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BEFORE THE RECESS.
WE TAKE YOU LIVE NOW TO THE
HOUSE FLOOR HERE ON C-SPAN.
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER THE PRAYER WILL BE
OFFERED BY OUR GUEST CHAPLAIN,
REVEREND CLARK JOHNSON FROM THE
FIRST SOUTHERN BABTIST CHURCH
IN TOPEKA, KANSAS.
I'D BE DELIGHTED
IF YOU'D JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
LORD GOD, WE BEGIN OUR DAY BY
HUMBLY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR
LOVE FROM WHICH COMES THE
BLESSINGS OF LIFE, AMONG THOSE
BLESSINGS NONE SEEM MORE
IMPORTANT OR MORE NEEDED TO
THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY THAN THE
GIFT OF WISDOM.
WE PRAY THAT EACH MEMBER OF
THIS CONGRESS WILL SEEK THE
WISDOM THAT COMES FROM YOU.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE LEADERS
WHO USE THAT WISDOM TO DISCERN
DIRECTION AND IMPLEMENT THE
RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION TO
ENRICH THE LIVES OF THE
CITIZENS THEY REPRESENT.
I PRAY FOR THEM PERSONALLY, THE
DEMANDS UPON THEM, THE HEAVY
BURDENS AND RESPONSIBILITY, THE
LIFESTYLE INTERRUPTIONS, THAT
THEY WILL PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY
AND EMOTIONALLY REMAIN
STEADFAST TO THE TASK.
LORD, WE COLLECTIVELY GIVE OUR
NATION TO YOU THAT IT WILL BE A
BLESSING TO YOU AND THOSE WHOM
WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD. IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS
THAT WE PRAY.
AMEN.
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE
LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND
ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY
WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. CHU.
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.
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE GENTLELADY FROM KANSAS, MS.
JENKINS, IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I AM SO PLEASED
THIS MORNING TO WELCOME FELLOW
KANSAN TO THE HALLS OF
CONGRESS, PASTOR CLARK JOHNSON
IS HERE TODAY SERVING AS GUEST
CHAPLAIN TO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AND I HAVE TO
SAY IT WAS A NICE START TO THE
DAY WITH A PRAYER INFUSED WITH
A LITTLE KANSAS SPIRIT.
PASTOR JOHNSON JOINED THE
TOPEKA COMMUNITY IN 1989 WHEN
HE ACCEPTED THE CALL TO BECOME
SENIOR PASTOR OF THE FIRST
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH IN
TOPEKA AND OVER THE LAST 20
YEARS PASTOR JOHNSON HAS BUILT
A TRUE FAMILY AT HIS CHURCH
WITH MEMBERS STEADFASTLY
WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE
GREATER GLORY OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR.
KANSAS AND TOPEKA ARE SO
BLESSED TO HAVE PASTOR JOHNSON
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE HOUSE
IS ESPECIALLY BLESSED TO HAVE
PASTOR JOHNSON WITH US TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
MANY YEARS TO COME.
SERVICE AND WISH HIM WELL FOR
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO 15
FURTHER ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS ON
EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE
REPUBLICANS TODAY ARE SEEKING
TO EMPOWER PARENTS THROUGH THE
EMPOWERING PARENTS THROUGH
QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT.
THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS CREATED THROUGH A
CONTRACT WITH AN AUTHORIZED
AGENCY OR LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
ENCOURAGES STATES TO SUPPORT
THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT
OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.
IT ALLOWS FOR SUCCESSFUL
CHARTER SCHOOL MODELS TO BE
DUPLICATED.
FINALLY, IT ACCOUNTS FOR AN
EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT
CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE ON
STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ENCOURAGES
THE SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES
BETWEEN CHARTER AND TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE ENABLED
PARENTS TO HAVE A MORE ACTIVE
ROLE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S
EDUCATION.
IT PAVED THE WAY FOR TEACHERS
TO HAVE FRESH TEACHING METHODS
WHILE PROVIDING A VIABLE OPTION
FOR STUDENTS TO ESCAPE FROM
UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS.
THIS LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT
TO THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OUR
NATION'S FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERRORISM.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE
PROFOUNDLY WORRIED.
MANY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
THEY HAVE SEEN COLLEGE TUITION
RISE AND WATCHED THEIR NEST EGG
SHRINK.
9.1%.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS CONSTITUTING AT
YOU CAN FEEL THE PAIN.
THAT IS WHY JOBS BILL IS SO
CRITICAL.
AND YET AFTER NINE MONTHS OF
THE REPUBLICANS TAKING OVER THE
HOUSE THEY HAVEN'T PASSED A
SINGLE JOBS BILL.
INSTEAD, THEY VOTED 10 TIMES
AGAINST JOB CREATION PLANS.
THEY PASSED BILLS THAT GUT
AND GOVERNOR PERRY EVEN
MILLIONS OF AMERICAN JOBS.
ATTACKED ONE OF THE FEW
PROGRAMS STILL KEEPING
AMERICANS AFLOAT CALLING SOCIAL
SECURITY A PONZI SCHEME,
BLAMING SENIORS FOR DEFRAUDING
YOUNGER GENERATIONS.
AMERICANS NEED MORE THAN EMPTY
PROMISES.
TONIGHT WE WILL HEAR A PROPOSAL
FROM THE PRESIDENT.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO FINALLY
PROVIDE REAL SOLUTIONS THAT
WILL PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
AND GIVE THEM HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK HER
TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
OVER THE LAST MONTH I'VE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE TO TRAVEL ACROSS
THE 14TH CONGRESSIONAL STRICT
IN ILLINOIS.
I MET WITH HUNDREDS OF MY
CONSTITUENTS AT TOWN HALL
MEETINGS, COFFEE SHOPS, DINERS
AND THEIR WORKPLACES OVER AND
OVER.
I HEARD THE SAME CONCERN ABOUT
OUR ECONOMY AND OUR NATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO GET OUR
ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN AND MANY
OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE
CONVINCED THAT WE MUST GET
GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY, CUT
SPENDING, CUT RED TAPE, KEEP
TAXES LOW.
THEY KNOW AS I DO THAT
GOVERNMENT, ITSELF, CANNOT
CREATE JOBS.
THEY KNOW THAT THE BEST THING
WE CAN DO IS TO HELP OUR
ECONOMY IS TO CRETE A
PRO-GROWTH ENVIRONMENT, --
CREATE A PRO-GROWTH
ENVIRONMENT.
I AM PLEASED THAT THAT WILL BE
OUR AGENDA HERE IN THE HOUSE
THIS FALL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
SERVING MY CONSTITUENTS BY
GIVING OUR JOB CREATORS THE
CERTAINTY THEY NEED TO EXPAND,
HIRE AND GET OUR ECONOMY GOING
AGAIN.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, TONIGHT
THE PRESIDENT WILL TRY ONCE
AGAIN TO RESTART THIS ECONOMY.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE
PRESIDENT OR HIS POLICIES.
IT'S HERE WITH THE HOUSE
MAJORITY WHO WILL OPPOSE
WHATEVER HE PROPOSES.
THEY WILL SAY THAT WE TRIED THE
STIMULUS AND IT DIDN'T WORK,
BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE
ECONOMY IS SLOWING DOWN IS THAT
STIMULUS DOLLARS ARE DRYING UP.
THEY WILL SAY THAT WE NEED TO
CUT CORPORATE TAX RATES, BUT
CORPORATE AFTER-TAX PROFITS ARE
AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
THEY WILL SAY THAT WE NEED TO
DEREGULATE THE FINANCIAL
MARKETS, BUT IT WAS THAT KIND
OF DEREGULATION THAT PUT US
INTO THIS MESS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
WHAT WE NEED IS THE FAITH TO
.
INVEST IN THIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE
THERE ARE $2.2 TRILLION OF
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT
NEED TO BE FUNDED.
EVERY $1 BILLION THAT GOES INTO
THIS COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE
CREATES 47,500 MORE JOBS, AND
IT GENERATES $6.2 BILLION OF
ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THAT WILL WORK.
THAT WILL MAKE OUR COUNTRY
STRONGER.
IT WILL REDUCE THE DEFICIT AND
PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA RISE?
I ASK TO SPEAK TO THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, JISE 1.
I RISE TO TALK ABOUT
SERGEANT CURLEY.
HE DIED IN A FIRE IN HIS
COMMUNITY WHERE HE LIVED WITH
HIS WIFE, PAULINE, AND HIS
THREE CHILDREN.
SERGEANT CURLEY WAS A
DEPENDABLE PUBLIC SERVANT AND
OUTSTANDING FAMILY MAN WHOSE
SMILED WAS WARMED.
HE WAS SECOND COUNSELOR IN THE
CHURCH OF GEEZ U.S. CHRIST OF
LATTER DAY SAINTS.
SERGEANT CURLEY WAS A KIND MAN
WHO WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO DO
FOR OTHERS AND DEDICATING HIS
LIFE IN PROTECTING THE SECURITY
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NAVAJO
NATION WHERE HE WAS RAISED AND
LIVED HIS LIFE.
THEY HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE AND COURAGE TO SERVE
AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AS
WELL AS PUT THEIR LIVES IN
DANGER FOR THE SAFETY OF
OTHERS.
MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE
WITH SERGEANT CURLEY'S FAMILY
AND THE BROADER LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMUNITY FOR SUCH AN
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THIS SUMMER I HEARD ONE MESSAGE
DISTRICT.
OVER AND OVER AS I VISITED MY
WE NEED TO CREATE A JOBS
PROGRAM TO GET OUR PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK.
I WAS SENT TO WASHINGTON TO SET
ASIDE THE PARTISAN BICKERING.
YET WE WASTED A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF TIME THIS SUMMER
FIGHTING OVER DEBT CEILING AND
ISSUES THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH CREATING JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
STARTING TODAY, LET'S GET BACK
TO WORK.
I WAS ALSO VERY
OFFENDED WHEN I WAS AT AN AKRON
-- WHEN A MARINE HELD UP A CAP
THAT SAID UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS AND IT SAID, MADE IN
CHINA.
I HAVE AN AMAZING COMPANY THAT
COULD HAVE MADE THAT.
MAKE IT IN AMERICA.
LET'S GET THE JOB DONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK HER
TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE?
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
WHILE WORKING IN
AUGUST I HOSTED TWO SMALL ROUND
TABLES, BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES
BECAUSE I WANTED TO HEAR FROM
MY CONSTITUENTS ON HOW THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN BEST
HELP THE SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY.
THEIR MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND
CLEAR.
WASHINGTON NEEDS TO GET OUT OF
THE WAY SO SMALL BUSINESSES CAN
INNOVATE, GROW AND CREATE
DESPERATELY NEEDED JOBS.
BURDENSOME REGULATIONS, THE
CRIPPLING COST OF HEALTH CARE
REFORM AND UNCERTAINTY
SURROUNDING THE TAX CODE ARE
HOLDING BUSINESSES BACK FROM
MAKING CRUCIAL DECISIONS.
JEFF, A CONSTITUENT, WHO OWNS A
MOVING COMPANY, TOLD ME, GUS, I
HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK.
I'D LOVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH
IT BUT I CAN'T WHEN EVERYTHING
IS SO UNCERTAIN.
REDUCING UNNECESSARY
REGULATIONS AND SIMPLIFYING THE
TAX CODE WOULD HELP PROVIDE THE
CERTAINTY THAT BUSINESS OWNERS
LIKE JEFF NEED TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS THAT DRIVE THE
ECONOMY FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I FEAR THAT IN EVERY ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS WILL OBTAIN INFLUENCE
BY NOISE, NOT SENSE, BY
MANYNESS, NOT GREATNESS, BY
CONTRACTED HEARTS, NOT LARGE
SOULS.
MR. SPEAKER, JOHN
ADAMS WROTE THOSE WORDS TO HIS
WIFE OVER 200 YEARS AGO, BUT
THE SAME LIVES TODAY, CONGRESS
IS BACK IN TOWN AND SOMEONE
WILL ASK WHEN, NOT IF WE WILL
TEAR EACH OTHER APART.
AS WE MOVE INTO SEPTEMBER AND
TONIGHT'S ADDRESS, LET'S
REMEMBER HOW JOHN ENDED THAT
LETTER TO AGIGALE.
THERE MUST BE DECENCY AND
RESPECT AND VENTILATION OF
EVERY RANK OR WE ARE UNDONE.
AND A POPULAR GOVERNMENT WROTE
ADAMS, THIS IS OUR OWN WAY.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND, MR. SPEAKER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE SEASONS MAY BE CHANGING BUT
OUR NATION'S JOBS CRISIS IS
NOT.
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT STILL AT 9.1%
AND NO MEASURABLE JOB GROWTH IN
AUGUST, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS READY TO
FIND COMMON GROUND WITH
JOBS.
REPUBLICANS TO HELP CREATE
BUT BEFORE HE ADDRESSES THE
NATION TONIGHT, THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT OUR
PLAN FOR AMERICA'S JOB CREATORS
AND KNOW THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS
HAVE ALREADY PAVED THE PATH TO
JOB GROWTH FOR HIM.
SO FAR THIS YEAR HOUSE
REPUBLICANS HAVE PASSED MORE
THAN A DOZEN BILLS THAT DO
EXACTLY WHAT COUNTLESS
EMPLOYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY
ARE ASKING OF WASHINGTON, GET
OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT OUR
PRIVATE SECTOR CAN BEGIN
CREATING JOBS AGAIN.
THIS FALL WE'LL CONTINUE TO
ROLL BACK JOB-KILLING
REGULATIONS AND REBUILD
LONG-TERM CONFIDENCE FOR JOB
CREATORS.
WE ALL HOPE THE PRESIDENT WILL
JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK HER
TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE THEME -- SCENE TO MY RIGHT
IS THE RESULT OF THE FURY OF
HURRICANE IRENE, THE DAMAGE TO
HOMEOWNERS, TO BUSINESSES, TO
THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE IS
IMMENSE.
THIS SCENE INFLICTED ITSELF ON
47 DISTRICTS, REPRESENTED BY
MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THE FURY OF IRENE WAS
INDISCRIMINATE ON WHO WAS ON
THE RECEIVING END OF A VERY BAD
STORM.
THAT WAS AN ACT OF GOD.
THE RELIEF WILL COME AS A
RESULT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS.
DEMOCRATS REPRESENT REPUBLICANS
IN OUR DISTRICT, REPUBLICANS
REPRESENT DEMOCRATS IN THEIR
DISTRICTS, WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO
GET BACK TO THOSE FIRST
RESPONDERS, MUNICIPALITIES, THE
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, WHO ARE
DOING THE WORK TO RECOVER FROM
HURRICANE IRENE.
WE HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING
FOR A COALITION TO FIGHT FOR
RELIEF FROM HURRICANE AREIN.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THE FUNDS
BACK TO OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND
STATES TO GET THE JOB DONE.
I THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EX-TIERED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS MORNING, A
JOBS NOW CHANT REVERBERATED
MR. SPEAKER,
THROUGHOUT THE RAYBURN CENTER.
THERE'S A SURE FIRE WAY TO
CREATE JOBS NOW FOR AMERICAN
CITIZENS.
EVICT ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM
AMERICA AND IMMEDIATELY OPEN UP
MILLIONS OF JOBS FOR AMERICAN
CITIZENS.
THAT ALSO FORCES BLUE COLLAR
WAGES UP, HELPING AMERICAN
FAMILIES AFFORD AND PURSUE THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WHITE HOUSE
CHASES A DIFFERENT DREAM, A
NIGHTMARE THAT PITS UNEMPLOYED
AMERICANS AGAINST ILLEGAL
ALIENS IN A COMPETITION FOR
SCARCE JOBS.
THE DREAM ACT GIVES AMNESTY FOR
MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL AIL
GENERALS, THEREBY LEGITIMIZING
ILLEGAL CONDUCT AND DEPRIVING
MILLIONS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE
MUST CREATE JOBS NOW, WE MUST
FIGHT FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS,
NOT ILLEGAL ALIENS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CONNECTICUTTH -- FROM
CONNECTICUT RISE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED
FOR ONE MINUTE.
I WAS AT HOME AND
I HEARD THE SAME MESSAGE,
CONGRESS, STOP THE BICKERING
AND GET THE WORK DONE.
WE HAVE FEDERAL AVIATION,
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT,
DISASTER RELIEF AND BY THE WAY
THE POST OFFICE IS GOING TO GO
BANKRUPT.
WITH ALL THESE ITEMS, THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE HAS
ONLY SKI SQULED FIVE FULL
WORKING DAYS.
THAT'S A SCHEDULE WHICH WOULD
MAKE HOMER SIMPSON BLUSH.
IT IS TIME FOR THE LEADERSHIP
OF THIS HOUSE TO SCRAP THAT SKI
JUREL, GET US TO WORK, CREATE
SOME CERTAINTY IN THIS COUNTRY
AND SOME CONFIDENCE THAT
WASHINGTON CAN GET THE JOB DONE
AND STOP THE LACKADAISICAL,
DO-NOTHING SCHEDULE LEADING
THIS COUNTRY TOTALLY WITHOUT
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT WE AS A NATION
CAN ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES
FACING US.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF OUR
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MISSISSIPPI RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO HONOR
THE VICTIMS OF THE SHOOTING IN
CARSON CITY, NEVADA, INCLUDING
FIVE OF MY FELLOW NATIONAL
GUARDSMEN.
I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR
WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN DO ON
A DAILY BASIS AND THE TRIALS
AND TRIBULATIONS EVERY TIME
THEY PUT ON A UNIFORM AND
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FACE DANGER
IN THEIR OWN BACK YARDS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SACRIFICES
THEY MAKE FOR OUR COUNTRY GO
LARGELY UNNOTICED BY MANY
AMERICANS.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
HOUSE WILL JOIN ME IN
COMMENDING THE WORK OUR
NATIONAL GUARD DOES EVERY DAY
HERE AND OVERSEAS.
MY THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE MEEBS
FAMILIES KILLED BY THE
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE SUPERCOMMITTEE BEGINS THIS
WEEK WITH THE GOAL OF SETTING A
COURSE FOR FISCAL STABILITY.
WE NEED TO REDUCE THE DEBT AND
DEFICIT BUT WE NEED TO DO IN IT
A RESPONSIBLE AND PLANSED
MANNER THAT SUPPORTS AND
REBUILDS THE MIDDLE CLASS.
NOBODY IS MORE
PATRIOTIC OR KNOWS MORE ABOUT
SACRIFICE THAN THE BRAVE
AMERICANS WHO SERVE IN THE
MILITARY.
A RETIRED PILOT WROTE TO MY
OFFICE, THE STRESS THAT EVERY
AMERICAN SHOULD -- TO STRESS
THAT EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO A SOLUTION,
ESPECIALLY THOSE IN HIS INCOME
BRACKET.
HE NOW MAKES OVER $250,000 A
YEAR IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
IS EAGER TO DO WHATEVER HE CAN
TO HELP PUT THE NATION BACK ON
TRACK FISCALLY.
THE DEBT CRISIS IMPACTS EVERY
AMERICAN AND EVERY AMERICAN
SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE
SOLUTION.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
IT IS THE WRONG APPROACH TO PUT
THE ENTIRE BURDEN ON THOSE
STRUGGLING THE MOST IN THE
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN SUCH AS THE
MIDDLE CLASS, THE UNEMPLOYED,
OR SENIORS.
I URGE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO
ADOPT A BALANCED APPROACH TO
SOLVING OUR FISCAL CRISIS.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE PRESIDENT WILL
BE ADDRESSING THE JOINT
COMMITTEE TONIGHT, I HOPE IT'S
NOT LIKE HE'S TALKED ABOUT IN
THE PAST WHERE HE PUSHES
PROGRAMS THAT DIDN'T WORK.
I HOPE HE BRINGS US ALL
TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT ARE
PROVEN TO CREATE JOBS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION
WE ALREADY PASSED OUT OF THE
HOUSE, JUST TO GET US BACK TO
WORK EXPLORING FOR AMERICAN
ENERGY CAN CREATE OVER 250,000
JOBS.
THERE ARE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
DESK.
SITTING ON THE PRESIDENT'S
HE'S REFUSED TO ACT ON THEM.
THAT WOULD CREATE OVER 350,000
AMERICAN JOBS.
THERE'S BILL AFTER BILL BUT
THERE'S REGULATION AFTER
REGULATION HOLDING BACK OUR
ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS AS YOU
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TALK TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
WHEN HE ROLLED BACK THE OZONE
STANDARD THAT E.P.A. IS OUT OF
CONTROL.
WE'VE GOT TO ROLL BACK THE
CRAZY REGULATIONS KILLING JOBS
AS WELL.
THAT'S THE SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM THAT WILL GET OUR
ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
SUNDAY MARKS THE
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF OUR
NATION'S MOST TRAGIC DAYS.
THIS WEEKEND WE HONOR THOSE WE
LOST AN THOSE THEY LEFT BEHIND.
IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS FOLLOWING
THOSE ATTACKS, OUR NATION WAS
IN MOURNING BUT THERE WAS ALSO
HOPE AS WE WORKED TO HAVE A
STRONGER COUNTRY.
10 YEARS AGO, WE STOOD ON THE
CAPITOL STEP, DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ALIKE, TO CALL FOR
UNITY.
THAT WAS ONLY A SMALL GESTURE
BUT ONE WE SEED KNEAD TO SEE
AGAIN.
LET US CHANNEL THE STRENGTH WE
FOUND IN THE AFTERMATH OF 9/11
AND BEGIN A NEW CHAPT FOR THE
REBUILDING AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
AS HURRICANE IRENE CAME
THROUGH THE AREA, OUR HOMES
WERE BATTERED BY WINDS AND
DAMAGED BY WATER.
OUR THOUGHTS AND EFFORTS ARE
WITH THOSE PEOPLE INJURED AND
HARMED AND OUR HEART FELT
SYMPATHY GOES TO THOSE WHO LOST
LOVED ONES, INCLUDING THE
FAMILY OF MICHAEL KENWOOD A
RESCUE WORKER WHO DIED ON DUTY.
NOW, WATER, TODAY, IS
COMING BACK TO EXACT FURTHER
VENGEANCE WITH EVEN GREATER
FLOODS IN SOME AREAS IN NEW
JERSEY.
MANY ARE HELPING, INCLUDING FEE
MASM YES, A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
WHETHER IT IS A NATURAL
DISASTER, A TERRORIST ATTACK,
OR ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS,
AMERICANS PULL TOGETHER AS A
NATION.
IT IS UNWISE FOR ANYONE TO
SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE ARE ON
THEIR OWN, TO DEAL WITH A
NATURAL DISASTER OR TO FIND
WORK.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
--
MR. SPEAKER, OUR
UNEMPLOYED ARE HURTING AND
AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS
CRUMBLING.
IT WOULD SEEM MORALLY
INTESTIFIESABLE AND FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE ONE
PROBLEM BY ADDRESSING THE
OTHER.
THE LATEST DATA FROM THE BUREAU
OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOWS THAT
14 MILLION AMERICANS ARE
LOOKING FOR JOBS.
WHILE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JOB
OPENINGS IS JUST OVER THREE
MILLION.
IF EVERY SINGLE JOB WAS
MIRACULOUSLY FILLED OVERNIGHT,
THERE WOULD STILL BE 11 MILLION
UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS LOOKING
FOR WORK AND NEEDING A JOB.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, ALL
ACROSS AMERICA, THERE IS WORK
THAT URGENTLY NEEDS TO BE DONE.
OUR BRIDGES, OUR ROADS, OUR
SCHOOLS, AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE, ARE
STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT.
THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT
RESPONSIBILITIES THIS CONGRESS
FACES ARE KEEPING AMERICANS
SAFE AND HELPING TO CREATE
JOBS.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO DO BOTH.
LET'S CHOOSE TO BUILD A
STRONGER AMERICA THROUGH MAKING
IT IN AMERICA, BUILDING IT IN
AMERICA, WITH AMERICAN WORKERS.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE --
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
SENT US HERE TO WORK TOGETHER
AND ARE TIRED OF THE PARTISAN
BICKERING AND FINGER POINTING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
TONIGHT AS WE LISTEN TO THE
PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT CREATING
JOBS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO
WORK WITH HIM AND I HOPE MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE DON'T
SUMMARILY REJECT WHAT THE
PRESIDENT IS SAYING, JUST TO
PLAY POLITICS.
WE NEED TO CREATE JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, MANY
YEARS AGO, DECIDED THAT --
DECIDED THAT IN ORDER TO GET
AMERICA BACK TO WORK, HE WOULD
CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
SHOULD DO.
I HOPE THE PRESIDENT MENTIONS
IT TONIGHT.
WE HAVE CRUMBLING ROADS AN
BRIDGES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS
THAT COULD PUT AMERICA BACK TO
WORK.
LET'S NOT HAVE A REPETITION OF
WHAT HAPPENED A MONTH AGO WHEN
STANDARD AND POOR'S DOWNGRADED
THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF
FINANCES.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
LET'S WORK WITH OUR PRESIDENT.
LET'S SUPPORT HIM AS HE TRIES
TO CREATE MORE JOBS.
LESS FINGER POINTING, MORE
WORKING TOGETHER, I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM THE ***
ISLANDS RISE?
MRS. CHRISTENSEN TOK TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
TONIGHT, THE PRESIDENT WILL
SPEAK TO US AND ALL AMERICANS
TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO PUT
AMERICA ON A STRONGER TRACK TO
RECOVERY.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE KEPT UP
THE DRUM BEAT FOR JOBS SINCE WE
CAME HERE.
WE NEED MORE JOBS, WHAT WITH
TORNADOES, FLOODS, FIRES AND
MORE TO COME.
I HOPE THAT WE IN CONGRESS CAN
MAKE SURE THE JOBS PACKAGE WE
PASS IS BIG ENOUGH TO DO THE
JOB.
WE ARE WHERE WE ARE NOW BECAUSE
WE LISTENED TO THE DEFICIT
HAWKS AND AGREED TO A RECOVERY
ACT NOT BIG ENOUGH TO BRING US
OUT OF RECESSION.
OUR CONSTITUENTS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY ARE HURTING AND I HOPE
WE CAN PUT ASIDE PARTISANSHIP
AND PUT THEM FIRST AND WE CAN
GET AN IMPORTANT TWO-FOR
BECAUSE JOB CREATION IS DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
WHEN WE MAKE SURE AMERICAN CANS
TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES,
WE'LL BE MAKING SURE AMERICA
CAN TAKE CARE OF ITS DEBTS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM OHIO RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
I SPEND A LOT OF
TIME TALKING TO -- TALKING TO
MY CONSTITUENTS AT HOME.
RECENTLY THEY PRESENTED ME A
PACKAGE WITH SIGNATURES ASKING
US TO SUPPORT SOCIAL SECURITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S
UNDERSTOOD THAT THOSE WHO GET
BY DO SO BECAUSE OF SOCIAL
SECURITY.
WE NEED TO RAISE THE CAP.
WE DON'T NEED TO SAY IT CAN'T
BE FIXED, WE NEED TO RAISE THE
CAP.
AGAIN I'M GOING TO SAY, IT IS
NOT A PONZI SCHEME, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT HARDWORKING
AMERICANS DESERVE WHEN THEY
HAVE FINALLY RETIRED AFTER
WORKING FOR 25 OR 30 OR 40
YEARS.
I YIELD BACK.
IT IS NOT A PONZI SCHEME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
BEFORE I
BEGIN, MR. SPEAKER, I CANNOT
HELP BUT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
ARE DAYS AWAY FROM
MEMORIALIZING THOSE LOST ON
9/11 AND I AM REMINDED OF THAT
TIME SOME 10 YEARS AGO AND HOW
THIS BODY DREW TOGETHER.
I DON'T KNOW IF OUR LEADERSHIP
HAS THOUGHT OF IT BUT I THINK
IT WILL BE MORE THAN
APPROPRIATE IF WE WENT TO THE
STEPS OF THE CAPITOL AND SANG
AGAIN "GOD BLESS AMERICA."
I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT PAUSE WE
DID THAT, WE DID IT TOGETHER.
TONIGHT I HOPE WE CAN BE
TOGETHER AS THE PRESIDENT
COMMANDS THE ATTENTION OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I HOPE WE CAN BE TOGETHER TO
LIFT UP THE CONCEPT OF MAKE IT
IN AMERICA, REBUILD AMERICA,
PUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
INVENTORS AND GENIUSES BACK TO
WORK.
I HOPE WE CAN COME TOGETHER
WITH THE F.A.A. AUTHORIZATION
SO HOUSTON, TEXAS, WON'T LOSE
$90 MILLION IN AIRPORT
CONSTRUCTION.
I HOPE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND
RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE DO A
SUPPLEMENTAL TO HELP OUR
FRIENDS WITH THE WILDFIRES IN
TEXAS, MY CONSTITUENTS AND
OTHERS AND LLOYD DOGGETT'S
CONSTITUENTS AND ALL IN THE
NORTHEAST, WE ARE COMING
TOGETHER TO PLACE JOBS.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE
BIPARTISAN THAN PUTTING AMERICA
BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI RISE?
POLICE CLAY: TO --
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
OUR FRIENDS IN THE MAJORITY TO
PUT THEIR COUNTRY AHEAD OF
THEIR PARTY AND JOIN US BY
ENACTING THE MAKE IT IN AMERICA
JOBS AGENDA.
JOBS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE
OR A REPUBLICAN ISSUE.
PUTTING AMERICA BACK TO WORK IS
WHAT WE ALL SHOULD BE FIGHTING
FOR.
WHEN WORKING FAMILIES HURT,
AMERICA HURTS.
AND WHAT ELEVATES THEM LIFTS UP
THE ENTIRE NATION.
WE MUST PASS WITHOUT DELAY A
RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE VITAL
HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT BILL.
WE NEED TO ENACT MAKE IT IN
AMERICA AGENDA TO STRENGTHEN
OUR MANUFACTURING,
BASE.
TECHNOLOGICAL AND INDUSTRIAL
WE NEED TO BUILD UP AMERICA'S
INFRASTRUCTURE BY PUTTING
PEOPLE TO WORK, REBUILDING OUR
ROADS, BRIDGES, RAILWAYS,
PORTS, SCHOOLS AND AIRPORTS,
AND WE NEED TO SPEED DISASTER
ASSISTANCE TO HARD-HIT
COMMUNITIES WITHOUT INJECTING
PARTISAN POLITICS INTO THE
PROCESS.
THE TIME FOR POLITICAL GAMES IS
OVER, AND THE TIME FOR JOBS IS
NOW.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
A COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
SIR, PURSUANT TO THE PERMISSION
IN GRANTED CLAUSE 2-H OF RULE 2
OF THE RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CLERK
RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE
SENATE ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2011, AT
9:27 A.M.
THAT THE SENATE AGREED TO
WITHOUT AMENDMENT HOUSE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 74, WITH
BEST WISHES I AM.
SIGNED SINCERELY, KAREN L.
HAAS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
BY THE DIRECTION OF THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE, I SEND
TO THE DESK A PRIVILEGED
RESOLUTION AND ASK FOR ITS
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
395, RESOLVED, THAT THE
FOLLOWING NAMED MEMBER BE AND
IS HEREBY ELECTED TO THE
FOLLOWING STANDING COMMITTEE OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
ONE, COMMITTEE ON SMALL
BUSINESS, MR. SHILLING.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO AND THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
BY THE DIRECTION OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES, I CALL UP
HOUSE RESOLUTION 392 AND ASK
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE CALENDAR
NUMBER 70, HOUSE RESOLUTION
392.
RESOLVED, THAT AT ANY TIME
AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION THE SPEAKER MAY,
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2-B OF RULE
18, DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED
INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL
H.R. 2218, TO AMEND THE CHARTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM UNDER THE
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.
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 SHALL
NOT EXCEED ONE HOUR EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND THE WORK FORCE.
AFTER GENERAL DEBATE THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE.
IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO
CONSIDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT
UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE THE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE
WORK FORCE NOW PRINTED IN THE
BILL.
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE ARE
WAIVED.
NO AMENDMENT TO THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE IN ORDER
EXCEPT THOSE PRINTED IN PART A
OF 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 A DEMAND FOR
DIVISION OF THE QUESTION IN THE
HOUSE OR IN 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 COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE.
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 2, A, AT ANY TIME AFTER
THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION
THE SPEAKER MAY, PURSUANT TO
CLAUSE 2-B OF RULE 18, DECLARE
THE HOUSE RESOLVED INTO THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL H.R.
1892, TO AUTHORIZE
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR
2012 FOR INTELLIGENCE AND
INTELLIGENCE-RELATED ACTIVITIES
OF THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT, THE COMMUNITY
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT, AND THE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY
SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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 AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
INTELLIGENCE.
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON
AFTER GENERAL DEBATE THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE.
B, IN LIEU OF THE AMENDMENT IN
THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
RECOMMENDED BY THE PERMANENT
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE 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
SUBSTITUTE, CONSISTING OF THE
TEXT OF THE RULES COMMITTEE
PRINT DATED AUGUST 31, 2011.
THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE ARE WAIVED.
C, NO AMENDMENT TO THE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE MADE IN ORDER AS
ORIGINAL TEXT SHALL BE IN ORDER
EXCEPT THOSE PRINTED IN PART B
OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES ACCOMPANYING THIS
RESOLUTION AND AMENDMENTS EN
BLOC DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION
F.
D, EACH AMENDMENT PRINTED IN
PART B OF THE REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES SHALL BE
CONSIDERED 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 A DEMAND FOR
DIVISION OF THE QUESTION IN THE
HOUSE OR IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE.
E, ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
AMENDMENTS PRINTED IN PART B OF
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES OR AMENDMENTS EN BLOC
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION F ARE
WAIVED.
F, IT SHALL BE IN ORDER AT ANY
TIME FOR THE CHAIR OF THE
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE OR HIS DESIGNEE TO
OFFER AMENDMENTS EN BLOC
CONSISTING OF AMENDMENTS
PRINTED IN PART B OF THE REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES NOT
EARLIER DISPOSED OF.
AMENDMENTS EN BLOC OFFERED
PURSUANT TO
THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ, SHALL BE
DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES
EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED
BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE OR THEIR
DESIGNEES, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
TO AMENDMENT, AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO A DEMAND FOR
DIVISION OF THE QUESTION IN THE
HOUSE OR IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE.
THE ORIGINAL PROPONENT OF AN
AMENDMENT INCLUDED IN SUCH
AMENDMENTS EN BLOC MAY INSERT A
STATEMENT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE
DISPOSITION OF THE AMENDMENTS
EN BLOC.
G, 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 3, A MOTION TO PROCEED
WITH REGARD TO A JOINT
RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL
SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION A-L OF
SECTION 3101-A OF TITLE 31,
UNITED STATES CODE, A, SHALL BE
IN ORDER ONLY IF OFFERED BY THE
MAJORITY LEADER OR HIS
DESIGNEE, AND, B, MAY BE
OFFERED EVEN FOLLOWING THE
SIXTH DAY SPECIFIED IN
SUBSECTION C-3 OF SUCH SECTION
BUT NOT LATER THAN THE
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER
14, 2011.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, MS. FOXX, IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY
I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO, MR. POLIS, PENDING
AS I MAY CONSUME.
WHICH I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME
DURING CONSIDERATION OF THIS
RESOLUTION, ALL TIME YIELDED IS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
.
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 392
PROVIDES FOR A STRUCTURED RULE
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
H.R. 2218, THE EMPOWERING
PARENTS THROUGH QUALITY CHARTER
SCHOOLS ACT, AND H.R. 1892, THE
FISCAL YEAR 2012 INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORIZATION ACT.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE HOUSE
EDUCATION AND THE WORK FORCE
COMMITTEE AND I HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION ACT.
H.R. 2218, THE EMPOWERING
PARENTS THROUGH QUALITY CHARTER
SCHOOLS, IS JUST ONE OF A
SERIES OF BILLS THE COMMITTEE
HAS CONSIDERED THIS YEAR.
DURING COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION,
THIS LEGISLATION RECEIVED
STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT,
INCLUDING THAT OF THE
COMMITTEE'S RANKING DEMOCRAT
MEMBER, GEORGE MILLER.
H.R. 2218 RE-AUTHORIZES THE
CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND
MODERNIZES IT BY ALLOWING THE
REPLICATION OR EXPANSION OF
HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS IN
ADDITION TO THE CREATION OF NEW
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THE CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT PARENT
AND STUDENTS HAVE CHOICE IN
EDUCATION.
WITH THIS BILL THE HOUSE
EDUCATION AND THE WORK FORCE
COMMITTEE HAS BEGUN THE
BIPARTISAN PROCESS OF
RE-AUTHORIZING ESCA, AND I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES IN THE FULL HOUSE
TO SUPPORT THIS RULE IN FAVOR
OF THE BILL.
THE RULE ALSO PROVIDES FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1892, THE
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012.
MR. SPEAKER, THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND
DEFENSE.
THE BILL WAS REPORTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE BY A VOICE VOTE, AND
THE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED WITH
THE SENATE TO DEVELOP A
BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL BILL.
THEREFORE, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT THE BILL.
UNDER THIS RULE THE RULES
COMMITTEE HAS MADE IT IN ORDER
TO CONSIDER SIX DEMOCRAT
AMENDMENTS AND THREE REPUBLICAN
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
WE'VE ALSO MADE IN ORDER FIVE
DEMOCRAT AMENDMENTS, TWO
BIPARTISAN AMENDMENTS AND ONE
REPUBLICAN AMENDMENT TO THE
CHARTER SCHOOL BILL.
I'M PLEASED TO WORK WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE RULES
COMMITTEE TO REPORT RULES FOR
FLOOR DEBATE AND THE
CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION
THAT PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY AND
PARTICIPATION.
AND MR. SPEAKER, I AGAIN URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR
OF THIS RULE AND RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
TODAY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING TWO
GOOD BILLS, BOTH BILLS UNDER
THIS RULE ARE BIPARTISAN BILLS.
ONE WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS
ACROSS THIS NATION, GIVE
PARENTS BETTER CHOICES, IMPROVE
THE QUALITY OF OUR CHARTER
SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND SO, TOO, WILL IMPROVE THE
INTELLIGENCE GATHERING IN OUR
NATION THAT KEEPS US SAFE.
THE CHARTER QUALITY SCHOOL ACT
WILL IMPROVE STUDENT ACCESS TO
QUALITY AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
I FIND, MR. SPEAKER, SOMETIMES
IT'S NECESSARY TO HELP EDUCATE
SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE
DEFINITION OF WHAT CHARTER
SCHOOLS ARE.
CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ESTABLISHED
BY SCHOOL DISTRICT,
AUTHORIZERS.
THEY ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HAVE TO ACCEPT ALL STUDENTS
EQUALLY.
THE CONCEPT OF THESE SCHOOLS IS
THAT THEY HAVE SITE-BASED
MANAGEMENT.
AGAIN, AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH
A SITE-BASED MANAGEMENT, THAT'S
A BRIEF DEFINITION OF A CHARTER
SCHOOL.
NOW, THAT'S NOT BETTER OR WORSE
SCHOOL.
THAN A DISTRICT RUNNING A
IT CAN BE BETTER.
IT CAN BE WORSE.
AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WE SEE GOOD CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
BAD CHARTER SCHOOLS.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S A CHARTER
SCHOOL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOOD.
WHAT WE STRIVE TO DO IS IMPROVE
THE QUALITY OF THE AUTHORIZING
PRACTICES OF THE STATES AND THE
DISTRICTS AS THEY GO INTO, A,
EVALUATING CHARTER SCHOOLS,
MAKING SURE THEY SERVE AT-RISK
STUDENTS AND CLOSING THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND, TWO, MAKE
SURE THEY FOLLOW THROUGH WHAT
THEIR CHARTER CONTAINS.
A CHARTER IS A SYNONYM FOR A
CONTRACT.
THEY OPERATE THROUGH CONTRACTS
WITH PUBLIC AUTHORITY, NAMELY,
AUTHORIZERS, STATES, STATE
CHARTER INSTITUTES, REGIONS,
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY'RE
ABLE TO OPERATE UNDER THOSE
CONTRACTS AND FULFILL THEIR
ROLE AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHAT ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS NOT?
I HEAR, IS THIS CORPORATE RUN
SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING?
NO.
SOMETIMES FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES
ARE BROUGHT IN AS VENDORS TO
RUN SCHOOLS THIS CAN HAPPEN
WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS JUST AS
SURELY AS IT HAPPENS WITH
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
SOME OF THE LARGER INCIDENTS
HAVE BEEN CHARTER SCHOOLS
BECAUSE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE
MUCH MORE MOM AND POP.
BUT THAT'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT
WHAT VENDORS CAN AND CANNOT BE
BROUGHT IN TO RUN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
DON'T ALLOW FOR-PROFIT
IN THE STATE OF COLORADO, WE
INSTITUTIONS TO HOLD THE
CHARTER.
NOW CERTAINLY, WE DON'T
RESTRICT CHARTERS IN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND THEY BRING IN A
VARIETY OF VENDORS, I THINK
EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE
COUNTRY USES PRIVATE,
FOR-PROFIT TEXTBOOK VENDORS, AS
AN EXAMPLE.
BUT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS HAVE GREAT DISCRETION
ABOUT WHAT VENDORS THEY USE.
THIS UPS THE ANTE ON THE
ACCOUNTABILITY, OVERSIGHT AND
ASSISTING WITH THE GROWTH OF
QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS.
MANY CHARTER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FOCUS ON PARTICULAR
AREAS OF LEARNING OR EMPHASIZE
PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF
CURRICULUM.
WE HAVE EXCELLENT ART CHARTER
SCHOOLS, MONTESSORI CHARTER
SCHOOLS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ACCUSATION, OUTDOOR LEARNING
CHARTER SCHOOLS, THEY CAN
FUNCTION MORE INDEPENDENTLY
THAN A LARGE DISTRICT BECAUSE
THEY DO HAVE SITE-BASED
MANAGEMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR
FLEXABILITY.
THEY CAN HAVE DIFFERENT SCHOOL
CALENDARS, DIFFERENT SCHOOL
DAYS AND DIFFERENT CURRICULUM.
THIS ALLOWS CHARTERS TO
FUNCTION AND BENEFIT CHILDREN
IN SCHOOL.
WITH EXPERIMENTATION, NOT
EVERYTHING YOU TRY IS GOING TO
WORK, AND FOR EVERY EXAMPLE OF
A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT SERVES
AT-RISK KIDS, THERE ARE
COUNTEREXAMPLES OF CHARTER
SCHOOLS DOING AS POORLY OR MORE
SO THAN SCHOOLS CHILDREN WERE
I HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE
IN BEFORE.
FOUNDING AND RUNNING CHARTER
SCHOOLS IN COLORADO THAT FILL
PARTICULAR NEARBIES.
I FOUNDED AND SERVED -- --
PARTICULAR NICHES.
I FOUNDED A SCHOOL WHEN I
REALIZED THAT ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES --
CLASSES WERE DROPPED.
I APPROACHED SEVERAL PEOPLE
ABOUT STARTING A SCHOOL FOR 16
TO 21-YEAR-OLDS LEARNING
ENGLISH.
WE NOW HAVE SEVERAL SCHOOLS.
WE WORKED BACKWARDS FROM THE
CUSTOMERS.
WHY WEREN'T THEY IN SCHOOL IN
THE FIRST PLACE?
THEY HAD DAY JOBS SO THEY
NEEDED A NIGHT SCHOOL.
40% OF THE YOUNG WOMEN HAD
CHILDREN, THEY NEEDED ON SITE
DAY CARE OR A DAY CARE VOUCHER.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WE MADE
SURE EVERY MEMBER OF THE STAFF,
THE TEACHERS, EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF THEM IS PASSIONATE ABOUT
HELPING NEW IMMIGRANTS LEARN
ENGLISH.
THAT IS WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO
OUR SCHOOL AND ACTUALLY
IMPROVED THE FACULTY MORALE
PAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO
PRACTICE THEIR PASSION RATHER
THAN IT BEING AN AFTERTHOUGHT
AS IT WAS IN SOME OTHER
CONVENTIONAL SCHOOLS.
I ALSO FOUNDED THE ACADEMY OF
URBAN LEARNING, FOCUSED ON
EDUCATING HOMELESS STUDENTS IN
DENVER.
HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE'VE
SEEN THE SUCCESS OF SEVERAL
EXCELLENT CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT
HAVE OUTPERFORMED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS INCLUDING THE K.I.P.
SCHOOL.
WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AS A RESULT OF THE
CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT, GREAT
EXPERIMENTATION, SOME
SUCCESSES, SOME FAILURES.
IT'S TIME, 10 CAREERS ON TO
LEARN FROM OUR EXPERIENCES WITH
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND REPLACE THE
FEDERAL AUTHORIZING ACT WITH
ONE THAT CAN REALLY UP THE
ANTE, TAKE THE LEARNING THAT'S
OCCURRED OVER THE LAST DECADE
INTO ACCOUNT AND APPROVE --
IMPROVE BOTH THE QUALITY OF
CHARTER SCHOOLS GENERALLY AND
THE QUANTITY OF GOOD CHARTER
SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
THIS BILL WOULDUP DATE THE
EXISTING FEDERAL INITIATIVES,
WE PROVIDE CRITICAL INVESTMENT
IN QUALITY ALTERNATIVES.
THE BILL CARVES OUT 15% OF
FUNDING FOR FACILITIES, CAPITAL
AND CREDIT ENHANCEMENT.
THE REMAINING 80% GOES TO NEW
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THE BILL WOULD ASK THE STATES
TO REVIVE 0% OF THE CHARTER
SCHOOL FUNDS.
IT ALSO INTRODUCES THE ALL-STAR
ACT WHICH WOULD ADD FOR THE
FIRST TIME FEDERAL LAW, STATE
LEVEL FUNDING FOR EXPANSION OF
SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS.
AGAIN WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF WHAT
WORKS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHY
NOT DO MORE OF IT?
YES, WE WANT TO TURN AROUND
FAILING SCHOOLS, YES WE NEED TO
IMPROVE ON WHAT DOESN'T WORK
AND YES WE NEED TO HOLD CHARTER
SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T WORKING
FULLY ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE
LAW.
BUT WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF
SOMETHING THAT WORKS.
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE IN MY STATE
AND DISTRICT, THE ACADEMY IN
WESTMINSTER IS A K-8 CHARTER
SCHOOL THAT OPENED FOUR YEARS
AGO.
I'M GLAD THAT ONE OF THE
AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER IS AN
AMENDMENT FROM MR. PAULSEN AND
I THAT WOULD SAY THAT SCHOOLS
WITH THREE YEARS WITH -- OF
SUCCESS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR
EXPANSION.
IT PROVIDES AFTER SCHOOL
STUDYING, FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN, EVERY STUDENT
STUDIES CHESS.
IT'S 95% LATINO, 86% ENGLISH
LANGUAGE LEARNERS, 90% FREE AND
REDUCED LUNCH, THAT MEANS POOR
FAMILIES, YET THEY'VE SCORED
FAR ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE.
THE STATE AVERAGE, INCLUDING
OUR WEALTHY SUBURBAN DISTRICTS
LIKE SOME OTHER AREAS I
REPRESENT IN THE PAST THREE
YEARS.
THEY SCORED 95% TO 100%
PROFICIENT IN MATH, 77%
PROFICIENT IN READING AND
WRITING AND FOR THIRD THROUGH
FIFTH GRADERS AVERAGED 30%
HIGHER THAN OTHER SCHOOLS.
OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS IN DENVER
HAVE ACHIEVED POSITIVE OUTCOMES
WITH LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
I'M SUREWELL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT MANY
OF THE AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER
UNDER THIS BILL.
WE DID PROPOSE AN OPEN RULE FOR
THESE BILLS AND IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN NICE TO HAVE A MORE
THOROUGH DISCUSSION, WHICH IS
WHY I OPPOSE THE RULE BUT I'M
GLAD IT MADE IN ORDER SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING ONE OF
MINE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS RULE ALSO
BRIDGES ANOTHER IMPORTANT BILL
TO THE FLOOR, FISCAL YEAR 2012
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
IT CONTINUES THE RECENT
BIPARTISAN TRADITION OF PASSING
AUTHORIZATION BILLS TO REFORM
AND CONDUCT OVERSIGHT OF OUR
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY
BELIEVES STRONGLY IN KEEPING
OUR COUNTRY SAFE.
WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING THE
THREATS TO OUR NATION, THE WAR
ON TERROR, THE FRONT LINE OF
THAT WAR IS OUR INTELLIGENCE
GATHERING APPARATUS AND
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
IN THIS TIME OF BUDGET
CONSTRAINT, WE KNOW WE NEED TO
SPEND MONEY WISELY AND I'VE
ARGUED THAT INSTEAD OF WASTING
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
INVADING COUNTRIES
PREEMPTIVELY, WESTERN USE THE
FORCE TO LEARN WHERE PROBLEMS
ARISE THIS BILL MAKES A
COMPROMISE BETWEEN OUR BUDGET
REALITIES AND OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY NEEDS.
THIS DID FIND SAVINGS, IT
PROPOSES TO CUSH PERSONNEL
GROWTH, WHILE IT INVESTS IN
SELECT HIGH PRIORITY NEEDS AND
ACHIEVES SAVINGS BY HANDLING
CONTRACTORS THE WAY THE
PRESIDENT HANDLES PAY FOR
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M GLAD THAT THIS
BODY WAS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER
WITH BOTH OF THE COMMITTEES OF
JURISDICTION, INTELLIGENCE, AND
EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE AROUND
STRONG BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE
UNDER THESE TWO BILLS AND WHILE
I WISH WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO FURTHER DISCUSS ADDITIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDMENTS
URN THE FLOOR, I'M APPRECIATIVE
THAT THERE WILL BE A ROBUST
DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE
CHARTER SCHOOL BILL UNDER THIS
OF MY TIME.
RULE AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO FOR HIS SUPPORT
OF THE BILL AND SUPPORT OF THE
CONCEPT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS
INVOLVEMENT AND SAY THAT I
THINK THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF BIPARTISAN COOPERATION AND I
TIME.
WILL RESERVE THE PLANS OF MY
THE
GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT'S MY HONOR TO YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS A COLLEAGUE OF
MINE ON THE RULES COMMITTEE,
MR. MCGOVERN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK FOR A
COUPLE OF MINUTES ABOUT A
SERIOUS MATTER THAT RELATES TO
THE INTELLIGENCE BILL WE WILL
LATER CONSIDER.
FOR THE PAST DECADE, COLOMBIA'S
INTELLIGENT AGENCY, THE
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE --
ADMINISTRATIVE SECURITY, OR THE
D.A.S., HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
IT PROVIDED PARAMILITARY DEATH
SQUADS WITH THE NAMES OF TRADE
UNIONISTS TO BE MURDERED AND
CARRIED OUT ILLEGAL
SURVEILLANCE ON JOURNALISTS,
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS,
POLITICAL OPPOSITION LEADERS
AND SUPREME COURT JUDGES.
AMERICAN CASH, EQUIPMENT, AND
TRAINING TO HELP SHUT DOWN
TRUCK TRAFFICKING MAY HAVE BEEN
USED FOR SPY OPERATIONS, SMEAR
CAMPAIGNS AND THREATS AGAINST
CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS IN
COLOMBIA.
SEVERAL U.S. AGENCIES AIDED THE
D.A.S.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT, PENTAGON,
D.E.A., C.I.A., EVEN AS SCANDAL
AFTER SCANDAL BECAME PUBLICLY
KNOWN.
IT WAS ONLY IN APRIL, 2010,
WHEN U.S. AMBASSADOR WILLIAM
BROWNFIELD, SUSPENDED USAID TO
THE D.A.S., DIVERTING THE
RESOURCES TO THE COLOMBIAN
NATIONAL POLICE.
YESTERDAY, CONGRESSWOMAN
SCHAKOWSKY AND I SENT A LETTER
TO THE SECRETARIES OF STATE AND
DEFENSE, THE U.S. ATTORNEY
GENERAL AND C.I.A. DIRECTOR
ASKING THEM TO PROVIDE
DOCUMENTATION OF ALL FORMS OF
AID TO THE D.A.S. AND WHAT IT
WAS USED FOR.
THAT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR.
THERE HAS BEEN A -- THERE HAS
BEEN A SHOCKING LACK OF
OVERSIGHT OF THE D.A.S. FUNDS
IN THE LAST DECADE.
COLOMBIA APPEARS TO BE DOING
ITS PART.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS
CARRYING OUT AN AGGRESSIVE
INVESTIGATION AND SERIES OF
PROSECUTIONS.
SIX FORMER HIGH-RANKING
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS
CONFESSED TO CRIMES.
MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER
OPERATIVES ARE ON TRIAL WITH
MORE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
PRESIDENT SANTOS PROMISED TO
DISMANT THEY WILL D.A.S. AND
REPLACE IT WITH A NEW
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY BUT IN THE
MEANTIME THE OLD INTELLIGENCE
STRUCTURES REMAIN.
WITNESSES COOPERATING WITH THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL FIND
THEMSELVES AN THEIR FAMILIES
THREATENED AND HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDERS EVEN NOW ARE UNDER
SURVEILLANCE.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M SURE THAT U.S.
INTENTIONS WERE GOOD BUT I ALSO
BELIEVE THAT THE D.A.S. WAS
GENERALLY UP TO NO GOOD.
I FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE STATE
DEPARTMENT AND EMBASSY
OFFICIALS CAN SAY WITH
CERTAINTY THAT ABSOLUTELY NO
USAID FUNDING WAS USED BY THE
D.A.S. FOR CRIMINAL PURPOSES.
CONGRESS MUST INSIST ON
SAFEGUARDS TONE SURE THAT NO
FUNDING, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING OR
INTELLIGENCE SHARING WITH ANY
COLOMBIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
IS USED FOR ILLEGAL
SURVEILLANCE NOW AND IN THE
FUTURE.
THE ADMINISTRATION OR CONGRESS
MUST PROHIBIT ANY FURTHER
FUNDING --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.
THE
ADMINISTRATION MUST PROHIBIT
FURTHER FUNDING THEY ARE D.A.S.
UNTIL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS
COMPLETED ALL INVESTIGATIONS
AND PROSECUTIONS, FINDS OUT WHO
ORDERED THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
I ASK THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND
RANKING MEMBER TO GUARANTEE
THAT NO FURTHER AID WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THE D.A.S. AND IF
THAT'S NOT IN THIS BILL THAT
THEY WILL WORK WITH THE STHATH
TO INCLUDE IT IN THE FINAL
CONFERENCE REPORT.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN.
I THANK --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN CAN
CONTINUE ON HIS OWN TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I DON'T HAVE ANY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I'D LIKE
TO YIELD SUCH TIME HEAS MAY
CONSUME TO THE DISTINGUISHED
CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE, MR. DREIER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS
MUCH TIME AS HE SHALL CONSUME.
I THANK MY FRIEND
FOR YIELDING.
I DIDN'T CONTROL THE TIME, I
WAS SIMPLY HERE AS AN OBSERVER.
I WAS GOING TO BEGIN BY
CONGRATULATING MY FRIEND ON HIS
VERY STRONG AND PASSIONATE
COMMITMENT, LET HIM KNOW I
SHARE THE DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RECOGNIZED IN
COLOMBIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD, I WORKED WITH HIM WHEN
HE WAS A STAFF MEMBER WORKING
FOR MR. SMOKE LEE WORKING ON EL
SALVADOR.
IT'S IMPERATIVE WE RESOLVE IT
AND ENSURE OUR TAX COLLARS ARE
NOT USE FOR NEFARIOUS PURPOSES.
HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT TO
RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
RULE AND I DO IT BECAUSE I
THINK THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG
TIME SINCE WE'VE HAD THE
OCCURRENCE WE DID YESTERDAY IN
THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.
WE JUST CAME BACK AS WE ALL
KNOW FROM THIS FIVE-WEEK
DISTRICT WORK PERIOD OF AUGUST
AND WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE RULES COMMITTEE.
IN THAT MEETING, WE BEGAN WITH
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION
AND WORK FORCE COMMITTEE, MR.
KLINE, AND THE RANKING MEMBER
OF THAT COMMITTEE, MR. MILLER,
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE, MR. ROGERS, AND
THE RANKING MEMBER MR.,
RUPPERSBERGER, COME BEFORE THE
RULES COMMITTEE AND OFFER
BIPARTISAN PROPOSALS ON BOTH
CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, OBVIOUSLY,
AND THE AUTHORIZATION BILL FROM
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
IN FACT, I QUIPPED AT ONE POINT
IN THE RULES COMMITTEE THAT
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A
FIVE-WEEK BREAK BETWEEN EACH
RULES COMMITTEE MEETING SO WE
CAN IN FACT COME TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY AND DEAL WITH
.
ISSUES.
THESE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
I HAVE TOE SAY, MR. SPEAKER, IT
IS A GREAT DAY ESPECIALLY AS WE
PREPARE IN JUST A LITTLE LESS
THAN SEVEN HOURS TO HEAR FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES ON AN ISSUE THE DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE SAY NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE ALL KNOW FROM HAVING BEEN IN
OUR STATES OVER THE PAST FIVE
WEEKS THAT JOB CREATION AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH ARE THE TOP
PRIORITIES FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
WE ALL REPRESENTS CONSTITUENTS
WHO ARE HURTING.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO LOST THEIR
HOMES, BUSINESSES, THEIR JOBS,
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
OUR ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE EXAMPLE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TODAY
AS WE BEGIN CONSIDERATION OF THE
CHARTER SCHOOLS BILL AND THEN
TOMORROW AS WE DEAL WITH THE
INTELLIGENCE BILL, AND OBVIOUSLY
THE BILL WE ARE GOING TO BE
CONSIDERING TODAY BECAUSE OF THE
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH TONIGHT WE'LL
HAVE TO CARRY ON INTO NEXT WEEK
SO WE'LL HAVE THIS CONTINUED
BIPARTISAN SPIRIT ON THE ISSUE
OF CHARTER SCHOOLS NEXT WEEK, I
BELIEVE, MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE IN
A POSITION WHERE WE CAN USE
THESE TWO AS A MODEL TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE OF JOB CREATION AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
NOW, THERE'S RECOGNITION THAT
THERE ARE A WIDE RANGE OF VIEWS
ON THE ISSUE OF JOB CREATION AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH, BUT I THINK
THAT WE ARE REMINDED BY THE
SENATE MINORITY LEADER JUST
TODAY THAT THE PROVERBIAL
EINSTEIN DIRECTIVE, THE
DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING
THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, AND EXPECTING A
DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
I THINK THAT MANY OF US, MOST
ALL REPUBLICANS, SOME DEMOCRATS,
HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THIS
NOTION OF DRAMATICALLY
INCREASING SPENDING, WHICH IS
WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE
STIMULUS BILL AND SEVERAL OTHER
ISSUES, IS NOT IN FACT THE
PANACEA THAT WE HAVE.
FRANKLY, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE
IS AN ABSOLUTE SILVER BULLET.
THERE IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE
PANACEA, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT
WE NEED TO TRY TO PUT INTO PLACE
AN EFFORT THAT WILL REDUCE THE
REGULATORY BURDEN IMPOSED ON
THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO CREATE
JOBS.
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PROPOSALS THAT
WE HAVE.
AGAIN I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK
WITH THE PRESIDENT ON THAT
ISSUE.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN RECOGNITION
THAT SINCE THE JAPANESE REDUCED
THEIR TOP RATE ON JOB CREATORS,
WE IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA HAVE THE HIGHEST TAX
RATE ON JOB CREATORS, THE
CORPORATE TAX RATE, OF ANY
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
AND I REALIZE THAT OBVIOUSLY WE
KNOW THERE ARE CORPORATIONS THAT
THROUGH THE TAX STRUCTURE THAT
WE HAVE TODAY DON'T PAY THAT 35%
RATE, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLOSE
LOOPHOLES AND REDUCE THAT TOP
RATE.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS
SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
HAS SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THAT
IDEA.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS
SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THAT IDEA.
I KNOW AS I LOOK AT MY FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
AT THIS MOMENT I'M LOOKING AT
ONE WHO SHARES MY VIEW.
I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES, MR.
SPEAKER, BUT I'M LOOKING AT ONE
WHO DOES SHARE MY VIEW AND
ANOTHER WHO MIGHT SHARE MY VIEW
AS WELL ON THIS ISSUE.
SO THERE IS A BIPARTISAN
CONSENSUS THAT IF WE CAN REDUCE
THAT TOP RATE ON JOB CREATORS,
WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE
JOBS AND ALSO, AND I KNOW MY
FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE SHARE THIS NOTION,
GENERATE AN INCREASE IN THE FLOW
OF REVENUES TO THE FEDERAL
TREASURY THEREBY DEALING WITH
THIS TREMENDOUS FISCAL PROBLEM
THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE'VE GOT OUR JOINT SELECT
COMMITTEE THAT IS GOING TO BE
DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF
DEFICIT REDUCTION.
WE KNOW THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH
WOULD BE THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO
GENERATE THE REVENUES THAT WE
NEED TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT AND
DEAL WITH THE OVERALL FISCAL
CHALLENGES WE HAVE AND HAVE THE
RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THE
PRIORITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND ANOTHER ISSUE THAT BUILDING
ON WHAT WAS SAID BY MY FRIEND
FROM WORCESTER EARLIER, HE
MENTIONED THE ISSUE OF COLOMBIA.
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT IF WE
LOOK AT THE PENDING TRADE
AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
UNFORTUNATELY LANGUISHING FOR
FOUR YEARS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE BRING THOSE FORWARD.
I'M VERY ENCOURAGED, I'M VERY
ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
HAS INDICATED HIS WILLINGNESS TO
DO THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE
SPEAKER BOEHNER AND LEADER
CANTOR FOR THE LETTER THEY SENT
TO THE PRESIDENT SAYING WE WANT
TO FIND THESE AREAS OF
AGREEMENT.
THE TRADE ISSUE IS ONE OF THEM.
I DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERY SINGLE
REPUBLICAN, BUT I SPEAK FOR MOST
ALL REPUBLICANS WHO BELIEVE
VERY, VERY STRONGLY THAT THE
NOTION OF OPENING UP NEW MARKETS
AROUND THE WORLD FOR JOB
CREATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES,
CREATING UNION AND NONUNION JOBS
, UNION AND NONUNION JOBS, IS
SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE
IF WE WERE TO PASS THE KOREA,
COLOMBIA, AND PANAMA AGREEMENTS.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW
PASSING THESE AGREEMENTS WILL
OPEN UP A FLOOD OF FOREIGN
PRODUCTS COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES.
CREATING -- UNDERMINING THE
ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES, WHEN IN FACT
THE OPPOSITE WILL BE THE CASE.
BECAUSE KOREA, COLOMBIA AND
PANAMA TODAY HAVE BY AND LARGE,
BY AND LARGE FREE ACCESS TO THE
U.S. CONSUMER MARKET.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT
ALLOWS THAT SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS
TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET GOING
TO WAL-MART OR KMART OR TARGET
OR WHEREVER TO BUY PRODUCTS THAT
ARE AFFORDABLE.
THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.
THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR OUR
ECONOMY.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT NOW WE NEED TO
OPEN UP THOSE MARKETS SO THAT --
WELL, THINGS COME IN FROM KOREA
AND COLOMBIA, ESPECIALLY, AND WE
NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET
INTO THEIR MARKETS.
THE 40 MILLION CONSUMERS IN
COLOMBIA AND MANUFACTURING JOBS
WILL BE CREATED HERE.
CATTER PILLAR, JOHN DEERE,
WHIRLPOOL, OTHER GREAT
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE
ACCESS TO THOSE MARKETS, AND ON
THE KOREA DEAL, MR. SPEAKER, IT
WILL BE THE SINGLE LARGEST
BILATERAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO SELL OUR AUTOMOBILES AND
MARKET.
OTHER PRODUCTS INTO THE KOREAN
AND SO THIS IS AN AREA WHERE I
BELIEVE THAT, AGAIN, RECOGNIZING
THAT UNION AND NONUNION JOBS
WILL BE CREATED HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, THIS CAN BE AN
AREA OF BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.
I KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL
CLEARLY TALK ABOUT THE
IMPERATIVE OF THESE IN THE
ADDRESS HE'LL BE GIVING RIGHT
BEHIND ME IN THE -- EARLY THIS
EVENING.
SO WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH
TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, IS A VERY
POSITIVE THING.
ON THE ISSUE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.
I LAUD MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO
WHO HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB IN
STARTING CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
IMPROVING CHARTER SCHOOLS.
I ALSO WANT TO COMMENT ON THE
STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE IN THE
RULES COMMITTEE YESTERDAY BY THE
FORMER CHAIRMAN AND NOW THE
RANKING MEMBER OF THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE, MR. MILLER, WHO SAID
THAT FOR MANY YEARS HE WAS A
STRONG OPPONENT OF CHARTER
SCHOOLS, AND NOW FOR MANY YEARS
HE'S BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF
CHARTER SCHOOLS, RECOGNIZING
THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH A
LEARNING PROCESS HERE.
I QUIP THAT ONE OF OUR FORMER
COLLEAGUES SAID THAT OURS IS ONE
BUSINESS WHERE YOU CAN NEVER
ADMIT TO HAVING LEARNED
ANYTHING.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ADMIT
TO HAVING LEARNED ANYTHING,
YOU'VE FLIP-FLOPPED, AND THE
FACT IS WE ALL ARE LEARNING AND
WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE LEARNED.
I CONGRATULATE -- I PROBABLY
WILL HURT MY FRIEND, MR. MILLER,
BY PRAISING HIM HERE, BUT I WILL
SAY THAT THE PROCESS HE'S GONE
THROUGH ON THIS ISSUE OF CHARTER
SCHOOLS IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE
IS VERY, VERY GOOD AND POSITIVE
THING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED
TO LEARN FROM, THAT EXPERIENCE
THAT HE HAD ON THE ISSUE OF
CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE WILLING TO
LISTEN TO OUR COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE ON A WIDE
RANGE OF ISSUES.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS RULE,
ENJOYING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WE
HAVE ALLOWED MANY MORE
DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENTS THAN
REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS IN THE
RULE ITSELF.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FREE
FLOWING DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE.
OF COURSE THE VERY IMPORTANT
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
AND THEN TONIGHT, TONIGHT I HOPE
WE CAN HAVE, AGAIN, THESE AREAS
OF AGREEMENT SO THAT WE CAN GET
OUR FELLOW AMERICANS WHO HAVE
BEEN LOSING THEIR HOMES, THEIR
BUSINESSES, AND THEIR JOBS BACK
ON TRACK.
SO WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA YIELDS
BACK HIS TIME OF THE THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RESERVES.
POLIS, IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR.
I YIELD MYSELF 30