS IF SUCH SOFTWARE ISN'T
RIGOROUSLY TESTED.
THIS ACCOUNT ALSO GIVES MEDICAL
SUPPORT SERVICES TO KEEP THE
ASTRONAUTS AND GROUND WORKERS
HEALTHY.
MANY NASA EMPLOYERS -- EMPLOYEES
WORK REGULARLY IN HAZARDOUS
ENVIRONMENTS AND I DON'T WANT TO
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENDANGER.
PROCUREMENT, OPERATION OF
AGENCYWIDE TESTING, THIS ACCOUNT
IS A BIG SOURCE FOR JOBS.
IT FUNDS NEARLY 10,000
CONTRACTOR WORK YEARS AND NEARLY
8,000 GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
F.T.E.'S WHO CARRY OUT THESE
ACTIVITIES.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S CALLED CROSS
-- IT CUTS VITAL IMPORTANT
THINGS FOR NASA.
AND IF YOU WANT TO CUT NASA,
THEN YOU OUGHT TO CUT THIS.
IF YOU SUPPORT STICKING IT TO
NASA AND CUTTING NASA, THEN --
IF YOU'RE AGAINST THE COMMERCIAL
CREW, IF YOU'RE AGAINST ALL THE
THINGS THEY DO FOR SPACE SAFETY,
SUPPORT THIS EAFMENT ABOUT YOU
-- AMENDMENT.
BUT IF YOU -- NASA TAKES A BACK
SEAT TO NO ONE IN THIS BODY
CRITICIZING THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT.
BUT FRANKLY THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS BEEN WEAK WITH REGARD TO
AGGRESSIVELY PUSHING WITH REGARD
TO TRADE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE FORCED AND URGED AND TOLD
KIRK TO PUT CHINESE SPEAKERS ON
AND TOOK THE WRONG MONEY.
WE PUT THE MONEY IN FOR CHINESE
SPEAKERS WHEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN
ASK FOR IT.
I URGE, IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT
NASA, I URGE A NO VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
RISE?
I RISE OUT OF A DESIRE TO
HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
I AGREE WITH THE GENTLEMAN, MR.
PETERS --
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD?
YES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I AGREE WITH MR.
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND THIS
PETERS THAT TRADE ENFORCEMENT IS
ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT A PREMIUM
IN A THAT REGARD, BRINGING CASE
AFTER CASE, THE TIRE CASE
AGAINST THE CHINESE, WE COULD GO
THROUGH THE LAUNDRY LIST.
THERE IS AN $11 MILLION INCREASE
EMBEDDED IN THE BILL AS IT'S
COME TO THE FLOOR OVER LAST
YEAR'S APPROPRIATION.
I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN FIND A PART
OF THIS BUDGET WHERE THERE'S
BEEN A MORE SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT AT THE LEVEL
OF WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD
REQUESTED.
I CAN SUPPORT MOVING ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS IN THIS DIRECTION, BUT
THIS TARGET OF THE CROSS-AGENCY
ACCOUNT AT NASA, WHICH WE'RE
GOING TO SEE REPEATED DOZENS OF
TIMES ON THE FLOOR, I THINK IS
NOT THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO.
WE DON'T WANT TO ROB OUR SPACE
AGENCY OF THE IMPORTANT
RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO PROTECT
OUR ASTRONAUTS, TO PROTECT ITS
CYBERSYSTEMS.
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HERE.
SO I WOULD SAY TO THE GENTLEMAN
THAT I WILL -- NO MATTER WHAT
THE RESULT ON THE AMENDMENT --
BE GLAD TO WORK WITH HIM AS WE
GO FORWARD IN THE CONFERENCE TO
TRY TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FOR TRADE ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION'S
DONE A GREAT JOB FIGHTING THE
GOOD FIGHT, BUT THEY DO NEED THE
RESOURCES.
THE CHAIRMAN HAS PROVIDED $11
MILLION IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
BUT IF WE COULD FIND A FEW MORE
DOLLARS IN THAT DIRECTION, I
THINK IT'S A WORTHY INVESTMENT.
THANK YOU.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
ASK FOR A RECORDED
VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE
DESK.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. BROUN OF GEORGIA, PAGE 3,
LINE 10, AFTER THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT, INSERT, REDUCE BY $13,7
48,,000.
PAGE 4, LINE 21, AFTER THE
$2,019,990.
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT, REDUCE BY
PAGE 6, LINE 7, AFTER THE DOLLAR
$1,125,000.
AMOUNT, INSERT, REDUCE BY
PAGE 6, LINE 18, AFTER THE
$860,670.
INSERT, REDUCE BY
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE AMENDMENT BE
CONSIDERED READ.
IS THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REDUCE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SPENDING,
SALARIES AND EXPENSE ACCOUNTS IN
THE UNDERLYING BILL BY JUST 3%.
DURING THIS TIME OF FISCAL
CRISIS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT
CONGRESS WORK TO GET BOTH
ENTITLEMENT AS WELL AS
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING UNDER
CONTROL.
AS WE ALL KNOW, OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS, HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE
VOTED TO REDUCE THEIR OWN
ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTS.
THERE ARE MEMBERS
REPRESENTATIONAL OF JUST OVER
11%.
YET OVER THE SAME PERIOD, MANY
AGENCIES HAVE SEEN MUCH LOWER
CUTS IN THEIR SPENDING AND HAVE
EVEN SEEN INCREASES IN THEIR
SPENDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THIS BILL,
THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
WOULD SEE A $12 -- 12% INCREASE
IN ITS SALARIES AND EXPENSES
ACCOUNT BETWEEN F.Y. 2011 AND
F.Y. 2013.
THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM WOULD
RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 9%
EXPENSES.
INCREASE IN SALARIES AND
THE OFFICE OF U.S. TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE WOULD RECEIVE A
7% INCREASE.
THE U.S. MARSHALS, F.B.I. AND
DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION
WOULD ALL RECEIVE A 6% INCREASE.
NOW SOME MAY ARGUE THAT THESE
AGENCIES PERFORM IMPORTANT
TASKS.
WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THOSE
EMPLOYED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES FUNDED BY THIS BILL ARE
DESERVING OF THE PAY WHICH THEY
RECEIVE.
BUT, MADAM CHAIRMAN, THE FISCAL
WRITING IS ON THE WALL.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS BROKE.
WE HERE IN CONGRESS MUST FACE
THE FACTS AND STOP THE DENIAL
OF OUR ECONOMIC POSITION AND
CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
REDUCING SPENDING, IF WE ARE
REDUCING OUR
DEFICIT, WE HAVE TO ASK EVERY
AGENCY TO FOLLOW CONGRESS' LEAD
TO TAKE A SMALL REDUCTION IN
THEIR TAD MINUTE STRAIGHTIVE
FUNDING.
TO BE CLEAR, A 3% REDUCTION IN
THESE ACCOUNTS WOULD IN MANY
CASES STILL RESULT IN LESS THAN
A 10% REDUCTION IN FUNDING FROM
THE Y. 2011 FUNDING LEVELS.
WHILE THIS AMOUNT IS SMALL, IT
WILL PAY DIVIDENDS, RICH
DIVIDENDS, RESULTING IN NEARLY
$875 MILLION IN SAVINGS IN THIS
BILL ALONE.
IT'S LONG TIME PAST TO GET
SERIOUS ABOUT SPENDING.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, THIS AMENDMENT
REPRESENTS A BALANCED WAY TO
ACHIEVE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
MY AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS AMENDMENT,
BUT I WON'T PROLONG --
THE GENTLEMAN IS
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
JUST LET ME GIVE
ONE EXAMPLE AND I WILL STAND IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
ON PAGE 30, LINE 15, THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD CUT THE F.B.I.
BY $245 MILLION.
NOW, WE KNOW OF THE IMPORTANT
WORK BEING DONE ON BEHALF OF
THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD BY THE
F.B.I. AND MOST PARTICULARLY
HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
THE IDEA THAT THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, OUR
JOB UNDER THE CONSTITUTION IS
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
APPROPRIATIONS ARE NEEDED.
IT IS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION OF
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
WE CAN'T SAY SOMEHOW THAT THE
SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS IS TOO
EXPENSIVE FOR THE WEALTHIEST,
GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF
THE EARTH.
I STAND IN OPPOSITION OF THIS
AMENDMENT.
IF THE GENTLEMAN
WILL YIELD?
I'D BE GLAD TO
YIELD.
I WANT TO REMIND MY
GOOD FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE
OPPOSED TO THIS, THE F.B.I.
STILL GETS A 6% INCREASE.
WHAT THE FUNDING IS OVER TODAY,
IF MY AMENDMENT IS PASSED.
SO THEY STILL NOT ONLY CONTINUE
THEIR FUNDING BUT HAVE AN
INCREASE OVER CURRENT FUNDING
LEVELS.
SO THIS WOULD JUST REDUCE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, NOT THE
F.B.I. AGENTS OUT IN THE FIELD.
IT'S NOT GOING TO INTERFERE
WITH THE SECURITY.
RECLAIMING MY TIME.
RAME.
AND YOU ARE INDEED A PERSON WHO
PROVIDES A LOT OF LEADERSHIP
HERE IN THE HOUSE AND YOU LEAD
OUR THURSDAY PRAYER EFFORTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DO.
IN THIS INSTANCE, I DISAGREE
OK.
WITH YOU.
THAT IS -- I MET WITH DIRECTOR
MULLER RIGHT IN MY OFFICE.
THE F.B.I. NEEDS ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.
THE CHAIRMAN HAS PROVIDED $128
MILLION IN THIS COMMITTEE BILL.
CUT $245 MILLION WHILE WE'RE
TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE -- IS TO PROVIDE PROTECTION
AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS.
WE JUST SAW IN THE NEWS TODAY
OF A NEW DEVICE ATTEMPTING TO
BE USED TO BRING DOWN AN
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL AIRLINER.
IF SUCH A DEVICE WERE TO GO
OFF, IT WOULD COST OUR ECONOMY
MORE.
NOT JUST IN LIVES BUT IN REAL
ECONOMIC COSTS IF WE HAD TO
RESHAPE OUR AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
IT WILL BE I THINK FOOLISH OF
US AS A NATION TO RETREAT FROM
INVESTMENTS AT THIS TIME IN
F.B.I., AND AT THAT POINT, ON
PAGE 30, LINE 15, I OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO DO
LIKEWISE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION.
--
I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
HIS HEART IS IN THE
RIGHT PLACE.
THE CONCEPT OF GETTING THE
DEFICIT UNDER CONTROL IS GOOD.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION.
IT WOULD CUT THE F.B.I., THE
D.E.A., NIST, NATIONAL TRADE
FOUNDATION.
REP, NATIONAL SCIENCE
SOME OF THE INCREASES ARE IN
HERE BECAUSE THE HOUSE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
APPROACHED US, AS MR. ROGERS
SAID, THERE ARE TWO COMPANIES
HERE IN AMERICA.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HIT BY
CYBERATTACKS AND THOSE HIT BY
CYBER BY THE CHINESE AND DO
NOT KNOW IT.
THIS WOULD SEVERELY HURT THEM.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS
AMENDMENT.
WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS
IMPORTANT BUT I THINK IS THE
WRONG WAY TO DO IT.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I REQUEST A RECORDED
VOTE, THE YEAS AND NAYS.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
PAGE 3, LINE 10,
AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT
REDUCED BY $277,824,000.
PAGE 101, LINE 10, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT INCREASE
BY $277,824,000.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIRMAN.
THIS AMENDMENT CUTS MORE THAN A
QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS IN
UNAUTHORIZED, I REPEAT,
UNAUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION.
NOW, WHAT DOES THE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE TAD
MFERINGS DO?
WELL, IT'S GOT -- TRADE
ADMINISTRATION DO?
WELL, I.T.A. ALSO, QUOTE, FROM
THEIR OWN MATERIAL, PROVIDES
COUNSELING TO AMERICAN
COMPANIES IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
THE MOST PROFITABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE PLANS FOR PRICING,
EXPORT AND A FULL RANGE OF
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TREAT
PROMOTION ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS
MARKET INTELLIGENCE AND
INDUSTRY AND MARKET-SPECIFIC
RESEARCH, END QUOTE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD,
MADAM CHAIRMAN, BUT ISN'T THAT
WHAT BUSINESSES AND TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS AND THE CHAMBERS
OF COMMERCE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO
WITH THEIR OWN MONEY?
WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS BE
SUBSIDIZING THE PROFITS OF
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES?
IF A SPECIFIC BUSINESS OR
INDUSTRY IS THE BENEFICIARY OF
THESE SERVICES, SHOULDN'T THEY
BE THE SOLE FINANCERS OF THOSE
SERVICES, EITHER INDIVIDUALLY
ASSOCIATIONS?
OR COLLECTIVELY THROUGH TRADE
IT'S TRUE THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN
GENERATIONS, BUT
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, WHO WAS
HARDLY A CHAMPION OF SMALLER
GOVERNMENT, HAD THE RIGHT IDEA
WHEN HE SLASHED ITS BUDGET IN
1932 AND CLOSED 31 OF ITS
OFFICES.
THE THING IS THAT REFORM DID
NOT FAKE.
TODAY THE I.T.A. HAVE SOME 240
OFFICES.
NOW THE AUTHORIZATION LAPSED
WAY BACK IN 1996, 16 YEARS AGO.
IT'S NOT BEEN REVIEWED OR
AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS SINCE
THEN, BUT WE STILL KEEP
SHOVELING MONEY OUT THE DOOR AT
THEM.
BUT ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN
REVIEWED BY CONGRESS IN ALL OF
THESE YEARS, IT HAS BEEN
THOROUGHLY WEIGHED BY THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,
THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
THE BUDGET, AND MOST RECENTLY
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL
COMMISSION, AND THEY HAVE ALL
FOUND IT SADLY WANTING.
THE SIMPSON-BOWLES REPORT
SUMMED IT UP NICELY AND I
QUOTE, SERVICES PROVIDED BY
I.T.A. U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICES
AND OTHER DIVISIONS DIRECTLY
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO U.S.
COMPANIES SHOULD BE FINANCED BY
THE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS
ASSISTANCE.
WHILE THE AGENCY CHARGES FEES
FOR THOSE SERVICES, ITS FEES DO
NOT COVER THE COSTS OF ALL OF
ITS ACTIVITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, IT IS ARGUED THAT
THE BENEFITS OF TRADE PROMOTION
ACTIVITIES ARE PASSED ON TO
FOREIGNERS IN THE FORM OF
DECREASED EXPORT COSTS.
SIMPSON-BOWLES GOES ON TO SAY,
ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET, BUSINESSES CAN RECEIVE
SIMILAR SERVICES FROM STATE,
LOCAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR
ENTITIES.
THE C.B.O. OPTION TO ELIMINATE
I.T.A.'S PROMOTION ACTIVITIES
SAVES $267 MILLION IN 2010 AND
$1.6 BILLION THROUGH 2014, END
OF QUOTE.
AND MADAM CHAIRMAN, IF THE
C.B.O., THE O.M.B., AND THE
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL COMMISSION
THIS IS WASTEFUL AND
CONGRESS HASN'T BOTHERED TO
RE-AUTHORIZE IT SINCE IT
EXPIRED 16 YEARS AGO, WHY DO WE
CONTINUE SPENDING MONEY WE
DON'T HAVE, DUPLICATING
SERVICES THAT THE BENEFICIARIES
OF THOSE SERVICES EITHER DON'T
NEED OR ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF
FUNDING ON THEIR OWN?
AND IF THE COMPANIES THAT WE
ARE TOLD DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM
ALL OF THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
ARE NOT WILLING TO FUND THEM,
WELL, MAYBE THAT'S NATURE'S WAY
OF TELLING US WE SHOULDN'T BE
TAKING OUR CONSTITUENTS' MONEY
TO FUND THEM EITHER.
WHY SHOULD WE ASK AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS TO SDICE THE EXPORT
ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGNERS THAT
SIMPSON-BOWLES NOTES?
MADAM CHAIRMAN, THE RULES OF
THE HOUSE WERE SPECIFICALLY
WRITTEN TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF
UNAUTHORIZED EXPENDITURE, AND
THEY PROVIDE FOR A POINT GUARD
TO BE RAISED IF IT'S -- POINT
OF ORDER TO BE RAISED IF IT'S
AN APPROPRIATIONS
BILL IF ASKED BUT THAT IS
WAIVED MAKING THIS AMENDMENT
THE ONLY POSSIBLE WAY OF
FEHERTYING OUT THIS DUPLICATIVE
PROGRAM AND OUT-- FERRETING OUT
THIS DUPLICATIVE PROGRAM.
AND WE OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH
IT.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
HIS TIME?
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA YIELD BACK HIS TIME?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
LESS THAN 1% OF
AMERICAN BUSINESSES EXPORT TO
ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN A PROCESS
TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF
EXPORTS.
IN PART, THE RE-AUTHORIZATION
OF THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK, A
NUMBER OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE
CONNECTED, BUT THIS IS AN
ACTIVITY THAT HAS BORNE FRUIT.
I HAVE MET WITH BUSINESSES, AND
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THESE
EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND
THEY'RE DOING REAL WORK,
HELPING REAL BUSINESSES ALL
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
AND IT CREATES REAL JOBS.
SO I -- I'M AGAINST THE
AMENDMENT, AND I GUESS IF YOU
DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSED ON JOBS AND EXPORTS,
YOU COULD OPPOSE IT, BUT AS FOR
MYSELF AND I WOULD ASK THOSE
WHO WANT TO SUPPORT AMERICAN
JOBS AND PARTLY WE HAVE TO DO
THAT THROUGH SELLING TO THE 90%
OF THE CONSUMERS WHO ARE
SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER IN OUR OWN
COUNTRY, AND SO I SUPPORT
CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THIS
EFFORT.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD BACK HIS TIME?
I DO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
IT WOULD BE A
DRACONIAN CUT, AND WAL-MART, I
HEARD THAT 5,000 OF THE 6,000
PRODUCTS IN WAL-MART ARE MADE
IN CHINA.
WE WANT TO EXPORT A JOB, WE
WANT TO EXPORT OUR PRODUCTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE CARS IN
MICHIGAN AND SEND THEM AROUND
THE WORLD.
EXPORT THEM.
WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS AND
AND EXPORT IT.
WE WANT TO DEVELOP APPLESAUCE
WE WANT EXPORT.
WE WANT EXPORT.
I HAVE A LONG LIST I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY.
THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS BILL
NOT AUTHORIZED.
I MEAN, THERE ARE FOUR PAGES
THAT ARE NOT AUTHORIZED.
IF WE DIDN'T DO THINGS THAT
WEREN'T AUTHORIZED, WE'D HAVE
TO SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN AND
MOVE OFF TO SOME OTHER PLACE.
I JUST ANY IT'S A BAD
AMENDMENT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GENTLEMAN
IS TRYING TO DO, SAVE MONEY,
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO EXPORT
AND CREATE JOBS, AND I WANT TO
SEE AMERICAN PRODUCTS SOLD IN
AMERICAN PRODUCTS SOLD IN
CHINA.
ENGLAND, AMERICAN PRODUCTS SOLD
IN BERLIN, AMERICAN PRODUCTS
SOLD IN INDONESIA.
I URGE A NO VOTE FOR THE
AMENDMENT AND YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
AND THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED WILL SAY NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM CHAIR, ON
THAT I ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA WILL
BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 9
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MR. TURNER OF
OHIO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES.
OHIO IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MADAM CHAIR, MY
AMENDMENT INCREASES BY $5
MILLION THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF
FUNDING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
TRADE ADMINISTRATION IN THE
AMOUNT THEY MUST DEVOTE TO
CRACKING DOWN ON UNFAIR CHINESE
TRADE PRACTICES.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT U.S.
MANUFACTURERS AND WORKERS CAN
COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD IN THE GLOBAL
MARKETPLACE.
UNFORTUNATELY, UNFAIR TRADE
PRACTICES FROM COUNTRIES LIKE
CHINA MAKE THIS INCREASINGLY
DIFFICULT.
SINCE THE YEAR 2000 THERE HAS
BEEN A 300% INCREASE IN THE
AMOUNT OF GOODS IMPORTED FROM
CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES.
MOREOVER, THE IMPORT
ADMINISTRATION TASKED WITH
CRACKING DOWN ON UNFAIR TRADE
PRACTICES HAS FOR YEARS
EXPERIENCED A GROWING WORKLOAD
OF CASES INVOLVING TRADE WITH
CHINA.
IN MY OWN DEYTON COMMUNITY,
PAPER PRODUCERS AND THEIR
EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN HURT BY
UNFAIRLY SDICED IMPORTS OF
PAPER -- UNSUBSIDIZED IMPORTS
OF PAPER FROM CHINA.
THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION IS TO DEVOTE THE
SAME LEVEL OF FUNDING, $11.4
MILLION, FOR CHINA ANTI-DUMPING
AND COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES.
GIVEN THE RISE IN CHINESE
IMPORTS AND THE INCREASED
COMPLEXITY OF CASES, THE I.T.A.
MUST EVALUATE, WE MUST ENSURE
THAT EFFORTS TO PROTECT U.S.
MANUFACTURERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES
RECEIVE SUFFICIENT DEDICATED
FUNDING.
MY AMENDMENT INCREASES THE
AMOUNT THE I.T.A. MUST USE FOR
THESE ACTIVITIES BY $5 MILLION,
FROM $11.4 MILLION TO $16.4
MILLION, USING EXISTING
BILL.
RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE
I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN WOLF
FOR WORKING ME ON THIS AMENDMENT
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF
AMENDMENT.
MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OHIO YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
WE WOULD AGREE TO THE
AMENDMENT.
I ACCEPT THE
AMENDMENT.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD AMENDMENT.
THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO
SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION, PARTICULARLY
WITH REGARD TO CHINA.
I WON'T GO ON, BUT I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR THE AMENDMENT AND
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH IT AND
URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OHIO.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE BE OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES
-- IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT, THE AMENDMENT
IS AGREED TO.
THE CLERK WILL READ.
PAGE 4, LINE 1,
BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY
OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION,
$101 MILLION.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,
$182 MILLION.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE SEEK
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. MICHAUD OF MAINE.
PAGE 5, LINE 17, INSERT,
INCREASE BY $38 MILLION.
PAGE 7, LINE 11, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT, REDUCE BY
$38 MILLION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MAINE IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR --
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
E.D.A. IS THE ONLY FEDERAL
AGENCY WITH A SINGLE MISSION OF
CREATING HIGH-QUALITY JOBS HERE
AT HOME.
THE INVESTMENTS MADE BY E.D.A.
IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS LEAD TO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB
CREATION.
BY LAW E.D.A. PROJECTS REQUIRE A
50% LOCAL SHARE AND MUST
LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE
SECTOR INVESTMENT.
AS A RESULT E.D.A. FUNDING GOES
TO PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED AND VETTED BY LOCAL
LEADERS AND BUSINESSES.
THEIR INVESTMENTS ARE
COMPETITIVE, MERIT BASED AND
BASED ON REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.
AS A RESULT E.D.A. PROJECTS
REFLECT LOCAL PRIORITIES AND
CONTRIBUTES TO BROADER ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ALL E.D.A.
INVESTMENTS MUST RESULT IN THEIR
CREATION AND RETENTION OF
HIGH-QUALITY JOBS.
AND THE PROGRAM HAS A STRONG
TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN MY
HOME STATE OF MAINE AND
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IN FACT, BETWEEN 2005 AND 2010
E.D.A. INVESTMENTS HAVE HELPED
TO CREATE OVER 314,000 JOBS
NATIONWIDE.
AT A TIME WHEN OUR ECONOMIC
RECOVERY CONTINUES TO BE SLOW
AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE
OUT OF JOBS, IT DOES NOT MAKE
SENSE TO CUT THE ONE FEDERAL
PROGRAM SINGLY DEDICATED TO THE
PROJECT PUTTING THEM BACK TO
WORK.
MY AMENDMENT WILL MAINTAIN THE
LEVEL OF FUNDING TO E.D.A. AND
IS OFFSET BY CUTS TO THE
PERIODIC CENSUS AND PROGRAMS
ACCOUNT WHICH IS CURRENTLY
E.D.A.
FUNDED AT 3 1/2 TIMES THAT OF
EVEN THOUGH THE NEXT CENSUS IS
EIGHT YEARS AWAY, THE OVERALL
CENSUS PROGRAM WAS CUT BY JUST
UNDER $10 MILLION.
E.D.A. WAS CUT BY $38 MILLION.
REDUCING THE CENSUS ACCOUNT BY
$38 MILLION IS ONLY A 6%
DECREASE.
BY CUTTING E.D.A. BY THE SAME
17% DECREASE IN
THEIR FUNDING.
SOME MIGHT COME TO THE FLOOR
TODAY TO CRITICIZE E.D.A. OR ITS
INVESTMENTS.
I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE
THIS AND OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS
WORK WELL.
BY CUTTING E.D.A.'S FUNDING OR
ELIMINATING IT ALTOGETHER WOULD
BE SHORTSIGHTED AT A TIME WHEN
AT OUR DISPOSAL.
WE NEED EVERY JOB-CREATING TOOL
MY AMENDMENT CONTINUES LEVEL
FUNDING FOR A PROGRAM THAT IS
UNIQUELY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS
ALMOST ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITY.
IT CONTINUES FUNDING FOR A
PROGRAM THAT HAS SPECIFIC TOOLS
AN EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS
CHRONICALLY POOR AND DISTRESSED
AREAS.
POST-DISASTROUS ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND CONSEQUENCES OF
PLANT CLOSURES OR DOWNSIZING.
I AM OFFERING THIS AMENDMENT
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS THE
WRONG TIME TO TURN OUR BACKS ON
INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES
THAT WILL MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE.
AND BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT IS
THE RIGHT TIME TO GET OUR
PRIORITIES RIGHT AND INSIST ON
FEDERAL INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
FOCUSED ON JOB CREATION.
I OFFERED THIS AMENDMENT LAST
YEAR AND MORE THAN 300 MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE JOIN ME IN VOTING
TO RESTORE E.D.A. FUNDING.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR AND HELP
PASS THIS AMENDMENT TO RESTORE
THE FUNDING TO E.D.A. AND TO
SUPPORT A PROVEN JOB CREATOR.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MAINE YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF
HIS TIME.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS.
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
AMENDMENT, JUST BECAUSE YOU CALL
SOMETHING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DOES NOT MAKE IT SO.
WE COULD NAME AN AGENCY MANY
THINGS.
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS ONE THAT
MOST FOLKS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE I
CAME TO CONGRESS 16 MONTHS AGO.
THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKING FROM
ONE AND GIVING TO ANOTHER.
OFTEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRIVATE
COMPANIES.
YOU'LL SEE IN A MINUTE THAT I'VE
GOT AN AMENDMENT THAT TAKES A
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOW WE
VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO
OUGHT TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM.
BUT I URGE THE -- I HEARD THE
CREATION.
GENTLEMAN TALK ABOUT JOB
IT'S ONE THING FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO GO TO A RIBBON HAD
BEEN CUTTING, STAND IN FRONT OF
A FACILITY AND TALK ABOUT JOBS
AND SAY, HERE'S ALL THE JOBS WE
CREATED.
WHEN IN FACT THOSE
JOBS WERE CREATED BY TAKING
MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS.
WHERE ELECTED OFFICIALS OFTEN
DON'T WANT TO GO IS STAND IN
FRONT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE
OR TALK ABOUT FOLKS WHO HAD TO
GO AND PAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES OR
STAND THERE AND TELL SOMEONE WHY
THAT COMPANY GOT MONEY AND THE
COMPANY ON THE OTHER SIDE DIDN'T
GET THIS PARTICULAR GRANT FROM
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION.
I'VE SEEN THIS AGENCY UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL.
IT IS A VERY, VERY POLITICAL USE
OF CAPITAL.
THIS IS NOT THE FREE MARKET THAT
WE ALL KNOW.
THIS IS AN AGENCY THAT
DISTRIBUTES MONEY ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY, VERY, VERY
INTENTIONALLY.
IT'S A $-- INTO 400-PLUS
DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS AMERICA,
WITH THE AIM OF MAKING SURE THAT
THIS AGENCY CONTINUES TO EXIST
IN PERPETUITY.
THIS IS PRECISELY THE KIND OF
STIMULUS THAT WE HAVE
DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN
IN AMERICA DOESN'T WORK AND FOR
THAT REASON I OPPOSE INCREASING
THE FUNDING FOR THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION AND I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I RISE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I'D LIKE TO RISE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE MICHAUD
AMENDMENT TO KEEP LEVEL FUNDING
FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION, AND I WANT TO
THANK CONGRESSMAN MICHAUD FOR
OFFERING THIS IMPORTANT
AMENDMENT.
HE'S A TRUE LEADER IN PROTECTING
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING, JOBS AND
BUSINESSES FROM UNFAIR FREE
TRADE AND AGREEMENTS AND WORKS
TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE JOBS AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE AT
HOME.
I WANT TO SAY TO OUR DEAR
COLLEAGUE FROM KANSAS, YOU KNOW,
WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS AMERICA,
AND I REALIZE THIS MAY BE JUST
YOUR FIRST TERM, BUT YOU KNOW,
HELD UP BY THE FEDERAL
THE WHOLE STATE OF KANSAS IS
GOVERNMENT.
ALL THOSE AGRICULTURAL
SUBSIDIES, C.R.P., RURAL
DEVELOPMENT, WETLANDS RESERVE,
WHEN ONE TAKES A LOOK AT THE
FARM, WHOLE FARM CREDIT
ADMINISTRATION, FOR HEAVEN'S
SAKE, NOT EVERY COMMUNITY IN
AMERICA HAS THOSE SORTS OF PROPS
UNDER THEM.
IT'S A SUCCESS STORY.
AGRICULTURE'S DOING VERY WELL.
WE IN OHIO UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THERE'S PARTS OF OHIO THAT
AREN'T COVERED BY PROGRAMS LIKE
YOUR STATE BENEFITS FROM AND
THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED AGENCIES
ADMINISTRATION.
LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THOSE CORNERS OF AMERICA THAT
ACTUALLY MANUFACTURE BUT MAY NOT
GROW THINGS.
AND SO I'D BE MORE THAN PLEASED
TO YIELD WHEN I FINISH.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY CLAIMS
THEIR PRIORITY IS TO CREATE JOBS
AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
HOWEVER, HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH
AN APPROPRIATION BILL THAT
DRASTICALLY CUTS RESOURCES FOR
THE ONLY GOVERNMENT AGENCY WHOSE
SOLE MISSION IS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
CONSTRUCTION, TECHNICAL
E.D.A.'S DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF
ASSISTANCE, FINANCE AND
INVESTMENT PLANNING, TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE ARE DESIGNED TO HELP
COMMUNITIES BUILD UPON THEIR
REGIONAL ASSETS, TO FOSTER JOB
CREATION AND BUSINESS EXPANSION.
PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN
BANKS ARE HOARDING CAPITAL AND
NOT LENDING.
E.D.A.'S CAPACITY BECOMES EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT AND VITAL.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS GAVE AMERICA'S
INFRASTRUCTURE A D GRADE.
AN ESTIMATE -- AND ESTIMATED
THAT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,
$2.2 TRILLION ARE NEEDED TO
UP-TO-DATE GRADE OUR NATION'S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
OF THAT GRAIN.
PORTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SHIP SOME
THAM THAT'S WHY I'M A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF E.D.A. AND
PARTICULARLY TO ITS PUBLIC WORKS
PROGRAM.
WHICH FUNDS A VARIETY OF
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT CAN
HELP AMERICA ADDRESS OUR AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO HELP
FUND INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA'S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE GREATEST JOB CREATOR WE
HAVE IN THIS YEAR
OF 2012.
E.D.A.'S WORK IS GENERATING REAL
RETURN.
SO THE ARGUMENT OF BEING
CONCERNED WITH THE DEFICIT FALLS
SHORT WHEN YOU CONSIDER E.D.A.
EVERY DOLLAR IN E.D.A. FUNDING
IS EXPECTED TO LEVERAGE NEARLY
$7 WORTH OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN STATE AFTER
STATE AFTER STATE.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2010 E.D.A.
CREATED OR RETAINED ABOUT 48,500
JOBS AND GENERATED NEARLY $6
BILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
WHAT A GOOD STORY THAT IS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I SUPPORT MR.
MICHAUD'S AMENDMENT TO RESTORE
E.D.A. FUNDING, TO F.Y. 2012
LEVELS, AND I'D BE VERY PLEASED
TO YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS FOR ANY COMMENTS HE MIGHT
HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YIELDING.
YOU SAID MAYBE I DON'T
UNDERSTAND, PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE
YOU'VE BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF
YEARS THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW JOBS ARE CREATED IN THE REAL
WORLD, NOT HERE IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
YOU TALKED ABOUT
KANSAS.
YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THE
AIR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, THE
BUSINESS I WAS IN FOR A DECADE,
WAS GOOD MANUFACTURING JOBS.
WHAT WE DIDN'T NEED WAS MORE
SPENDING.
TAXES AND MORE GOVERNMENT
WHAT WE NEEDED WAS THE
GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY.
I YIELD BACK AND THANK YOU FOR
YIELDING ME TIME.
I'M REALLY GLAD THE
A MEMBER OF DEFENSE
GENTLEMAN STATED THAT BECAUSE AS
SUBCOMMITTEE, I KNOW EXACTLY
WHERE THE R&D COMES FROM FOR
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, FOR ALL OF OUR
SUPPORT CRAFT, FOR ALL OF OUR
AIR GUARD, AND I KNOW HOW THE
COMMERCIAL SECTOR BENEFITS AND
WHY WE LEAD THE WORLD IN TERMS
OF AIRLINE EXPORTS AND SO FORTH.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T AND
GATE THE GOVERNMENT, THAT
DOESN'T NULLIFY THE ARGUMENT I
OFFERED THAT THE WHOLE STATE OF
KANSAS IS DOING VERY WELL AND
HAS A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AGRICULTURE GETS A SPECIAL PLACE
IN THIS ECONOMY, BUT THAT'S NOT
TRUE IN MANY OTHER SECTORS AND
PARTICULARLY WHERE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT AGING INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH
BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
E.D.A. IS REALLY VITALLY
IMPORTANT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN
HELPING US TO MODERNIZE
COAST-TO-COAST.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE, THANK YOU
SO VERY MUCH FOR KEEPING THE
PROGRAM LEVEL.
EGREGIOUS SPENDING HERE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO
HELP REBUILD THIS COUNTRY AND WE
KNOW, THESE -- THE MOST
IMPORTANT INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE
IN ORDER TO CREATE JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY, AFTER UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS, WHICH GETS SPENT
IMMEDIATELY IN THE ECONOMY, IS
INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S TOO BAD THAT THE
REPUBLICANS CABINET SEEM TO MOVE
A HIGHWAY BILL, A TRANSPORTATION
BILL, OUT OF THIS CONGRESS.
THAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING WE
COULD DO TO CREATE MORE JOBS IN
2012.
THIS COUNTRY IN THE YEAR OF
BUT IN ANY CASE, PASSING THE
GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT TO FULLY
FUND E.D.A. MAKES COMMON SENSE
AND IT CERTAINLY MAKES JOB
SENSE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLELADY'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
NEW YORK.
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE HERE
SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS WHETHER
OR NOT THE E.D.A. NEEDS MORE
HELP.
IT'S WHY AGAIN WE ARE BASHING
THE CENSUS BUREAU.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S
SURPRISING THAT WE WOULD DO IT
ON THIS SIDE SINCE WE WILL NOTE
FOR THE NEXT MANY HOURS THAT
THERE'S PLENTY OF FOLKS ON THAT
SIDE THAT WILL WANT TO DO THAT.
WHEN I FIRST GOT ON
THIS SUBCOMMITTEE YEARS AGO, AND
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING
RANKING MEMBER THROUGH CHAIRMAN
ROGERS AND THE RANKING MEMBERS
TO CHAIRMAN WOLF, I COULD NEVER
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ATTACK WAS
ON THE CENSUS BUREAU.
THEN IT DAWNED ON ME AND I MAY
BE TOTALLY WRONG, THAT SOME
FOLKS WOULD JUST LIKE THE CENSUS
BUREAU TO DO JUST ENOUGH,
MEANING IF YOU COUNT YOURSELF,
THAT'S FINE, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO,
GO OUT AND SPEND SOME EXTRA
DOLLARS TO COUNT FOLKS WHO
ORDINARILY MAY NOT COUNT
THEMSELVES, THEN THAT'S NOT GOOD
FOR SOME FOLKS AND THE RESULTS
MAY BE SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT
TO SEE.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY EXPLANATION
I COULD COME UP WITH, THE FACT
THAT AS WE WILL SEE IN THE NEXT
HOURS, THERE WILL BE MANY
DESIRES TO CUT THE CENSUS BUREAU
AND IN SOME CASES GET RID OF THE
WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND
REMIND OURSELVES IS THAT THERE'S
PROBABLY VERY FEW VITAL
FUNCTIONS OF AGENCIES LIKE THE
CENSUS BUREAU THAT ARE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THIS ONE.
PLANS, POLICIES, REDISTRICTING,
OTHER DECISIONS IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE BASED ON THAT COUNT THAT
TAKES PLACE EVERY 10 YEARS.
UNLIKE OTHER THINGS WE DO IN
THIS CONGRESS AND IN THIS
COUNTRY, THIS IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE, TO COUNT
THE PEOPLE AMONGST THE STATES,
AND EVERY 10 YEARS THE CENSUS
BUREAU GIVES UP FOR IT.
WE HAVE FOUND IN THE PAST THAT
WHEN WE MAKE CUTS TO THE CENSUS
BUREAU, IT ENED UP COSTING US
MORE MONEY LATER WHEN WE HAD TO
TRY TO GET BACK SOME OF THAT
MONEY AND THEN STATES THAT MAY
BE SUPPORTIVE NOW OF CUTS, LATER
RUN TO US AND SAY, NO, WE NEED A
BETTER COUNT, WE NEED A FAIR
ACCOUNT, WE NEED A COUNT THAT
WILL MAKE MY STATE SHOW THE TRUE
GROWTH IN POPULATION.
SO I SUSPECT THAT THE END OF
TODAY, WHEN THIS VOTE IS TAKEN,
THERE WILL BE A MASS VOTE, AS
AMENDMENT.
HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, FOR THIS
BUT I REALLY THINK IT IS TOTALLY
CENSUS BUREAU AND CONTINUOUSLY
FOOLISH TO CONTINUOUSLY BASH THE
DESIRE NOT TO HAVE A PROPER
COUNT IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT IS A VITAL ISSUE AND IT'S ONE
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROTECT
AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD BE ONE OF
THE FEW VOTING AGAINST THIS
AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
SEEK RECOGNITION?
I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS
AMENDMENT.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
STRIKE THE LAST WORD?
YES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I HAVE RESERVATIONS
ABOUT THE OFFSET.
E.D.A. IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
I'M SORRY.
GENTLELADY FROM OHIO.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE
WE DON'T WANT IN THIS DEBATE TO
SUBSTITUTE INSULT FOR INSIGHT.
I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
FOCUS ON THE ISSUE AT HAND.
WE DO WANT TO CREATE JOBS.
THE E.D.A. IS A PROGRAM THAT I
THINK ALMOST EVERYONE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT BECAUSE IT'S
LOCAL DECISIONMAKING, INVESTING
IN COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST,
IT'S WORKED IN EVERY STATE IN
THE COUNTRY TO HELP COMMUNITIES
WORK THROUGH DIFFICULT ECONOMIC
CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN PLANTS CLOSE
AND THE LIKE.
IT'S A RETURN OF TAXPAYERS'
MONEY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR
ACTIVITIES.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS WE GO
FORWARD IS THINK ABOUT HOW WE
PAY FOR THIS.
NOW, THIS IS A $38 MILLION
INCREASE THAT WILL HAVE
POLITICAL ATTRACTIVENESS.
TRUTH IS WE CAN'T
SUBSTITUTE THAT FOR OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES, TO CONDUCT A
CENSUS, AND TO DO IT PROPERLY
AND WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR IT.
SO I WANT TO WORK WITH THE
GENTLEMAN, TO FIND ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS FOR E.D.A.
I HOPE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE
REVENUE FOR THE CENSUS TO DO
OUR JOB AS A CONGRESS TO
FURTHER FUND OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES TO HAVE A
CENSUS AND TO DO IT CORRECTLY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE, AND THOSE
AYE.
IN FAVOR WILL SIGNIFY BY SAYING
OPPOSED WILL SAY NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE.
I ASK FOR A
RECORDED VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE WILL BE
POSTPONED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS.
AND THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE
AMENDMENT.
-- DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MR. POMPEO OF
KANSAS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR WOMAN.
I RISE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT CONGRESS DOESN'T
GET A CHANCE TO DO.
MY CONSTITUENTS SAY, WE NEVER
GET RID OF EVERYTHING.
PROGRAMS GROW AND THEY GO AWAY
BACK.
FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEY COME
HERE.
WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY
MY AMENDMENT IS TO ELIMINATE
THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE $16 TRILLION IN DEBT.
THIS GIVES MEMBERS ON BOTH
SIDES TO ADDRESS A SERIOUS
SPENDING PROBLEM IN A REAL WAY.
THIS AMENDMENT HAS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
HAVING SPENT OVER $1.5 BILLION
ON GRANTS, THE E.D.A. DOES
NOTHING BUT SIMPLY PICK WINNERS
AND LOSERS, BY REGION, BY
INDUSTRY, BY COMMUNITY,
PARTICULARLY BUSINESSES.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO EARMARKS.
THIS ADMINISTRATION USES THE
E.D.A. TO ADVANCE LOCAL
PROJECTS AND BENEFIT A
PARTICULAR COMPANY OR GROUP.
AT ITS CORE, IT'S NOTHING BUT A
WEALTH OF REDISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM.
A STIMULUS BILL BUILT UP IN THE
NATURE OF AN AGENCY THAT WAS
BUILT IN 1965.
LET ME DESCRIBE HOW IT WORKS.
IT BEGINS BY TAKING DOLLARS ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT MONEY FLOWS TO WASHINGTON,
D.C., AND BEFORE IT EVER GOES
BACK OUT, OVER 20% OF IT IS
CONSUMED HERE IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
NO VALUE RETURNED.
THEN IT HAS COMPANIES TO APPLY
FOR FREE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO RENOVATE A MOVIE
THEATER, TO BUILD A IN
INDUSTRIAL PARKS.
SOME OF THESE ARE RIDICULOUS.
BAD.
SOME OF THEM PERHAPS NOT SO
HOWEVER SHES EACH ONE OF THE
LOCAL PROJECTS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS
BEING INVOLVED IN AND ALMOST
EVERY ONE OF THESE PROJECTS
WOULD ADVANCE WITHOUT TAXPAYER
RESOURCES.
A FREQUENT FLYER, THEY TRAVEL
THE COUNTRY FOR
GROUNDBREAKINGS AND RIBBON
CUTTINGS.
HE PROUDLY TOOK CREDIT FOR A
$1.6 BILLION STEEL PLANT IN
FLORIDA WITH IS .1% OF THE
PROFIT.
HE HAD NO IDEA THAT MONEY WAS
IN HIS CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
LET ME TALK ABOUT JUST A COUPLE
OF PROJECTS.
IN 2008, THE E.D.A. PROVIDED $2
MILLION TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION
OF THE HARRY REID TECHNOLOGY
PARK.
AS BEST AS I CAN TELL, THAT
FACILITY CONTINUES TO BE EMPTY.
SOMETIME LATER, THE E.D.A.
GRANTED MONEY FOR A -- AN
AMPHITHEATER.
SOME $2 MILLION OF YOUR MONEY.
THEN $1.5 MILLION FROM WHAT I'M
SURE IS A BEAUTIFUL THEATER BUT
WHAT BUSINESS DOES THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN PROVIDING MONEY
FOR A THEATER SUCH AS THIS?
WE HAVE MANY IN KANSAS, TOO WE
DIDN'T GET THIS PARTICULAR
GRANT.
WE DIDN'T STRIKE THE E.D.A.
LOTTERY.
AND FINALLY, HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS, AS FAR BACK AS THE
1980'S, TO BUILD REPLICAS OF
THE EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS.
YOU CAN'T DRIVE TO THIS
FACILITY THAT'S UNCOMPLETED.
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF
TAXPAYER MONEY SPOILED AND
WASTED.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS AMENDMENT.
FOLKS WHO BELIEVE IN PRIVATE
SECTOR'S CAPACITY TO CREATE
JOBS SUPPORT THIS.
I CLOSE WITH THIS THOUGHT.
BIPARTISAN.
I TALKED ABOUT THIS BIG BEING
THE SIMPSON-BOWLES INCLUDED THE
ELIMINATION OF E.D.A. IN ITS
RECOMMENDATION.
THEY SAID IT SHOULD GO AWAY IN
A BIPARTISAN BASIS.
BUT MORE SURPRISINGLY, I WANT
TO QUOTE FROM THEN SENATOR, NOW
PRESIDENT BASE REALIGNMENT AND
CLOSURE, WHO CRITICIZED THE --
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, WHO
CRITICIZED THE E.D.A.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL
SUPPORT THE POMPEO AMENDMENT.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT.
IT WOULD ZERO OUT --
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
IT WOULD ZERO OUT
E.D.A., AND LAST YEAR THE HOUSE
VOTED 305-127 TO STRANGELY
ENOUGH TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR
E.D.A. BY $80 MILLION.
THIS YEAR WE ARE FUNDING THE
E.D.A. AT $219.5 MILLION WHICH
IS $35 MILLION LESS THAN THE
BASE APPROPRIATION PROVIDED TO
E.D.A. LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, WE IN
THE SUBCOMMITTEE DIRECTED THE
E.D.A. TO DESIGNATE A PORTION
OF ITS GRANT FUNDING TO WORK
WITH COMPANIES TO BRING BACK
THEIR OUTSOURCED MANUFACTURING
ACTIVITIES TO ECONOMICALLY
DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES.
SO WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO CHANGE
THEIR WHOLE THRUST OF THE
GRANTS TO NOT DO WHAT THE
GENTLEMAN SAID AND I THINK HE
MADE SOME VALID POINTS THERE
BUT TO NOW HAVE IT WHERE A
COMMUNITY WORKING TO
INCENTIVIZE, TO BRING A COMPANY
BACK FROM CHINA OR BACK FROM
MEXICO.
SO LAST YEAR THE HOUSE VOTED
305-127 TO INCREASE THE FUNDING
TO E.D.A. BY $80 MILLION.
THIS YEAR WE WERE AT $219.5,
$35 MILLION LESS.
SO I URGE A NO VOTE AND YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE TODAY IN
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS
AMENDMENT, TO ELIMINATE FUNDING
FOR E.D.A.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, E.D.A.
IS THE ONLY FEDERAL PROGRAM
CREATE JOBS.
THE PROGRAM FUNDS MERIT-BASED
COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR PROJECTS
THAT ALSO REQUIRES LOCAL
FUNDING.
AND E.D.A.'S GRANT DECISION
PROCESS IS VOID OF POLITICAL
INFLUENCE AND AWARDS GRANTS
BASED ON MERIT.
THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING, BUT
WE'RE NOT BACK ON OUR FEET YET.
AND THE 12 MILLION AMERICANS
ARE OUT THERE STILL LOOKING FOR
WORK.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO
ELIMINATE THIS PROGRAM.
MY FRIEND FROM KANSAS CALLS
E.D.A. A WEALTH DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM AND ARGUES IN A IT
PICKS WINNERS AND LOSERS.
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS PICKED
WINNERS AND LOSERS.
IN CONTRAST, E.D.A. IS BOUND BY
LAW TO PROVIDE INVESTMENT ONLY
TO COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING
ECONOMIC DISTRESS.
305 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FROM
PARTIES, INCLUDING THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS, VOTED TO
FULLY FUND THIS PROGRAM LAST
YEAR.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ONCE
AGAIN SUPPORT THE E.D.A. AND
VOTE AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT TO
ELIMINATE THIS PROGRAM.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
SEEK RECOGNITION?
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT AND
I THINK THAT --
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND I THINK THE
GENTLEMAN MIGHT BE IN
OPPOSITION.
LAST YEAR HE VOTED TO INCREASE
BY $80 MILLION TO E.D.A. AS WE
WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND
TODAY HE COMES AND SAYS HE
WANTS TO ZERO IT OUT.
LET ME PUT THIS IN SOME
CONTEXT.
AS WE'VE CIENEGAS PRICES GO
DOWN FOR THE LAST FIVE WEEKS
ALONE -- AS WE'VE SEEN GAS
PRICES GO DOWN FOR THE LAST
FIVE WEEKS ALONE, WE HAVE 5.6
MILLION JOBS CREATED IN THE
PAST 26 MONTHS.
UNLIKE THOSE IN EUROPE WHICH
HAVE SLUMPED IN A DOUBLE DIP
RECESSION, WE HAVE 25%
UNEMPLOYMENT IN SPAIN, AMERICA
IS COMING BACK.
SO THESE -- THIS NOTION THAT
SOMEHOW WE NEED TO KIND OF JUST
STOP TRYING TO HELP COMMUNITIES
MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION I
DON'T THINK MAKES A LOT OF
SENSE TODAY.
SO I JOIN THE CHAIRMAN ON THE
MAJORITY'S SIDE, ASK HIM TO
OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT.
IF THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
SOMEWHERE THAT DON'T WANT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL
APPLY.
GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T NEED TO
THESE ARE MERIT-BASED, LOCALLY
DECIDED AND IT'S HELPING
COMPANIES ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE HAD TESTIMONY FROM MEMBERS
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE OF
WORK BEING DONE BY E.D., IN
ALABAMA, ALL A-- E.D.A., IN
ALABAMA, ALL ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY.
SO WE NEED TO ZERO THIS OUT I
DON'T THINK MOVES US IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
I MOVE TO OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
I RISE IN
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT
KANSAS.
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE NEW HOUSE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY WAS ELECTED LAST YEAR
WITH THE SPECIFIC CHARGE TO
BRING WASTEFUL SPENDING UNDER
CONTROL.
WE CAN'T BLAME THE SENATE OR
THE PRESIDENT IF THERE'S WASTE
IN THE BUDGET ANY MORE.
MONEY DOESN'T GET SPENT BY THIS
GOVERNMENT UNLESS THE HOUSE
SAYS IT GETS SPENT IN A VERY
REAL CONSTITUTIONAL SENSE.
THE BUCK STARTS HERE.
NOW, HERE WE HAVE AN
APPROPRIATIONS BILL ORIGINATING
IN THIS HOUSE THAT STILL HAS
OUTRAGEOUSLY WASTEFUL AND
INDEFENSIBLE PROGRAMS IN IT AND
THE FLAGSHIP OF THAT WASTE IS
THE $182 MILLION IN
THERE'S THAT
WORD AGAIN -- IN UNAUTHORIZED
SPENDING FOR THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS SOLELY AND SIMPLY A
SLUSH FUND THAT GIVES AWAY
MONEY FOR THE MOST DUBIOUS OF
LOCAL PROJECTS.
LOCAL PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT
LOCAL COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE
FUNDED LOCALLY.
WE SHOULDN'T BE ROBBING ST.
PETERSBURG TO PAY ST. PAUL.
WE GOT TO ASK OURSELVES, IF
THESE PROJECTS ARE SO IMPORTANT
TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WHY ARE
THOSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES
UNWILLING TO PAY FOR THEM?
AND IF THE COMMUNITIES THAT
DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THESE
PROJECTS ARE UNWILLING TO PAY
FOR THEM, WHY ARE WE SPENDING
FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE DON'T
HAVE?
TO ADD INSULT TO INSANITY, THIS
PARTICULAR AGENCY IS SITTING
RIGHT NOW ON $845 MILLION.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD WE PROVIDE
IT WITH ANOTHER $180 MILLION?
WE OUGHT TO ABOLISH THIS AGENCY
AND WE COVER THE UNSPENT FUNDS,
NOT THROW GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD.
YOU KNOW, TIM CARNEY HIT IT ON
THE HEAD IN "THE WASHINGTON
EXAMINER" LAST OCTOBER WHEN HE
WROTE THIS -- HE SAID, QUOTE,
NEARLY EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED
AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
STIMULUS IN 2009 ARGUING THAT
THE DEFICIT WAS TOO HIGH, THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE
GAME OF PICKING WINNERS AND
LOSERS AND THAT WASHINGTON
DOESN'T CREATE JOBS.
BUT THE E.D.A. ADDS TO THE
DEFICIT, PICKS WINNERS AND
LOSERS AND PURPORTS TO CREATE
JOBS.
IF REPUBLICANS VOTE TO CONTINUE
THE E.D.A., THEY FLAUNT THEIR
HYPOCRISY TO CRITICS.
I HAVE TO AGREE.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS ARE MAKING
INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
STATUS QUO.
BUT THESE ARE TIMES THAT DEMAND
MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
WHEN MEMBERS VOTE FOR THESE
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, THEY
BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
SPENDING IN THEM AND FOR THE
WASTE IN THEM AND I FOR ONE DO
NOT INTEND TO EXPLAIN TO MY
CONSTITUENTS THAT A CULINARY
THEATER WAS WORTHY OF $2 MILLION
OF THEIR HARD-EARNED TAXES.
THIS SPEND SOMETHING SIMPLY
INDEFE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY THIS OUGHT
TO BE THE POSTER CHILD FOR WASTE
IN GOVERNMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE
LEADERSHIPS AGREED TO AN OPEN
AMENDMENT PROCESS, GIVING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THIS
PARTICULAR OVERSIGHT ON THE
FLOOR.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
THE HOUSE IS ILL-EQUIPPED TO
EXRE HENCEABLY DO THIS FROM THE
FLOOR AND WE MUST DO BETTER IN
BOTH THE AUTHORIZING AND THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES, IN
COMBING THESE BILLS EARLIER IN
THE PROCESS FOR THESE KIND OF
EXPENDITURES.
UNCONSCIONABLE AND INDEFENSIBLE
I COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
AMENDMENT.
KANSAS FOR OFFERING THE
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT AND
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
IN OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MY DISTRICT HAS HISTORICALLY
LAGGED BEHIND IN THE
COMMONWEALTH AND IN THE NATION.
WHICH IS WHY I HAVE MADE THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL
KENTUCKY MY TOP PRIORITY SINCE
COMING TO CONGRESS.
CREATING JOBS IN A MOUNTAINOUS
REGION WITHOUT SUFFICIENT
ROADWAYS OR SUITABLE WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE, MY --
INFRASTRUCTURE MIGHT SEEM AN
INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGE BUT I
ALWAYS ENCOURAGED MY
CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS TO PLAN THEIR WORK AND
WORK THEIR PLAN.
WITH THE HELP OF
E.D.A., THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE.
IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION IS ONE OF THE FEW
ENTITIES IN OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES
WITH CHRONICALLY HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT OR FACING ENORMOUS
SETBACKS DUE TO NATURAL
DISASTERS.
E.D.A.'S GRANTS, AWARDED IN A
COMPETITIVE FASHION, LEVERAGE
OVER $10 FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR
FOR EVERY FEDERAL DOLLAR
INVESTED.
AND ARE TARGETED AT FACILITIES
THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PRIVATE
INDUSTRY TO REMAIN OR LOCATE IN
THESE UNDERACHIEVING AREAS.
AS A RESULT OF THESE TARGETED
INVESTMENTS IN WATER SYSTEMS,
WORK FORCE TRAINING CENTERS AND
MOBILE FACILITIES OR BROADBAND
NETWORKS, STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES
AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE SEEN THE
CREATION OF SOME 1314,000 JOBS
IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS --
314,000 JOBS IN THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY CONCUR WITH THE
SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT, THAT
THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ISN'T TO CREATE JOBS
BUT INSTEAD TO CREATE THE
CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR PRIVATE
SECTOR JOB CREATION.
BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AREA
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS,
LEVERAGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
DOLLARS, AND ENGAGING THE LOCAL
WORK FORCE, E.D.A. DOES JUST
THAT.
THIS BILL PROVIDES $220 MILLION
FOR THE AGENCY, WHICH IS ALREADY
$38 MILLION BELOW THE CURRENT
LEVEL, REJECTS THE
ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST TO
SHIFT FUNDS AWAY FROM VITAL
PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS, AND
SUPPORTS A LONE GUARANTEE
PROGRAM TO DEVELOPMENT -- LOAN
GUARANTEE PROGRAM THAT WILL KEEP
RURAL AREAS COMPETITIVE
NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY.
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT IN RURAL AREAS
AROUND THE COUNTRY STILL
HOVERING WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE, THIS IS AN INVESTMENT
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE.
I URGE A NO VOTE.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
KANSAS.
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS.
I REQUEST A ROLL
CALL VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. CICILLINE OF RHODE ISLAND.
PAGE 5, LINE 17, STRIKE GRANTS
AND INSERT GRANTS INCLUDING
GRANTS AUTHORIZED UNDER SECTION
27 OF THE STEVENSON-WIDELER
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT OF
1980, 15, U.S.C., 5722.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
RHODE ISLAND IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
IN AN EFFORT TO DRIVE INNOVATION
AND REGIONAL COLLABORATION, THE
AMERICA COMPETES
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010
MANDATED THE CREATION OF
REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM
WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION.
THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO
ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL
INNOVATION STRATEGIES, INCLUDING
REGIONAL INNOVATION CLUSTERS AND
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PARKS.
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2013
BUDGET REQUESTED $25 MILLION TO
FUND THE REGIONAL INNOVATION
STRATEGIES PROGRAM.
FUNDING FOR THE REGIONAL
INNOVATION PROGRAM WOULD SUPPORT
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S
INTERAGENCY EFFORT TO BUILD
CLUSTERS INCLUDING THE JOBS AND
CHALLENGE.
INNOVATION ACCELERATOR
THE JOBS ACCELERATOR IS A
COMPETITIVE INTERAGENCY GRANT
THAT SUPPORTS THE ADVANCING OF
HIGH-GROWTH REGIONAL INDUSTRY
CLUSTERS, VERY IMPORTANT ALL
ACROSS AMERICA AND PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT IN MY HOME STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND.
E.D.A. IS CURRENTLY WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER FEDERAL
AGENCIES INCLUDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, EMPLOYMENT
AND THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION TO PROMOTE
REGIONAL COLLABORATION.
THE JOBS ACCELERATOR AGGREGATES
EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM
MULTIPLE FEDERAL AGENCIES TO
STRENGTHEN REGIONAL INDUSTRY
CLUSTERS.
NETWORKS OF INTERCONNECTED FIRMS
AND INSTITUTIONS WORKING TO
ACCELERATE JOB GROWTH, BUSINESS
FORMATION AND EXPANSION,
INNOVATION, WORK FORCE TRAINING
AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
A TARGETED INVESTMENT IN THIS
PROGRAM WILL HELP FEDERAL, STATE
AND LOCAL ENTITIES LEVERAGE
EXISTING RESOURCES, SPUR
REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND
ADVANCE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
JOB CREATION EFFORTS IN
HIGH-GROWTH INDUSTRIES.
THROUGH THE REGIONAL INNOVATION
PROGRAM, LOCAL LEADERS ARE
EMPOWERED TO MAXIMIZE EXISTING
ASSETS AND ARE PROVIDED
RESOURCES TO ENSURE HISTORICALLY
UNDER-REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES,
INCLUDING THOSE HARDEST HIT BY
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC
DECLINE, ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
IN AND BENEFIT FROM THE REGIONAL
CLUSTER.
MY AMENDMENT IS SIMPLE AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT DOES NOT CREATE ANY NEW
PROGRAM OR AUTHORIZATION, IT
DOES NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE A
SINGLE ACCOUNT ON THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND
JUSTICE, SCIENCE AND RELATED
AGENCIES.
THIS AMENDMENT SERVES TO
SPECIFICALLY CITE THE REGIONAL
INNOVATION PROGRAM TO FOCUS
ATTENTION ON ITS VITALLY
IMPORTANT JOB-CREATING
INITIATIVE AT THE APPROPRIATION
PROCESS -- AS THE APPROPRIATION
PROCESS MOVES FORWARD.
THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN
SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTED AND CITED
IN BOTH THE FACECAL YEAR 2012
AND FISCAL YEAR 2013 SENATE
C.J.S. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
REPORT.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
INNOVATION IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT TO AMERICA'S ABILITY
TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF REGIONAL INNOVATION CLUSTERS
WILL STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY TO
CREATE AND RETAIN NEW JOBS AND
SUSTAIN OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THE REGIONAL PROGRAM WILL HELP
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
ENTITIES LEVERAGE EXISTING
RESOURCES, SPUR REGIONAL
COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND JOB
CREATION IN THESE HIGH-GROWTH
INDUSTRIES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD,
SIMPLE AMENDMENT AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
WE HAVE NO OBJECTION
TO THE AMENDMENT EXCEPT THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT, ACCEPT THE
AMENDMENT.