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CERTAIN WELFARE TO WORK RULES.
AND CHANGES TO THE BALANCE VISAS
FOR HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS.
AND NOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE
U.S. HOUSE HERE ON C-SPAN.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
2012]
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR GUEST CHAPLAIN, RABBI
STEVEN LYLE, ORTHODOX UNION,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK.
MASTER OF THE
UNIVERSE, TODAY WE STAND BEFORE
YOU IN THIS HALLOWED HALL,
GREATFUL FOR THE FREEDOMS WE
HAVE BEEN GRANTED HERE,
GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN
HERE YOU HAVE IMBUED WITH
WISDOM AND BLESSED WITH THE
COURAGE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS
THAT WILL IMPACT THE DESTINY OF
ALL OF HUMANITY.
ALLOW THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
YOUR PARTNERS IN MAKING A
MORE PERFECT WORLD AND GRANT
THEM THE INSIGHT AND THE VISION
TO BE MINDFUL OF THE
RESPONSIBILITIES THEY BEAR.
WE IMPLORE YOU TO GUIDE AND
STRENGTHEN THEM SO THEY CAN DO
WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SAVE THE
WORLD FROM THOSE WHO WISH TO
PERPETRATE TERROR AND EVIL.
DEAR GOD, ENABLE THEM TO DO
WHAT MUST BE DONE TO PLANT THE
SEEDS FAR BRIGHTER AND MORE
PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
DEAR GOD, SUPPORT THEM IN
PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN WITH A
STRONG EDUCATION TO MEET THE
CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US SUCH
WONDERFUL SHEPHERDS AND
ALLOWING US TO BE THEIR
CHERISHED FLOCK.
AMEN.
THE CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE
JOURNAL OF THE LAST DAY'S --
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED -- EXAMINED THE
JOURNAL OF THE LAST DAY'S
PROCEEDINGS.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1,
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVE THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE
LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS, MR. POE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE
NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
THE CHAIR WILL
ENTERTAIN UP TO 15 REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON EACH
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
SIDE OF THE AISLE.
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
--
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, ELIZABETH
FROM HOUSTON WROTE ME THIS
ABOUT HER BUSINESS.
MY IMMIGRANT PARENTS CAME TO
THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY.
THEY HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH MY
DAD WORKED VERY HARD, HE OPENED
SEVERAL BARS AND RESTAURANTS,
HIRED WAIT STAFF, COOKS,
BARTENDERS AND CLEANING PEOPLE.
THERE WAS NEVER A DIME FROM THE
GOVERNMENT.
HARD WORK, LONG HOURS AND
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WERE THE NORM
FOR ALL OF US.
I LEARNED THEIR WORK ETHIC
EARLY AND WORKED VERY HARD FOR
MY FAMILY NO WELFARE, NO
GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS.
THIS IS MY COUNTRY AND I LOVE
THIS COUNTRY SO MUCH, OR AS
MUCH AS MY PARENTS DID, BUT I
THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION.
PRESIDENT OR HIS
THEY WANT TO BE IN CHARGE OF
ALL OF US FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE.
THAT'S NOT THE AMERICA I KNEW.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MY PARENTS
AND GRANDPARENTS FLED FROM.
PLEASE TAKE US BACK TO THE
RIGHT WAY.
MR. SPEAKER, ELIZABETH'S FAMILY
DID IT THE RIGHT WAY AND
WITHOUT BIG GOVERNMENT GETTING
IN THE WAY.
THEY BUILT THEIR AMERICAN DREAM
ALL ON THEIR OWN.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OHIO SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I REQUEST
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND
EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
DID THE PEABODY
ELECTRIC COMPANY DELIBERATELY
UNLOAD A BAD ORGANIZATION ONTO
THE COMMUNITY?
THEY FORCED MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
UP TO TWICE THE MARKET
RATE FOR EWE FILLITIES.
AT A TIME WHEN FUNDING COULDN'T
BE FOUND FOR NEW UTILITY, THEY
UNLOADED 95% OF ITS INVESTMENT
ONTO PUBLIC CUSTOMERS WITH A
TRIPLE COST OVERRUN WITH A COAL
MINE THAT LASTED 23 YEARS
INSTEAD OF 30 YEARS AS
PROMISED.
THE CONTRACT WHICH THE
MUNICIPALS ARE LOCKED INTO,
THEY ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR
POWER 42% ABOVE THE RATE,
WHETHER THEY RECEIVE POWER OR
NOT.
WALL STREET WOULDN'T INVEST IN
A PROJECT SO PEABODY WENT TO
MAIN STREET AND NOW MILLIONS OF
PUBLIC POWER CUSTOMERS WILL PAY
SKY HIGH ELECTRIC RATES IN WHAT
HAS ALL THE APPEARANCES OF A
SWINDLE.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, ON
FRIDAY, THE ADMINISTRATION
RELEASED A REPORT ON HOW THE
PRESIDENT PLANS TO IMPLEMENT
THE $600 BILLION DEFENSE
SEQUESTER, THREATENING SERVICE
MEMBERS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND
VETERANS.
POLITICO EXPLAINED, QUOTE, IT
SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE SWORD OF
DAMOCLES, END OF QUOTE.
THIS REPORT, REQUIRED BY THE
PASSAGE OF THE SEQUESTRATIONS
ACT, ARRIVED ONE WEEK LATE
CONFIRMING THE PRESIDENT AND
THE LIBERAL CONTROLLED SENATE
HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE
SEQUESTRATION AS A TOP
PRIORITY.
TODAY THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TO
RECEIVE TESTIMONY FROM KEY
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO
IMPLEMENT SEQUESTRATION.
BASED UPON THE MINIMAL
INFORMATION PROVIDED, IT IS
CLEAR THE SCRADMRGS HAS NOT
MADE APPROPRIATE PLANS FOR THE
DRASTIC BUDGET CUTS EVEN THOUGH
THE WHITE HOUSE IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR PROPOSING THE DISASTROUS
PROPOSAL.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE VOTED
FIVE TIMES TO REPLACE
SEQUESTRATION, LED BY CHAIRMAN
BUCK MCKEON, WITH COMMON SENSE
REFORMS TO AVOID THE THREAT TO
NATIONAL SECURITY AND
DESTROYING JOBS.
I URGE THE PRESIDENT TO WORK
WITH THE HOUSE AND SENATE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
ON TERRORISM.
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CONNECTICUT SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
VINCE LOMBARDI
ONCE SAID, WINNERS NEVER QUIT
AND QUITTER NEVER WIN.
I WAS REMINDED OF THAT WHEN THE
HOUSE SAID THEY ARE CANCELING
ALL SESSION DAYS FOR THE MONTH
OF OCTOBER DESPITE THE FACT WE
HAVE AN UNFINISHED FARM BILL,
CYBERSECURITY ACT AND FISCAL
CLIFF LOOMING ON JANUARY 1 AND
A SEQUESTRATION ON JANUARY 2.
THERE ARE PASSIONATE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO
SIDES ABOUT HOW TO RESOLVE
THESE PROBLEMS BUT THEY DEAL
WITH IT BY GOING HOME FOR SEVEN
WEEKS.
COACH LOMBARDY SAID WINNERS
NEVER QUIT AND QUITTER NEVER
WIN.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE
BETTER THAN A SEVEN-WEEK
RECESS.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS LEADER SHIP
OF THIS HOUSE TO CANCEL THEIR
ORDER AND GET BACK TO WORK AND
NATION.
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
FROM A SMALL TOWN IN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE, 13 YOUNG MEN
RECENTLY BECAME THE 2012 LITTLE
CHAMPIONS.
LEAGUE WORLD SERIES U.S.
THESE ALL-STARS PLAYED WITH
SPORTSMANSHIP AND TALENT BEYOND
THEIR YEARS.
IN THE U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,
GOODLETSVILLE RACKED UP 21 RUNS
TO BECOME THE FIRST TENNESSEE
TEAM IN HISTORY TO CLINCH THE
U.S. TITLE.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS A TESTIMONY
TO THEIR DEDICATION AND
PERSEVERANCE, QUALITIES THAT
WILL SERVE THEM WELL THROUGHOUT
THEIR LIFE.
THEY HAVE MADE THEIR HOMETOWN,
THEIR PARENTS, THEIR COACHES,
AND THEIR CONGRESSMAN VERY
PROUD.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS
ACHIEVEMENT IS JUST THE
BEGINNING OF MORE GREAT THINGS
TO COME FROM EACH OF THEM.
CONGRATULATIONS, BOYS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I'D LIKE TO SAY
THAT MY TEAM CAME IN SECOND TO
TENNESSEE, TENNESSEE WAS THE
ONLY TEAM THAT BEAT THEM, BUT
BEAT THEM TWICE.
THEY DID A STANDUP JOB, SO DID
OUR KIDS IN PETALUMA.
SPEAKER, ON MONDAY, I
TOOK PART IN A MOVING
NATURALIZATION CEREMONY AS 50
NEW PEOPLE FROM 20 DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES TOOK THE OATH THAT
MADE THEM AMERICANS.
225 YEARS TO THE DAY THAT THE
FOUNDERS SIGNED THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S NO
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT MORE
PRECIOUS THAN THE RIGHT OF
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THESE NEW
AMERICANS WERE EXCITED FOR THE
VERY OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN
THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.
THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD DO
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE, TO ENSURE THAT EVERY
ELIGIBLE AMERICAN CAN DO JUST
THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, SEVERAL STATES
ARE THROWING UP BARRIERS TO
VOTER PARTICIPATION.
RESTRICTING BALLOT ACCESS TO
SILENCE PEOPLE'S VOICES.
MR. SPEAKER, GUESS WHO IS
DISENFRANCHISED BY STRICT PHOTO
I.D. REQUIREMENTS AND THE LIKE?
NOT REPUBLICANS.
IT'S COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND
LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM UTAH SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR A MINUTE
AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, TODAY
WEAVER STATE UNIVERSITY IS
HONORING PEOPLE AND I WISH TO
MENTION FOUR INDIVIDUALS BEING
HONORED BY THE UNIVERSITY.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE GAUGE
FULLER AND STATE SENATOR SCOT
JENKINS WILL BE RECEIVED THE
AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR
EDUCATION.
BOTH HAVE DONE MUCH FOR THEIR
PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES AS WELL
AS WEAVER STATE AND THEIR
OUTREACH COUNCIL.
RECEIVING THE PRESIDENT'S AWARD
IS KNOW LAL KERIS, WHO SERVED
AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN UTAH
AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN WEAVER
STATE ACHIEVING THE STATUS OF
UNIVERSITY LEVEL HE HAS
BENEFITED THE COMMUNITY AND
IN UTAH BY BEING ON
THE BOARD OF REGENTS IN UTAH.
THE SECOND NOMINEE WILL BE ONE
WHO IS CALLED THE BRIGHTEST --
ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST MINDS IN
UTAH POLITICS, SPENCER STOKES,
WHO HAS DONE MUCH IN HIS
COMMUNITY AS BOTH COMMISSIONER
AS WELL AS AN ADVOCATE AND IS
ALSO, I HAVE TO ADMIT, GONE
OVER TO THE DARK SIDE AND IS A
STAFFER ON THE SENATE RIGHT NOW
AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR A
UTAH SENATOR BUT WE'LL FORGIVE
HIM FOR THAT.
THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS HAVE
DONE MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY,
MUCH FOR THEIR COMMON COUNTY,
WE'RE COUNTY, MUCH FOR THE
STATE OF UTAH AND ARE VERY
DESERVING OF THESE HONORS BEING
GIVEN BY WE'RE STATE UNIVERSITY
AS WELL.
TODAY AND I WISH TO HONOR THEM
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
AT THE END OF WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS CONSIDER TO BE A
GRUELING WORK WEEK, CONSISTING
TWO AND A HALF WORK DAYS, WE
ARE HEADING HOME TO TAKE SEVEN
WEEKS OFF.
WE WERE IN SESSION FOR
EIGHT DAY THIS IS MONTH AND
THAT.
WERE OFF FIVE WEEKS BEFORE
DURING THEIR TIME HERE IN
WASHINGTON, REPUBLICANS MADE
SURE TO VOTE TO END MEDICARE AS
WE KNOW IT, INCREASE COSTS FOR
SENIORS AND GIVE TAX BREAKS TO
MILLIONAIRES AND COMPANIES THAT
SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS.
BUT ON ADDRESSING THE ONGOING
JOBS CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY
THEY DID NOTHING.
AND ON PROVIDING TAX CUTS FOR
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND SMALL
BUSINESS, THEY DID NOTHING.
AND ON WORKING TOWARD A
BIPARTISAN SOLUTION TO THE
LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF, THEY LEFT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HANGING BY
CONTINUING TO DO NOTHING.
THE HARD WORKING MEN AND WOMEN
WHO CALL THIS COUNTRY HOME
DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER.
THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE BETTER
THAN NOTHING.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM KANSAS SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
6785.
IT WILL CREATE A SMARTER MORE
INTEGRATED APPROACH TO OUR
COUNTRY TO GET THE BRIGHTEST
AND BEST STUDENTS.
RETENTION OF THESE
HIGHLY SKILLED,
AMERICAN-TRAINED INNOVATEORS IS
CRUCIAL TO OUR ECONOMY.
RATHER THAN GIVING THE BOOT TO
STUDENTS WHO ARE AMERICAN
EDUCATED AT OUR BEST
UNIVERSITYS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY
OF KANSAS IN THESE ADVANCED
FIELDS OF STUDY, WE SHOULD WORK
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THESE
BRIGHT MINDS CAN STAY HERE AND
BOOST OUR GLOBAL
COMPETITIVENESS RATHER THAN
RETURNING TO THEIR HOME NATION
TO WORK AGAINST US.
BY WORKING TOGETHER IN
BIPARTISAN FASHION TO
PRIORITIZE THESE STUDENTS IN --
IN OUR NATIONAL IMMIGRATION
POLICY, WE CAN BOOST JOB
CREATION AND IMPROVE OUR
ECONOMY BY ALLOWING THE U.S. TO
RETAIN SOME OF THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST MINDS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK SEEK RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE
.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THAT'S PUTS US INTO
A $697 BILLION DROP IN THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY AND LOSS OF
738,000 JOBS.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY AREA
WHERE OUR ANEMIC INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT HAS BECOME A DRAG ON
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
WE WILL LOSE HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GROSS
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE
OF OUR INABILITY TO MOVE GOODS
AND PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY.
CONGRESS JUST PASSED A BILL TO
SPEND $52 BILLION ON ROAD AND
BRIDGES IN THIS COUNTRY.
AFFORD.
BUT SOMEHOW WE FOUND MONEY TO
SPEND $150 BILLION REBUILDING
THE ROADS AND BRIDGES OF IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN.
I INTRODUCE ADD BILL, FIVE-YEAR,
$1.2 TRILLION INVESTMENT IN
ROADS AND BRIDGES, PORT,
TRANSIT, AIRPORTS BECAUSE THE
TIME TO DO NATION BUILD
SOMETHING RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
FROM NEW MEXICO SEEK
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
RECOGNITION?
REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTE.
NEW MEXICO IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MR. SPEAKER, NEW
MEXICO IS CELEBRATING ITS
CENTENNIAL THIS YEAR.
100 YEARS AS A STATE.
NOT ONE OF THE OLDEST STATES,
BUT IT'S ONE OF THE RICHEST IN
DIVERSITY, HISTORY, AND
COOPERATION.
HOME TO 19 INDIVIDUAL PUEBLOS,
TWO APACHE INDIAN TRIBES,
NUMEROUS NAVAJO CHAPTERS, THE
SPANISH CAME NORTH OUT OF MEXICO
IN THE 16TH CENTURY LOOKING FOR
THE SEVEN CITIES OF GOLD.
TODAY.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THOSE
WE DID FIND BLACK GOLD UNDER THE
EAST SIDE OF THE STATE AND IN
THE NORTHWEST CORNER.
NEW MEXICO IS HOME TO AN
AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY THAT IS
SECOND TO NONE.
IT HAS THE EARLIEST EXISTENCE,
SHOWS THE EARLIEST EXISTENCE OF
HUMANS THERE.
SANTA FE IS THE OLDEST CAPITAL
IN AMERICA FORMED IN 1610.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE THE
RICHNESS OF NEW MEXICO IS.
IT'S IN OUR TRADITIONS.
TRADITIONS OF HARD WORK.
TRADITIONS OF FAITH, FAMILY,
FREEDOM, AND SERVICE TO OTHERS.
THOSE ARE THE VALUES I LEARNED
MEXICO.
WHEN MY PARENTS CAME TO NEW
THEY WENT BROKE IN TEXAS, CAME
FAMILY THERE.
TO NEW MEXICO, AND BUILT THE
THAT'S THE RICHNESS OF NEW
MEXICO.
MR. SPEAKER, I COMMEND NEW
MEXICO ON THE HUNDRED YEARS AND
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
FROM NEW JERSEY SEEK
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, LAST
MONTH I JOINED 78 BIPARTISAN
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ASKING
SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON TO
ENSURE THAT IRAQ MEETS ITS
OBLIGATIONS AND PROTECTS THE
3,400 IRANIAN DISSIDENTS.
RESIDENTS AT CAMP LIBERTY ARE
MEMBERS OF THE M.E.K.
IN RECENT DAYS ANOTHER 680
RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN RELOCATED TO
CAMP LIBERTY AND THE REIS HE
SETTLEMENT PLAN BACK TO THE
UNITED STATES.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE SUPPORT THESE
RESIDENTS AS THEY SEEK TO
LIQUIDATE TENS OF BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF THEIR ASSETS LEFT
BEHIND.
A MAJOR PROBLEM AS LONG AS THE
M.E.K. REMAINS ON THE U.S. LIST
OF FOREIGN SERVICE ORGANIZATION
AS THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND
COUNTRIES WHICH WILL ACCEPT
THEM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IS
CURRENTLY UNDER COURT ORDER TO
MAKE A DECISION ON THE M.E.K.'S
CASE BY OCTOBER 1, 2012.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE REMOVE THE
M.E.K. FROM THE FOREIGN
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION LIST
IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS THE LEGAL,
I YIELD BACK.
MORAL, AND HUMANE THING TO DO.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VERMONT SEEK RECOGNITION?
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REVISE AND EXTEND.
DOES
CONSENT?
THE GENTLEMAN SEEK UNANIMOUS
ONE MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, ONE YEAR AGO
CONGRESS TOOK ACTION FINALLY TO
REFORM OUT-OF-CONTROL CRISES
CHARGE THE TO OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND CUSTOMERS EVERY
TIME THEY SWIPED A DEBIT CARD.
FOR YEARS THE CARD COMPANIES AND
BIG BANKS HAVE EESSENTIALLY BEEN
RIPPING FOLKS OFF OVERCHARGING
THEM W NO ONE WATCHING JUST
BECAUSE THEY COULD THEY WERE
CHARGING THE HIGHEST FEES IN THE
WORLD.
RUNNING UP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN PROFITS BUT ALL AT THE
EXPENSE OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND
CONSUMERS.
THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR
THIS.
A YEAR AGO CONGRESS FINALLY TOOK
ACTION ON THE DEBIT CARD THAT'S
GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY, FAIR TO
OUR SMALL MERCHANTS, BUT WE NEED
TO DO MORE.
IN CREDIT CART
SWIPEES.
THE CREDIT CART COMPANIES AND
THE BIG BANKS SHOULD STEP BACK
AND HAVE A BUSINESS MODEL WHERE
THEY CHARGE A FAIR PRICE FOR AN
IMPORTANT SERVICE BUT NOT RIP
ERS.
OFF OUR CUSS TO.
I YIELD BACK -- CUSTOMERS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK SEEK RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE TO COMMEMORATE THE
TRAGIC PASSING OF NEAL, NEPHEW
OF MY FRIEND AND CONSTITUENT,
SUZANNE MURPHY OF SOUTHAMPTON
NEW YORK.
NEAL WAS A RISING
SENIOR AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY,
HE WAS FATALLY SHOT ON AUGUST
22, 2010, WHILE RIDING HIS
BICYCLE HOME FROM A RESTAURANT
WHERE HE WORKED AS WAITER, HE
WAS 31 YEARS OLD AND RETURNED TO
COLLEGE WITH PLANS TO PURSUE A
CAREER IN SCIENCE.
HIS ASSAILANT WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD
BOY WHO SHOT HIM SIX TIMES WITH
A .38 CALIBER HANDGUN AND THEN
ROBBED HIM.
SUZANNE'S FAMILY HAS BEEN
WRENCHED WITH GRIEF OVER THE
SUDDEN END OF THIS YOUNG MAN'S
LIFE.
WHILE NO MEMORIALS COULD BEGIN
TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN OF THIS
LOSS, SHE HAS FOUND A WAY TO
CHANNEL HER GRIEF.
GUN CONTROL.
SHE HAS BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR
WHEN ROUGHLY 100,000 AMERICANS
ARE KILLED OR WOUNDED WITH GUNS
EACH YEAR, REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN
AGREE WE CAN CONCEIVE EVENHANDED
POLICIES THAT PROTECT AMERICANS
FROM SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE THAT
DO NOT INFRINGE ON ANY
AMERICANS' RIGHT TO POSSESS A
FIREARM.
I APPLAUD HER EFFORTS TO REACH
OUT AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE
PROBLEM OF GUN SAFETY.
WE MUST NOT LET HER NEPHEW
BECOME JUST ANOTHER CHILLING
STATISTIC IN THE BATTLE TO MAKE
OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
LEAVING ANOTHER FAMILY
STRUGGLING TO GET PAST THE PAIN
AND THE LOSS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MISSOURI SEEK RECOGNITION?
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN OF
MISSOURI FAMOUSLY LABELED THE
REPUBLICAN CONGRESS OF 1948 THE
DO-NOTHING CONGRESS.
BUT AT THE CALL THIS CONGRESS
THE DO-NOTHING CONGRESS WOULD BE
AN INSULT TO THE 1948 CONGRESS.
THAT WAS 10 TIMES MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN THIS CONGRESS.
WITH THE HOUSE RECESSING ON THE
21ST, THE EARLIEST THE CONGRESS
HAS LEFT TO CAMPAIGN IN 52
YEARS.
THE G.O.P.-LED 112 CONGRESS HAS
ACHIEVED THE LOWEST APPROVAL
RATING EVER, NEARLY NINE OUT OF
10 AMERICANS SAY THEY DISAPPROVE
OF THIS CONGRESS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD FEEL LUCKY THAT
CONGRESS HASN'T BEEN HERE.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN
HERE, THEY VOTED TO END MEDICARE
AS WE KNOW IT.
GIVE TAX BREAKS TO MILLIONAIRES
OVER THE MIDDLE CLASS.
THEY HAVE LEFT TOWN WITHOUT
PASSING MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS,
THE FARM BILL, THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT, AND
RESPONSIBLE DEFENDANT REDUCTION
AND THEY HAVE VOTED FOR
CORPORATIONS TO SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS INSTEAD OF PASSING THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT.
LET'S STOP CALLING THIS THE
DO-NOTHING CONGRESS.
THIS IS WORSE THAN THE
DO-NOTHING CONGRESS.
FOR
I YIELD BACK.
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA SEEK RECOGNITION?
DOES GENTLEMAN SEEK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT?
I SEEK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE NUMBER 47.
A LOT HAS BEEN THE PERCENTAGE OF
PERSONS STUDENTS AND ELDERLY AND
WORKING POOR WHO -- MANY OF WHOM
ARE PAYING MORE IN TOTAL TAXES
THAN MR. ROMNEY IS PAYING ON HIS
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
ANNUAL INCOME, BUT WHO
NEVERTHELESS HE CONSIDERS TO BE
SLACKERS, NO I'M TALKING ABOUT
47 AS IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS LEFT
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FACT WE
HAVE ONE MORE DAY WE WILL BE IN
SESSION.
THE MOST BASIC AND FUNDAMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY OUR CONSTITUENTS
SENT US TO WASHINGTON TO ADDRESS
ARE BEING LEFT TOTALLY
UNRESOLVED.
NEVER HAVE I SEEN A HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES SO UNPRODUCTIVE
AND SO DYSFUNCTIONAL.
AND I SAY IT'S THE SO-CALLED
GINGRICH REVOLUTION.
THE FACT IS THAT TODAY THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND TOO
MANY OF ITS RANK AND FILE
MEMBERS SEEM TO THINK THAT
ECONOMIC STIMULUS, WHICH IS
VITALLY NEEDED IN THIS ECONOMY,
IS A DIRTY WORD.
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
SOME KIND OF ALIEN ENTERPRISE.
AND THEIR APPROACH AS A RESULT
IS TO DO NOTHING.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE
LAST TWO YEARS.
NOTHING.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM HAWAII SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
HAWAII IS RECOGNIZED.
OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY FROM
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE LYNN
MAKASOMI OF HONOLULU, HAWAII.
THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF ARTS
THE 2012 NATIONAL
HERITAGE FELLOW FOR HER
CONTRIBUTIONS TO HER FOLK AND
TRADITIONAL ART.
THIS AWARD HONORS HER LIFETIME
COMMITMENT TO OKINAWAN CLASSICAL
DANCE, WHICH IS ALSO REFERRED TO
AS BUKU DANCE AND EMBODIES HER
ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY IDENTIFYING
HER AS ONE OF COUNTRY'S LIVING
TREASURES.
IT WAS AT THE AGE OF 6 THAT SHE
BEGAN TO MASTER THIS TYPE OF
DANCE.
SHE IS ORIGINALLY FROM OKINAWA
BUT HAS RESIDED IN HAWAII SINCE
HER MARRIAGE TO HER LOVING
HUSBAND, CLARENCE, IN 1955.
IN 1956, SHE FOUNDED DANCE
ACADEMY IN HONOLULU.
FOR OVER FIVE DECADES HAS BEEN
PERFORMING AND COREO GRAPHING
CREATIVE DANCES.
HER PERFORMING SKILLS ARE
LEGENDARY, BUT IT IS HER ALOHA
SPIRIT THAT ENDURES THE TEST OF
TIME AND HER PASSION, KNOWLEDGE,
AND KINDNESS THAT TOUCHED
INDIVIDUALS OVER THE
YEARS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT SHELE IS DESERVING OF THIS
AWARD AND SHE HAS DEDICATED HER
LIFE TO PRESERVING THE OKINAWAN
CULTURE WHILE POSITIVELY
IMPACTING OTHERS AND
CONTRIBUTING TO THE DIVERSITY
AND UNIQUENESS OF OUR CULTURE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.
OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY FROM
THANK YOU.
LAST WEEK THE SAN DIEGO CHAMBER
OF CONGRESS SENT ITS LARGEST
EVER DELEGATION OF COMMUNITY AND
BUSINESS LEADERS TO WASHINGTON.
THEY CAME BECAUSE THEY KNOW
WASHINGTON CAN HELP THEM SPUR
THE ECONOMY, INNOVATE, AND
EMPLOY LOCAL WORKERS IF WE CAN
ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE.
WHAT GRAND REQUEST DID THEY HAVE
FOR THIS CONGRESS TO HELP MAKE
PROGRESS HAPPEN?
WELL, JUST THAT WE DO OUR JOBS.
THAT WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES.
TOGETHER ACROSS PARTY LINES
AND FIND A SENSIBLE, NOT AN
ARBITRARY BALANCE OF CUTS AND
SPENDING.
YES, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS COUNTRY IS FACING SOME HARD
CHOICES AND YES THERE IS
DIVISION IN THIS CHAMBER, BUT WE
DO NOT NEED, WE DO NOT NEED TO
ADD TO THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES
FACING AMERICAN BUSINESS AND
FAMILIES BY SITTING ON THE
SIDELINES WATCHING A COMPLETELY
MAN-MADE DISASTER EXPLODE UPON
OUR ECONOMY.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO
DECISIONS NOW.
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY SHOULD NOT
BE FACING A FISCAL CLIFF.
IT SHOULD BE RECEIVING A FISCAL
ROAD MAP.
BY ACTUALLY DOING OUR JOB WE CAN
MAKE THE JOB OF OUR HARDWORKING
CONSTITUENTS A LITTLE EASIER.
OUR JOB IS NOT DONE, MR.
SPEAKER, CANCEL THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECESS.
FOR
FROM NEW MEXICO SEEK
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
AMERICA ONLINE MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES
IN CELEBRATING NEW MEXICO'S
CENTENNIAL.
WE ARE PROUD TO INTRODUCE A
RESOLUTION HONORING THE 100
YEARS SINCE NEW MEXICO BECAME A
STATE ON JANUARY 6, 1912.
HOME TO SOME OF THE EARLIEST
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH
AMERICA, NEW MEXICANS HAVE SPENT
THIS YEAR CELEBRATING OUR
STATE'S REMARKABLE HISTORY AND
MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
NATION AND THE WORLD.
FROM THE FERTILE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY TO THE VAST CHI WITH A
AIAN DESERT NEW MEXICO'S
NATIONAL BEAUTY IS UNSURPASSED.
FROM CONRAD HILTON.
FROM NANCY LOPEZ TO BRIAN
URLACHER, FROM GEORGIA O'KEEFE,
FROM DENNIS CHAVEZ TO DOLORES
VERTA AND COUNTLESS OTHER NEW
MEXICANS OUR IMPACT ON AMERICA'S
PAST, PRESENT E. AND FUTURE
CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
AS WE CONTINUE TO
CELEBRATE OUR CENTENNIAL YEAR I
JOIN WITH ALL NEW MEXICANS TO
HONOR OUR UNIQUE HERITAGE AND
BRIGHT FUTURE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM KENTUCKY SEEK RECOGNITION?
REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR
ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY IS RECOGNIZED.
MY COLLEAGUES FROM
ACROSS THE AISLE LIKE TO TALK A
LOT ABOUT PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT THEIR DECISION TO ADJOURN
CONGRESS FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS
SHOWS HOW LITTLE THEY ACTUALLY
UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT.
CONGRESS IS FACING SERIOUS
DEADLINES RIGHT NOW AND WE
SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THE
PROBLEMS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
SENT US HERE TO SOLVE.
INSTEAD, REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
HAS DECIDED WE SHOULD GO HOME
WITHOUT DOING ANY OF IT AND
TAKING WITH US ONE OF THE WORST
REPORT CARDS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY.
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW
REPUBLICANS HAVE IGNORED A PLAN
TO CREATE 2.6 MILLION NEW JOBS
AND PROTECT ANOTHER 1.6 MILLION
EXISTING JOBS.
THEY WON'T EVEN BRING IT TO THE
FLOOR FOR A VOW.
RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD BRING TO THE
FLOOR AND SEND TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK A BILL THAT
PROTECT TAX CUTS FOR 98% OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND 97% OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, BUT INSTEAD WE ARE
GOING HOME.
REPUBLICANS HAD TO TAKE OUR
COUNTRY OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF
WHICH WILL HOBBLE OUR ECONOMY,
RAISE TAXES ON MILLIONS OF
WORKING FAMILIES AND ONCE AGAIN
SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR
DEFICIT TO THOSE WHO CAN LEAST
AFFORD IT.
MR. SPEAKER, REPUBLICANS CAN'T
SEEK PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IF
THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT
IT THEMSELVES I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
.
FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
FROM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER
15, WE HONOR THE HERITAGE AND
MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE
LATINO COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE.
THE STORE ROIF HISPANIC
AMERICANS IS TRULY AN AMERICAN
STORY.
IN AMERICA IF YOU WORK HARD,
PLAY BY THE RULES AND DREAM
BIG, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACHIEVE.
HARD WORK OF
IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR CHILDREN,
THE ARTS AND EDUCATION, TO
NEARLY ONE MILLION LATINO
VETERANS WHO HAVE PROUDLY
SERVED IN UNIFORM, HISPANICS
HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN
SHAPING OUR NATION.
THERE'S STILL MORE
WORK TO BE DONE, SUCH AS A I
DRESSING HEALTH CARE DISTEAR P
-- DISPARITIES AND INCREASING
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.
WE DON'T ALL SHARE THE SAME
ROOTS BUT WE SHARE THE SAME
GOALS, GIVING THE NEXT
GENERATION OF AMERICANS TO
ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM THAT
AMERICAN DREAM IS PART AND
PARCEL OF WHAT WE CELEBRATE AND
HON NOR IN THE HISPANIC
HERITAGE MONTH.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REMOVE
REPRESENTATIVE MCINERNEY OF
OR OF
OF H.R. 4664, THE WILDLIFE
PREVENTION ACT.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM UTAH SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. BISHOP BY --
BY DIRECTION OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES I CALL UP
HOUSE RESOLUTION 788 AND ASK
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
THE
HOUSE RESOLUTION
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE.
788, RESOLVED THAT UPON
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IT
SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 118
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL
DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF
TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE OF
COURSE THE RULE SUBMITTED BY
THE OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE
OF THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES RELATING TO WAIVER AND
EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY UNDER
SECTION 1115 OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT 42 U.S.C. 1315
WITH RESPECT TO THE TEMPORARY
ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
PROGRAM.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE JOINT
RESOLUTION ARE TWHAVEPLED JOINT
RESOLUTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED
AS READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT
RESOLUTION ARE WAIVED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
JOINT RESOLUTION TO FINAL
PASSAGE WITHOUT INTERVENING
MOTION EXCEPT, ONE, ONE HOUR OF
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED A AMONG
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS AND
THE CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND THE WORK FORCE,
AND TWO, ONE MOTION TO
RECOMMIT.
SECTION 2.
AT ANY TIME AFTER THE ADOPTION
OF THIS RESOLUTION, THE SPEAKER
MAY, PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2B OF
RULE 18, DECLARE THE HOUSE
RESOLVED INTO THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION ON THE STATE OF THE
UNION FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE
BILL H.R. 3409 TO LIMIT THE
AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE INTERIOR TO ISSUE
REGULATIONS BEFORE DECEMBER 31,
2013, UNDER THE SURFACE MINING
CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF
1977.
THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL
SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE
CONFINED TO THE BILL AND
AMENDMENTS SPECIFIED IN THIS
RESOLUTION AND SHALL NOT EXCEED
ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED AMONG
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES.
THE CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND COMMERCE, AND THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
INFRASTRUCTURE.
TRANSPORTATION AND
AFTER GENERAL DEBATE, THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE.
IN LIEU OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMN --
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
NOW PRINTED IN THE BILL IT
SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AS AN ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT UNDER THE
FIVE-MINUTE RULE AN AMENDMENT
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSE TUTT
CON TISTING OF RULES COMMITTEE
PRINT 112-132.
THAT SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE ARE WAIVED.
NO AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
ORDER EXCEPT THOSE
PRINNED IN THE REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES ACCOMPANYING
THIS RESOLUTION.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER
PRINTED IN THE REPORT, MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY BY A MEMBER
DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT, SHALL
BE CONSIDERED AS READ, SHALL BE
DEBATABLE FOR THE TIME
SPECIFIED IN THE REPORT EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
PROPONENT AND AN OPPONENT,
SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
AMENDMENT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO DEMAND FOR DIVISION
OF THE QUESTION IN THE HOUSE OR
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
SUCH AMENDMENTS ARE WAIVED.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL FOR
AMENDMENT, THE COMMITTEE SHALL
RISE AND REPORT THE BILL TO THE
HOUSE WITH SUCH AMENDMENTS AS
MAY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
ANY MEMBER MAY DEMAND A
SEPARATE VOTE IN THE HOUSE ON
ANY AMENDMENT ADOPTED IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO THE
BILL OR TO THE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE MADE IN
ORDER AS ORIGINAL TEXT.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL AND AMENDMENTS THERETO TO
FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT ONE
MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR
WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
SECTION THREE, ON ANY
LEGISLATIVE DAY DURING THE
PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2012,
THROUGH NOVEMBER 12, 2012, A,
THE JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDS OF
THE PREVIOUS DAY SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS APPROVED.
B, THE CHAIR MAY AT ANY TIME
DECLARE THE HOUSE ADJOURNED TO
MEET AT A DATE AND TIME WITHIN
THE LIMITS OF CLAUSE 4, SECTION
5, ARTICLE 1 OF THE
CONSTITUTION TO BE ANNOUNCED
BHI THE CHAIR IN DECLARING THE
ADJOURNMENT, AN C, BILLS AND
RESOLUTIONS ADDRESS -- INTO
DEUCED IN THIS PERIOD SHALL BE
NUMBERED, LISTED IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD AND SHALL
BEAR THE DATE OF INTRODUCTION
BUT MAY BE REFERRED BY THE
SPEAKER AT A LATER TIME.
SECTION 4, THE SPEAKER MAY
APPOINT MEMBERS TO PERFORM THE
DUTIES OF THE CHAIR FOR THE
DURATION OF THE PERIOD
ADDRESSED DI-- ADDRESSED BY
SECTION 3 OF THIS RESOLUTION AS
THOUGH UNDER CLAUSE 8-A OF RULE
1.
FIVE, EACH DAY IN THE
PERIOD ADDRESSED SHALL NOT
CONSTITUTE A CALENDAR DAY FOR
PURPOSES OF SECTION 7 OF THE
WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, 50
U.S.C. 1546.
SECTION 6, EACH DAY DURING THE
PERIOD ADDRESSED BY SECTION 3
OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL NOT
CONSTITUTE A LEGISLATIVE DAY
FOR THE PURPOSES OF CLAUSE 7 OF
RULE 13.
SECTION 7.
EACH DAY DURING THE PERIOD
ADDRESSED BY SECTION 3 OF THIS
RESOLUTION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE
A CALENDAR OR LEGISLATIVE DAY
FOR PURPOSES OF CLAUSE 7-C-1 OF
RULE 22.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM WISCONSIN SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I RESPECTFULLY RAISE
A POINT OF ORDER AGAINST H.RES.
788 BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION
VIOLATES SECTION 426 PARENA OF
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT.
IT CONTAINS A WAIVER AGAINST
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL,
INCLUDING A WAIVER OF SECTION
425 OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
ACT WHICH CAUSES A VIOLATION OF
SECTION 426 A.
THE
GENTLELADY HAS MET THE
THRESHOLD BURDEN UNDER THE RULE
AND THE GENTLELADY FROM
WISCONSIN AND A MEMBER OPPOSED
EACH WILL CONTROL 10 MINUTES OF
THE DATE ON THE QUESTION OF
CONSIDERATION.
FOLLOWING DEBATE, THE CHAIR
WILL PUT THE QUESTION OF
CONSIDERATION AS THE STATUTORY
MEANS OF DISPOSE OF THE POINT
OF ORDER.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE THE
GENTLELADY FROM WISCONSIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
MR. SPEAKER.
I RAISE THIS POINT OF ORDER NOT
NECESSARILY OUT OF CONCERN FOR
UNFUNDED MANDATES ALTHOUGH
THERE ARE SOME IN THE
UNDERLYING BILL UNDER
CONSIDERATION HERE TODAY.
H.J.RES. 118 AND H.R. 3409.
RATHER, I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE
THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO
VOICE MY ADAMANT OPPOSITION TO
OF H.J.RES. 118
GIVEN THE STRICT CLOSED TERMS
OF OUR DEBATE TODAY.
MY GOAL HERE TODAY, MR.
SPEAKER, IS TO BE A VOICE OF
REASON.
AND CERTAINLY, A VOICE OF TRUTH
IN THIS DEBATE.
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL UNDOUBTEDLY
ABOUT TO HEAR AN ASTONISHING
ARRAY OF HALF-TRUTHS AND, MR.
SPEAKER, EVEN LIES ABOUT THE
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY
FAMILIES PROGRAM OR TANFF.
THE LIE THAT THE TAN SKS F
PROGRAM WAS A RAGING SUCCESS
THAT TOOK PEOPLE OUT OF
POVERTY, GAVE THEM DIGNITY AND
PUT THEM IN GOOD JOBS.
WHAT IT REALLY DID WAS KICK
POOR PEOPLE OFF THE ROLES.
YOU KNOW, UNDER PRESIDENT
CLINTON, 1996, WHEN WE PASSED
THE ORIGINAL TANF BILL, IT WAS
A TIME OF PROSPERITY AND THOSE
PEOPLE PRIMARILY WOMEN, WHO
WOULD NORMALLY GET OFF THE
ROLES WITHIN TWO YEARS FOUND
JOBS WHICH WERE READY --
READILY AVAILABLE BUT EVEN
MORE, PRIMARILY WOMEN, JUST
SIMPLY LANGUISHED IN POVERTY AS
A PERMANENT UNDERCLASS.
AND DESPITE THE CREATION OF THE
SO-CALLED SAFETY NET UNDER
TANF, MANY, MANY WOMEN
LANGUISHED IN POVERTY AND ARE
STILL IN POVERTY TODAY.
AND WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING
ABOUT THE POOR.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEEP
POVERTY.
MR. SPEAKER, DID YOU KNOW THAT
BETWEEN 1996 AND 2011, THE
NUMBERS OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS
LIVING ON LESS THAN $2 PER
PERSON PER DAY, THE MEASURE OF
EXTREME POVERTY, ATS DEFINED BY
THE WORLD BANK FOR DEVELOPING
NATIONS, HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED,
FROM 636,000 TO 1.46 MILLION,
NEARLY 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE.
AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN
EXTREMELY POOR HOUSEHOLDS ALSO
DOUBLED FROM 1.4 MILLION UP TO
2.8 MILLION CHILDREN LIVING IN
POVERTY.
CHILDREN, BY THE WAY WHO CANNOT
WORK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POOREST
OF THE POOR.
THESE NUMBERS ARE STARTLING,
GIVEN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NOT SOME THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
NOW, MR. SPEAKER, LET'S GET TO
THE BIG LIE THAT THESE
RESOLUTIONS RELATE TO.
THE REPUBLICANS CLAIM THAT THE
WORK REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN
GUTTED.
UNDER THE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES GUIDANCE.
THESE LIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN
DEBUNKED BY THE MEDIA, BY FACT
CHECK CHECKERS, BY EVEN
ORIGINAL ARCHITECTS OF TANF.
FOR EXAMPLE, RON HASKINS.
BUT APPARENTLY, OUR COLLEAGUES
FIND IT CONVENIENT TO IGNORE
THE FACTS, BUT OF COURSE WE
HAVE HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS
ELECTION CYCLE THAT THE G.O.P.
FACTS.
IS NOT GOING TO BE DICTATED BY
NOW, SADLY, I AM NOT AT ALL
SURPRISED THAT WE ARE FORCED TO
ENGAGE IN THIS TANF BATTLE ON
THE HOUSE FLOOR.
I KNEW THAT THE G.O.P. WOULD
CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION'S
PROPOSAL AT THE EARLIEST
OPPORTUNITY.
BUT FRANKLY, HOUSE REPUBLICANS'
TIMING ON THIS COULD NOT BE
WORSE.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING MORE
ATTACKS ON THE POOR FROM YOUR
PARTY THIS WEEK?
OR THAT DOUBLING DOWN ON A
STRATEGY OF VILIFYING THE POOR
IS A WISE CHOICE?
TROTTING OUT THE MYTHICAL LAY
SIR WELFARE QUEEN WHO DOESN'T
WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THEIR OWN LIVES, PART OF THE
47% WHO WOULD RATHER HAVE A
SO-CALLED GOVERNMENT HANDOUT
THAN A JOB.
I THINK THAT THE INSISTENCE ON
CONSIDERING THIS BILL AT THIS
MOMENT IN HISTORY WHEN WE
SHOULD BE CONSIDERING CRITICAL
ISSUES LIKE THE FARM BILL FOR
OUR DROUGHT RIDDEN STATES OR
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
OR HOW ABOUT THIS ONE, MR.
SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT.
RATHER THAN POLITICAL MESSAGE
BILLS, IS REMARKABLY TONE DEAF.
TANF WAS WRITTEN AT A TIME WHEN
OUR LABOR MARKET AND ECONOMY
WERE RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAN
THEY ARE TODAY.
I DIDN'T SUPPORT TANF IN 1996.
BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T SUPPORT
IT NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN WHAT IT
HAS DONE.
IT HAS BECOME A HOLLOW SHELL OF
A SAFETY NET PROGRAM.
IT HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO
EVOLVE WITH THE TIMES AND IT IS
NOW NOTHING SHORT OF COMPLETELY
BROKEN.
TANF RECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN
POORLY SERVED BY THE PROGRAM,
WHICH TOO OFTEN LOCKS PEOPLE
INTO A CYCLE OF POVERTY THROUGH
RIGID GUIDELINES AND RED TAPE
WHILE ALLOWING THEM NO ACCESS
TO REAL OPPORTUNITY.
THE PROGRAM IN ITS CURRENT FORM
MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE
FROM WELFARE TO WORK WHICH IS
SUPPOSEDLY THE GOAL OF THE
PROGRAM.
AN HONORABLE GOAL OF THE
PROGRAM.
STATES, MR. SPEAKER, CHECK THIS
OUT.
STATES CAN MEET THEIR WORK
REQUIREMENTS EVEN IF NONE,
ZERO, OF THEIR RECIPIENTS FIND
A JOB.
STATES ARE ONLY MEASURED BY
WHETHER OR NOT RECIPIENTS
PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN
ACTIVITIES FOR A SET NUMBER OF
LIKE IF THEY JUST JOB
SEARCH AND NEVER FIND A JOB.
NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT MOVING
PEOPLE FROM WELFARE TO WORK IN
THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE NOT
ALLOWING PEOPLE ANY OPPORTUNITY
TO GET THE EDUCATION AND
TRAINING THEY MIGHT NEED TO
COMPETE IN THE LABOR MARKET.
OR LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS.
WE ARE TRAPPING THEM IN
SO-CALLED JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES
THAT ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND
ADD UP TO NOTHING.
TANF JUST DOES NOT PROVIDE REAL
OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN
TRANSLATE INTO A BETTER LIFE
FOR BENEFICIARIES.
THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE UNABLE
TO GET HELP AT ALL BECAUSE THE
PROGRAM IS NOT DESIGNED TO
.
ALLOW THEM IN THE DOOR.
SHOCKINGLY STATES ARE REWARDED
FOR SIMPLY LOWERING THEIR
CASELOADS RATHER THAN MOVING
PEOPLE INTO JOBS.
CAN CREATE
BARRIERS TO KEEP FAMILIES FROM
EVEN PARTICIPATING.
WE HAVE HEARD THE HORROR STORIES
OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KICKED
OFF TANF OR COULDN'T GET IN IN
THE FIRST PLACE AND THE
DESPERATE THINGS THEY HAVE HAD
TO DO TO FEED AND SHELTER AND
CLOTHE THEIR CHILDREN.
BY NOW THOSE OF US HAVE BEEN
PAYING EVEN THE BAREST MINIMUM
OF ATTENTION REALIZE THAT THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PLAYING
POLITICS WITH THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION'S WAIVER PROGRAM
AND PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE WITH
REALITY.
I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS EVERY
MEMBER IN THIS CHAMBER KNOWS THE
TRUTH THAT REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS HAVE BEEN
REQUESTING INCREASED FLEXIBILITY
IN IMPLEMENTING THE WELFARE
REFORM FOR MANY YEARS.
IN FACT, IN 2005 NO FEWER THAN
29 REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASKED
FOR INCREASED WAIVER AUTHORITY.
AND GIVEN MY LIMITED TIME I WILL
A FEW OF THEM.
WE HAVE SOCIALIST GOVERNORS LIKE
MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR HALEY
BARBER.
TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY.
HOW ABOUT ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE
HUCKABEE, AND NONE OTHER BUT
DRUMROLL, PLEASE, MASSACHUSETTS
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY.
LICK THESE GOVERNORS I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE THE IDEA
OF ALLOWING STATES FLEXIBILITY
TO CRAFT A WELFARE SYSTEM THAT
MEETS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
PARTICIPANTS.
THEIR JOB MARKET AND THEIR
I KNOW AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF
YOU KNOW, THOUGH YOU REFUSE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT, THAT THE WAIVER
PROPOSAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WAS
MEANINGFULLY STRENGTHEN OUR
ABILITY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM
WELFARE TO WORK.
MAY I INQUIRE, MR. SPEAKER, HOW
MUCH TIME I HAVE REMAINING?
THE
GENTLELADY HAS 40 SECONDS
REMAINING.
I HAVE 40 SECONDS.
HE WAS ONCE ONE OF THOSE 47%.
A WELFARE RECIPIENT AND I HAVE
SEEN FIRSTHAND THE SUCCESSES AND
FAILURES OF THIS SAFETY NET.
IN MY COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE
NATION.
I SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION'S
STRATEGIC EFFORTS TO GUARANTEE
THAT TANF IS A MORE EFFECTIVE
PROGRAM.
I ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO
REJECT H.J.RES. 118, THIS
RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL AND
WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A STRONG
WORK FORCE AND ECONOMY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TO CLAIM TIME IN OPPOSITION TO
THE POINT OF ORDER AND IN FAVOR
OF THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE HOUSE IS
SHOULD THE HOUSE CONSIDER H.RES.
788.
WHILE THE RESOLUTION WAIVES ALL
POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF H.J.RES. 118
AND HOUSE H.R. 3409, THE
COMMITTEE IS NOT AFFAIR OF ANY
POINTS OF ORDER AND THE WAIVER
IS BASICALLY PROPHYLACTIC IN
NATURE.
WE HEARD, MR. SPEAKER, A LOT OF
EMOTIONAL AND INTERESTING POINTS
AS TO THE BASIS OF THE BILL THAT
COULD BE DEBATED IF INDEED THIS
RULE WERE TO BE PASSED.
I DOESN'T THINK IT IS ACTUALLY
THE TIME RIGHT NOW IN THE POINT
OF ORDER TO GO OVER THE BENEFITS
OF THE BILL OR THE DETRIMENT OF
WHATEVER MAY HAPPEN IF THE BILL
ITSELF IS ACTUALLY DEBATED.
THERE IS TIME FOR THAT.
WE DO KNOW THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING WELFARE
HAVE DROPPED BY 57% AND THE
POVERTY AMONG ALL SINGLE MOTHERS
HAS FALLEN BY 30% AND POVERTY
HAS BEEN AT ITS LOWESTSELVES
SINCE 2001.
AND THE EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS HAVE
INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.
BUT THAT'S ALL DEBATE TO THE
BILL WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE RULE DEBATE AND WE ARE NOT
TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS A PROCEDURAL ISSUE.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT IN 1993 THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE SAID THE WAIVER MAY
NOT OVERRIDE PROVISIONS OF THE
TANF LAW THAT CONCERNED FURTHER
MANDATORY WORK REQUIREMENTS, BUT
ONCE AGAIN THAT WOULD BE THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD
BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE DEBATE
OF THE BILL WILL WILL COME AFTER
THE DEBATE ON THE RULE WHICH
WILL COME AFTER OUR DISCUSSION
OF THIS PROCEDURAL POINT OF
ORDER.
SO ACTUALLY THE MERITS OF WHAT
THE BILL IS IS NOT THE SAME
THING AS THE PURPOSE OF THE
PROCEDURAL POINT OF ORDER.
PROCEDURAL POINT OF ORDER STILL
HAS TO BE BASED ON THE IDEA OF
UNFUNDED MANDATES WITHIN THE
RULE.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
BELIEVES THAT H.R. 349 WOULD
IMPOSE A GOVERNMENTAL MANDATE AS
DEFINED IN THE UNFUNDED MANDATE
REFORM ACT.
HOWEVER BASED ON THE INFORMATION
FOR E.P.A. AND SMALL NUMBER OF
PUBLIC ENTITIES WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE
BILL'S REQUIREMENTS C.B.O.
ESTIMATES THAT THE COST OF THOSE
ENTITIES TO COMPLYLE WITH WHILE
BELOW THE UNFUN FUNDED MANDATE
REFORM ACT ANNUAL THRESHOLD FOR
INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENT MANDATES.
IT'S A THRESHOLD SET AND ADJUSTS
FOR INFLATION.
SO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE STATES THAT H.J.RES. 118
ALSO CONTAINS NO INTERGOVERNMENT
OR PRIVATE SECTOR MANDATES HAS
DEFINED BY STATE MANDATE REFORM
ACT.
THAT IS THE BASIS OF THE POINT
OF ORDER.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE IS NO
VIOLATION OF WHAT'S AN UNFUNDED
MANDATE WITHIN THE RULE OR THE
BILLS THEMSELVES.
THE REST OF THE DISCUSSION IS
ACTUALLY FOR THE MERITS OF THE
LEGISLATION AND IS APPROPRIATE
AT THE TIME OF THE MERITS OF
THAT -- AT THE TIME OF THAT --
AS WE ARE DEBATING THAT
LEGISLATION.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, ALTHOUGH I
A GREAT DESIRE TO
USE THE FULL 10 MINUTES OF
DISCUSSION HERE, THE BOTTOM LINE
STILL -- NO, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE -- WOULD YOU LET ME
FINISH THE STATEMENT, THOUGH.
YIELD FOR A QUESTION.
LET ME FINISH HERE.
PROBABLELY NOT.
LET'S GET ON WITH THE ISSUE AT
HAND HERE.
THE POINT OF ORDER BASICALLY,
MR. SPEAKER, IS STILL SPECIOUS.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE HOUSE TO
CONTINUE ITS SCHEDULED BUSINESS
FOR THE DAY BECAUSE THE ISSUE OF
THE POINT OF ORDER IS THE
UNFUNDED MANDATE NOT THE OTHER
MERIT TOWARDS THE LEGISLATION.
I DO URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION.
WE WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL HOUR
TO DISCUSS ANYTHING YOU WISH TO
ON THE RULE DEBATE AS WELL AS A
WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THE MERIT
OF THE BILL WHEN WE DEBATE THE
BILL ITSELF.
WITH THAT I ASK -- CALL A
QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
ALL TIME FOR DEBATE HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
NOW CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYES HAVE IT.
THE QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION IS
DECIDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH FOR ONE
HOUR.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE ONLY,
I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK,
MS. SLAUGHTER, PENDING WHICH I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
AND DURING CONSIDERATION OF THIS
RESOLUTION, ALL TIME YIELDED IS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY.
I ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS WILL HAVE
FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS DURING
WHICH THEY MAY REVISE AND EXTEND
THEIR REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES FOR A
CLOSED RULE FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF H.J.R. 118, THE
CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL WAIVER
OF WORK REQUIREMENTS AND
PROVIDES ONE HOUR OF GENERAL
DEBATE WITH 30 MINUTES EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS
AND MEANS, 30 MINUTES EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE, THE
RULE ALSO PROVIDES FOR A
STRUCTURED DEBATE FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3409, THE
COAL MINER EMPLOYMENT AND
DOMESTIC ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
PROTECTION ACT, AND PROVIDES FOR
ONE HOUR MUCH GENERAL DEBATE
WITH 20 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCE,
20 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND
COMMERCE, 20 MINUTES EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
FINALLY, THIS RULE MAKES A
NUMBER -- MAKES IN ORDER A
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS,
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, IF
STAFF DOESN'T CHANGE MY MIND, I
BELIEVE, THERE ARE 13, SEVEN
REPUBLICANS, THIS IS AS CLOSE AS
YOU CAN GET TO AN UNEVEN NUMBER
WITH A FAIR RULE.
IT IS A FAIR RULE.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD MYSELF AS
MUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME TO
SPEAK TOWARDS THE MERIT OF THIS
PARTICULAR RESOLUTION.
-- THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION
FOR THE RULE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I'M PLEASED TO STAND HERE AND
TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RULE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE
SPECIAL MENTION, CONGRESSMAN
JOHNSON, WHO IS THE STATE
SPONSOR OF 3409, COAL MINER
EMPLOYMENT ENERGY PROTECTION
ACT, HE'S DEFINITELY BEEN ONE OF
THE LEADERS IN THIS ENTIRE AREA
OF COAL -- OF THE ISSUE OF COAL
AS IT'S USED IN ENERGY.
NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HIS
CONSTITUENTS, BUT THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE
CONTRY.
I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MR.
JOHNSON AS HAVING BEEN TIRELESS
IN THE COMMITTEE ASKING
QUESTIONS THAT GOES TO THE CORE
OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
PROVIDING AMENDMENTS AND FINALLY
CULMINATING WITH HIS BILL WHICH
DEALS WITH HOW WE ACTUALLY CAN
ENERGY NEEDS IN THIS PARTICULAR
USE COAL TO FURTHER, FURTHER OUR
COUNTRY.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON IS A
FRESHMAN WHO HAS LEARNED FAST
FOR
INEXPENSIVE ENERGY THAT WILL
EXPAND OUR ECONOMY AND CREATE
JOBS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
MINUTES.
YIELDING ME THE CUSTOMARY 30
AND I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS
I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
THIS WEEK MARKS THE LAST TIME
THE CHAMBER WILL MEET UNTIL THE
MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER.
AS WE DEPART, THE MAJORITY WALKS
AWAYLE WITH THE DUBIOUS
DISTINCTION OF HAVING PRESIDED
OVER A SESSION OF CONGRESS THAT
IS WIDELY CALLED THE LEAST
PRODUCTIVE IN HISTORY.
THIS CONGRESS HAS ACHIEVED THAT
DISTINCTION BECAUSE OF ALTHOUGH
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS IS NEEDED
TO PASS ANY BILL INTO LAW, THE
MAJORITY HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO
YEARS PURSUING AN EXTREME AND
PARTISAN AGENDA.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY
TURNED POTENTIAL BIPARTISANSHIP
IN ORDER TO VOTE ON IDEOLOGICAL
LEGISLATION THAT WILL NEVER
BECOME LAW.
IN WEEK AFTER WEEK THE MAJORITY
HAS REFUSED TO HELP OUR NATION'S
DROUGHT STRICKEN FARMERS.
AND BIPARTISAN OUTCRY TO PASS A
FIVE-YEAR FARM BILL GROWING, THE
MAJORITY DECIDED TO NEGLECT OUR
NATION'S FARMERS AND ALLOW THE
FARM BILL TO EXPIRE WITHOUT EVEN
ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE BILL AT
ANY TIME IN THE HOUSE.
AN EXPIRATION OF THE FARM BILL
MEANS THAT DAIRY FARMERS IN MY
PART OF THE COUNTRY, WESTERN NEW
YORK, AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES WILL LOSE WHAT LITTLE
SAFETY NET THEY HAVE.
YET WHEN FACEDLE WITH PASSING A
COMPROMISE FARM BILL OR PURSUING
AN ALL OR NOTHING PARTISAN
AGENDA, OR AS WE ARE DOING TODAY
PASSING BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY
PASSED THE HOUSE, JUST BECAUSE
THEY LIKE THEM SO MUCH THEY
WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN, THE
MAJORITY CHOSE THE LATTER.
WESTERN NEW YORK FARMERS DON'T
NEED THE MAJORITY TO PLAY
PARTISAN GAMES THEY NEED A
FIVE-YEAR FARM BILL AND THEY
NEEDED IT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY THE BILLS WE
CONSIDER TODAY OFFER MORE OF THE
SAME.
BOTH THE BILLS BEFORE US TODAY
ARE LITTLE MORE THAN EXTREME AND
PARTISAN MESSAGING DOCUMENTS.
DESIGNED TO BENEFIT POLITICIANS
RUNNING FOR OFFICE NOT THE
AMERICAN CITIZENS STRUGGLING TO
GET BY.
TAKE FOR EXAMPLE H.R. 3409, THE
COAL MINER EMPLOYMENT AND
DOMESTIC ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
PROTECTION ACT.
THAT'S A FINE TITLE THERE.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE TITLES IN THIS
BILL, AS I SAID A MINUTE AGO,
FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE BILLS IN
THIS MEASURE HAVE ALREADY BEEN
VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE BUT THEY
WERE TOO PARTISAN AND EXTREME TO
PASS THE SENATE AND THEY WILL
NOT YET AGAIN PASS THE SENATE,
THEREFORE IT'S SIMPLY A WASTE OF
TIME TODAY.
IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO BRING
ALL THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BACK
TO WASHINGTON FROM THE FOUR
CORNERS OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND TO COME BACK TO REPASS BILLS
THAT HAVE ALREADY PASSED AND
WILL NEVER GO BEYOND THIS HOUSE
CANNOT BE CALLED ANYTHING ELSE
BUT A DISASTROUS WASTE OF TIME.
AMONG OTHER THINGS THE BILL
WOULD ROLL BACK DECADES OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS,
ENDANGER THE PUBLIC'S 112TH, AND
PREVENT FROM COUNTRY FROM
ADDRESSING THE GROWING THREAT OF
CLIMATE CHANGE.
NOW THE MAJORITY KNOWS THAT THEY
WILL NOT PASS INTO LAW BUT THEY
ARE MOVING FORWARD ANYWAY IN
ORDER TO SERVE POLITICAL
CAMPAIGNS.
SIMILAR SENTIMENTS APPEAR TO BE
FOR THE SECOND PROPOSAL.
THE TANF DISAPPROVAL RESOLUTION.
THIS BILL IS BASED UPON A
PREMISE THAT HAS BEEN BORN FALSE
BY MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING "THE WASHINGTON POST"
FACT CHECKER, AND INDEED POE
PLITTY FACT, A NONPARTISAN PART
OF THE TAMPA BAY TIMES AS
CONCLUDED THAT, QUOTE, BY
GRANTING WAIVERS TO STATES, THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS SEEKING
TO MAKE WELFARE TO WORK EFFORTS
MORE SUCCESSFUL NOT END THEM,
END QUOTE.
DESPITE THAT, WE ARE GOING TO
BRING UP A BILL TODAY TO CURE
SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
AND IT IS ASTOUNDING THAT AT A
TIME WHEN WE COULD BE VOTING ON
JOBS BILL, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
CHOSEN TO BLOCK AN OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL THAT
WOULD HELP STATES PUT MORE
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND INDEED
HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY THOSE
.
STATE GOVERNORS.
EVEN AS WE CONSIDER THE BILLS,
THE MAJORITY REFUSES TO ALSO
CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS
SERIOUS NATIONAL CRISES.
YESTERDAY AT A MEETING OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE THEY BROUGHT
FIVE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD
ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
FIRST THEY BLOCKED AN AMENDMENT
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOSWELL TO
FARM BILL.
VOTE ON THE BIPARTISAN SENATE
THEY HAD ANOTHER CHANCE
YESTERDAY TO BRING THE FARM
BILL UP BEFORE WE ALL GO HOME.
AND THEN THEY BLOCKED AN
AMENDMENT BY REPRESENTATIVE
MOORE TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
WHICH EXPIRES IN DAYS, A
BIPARTISAN BILL IF THERE EVER
WAS ONE, I WAS ONE OF THE
CO-AUTHORS OF THE BILL, THAT'S
BEEN ROUTINELY AUTHORIZED BY
BOTH PARTIES UNTIL THIS YEAR.
FINALLY THEY BLOCKED AMENDMENTS
BY MY COLLEAGUES,
REPRESENTATIVES LEVIN, CONNALLY
AND BLUMENAUER, TO PASS A TAX
CUT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS TO
EXTEND THE PRODUCTION TAX
CREDIT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
PRODUCERS, WIND ENERGY, AND TO
CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS
POSTAL SERVICE.
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS FACING THE
NOW THE MAJORITY WAS GIVEN THE
CHANCE TO BRING ALL THESE
PROPOSALS TO THE FLOOR AND WALK
AID WAY AND WENT FORWARD WITH
THE MESSAGES BEFORE US TODAY SO
WE WILL PASS TODAY FOUR BILLS
THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED
PREVIOUSLY.
I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
MAJORITY, WHICH IS MORE
IMPORTANT, TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO
THE DROUGHT-STRICKEN FARMERS OR
VOTING TO DENY CLIMATE CHANGE?
WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT,
PASSING A SYMBOLIC RESOLUTION
BASED UPON A FALSE PREMISE OF
MIDDLE CLASS?
PROVIDING TAX CUTS TO THE
WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT,
PASSING SELF-PROCLAIMED
MESSAGING DOCK YOUTHS OR
WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE FOR
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IN NEED?
IF YOU ASKED A FARMER IN A
REMOTE COUNTY IN NEW YORK
WHETHER THEY'D HAVE CONGRESS
PASS A DEAD ON ARRIVAL
MESSAGING BILL OR A FARM BILL,
I KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY
WOULD CHOOSE.
IN CLOSING, WHAT WE ARE
CONSIDERING TODAY IS A RESULT
OF CHOICES MADE BY THE
MAJORITY, A CHOICE TO PURSUE AN
EXTREME AND PARTISAN AGENDA
THEY KNEW WOULD NEVER BECOME
LAW.
IN SO DOING WE HAVE FAILED TO
PROVIDE RESULTS FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND LED TO THE
LEAST PRODUCTIVE CONGRESS IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
RECONSIDER CHOICES THAT HAVE
BEEN BROUGHT HERE TODAY AND THE
LEGISLATION WE ARE ABOUT TO
CONSIDER.
IN THE PROCESS I HOPE WE CAN
FINALLY END THE POLITICAL GAME
AND RETURN THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF GOVERNING.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME IS RESERVED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZE.