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THE EQUATION.
I THANK THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR
THIS RESOLUTION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
YES ON THE RULE AND TO VOTE YES
ON THE UNDERLYING BILL, AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK IS
SPEAKER.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
BLUMENAUER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLELADY'S
COURTESY AND HER ADVOCACY.
I GUESS LISTENING TO MY FRIEND
FROM COLORADO, AND HE GETS IT
SORT OF HALF RIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S IRONIC THAT
THE NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY,
HAVING BEEN TOUTED ON THE FLOOR
FOR ITS OPENNESS, DID IN FACT
RUSH THIS TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT
THE 72-HOUR NOTICE, NOT ANY
SUBSTANTIVE COMMITTEE WORK.
IF IT HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO
CAREFUL COMMITTEE ANALYSIS, THE
FLAWS IN THE ARGUMENT WOULD
HAVE BEEN REVEALED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE A SINGLE
PENNY OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
NOT ONE.
EVEN IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT
THIS LEGISLATION PASS THROUGH
CONGRESS, WHICH IT WON'T.
IT WON'T DEFUND N.P.R.
N.P.R. WILL EXIST, AND THOSE OF
US WHO ARE IN CLEVELAND OR NEW
YORK OR LOS ANGELES OR
WASHINGTON, D.C., WILL BE ABLE
TO ENJOY IT, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE
DIMINISHED A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT IT DOES IS HAMMER SMALL
RURAL AMERICAN STATIONS,
SMALLTOWN AND RURAL AMERICA
WHERE IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO
BROADCAST AND WHERE THEY RELY
ON THIS FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO
PRODUCE THE PROGRAMS.
IT WOULD NOT JUST HAMMER
N.P.R., BUT IT WOULD DENY THEM
THE ABILITY TO USE THE FUNDS
FOR THAT SUBVERSIVE SHOW,
"PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION," FOR
"THIS AMERICAN LIFE," FOR "THE
CAR GUYS."
IT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM
PRODUCING LOCALLY PRODUCED
CONTENT FROM OTHER PUBLIC
BROADCASTING STATIONS.
THIS IS LUNACY.
IT UNRAVELS IS CAREFULLY
CRAFTED PARTNERSHIP WHICH HAS
DELIVERED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
IT'S WHY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS
INVESTMENT, THIS ONE HALF CENT
PER DAY.
IN FACT, 78% OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC WANT IT MAINTAINED OR
INCREASED.
AND MOST INTERESTINGLY, THAT
SAME BIPARTISAN POLL SHOWED
THAT 2/3 OF AMERICAN
REPUBLICANS SUPPORT KEEPING THE
FUNDING OR INCREASING IT.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK IS
AM PLEASED TO YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MARKEY.
THE
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THIS BILL WOULD
WIPE "CAR TALK" OFF THE ROAD.
IT WOULD WIPE "LAKE WILL BE
GONE" OFF THE MAP.
IT WOULD CLOSE DOWN
"MARKETPLACE" AND TELL "WAIT,
WAIT, DON'T TELL ME" TO TAKE A
HIKE.
G.O.P. USED TO STAND FOR GRAND
OLD PARTY.
THESE FUNDS USED BY NATIONAL
PUBLIC RADIO OR ITS COMPETITORS
AS A RESULT, THIS BILL WOULD
SILENCE PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DEPRIVING
LISTENERS OF THE NEWS AND
INFORMATION THEY DEPEND ON.
PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS CAN JUST
RAISE THE MONEY FROM PRIVATE
DONORS, SOME SAY.
NOT LIKELY.
LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS
NEED SIGNATURE N.P.R. PROGRAMS
LIKE "MORNING EDITION" AND "ALL
THINGS CONSIDERED" TO ATTRACT
AUDIENCES.
BY DRAWING LISTENERS TO LOCAL
STATIONS, THESE PROGRAMS AND
OTHERS GENERATE STRONG
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE
LOCAL LISTENING AREA.
WITHOUT THESE PROMINENT N.P.R.
PROGRAMS, LOCAL STATIONS WON'T
BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE AUDIENCE
AND SUFFICIENT FUNDRAISING BASE
TO KEEP RUNNING.
EVERY MONTH MORE THAN 170
MILLION AMERICANS TURN TO THEIR
LOCAL PUBLIC BROADCASTING
STATIONS FOR FREE, HIGH-QUALITY
PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON THE
ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM.
THIS BILL WOULD PULL THE PLUG.
IT WOULD SNUFF OUT STATIONS
FROM COAST TO COAST.
MANY IN RURAL AREAS WHERE THE
PUBLIC RADIO STATION IS THE
PRIMARY SOURCE OF NEWS AND
INFORMATION.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
PUBLIC RADIO IS LARGELY
SUPPORTED BY WIDE JORTS OF
AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF --
MAJORITIES OF AMERICANS,
REGARDLESS OF PARTY
AFFILIATION.
IT'S RELIED UPON WHILE FEW
WATCH BROADCAST TV AND READ
NEWSPAPERS.
THIS BILL WAS RUSHED TO THE
FLOOR WITHOUT A SINGLE HEARING,
COMPLETELY BYPASSING THE
COMMITTEE.
IT'S UNWISE, ILL-CONCEIVED.
I URGE A NO VOTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR.
POLIS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TODAY TO
THIS BILL.
TODAY, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING
TO MODIFY THE FUNDING STRUCTURE
OF NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, ONE
OF THE MOST WIDELY USED
UNIVERSALLY SUPPORTED AND
EFFICIENT JOURNALISTIC
INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
THE PROBLEM, MR. SPEAKER, IS NO
ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHY MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND WHAT
THEY'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS
TRIVIAL AND MISGUIDED
LEGISLATION.
WHY ARE WE WASTING OUR TIME ON
THIS INSTEAD OF CREATING JOBS,
INSTEAD OF CUTTING SPENDING?
HERE WE ARE CHANGING THE
THAT WORKS.
WE ARE $14 TRILLION IN DEBT.
INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH
DEMOCRATS TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT TO REDUCE OUR
EXPENDITURES AND GETTING OUR
ECONOMY GOING, REPUBLICANS HAVE
DECIDED TO USE THEIR
TAXPAYER-FUNDED TIME ON
SYMBOLIC LEGISLATION THAT
DOESN'T ADDRESS AMERICA'S
FISCAL SITUATION, DOESN'T SAVE
MONEY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WON'T CREATE A SINGLE JOB.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS VERY
TRANSPARENT WHAT'S HAPPENING
HERE.
THIS BILL IS A RESPONSE TO A
FAR-RIGHT AGENDA BASED ON A
MANIPULATIVE GOT YOU VIDEO
PROMULGATED BY CONSERVATIVE
ACTIVISTS.
DON'T WE KNOW WHERE THIS POLICY
I THINK WE DO.
THIS BILL IS A DISTRACTION, NOT
A SERIOUS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CAN'T GET
THEMSELVES TO AGREE ON ANYTHING
SUBSTANTIAL SO INSTEAD THEY ARE
BRINGING THIS FRIVOLOUS MEASURE
THAT DOESN'T SAVE MONEY OR
CREATE JOBS.
I URGE A NO VOTE AND YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
MR. SPEAKER, I
AM PLEASED TO YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA,
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
TODAY WE DEBATE THE RULE ON
WHETHER OR NOT TO FUND NATIONAL
PUBLIC RADIO.
IN IS AN IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN
ATTEMPT OF DEFUNDING A REVERED
INSTITUTION.
YOU CAN'T STAND BALANCED,
OBJECTIVE NEWS, SO LET'S DEFUND
IT.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ONE
SUPPORTS N.P.R. OR NOT, AND I
BILL DOES NOT DO ONE THING.
IT DOES NOT CREATE JOBS.
WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 11 WEEKS,
MR. SPEAKER, AND THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY HAS YET TO BRING A
SINGLE JOBS BILL TO THE FLOOR
OF THE HOUSE.
THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED THE
BUILD AMERICA BONDS NOW TO
CREATE JOBS ACT, LEGISLATION TO
EXTEND THE BUILD AMERICA BONDS
NOW.
DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, $4.4
BILLION FROM THE RECOVERY ACT
LEVERAGED $181 BILLION TO
CONSTRUCT AND REPAIR SCHOOLS,
BRIDGES AND ROADS AND MORE THAN
2,270 PROJECTS IN EVERY STATE
IN THE UNION.
ACCORDING TO MOODY'S CHIEF
ECONOMIST, THIS RESULTED IN
EIGHT MILLION POTENTIAL
PRESERVED JOBS.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, TURN AWAY
FROM THIS IDEOLOGICAL DRIVEN
DEBATE ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
LET'S PASS A JOBS BILL.
LET'S DEFEAT THIS RULE AND GIVE
OURSELVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE OF
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND I
YIELD BACK AND I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK.
THE
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS, MS.
JACKSON LEE.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
GOOD MORNING
TO THE FEND FOR YOURSELF.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF MY
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WITH SHORT-TERM
C.R.'S, $61 BILLION IN RECKLESS
AND LUDICROUS CUTS THAT DON'T
MAKE SENSE, ON 20% OF THE
BUDGET WHICH IS DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING.
BUT N.P.R., THIS MORNING I
LISTENED TO N.P.R., AS I
USUALLY DO, AND SOMEONE WHO
DESIGNATES THEM SELF AS A
REPUBLICAN CALLED IN AND SAID
I'M THROUGH.
I'M A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN BUT
I'M LEANING DEMOCRAT.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO N.P.R.
FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.
BIASED, NO?
UNBIASED.
N.P.R. IS A VOICE OF REASON.
NO.
FEDERAL FUNDING ALLOWS THE
OBJECT TIFT AND NO ONE CAN
ACCOUNT -- OBJECTIVITY AND NO
ONE CAN ACCOUNT FOR IT.
N.P.R., NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO,
SPEAKS THE TRUTH ON ALL OF OUR
CASES.
IT PROVIDES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOREIGNWIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BALANCED --
MR. SPEAKER, LET
ME YIELD THE GENTLELADY 30
SECONDS.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
SECONDS.
THE RESOLUTION
SPEAKS NOTHING OF FACTS.
WHY DO YOU DESIRE TO CUT
WHY DO YOU WANT TO PUT THE
BURDEN OF A BUDGET OR A C.R. ON
THE N.P.R.?
THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT NO
MATTER HOW MUCH THEY KEEP
DOING, NO ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE
WANTS TO ADDRESS THE CAUSE OF
THE ISSUE OF THE DEFICIT OR THE
DEBT THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE,
WE HAVE TO BRING IN A LUMBER OF
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
WE CAN'T SCAPEGOAT.
I REFUSE TO SCAPEGOAT THE
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, A
REASON, A RESPONSIBLE VOICE FOR
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.
IT IS A RIDICULOUS LEGISLATION.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
AGAINST IT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
HAS THROW MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA HAS
SEVEN MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
MIGHT I INQUIRE OF
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK
IF YOU HAVE MORE SPEAKERS?
I DO NOT.
DO YOU HAVE MORE?
I DO NOT.
I AM PREPARED TO
CLOSE.
OK.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK IS
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
WE'VE HAD A VIGOROUS DEBATE
HERE THIS MORNING JUST AS WE
DID IN THE RULES COMMITTEE, AND
A LOT WAS SAID I GUESS BECAUSE
IT NEEDED TO BE SAID.
A LOT WAS SAID THAT I THINK
COULD ARGUE WITH.
ONE IS THAT WE ARE DOING THIS
BECAUSE IT PUTS US ON THE ROAD
TO DEFICIT REDUCTION.
IT IS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY THAT
THIS BILL HAS NO EFFECT
WHATSOEVER ON THE DEFICIT AND
SAVES NO MONEY.
NOT A DIME.
THIS IS PURELY AN IDEOLOGICAL
BILL SO THAT OUR MEMBERS CAN GO
HOME AND BRAG ABOUT WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE TO PUBLIC RADIO.
I WANT TO TALK A MOMENT ABOUT
WHAT'S IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES"
EDITORIAL THIS MORNING.
THIS BILL IS, AND I QUOTE, THE
LATEST EXAMPLE OF HOUSE
REPUBLICANS PURSUING A
LONG-STANDING IDEOLOGICAL GOAL
IN THE FALSE NAME OF FISCAL
PRUDENCE.
THE "TIMES" SAYS THIS IS NOT A
SERIOUS BILL.
IT WILL NEVER SURVIVE THE
PRESIDENT OR PRESIDENTIAL VETO
AND CUTTING ON THE FLOOR AGAIN
HAS NO EFFECT ON THE DEFICIT BUT
WOULD ALLOW CERTAIN HOUSE
MEMBERS TO PRETEND FOR THE FOLKS
BACK HOME THAT THEY STRUCK A
BLOW TORE LIBERTY.
I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND, I
KNOW THAT THE RULES COMMITTEE
THIS MORNING SAID ALL THE
LEGISLATION WE HAVE DONE THIS
TERM HAS BEEN ON JOB CREATION.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ENOUGH
EVIDENCE TO CONVICT ON THAT, MR.
SPEAKER.
THIS AGAIN WILL COST JOBS TO BE
LOST.
DOES NOTHING FOR THE DEFICIT.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WANT TO
SAY ABOUT IT AND HOW YOU WANT TO
DRESS IT UP, THOSE ARE THE
ABSOLUTE FACTS.
SO I'M GOING -- IN A FEW MOMENTS
WE'LL CALL FOR THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION AND, MR. SPEAKER, IF WE
DEFEAT THAT PREVIOUS QUESTION, I
WANT TO DO A REAL JOBS BILL
HERE.
I'M GOING TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT
TO THE RULE TO PROVIDE THAT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HOUSE
ADOPTS THE RULE, IT WILL BRING
UP H.R. 11, THE BUILD AMERICA
BONDS TO CREATE JOBS NOW ACT.
THIS BILL WILL SPREAD JOB
CREATION HERE AT HOME, EXTENDING
THROUGH 2012.
THE SUCCESSFUL BUILD AMERICA
BONDS TO HELP CITY AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FINANCE THE
REBUILDING OF AMERICAN SCHOOLS,
HOSPITALS, WATER SYSTEMS, AND
TRANSIT PROJECTS AT
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER COSTS.
IT IS CALCULATED THAT EVERY
BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS
WILL CREATE 34,800 JOBS AND 6.2
BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
I ASK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, WEIGH
THAT AGAINST TAKING THE LITTLE
BIT OF MONEY AWAY FROM NATIONAL
PUBLIC RADIO.
BUILD AMERICA BONDS BROADLY
SUPPORTED BY AMERICAN BUSINESS,
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
AT A TIME OF FISCAL RESTRAINT,
THEY ARE GOOD DEAL FOR THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER, WISELY USING
SMALL PUBLIC INVESTMENTS TO
LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE
FUNDS TO REBUILD AMERICA AND
CREATE JOBS.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO INSERT THE TEXT OF
THE AMENDMENT IN THE RECORD
ALONG WITH EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO,
DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO
WE CAN DEBATE AND PASS JOBS
LEGISLATION TODAY.
URGE A NO VOTE ON THE RULE AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
MR. SPEAKER, JUST
WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION
THAT THE PUBLIC WATCHING THIS
TODAY ON C-SPAN DOES NOT RECEIVE
A SINGLE, SINGLE FEDERAL DOLLAR
IN REGARDS TO THE OPERATION OF
C-SPAN.
WE ARE NOT CLOSING DOWN LOCAL
RADIO STATIONS.
WE ARE ACTUALLY GIVING THEM THE
ABILITY TO LIBERATE THEMSELVES
FROM FEDERAL DOLLARS.
MY GOOD FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE CONTINUE TO
REFUSE TO PRIORITIZE ABOUT
WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA.
THEY CONTINUE ON A PATH OF JUST
SPEND BECAUSE ALL PROGRAMS ARE
INHERENTLY GOOD.
WHILE YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF US
LIKE N.P.R. IN REGARDS TO
CERTAIN PROGRAMMING, THERE'S
OTHERS THAT WE DO NOT.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M REMINDED THE
OTHER DAY OF A QUOTE BY THOMAS
JEFFERSON.
TO COMPEL A MAN TO FURNISH
CONTRIBUTIONS OF MONEY FOR THE
PROPAGATION OF OPINIONS WHICH HE
TYRANNICAL.
WITH THAT IN MIND I CAN'T IN
GOOD CONSCIOUS SUPPORT TO
CONTINUE TO FUND N.P.R.
A LARGE NUMBER OF AMERICANS
FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH THE
CONTENT AND MISSION OF N.P.R.
MOREOVER, THIS PROGRAM THAT CAN
BE PRIVATELY FUNDED, N.P.R.'S
OWN OFFICIALS SAY THEY DON'T
NEED FEDERAL DOLLARS TO
CONTINUE.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO HARM N.P.R.
WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO
LIBERATE THEM FROM FEDERAL TAX
DOLLARS.
WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE CORE
MISSION OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS MUCH AS ANY OF US
HERE, INCLUDING MYSELF, MAY
ENJOY PROGRAMS LIKE "CAR TALK,"
ME."
YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT'S A CORE
MISSION OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
OUR GOODS -- GOOD FRIENDS IN THE
SAME SENTENCE TALKED ABOUT WAR,
NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND N.P.R.,
THEY DON'T EQUATE.
THE CONSTITUTION'S CLEAR ABOUT
OUR RETIREMENT -- RETIREMENT TO
PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE --
REQUIREMENT TO PROTECT AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
AUTHORIZING COMMITTEES, PROVIDES
US WITH BILLS THAT IS THE UP
PRIORITIES WITH HOUSE IN
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEES FUNDS
BASED ON AUTHORIZATIONS.
WITH H.R. 1067, WE LET THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE KNOW
THAT NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
DOESN'T NEED FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS
ANYMORE.
LOCAL STATIONS CAN CREATE THEIR
OWN PROGRAMS, THEY CAN
REORGANIZE THEIR FINANCING SO
GRANT MONEY, THEY MIGHT USE FOR
MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAMMING FEES,
CAN GO ELSEWHERE AND CAN DO
PRIVATE FUNDRAISING THEY NEED
FOR THE DUES AND PROGRAMMING
FROM N.P.R.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AND I MOVE
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE ON THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE 20,
THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO FIVE
MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME FOR ANY
ELECTRONIC VOTE ON THE QUESTION
OF ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
SPECIFICALLY CALENDAR DAYS OTHER
THAN WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS WHEN
THE HOUSE IS NOT IN SESSION.
FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY THE
CHAIR WILL CALL THESE WORKING
DAYS AND UNDER CLAUSE 11 OF RULE
21 AN UNREPORTED MEASURE MAY NOT
BE CONSIDERED UNTIL THE THIRD
WORKING DAY ON WHICH IT HAS BEEN
AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WAS PUGLIBLICK
AVAILABLE IN ELECTRONIC FORM
WITH REGARD TO CLAUSE 3 OF RULE
29 ON TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011
WOULD QUALIFY ON OR AFTER
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011.
FURTHER
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.
FOR THE CLARITY OF THE HOUSE,
DID THIS BILL AGE FOR 72 HOURS?
YES OR NO?
THE
CHAIR WILL NOT RESPOND TO A
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION.
MR. SPEAKER, IT IS
NOT AT ALL HYPOTHETICAL.
WITHOUT
WILL CONTINUE.
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF MARCH 16, 2011, I CALL
UP HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
28 AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
ONCE THE HOUSE IS IN ORDER, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
LET THE HOUSE BE IN ORDER.
PLEASE TAKE ALL SIDEBAR
DISCUSSIONS TO THE REAR OF THE
CHAMBER.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION.
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION 28, CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE
PRESIDENT PURSUANT TO SECTION
5-C OF THE WAR POWERS
RESOLUTION, TO REMOVE THE UNITED
STATES ARMED FORCES FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16,
2011, THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
IS CONSIDERED AS READ.
THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SHALL
BE DEBATABLE FOR TWO HOURS WITH
ONE HOUR CONTROLLED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.
KUCINICH, OR HIS DESIGNEE, AND
ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO RISE?
IF IT'S
APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME, I'D
LIKE TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
GIVE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, MR. JONES, HALF OF MY
TIME.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN WILL
CONTROL HALF OF THE TIME FOR THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS
RESOLUTION AS IT WOULD UNDERMINE
THE EFFORTS OF OUR MILITARY AND
OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND GRAVELY HARM OUR
NATION'S SECURITY.
INSANITY HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS
DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND
OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING
DIFFERENT RESULTS.
3,000 PEOPLE DIED ON SEPTEMBER
11 BECAUSE WE WALKED AWAY ONCE
FROM AFGHANISTAN THINKING THAT
IT DIDN'T MATTER WHO CONTROLLED
THAT COUNTRY, WE WERE WRONG
THEN, LET US NOT MAKE THE SAME
MISTAKE TWICE.
. AS
ARE AS THE UNDERSECRETARY OF
TESTIFIES STATED EARLIER THIS
WEEK, THE THREAT EMANATING FROM
THE BORDER OF AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL.
THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE IN THE
WORLD THAT CONTAINS SUCH A
CONCENTRATION OF SENIOR AL
QAEDA LEADERS AND OPERATIONAL
COMMANDERS.
CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE HOSTILE
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS REGION --
TO FLOURISH IN THIS REGION IS
TO PUT THE SECURITY OF OUR
FRIENDS AND ALLIES AND THE
UNITED STATES AT GREAT RISK,
END QUOTE.
TO QUIT THE AREA BEFORE WE
ROOTED OUT THE TERRORISTS WOULD
NOT ONLY HAND AL QAEDA A
PROPAGANDA VICTORY OF
IMMEASURE.
ABLE VICTORY, BUT IT WOULD GIVE
THEM A SANCTUARY TO MOUNT FRESH
STRIKES AT THE WEST WITH
VIRTUAL IMMUNITY.
TO WITHDRAW FROM AFGHANISTAN AT
THIS POINT, BEFORE WE FINISH
THE JOB, IS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR
THE NEXT 9/11.
THEREFORE THE QUESTION WE MUST
CONSIDER IS, CAN WE AFFORD TO
ABANDON OUR MISSION IN
AFGHANISTAN?
GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS,
COMMANDER, INTERNATIONAL
SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE,
COMMANDER, U.S. FORCES
AFGHANISTAN, STATED, QUOTE, I
CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION.
WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR 10
YEARS.
WE HAVE SPENT AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND MONEY.
WE HAVE SUSTAINED VERY TOUGH
LOSSES AND DIFFICULT,
LIFE-CHANGING WOUNDS.
BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER WHY WE ARE THERE, END
QUOTE.
THIS IS ABOUT OUR VITAL
NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS,
MR. SPEAKER.
IT IS ABOUT DOING WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT AL
QAEDA AND OTHER EXTREMISTS
CANNOT RE-ESTABLISH SAFE HAVENS
SUCH AS THE ONES THEY HAD IN
AFGHANISTAN WHEN THE 9/11
ATTACKS WERE PLANNED AGAINST
OUR NATION AND OUR PEOPLE.
THE ENEMY INDEED IS ON THE RUN.
IT IS DEMORALIZED AND DIVIDED.
LET US NOT GIVE UP NOW.
LET US NOT BETRAY THE
SACRIFICES OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN
SERVING IN HARM'S WAY AND THEY
ASK FOR NOTHING IN RETURN
EXCEPT OUR FULL SUPPORT.
DEDICATED SERVANTS SUCH AS MY
STEPTON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
LINDSAY, WHO SERVED IN IRAQ,
AND LINDSAY ALSO SERVED IN
AFGHANISTAN, DEDICATED SERVANTS
SUCH AS MATT AND GREG OF OUR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE THE
MAJORITY STAFF WHO JUST
RETURNED FROM SERVING A YEAR
AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR
SERVICE.
THEY'RE RIGHT BEHIND ME.
IN KANDAHAR AND KABUL.
LET US FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR
WOUNDED WARRIORS WHO AFTER LONG
AND ARDUOUS RECOVERIES
VOLUNTEER TO RETURN TO THE
BATTLEFIELD, VOLUNTEER TO
RETURN TO THE BATTLEFIELD TO
FINISH THEIR MISSION.
I URGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THIS DANGEROUS RESOLUTION AND
MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF OUR TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
I YIELD MYSELF