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MODIFICATIONS WHERE REFINANCING
DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
LIVE NOW TO THE HOUSE
FLOOR FOR MORNING SPEECHES.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2011]
THE SPEAKER'S ROOMS,
WASHINGTON, D.C.
NOVEMBER 15, 2011.
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
ALLEN B. WEST TO ACT AS SPEAKER
PRO TEMPORE ON THIS DAY.
SIGNED, JOHN A. BOEHNER,
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR WILL NOW RECOGNIZE
MEMBERS FROM LISTS SUBMITTED BY
THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS FOR MORNING HOUR
DEBATE.
THE CHAIR WILL ALTERNATE
RECOGNITION BETWEEN THE PARTIES
WITH EACH PARTY LIMITED TO ONE
HOUR AND EACH MEMBER OTHER THAN
THE MINORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS AND THE MINORITY WHIP
LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES EACH,
BUT IN KNOW EVENT SHALL DEBATE
CONTINUE -- NO EVENT SHALL
DEBATE CONTINUE BEYOND 11:50
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
BLUMENAUER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AMERICANS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY
FRUSTRATED BY THE POLITICAL
PROCESS.
ATTENTION IS APPROPRIATELY
DIRECTED TO THE VERSION OF
SENATE RULES THAT SLOW THE
SENATE'S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO
A CRAWL WITH VERY REAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THE ABILITY OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
FUNCTION.
CONCERN'S ALSO BEEN EXPRESSED
ABOUT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE HEALTH
CARE DEBATE REVEALED THE
DEEPEST OF DIVISIONS AND SOME
OF THE MOST INFLAMMATORY
LANGUAGE AND ACTION IN HISTORY.
THE BUDGET BATTLES OF THE 112TH
CONGRESS, ESPECIALLY THE
ARTIFICIAL CRISIS SURROUNDING
MEETING OUR DEBT CEILING
OBLIGATIONS, EXTEND AND AMPLIFY
THAT TREND.
EXPERTS ACROSS THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM AGREE THAT PART OF
THIS DIVISIVENESS ARISES FROM
THE VERY NATURE OF
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
BOTH PARTIES HAVE DEVELOPED
INTO AN ART FORM THE ABILITY TO
MANIPULATE REDISTRICTING,
PACKING PARTISANS OF A SINGLE
PARTY, PUNISHING OPPONENTS, AND
PROTECTING INCUMBENTS.
JUST LOOK AT THE MAPS PUBLISHED
IN "ROLL CALL" THIS WEEK, THE
FIVE UGLIEST DISTRICTS,
PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING 101.
SADLY IT'S PRACTICED BY BOTH
POLITICAL PARTIES.
WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED WHEN
POLITICIANS HAVE MORE INFLUENCE
PICKING THEIR VOTERS THAN
VOTERS HAVE PICKING THEIR
POLITICIANS.
NOW, SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN
MADE TO INSULATE THE
REDISTRICTING PROCESS BY
CREATING A FEW INDEPENDENT
GUIDELINES.
BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSIST.
LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED IN FLORIDA
TO TRY AND CIRCUMVENT THOSE
REFORMS.
MORE RECENTLY THE ACTIONS OF
ARIZONA GOVERNOR BREWER FIRING
THE INDEPENDENT HEAD OF THE
SUPPOSEDLY INDEPENDENT
COMMISSION.
THE PROCESS HE REMAINS WOEFULLY
INADEQUATE, HIGHLY POLITICIZED,
AND SUBJECT TO WHAT NORMAL
PEOPLE WOULD REGARD AS
POLITICAL ABUSE.
FOR MANY POLITICIANS THE
TEMPTATION TO PLACE PARTISAN
OBJECTIVES ABOVE THE PUBLIC
INTEREST IS JUST TOO TEMPTING.
IN THE LAST DECADE, WE SAW THE
CULMINATION OF THIS TREND IN
2003 WHEN TEXAS CONDUCTED A
HYPER PARTISAN MID DECADE
SECOND REAPPORTIONMENT PROCESS.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION
SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL BLOOD
SPORT THAT PROTECTS INCUMBENTS,
DISENFRANCHISES LEGITIMATE
INTERESTS, AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO
WITH SURGICAL
REAPPORTIONMENT WHAT THEY
COULDN'T DO HONESTLY AT THE
AS WE APPROACH THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDMARK
BAKER VERSUS CARR SUPREME COURT
CASE THAT REQUIRED ONE PERSON,
ONE VOTE, IT'S TIME TO REVISIT
THAT PROCESS.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE WOULD
ESTABLISH A NATIONAL COMMISSION
COMPOSED MUCH EX-PRESIDENTS,
RETIRED FEDERAL JUSTICES,
PREVIOUS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
HOUSED IN AN INDEPENDENT
PROFESSIONAL AGENCY NOT UNLIKE
WHAT IOWA HAS DONE SUCCESSFULLY
FOR DECADES.
THESE DISTINGUISHED AND
INDEPENDENT EXPERTS WOULD
ESTABLISH UNIFORM CRITERIA AND
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES
FOR EACH STATE TO RESPECT THE
COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST, THE
ETHNIC, CULTURAL, AND HISTORIC
BOUNDARIES RATHER THAN JUST
PARTISAN AFFILIATION.
INDEED, WE MAY EVEN CONSIDER
COMPETITIVENESS TO BE A
POSITIVE OUTCOME.
IT WOULD THEN BE APPROVED BY
CONGRESS WITH AN UP OR DOWN
VOTE LIKE WE DO WITH BASE
CLOSING.
WE MAY EVEN FIX THE OUTRAGE
AMERICAN CITIZENS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OUR
NATION'S CAPITAL, WITH THE
VOTING REPRESENTATION.
CONGRESS SHOULD ENACT THESE
PROPOSALS NOW WHILE THE ABUSE
OF THE PROCESS IS CLEAR IN
EVERYONE'S MINDS.
WELL BEFORE THE NEXT CENSUS IN
THE EBB AND FLOW OF OUR HISTORY
HAS SHOWN THAT HIGHLY POLITICAL
GERRYMANDERING CAN BACKFIRE.
POLITICAL TIDES CAN CHANGE.
NOBODY KNOWS WHICH PARTY IS
GOING TO BE IN CHARGE 10 YEARS
FROM NOW.
HAVING A SYSTEM THAT GUARANTEES
FAIRNESS WILL GUARD AGAINST THE
DESTRUCTIVE AND HIGHLY PARTISAN
MANEUVERING THAT WE SEE NOW.
AMERICANS DESERVE BETTER.
WHEN CITIZENS ARE TREATED
FAIRLY AND ALL POLITICIANS PLAY
BY THE SAME RULE, GOVERNMENT
WORKS BETTER.
MEANINGFUL POLITICAL REFORM IS
SELDOM EASY.
IT TAKES TIME TO EDUCATE THE
PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS AND
REFINE THE CONCEPTS.
I AM HOPEFUL THERE WILL BE
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS
PROPOSAL AS A WAY TO MAKE THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FAIR,
MORE REPRESENTATIVE, AND MORE
EFFECTIVE FOR THIS CENTURY
GIVEN THE CHALLENGES WE FACE,
AMERICA DESERVES NO LESS.
THE
CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. POE,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
TEXANS ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT MANY THINGS BUT TWO
THINGS THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
PROBABLY THE MOST ARE JOBS AND
BECAUSE, YOU SEE, IN SOUTHEAST
TEXAS, THAT'S STILL THE ENERGY
CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES.
I PROBABLY REPRESENT MORE
REFINERIES THAN ANY MEMBER OF
AN AND THERE IS AN ANSWER TO
JOBS AND ENERGY AND IT'S
CALLED, THE TRANSCANADA
PIPELINE, COMMONLY CALLED THE
KEYSTONE X.L. PIPELINE.
THE PLAN IS FOR OUR ALLIES IN
CANADA TO SHIP CRUDE OIL FROM
ALBERTA, CANADA THROUGH A
PIPELINE, ALL THE WAY FROM
ALBERTA CANADA DOWN TO PORT
ARTHUR, TEXAS.
MOST AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF PORT ARTHUR TEXAS, BUT IT
SITS ON THE GULF COAST, REALLY
CLOSE TO THE LOUISIANA-TEXAS
IT IS PART OF THAT ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT GOING ALL THE WAY
BACK TO SPINDLE TOP DAYS IN
1901.
ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
AND THE PLAN HAS BEEN FOR
SEVERAL YEARS TO SHIP THAT
CRUDE OIL DOWN TO AMERICAN
REFINERIES AND HAVE THEM
REFINED.
AND THAT DECISION OR THAT
REQUEST TO GET A PERMIT STARTED
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND NO
DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED YET
ON WHETHER TO BUILD IT OR
REALLY NOT TO BUILD IT.
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IS THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED,
STILL, WILL NOT MAKE A DECISION
UNTIL 2013 AFTER THE ELECTIONS.
THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE
THESE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED
AMERICAN JOBS.
AND THIS PIPELINE WOULD CREATE
AMERICAN JOBS IN AMERICA.
THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN JOBS.
AND THEN THERE'S RELATED
INDUSTRY ALL UP AND DOWN THE
AREA WHERE THE PIPELINE WILL BE
BUILT TO PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND THEN IT WILL GIVE US CRUDE
OIL, ENERGY THAT WE CAN USE
FROM A STABLE ALLY INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO SHIP OIL IN FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD, MIDDLE EAST
PRIMARILY, WE WILL HAVE A
STABLE ALLY WHERE WE CAN BRING
CRUDE OIL INTO THE UNITED
STATES.
AT ABOUT HOW MUCH OIL ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT?
WELL, IT'S ABOUT 700,000
BARRELS A DAY.
THAT'S JUST A NUMBER.
MOST PEOPLE CAN'T RELATE TO
THAT.
THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH CRUDE OIL
AS WE BUY FROM VENEZUELA AND
BRING INTO THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN THE PIPELINE IS FULLY
COMPLETED, IT WILL BE A
MILLION, 200,000 BARRELS A DAY.
THAT'S A REAL NUMBER.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH OIL AS WE
BRING IN FROM SAUDI ARABIA.
AND YET WE COULD BRING THAT IN
FROM CANADA TO OUR REFINERIES
IN SOUTHEAST, -- SOUTHEAST
TEXAS.
PIPELINES ARE THE SAFEST WAY TO
MOVE CRUDE OIL.
THE SAFEST WAY, MR. SPEAKER.
IT'S SAFER THAN RAIL.
TRUCKS.
IT'S SAFER THAN BRINGING IT IN
IN SHIPS FROM OVERSEAS.
AND IT'S SAFER THAN BARGES.
BECAUSE PIPELINES HAVE A
HISTORY OF BEING THE MOST
ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, AS THEY
SHOULD BE SAFE.
AND IN FACT THE NEW PIPELINES
THAT ARE DEVELOPED ARE TAKING
THEY PUT A MACHINE IN THE
PIPELINE, IT'S CALLED A PIG
MACHINE, WHICH GOES THROUGH THE
PIPELINE WITH THE CRUDE OIL AND
LOOKS FOR DENSE OR EVEN SMALL
LEAKS WHICH WOULD AUTOMATICALLY
SHUT THE PIPELINE DOWN.
PIPELINE.
PEOPLE WHO BUILD IT OR THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
DECIDED PRIMARILY THE STATE
DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED, NOT TO
MAKE A DECISION UNTIL 2013.
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA IS
VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE
UNITED STATES WILL NOT BE A
PARTNER IN THIS CRUDE OIL.
AND THERE IS A COUNTRY THAT
WILL TAKE THAT CANADIAN CRUDE
OIL AND IT'S CHINA.
SO WE MAY NOT SEE THE PIPELINE
BUILT FROM ALBERTA TO PORT
ARTHUR, TEXAS, WE MAY SEE THAT
PIPELINE BUILT FROM ALBERTA TO
THEIR WEST COAST WHERE THEY
COULD PIPE THAT CRUDE OIL OFF
TO THE WEST COAST AND SELL IT
AND PUT IT ON TANKERS GOING TO
OUR BUDDIES, THE CHINESE.
WHO ARE EAGER TO TAKE THAT
CRUDE OIL.
RECENTLY, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A
DEVELOPMENT THAT THE PIPELINE
WHO WANT TO BUILD THE PIPELINE,
HAVE STARTED TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE IN NEBRASKA,
NEBRASKA'S PRIMARILY THE HOLDUP
WHERE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
HAVE GONE AND SAID THEY CAN'T
BUILD A PIPELINE HERE FOR A
BUNCH OF REASONS AND BUILD IT
TO THE EAST, THE NORTHEAST OF
NEBRASKA.
HOPEFULLY THEY WILL WORK OUT
SOMETHING.
UNFORTUNATELY THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAID LAST NIGHT OR
THIS MORNING, WELL, NOTHING HAS
CHANGED.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE DELAY, DELAY,
DELAY IS STILL THE ANSWER.
WE NEED TO GET OUR CRUDE OIL TO
OUR REFINERIES SOME WAY.
WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
WHAT IS THE ANSWER FOR THOSE
WHO SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT A
THERE IS NO ANSWER.
AND UNTIL WE GET TO THAT GREEN
ENERGY THAT WE ALL WANT TO GET
TO EVENTUALLY, WE HAVE TO GET
THAT CRUDE OIL AND HAVE IT
REFINED NOT ONLY INTO GASOLINE
AND JET FUEL BUT THE
BYPRODUCTS, PLASTICS THAT WE
AND THE ANSWER, MR. SPEAKER, I
THINK IS, WE NEED TO PICK A
HORSE AND RIDE IT.
SIGN UP AND BUILD THAT PIPELINE
IMMEDIATELY.
AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND,
MR. CICILLINE, FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, LAST MONTH THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
RELEASED A REPORT THAT EXAMINED
HOUSEHOLD INCOME DISTRIBUTION
BETWEEN 1979 AND 2007.
THE MOST DISTURBING FIGURE TO
ME IN THIS REPORT IS THAT THE
TOP 1% OF INCOME EARNERS HAVE
SEEN THEIR AVERAGE REAL
AFTER-TAX HOUSEHOLD INCOME GROW
BY 275%.
MIDDLE INCOME AMERICANS SAW AN
INCREASE OF 40% OVER THE SAME
PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS REPORT ILLUMINATES A SAD
FACT.
INCOME INEQUALITY IN OUR
COUNTRY IS GROWING AT A
STAGGERING PACE.
THE REPORT IS POINTING OUT WHAT
MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS TELL ME
AS I TRAVEL AROUND MY DISTRICT
FROM CUMBERLAND TO NEWPORT,
FROM COMMUNITY DINNERS AND
TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, THIS ECONOMY IS NOT
WORKING FOR THE MAJORITY OF
MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.
IN FACT, THE HARDWORKING MIDDLE
CLASS OF OUR COUNTRY IS BEING
HOLLOWED OUT.
A MIDDLE CLASS MADE UP OF
PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE A
GOOD LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
MY REAL FEAR IS THAT IF WE LET
THAT HAPPEN, WE'LL NEVER GET IT
BACK.
THOSE HERE IN WASHINGTON NEED
TO REMEMBER THAT OUR JOB IS TO
HELP PEOPLE AND TO STRENGTHEN
THE MIDDLE CLASS OF THIS
THE WAY BACK TO PROSPERITY IS
NOT TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM, IT'S
THROUGH INVESTING IN WORK FORCE
RETRAINING, INFRASTRUCTURE,
HOUSING, AND EDUCATION FOR
TOMORROW.
WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY TO GET OUR
ECONOMY AND OUR COUNTRY MOVING
AGAIN.
I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA BLOCK
GRANT DESIGNED TO HELP SMALL TO
MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURERS
RETOOL, RETROFIT THEIR
FACILITIES, AND TRAIN THEIR
EMPLOYEES SO THEY CAN SUSTAIN
THEIR CURRENT WORK FORCE,
CREATE JOBS, AND BETTER COMPETE
IN THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY.
WE NEED TO DEVELOP NEW
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO
FUND MUCH NEEDED INVESTMENTS IN
OUR NATION'S CRUMBLING
INFRASTRUCTURE.
INCLUDING LEGISLATION TO CREATE
A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BANK
WHICH WILL ATTRACT PRIVATE
INVESTMENT IN VITAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
AMERICAN FAMILIES WILL NOT FEEL
OR SHARE IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY
UNTIL WE STABILIZE OUR
DISTRESSED HOUSING MARKET.
WE NOT ONLY NEED TO MITIGATE
OUR FORECLOSURE CRISIS, BUT
UNDERTAKE BOLD ACTIONS TO
PREVENT THE NEXT WAVE OF
FORECLOSURES FROM OCCURRING.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO PASS CRITICAL
HOUSING LEGISLATION LIKE THE
PRESERVING HOMES AND
COMMUNITIES ACT, INTRODUCED BY
SENATOR JACK REED A.
REPRESENTATIVE ELIJAH CUMMINGS,
IMPROVE HOME LONE
PROCESS.
LIMIT FORECLOSURE FEES, AND
RESPOND TO ROBOSIGNING
MISCONDUCT BY FORCING MORTGAGE
SERVICES TO PROVE THEY HAD THE
LEGAL RIGHT TO FORECLOSE ON A
PROPERTY.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH AND EVERY
AMERICAN MUST BE GUARANTEED
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HIGHER
EDUCATION, INCLUDING VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ECONOMIC STATUS.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE FUNDING
OF PELLGRANTS NAMED FOR MY HOME
STATE SENATOR, THE LATE
CLAIBORNE PELL, ONE OF OUR
NATION'S MOST SIGNIFICANT
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AIDS
PROGRAMS.
WE MUST ALSO GUARANTEE OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM IS PREPARING
YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREER
READINESS, WHICH I HAVE WORKED
ON TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
OFFERING MORE TRAINING OPTIONS
TO YOUNG ADULTS, MOVING THEM
ALONG ON CAREER PATHWAYS AND
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT BUSINESS
AND GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING
TOGETHER TO BUILD AND IMPROVE
OUR WORK FORCE.
I RECOMMEND TO MY COLLEAGUES
THEY ALL READ THIS REPORT IF
THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.
I ALSO ASK THEY JOIN ME IN
RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEP
FIGHTING FOR MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES AS WE WORK TO HELP OUR
COUNTRY EVERY DAY HERE IN THE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S TIME TO GET AMERICA BACK
TO WORK AND TO STRENGTHEN AND
SUPPORT THE HARDWORKING MIDDLE
CLASS OF THIS COUNTRY, THE
HARDWORKING MIDDLE CLASS THAT
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,
MR. JONES, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
JONES: MR. SPEAKER, IT'S A SAD
DAY WHEN A GENERAL CANNOT GIVE
HIS HONEST OPINION ABOUT THE
WAR IN AFGHANISTAN WITHOUT
LOSING HIS JOB.
LAST WEEK MAJOR GENERAL FULLER
GAVE AN INTERVIEW WHICH HE
STATED THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT
AND THE PRESIDENT OF
AFGHANISTAN, MR. KARZAI, AND I
WANT TO QUOTE THE GENERAL, MR.
SPEAKER, AND THESE ARE HIS
WORDS, ERRATIC AND ISOLATED
FROM REALITY.
THAT IS THE LEADER FROM
HE CONTINUED BY SAYING, AND I
QUOTE THE GENERAL FURTHER, WHY
DON'T YOU JUST POKE ME IN THE
EYE WITH A NEEDLE.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
I'M SORRY.
WE JUST GAVE YOU $11.6 BILLION
AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME I
DON'T REALLY CARE?
THAT'S WHAT OUR YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN DOING, LOSING THE LEGS
FOR THIS ERRATIC LEADER OF
AFGHANISTAN.
LET ME FURTHER STATE, IN A
DECEMBER 8, 2010, "WASHINGTON
POST" ARTICLE WHILE MEETING
WITH GENERAL PETRAEUS,
PRESIDENT KARZAI SAID, I HAVE
THREE MAIN ENEMIES.
THE TALIBAN, THE UNITED STATES
AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY.
IF I HAD TO CHOOSE SIDES TODAY
I'D CHOOSE THE TALIBAN.
YES, THESE THE ERRATIC LEADER
OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE
DYING FOR.
LAST MONTH DURING A TELEVISION
INTERVIEW PRESIDENT KARZAI
STATED, AND I QUOTE, IF EVER
THERE WAS A WAR BETWEEN
PAKISTAN AND AMERICA,
AFGHANISTAN WILL SIDE WITH THE
PAKISTANIS.
THESE ARE NOT THE STATEMENTS OF
A LEADER FOR WHOM THE UNITED
STATES' SERVICE MEMBERS SHOULD
BE GIVING THEIR LIFE AND LIMB.
ON MAY 12 OF THIS YEAR,
LIEUTENANT COLONEL BENJAMIN
PALMER AND SERGEANT KEVIN
BALDER FROM CAMP LEJEUNE, MY
DISTRICT, WERE IN AFGHANISTAN
TO TRAIN AFGHAN OFFICERS WITH
ONE OF THE TRAINEES OPENED FIRE
AND SHOT AND KILLED LIEUTENANT
PAR MORE AND SERGEANT BALDIFF
AS THEY SAT DOWN FOR LUNCH.
THEY BOTH WERE KILLED BY AN
AFGHAN TRAINEE.
AND MR. SPEAKER, THESE TWO
LITTLE GIRLS ON THIS POSTER ARE
THE DAUGHTERS OF THIS SERGEANT,
AND THE TRAGEDY FOR THESE
LITTLE GIRLS IS NOT THAT THEIR
DADDY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THIS
COUNTRY BUT THE DAY BEFORE HE
WAS KILLED SERGEANT BALDIFF
EMAILED HIS WIFE AMY AND HE
I DON'T TRUST THEM, I
DON'T TRUST THEM, I DON'T TRUST
ANY OF THEM.
THE NEXT DAY HE AND COLONEL
PALMER WERE SHOT DEAD BY THE
PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SPENDING $10
BILLION A MONTH IN AFGHANISTAN
AND WE'RE TELLING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WE GOT TO CUT YOUR
PROGRAMS FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND
OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
I'M ASKING THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND CONGRESS DO EVERYTHING TO
DEFEND THE TRUTH AND ENCOURAGE
MILITARY LEADERS TO BE HONEST
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS TO
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
AND MR. SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I
MIGHT SUBMIT THE LETTER THAT I
WROTE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
REGARDING GENERAL FULLER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DEBT
SUPERCOMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO
BE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, I
HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL JOIN
THOSE OF US, THE FEW OF US IN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS WELL AS
SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS AND LET'S
BRING OUR TROOPS HOME BEFORE
WHEN YOU READ IN THE PAPER
WE'RE BRINGING OUR TROOPS HOME,
IT'S 2014.
HOW MANY MORE LITTLE GIRLS AND
LITTLE BOYS HAVE TO GO TO THEIR
FATHER OR MOTHER'S FUNERAL?
WHY DOESN'T AMERICA WAKE UP AND
DEMAND THAT CONGRESS BRING OUR
TROOPS HOME BEFORE 2014?
AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
WILL CLOSE AS I ALWAYS DO FROM
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I ASK
GOD TO PLEASE BLESS OUR MEN AND
WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
I ASK GOD TO PLEASE BLESS THE
FAMILIES OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN
IN UNIFORM.
I ASK GOD IN HIS LOVING ARMS TO
HOLD THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE
GIVING A CHILD DYING FOR
FREEDOM IN AFGHANISTAN AND
IRAQ.
AND I ASK GOD TO PLEASE BLESS
THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT WE
WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE
EYES OF GOD FOR WE ARE GOD'S
PEOPLE.
MR. SPEAKER, LAST NIGHT ON ABC
I WAS SO TOUCHED TO GABRYAL
GIFFEDS, ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES,
MAKE -- GABRIELLE GIFFORD, ONE
OF OUR COLLEAGUES, AND I ASK
HUSBAND.
I ASK YOU TO GIVE WISDOM,
STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
THAT HE WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT
IN THE EYES OF GOD.
GOD, PLEASE CONTINUE TO BLESS
AMERICA.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
DEFAZIO, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
EIGHT DAYS UNTIL
THE SO-CALLED SUPERCOMMITTEE IS
TO REPORT.
THEY'RE LIMPING TOWARD FAILURE.
ALTHOUGH PERHAPS NOW THEY HAVE
FOUND A WAY WASHINGTON ALWAYS
LOVES TO DO THINGS, LET'S KICK
THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
LET'S PRETEND WE DID IT.
LET'S ADOPT SOME FUTURE TAX
MEASURES IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS
THAT WILL GET US TO THEIR
RATHER MODEST GOAL OF $1.2
TRILLION OF DEFICIT REDUCTION
OVER 10 YEARS.
I TELL YOU WHAT, THE DO-NOTHING
OPTION IS STARTING TO LOOK A
LOT BETTER.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CONGRESS
IS REALLY GOOD DOING, NOTHING.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO NOTHING?
WELL, FIRST YOU GET THE
SEQUESTRATION.
THERE'S GNASHING OF TEETH AT
THAT.
CONGRESS WILL HAVE DISCRETION
WITHIN THE ACCOUNT AND FIND
THOSE CUTS WHICH WILL BE
RELATIVELY MODEST OVER AN
EIGHT, 10-YEAR PERIOD.
BUT THEN THE BETTER THING WITH
THE DO-NOTHING OPTION IF
CONGRESS CAN REALLY DO NOTHING
AND CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING FOR
THE REST OF THIS SESSION, THEN
ALL THE BUSH TAX CUTS GOES AWAY
AND THAT MEANS $4 TRILLION OF
ADDITIONAL REVENUES WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF SHARED SACRIFICE.
IT HITS THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP
MOSTLY.
TAKES THEM BACK TO THE CLINTON
ERA RATES OF TAXES.
THAT'S WITHOUT CLOSING TAX
LOOPHOLES.
JUST LET THE BUSH TAX CUTS
EXPIRE.
THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF 40% OF
THE DEFICIT PROBLEM OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS.
ADD IN THE SEQUESTRATION FROM
THE FAILURE OF THE COMMITTEE.
ANOTHER ONE, TOO.
THRUST THE ONE WE PASSED LAST
SUMMER.
UP TO 67%, 70% OF THE DEFICIT.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE NEED
TO DO AROUND HERE.
AND NOW -- AND YOU CAN DO IT IN
AN HONEST WAY WHICH IS WITH
REVENUES AND SPENDING
REDUCTIONS.
THAT'S HOW WE BALANCED THE
BUDGET IN THE 1990'S.
YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL WITH JUST
SPENDING CUTS.
STOP PRETENDING THAT THAT WILL
WORK.
IT WON'T WORK.
NOW, THERE WILL BE MUCH
GNASHING OF TEETH, PARTICULARLY
ON WALL STREET, OH, CONGRESS
CAN'T GET THINGS DONE AND WE
ARE WORRIED AND THE CROOKS ARE
THE UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATORS
AT THE RATING AGENCIES, THOSE
THAT -- THAT'S A.A.A.-PLUS
INVESTMENT IS NOW CONCERNED
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES AND HOW IT
CONDUCTS ITSELF IN HONESTY AND
DEALING WITH THE DIFFICULT
PROBLEMS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY
SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE
DO-NOTHING OPTION TOO.
IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
DO NOTHING OPTION, THIS IS THE
BEST.
AND THEN THEY WILL VOTE ON THE
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED IN
IF THAT HAD BECOME LAW OF THE
LAND, WE WOULD HAVE HAD 10
YEARS OF BUSH TAX CUTS AT A
DEBT.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE WARS
FOUGHT ON THE CREDIT CARD.
WE'D HAVE TO VOTE EVERY YEAR
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DECLARE WAR
AND UNDER THIS BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, IF YOU HAVE AN
OVERSEAS EMERGENCY YOU HAVE TO
VOTE EVERY YEAR ON THE
MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT
THOSE MANY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND FINALLY, THE PRESCRIPTION
DRUG BENEFIT DESIGNED TO
SUBSIDIZE THE PHARMACEUTICAL
INDUSTRY WITH BORROWED MONEY
AND GIVE SENIORS A DOUGHNUT
HOLE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT
EITHER.
NOW, I HAVE LIBERAL FRIENDS
OVER HERE SAYING WE CAN'T HAVE
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE $14 TRILLION
OF DEBT TODAY, WOULDN'T WE IN A
TO PUT AMERICA BACK TO
WORK AND NOT BURDENING OUR KIDS
WITH A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT?
THINK ABOUT IT.
BOTH WAYS.
THIS ONE'S HONEST.
IT DOESN'T SAY SUPERMAJORITY
IT DOESN'T SAY SUPERMAJORITY
FOR CUTS.
IT SAYS YOU FIGURE IT OUT.
YOU WERE ELECTED.
YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT BOTH
BUILDS A COUNTRY WITH A
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND GIVES
US A FINANCIAL FUTURE THAT
ISN'T A HUGE BURDEN TO OUR
KIDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR.
PAULSEN, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE THE WYZETA GIRL'S
SOCCER TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2-A
CHAMPIONSHIP.
THIS TEAM EMBODIES THE
PHILOSOPHY THAT PRACTICE MAKES
PERFECT BECAUSE EVERY DAY
THROUGHOUT THE SEASON THIS TEAM
WOULD PRACTICE PENALTY KICKS
JUST IN CASE A BIG GAME WOULD
DEPEND ON IT.
AND WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WHEN
REGULATION CAME OUT, WHEN
OVERTIME PASSED, 10 MINUTES
EXTRA OF OVERTIME, THE STATE
TITLE WOULD BE DECIDED BY A
PENALTY KICK SHOOTOUT.
IN THE END IT WAS THEIR
PRACTICE OF FUNDAMENTALS THAT
REALLY PAID OFF WHEN CHELSEA
THAT SHOOTOUT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
STUDENT ATHLETES OF WYZETA HIGH
SCHOOL AND THE GIRL'S SOCCER
TEAM SWS THE COACHES AND BEING
GREAT STUDENT ATHLETES AND JOB
WELL DONE.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR.
ELLISON, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, IN A FEW DAYS OUR
CONGRESS WILL SEE THE REPORTING
OUT OF THE WORK OF THE
SUPERCOMMITTEE.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL, AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, I PRAY, FOCUS THEIR
ATTENTION ON.
IT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT IS
TRUE, AND I SAY THIS AS A PROUD
LIBERAL MEMBER OF THIS
CONGRESS, THAT WE DO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE REDUCE OUR
COUNTRY'S LONG-TERM DEFICIT.
WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE
PROGRAMS I CARE ABOUT, LIKE
HEAD START, HOME HEATING OIL
FOR SENIORS, PROGRAMS THAT ARE
GOING TO HELP DEVELOP OUR HUMAN
CAPITAL, GET CROWDED OUT WHEN
WE SAY WE JUST DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY.
WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN LIVE WITHIN THE BUDGET OF
THIS COUNTRY BUT THE QUESTION
IS NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT
BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND
ON.
THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION, THE
DEEPER QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO INVEST IN, BECAUSE THE
FACT IS WHETHER WE DO ONLY
STIMULUS AND SPEND A LOT OF
MONEY IN THE HOPE WE INCREASE
AGGREGATE DEMAND OR WE DO WHAT
REPUBLICANS SUGGEST WHICH IS TO
CUT EVERYTHING AND JUST HAVE
AUSTERITY, NEITHER ONE OF THOSE
SOLUTIONS WILL REALLY PUT
AMERICA ON THE TRACK IT NEEDS
TO BE ON.
THE FACT IS WE NEED TO INVEST
IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE AS WE
LOOK AROUND, THIS COUNTRY, THE
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, IS NOT
MAKING THE INVESTMENTS THAT IT
NEEDS TO MAKE IN ORDER TO BE
THE WORLD LEADER IN THE YEARS
TO COME.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE, MR. SPEAKER.
LET'S START BY TALKING ABOUT
GREENING AMERICA.
WE NEED TO RETROFIT OLD
WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR SMART
WE NEED TO INVEST IN RENEWABLE
ENERGY, WIND, SOLAR, THINGS
THAT WILL REALLY HELP POWER OUR
NATION AND MAKE US LESS
DEPENDENT NOT ONLY ON FOREIGN
OIL BUT OIL ALTOGETHER, FOSSIL
WE NEED TO REDUCE THAT
WE NEED TO INVEST IN TRANSIT,
ROADS AND BRIDGES IN MY OWN
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, WE SAW A
BRIDGE FALL 65 FEET INTO THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BECAUSE IT
MAINTAINED.
AS PEOPLE THINK, OH, THAT'S
MINNEAPOLIS' PROBLEM, IF THEY
THINK THAT, THEY'RE WRONG.
BRIDGES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY
IS IN CRITICALLY BAD SHAPE AND
WE NEED TO INVEST IN MAKING
SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY
SAFE BUT ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE
WELL FITTED SO THEY CAN
ACCOMMODATE TRANSIT AND OTHER
SORTS OF THINGS THAT CAN MOVE
PEOPLE AROUND AND NOT JUST BE
DEPENDENT UPON CARS.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN A SMART
GRID SO THAT OUR -- WE CAN USE
ENERGY EFFICIENTLY AND THAT WE
CAN POWER OUR SOCIETY IN AN
EFFICIENT AND IMPORTANT WAY.
BUT NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO
INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WE
NEED TO INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN SKILLS
TRAINING.
THIS SHOULD START, MR. SPEAKER,
WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
ANY ECONOMISTS WHO STUDIES THIS
WILL TELL YOU, THE INVESTMENTS
YOU MAKE IN LITTLE KIDS, 0 TO
6, PAYS OFF FOR A LIFETIME.
AND YET WE DON'T HAVE A
UNIVERSAL FREE KINDERGARTEN.
WE DON'T HAVE UNIVERSAL EARLY
EDUCATION.
WE HAVE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN
YOUNG
MINDS COULD BE DEVELOPED BY AGE
3, 4 OR 5 AND THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE LANGUISHING AT HOME.
THEY ARE BEING BABY-SAT BY THE
TELEVISION OR EVEN WORSE.
SOME DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE
NUTRITION.
MR. SPEAKER, WE NEED TO INVEST
IN THE EARLIEST, YOUNGEST
AMERICANS SO THEY CAN HAVE
SUCCESS THROUGHOUT A LIFETIME.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
IMMEDIATELY ABOUT THE AWESOME
DEBT BURDEN THAT OUR CHILDREN
IN COLLEGE ARE SHOULDERING.
THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL AS YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEIR 20'S
AND 30'S SHOULD BE BUYING
HOUSES, BUYING CARS, SHOULD BE
SAVING FOR THEIR RETIREMENT,
THEY'RE PAYING BACK STUDENT
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A
LONG-TERM NEGATIVE AFFECT ON
OUR ECONOMY AND WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S A LOT MORE
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, BUT ONE
OF THE THINGS I DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE OFF THE TABLE IS WE NEED
TO ALSO REDUCE OUR MILITARY
SPENDING.
NOW, I'M FULLY IN FAVOR OF
SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
INVESTMENT FOR THEIR
HEALTH, FOR THEIR EDUCATION AND
FOR THEIR WELFARE, BUT THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF MILITARY
ARMAMENTS AND MACHINES WE DON'T
NEED.
WE DON'T NEED TO DEPEND ON A
NUCLEAR ARSENAL, IN MY VIEW,
MR. SPEAKER.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CUT THE
-- ENGAGE IN INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENT AND CUT THE NUCLEAR
WORLD.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
BEGIN TO SHUT DOWN SOME OF
THESE BASES WE HAVE ALL ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
AS MANY AS 174 BASES.
DO WE NEED THIS KIND OF
MILITARY FOOTPRINT?
I DON'T THINK SO.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, LET ME JUST
SAY THAT TOMORROW, TOMORROW
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GROUP OF
LEADING ECONOMISTS AT 11:00
TOMORROW COME TOGETHER AND
OFFER THEIR VIEWS ABOUT THE
PROPER DIRECTION FOR PROSPERITY
FOR AMERICA.
TOMORROW THE CONGRESSIONAL
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS AT 11:00
A.M. WILL CONVENE AND WE'LL
HAVE A NUMBER OF GREAT
ECONOMISTS WHOM WE INVITE
COME TO.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND
TOMORROW.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
TERRY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT IS THE DEBTOR THAT IS RUINED
BY HARD TIMES.
THAT WAS SAID BY OUR 19TH
PRESIDENT, RUTHER FORWARD --
RUTTER FORD B. HAYES.
-- RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
TIMELY, INSIGHTFUL COMMENT.
THE UNITED STATES IS THE
DEBTOR, $15 TRILLION IN DEBT.
RISING AT A YEARLY CLIP OF $1.5
TRILLION.
WITH REALLY NO INSTITUTIONAL
CONTROL TO STOP THAT.
YES, WE ARE IN HARD TIMES.
9% PLUS UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THREE
STRAIGHT.
A REPORT THE OTHER DAY THAT
SAID THE REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
FROM THOSE THAT HAVE JUST GIVEN
UP IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 15%.
16 MILLION TO 20 MILLION
AMERICANS.
OUR SAVINGS, DECREASING.
MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE DOLLARS
THAT ARE GOING TOWARDS BUYING
BONDS OR SELLING BONDS TO
CHINA.
NOW, BEFORE US THIS WEEK,
THOUGH, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT VOTES THAT THIS
CONGRESS WILL TAKE THIS YEAR.
AND THAT IS TO PASS AN
AMENDMENT TO OUR CONSTITUTION
FORCING THIS BODY TO BALANCE
ITS BUDGET.
NOW, I KNOW IT'S STUNNING TO
MANY PEOPLE THAT OUR
THAT.
THERE WERE LOTS OF FAIL-SAFES
BUILT INTO OUR CONSTITUTION AND
I THINK THAT OUR FOUNDING
FATHERS NEVER THOUGHT THAT
DEFICIT SPENDING OTHER THAN AT
A TIME OF WAR WOULD EVER OCCUR
IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT IT HAS AND
IT'S BECOME THE NORM.
WHY HAS IT BECOME THE NORM IN
CONGRESS?
SIMPLY ANSWERED, BECAUSE YOU
CAN.
THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP IT.
THE EASIEST WAY, THE MOST
POLITICAL WAY SO YOU NEVER HAVE
TO SAY NO IS TO DEFICIT SPEND.
MY FRIENDS, THAT HAS TO END.
IT HAS TO END THIS
CONGRESSIONAL SESSION.
NOW, THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT IS A SIMPLE ONE.
WE CANNOT
SPEND MORE THAN OUR REVENUES.
THAT'S WHAT MOST STATE
CONSTITUTIONS HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT THE NEBRASKA
CONSTITUTION HAS.
THAT'S WHAT THE CITY CHARTER
FOR OMAHA, SPENT EIGHT YEARS ON
THE OMAHA CITY COUNCIL, WE HAD
TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH
I HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN PEOPLE
HAVE COME AND SAID WE NEED NEW
WATER PARKS OR SOMETHING ELSE.
WE ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAD TO
MAKE A DECISION OF RAISING
TAXES, CUTTING SWRS ELSE --
SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR SAYING NO.
THOSE ARE YOUR ONLY THREE
WELL, THE TIME HAS COME THAT
CONGRESS NEEDS THE
INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO
SPENDING.
AND IT'S THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
IT WILL BE THE
INSTITUTIONALIZED DISCIPLINE
HAS BEEN LACKING HERE FOR
DECADES.
THE TIME HAS COME TO PASS IT.
I WANT TO LEAVE THIS ONE
GENERAL POINT, BOTH
DISAPPOINTING AND HOPEFUL.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE
"USA TODAY," NOVEMBER 4, SO 11,
12 DAYS AGO, WHERE IT QUOTED
THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
SAYING TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE,
KILL THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT
TO DEFICIT SPEND OUR FUTURE
YEAR.
FORTUNATELY AS WE HAVE HEARD
FROM ONE DEMOCRATIC MEMBER,
HE'S NOT FOLLOWING THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP'S ORDERS
HERE.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL GET ENOUGH
OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS WHO
BELIEVE IN FISCAL DISCIPLINE TO
JOIN US.
IT TAKES 2/3 OF BOTH THE HOUSE
AND SENATE TO DO THAT.
IT WILL BE A CLOSE VOTE.
ON SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS
SAYING THAT OUR REVENUES, OUR
EXPENDITURES CAN'T EXCEED OUR
REVENUES, I ASK FOR ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MS. WOOLSEY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE THE
SUREST WAY TO GET IN THE MOST
TROUBLE IS TO TELL THE TRUTH
ABOUT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.
WITNESS THE CASE OF MAJOR
GENERAL PETER FULLER WHO
CONGRESSMAN WALTER JONES JUST
TALKED ABOUT.
GENERAL FULLER WAS ONE OF OUR
TROOP COMMANDERS IN AFGHANISTAN
UNTIL HE DECIDED TO SPEAK HIS
AFTER PRESIDENT KARZAI MADE THE
OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENT THAT HE
WOULD BACKPACK STAND IN A WAR
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES,
MAJOR GENERAL FULLER DELIVERED
A COLORFUL, CAN DADE, ON THE
RECORD REPLY, HE SAID WHY DON'T
YOU JUST POKE ME IN THE EYE
WITH A NEEDLE?
HE SAID OF PRESIDENT KARZAI,
WHOM HE ALSO DESCRIBED AS
ERRATIC AND ISOLATED FROM
REALITY.
HE ADDED THAT THE AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T PROPERLY
APPRECIATE THE ENORMOUS
SACRIFICES AMERICANS ARE MAKING
ON AFGHANISTAN'S BEHALF.
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE
HAVE MAJOR ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
AND WHAT WAS MAJOR GENERAL
FULLER'S AWARD FOR TELLING IT
LIKE IT IS?
WHAT DID HE GET FOR EXPRESSING
THE FRUSTRATION SO MANY
AMERICANS FEEL?
HE WAS THROWN IMMEDIATELY UNDER
THE BUS.
HE WAS FIRED, RELIEVED MUCH HIS
GENERAL JOHN ALLEN
WHO ADMONISHED FULLER FOR, AND
HE SAID, GENERAL FULLER
INAPPROPRIATELY MADE PUBLIC --
MADE INAPPROPRIATE PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
AN INTERESTING CHOICE OF WORDS.
INAPPROPRIATE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AS "TIME" MAGAZINE POINTED OUT,
THE IMPLICATION THERE SEEMS
PRETTY CLEAR.
WHAT MAJOR GENERAL FULLER HAD
THE AUDACITY TO SAY OUT LOUD
THAT THE KARZAI REGIME IS
CORRUPT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE
SECRETLY BELIEVE.
"TIME" CORD -- CORRESPONDENTENT
PUT IT THIS WAY, IT IS NOT A
GOOD SIGN WHEN WHAT EVERYONE IS
SAYING PRIVATELY CANNOT BE
STATED PUBLICLY.
IN THAT CASE ONLY THE TRUTH,
THE ONES DYING AND THE
TAXPAYERS, THE PEOPLE EMPLOYING
BOTH ALLEN AND FULLER, ARE KEPT
WILLFULLY IN THE DARK.
UNQUOTE.
THE WRITER, CHRISTOPHER HIVEN,
PUT IT MORE BLUNTLY SAYING, TO
SILENCE FULLER IS TO ESTABLISH
A STUPID CULTURE OF DENIAL IN
THE RANKS.
THROUGHOUT THIS DECADE, MR.
SPEAKER, THIS DECADE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN AT WAR, THE FAILURE
OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO LEVEL WITH
US HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT
PROBLEM.
WHETHER IT'S THE PHONY WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ OR
PRISONER OF TORTURE, OR JUST
THE REFUSAL TO LET SOLDIERS
COPPINS' BE PHOTOGRAPHED DURING
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, OVER
AND OVER AGAIN THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FED A STEADY
DIET OF MISLEADING SPIN AND
OUTRIGHT LIES.
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING
FOR THIS WAR IN BLOOD AND
TREASURE ARE MUCH BETTER.
THEY ARE TIRED OF PROPAGANDA.
THEY ARE OWED AN HONEST
ACCOUNTING OF WHAT'S GOING ON,
WHAT OBSTACLES WE FACE, AND
WE ARE
MAKING OR NOT MAKING.
MAJOR GENERAL FULLER HAD ENOUGH
RESPECT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH.
BY REFUSING TO DISH OUT THE
SAME PHONY PLATITUDES, HE MAY
HAVE LOST HIS JOB, BUT HE
MAINTAINED HIS INTEGRITY.
IF THE CONTINUED RATIONAL FOR
THIS WAR IS BUILT ON A LIE THAT
NO ONE MUST EXPOSE, THEN SURELY
THAT'S A SIGN THIS MISSION IS
BEYOND REPAIR.
THE REAL SOLUTION IS NOT TO
COVER UP EVERYTHING THAT'S
GOING ORABLY WRONG IN
AFGHANISTAN, THE SOLUTION IS TO
RECAPTURE OUR INTEGRITY AS A
NATION.
END THIS WAR ONCE AND FOR ALL.
NOT IN 2014, NOT AT SOME
UNCERTAIN DATE IN THE FUTURE,
NOW.
IT'S TIME NOW TO BRING OUR
TROOPS HOME.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, MS. FOXX, FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, PRESIDENT OBAMA
HAS BEEN GOING AROUND THE
COUNTRY SAYING THAT HE IS
TAKING ACTION THROUGH EXECUTIVE
ORDER BECAUSE, QUOTE, WE CAN'T
WAIT, END QUOTE, ON THE
CONGRESS.
HOWEVER HE HAS JUST SAID THAT
HE IS GOING TO PUT THE LARGEST
JOB CREATING PROJECT IN AMERICA
ON ICE.
WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING JOBS
AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FOR ENERGY, THE
PRESIDENT CAN WAIT.
IN FACT, HE'S PUTTING THIS OFF
UNTIL THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE OFF
UNTIL AFTER THE 2012 ELECTION.
THAT IS NONSENSE AND
HYPOCRITICAL.
THIS PIPELINE WILL NOT ONLY
CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS, TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, IT WILL
ALSO HELP TO DRAMATICALLY
OUR DEPENDENCE ON OIL
FROM DESPOTIC MIDDLE EASTERN
PETROSTATES BY BLOCKING AND
DELAYING THIS IMPORTANT
PROJECT, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION IS STANDING
SQUARELY IN THE WAY OF ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT
APPROVING THIS PIPELINE.
IT HAS BROAD SUPPORT AND ITS
BUILDERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE
STRONG WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT
IT TAKES TO REDUCE POTENTIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO PROPOSE
CHANGING ITS ROOT.
-- ROUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS PROJECT MAKES
SENSE FOR OUR ECONOMY AND FOR
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
IT'S LONG PAST TIME THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION STOPPED BLOCKING
ITS PROGRESS BECAUSE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN'T WAIT ON
THIS ISSUE.
BUT THE PRESIDENT AGAIN SEEMS
OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE A REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
PEOPLE.
I WANT TO READ FROM SOME
INFORMATION PUT OUT BY THE
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE THIS
MORNING.
ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF
LABOR STATISTICS, A NUMBER OF
AMERICANS WHO ARE EITHER
UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, OR
NOT SEARCHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE
BEEN DISCOURAGED BY THE JOB
PEOPLE.
IN OCTOBER, NEARLY 14 MILLION
WORKERS WERE UNEMPLOYED WITH AN
ADDITIONAL 8.9 MILLION WORKING
PART-TIME BECAUSE THEY COULD
NOT FIND FULL-TIME WORK.
THERE WERE ALSO 2.5 MILLION
WORKERS WHO WERE AVAILABLE FOR
WORK BUT STOPPED ACTIVELY
SEARCHING BECAUSE OF THE
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
ALL TOLD, OVER 16% OF THE U.S.
WORK FORCE IS NOW UNEMPLOYED OR
UNDEREMPLOYED AND YET THE
PRESIDENT WON'T MAKE A DECISION
ON THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE THAT
WOULD CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS
JOBS.
REPUBLICANS, THOUGH, HAVE TAKEN
ACTION.
WE HAVE OVER 20 BILLS SITTING
IN THE SENATE INTRODUCED BY
REPUBLICANS BUT PASSED BY A
BIPARTISAN MAJORITY, HOUSE
MAJORITY, AND THESE WILL ALL
CREATE JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY.
MR. SPEAKER, I URGE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GO TO JOBS.
GOP.GOV AND CLICK ON TRACK
LEGISLATION FOR THEM TO SEE THE
EVIDENCE OF WHAT REPUBLICANS
ARE PROMOTING IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THAT IS BEING
STOPPED IN THE SENATE.
YES, THERE IS A DO-NOTHING PART
OF THE CONGRESS, MR. OBAMA, BUT
THAT IS IN THE SENATE WHICH IS
CONTROLLED BY THE DEMOCRATS.
I WANT TO URGE
AMERICANS TO GO TO JOBS.GOP.GOV
AND CLICK ON TRACK LEGISLATION.
REPUBLICANS HAVE THE WILL TO
HELP CREATE JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY THROUGH EMPOWERING
SMALL BUSINESSES AND REDUCING
GOVERNMENT BARRIERS TO JOB
FIXING THE TAX CODE.
BOOSTING COMPETITIVENESS,
ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURSHIP,
MAXIMIZING AMERICAN ENERGY
PRODUCTION, AND PAYING DOWN
AMERICA'S UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT
OUR MEANS.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO MAKE
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS
PAST FRIDAY WAS VETERANS DAY,
THE DAY WE SETASIDE TO HONOR
AND REMEMBER THE SERVICE OF OUR
NATION'S VETERANS.
MEMBERS ATTENDED
VETERANS' EVENTS THROUGHOUT OUR
DISTRICTS.
ALTHOUGH VETERANS DAY
ORIGINALLY HONORED THOSE WHO
FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR I, IN 1954
IT WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE
REMEMBRANCE OF ALL VETERANS.
AND INDEED EVERY VETERAN
DESERVES SUCH HONOR.
THEY ALL CHOSE TO RISK THEIR
LIVES TO PROTECT US.
THEY BRAVELY ANSWERED THE CALL
OF THEIR NATION AND SADLY TOO
MANY DIED IN DEFENSE OF OUR
OF COURSE, SUCH NOBLE SERVICE
WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT
THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THEIR
FAMILIES.
AMERICA IS SAFER BECAUSE OF OUR
VETERANS, FROM THOSE WHO SERVED
OVERSEAS TO THOSE STATIONED
WE PROPERLY AWARD MEDALS FOR
INDIVIDUAL HEROIC ACTION BUT IT
IS A THEIR DAILY DEDICATION,
COURAGE AND VALOR THAT MAKES
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AN
AMERICAN HERO.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 21 MILLION
VETERANS IN THE UNITED STATES,
73,000 IN MY DISTRICT, THE 11TH
DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA ALONE.
WE CELEBRATE THEIR COMMITMENT
AND THEIR SACRIFICE FROM THE
WAR.
BUT OUR REMEMBRANCE MUST NOT
PAST SERVICE.
UPON LEAVING THE MILITARY, MANY
VETERANS FACE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES HERE AT HOME.
ALTHOUGH MORE MUST BE DONE, THE
ISSUE OF PROVIDING CARE TO OUR
WOUNDED VETERANS HAS BEEN WELL
I WAS PLEASED TO JOIN MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
LARGEST SINGLE INCREASE OF THE
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IN
HISTORY.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A GROWING
CRISIS AMONG OUR VETERANS.
AND I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO
THE TROUBLING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS WHICH AT
12.4% WHICH IS 1/3 HIGHER THAN
OUR NATIONAL AVERAGE.
AS TROOPS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN BEGIN COMING HOME
IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.
THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
RISK THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT OUR
CONGRESS REPEATEDLY COMES
TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN
OVERSEAS.
BUT ENSURING THAT OUR TROOPS
HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND
PERSONNEL THEY NEED TO
ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION HAS
BEEN A PRIORITY BUT IT CAN'T BE
THE ONLY PRIORITY.
IT'S LONG PAST TIME THAT WE
SHOW THE SAME COMMITMENT TO OUR
VETERANS WHEN THEY COME HOME.
MORE THAN ONE IN NINE VETERANS
THAT LEFT THE SERVICE IN THE
PAST DECADE IS CURRENTLY
UNEMPLOYED.
JOBS HAS TO BE OUR TOP
PRIORITY.
WE HAVE TO MOVE BEYOND LIVE
SERVICE.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO HELP OUR
VETERANS, HIRE THEM.
THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS PACKAGE
SHOWS THE OVERARCHING NEED TO
CREATE JOBS.
OUR ECONOMY CANNOT FULLY
RECOVER WHILE SO MANY AMERICANS
ARE OUT OF WORK.
THE JOBS INCENTIVES CUTS TAXES
ON EVERY WORKING AMERICAN IN
ORDER TO FURTHER SPUR ECONOMIC
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE AMERICAN
JOBS ACT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL
INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES WHEN
THEY HIRE VETERANS.
THE RETURNING HEROES TAX
CREDITS PUTS BUSINESSES THAT
HIRE UNEMPLOYED VETERANS, THE
WOUNDED WARRIORS TAX CREDITS
OFFERS GREATER TAX CUTS TO
BUSINESSES WHO WILL HIRE
UNEMPLOYED VETERANS WITH
SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT
LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY.
AND THE SENATE HAVE ALREADY
ENACTED A NUMBER OF THESE
PROPOSALS.
I CALL ON MY COLLEAGUES TO
RECOGNIZE AND HONORING THE
SACRIFICES OF OUR VETERANS
DOESN'T STOP WHEN THEY LEAVE
THE SERVICE.
THEY NEED JOBS AND THEY NEED
THEM NOW.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI, MR.
NUNNELEE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE TO
KEEP AND BARE ARMS SHALL NOT BE
ENFRINGED.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS ONE OF
THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR
LIBERTY.
THAT'S WHY THIS MORNING I RISE
IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 822, THE
NATIONAL RIGHT TO CARRY
RECIPROCITY ACT.
IN MISSISSIPPI APPROXIMATELY
45,000 PEOPLE HAVE CONCEALED
CARRY PERMITS.
NOW, THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN
MISSISSIPPI THAT HAVE A
DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED BY OUR
STATE CAN DRIVE INTO ALABAMA OR
TENNESSEE OR FOR THAT MATTER
THEY CAN DRIVE INTO MONTANA OR
MAINE AND THEIR DRIVER'S
LICENSE IS RECOGNIZED AS BEING
VALID.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL BE THE
SAME FOR PEOPLE WITH THEIR
CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS.
NEW RULES OR REGULATIONS WON'T
BE NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT H.R.
822.
IT DOESN'T OVERRIDE ANY STATE
OR LOCAL LAW.
CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT HOLDER
WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO
COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE HE OR SHE IS IN.
I SUPPORT THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO
CARRY RECIPROCITY ACT BECAUSE
IT EXPANDS FREEDOM FOR
LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS WHILE
RESPECTING EACH STATE'S RIGHT
TO SET ITS OWN LAWS.
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS, MS.
JACKSON LEE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
SPEAKER.
BEFORE I TALK ABOUT MY TOPIC OF
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE FIRST OF ALL THE
COMING THANKSGIVING AND THE
MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE
IMPOVERISHED IN THIS NATION.
WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND
PARTICULARLY OUR CHILDREN,
WHICH IS THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE
OF THOSE IMPOVERISHED ARE
CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.
FOR THAT REASON I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT AS WE BEGIN THIS
DISCUSSION ON THE
SUPERCOMMITTEE AND ITS
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND IF WE CANNOT FAIRLY BRING
IN REVENUE AND BALANCE THE CUTS
ON THE MOST VULNERABLE, WE
SHOULD GO TO REGULAR ORDER.
LET ME ALSO WELCOME OUR TROOPS
THAT WILL BE COMING HOME AND I
WILL BE INITIATING IN HOUSTON
AN IDEA THAT EVERY SINGLE
SCHOOL WILL HAVE A WELCOME HOME
TROOPS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY
AND NOT ONE TREE WILL BE LEFT
UNDRESSED, IF YOU WILL, TO MAKE
SURE THAT NONE OF OUR SOLDIERS
WALK DOWN ANY BLOCK IN A LONELY
WAY AND NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE
WELCOMED AND LOVED.
AND THIRDLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY
THAT AS THEY ARE COMING HOME,
AS WE ARE PREPARING TO USE THE
MANY TALENTS THAT THEY HAVE
LEARNED, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO
UNDERSTAND HOMELAND SECURITY,
PUTTING THEM TO WORK FOR THE
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
I ALSO WANT TO CREATE JOBS.
AND ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS IS
EXXONMOBIL WHO HAS STRUCK A
CONTRACT WITH THE COURAGE --
CONTRACT WITH OIL IN IRAQ.
THE COUNTRY WE SHED BLOOD FOR,
NO MATTER YOU ARE GREEN ENERGY
OR FOR OR AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS,
IT IS ABOUT JOBS AND ABOUT WORK
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE AUDACITY OF THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT TO SUGGEST THEY WANT
TO INTRUDE ON THAT CONTRACT AND
TO HAVE A SAY ON THAT CONTRACT,
WELL, WHEN LIVES ARE LOST,
AMERICAN LIVES ARE LOST, THEY
DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH OF A SAY.
AMERICANS WERE WILLING TO STAND
UP AND BE COUNTED, AND I'D HOPE
THE IRAQIS WOULD ALLOW A FAIR
CONTRACT TO GO FORWARD.
IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME
AMERICANS INVOLVED IN HELPING
THE IRAQI PEOPLE THROUGH THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT THERE'S ALWAYS
A NEGATIVE RESPONSE.
SOME OF US ARE A LITTLE TIRED
OF THAT.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
PARTICULARLY TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
AS THE CO-CHAIR AND FOUNDER OF
THE CONGRESSIONAL CHILDREN'S
CAUCUS, I NOTED ALREADY THE
DISASTER THAT CHILDREN ARE
EXPERIENCING.
IN MY HOME STATE, FOOD STAMPS
HIT A RECORD IN TEXAS.
WE KNOW THAT GOVERNOR PERRY IS
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, BUT IN
HIS OWN HOME STATE WE ARE
FACING A CRISIS WITH THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS.
WE'RE ALSO FACING A CRISIS
BECAUSE THE POLICY AGENCY FOR
EDUCATION, THE TEXAS EDUCATION
AGENCY, IS DECIDING TO GO
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS
AND TO SAVE MONEY ON EDUCATION
BY CLOSING SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
THERE ARE TOO FEARFUL OF
CLOSING THE BIG ONES, AND I
REPRESENT MANY OF THEM AND I
LOVE THEM ALL AND BRING MONEY
TO THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO
EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN, BUT
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SCHOOL
FAIL.
BUT AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT WHERE HUNDREDS OF
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CHILDREN
AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS CAME
OUT ON SUNDAY TO STAND UP
SO-CALLED REVOCATION
NOTICE THAT WOULD CLOSE DOWN
THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS
ALL THE NEED TO SURVIVE, 7,500
STUDENTS, A HIGH SCHOOL THAT
THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER AND
REPAIRING AND GETTING CHILDREN
TO LEARN, 1,200 STUDENTS IN
THIS HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE
SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, A
PRESCHOOL THAT IS RENOWNED AND
RESPECTED BY ALL, BUT THE
T.E.A. WANTS TO CUT THE BUDGET
AND SAVE ITS OWN NECK BY
CUTTING SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AND SO MY PLEA TO MY GOVERNOR,
GOVERNOR PERRY, JOIN WITH ME
AND THE MANY CITIZENS THAT YOU
REPRESENT AND STAND AGAINST THE
T.E.A. TO CLOSE A MAJORITY OF
MINORITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE
LAST REMAINING, MAJORITY
MINORITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH
GREAT HISTORY IN THE NORTH
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL COMMUNITY,
TACKING THEMSELVES TO ENSURE
THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE MORE
RESOURCES AND ARE JOINED WITH
THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SYSTEM SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN
ARE GETTING COLLEGE PREPARATORY
CREDIT, THEY WANT TO LIVE, THEY
WANT TO SURVIVE.
DON'T BELT TIGHTEN AND SAVE
YOUR NECK AND YOUR JOBS ON THE
BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN.
DON'T DISREGARD AND
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SMALL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH ARE ALL
OVER AMERICA ON BEHALF OF LARGE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND GOVERNOR
PERRY, I THINK WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER AS WE WORKED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE CONFED RATE FLAG
LICENSE PLATES, WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER ON THIS MATTER.
LET ME CLOSE BY FOCUSING ON AN
ISSUE THAT HAS TAKEN THIS
COUNTRY BY STORM, AND AS I READ
THE INDICTMENT, I DON'T WANT TO
POINT OUT ONE NAME VERSUS
ANOTHER.
THE ALLEGED PERPETRATOR IN THIS
PENN STATE FIASCO, BUT I WILL
SAY THIS IS A DISGRACE.
I WILL BE INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION TO HAVE ZERO
TOLERANCE FOR *** ABUSE OF
CHILDREN AND TO STOP ANY
FEDERAL FUNDS GOING TO ANYONE,
ENTITY, ANY STATE THAT HAS
A SITUATION WHERE CHILDREN ARE
SEXUALLY ABUSED.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S A DISGRACE
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST
STAND UP AGAINST IT.
I FOR ONE AM GOING TO DO SO.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR
CHILDREN.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED ONCE AGAIN
TO ADDRESS DRESS THEIR REMARKS
TO THE CHAIR.
THE -- ADDRESS THEIR REMARKS TO
THE CHAIR.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEVADA, DR.
HECK, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN.
YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON SEEMS TO
HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT GOVERNMENT
MONEY ISN'T FREE, AND IT IS THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYERS WHO SUPPORT
ITS SPENDING HABITS.
SIMPLY PUT, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T RESPECT YOUR
HARD WORK, YOUR DISCIPLINE,
YOUR SACRIFICE OR YOUR
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO
SELF-RELIANCE.
WE MUST CHANGE THAT.
THE TIME TO FORCE
ACCOUNTABILITY, LEADERSHIP AND
RESPECT IS LONG PAST DUE, AND
THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
CONSTITUTION MAY BE THE
ONLY SOLUTION.
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
WOULD FORCE WASHINGTON
POLITICIANS TO EXERCISE
NECESSARY FISCAL RESTRAINT AND
BETTER JUDGMENT WHEN DEBATING
WHERE AND HOW TO SPEND AMERICAN
TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THE DAYS OF BORROWING MONEY AND
PASSING A DEBT ONTO OUR
FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
WOULD BE OVER AND WASHINGTON
WOULD BE FORCED TO LIVE WITHIN
ITS MEANS, JUST LIKE YOU AND I.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING
A FEW THINGS VERY WELL INSTEAD
OF A LOT OF THINGS POORLY.
IT SHOULD HELP GIVE PEOPLE
PEACE OF MIND BUT THE APPETITE
OPPOSITE.
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES FACE
UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY A
GOVERNMENT THAT FUNDS ITS
MISADVENTURES WITH BORROWED
MONEY AND HIGHER TAXES.
WASHINGTON'S SPENDING HABIT
WILL ROT OUR ECONOMIC
FOUNDATION TO THE CORE AND
DESTROY THE AMERICAN DREAM AS
WE KNOW IT.
THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T SPEND ITS
WAY OUT OF RECESSION, BUT IT
CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF
CONFIDENCE AND PREDICTABILITY
THAT AMERICA'S JOB CREATORS,
WORK FORCE AND FAMILIES ARE
SEEKING.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS SAID
THAT THE NATION NEEDS A
BALANCED APPROACH WHEN
ADDRESSING WASHINGTON'S
UNSUSTAINABLE SPENDING.
BUT ONE ONLY HAS TO ASK, WHAT
IS MORE BALANCED THAN A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT?
49 OF 50 STATES HAVE BALANCED
BUDGET REQUIREMENTS AND A CNN
POLL SHOWS THAT 79% OF THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC SUPPORTS A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN FIGHT.
THIS IS A COMMONSENSE SOLUTION
TO AN UNDENIABLE PROBLEM THAT
IS PLAGUING OUR ECONOMY.
STILL, THERE ARE THOSE WHO
OPPOSE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE
WASHINGTON OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO
HOLD THE LINE ON SPENDING.
I WISH WE COULD TRUST THAT TO
HAPPEN, BUT OVER THE LAST
DECADE, BOTH PARTIES HAVE SPENT
TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT
UNSUSTAINABLE LEVELS.
TIME TO CHANGE DIRECTION
AND MOVE FORWARD WITH AN
APPROACH THAT WILL RESCUE OUR
ECONOMY WITH REAL AND LASTING
RESULTS.
WITH AMERICA'S TOTAL DEBT
EXCEEDING THE GROSS DOMESTIC
PRODUCT FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE WORLD WAR II, WE CANNOT
POLITICS.
IT MUST BE ABOUT SAVING OUR
ECONOMY AND SECURING THE FUTURE
OF OUR COUNTRY FOR OUR CHILDREN
AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON COMES
DOWN TO THIS, SHOULD WE HOLD
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE OR
NOT?
WE MUST SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE WASHINGTON'S CULTURE
OF DEFICIT SPENDING.
WE MUST PASS A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
MS. SPEIER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.