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ON IT MEASURE EARLIER TODAY.
TO ACCOMPANY --
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY
HOUSE RESOLUTION.
TO PROHIBIT THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION FROM OVERREACHING INTO
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND PROGRAM
ELIGIBILITY UNDER TITLE 4 OF THE
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.
REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
PUSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON THE MOTION OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH
TORQUE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
CONCUR IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT
TO H.R. 347 ON WHICH THE YEAS
AND NAYS WERE ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE BILL.
H.R. 347, AN ACT TO
CORRECT AND SIMPLIFY THE
DRAFTING OF SECTION 1752,
RELATING TO RESTRICTED BUILDINGS
OR GROUNDS OF TITLE 18, UNITED
CODE.
THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND CONCUR IN
THE SENATE AMENDMENT?
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 387, THE NAYS
ARE 3.
2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE --
HAVE
ALL MEMBERS VOTED.
ANY MEMBER WISH TO CHANGE THEIR
VOTE.
ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 388,
THE NAYS ARE 3, 2/3 BEING IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE SENATE AMENDMENT
IS AGREED TO.
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS
OFF THE FLOOR.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM INDIANA SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER -- THE HOIST IS
NOT IN ORDER.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO IF I COULD
GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION, ASK
FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
WE JUST LOST A FORMER MEMBER OF
CONGRESS, KATIE HALL FROM GARY,
INDIANA, AND AFTER THAT, MR.
SPEAKER, IF YOU WOULD BE SO
KIND, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
MOMENT OR TWO TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS ABOUT MS. HALL.
I REQUEST THAT THE HOUSE HAVE A
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN REMEMBRANCE
OF KATIE HALL.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
LET ME START OFF REAL QUICKLY
BEFORE I YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE
FROM GARY, INDIANA AND SAY KATIE
HALL, WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THIS
BODY, DIED JUST THIS LAST FEW
DAYS FROM AN UNKNOWN ILLNESS AND
WAS 73 YEARS OLD AND CAME FROM
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN
MISSISSIPPI.
GREW UP ON HER FATHER'S COTTON
FARM AND WAS A TEACHER FOY MORE
THAN 30 YEARS.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
THE GENTLEMAN MAY PROCEED.
SHE WAS A VERY FINE
TEACHER AND SHE MOVED IN 1962 TO
GARY, INDIANA, WHERE SHE BECAME
A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF RICHARD
HATCHER OF THE MAYOR.
AND WHEN A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE
DIED, MR. HATCHER, MAYOR HATCHER
APPOINTED HER AS THE NOMINEE ON
HIM.
THE DEMOCRAT PARTY TO SUCCEED
SENATE.
SHE ALSO SERVED IN THE INDIANA
I SERVED WITH HER THERE.
SHE WAS A VERY FINE PERSON.
THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OFF THE
FLOOR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA MAY
PROCEED.
DURING HER TIME IN
THE CONGRESS, SHE WAS ONE OF THE
KEY SPONSORS IN 1983 OF THE
NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN REMEMBRANCE
OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND
CREDITED FOR PLAYING A KEY ROLE
IN GETTING THAT BILL PASSED
AFTER IT STALLED IN THE HOUSE
FOR 14 YEARS.
SHE WAS A GREAT LADY, GREAT
CONGRESSWOMAN AND WILL BE MISSED
AND WE WANT TO SEND OUR DEEPEST
SYMPATHY TO OUR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS.
AND I YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE, THE
SENIOR MEMBER FROM GARY,
INDIANA.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING AND APPRECIATE THE
INDULGENCE OF THE CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING AND ASKING FOR THE
MOMENT OF SILENCE.
MR. SPEAKER,
COULD WE ASK THE FOLKS OVER
THERE TO BE SILENT FOR A FEW
MINUTES.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA MAY
PROCEED.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I WOULD EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION
FOR THE DEAN OF OUR DELEGATION,
FOR ASKING FOR THE MOMENT OF
SILENCE.
MR. BURTON RIGHTFULLY POINTED
OUT THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT DR. KING'S
HOLIDAY AND ALSO POINT OUT TO MY
HOLIDAY THAT MRS. HALL SERVED IN
THE INDIANA HOUSE AS WELL AS THE
INDIANA SENATE AND FOLLOWING HER
SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS, ALSO SERVED AS CLERK
OF GARY FOR FIVE
YEARS FROM 1988 TO 2003.
SHE DOES LEAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER,
TWO DAUGHTERS AND A HUSBAND.
MY SYMPATHIES AND ALL OF US GO
OUT TO THE FAMILY AS WELL.
I ALSO THINK THAT MRS. HALL
WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO BE
REMEMBERED FOR HER ROLE AS AN
EDUCATOR AND THOSE WHO TAUGHT
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE GARY SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
SHE ASERVED HER FAMILY AND THOSE
WHO SHE REPRESENTED AND SERVED
HER COUNTRY AND AGAIN OUR
SYMPATHIES GO TO THE FAMILY AND
I APPRECIATE THE RESPECT SHOWN
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
INDIANAPOLIS.
YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE A MOMENT AND JOIN MY
COLLEAGUES TO HONOR THE LIFE OF
FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN KATIE HALL,
WHO PASSED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE
OF 73.
I MET HER AS A YOUNG MAN.
THE CHANCE TO
SPEND SOME TIME WITH HER IN THE
EARLY 1980'S IN SAN FRANCISCO
CONVENTION.
DURING THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
SHE MADE A NAME, NOT ONLY AS A
STRONG ADVOCATE AND LEADER IN
THE STATE OF INDIANA BUT AS AN
EDUCATOR.
SHE KNEW THAT AMERICA'S CHILDREN
WERE SUFFERING AND SHE SUPPORTED
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, MR.
SPEAKER.
SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT CHILDREN HAD
DIFFERENT NEEDS AND MADE SURE
SHE WAS AN ADVOCATE OF DIFFERENT
EDUCATIONAL MODELS TO MEET THOSE
NEEDS.
MY SYMPATHIES GO OUT TO HER
FAMILY AND FRIENDS MOURNING HER
PASSING AND INDIANA POLITICS
WILL NOT BE THE SAME.
AND I YIELD BACK.
SHE WILL BE
THANK YOU, ONCE
AGAIN OUR SYMPATHY GOES TO HER
LOVED ONES, WE YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF OUR TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR IS PREPARED TO
ENTERTAIN ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR
ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, ON THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 23, VIRGINIA AND OUR
NATION LOST A TRUE HERO.
SERGEANT T.J. CONRAD WAS KILLED
IN ACTION IN THE NANGAHAR
PROVINCE IN AFGHANISTAN IN THE
RIOTING THERE.
HE WAS 22 YEARS OLD, A HUSBAND,
A FATHER, A SON, AND A BROTHER.
OUTGOING, DETERMINED, AND A MAN
OF TRUE GRIT.
SERGEANT CONRAD TRULY
PERSONIFIED THE ARMY'S OLD
SLOGAN, BE ALL YOU CAN BE.
BORN IN NEW PORT NEWS AND RAISED
IN THE COUNTY, HE GREW UP ATTEND
COVE ELEMENTARY,
NORTHSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND
NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL.
HE WAS AN
OUTSTANDING WRESTLER AND HELPED
LEAD HIS TEAM TO THE BLUE RIDGE
TITLE IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND
THE TOURNAMENT AS A SENIOR IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
I WISH TO EXTEND MY PRAYERS AND
OUR PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES, HIS
INFANT SON BENTLEY, HIS PARENTS,
HIS RELATIVES AND HIS FRIENDS.
HIS FATHER STATED HE WILL BE
REMEMBERED FOR HIS GREAT SENSE
OF HUMOR, HIS SMILE, HIS KIND
HEART AND HIS ABILITY TO
BRIGHTEN ANYONE'S DAY.
WE GRIEVE TOE THE LOSS OF OUR
WARRIOR -- WE GRIEVE THE LOSS OF
OUR WARRIOR BROTHER BUT HONOR
SERGEANT CONRAD FOR HIS
SACRIFICE, HIS COMMITMENT TO
DUTY, HONOR AND COUNTRY.
HIS ALL IN SERVICE FOR
THE SAKE OF OUR SAFETY, OUR
FREEDOM, AND OUR LIBERTY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA RISE?
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE
AND REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
CONGRATULATE THE MIN TONKA --
THE MINNETONKA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
HOCKEY TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR
SECOND CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP.
AFTER WINNING LAST YEAR'S
CHAMPIONSHIP IN A NAIL-BITING
GAME, THE SKIPPERS THIS YEAR
DEFEATED THE RAIDERS 3-0678 THE
FIRST SCORE CAME EARLY IN THE
FIRST PERIOD BY DEFENDER HOLLY
CARN AND DEANNA FOLLOWED UP WITH
A GOAL LATE IN THE THIRD PERIOD
AND THERE WAS A THIRD GOAL BY
JUNIOR LAURA BERMAN WHO SCORED
THE FINAL GOAL.
THIS VICTORY COULD
NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF NOT FOR THE
OUTSTANDING GOAL TENDING WHO
BLOCKED 23 SHOTS IN THE SHUTOUT.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE
GIRLS ON THE SKIPPERS
HOBBLINGKEY TEAM AS WELL AS
THEIR COACHES.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND
RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK,
TRAINING, PERSEVERANCE AND
COMMITMENT BECAUSE IT REALLY
PAID OFF.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE STUDENT
ATHLETES AND SO IS OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I SERVE ON THE
HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE AND
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON
THE COMMITTEE DEALING WITH
FOREIGN AFFAIRS HERE IN THE
HOUSE.
I RISE TODAY TO, AS USUAL, OFFER
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY FOR ALL OF
OUR SOLDIERS THAT HAVE FALLEN IN
BATTLE BUT I'M PARTICULARLY
OUTRAGED AT THE INCIDENT THAT
OUR -- THAT IS OCCURRING AROUND
THE UNFORTUNATE BURNING OF THE
KORAN WHICH OUR PRESIDENT
APPROPRIATELY EXTENDED HIS
APOLOGY, AS WE WOULD IF SOMEONE
-- WE WOULD WANT IF SOMEONE HAD
BURNED BIBLES.
BUT IT IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR OUR
SOLDIERS TO BE IN HARM'S WAY,
FOR THEM TO LOSE THEIR LIFE.
IT IS TIME FOR THE AFTER BEGAN
NATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IT IS
STAND UPENED BE -- SECURITY
FORCES TO STAND UP AND BE
SECURITY FORCES.
IT IS TIME FOR PRESIDENT KARZAI
TO INDICATE HE WILL NOT BE
DRIVEN OUT BY THE TALIBAN AND
NOT ALLOW THE TALIBAN TO TAKE
HOLD OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE.
THIS IS A TRAGIC AND HORRIBLE
SITUATION NONE OF US WOULD HAVE
WANTED TO OCCUR BUT WE CANNOT
STAND FOR OUR SOLDIERS TO BE IN
THE EYE OF THE STORM AND BEING
SHOT FOR SOMETHING THEY DID NOT
DO, INTENTIONALLY OR
INDIVIDUALLY.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT OUR SOLDIERS
BE TAKEN OUT OF HARM'S WAY
AROUND ANY AFGHAN NATIONAL
SECURITY FORCES THAT WE CANNOT
VET AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE
INTENDING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PRESIDENT
KARZAI IN A WAY THAT DENOUNCE
THIS IS HORRIBLE ACTION AND WE
MUST STAND UP TO THE TALIBAN AND
HAVE A TRANSITION OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN WHERE THE AFGHAN
NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES ARE
PROTECTING THEIR PEOPLE AND
THEY'RE ALLOWED, IN ESSENCE, TO
HAVE A NATION THAT PROTECTS
WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
AND HAS THE ADHERENCE TO THE LAW
THAT REQUIRES HUMAN DECENCY.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
ARE
THERE FURTHER ONE-MINUTE
REQUESTS?
IF NOT, THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE
THE HOUSE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL
REQUEST.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
REQUESTED FOR MR. BILBRAY OF
CALIFORNIA FOR TODAY, MR.
CULBERSON OF TEXAS FOR TODAY,
AND MR. JESSE JACKSON OF
ILLINOIS FOR TODAY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE REQUESTS ARE
GRANTED.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS, MR.
GRIFFITH, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I CAME HERE TO THE FLOOR TONIGHT
TO TALK WITH SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS
THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FACING
OUR COUNTRY.
A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN HOME
WORKING IN OUR DISTRICTS OVER
THE LAST WEEK, SEEING OUR
CONSTITUENTS, SPEAKING AT LOCAL
ROTARY CLUBS.
VISITING WITH
CONSTITUENTS IN THE OFFICE AND
AROUND THE DISTRICT.
AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE
TOP PRIORITY FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE OVER THE LAST YEAR
REMAINS THE SAME, AND THAT IS,
JOBS.
ENCOURAGED
AND ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE
FUTURE BUT THEY NEED SOME SIGNS
THAT JOBS ARE INCREETSING HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
JOBS REMAIN THE NUMBER ONE
ISSUE.
SINCE I GOT HERE A LITTLE OVER A
YEAR AGO WITH SOME OF MY
FRESHMAN COLLEAGUES, A LOT OF US
HAVE MADE JOBS OUR SOLE FOCUS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE
JOB CREATION.
MY FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
PRIVATE SECTOR JOB CREATION IN
MY VIEW IS THE WAY THAT WE GET
OUR ECONOMY GOING AGAIN.
NOT THROUGH GOVERNMENT STIMULUS.
WE'VE TRIED THAT.
TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $1
ALMOST.
IT HAS NOT DONE WHAT THE
PRESIDENT PROMISED.
SEEMS TO ME THE BEST APPROACH IS
TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT HERE IN
THIS COUNTRY WHERE THE PRIVATE
SECTOR CAN FLOURISH.
WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE RISKS,
WHERE THEY WANT TO INVEST AND
COMPETE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT
TORQUE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE.
I'M JOINED BY SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND I THINK THAT THEY
WOULD AGREE THAT ONE OF THE WAYS
WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO GROW AND CREATE JOBS
IS THROUGH TAX REFORM.
FUNDAMENTAL TAX REFORM.
ANOTHER WAY IS REGULATORY
REFORM.
JOB CREATORS AROUND MY DISTRICT
TELL ME WHAT A LOT OF US KNOW
AND THAT IS THAT NOT REGULATION,
BUT OVERREGULATION, NOT
REGULATION, BUT EXCESSIVE
REGULATION IS A TAX ON
BUSINESSES.
IT'S A TAX ON JOB CREATORS.
SO WE NEED TAX REFORM.
WE NEED REGULATORY REFORM.
THIRDLY, WE NEED TO FURTHER
PURSUE OUR ENERGY RESOURCES HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE KEYSTONE X.L.
PIPELINE THAT THE PRESIDENT
FIRST DELAYED AND THEN DENIED.
SO THIRDLY, WE NEED TO FURTHER
EXPLORE OUR ENERGY RESOURCES.
FOURTHLY, WE NEED TO LIVE WITHIN
MEANS.
AS A GOVERNMENT.
THAT MEANS DEALING WITH OUR
SPENDING PROBLEM.
OUR SPENDING ADDICTION.
OUR DEBT.
OUR TRILLION-PLUS DOLLAR
DEFICITS.
SO IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME, WHAT'S
YOUR PLAN?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FIGHTING FOR
FOR A YEAR, OVER A YEAR, TRY TO
ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO
GROW JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY?
I WOULD SAY TAX REFORM,
REGULATORY REFORM, INCREASED
ENERGY EXPLORATION AND
DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES, AND MAKING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LIVE WITHIN OUR
MEANS.
THOSE FOUR THINGS, IF WE CAN
BOLD WAYS, WE
CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF THIS
COUNTRY'S FISCAL SITUATION AND
THE ECONOMY AND ULTIMATELY GROW
THIS ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS.
I'M GOING TO TURN NOW AND YIELD
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON SOME
OF THIS.
THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN
GRIFFIN.
I DO, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU
HAD TO SAY AND WHOLE HEARTEDLY
SUPPORT YOUR CONCEPTS AND WHERE
COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO BE MOVING THIS
LET ME SAY TO EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU THAT THE AMERICAN WORKER
IS SECOND TO NONE IN THIS WORLD.
SECOND TO NONE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT
OUR WORKERS, THEY ARE THE MOST
INNOVATIVE WORKERS IN THE WORLD
AND THEY ARE THE HARDEST WORKERS
IN THE WORLD.
STATISTICS, DIFFERENT REPORTS,
CONTINUE TO SHOW US THIS POINT.
WE WILL NEVER COMPETE WITH THE
CHINESE AND OTHER COUNTRIES ON
WAGES, NOR DO WE WANT TO.
BUT OUR ADVANTAGE, OUR
ADVANTAGE, CONGRESSMAN GRIFFIN,
IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
USE OUR ENERGY RESOURCES IN A
WAY THAT WE CAN CREATE JOBS AND
WE CAN FIGHT FOR AMERICAN JOBS
BY HAVING AFFORDABLE ENERGY.
THAT'S OUR TRUMP CARD.
AND FOR SOME REASON, THOSE IN
THE ADMINISTRATION WANT TO TIE
OUR HANDS BEHIND OUR BACKS AND
NOT ALLOW OUR BUSINESSES TO USE
OUR TRUMP CARD TO KEEP JOBS IN
THE UNITED STATES AND BRING JOBS
BACK AND THAT IS THAT WE HAVE
GREAT ENERGY RESOURCES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WAS
RECENTLY IN FLORIDA AND HE
MOCKINGLY DESCRIBED REPUBLICAN
PLANS ON ENERGY AND GETTING GAS
PRICES DOWN, HE SAID, STEP ONE
IS DRILL.
STEP TWO IS DRILL.
STEP THREE IS DRILL.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT IS
JUST WRONG.
WE HAVE A TRUE ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
POLICY.
AND I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT THIS
WAY.
IT IS DRILL.
THAT'S STEP ONE.
TWO, DIG.
STEP THREE, DISCOVER.
STEP FOUR, DEREGULATE.
LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT.
DRILL IS EASY.
WE HAVE VAST, UNTAPPED RESOURCES
IN OIL AND WE HAVE HUGE
RESOURCES IN NATURAL GAS.
IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO DRILL FOR
NATURAL GAS AND FOR OIL, WE CAN
TURN AROUND A LOT OF THE THINGS
COUNTRY.
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS
LET'S TALK ABOUT GAS PRICES
BECAUSE THAT AFFECTS JOBS.
LISTEN, SOME OF THIS HAS TO DO
WITH LOOKING AT THE WORLD MARKET
AND IF WE SIGNALED IMMEDIATELY
THAT WE WERE READY TO START
USING OUR RESOURCES, THE PRICES
WOULD COME DOWN BECAUSE THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECULATING THAT
OIL IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE
IN THE FUTURE AND -- NOT IN THE
DISTANT FUTURE BUT ALSO TWO OR
THREE YEARS FROM NOW WOULD
REALIZE THE GIANT IN THE WORLD
OF ENERGY WAS AWAKENED FROM ITS
SLUMBER AND READY TO GO ON THE
.
MARCH FOR JOBS.
SO THE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
LOOK AT DRILLING.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE
MOCKING IT.
DIG.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF COAL
RESOURCES IN THIS COUNTRY.
MY DISTRICT HAS A LOT OF COAL,
IT ALSO HAS NATURAL GAS.
WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD
IN COAL RESOURCES.
EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD IS
USING THE COAL, WE ARE THE ONES
WHO REFUSE TO USE IT.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE HAVE OUR
HANDS TIED BEHIND OUR BACKS.
WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I
HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE REASONABLE
REGULATIONS BUT WE'VE GOT TO
UNTIE OUR HANDS AND BE READY TO
USE OUR COAL.
THE CHINESE ARE NOW BUYING OUR
COAL TO MAKE -- TO USE OUR COAL
TO MAKE THE PRODUCTS, THE GOODS
THAT WE USED TO MAKE IN THIS
AND GUESS WHAT?
COUNTRY.
A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS SAY, WE
DON'T WANT TO USE COAL BECAUSE
IT HAS POLLUTION TANNED CREATES
PROBLEMS -- AND IT CREATES
PROBLEMS BUT A NASA STUDY HAS
SHOWN US THAT IF WE HAVE THE
CHINESE USING OUR COAL TO MAKE
THE PRODUCTS WE USE TO MAKE,
THEY GET THOSE MONEY FOR THOSE
PRODUCTS, THEIR PEOPLE HAVE THE
JOBS AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENS TO
THE POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR?
IT TAKES ROUGHLY 10 DAYS TO GET
FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE GOBI
DESERT TO THE EASTERN SHORE OF
MY BELOVED VIRGINIA.
JUST 10 DAYS.
WE KNOW THAT A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THE MERCURY IN OUR
AIR IS COMING FROM FOREIGN
SOURCES.
NOT OUR PLANTS, BUT FOREIGN
SOURCES.
MR. GRIFFIN:KY INJECT SOMETHING
THERE?
I YIELD BACK.
I THINK IT'S A
GREAT POINT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF US
THINK ABOUT THIS COUNTRY AND
POLLUTION HERE.
BUT I THINK THAT WHAT I HEAR YOU
SAYING, IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD
POINT, IS THAT THIS IS ONE
WORLD AND WE IN THIS COUNTRY,
THROUGH THE PROCESSES AND THE
REGULATORY STRUCTURE THAT WE
HAVE, WE BURN COAL CLEANER, WE
ARE A BETTER STEWARD OF THE
COMES TO USING
SOME OF THESE TRADITIONAL ENERGY
SOURCES.
SO WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS, I
THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT COAL WILL
NOT BE USED IF WE DO NOT USE IT
HERE, THEN THAT'S NOT EXACTLY
ACCURATE.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BURN IT.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE DO A
BETTER JOB WITH SOME OF THESE
TRADITIONAL ENERGY SOURCES, DO
WE DO A BETTER JOB THAN OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT WILL BURN IT IF
WE DON'T?
THE CHINESE CAN BURN THE SAME
COAL YET REGULATE IT IN A WAY
WHERE THEY DO A LOT MORE DAMAGE
TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT BRINGS ME ACTUALLY TO
THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE.
THE PRESIDENT FIRST DELAYED IT,
THEN HE DENIED IT.
SO THAT THE EXTREME
ENVIRONMENTALISTS WOULD BE HAPPY
WITH HIM.
BUT IF YOU APPLY WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT, IT SEEMS TO ME WE
WOULD RATHER REFINE -- WE WOULD
RATHER BE REFINING THE OIL SANDS
FROM CANADA IN THIS COUNTRY,
INSTEAD OF THE ALTERNATIVE THAT
CANADA'S TALKED ABOUT WHICH IS
REFINING.
SHIPPING IT TO CHINA FOR
WHY?
BECAUSE WE REFINE CLEANER, WE
REFINE SAFER, WE DO A BETTER
JOB.
THOSE OIL SANDS ARE GOING TO BE
REFINED.
THE ISSUE IS NOT, IF WE DON'T
REFINE THEM NO ONE WILL.
REFINED.
THE FACT IS THEY WILL BE
THE ISSUE IS, DO WE REFINE THEM
CHINESE REFINE THEM?
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,
AND I WHOLEHEARDEDLY AGREE, WE
DO A BETTER JOB HERE.
ABSOLUTELY.
I YIELD BACK.
I WOULD HAVE HAVE
TO SAY, WE DO A MUCH BETTER JOB
HERE AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE, I CAN
REMEMBER WHEN I WAS MUCH
YOUNGER, LIBERALS ALWAYS SAID TO
CONSERVATIVES, WELL, YOU ALL ACT
LIKE THE UNITED STATES IS THE
ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE WORLD.
NOW THE LIBERALS ARE LOOKING AT
IT AND SAYING, WELL, THE UNITED
STATES IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD, WE HAVE TO ONLY LOOK
AT THE UNITED STATES AND WE
DON'T LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE
AND I THINKED IN A VERNLTLY,
EVEN WITH GOOD INTENTIONS -- I
THINK INADVERTENTLY, EVEN WITH
GOOD INTENTIONS, THERE ARE
GREATER POLLUTION RISKS WITH US
USING OUR ENERGY -- POLLUTION
RISKS WITH US NOT USING OUR
ENERGY WITH THAT BEING SAID,
LET'S LOOK AT HOW THAT IMPACTS
ON JOBS.
NOT ONLY DO WE GET THE
POLLUTION, BUT WE DON'T GET THE
JOBS.
WE DON'T GET THE MONEY.
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
FORTH.
LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS AND SO
LET'S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT MY
DISTRICT, AMERICAN ELECTRIC
POWER IS THE BIGGEST POWER
PRODUCER IN MY DISTRICT.
THERE ARE OTHERS.
THEY HAVE ESTIMATED WITH NEW
REGULATIONS ENERGY COSTS ARE
GOING TO GO UP 10% TO 15% AS
THEY SPEND AN ADDITIONAL $6
BILLION TO $8 BILLION.
10% TO 15% ON HARDWORKING
AMERICAN FAMILIES IS TOUGH.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE JOB
COMPONENT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT
JOB COMPONENT, THAT MEANS IT'S
GOING TO COST MORE IN MY
DISTRICT TO MAKE POTATO CHIPS.
IT'S GOING TO COST MORE IN MY
DISTRICT TO WORK THE FAMILY
FARM.
IT'S GOING TO COST MORE IN MY
DISTRICT TO MAKE FURNITURE.
IT'S GOING TO COST MORE IN MY
DISTRICT TO MAKE PAPER PRODUCTS.
THAT'S JUST -- I'VE JUST TOUCHED
ON THE SURFACE.
EVERY SINGLE RETAIL
ESTABLISHMENT, EVERY SINGLE
BUSINESS HAS TO USE ELECTRICITY.
BUT WHEN YOU RAISE THE COST OF
MANUFACTURING GOODS OR USING
ELECTRICITY TO MANUFACTURE GOODS
BY 10% TO 15% OVER THE COURSE OF
FEW YEARS, YOU'RE
MAKING US LESS COMPETITIVE IN
THE WORLD AND WE LOSE MORE JOBS
AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNEMPLOYED AND MORE PEOPLE WHO
AREN'T ABLE TO GO OUT AND BUY
PRODUCTS WHICH THEN MEANS MORE
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT SELLING THOSE FORDS
DOWN AT THE FORD PLACE, THEY'RE
NOT SELLING WASHING MACHINES AND
TV'S AND ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT
ARE OUT THERE AND WE LOSE EVEN
MORE JOBS BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
AND OUR JOBS ARE GOING
REGULATIONS ARE KILLING OUR JOBS
ELSEWHERE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, GETTING BACK
TO WHAT I CALL THE FOUR D'S, I'M
NOT SAYING WE DON'T LOOK AT ALL
OF THE ABOVE.
SAID, WE ONLY WANT TO DRILL,
THE PRESIDENT WAS IN FLORIDA, HE
DRILL, DRILL.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALGAE.
WELL, I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO'S GOING TO CRITICIZE
ALGAE.
THE PRESIDENT FOR LOOKING AT
I THINK ALGAE ACTUALLY HAS A
POSITIVE FUTURE.
BUT IT'S A POSITIVE FUTURE THAT
IS PROBABLY 15 TO 50 YEARS AWAY.
15 TO 50 YEARS.
WE NEED ENERGY NOW.
WE NEED AFFORDABLE ENERGY NOW.
WE NEED JOBS NOW.
AND TO BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING,
I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT,
THAT'S THE DISCOVER PART OF
THOSE FOUR D'S.
WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE DISCOVERY.
BUT ONE OF THE WAYS TONE COURAGE
DISCOVERY IS TO DE-- WAYS TO
ENCOURAGE DISCOVERY IS TO
DEREGULATE.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW FOLKS WANT
TO DO ALL THESE THINGS AND THEN
THEY COME UP WITH REGULATIONS
AND THEY FIND OUT THAT THE NEW
STARTUP COMPANIES OFTEN TIMES
HAVE DIFFICULTY -- OFTENTIMES
HAVE DIFFICULTY CREATING THE NEW
ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES BECAUSE
THEY RUN INTO OTHER REGULATIONS
THAT PROHIBIT THEM FROM GOING
FORWARD.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
WE LOOK AT DRILL, DIG,
DISCOVERY.
LOOKING AT THOSE ALTERNATIVES,
FINDING MORE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE
EFFICIENT AND FINDING NEW
ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES AND THEN
LET'S NOT REGULATE OUR
INDUSTRIES OUT OF EXISTENCE.
WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED AT
THIS POINT.
WHEN YOU DO THAT, WE CONTINUE TO
FLAT ECONOMY.
LOSE JOBS, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A
LOOK, I DON'T THINK SAYING, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE DOWN ON THE
UNEMPLOYMENT -- ON THE -- THE
UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION HAS
8%.
GOTTEN BETTER BUT WE'RE STILL AT
CELEBRATE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING TO
I THINK IT'S BETTER BUT IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT YOU GO OUT AND
SAY, WE'VE SOLVED OUR PROBLEMS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE NOT
SOLVED OUR PROBLEMS AT THIS
POINT.
WE'RE WORKINGEN TO AND THAT'S
GOOD -- WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND
THAT'S GOOD.
THE ECONOMY IN THIS COUNTRY,
BECAUSE OF OUR HARDWORKING
AMERICANS, BECAUSE THEY'RE
INNOVATIVE AND BECAUSE THEY WORK
HARDER THAN ANYBODY ELSE, IS NOT
JUST GOING TO ROLL OVER AND DAY
BY AT THE SAME TIME IT COULD BE
DOING SO MUCH BETTER AND WE NEED
TO MAINTAIN THAT WE'RE THE
NUMBER ONE ECONOMIC POWER IN THE
WORLD AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS
TO KEEP OUR JOBS, BY KEEPING OUR
ENERGY AND OUR ENERGY SOURCES
AND OUR ENERGY COSTS AT A
REASONABLE LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN
IN FACT COMPETE WITH THE
LOW-WAGE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.
WE DON'T WANT THE LOW WAGES BUT
TO DO SO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN STILL COMPETE, WE HAVE TO
KEEP OUR ENERGY AFFORDABLE.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD?
I WANT TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT
ON THE ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY
THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR AN ALL OF
THE ABOVE TH ENERGY STRATEGY --
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY.
MENTION THAT.
WE'VE HEARD THE PRESIDENT
BUT WE HERE IN THE HOUSE HAVE
BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
I HAVE SINCE I GOT HERE.
THAT INCLUDES ALTERNATE ENERGY
SOURCES, RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOURCES, BIODIESEL, WIND, SOLAR.
I'M FOR THOSE THINGS.
BUT I'M ALSO FOR THE TRADITIONAL
ENERGY SOURCES AND IN ADDITION
NUCLEAR.
WE HAVE A CLEAN, SAFE NUCLEAR
ENERGY PLANT, POWER PLANT IN
ARKANSAS THAT WE COUNT ON TO
PROVIDE SAFE, AFFORDABLE ENERGY.
WE ALSO HAVE COAL PLANTS.
OTHER SORTS OF ENERGY SOURCES.
WE MAKE IN MY DISTRICT, WE MAKE
THE WIND MILL BLADES THAT GO ON
MILLS.
WE ALSO HAVE WELL-SPUN TUBULAR
IN OUR -- IN HIGH DISTRICT IN
THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS.
AND THEY'VE RECENTLY BEEN IN THE
NEWS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THEIR
FUTURE AS A RESULT OF THE
PRESIDENT KILLING THE KEYSTONE
PIPELINE OR DENYING THE PERMIT.
THE HAPPY NEWS THAT I HAVE TO
REPORT IS THAT WELL SPUN IS
DOING SOME DIVERSIFYING.
THEY DID HAVE TO LAY SOME PEOPLE
OFF AFTER THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE
WAS DELAYED.
BUT THEY'RE DOING SOME
DIVERSIFYING SO THEY CAN MAKE
SOME OTHER SORTS OF PIPE AND
EXPAND.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO
I'M HOPING THAT ONCE WE GET, AND
I BELIEVE WE WILL ULTIMATELY WIN
THE BATTLE ON THE KEYSTONE
PIPELINE, ONCE WE GET THE
KEYSTONE PIPELINE IN FULL SWING,
THE CONSTRUCTION IN FULL SWING,
NEN THAT -- THEN THAT WILL
FURTHER HELP THEM.
SO I'M FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE.
LIFETIME
WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE USING A
LOT OF THESE TRADITIONAL ENERGY
SOURCES.
IT'S NOT A EITHER-OR.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE WIND
AND CONTINUE TO PURSUE SOLAR AND
CONTINUE TO PURSUE BIODIESEL AND
ALTERNATE ENERGIES.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME PURSUE THE
TRADITIONAL SOURCES.
PARTICULARLY NATURAL GAS.
NATURAL GAS IS ABUNDANT.
AND BEST OF ALL IT'S AMERICAN.
AND IN MY CASE IT'S ARKANSAN.
GOT A LOT OF NATURAL GAS IN MY
DISTRICT AND OTHER DISTRICTS IN
ARKANSAS.
IT IS ABUNDANT AND IT IS CHEAP
AND WHERE ETHANOL CAN INCREASE
THE WEAR ON A TRADITIONAL
KARENIN, NATURAL GAS CAN EXTEND
THE LIFE -- CAR ENGINE, NATURAL
GAS CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF THAT
ENGINE.
TURN THE CONVERSATION
OVER TO MY FRIEND FROM THE THIRD
DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS,
CONGRESSMAN STEVE WOMACK.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF NATURAL GAS IN
HIS DISTRICT AS WELL.
BEFORE I DO, I JUST WANT TO
RECAP.
WE HAVE JOBS AS OUR MAIN GOAL.
AND THERE ARE PILLARS UNDER THAT
GOAL OF JOBS.
AND THOSE PILLARS ARE TAX REFORM
, REGULATORY REFORM, FURTHER
ENERGY EXPLORATION AND GETTING
OUR SPENDING UNDER CONTROL SO
THAT WE DEAL WITH OUR DEBT AND
WE LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.
THOSE ARE FOUR PILLARS.
THEY'RE NOT SEPARATE FROM JOB
CREATION, THEY ARE CRIT CAM --
THEY ARE A CRITICAL PART OF
ENCOURAGING PRIVATE SECTOR JOB
CREATION AND GIVING CERTAINTY TO
JOB CREATORS.
NOW I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO MY
FRIEND FROM ARKANSAS, STEVE
WOMACK.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN AND I DO APPRECIATE
HIS LEADERSHIP IN THIS
CREATION IN
AMERICA.
I'VE SAID MANY, MANY TIMES THAT
IF THERE IS AN ELIXIR OUT THERE
TO FIX THE PROBLEMS, THE
CHALLENGES FACING OUR COUNTRY
TODAY, IT'S JOB CREATION.
AND WHAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS HAS BEEN ARTICULATING
IN THE LAST SEVERAL MINUTES HAS
BEEN A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE FOUR THINGS, AND I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE, THE FOUR
THINGS THAT ARE PART AND PARCEL
TO OUR COUNTRY, CREATING JOBS --
COUNTRY CREATING JOBS AND
PUTTING ITSELF ON A DIFFERENT
FISCAL PATH.
AND HE'S TALKED ABOUT
OVERREGULATION, HE'S TALKED
ABOUT THE THREAT OF HIGHER TAXES
AND THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE
TAX REFORM IN OUR NATION.
HE'S TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A
SOLID ENERGY POLICY THAT ALLOWS
OUR COUNTRY TO ACCESS ITS OWN
RESOURCES, AMERICAN ENERGY
RESOURCES TO SOLVE AMERICA'S
ENERGY CHALLENGES.
AND OF COURSE HE'S TALKED ABOUT
THE DEFICITS AND THE DEBT.
NOW, IF YOU KIND OF LOOK AT THE
PLIGHT THAT WE'RE IN TODAY SO
FAR AS JOB CREATION, GREATER
THAN 8% UNEMPLOYMENT, SUSTAINED
UNEMPLOYMENT OVER 8%, AND WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
ARE OUT HERE SCRAMBLING TO FIND
WORK, MEANINGFUL JOBS, THEY WANT
TO BE PRODUCTIVE, THEY WANT TO
CONTRIBUTE TO AMERICAN
EXCEPTIONALISM, AND THE WAY DO
YOU THAT IS NOT BY TAKING A
WELFARE CHECK -- YOU DO THAT IS
NOT BY TAKING A WELFARE CHECK,
IT'S BY TAKING A PAYCHECK.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS PLIGHT
TODAY LIKE YOU WOULD A PENDING
STORM, IT'S A DARK, DARK CLOUD
OF UNCERTAINTY THAT HANGS OVER
THE JOB CREATORS AND I SUBMIT TO
YOU THAT THE REASON SO MANY
PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING ON
TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CASH,
THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO THE
GAME AND CREATE JOBS, EXPAND THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY, THAT THE
REASON THEY'RE NOT DOING IT IS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFICULT
TIME COMPUTING THEIR INPUT
.
COSTS.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW ENERGY IS
GOING TO AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO
CREATE JOBS.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THE NEXT
REGULATION, THE NEXT RULE THAT'S
GOING TO COME DOWN FROM
WASHINGTON IS GOING TO IMPACT
THEIR ABILITY TO EARN A PROFIT.
THEY'RE NOT CONFIDENT, AS
EVIDENCED BY THE DOWNGRADE WE
HAD LAST YEAR BY THE S&P,
THEY'RE NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS
CONGRESS, THESE PEOPLE WHO
GATHER IN THIS CHAMBER EVERY
DAY, ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING THE
DECISIONS, HAVING THE COURAGE TO
MAKE THE DECISIONS TO PUT
AMERICA ON A DIFFERENT FISCAL
PATH.
IT'S A DASH -- IT'S A DARK, DARK
CLOUD OF UNCERTAINTY.
I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR SITTING
ON THE SIDELINE RIGHT NOW.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CASH TO GET
IN THE GAME IF WE DO SOME OF THE
RIGHT THINGS.
THE GENTLEMAN -- THE GENTLEMEN
WHO HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT HAVE
SPOKEN ABOUT REGULATION.
THAT'S NOT WHY I CAME TO THE
FLOOR TONIGHT, NOT WHAT I WANTED
ABOUT PRIMARILY BUT I
CAME FROM A MEETING RIGHT BEFORE
VOTES TODAY THAT TALKED ABOUT AN
ISSUE TOTALLY UNRELATED TO MY
DISTRICT, UNRELATED TO MOST OF
AMERICA.
BUT IT'S OUT IN CALIFORNIA AND
LATE THEY ARE WEEK, WE'RE GOING
TO VOTE ON H.R. 1837, THE
SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
WATER RELIABILITY ACT.
WHEN I HEARD MY COLLEAGUE FROM
CALIFORNIA TALKING PASSIONATELY
ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS HE'S DONE A
NUMBER OF TIMES FROM THE WELL OF
THIS HOUSE, BACK IN 2009,
FEDERAL REGULATIONS, FEDERAL
REGULATIONS TO PROTECT A
THREE-INCH FISH, THE DELTA
SMELT, LED TO THE DELIBERATE
DIVERSION OF OVER 300 BILLION
GALLONS OF WATER AWAY FROM THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THEIR
FARMERS, COST THOUSANDS OF
FARMWORKERS THEIR JOBS,
INFLICTED UP TO 40% UNEMPLOYMENT
IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND
FALLOWED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF ACRES OF FERTILE FARMLAND.
THOSE ARE REAL PEOPLE.
THOSE WERE REAL JOBS.
AND BECAUSE OF FEDERAL
REGULATIONS IN THIS -- AND THIS
DESIRE ON THE PART OF THIS
CONGRESS, THIS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, I SHOULD SAY TORQUE
PROTECT A THREE-INCH FISH, WE
TURNED OUR BACK ON AMERICAN
WORKERS AND IN SO DOING, WE
AFFECTED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
NATIONWIDE BECAUSE WHEN YOU
AFFECT THE FERTILE FARMLANDS OF
CALIFORNIA THE WAY WE HAVE BY
DIVERTING THIS WATER, YOU HAVE
INDEED TAKEN A STEP TOWARD
INCREASING THE PRICE OF FOOD.
THE BILL THAT WE WILL CONSIDER
LATER THIS WEEK IS A
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION THAT
WOULD RESTORE WATER DELIVERIES
THAT HAVE BEEN CUT OFF DUE TO
FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUITS AND THE
PLETHORA OF THINGS FACING THE
CALIFORNIA FARMERS.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD?
I'D BE HAPPY TO.
I AGREE WITH WHAT