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ON RECENT DISASTERS.
$7 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL
SPENDING.
YOU CAN WATCH THE SENATE LIVE ON
C-SPAN2.
NEXT UP THE U.S. HOUSE HERE ON
C-SPAN.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2011]
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER CONROY.
CHAPLAIN CONROY: LET US PRAY.
LOVE AND GRACIOUS GOD, WE GIVE
YOU THANKS FORGIVING US ANOTHER
DAY -- FOR GIVING US ANOTHER
DAY.
BLESS THE MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSEMBLY AS THEY SET UPON THE
WORK OF THESE HOURS OF THESE
DAYS.
HELP THEM TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS
IN A GOOD MANNER AND TO CARRY
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES STEADILY
WITH HIGH HOPES FOR A BETTER
FUTURE FOR OUR GREAT NATION.
DEEPEN THEIR FAITH, WIDEN THEIR
SYMPATHIES, HEIGHTEN THEIR
ASPIRATIONS.
GIMBING THEM THE STRENGTH TO DO
WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE FOR THIS
COUNTRY.
GIVE THEM THE WISDOM AND
PERSEVERANCE TO WORK TOGETHER
CONSTRUCTIVELY TO ADDRESS THE
PRESSING ISSUES FACING OUR
NATION.
MAY YOUR BLESSING, O GOD, BE
WITH THEM AND WITH US ALL THIS
DAY AND EVERY DAY TO COME AND
MAY ALL WE DO BE DONE FOR YOUR
GREATER HONOR AND GLORY, AMEN.
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE LAST
DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES
TO THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL
THEREOF AND PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1
OF RULE 1, THE JOURNAL STANDS
APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY
WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLELADY
FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MRS.
TSONGAS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLICAN
FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE CHAIR WILL
ENTERTAIN UP TO 15 ONE-MINUTE
SPEECH REQUESTS.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
REQUEST PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, RON AND
CYNTHIA BARS FROM TEXAS SENT ME
THIS EMAIL.
THE FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING THE
FREE STUFF DON'T LIKE THE FOLKS
WHO ARE PAYING FOR THE FREE
STUFF.
BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO ARE PAYING
FOR THE FREE STUFF CAN NO LONGER
AFFORD TO PAY BOTH FOR THE FREE
STUFF AND THEIR OWN STUFF.
AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING
THE FREE STUFF WANT EVEN MORE
FREE STUFF.
ON TOP OF THE FREE STUFF THEY'RE
ALREADY GETTING.
SO NOW THE ONES WHO ARE FORCING
THE PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THE FREE
STUFF HAVE TOLD THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE RECEIVING THAT FREE STUFF
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING
FOR THIS FREE STUFF ARE MEAN AND
GREEDY.
SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING
THE FREE STUFF HAVE BEEN
CONVINCED THEY NEED TO DESSPICE
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR
THE FREE STUFF AND THEY ARE
PROMISED MORE FREE STUFF IF THEY
VOTE FOR THE ONES WHO FORCE
OTHERED TO PAY FOR THE FREE
STUFF.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S JUST NOT
ENOUGH STUFF FOR FREE AND THAT'S
JUST THE WAY IT IS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND --
FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, LAST WEEK
PRESIDENT OBAMA LAID OUT A PLAN
OF ACTION TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND
STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY.
NOW THE AMERICAN JOB ACT HAS
BEEN SENT TO CONGRESS AND IT IS
UP TO US TO CATCH THE BALL AND
RUN IT INTO THE END ZONE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING.
THEY ARE IN PAIN, THEY ARE
HURTING.
THEY NEED AND DESERVE
OUR HELP NOW, NOT TOMORROW, THEY
DON'T NEED MORE EXCUSES.
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT CONTAINS
TAX INCENTIVES, FEDERAL
INCENTIVES THAT WILL GIVE OUR
ECONOMY AN IMMEDIATE BOOST.
98% OF BUSINESSES WILL HAVE
PAYROLL TAX CUT IN HALF, THE NEW
TAX CREDIT WILL ENCOURAGE
BUSINESSES TO HIRE RETURNING
VETERANS AND 280,000 TEACHERS
WILL BE SAVED FROM BEING LAID
OFF.
NEW INVESTMENTS WILL HELP BUILD
OUR ROADS, OUR BRIDGES, OUR
AIRPORTS AND RAIL SYSTEMS AND
NOT THE BRIDGES TO NOWHERE.
LET'S INVEST IN THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND WORK TOGETHER TO
BUILD OUR ECONOMY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ALLOWING
PRESIDENT OBAMA A WIN.
THIS IS ABOUT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO NEED JOBS
NOW.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IN BUILDING OUR
ECONOMY.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER, LET'S HELP
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE
SUFFERING.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SPEAK TO THE HOUSE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER,
INSTEAD OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NO
JOBS PLAN WHICH IS JUST MORE OF
THE SAME, I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY
TWO CENTS WORTH.
ON WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE JOBS
RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.
WHY?
BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
TAKE A RISK AND TO OPEN A
BUSINESS.
TO HIRE SOMEONE AND TO MAKE A
PAYROLL.
PUTTING A MORATORIUM ON ALL NEW
REGULATIONS WOULD BE A GOOD
START, REPEALING THE JOB-KILLING
OBAMACARE AND DODD-FRANK
FINANCIAL REFORM LAWS WHICH ARE
ACTUALLY NO REFORM AT ALL AND
THEY'RE ALREADY DECIMATING OUR
ECONOMY.
AND LASTLY, PUTTING FORTH A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
IF PRESIDENT OBAMA ADOPTED THESE
APPROACHES IMMEDIATELY CAPITAL
WOULD START FLOWING WHICH WOULD
THEN CREATE JOBS.
WHAT WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD ARE
THE CURRENT BIG GOVERNMENT,
SOKESIST POLICIES THAT WILL ONLY
PUT US -- SOCIALIST POLICIES
DEBT AND HURT JOB CREATION.
THAT WILL ONLY PUT US FURLT INTO
I'VE CREATED HUNDREDS OF JOBS IN
MY DISTRICT AND THAT'S IN
LOUISIANA, AND HOW MANY JOBS HAS
THE PRESIDENT CREATED IN HIS 2
1/2 YEARS?
I WOULD SAY NEGATIVE ON THAT.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
ON JANUARY 21,
1990, OVER 300,000 UKRAINIANS
JOINED HANDS TO CREATE A
300-MILE HUMAN CHAIN IN A SHOW
OF UNITY AND SUPPORT FOR
UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE.
ONE YEAR LATER, ON AUGUST 24,
1991, UKRAINE ROSE FROM UNDER
ITS SOVIET YOLK AND DECLARED ITS
INDEPENDENCE.
I STAND HERE TODAY TO COMMENT
RATE THE -- COMMEMORATE THE 20TH
ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S
INDEPENDENCE AND TO COMMEND THEM
ON THEIR MANY DEMOCRATIC
ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST TWO
DECADES.
YET AS WE CELEBRATE UKRAINE'S
SEVERING OF THE SOVIET CHAINS WE
MUST BE AWARE OF NEW RESTRAINTS.
FOR NEW SHACKLES IN THE FORM OF
PRESS CRACKDOWNS AND OPPOSITION
INTIMIDATION THREATEN TO RECHAIN
UKRAINIANS AND REVERSE THEIR
MANY HARD-FOUGHT FREEDOMS.
I HAVE FASTE FAITH IN THE SPIRIT
OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND HOPE
THEY WILL JOIN HANDS AGAIN AS
THEY DID 20 YEARS AGO AND
CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG FOR
FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, KNOWING
AMERICA WILL ALWAYS BE STANDING
BESIDE THEM.
AS THEY SAY IN UKRAINE, TOGETHER
WE ARE MANY, WE CANNOT BE
DEFEATED.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I RISE
TO HONOR A SOLDIER WHO MADE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND LAID DOWN
HIS LIFE FOR OUR FREEDOM.
U.S. ARMY OFFICER DAVID R.
CARTER.
CHIEF OFFICER CARTER DEDICATED
HIMSELF TO OVER 24 YEARS OF
MILITARY SERVICE.
AS A MEMBER OF THE COLORADO ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD, HE DEPLOYED TO
AFGHANISTAN THIS SUMMER.
ON AUGUST 6, 2001, HE WAS
PILOTING A CH-47 HELICOPTER ON A
MISSION TO REINFORCE A UNIT
UNDER ATTACK IN AFGHANISTAN.
ON THAT TRAGIC DAY HE WAS ONE OF
30 AMERICANS WHO LOST THEIR
LIVES WHEN THEIR HELICOPTER WAS
BROUGHT DOWN BY ENEMY FIRE.
DAVID CARTER WAS
REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST
HIGHLY TRAINED AVIATORS IN
COLORADO, WITH MULTIPLE COMBAT
DEPLOYMENTS AND OVER 4,000
FLIGHT HOURS.
HE IS ALSO REMEMBERED FOR THE
TREMENDOUS IMPACT HE HAD ON HIS
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY.
FRIENDS WE CALL -- RECALLED THAT
HE WAS NEVER TOO BUSY TO HELP
OUT WITH A PROBLEM.
CHIEF WARREN OFFICER DAVID
CARTER PERSONIFIES THE HONOR AND
SELFLESSNESS OF SERVICE AS A
CITIZEN SOLDIER, HIS BRAVERY AND
DEDICATION AND DUTY WILL NOT BE
FORGOTTEN.
AS A MARINE CORPS COMBAT
VETERAN, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES
GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY, HIS FELLOW
I YIELD BACK.
SOLDIERS AND ALL WHO KNEW HIM.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAVE WAITED TOO LONG FOR
THIS CONGRESS TO PUT THE FOCUS
WHERE IT BELONGS, ON CREATING
JOBS AND GETTING THE NATION BACK
TO WORK.
NOW WE MUST BOLDLY MAKE UP TIME
FOR LOST TIME.
WE NEED A PLAN AS SERIOUS AS THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE AND THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT IS THAT PLAN.
WE WILL HARNESS THE INDUSTRY AND
ENERGY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
WE WILL GIVE SMALL BUSINESSES
THE BACK BONE OF OUR ECONOMY,
THE INCENTIVES AND ASSISTANCE
THAT THEY NEED TO HIRE AND TO
GROW.
WE WILL PUT PEOPLE TO WORK
BUILDING A TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE WORTHY OF OUR
21ST CENTURY.
WE WILL STOP TEACHERS
FROM BEING LAID OFF --
WE WILL STOP TEACHERS
FROM BEING LAID OFF.
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT IS GOOD
NEWS FOR VETERANS, CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS, TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS,
THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED AND
GOOD NEWS FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO
CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A STRONGER
ECONOMY AND A MORE COMPETITIVE
NATION.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO PASS THIS
BILL AND GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THE HELP THEY NEED AND THE
SUPPORT THEY DESERVE.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE?
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, THERE ARE 14
MILLION AMERICANS OUT OF WORK.
WE HAVE A RECORD 13 STRAIGHT
MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AT 8% OR
ABOVE, THE LONGEST STRETCH SINCE
THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
THAT'S SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS MUST
WORK TOGETHER TO GROW THE
ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS.
AS A BUSINESS MAN FOR OVER 30
YEARS I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CREATE
JOBS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOES,
SMALL BUSINESS DOES.
MY JOBS PLAN WOULD
EXPAND OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR U.S.
GOODS AND SERVICES, LOWER TAXES
ON BUSINESS, ELIMINATE FRIVOLOUS
LAWSUITS AND ABOLISH UNNECESSARY
REGULATION.
AND WE NEED TO GET OUR FINANCIAL
HOUSE BACK IN ORDER AND MOVE
TOWARDS A CONSTITUTIONAL
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
IT'S TIME WE WORKED TOGETHER TO
GET AMERICA BACK TO WORK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE
AND IT IS PAST TIME THAT THIS
NEED TO PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
ISSUE IS FINALLY GETTING THE
NATIONAL ATTENTION NECESSARY TO
GET SOMETHING DONE.
AS WE WORK TO FINALLY ENACT A
JOBS PLAN, WE SHOULD BE
INVESTING NOT ONLY IN OUR WORK
FORCE BUT ALSO IN OUR FUTURE
COMPETITIVENESS.
WHICH IS WHY WE SHOULD INVEST IN
THE NEXT REVOLUTION, CLEAN
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.
WE EXPORT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
EACH YEAR TO IMPORT THE ENERGY
THAT POWERS OUR COUNTRY.
IF WE CAN HARNESS THE POWER OF
CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY WE WILL
NOT ONLY CREATE HIGH-PAYING JOBS
BUT WE CAN BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE
REAL THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AS
WELL.
BY INVESTING IN CLEAN ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS WIND AND
SOLAR, WE CAN BEGIN TO REPLACE
MANY OF THE MANUFACTURING,
CONSTRUCTION AND HIGH-TECH JOBS
LOST DURING THE RECESSION.
WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO
IMMEDIATELY CREATE GOOD JOBS
HERE IN AMERICA WHILE
SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE OF OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AT
THE SAME TIME.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE
NATION'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS A
GRUESOME 9.1%.
THIS MARKS THE LONGEST PERIOD OF
GREAT DEPRESSION.
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE THE
MORE THAN 14 MILLION AMERICANS
ARE UNEMPLOYED, MORE THAN 25
MILLION AMERICANS WHO WANT A
FULL TIME JOB DON'T HAVE ONE.
IN TODAY'S "POLITICO," IT WAS
REPORTED THAT, LONG-TERM JOBLESS
AT 50-YEAR RECORD.
THE STATE'S FRONT PAGE TODAY
REVEALED THE NATION'S POOR HAVE
SWELLED TO A SAD RECORD OF 46.2
MILLION PEOPLE.
THE DEMOCRAT CHAIRWOMAN SAYS THE
PRESIDENT OWNS THE ECONOMY.
THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES ARE
SADLY FAILING.
HE'S ON THE WRONG TRACK AS
EVIDENCED IN NEW YORK.
AND HE NEEDS TO CHANGE COURSE
WITH A BIPARTISAN TAX CUT IN THE
TRADITION OF PRESIDENTS KENNEDY
AND REAGAN.
THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL FOR A
SECOND HALF TRILLION STIMULUS IS
A REPEAT OF FAILURE.
OUT OF CONTROL BORROWING AND
SPENDING AND THE FAILED STIMULUS
HAVE AGGRAVATED UNEMPLOYMENT.
TAX INCREASES DESTROY JOBS.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE
TO LEAD BIPARTISAN EFFORTS OF
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR JOB
CREATION THAT PROMOTES SMALL
BUSINESSES.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERRORISM.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE FACE
PERSISTENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND SLOW
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REPUBLICANS
DEBT CEILING DISAPPROVAL
WOULD RATHER WASTE TIME WITH
RESOLUTIONS AND RISK DEFAULT
AGAIN THAN COME UP WITH REAL
ANSWERS TO OUR MOST PRESSING
PROBLEMS.
DEMOCRATS WANT TO PASS THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT RIGHT NOW, TO
GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
WE WANT TO OFFER PAYROLL TAX
BREAKS TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
CREATE JOBS, NOT CONTINUE
CORPORATE WELFARE TO MAJOR OIL
COMPANIES.
WE WANT TO CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE
BANKS TO REPAIR AND REBUILD OUR
COMMUNITIES, NOT DELAY THESE
HIGHWAY PROJECTS TO SCORE
POLITICAL POINTS.
MONDAY IN "POLITICO" A SENIOR
REPUBLICAN AIDE WAS QUOTED AS
SAYING, HE DIDN'T WANT TO HAND
OBAMA A WIN ON JOBS LEGISLATION.
IT'S CLEAR, IT'S CLEAR THAT
REPUBLICANS CARE MORE ABOUT
BEATING THE PRESIDENT THAN
BEATING UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE JOBLESS OF THIS COUNTRY
CANNOT WAIT ANOTHER 14 MONTHS.
PASS THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT
.
TODAY.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, OUR COUNTRY IS
FACING RECORD DEFICITS, HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT, AND STAGNANT
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
YET PRESIDENT OBAMA IS DOUBLING
DOWN ON THE DOUBLE THREATT OF
TAXATION, LEGISLATION, AND
GROWTH.
SPENDING THAT IS CRUSHING JOB
THIS WEEK THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
TOUTING HIS SO-CALLED JOBS PLAN.
BUT HIS DEBT PLIMENTAL POLICIES
HAVE FORCED THE A COMPANY IN
TEXAS TO CLOSE FIVE FACILITIES
AND SACRIFICE 500 MIDDLE CLASS
JOBS.
THE IMPACT OF THIS E.P.A.
SHUTDOWN WILL REDUCE GENERATING
CAPACITY IN TEXAS BY 1,300
MEGAWATTS, A MOVE THAT COULD
SPUR FUTURE POWER OUTAGES.
THESE REGULATIONS HURT MIDDLE
CLASS JOBS AND HARM ELECTRIC
RELIABILITY IN TEXAS WITH NO
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT POWER
GENERATION IN TEXAS IS CAUSING
NONATTAINMENT OF CLEAN AIR
STANDARDS IN OTHER STATES.
NOT ONLY ARE THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S DISASTROUS
POLICIES PREVENTING FUTURE JOB
CREATION, THEY ARE DESTROYING
EXISTING JOBS.
INSTEAD OF PROPOSING THE SAME
FAILED IDEAS THAT WASHINGTON CAN
CREATE JOBS, WE NEED TO GET
WASHINGTON OUT OF THE WAY AND
RELY ON COMMONSENSE, MAINSTREAM
BACK TO WORK.
SOLUTIONS THAT PUT AMERICANS
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND, MR.
CICILLINE, RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I RISE TODAY TO
HONOR THE CUMBERLAND LITTLE
LEAGUE TEAM FROM MY HOME STATE
OF RHODE ISLAND.
THEY REACHED THEIR FIRST WORLD
SERIES AFTER BEGINNING THE NEW
ENGLAND REGION NAP CHAMPIONSHIP,
WAS ONE OF 16 TEAMS OUT OF 6 KGS
800 LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAMS
WORLDWIDE WHO MADE IT TO THE
WORLD SERIES IN WILLIAMS PORT,
PENNSYLVANIA.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR WORKING SO
HARD AND SHOWING SUCH GREAT
SPORTSMANSHIP IN THE WORLD
SERIES.
IN MY RECORD BOOK THEY ARE A
CHAMPION NOT BECAUSE IT DROVE IN
THE MOST RUNS OR CAUGHT THE MOST
FLY BALLS BUT BECAUSE OF THE
DEDICATION AND RESPECT AND
SPORTSMANSHIP THEY SHOWED WHILE
PLAYING THIS GREAT GAME.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IS MORE
THAN A GAME.
IT'S AN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY THAT
FOSTERS COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND
HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP
SKILLS.
THE OFFICIALS AND PARENTS WHO
CHEER FROM THE STANDS PLAYED
VALUABLE ROLES IN MAKING THEM A
SUCCESS IN PROVIDING A SAFE AND
NUTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO GROW.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THIS
POSSIBLE.
AGAIN MY CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH
OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
PLAYERS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
TEAM ROSTER BE PRINTED IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS MORNING
NASA ANNOUNCED THE DESIGN OF A
NEW SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM WHICH
WILL BE THE BASIS FOR FUTURE
EXPLORATION BEYOND EARTH ORBIT.
IT'S A CRITICAL STEP WITH YOU
BUT ONE AMONG MANY.
IT IS LONG OVERDUE SINCE IT WAS
MANDATED BY THE NASA
AUTHORIZATION BILL PASSED IN THE
LAST CONGRESS.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMBINES
EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES WHILE
ENABLING NEW ONES.
ALL THE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO
MAINTAIN THE MOST SKILLED AND
DEDICATED WORK FORCE IN
EXISTENCE IN HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
IT STILL LAX THE
DESTINATION FOCUS I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE AND WE MUST BE DILIGENT
IN KEEPING COSTS MANAGEABLE
ESPECIALLY IN THESE ECONOMIC
TIMES.
BUT THE INVESTMENT IN OUR
NATION'S SPACE PROGRAM ENABLES
MEN AND WOMEN LIKE THOSE TO DO
WHAT THEY DO BEST, TEST ROCKETS
FOR SPACE FLIGHT.
AMERICA IS THE LEADER IN HUMAN
SPACE FLIGHT.
TODAY'S DECISION HELPS CONTINUE
THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, TWO
WEEKS AGO HURRICANE IRENE
RAVAGED THE EAST COAST,
INCLUDING THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR TORNADOES
LEVELED PARTS OF THE MIDWEST,
AND NOW TEXAS IS EXPERIENCING
ONE OF THE WORST WILDFIRES IN
ITS HISTORY.
FURTHERMORE, ON THE HEELS OF
HURRICANE IRENE, TROPICAL STORM
LEE HIT NEW JERSEY, CAUSING MORE
DAMAGE AND FORCING MORE PEOPLE
FROM THEIR HOMES.
HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED,
BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING, AND
MANY AREAS ARE STILL COVERED IN
WATER.
WHILE MANY MAJOR DISASTER
DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, THE
A1R5EU8IBILITY OF FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE REMAINS UNCERTAIN.
TODAY I RISE TO ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO WORK IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER TO IMMEDIATELY
PASS EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF
LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT RECOVERY
EFFORTS.
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
HAVE WITNESSED UNTHINKABLE
DESTRUCTION, ENDURED GREAT LOSS,
AND IT IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
REPLENISH THE DISASTER RELIEF
FUND TO ENSURE THESE COMMUNITIES
RECEIVE HELP IN THEIR TIMES OF
NEED.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORTING SUPPLEMENTAL
DISASTER RELIEF.
WE MUST COME TOGETHER NOW TO
PROVIDE DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO
THESE DEVASTATED AREAS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM FLORIDA RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY WITH GREAT DISA
POIMENT.
IN THE PRESIDENT'S MOST RECENT
PROPOSE THE BILL TO CREATE JOBS,
I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE PRESIDENT
WOULD OFFER COMMONSENSE,
PROGROWTH AGENDA.
UNFORTUNATELY I BELIEVE THE
HOUSE CONTINUES TO STAND READY
WITHOUT A PROPOSAL THAT IS
ACCEPTABLE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO
OFFER THE SAME TIRED BIG
GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.
FOR ONE EXAMPLE IS THE SECTION
THAT PRODUCES AND CREATES IN 17
PAGES A WHOLLY GOVERNMENT-OWNED
CORPORATION, THAT'S RIGHT,
GOVERNMENT-OWNED CORPORATION.
COMPLETE WITH CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER, CHIEF RISK OFFICER,
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, CHIEF
LENDING OFFICER, GENERAL
COUNCIL, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND
NEW BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
TAXPAYER MONEY.
IT APPEARS ONCE
AGAIN THIS ADMINISTRATION --
IT APPEARS ONCE
AGAIN THIS ADMINISTRATION IS
GROWING GOVERNMENT NOT JOBS.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MEMBERS.
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT IS THE
SOLUTION.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS HOUSE
SHOULD CONSIDER ON THE FLOOR
IMMEDIATELY.
THIS BILL WOULD HELP REVERSE THE
FLOW OF JOBS OVERSEAS.
IT WILL HELP REBUILD
MANUFACTURING BASE IN AMERICA.
PROVIDING GOOD JOBS FOR
HARDWORKING AMERICANS.
MAKE IT IN AMERICA CREATES JOBS
IN AMERICA.
THIS BILL BUILDS AMERICA.
THE LONG-TERM F.A.A.
RE-AUTHORIZATION WOULD CREATE
150,000 JOBS AND RE-AUTHORIZING
THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL
WOULD SUPPORT 134,000 PROJECTS
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
5,000 MASS TRANSIT PROJECTS, AND
NEARLY ONE MILLION JOBS OVER THE
NEXT YEAR.
THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BANK
PROPOSAL WOULD COMBINE PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE RESOURCES TO BUILD
AND REPAIR THE COUNTRY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS BUILD WOULD ALSO CREATE
JOBS THROUGH THE TAX CODE.
THE PROPOSAL CUTS THE PAYROLL
TAX IN HALF AND THE 98% OF
BUSINESSES ON THEIR FIRST FIVE
MILLION IN PAYROLL.
IT OFFERS A $4,000 TAX CREDIT TO
EMPLOYERS HIRING LONG-TERM
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS.
YET AMONG THE TAX ROLLS AND NOT
UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS.
AND STARTS RETURNING HEROES
HIRING TAX CREDIT BETWEEN $5,600
AND 9,600 FOR FIRMS THAT HIRE
UNEMPLOYED VETERANS.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP
OUR COUNTRY CLIMB OUT OF THIS
TOUGH ECONOMY AND THIS BILL IS A
PROPOSAL THAT DESERVES
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO HELP
ACCOMPLISH THAT.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS RISE?
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY
TO JOIN THE CHORUS OF AMERICANS
ASKING WASHINGTON TO STOP
DAMAGING THE ECONOMY WITH
JOB-KILLING REGULATION.
SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T THRIVE
WHEN THEY ARE HIT WITH
ADDITIONAL BURDENS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AS UNBELIEVABLE AS IT SOUNDS,
SOME IN THIS BODY ACTUALLY
BELIEVE THAT NEW REGULATIONS
CREATE JOBS BECAUSE THEY FORCE
BUSINESSES TO HIRE PEOPLE TO
COMPLY WITH THE NEW MANDATE.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS DEFIES
COMMONSENSE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M
INTRODUCING TWO BILLS, ONE WHICH
WOULD PAUSE ALL NEW REGULATION
FOR A YEAR SO BUSINESSES WOULD
KNOW THE RULES TO LIVE UNDER,
AND ANOTHER TO REQUIRE
REGULATORS TO ANALYZE THEIR
IMPACT OF THE RULES ON JOBS AND
LEAST COSTLY TERN FOR EACH
MANDATE.
LET'S COME TOGETHER
AND AGREE THAT REGULATIONS DON'T
CREATE JOCKS.
AND LET'S PASS COMMONSENSE
LEGISLATION TO GET AMERICA
WORKING AGAIN.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I RISE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE
URGENT NEED TO CREATE JOBS IN
AMERICA.
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS THROUGH NO FAULT OF
THEIR OWN AND FINDING A JOB NOW
IS AS HARD AS IT'S BEEN IN
GENERATIONS.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS DECISIVE
ACTION AND WE NEED IT NOW.
EARLIER THIS WEEK THE PRESIDENT
SUBMITTED THE AMERICAN JOB ACTS
-- AMERICANS JOB ACTION TO
CONGRESS AND ASK MY COLLEAGUES
IN BOTH PARTIES TO PUT
PARTISANSHIP ASIDE AND WORK
TOGETHER TO CREATE JOBS
DESPERATELY NEEDS.
MANY OF THE
PROPOSALS INCLUDED IN THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT ENJOY
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND I CALL ON
SPEAKER BOEHNER AND LEADER
CANTOR TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD
FAITH TO BRING FORWARD GOOD JOBS
PROPOSALS FROM BOTH PARTIES TO
CONGRESS.
WE WILL HAVE AN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WITHOUT PUTTING PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, TOO
MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE OUT
OF WORK.
AND AS THE PRESIDENT SAID IN HIS
SPEECH LAST WEEK, TOO MANY
PEOPLE LIVING DAY TO DAY,
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, STRUGGLING
TO FIND WORK, THAT'S WHY WE NEED
TO PASS THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT
NOW.
CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT IS POVERTY.
YESTERDAY THE CENSUS BUREAU
REPORTED THAT OUR COUNTRY'S
POVERTY RATE LAST YEAR WAS AN
ASTONISHING 15.1%, THE HIGHEST
IT'S BEEN IN ALMOST TWO DECADES.
WITH TOTALING 22% OF OUR
CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY, THIS
MAKES CLEAR WHO HAS BORN THE
BRUNT OF OUR ECONOMIC WOES.
I BELIEVE ALL MY COLLEAGUES
SHARE A STRONG LOVE OF THIS
NATION AND CHILDREN.
IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SUCCEED WE
MUST ENSURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, AND AND
PUT THEIR PARENTS BACK ON A PATH
TO WORK.
IT'S A TRAVESTY TO HAVE ONE
CHILD LIVING IN POVERTY LET
ALONE ONE IN FIVE OF OUR
CHILDREN.
IT'S ALSO UNCONSCIONABLE TO
ALLOW OUR ACTIONS OR INACTIONS
TO AFFECT THEIR FUTURE
PROSPERITY.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY NOW TO PASS THE
AMERICAS JOBS ACT TODAY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, 53
YEARS AGO CHINA DECLARED
OWNERSHIP OF THE ISLANDS IN THE
EASTERN SEA WHICH INCLUDE THE
SPRATLY AND PARASELL ISLANDS.
ON SEPTEMBER 14 OF 1958, THEN
PRIME MINISTER *** OF NORTH
VIETNAM ISSUED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE
INFORMING THE DECLARATION OF
CHINA REGARDING THE CHINESE
OWNERSHIP OF THOSE ISLANDS.
WHEN THIS DECISION BECAME KNOWN,
VIETNAMESE STUDENTS AND BLOGGERS
ORGANIZED UNPRECEDENTED PROTESTS
IN HANOI AND IN SAIGON AGAINST
CHINA'S VIOLATIONS OF VIETNAM'S
SOVEREIGNTY IN THE EASTERN SEA.
THE VIETNAMESE SECURITY POLICE
WERE ORDERED TO END THE PUBLIC
DEMONSTRATIONS REGARDING THE
ISSUE OF THE ISLANDS AND
DETAINED OVER 40 ACTIVISTS WHO
WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PROTEST.
SINCE EARLY AUGUST OF THIS YEAR,
AT LEAST 13 YOUNG PATRIOTS HAVE
BEEN ARRESTED BY POLICE AND THE
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY IN
VIETNAM, AND SEVERAL OF THESE
ACTIVISTS ARE PROM NENTBLOGGERS
SUCH AS THE -- PROMINENT
BLOGGERS SUCH AS THE
CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY
REDEEMER FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.
AS A CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 352, I CALL FOR
FRAMEWORK IN ACCORDANCE TO THE
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE
LAW OF THE SEA FOR A PEACEFUL
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO THIS
CONFLICT.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
-- THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, AS I
TRAVELED THROUGH MY DISTRICT
THESE LAST FEW WEEKS, ONE ISSUE
DOMINATED ALL CONVERSATIONS.
JOBS.
AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE CREATED THE DEFAULT CRISIS
THIS SUMMER, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THREW UP THEIR HANDS IN DISGUST
AND DISMAY.
AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.
OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THE NUMBER
JOBS.
ONE ISSUE FACING THIS COUNTRY IS
AND THEY KNOW THIS CONGRESS MUST
TAKE CONCRETE ACTIONS TO GROW
OUR ECONOMY AND IT MUST TAKE
THEM NOW.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE A PLAN.
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT IS
COMMONSENSE, BIPARTISAN ACTIONS
TO PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK
AND STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY.
IT KEEPS TEACHERS IN THE
CLASSROOMS.
COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS ON OUR
STREETS.
IT REBUILDS OUR CRUMBLING ROADS
AND BRIDGES, MODERNIZES OUR
SCHOOLS, RIBTS OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT CUTS TAXES FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, WORKERS, AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
THE TIME FOR POLITICAL GAMES
WHICH ARE COSTING JOBS AND
CREATING ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY,
THAT TIME HAS PASSED.
I URGE THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP,
HELP US PASS THE AMERICAN JOBS
ACT AND LET'S PASS IT NOW.
.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, TODAY WE LEARNED
THAT 46 MILLION AMERICANS ARE
LIVING IN POVERTY.
MORE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING
ECONOMICALLY THAN AT ANY TIME
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
BUT WE LEARNED FROM
AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE BY SCOTT
LILY OF THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN
PROGRESS THAT HISTORY MAYBE
REPEATING ITSELF.
IN 1937 CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS
SUCCEEDED IN VIRTUALLY
ELIMINATING THE FEDERAL JOBS
PROGRAMS OF THE NEW DEAL SO AS
TO ELIMINATE THE FEDERAL
DEFICIT.
BUT THE RESULTS WERE
CATASTROPHIC TO AMERICA'S
ECONOMY AND SOCIETY.
HALF OF THE EIGHT MILLION JOBS
THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE
NEW DEAL WERE LOST AND
UNEMPLOYMENT WENT OVER 19%.
ECONOMISTS GENERALLY CLASSIFY
THE ECONOMIC REVERSAL OF 1937
AND 1938 AS A SECOND DEPRESSION,
NOT UNTIL MILITARY SPENDING
BEGAN TO REVIVE ACTIVITY IN 1940
DID UNEMPLOYMENT AGAIN DROP TO
LESS THAN 15%.
THAT WAS A LONG AND PAINFUL
EXPERIENCE.
IT WOULD BE TRAGEDY FIGURE WE
PERMITTED THE NEW CONSERVATIVE
CROWD IN WASHINGTON TO REPEAT IT
BY KILLING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
JOBS ACT AND SENDING US BACK
INTO A DOUBLE DIP RECESSION.
THOSE WHO DON'T LEARN FROM THE
PAST ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE
ALL-IMPORTANT ISSUE OF JOBS IN
AMERICA.
AS I TRAVEL AROUND MY DISTRICT I
FREQUENTLY HEAR DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT JOBS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
I HEAR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT JOBS
THAT HAVE GONE UNFILLED.
IN MY DISTRICT ALONE THAT IS
2,600 JOBS.
IN AMERICA IT IS 3.2 MILLION
JOBS THAT ARE READY TO BE FILLED
TODAY.
WE MUST COME TOGETHER AS MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS TO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE THAT HELPS US TRAIN
PEOPLE, RELOCATE THEM OR DO
WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO BRING
PEOPLE TO JOBS.
3.2 MILLION PEOPLE BACK TO WORK,
THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN
CONGRESS WILL WORK WITH ME TO
PUT 3.2 MILLION AMERICANS BACK
TO WORK.
THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE
THERE ARE NOT JOBS, THIS IS A
SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE
UNFILLED JOBS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
SPEAKER, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR A MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
MADAM SPEAKER, I OFFER THIS
CONGRESS AND THIS COUNTRY A
SIMPLE YET POWERFUL WAY TO
CREATE NEW, GOOD-PAYING
MANUFACTURING JOBS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
AND THAT'S BY INVESTING IN
DETROIT, BY ALLOWING THE TAX
DOLLARS THAT DETROITERS PAY TO
BE INVESTED BACK IN DETROIT.
INVESTED TO HELP MAKE THE
STREETS OF DETROIT SAFER, TO
HELP IMPROVE DETROIT'S SCHOOLS,
TO HELP TRAIN DETROITERS FOR
JOBS, TO HELP REBUILD OUR CITY.
YOU SEE, THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT
WILL DEFINITELY CREATE JOBS IN
DETROIT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY DETROIT'S
MANUFACTURING KNOW-HOW, OUR
TRAINED WORK FORCE, INVESTING IN
DETROIT WILL HELP PUT AMERICANS
BACK TO WORK.
SO BY HELPING PUT DETROITERS
BACK TO WORK YOU'RE GOING TO
HELP PUT THIS COUNTRY BACK TO
WORK.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
ALL TIME FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES
HAS EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
THE CHAIR WILL POSTPONE FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS TODAY ON THE
ADDITIONAL MOTION TO SUSPEND THE
RULES ON WHICH A RECORDED VOTE
OR THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED
OR ON WHICH THE VOTE OCCURS --
INCURS OBJECTION UNDER CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 20, ANY RECORDED VOTE ON
THE POSTPONED QUESTION WILL BE
TAKEN TOMORROW.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT
THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS H.R. 2867.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 2867, A BILL TO
RE-AUTHORIZE THE INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 1998
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
SMITH, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. BERMAN, EACH
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM SPEAKER.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, THE
CHAIRWOMAN OF OUR COMMITTEE, AND
MR. BERMAN, FOR THEIR FINE WORK
ON THIS LEGISLATION.
I WANT TO THANK ESPECIALLY
CONGRESSMAN FRANK WOLF, THE
AUTHOR OF THIS LEGISLATION, WHO
IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE
ORIGINAL INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM ACT THAT WAS PASSED BACK
IN 1998 AGAINST CONSIDERABLE
ODDS, OPPOSITION FROM THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, FOR
EXAMPLE, OPPOSITION FROM A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT
LEGISLATION, HISTORIC, WAS
SIGNED INTO LAW, AND WAS SIGNED
BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.
SO HE CAME AROUND AND ACTUALLY
PUT HIS SIGNATURE ON THAT
HISTORIC LEGISLATION.
SO I AGAIN WANT TO THANK MR.
WOLF FOR HIS FAMOUS LEADERSHIP.
HE HAS BEEN A LEADER ON HUMAN
RIGHTS AND ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IN PARTICULAR FOR MORE THAN 30
YEARS AND THAT CULMINATED, AT
LEAST ON THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SIDE, WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
ACT.
MADAM SPEAKER, RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM, THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP
AND PRACTICE ONE'S FAITH
ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF
ONE'S OWN CONSCIENCE, IS THE
FOUNDATION OF HUMAN RIGHT.
NOT ONLY IS IT AN ESSENTIAL
ELEMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION, IT
IS INTRINSIC TO THE HUMAN
DIGNITY OF EVERY MAN AND WOMAN
ON THIS EARTH AND WAS ENSHRINED
IN THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
BUT IT IS A RIGHT DENIED OR
CURTAILED FOR MILLIONS, REALLY
BILLIONS, AND ACCORDING TO SOME
ESTIMATES EVEN A MAJORITY OF THE
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE WORLD.
FOR COPS IN EGYPT, FOR
CHRISTIANS IN CHINA, CHRISTIANS
IN CENTRAL VIETNAM, BUDDHIST
MONKS IN BURMA AND OF COURSE
THIS RIDING TIDE OF
ANTI-SEMITISM, NOT JUST IN THE
MIDDLE EAST BUT IN MANY PARTS OF
EUROPE, AND EVEN IN THE UNITED
STATES, THE ABILITY TO LIVE
THEIR FAITH WITHOUT THREAT OF
PERSECUTION IS A DISTANT AND
UNREALIZED PROMISE.
I WAS PLEASED TO WORK WITH MR.
WOLF YEARS AGO, AS I MENTIONED,
ON THIS LEGISLATION AND I
CHAIRED THE HEARINGS ON THE
LEGISLATION AND AGAIN THERE WAS
CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION THAT WAS
TURNED AROUND AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THIS LEGISLATION DID BECOME
LAW.
THE U.S. COMMISSION ON
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
EFFORT.
IT WAS CREATED AS AN INDEPENDENT
BODY OF EXPERTS TO REVIEW THE
FACTS AND MAKE POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A VANTAGE
POINT OUTSIDE OF OUR DIPLOMATIC
CORPS WHERE BILATERAL AND OTHER
CONCERNS HAD SOMETIMES RESULTED
IN THE SOFT PEDDLING OF SEVERE,
ONGOING VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS
FREEDOMS AROUND THE WORLD.
EVEN TODAY WHEN THE QUALITY OF
STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTING ON
RELIGIOUS ISSUES, WHILE IT'S
IMPROVED, THE COMMISSION
CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A CRITICAL
ROLE AND A SOUNDING BOARD AND
CATALYST.
ONE INDICATOR IS THE FACT THAT
THE COMMISSIONER'S LIST OF
RECOMMENDED WHAT IS CALLED
COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN
FOR SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF
RELIGIOUS REMAINS LARGER THAN
THE NUMBER ACTUALLY DESIGNATED
BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
BUT THEY ARE NOT.
THEY OUGHT TO BE THE SAME.
JUST YESTERDAY SECRETARY CLINTON
RIGHTFULLY DESIGNATED THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA,
BURMA, IRAN, NORTH KOREA, SAUDI
ARABIA, SUDAN AND UZBEKISTAN AS
COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.
BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S LIST
DOES NOT ADD ANY NEW COUNTRIES
FROM LAST YEAR AND ONE OF THE
MOST GLARING OMISSIONS OF ALL,
VIETNAM, WHOSE POLICIES HAVE
MORE THAN EARNED THAT BADGE OF
SHAME.
SECRETARY CLINTON DID NOT
DESIGNATE EGYPT EITHER OR IRAQ,
NIGERIA, TURKMENISTAN AND
PAKISTAN AS RECOMMENDED BY THE
COMMISSION.
SO UNFORTUNATELY THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS WENT UNHEEDED
BUT IT DOES PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT
BACKDROP AND FRAMEWORK TO REVIEW
AND TO LOOK AT WHAT IT IS THAT
THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS DOING.
WE NEED, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
COMMISSION MORE THAN EVER.
ALREADY IN THE CONGRESS WE HAVE
HAD THREE COMPREHENSIVE HEARINGS
ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
ONE IN THE TOM LANTOS HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION THIS JANUARY,
REGARDING THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
MINORITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
ONE IN THE COMMITTEE THAT I
CHAIR, THE AFRICA GLOBAL HEALTH,
GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE,
REGARDSING THE PRIORITIZATION OF
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN U.S.
FOREIGN POLICY AND ONE JUST LAST
MONTH IN THE HELSINKI COMMISSION
ON THE PARTICULAR PLIGHT OF
COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT.
THAT HEARING BROUGHT TO LIGHT AN
EGREGIOUS POLICY THAT IS ACTED
OUT IN EGYPT EACH AND EVERY DAY
WHERE YOUNG COPTIC CHRISTIAN
GIRLS, SOME AS YOUNG AS 14 AND
15, ARE KIDNAPPED, THEY ARE
FORCED INTO ISLAM AND THEN THEY
ARE AT AGE 18 OR THEREAFTER
GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, FORCIBLY, TO
AN ISLAMIC MAN.
THAT IS AN OUTRAGE AGAINST
WOMEN'S RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND
RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AS WELL.
THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN AN
INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO CONGRESS
AS WE MONITOR THE PROTECTION AND
PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND THE RESPONSE OF THE
ADMINISTRATION ON THIS VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN RESOURCE TO
GOVERNORS, SEEKING TO REMEDY
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ABUSES WITHIN
THEIR OWN BORDERS.
FOR INSTANCE, IN INDONESIA THE
COMMISSION WORKED WITH MEMBERS
OF THE INDONESIAN HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND SEVERAL
SOCIETY GROUPS AND INTRODUCED
MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN PROVISION
IN THE CRIMINAL CODE REGARDING
ITS ACTS ON RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS
AND AMEND THE LAW REGARDING
RELIGIOUS VENUES.
IT ALSO HELPS NETWORK HUMAN
RIGHTS AND ADVOCATES IN
INDONESIA AND ELSEWHERE AROUND
THE WORLD, WORKING TO DEFEND
INDIVIDUAL AS I ACCUSED OF
BLASPHEMY AND RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES FACING INTIMIDATION
AND VIOLENCE FROM EXTREMIST
GROUPS.
THE COMMISSION'S WORK IN
INDONESIA WILL HAVE PRACTICAL
IMPACT ON THE EXERCISE OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AND THE PRESERVATION OF
PEACE IN THAT COUNTRY.
OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVE LOOKED TO
THE COMMISSION AS A MODEL FOR
THEIR OWN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
COMMISSIONS.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY
INCLUDES A NUMBER OF BIPARTISAN
REFORMS TO THE COMMISSION,
AUTHORITIES AND OPERATIONS TO
MAKE THEIR WORK EVEN MORE
EFFECTIVE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MS.
ROS-LEHTINEN, THE CHAIRWOMAN,
AND THANK HOWARD BERMAN FOR
THEIR LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING THE
BILL CAME TO THE FLOOR TODAY AND
FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF H.R. 2867, THE UNITED
STATES COMMISSION ON
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REFORM AND RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT
OF 2011.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSOR OF
THE LEGISLATION, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA, MR. WOLF, WHO HAS
BEEN A LEADER ON THIS ISSUE FOR,
AS MY COLLEAGUE MR. SMITH
POINTED OUT, WELL OVER A DECADE
ON THE QUESTION OF INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A
COUNTRY THAT WAS FOUNDED BY
RELIGIOUS REFUGEES ON PRINCIPLES
OF TOLERANCE.
WE STRIVE TO ADHERE TO ARTICLE
18 OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH STATES
THAT, QUOTE, EVERYONE HAS THE
RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT,
CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION.
THIS RIGHT INCLUDES FREEDOM TO
MANIFEST HIS RELIGION OR BELIEF
IN TEACHING, PRACTICE, WORSHIP
AND OBSERVANCE.
BUT ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GLOBE
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND HUMAN
RIGHTS ARE ROUTINELY VIOLATED.
COUNTLESS MEN, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN FACE VIOLENCE,
PERSECUTION AND DISCRIMINATION
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.
VIOLENT EXTREMISTS A-- EXTREMIST
ATTACKS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE
MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH ASIA, THE
REGIMES IN NORTH KOREA AND IRAN
ACTIVELY REPRESS RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
BLASPHEMY LAWS HAVE FUELED
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES IN AFGHANISTAN,
PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA.
OTHER RELIGIOUS MINORITIES LIKE
TIBETANS BUDDHISTS, MUSLIMS,
BAHAIS, ASYRIAN CHRISTIANS IN
IRAQ FACE VIOLENCE AND
GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS.
AND ANTI-SEMITISM IS STILL
PREVALENT AROUND THE WORLD.
JUST YESTERDAY SECRETARY CLINTON
DESIGNATED BURMA, CHINA, IRAN,
NORTH KOREA, SAUDI ARABIA, SUDAN
AND UZBEK STAN AS COUNTRIES OF
PARTICULAR -- UZBEKISTAN AS
COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN
WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN VIOLATIONS
OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
WHILE THESE MAY BE THE WORST
OFFENDERS WE HAVE SERIOUS
CONCERNS ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND
THE WORLD.
MORE THAN EVER WE NEED THE U.S.
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TO CONTINUE
ITS IMPORTANT WORK.
THE BIPARTISAN BILL BEFORE US
TODAY RE-AUTHORIZES THE
COMMISSION, ALSO KNOWN AS USERF,
WHICH IS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE
END OF THE MONTH.
THE BILL ALSO CONTAINS SOME
SENSIBLE REFORMS THAT WILL
STRENGTHEN USRFS EFFORTS TO
MONITOR AND REPORT ON THE STATUS
OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION ABROAD.
THESE REFORMS INCLUDE THE
PROCESS OF SELECTING THE CHAIR,
TERMS OF SERVICE FOR MEMBERS OF
THE COMMISSION, AND A G.A.O.
STUDY ON IMPROVING THE
EFFECTIVENESS AND COORDINATION
OF ALL U.S. GOVERNMENT BODIES
THAT FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
IN PARTICULAR I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK MR. ROE FOR AGREEING --
WOLF FOR AGREING TO INCLUDE A
PROVISION THAT CLARIFIES
WORKPLACE RESTRICTIONS AND CIVIL
RIGHTS LAWS AS THE REST OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
CONGRESS HAS LONG PROVIDED THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGGETSIVE BRANCHES, IS SUBJECT
TO LAWS INTENDED TO KEEP THE
AMERICAN WORKPLACE SAFE AND FREE
FROM DISCRIMINATION.
INCLUDING THE FAMILY IN MEDICAL
LEAVE ACT, TITLE 7 OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT, THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITY ACT, OSHA AND
WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS FOR
VETERANS.
HOWEVER, UNDER CURRENT LAW IT IS
UNCLEAR WHETHER USRFS EMPLOYEES
COULD RESOLVE DISPUTES OVER
WORKPLACE PRODUCTIONS --
PROTECTIONS THROUGH THE
PROCEDURES DESIGNED FOR
EXECUTIVE BRANCH WORKERS OR
UNDER THE PROCEDURES THAT APPLY
TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES
THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL ENSURE
THAT ALL CLAIMS WILL NOW BE
RESOLVED UNDER THE PROCEDURES
CREATED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, IT SUPPORTS
THIS PROVISION AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION AND I
.
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I YIELD SUCH TIME AS
HE MAY CONSUME TO THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES.
THE AUTHOR OF THE ORIGINAL ACT,
AN HISTORIC PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, AND TODAY'S
RE-AUTHORIZATION.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
BEFORE I BEGIN I WANT TO THANK
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN, ROS-LEHTINEN, RANKING
MEMBER, MR. BERMAN, THE HUMAN
RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
MR. SMITH, WHO HAS BEEN A
CHAMPION ON ALL THESE ISSUES
FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY HE GOT
IN THERE AND THEIR STAFFS.
I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S PROFOUND.
THE STAFFS HAVE MADE ALL THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
I WANT TO PARTICULARLY THANK THE
CHAIRMAN'S STAFF, AND DOUG FOR
THEIR HELP.
AND ALSO THE LEADERSHIP ON BOTH
SIDES, MY SIDE, AND THE
LEADERSHIP STAFF WHO HAVE REALLY
TRIED TO WORK THIS AND GET THIS
THING THROUGH.
I'M GOING TO SAY SOME THINGS,
HOPEFULLY NOT TOO CONTROVERSIAL,
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR
GETTING THIS THING OUT AND
GETTING IT MOVING BECAUSE IF IT
DIDN'T MOVE TODAY IT MAY VERY
WELL COME TO AN END.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
CRITICAL LEGISLATION TO
RE-AUTHORIZE AND REFORM THE U.S.
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
THE SAD TRUTH, THOUGH, MADAM
SPEAKER, THIS BILL HAS BEEN HELD
HOSTAGE, HOSTAGE BY THE OTHER
BODY.
KEEP THE WORD HOSTAGE OUT THERE
AS WE THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT
THIS BILL WOULD DO AND WHAT'S
TAKING PLACE AROUND THE WORLD.
IF WE DO NOT PASS THIS BILL IN
THIS FORM TODAY, THE LIKELIHOOD
OF THIS COMMISSION SHUTTING DOWN
IS VERY, VERY HIGH.
I WISH I COULD NAME, I KNOW THE
HOUSE RULES AND I WOULD NAME THE
MEMBERS OVER THERE, IF ANYONE
ASKS ME, BUT IT'S BEING HELD
HOSTAGE.
SOME IN THE OTHER BODY ARE EVEN
SAYING THESE ARE NOT THE CHANGES
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO THE
COMMISSION.
AND QUITE FRANKLY I BELIEVE THAT
SOME OVER THERE AND THIS VERY
ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT MIND
SEEING THIS COMMISSION SHUT ITS
DOORS.
SCOOP JACKSON IS WITH A
BIPARTISAN ISSUE FOR YEARS.
A LEADER, JACKSON-VANIK.
PRESIDENT REAGAN TO MY SIDE,
REAGAN SAID THE WORDS IN THE
CONSTITUTION WERE COVETED TO THE
ENTIRE WORLD NOT JUST THE PEOPLE
IN PHILADELPHIA IN 1787 BUT THE
ENTIRE WORLD, YET RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE
FIRST FREEDOM ESSENTIAL TO OUR
AMERICAN VALUES AND SHOULD BE
FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN FOREIGN
POLICY, BUT SADLY THE
CONSTITUENCY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES IS
GROWING SMALLER AND SMALLER IN
WASHINGTON AND IN THIS CONGRESS.
THESE ISSUES HAVE BECOME SECOND
CLASS SIT DENSE IN THIS
CONGRESSTRY.
DOWNTOWN.
THERE ARE NO BIG LAW FIRMS IN
THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE
SAUDIS, THE CHINESE, THEY ARE
REPRESENTING FILTH AND GARBAGE
IN CERTAIN CASES, BUT NO ONE
REPRESENTS HUMAN RIGHTS AND
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
I'M CONCERNED, AND ALL THE
MEMBERS THAT HAVE AGONIZED THAT
PUSH AND PULL AND WANT TO KILL
THIS, I'M CONCERNED AS WE STAND
HERE TODAY AND DEBATE, YOU GOT
ARE BEING KILLED.
TO KNOW THIS, IRAQI CHRISTIANS
PEOPLE WHO SPEAK THE SAME
LANGUAGE AS JESUS, THE ARAMAIC
LANGUAGE, AND MORE BIBLICAL
ACTIVITY TOOK PLACE IN IRAQ THAN
ANY OTHER COUNTRY THAN ISRAEL,
AND IRAQI WOMEN ARE BEING FORCED
TO DO TERRIBLE THINGS TO KEEP
THEIR FAMILY.
THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT IRAQI
CHRISTIANS.
YET MANY OF THEM SUPPORTED THE
IRAQI WAR AND YET THEY SAY
NOTHING.
THE BAHA'IS, THE BAHA'IS IN IRAN
AND EGYPT ARE BEING
MARGINALIZED.
I NEVER HEAR A WORD SAYING.
CHINESE BISHOPS, I CAN REMEMBER
CONGRESSMAN SMITH TOOK HOLY
COMMUNEON FROM BISHOP SU.
HE WAS ARRESTED AND NEVER BEEN
SEEN SINCE.
MAYBE ONCE BEING FORCED INTO A
PUBLIC SECURITY POLICE CAR AND
TAKEN AWAY.
PROTESTANT PASTORS ARE BEING
ARRESTED TODAY AS WE SPEAK IN
CHINA AND YET THIS DOESN'T SEEM
TO BOTHER THIS PLACE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE, WELL, YOU
KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD
ALONE.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
GO BACK TO SCOOP JACKSON.
GO BACK TO RONALD REAGAN.
GO BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION.
GO BACK TO THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER IN THE
GOVERNMENT WAS GUNNED DOWN
BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH, BECAUSE HE
WAS A CHRISTIAN.
THE ARMANDY MUSLIMS IN PAKISTAN
ARE BEING PERSECUTED.
THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
THE COPTIC CHRISTIANS, I WAS IN
EGYPT IN JULY.
THE COPTIC CHRISTIANS, 8.5
MILLION, ARE GOING THROUGH A
VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
AND AS MR. SMITH JUST SAID,
ANTI-SEMITISM IS RUNNING
RAMPANT.
ANTI-SEMITISM IS RUNNING RAMPANT
IN THIS WORLD, YET THERE ARE
SOME WHO ARE TRYING TO KILL THIS
COMMISSION FOR SOME REASON OVER
IN THE OTHER BODY THAT WE ARE
HAVING SUCH A HARD TIME.
THE BUDDHISTS IN TIBET, THEY
CAN'T EVEN HAVE A PICTURE OF THE
DALAI LAMA.
HUE SHIN CHOW, THE CURRENT
PRESIDENT OF CHINA, WAS THE ONE
WHO CRACKED DOWN ON TIBET AND
RAIDED ALL THOSE MONASTERIES,
AND YET THIS BILL, SOME ARE JUST
SAYING, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
THROUGH THIS BILL, THIS BILL IS
NOT WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
THE COMMISSION HAS SAID THEY CAN
LIVE WITH THESE PROVISIONS.
SO THE COMMISSION MAY REMAIN A
RELIABLE VOICE FOR THE WORLD'S
PERSECUTED PEOPLE.
AS MR. SMITH SAID, THERE
PROBABLY IS NOT A TIME THAT YOU
DO NEED THIS COMMISSION MORE
THAN NOW.
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
HAS BEEN ELEVATED AT TIMES IN
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, BUT IT
STILL DOES NOT ENJOY THE
PRE-EMENCE IT DESERVES.
SADLY A STRONG U.S. VOICE ON
THESE CRITICAL ISSUES HAS
ARGUABLY NEVER BEEN MORE NEEDED.
IT FACES EXTINCTION AT THE END
OF THE MONTH AND MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS KNOW, YOU KNOCK THIS
BILL DOWN, YOU WANT TO KILL THIS
COMMISSION, AND VOTE NO, IT WILL
GO OUT OF BUSINESS BY THE END OF
THIS MONTH.
IF THE CONGRESS FAILS TO PASS
IT.
JUST YESTERDAY AS MR. SMITH
SAID, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
RELEASED ITS ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REPORT.
IN THE REPORT SEVERAL CHALLENGES
TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WERE
PINPOINTED.
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUE
TO FACE VIOLENT EXTREMIST
ATTACKS OF BLAST MI LAWS AND
REPRESSION AND ANTI-SEMITISM.
AND ACCORDING TO THE PEW
RESEARCH STUDY RELEASED IN 2009,
1/3 OF ALL NATIONS CONTAINING
70% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION
SEVERELY RESTRICT RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE MORE AND I
WILL JUST REVISE AND EXTEND.
I WANT TO THANK, AGAIN, MS.
ROS-LEHTINEN AND MR. BERMAN AND
MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. SMITH, AND
THEIR STAFFS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD SAY
TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
AROUND THE WORLD AND THE BAHA'IS
AND THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ANTI-SEMITISM AND BUDDHIST
COMMUNITY IN TIBET AND THE
UIGHURS IN CHINA.
THEY WOULD SAY WHAT'S TAKING
PLACE IN WASHINGTON?
WHY IS THIS NO LONGER AN ISSUE
THAT THIS CONGRESS AND THIS
ADMINISTRATION CARES ABOUT?
SO I HOPE WE WOULD PASS IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A ROLL
CALL VOTE.
EVERY MEMBER SHOULD STAND UP AND
DO.
EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO
WITH THAT I THANK THE GENTLEMAN.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
HAVE NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR
TIME.
IF THE OTHER SIDE IS -- HAS
OTHER WITNESSES, I'LL RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
OTHERWISE I YIELD IT.
I'M GOING TO SPEND
ANOTHER MINUTE.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
I DO ASK THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS.
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
ON THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I WANT TO AGAIN THANK
CONGRESSMAN FRANK WOLF, CHAIRMAN
WOLF, FOR HIS ELOQUENCE AND
PASSION FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN
AND CHILDREN OF FAITH WHO SUFFER
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE INJUSTICES
AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING
PERSECUTION.
THE BOOK THAT GOT ME INVOLVED IN
ALL CANDOR IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
ISSUES, THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS
IN MY FIRST YEAR IN CONGRESS,
1981, TORE TURE BY RICHARD
REMBRANDT, AN EVANGELICAL PASTOR
WHO SPENT YEARS BEING TORTURED
IN ROMANIA BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH.
AND HE MADE AN APPEAL, HE SAID
DO NOT SIT IDLY BY WHILE MEN AND
WOMEN OF ANY FAITH ARE BEING
TORTURED AND PERSECUTED BECAUSE
OF THAT FAITH.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO SUFFERS.
THE ENTIRE FAMILY SUFFERS.
AND VERY OFTEN THEY ARE
INCARCERATED AND TORTURED AS
WELL.
THE OTHER WAS A TRIP TO THE
SOVIET UNION WITH THE NATIONAL
CONFERENCE IN 1982, JANUARY, 10
DAYS IN MOSCOW AND WLENIN GRAD,
MEETING SOVIET JEWISH REFUSE NIX
WHO WERE PERSECUTED, PUT INTO
PSYCHIATRIC PRISONS SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.
A COUPLE YEARS LATER, MR. WOLF
AND I WENT TO CAMP 35.
IT TOOK YEARS TO NEGOTIATE OUR
WAY IN.
THIS IS IN 1987, WE MET WITH
PERSECUTED JEWISH REFUSENIKS AND
CHRISTIANS WHO WERE THERE AND
POLITICAL PRISONERS SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.
IT WAS WHERE SHERR RAN I ASK
SPENT A NUMBER OF HIS YEARS
INCARCERATED BY THE CRUEL
DICTATORSHIP OF THE SOVIET
UNION.
IN CHINA TODAY THE BELIEVER
CHRISTIAN UIGHUR, TIBETAN, ARE
JUST -- BUDDHISTS ARE TORTURED
BEYOND ANYONE'S IMAGINATION.
IT'S REAL.
IT'S HAPPENING TODAY.
IN VIETNAM THERE HAS BEEN A
BACKLASH AGAINST PEOPLE OF FAITH
EVER SINCE THEY GOT TRADING
BENEFITS AND THE BILATERAL TRADE
AGREEMENT AND M.F.N. OR
PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS
-- PNTR.
THEY HAVE DONE A BACKLASH TO MEN
AND WOMEN OF FAITH.
THEY OUGHT TO BE ON THE LIST.
THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM COMMISSION, I HOPE
PEOPLE WILL GO TO THE WEBSITE,
CHECK OUT THIS WONDERFUL
COMMISSION, WHICH IF IT IS NOT
RENEWED BY THE END OF THIS
MONTH, GOES OUT OF BUSINESS.
AND I WOULD CALL ON OUR MEMBERS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS
CAPITOL, THE OTHER BODY, TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION IMMEDIATELY.
WE OUGHT TO BE STRENGTHENING AND
SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING IT NOT
DOING LESS THAN STATUS QUO,
WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DOING
TODAY, BECAUSE OF SOME BUDGET
CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
THIS IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL
WATCHDOG AGENCY IN THIS TOWN.
DOESN'T GET THE BIG PRESS AS MR.
WOLF SAID.
DOESN'T HAVE THE BIG BUCKS.
NO K STREET LOBBYISTS, BUT IT IS
A WONDERFUL AND VERY IMPORTANT
AND EFFECTIVE COMMISSION THAT
KEEPS TRACK OF RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTION GLOBALLY, KEEPS YOU
US -- KEEPS US IN LINE IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE, AND ALSO THE
STATE DEPARTMENT.
I READ THEIR REPORTS.
I READ THEM FROM COVER TO COVER.
PLEASE, I WOULD ASK MEMBERS IN
THIS BODY SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AND CALL ON OUR
FRIENDS IN THE SENATE TO DO
LIKEWISE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2867 AS AMENDED.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
I REQUEST THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK SEEK RECOGNITION?
MADAM SPEAKER, PURSUANT O
SECTION 3 OF HOUSE RESOLUTION
392 AND AS THE DESIGNATION IG
KNEE OF THE MAJORITY LEADER, I
HAVE A MOTION AT THE DESK.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION.
MR. REED OF NEW YORK
MOVES THAT THE HOUSE PROCEED TO
CONSIDER THE JOINT RESOLUTION,
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 77,
RELATING TO THE DISAPPROVAL OF
THE PRESIDENT'S EXERCISE OF
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE THE DEBT
LIMIT AS SUBMITTED UNDER SECTION
3101-A OF TITLE 31, UNITED
STATES CODE, ON AUGUST 2, 2011.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 3101-A-C-3
OF TITLE 31, THE UNITED STATES
CODE, THE MOTION IS NOT
DEBATABLE.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
AYES HAVE IT.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION.
UNION CALENDAR NUMBER
134, HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 77.
JOINT RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE
DISAPPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S
EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY TO
INCREASE THE DEBT LIMIT AS
SUBMITTED UNDER SECTION 3101-A
OF TITLE 31 UNITED STATES CODE
ON AUGUST 2, 2011.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 3101-A-C-4
OF TITLE 31 UNITED STATES CODE,
THE JOINT RESOLUTION IS
CONSIDERED AS READ.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
JOINT RESOLUTION.
TO ITS PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT TWO
HOURS OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK, MR. REED, AS THE
PROPONENT AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN, AS THE
OPPONENT.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I ALSO
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE
CONSIDERATION.
SUBJECTLE OF BILL UNDER
WITHOUT
.
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, I AM
PLEASED TO OFFER THIS RESOLUTION
OF DISAPPROVAL OF THE REQUEST
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES TO BORROW AN ADDITIONAL
$1.5 TRILLION.
DEALING WITH THIS NATIONAL DEBT
IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS
WHY I RAN FOR CONGRESS.
IT IS TO STOP THE ENDLESS
BORROWING OF WASHINGTON, D.C.,
ON THE BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN AND
OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
I AM ALSO PLEASED TO OFFER IT IN
THE HOUSE AS A DEMONSTRATION OF
A COMMITMENT TO ENDING THE
DECADES' OLD BORROW AND SPEND
PRACTICES AND MENTALITY THAT
RUNS RAMPANT HERE IN WASHINGTON.
OUR NATIONAL DEBT HAS REACHED
ITS BREAKING POINT.
THE NEED TO MAKE SERIOUS
DECISIONS TO GET OUR SPENDING
UNDER CONTROL HAS NEVER BEEN
MORE URGENT.
AS WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE WORDS
OF ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF,
WHEN ASKED WHAT IS THE MOST
DIRECT THREAT TO OUR NATION, HIS
IMMEDIATE AND CLEAR RESPONSE WAS
THAT IT IS OUR NATIONAL DEBT IS
THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND THE RECENT DOWN GRADE OF OUR
NATIONAL CREDIT RATING BY
SNCHINGS&P FURTHER DEMONSTRATES
THE NECESSITY OF MAKING
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL CHANGES
TO THE WAY WE SPEND MONEY IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MY FOCUS HERE TODAY, BECAUSE WE
KNOW THE SENATE HAS ACTED AND
THIS RESOLUTION DID NOT PASS THE
SENATE AND IS LIKELY NOT TO
RESULT IN THE BORROWING --
BARRING THE PRESIDENT GETTING
THE HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS OF
BORROWING, BUT IT'S TO SEND A
MESSAGE TO THE NATION THAT WE
NEED TO ACT PROACTIVELY IN THIS
CHAMBER AND IN BOTH CHAMBERS OF
THIS HOUSE.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE
NATIONAL DEBT AND RATHER THAN
DEAL WITH IT IN A CRISIS
SITUATION, WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL
OF IT IN A PROACTIVE, STRATEGIC,
OPEN AND HONEST MANNER SO THAT
WE HAVE GOOD, SOUND POLICY
RESPONSES TO THE ISSUE THAT WE
FACE IN FINALLY TAMING THIS
BEAST KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL
DEBT.
WE HAVE SPENT OVER $15 TRILLION
OF MONEY WE DID NOT HAVE.
THAT NATIONAL DEBT IS GROWING AT
THE RATE OF $58,000 PER SECOND.
THAT'S $55,000 OWED BY EVERY
MAN, CHILD, WOMAN IN AMERICA.
THAT LEVEL OF BORROWING, THAT
LEVEL OF SPENDING IS JUST NOT
ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT
JEOPARDIZES OUR NATION AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY JEOPARDIZES OUR
NATION FOR THE GENERATIONS YET
TO COME.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT
CLEAR, THEY SPOKE LOUDLY IN
NOVEMBER, 2010.
AND WE ARE LISTENING.
MORE BORROWING WON'T SOLVE THE
PROBLEM, IN FACT IT WILL DIG THE
HOLE EVEN DEEPER.
BORROWING EVEN MORE BEFORE WE
CAN ENACT SIGNIFICANT SPENDING
CUTS TO BEGIN DEALING WITH THE
ROOT PROBLEM IS A FOOLISH
ERRAND.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
FUTURE GENERATIONS TO TAKE
IMMEDIATE ACTION.
I WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE PATH
OF WORKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS
CHAMBER TO TRY TO IDENTIFY
COMMON GROUND TO SOLVE THIS
CRISIS IN THE NATIONAL DEBT.
THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION LAST
SPRING AND THE BUDGET CONTROL
ACT WHICH REQUIRES THIS VOTE ARE
ONLY THE BEGINNING.
THIS WAR ON OUR NATIONAL DEBT IS
COME.
GOING TO GO ON FOR MANY YEARS TO
BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE FIRST
STEPS BECAUSE WITH EVERY JOURNEY
IT TAKES THE FIRST STEP TO GET
US ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS.
I KNOW THE BATTLES AHEAD WILL
NOT BE POPULAR AND THERE WILL BE
TREMENDOUS POLITICAL PRESSURE ON
ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO BORROW
AND SPEND AS USUAL BUT WE MUST
STAND UP TO THAT POLITICAL
PRESSURE.
WE MUST HONOR OUR OATH TO DO OUR
DUTY AND DO OUR JOB IN THIS
CHAMBER AND THAT MEANS STANDING
UP AND CHANGING THE PATH OF
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS NOW
IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN WIN THIS
ALL FACE.
WAR ON WHAT IS A COMMON ENEMY WE
OUR NATIONAL DEBT.
IT IS MY HOPE THIS RESOLUTION
CONTINUES TO SHOW THE PRESIDENT
HOW SERIOUS WE ARE ABOUT THIS
ISSUE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE WE WILL
FOCUS ON JOBS, WE WILL FOCUS ON
THE ECONOMY, WE IN THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS HAVE TO BE ABLE
TIME.
TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME
WE ARE COMPETENT MEN AND WOMEN
IN THIS CHAMBER WHO LOVE OUR
GREAT NATION.
AND WE MUST COME TOGETHER ON ALL
FRONTS, AT ALL TIMES, NOT ONLY
ON THE NATIONAL DEBT BUT ON OUR
ECONOMY, ON GETTING AMERICANS
BACK TO WORK.
AND I THINK WITH THAT BIPARTISAN
ATTITUDE IT WILL BE AMAZING WHAT
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IN ORDER TO
ACHIEVE ALL THOSE GOALS, THE
NATIONAL DEBT BEING ONE OF THE
CRITICAL ONES THAT WE MUST FACE
HEAD ON TODAY.
AND WITH THAT I'LL RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.