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U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 243, THE NAYS
ARE 177.
THE BILL HAS PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I PRESENT A
UNDER THE RULE.
THE
THE BILL.
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY
H.R. 2596, A BILL MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENTS
OF COMMERCE AND JUSTICE AND
SCIENCE AND RELATED AGENCIES FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 2012, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
REFERRED TO THE UNION CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
POINTS OF ORDER ARE RESERVED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20,
THE CHAIR WILL POSTPONE FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS TODAY ON MOTIONS TO
SUSPEND THE RULES ON WHICH A
RECORDED VOTE OF THE YEAS AND
OR ON WHICH THE VOTE INCURS
OBJECTION UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
RECORDED VOTESLAND POSTPONED
QUESTION LBS TAKEN -- VOTES ON
POSTPONED QUESTIONS WILL BE
TAKEN LATER.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.J.RES. 66.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE JOINT RESOLUTION.
HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 66.
JOINT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE
RENEWAL OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
CONTAINED IN THE BURMESE FREEDOM
AND DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2003.
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN MEAN TO CALL UP
THE BILL AS AMENDED?
THE BILL HAS NOT BEEN
AMENDED.
EXCUSE ME, MR. SPEAKER, THE BILL
HAS BEEN AMENDED AS FILED.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, MR.
BOUSTANY, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON, MR. MCDERMOTT, WILL
EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD SUCH TIME AS I MIGHT
CONSUME.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
ON THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
MR. SPEAKER --
SO
ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, AS AN
ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL, I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF H.J.RES. 66 WHICH WOULD
CONTINUE THE IMPOSITION OF
SANCTIONS AGAINST THE REPRESSIVE
REGIME IN BURMA FOR ANOTHER
YEAR.
THE PURPOSE OF IMPOSING
SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA IS TO
PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND RESPECT
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND IMPROVE
LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE
BURMESE PEOPLE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE RULING GIUNTA
IS ZILL DEDICATING TO WORKING
AGAINST, NOT TOWARD, THOSE
OBJECTIVES.
FOR THAT REASON I AM IN FAVOR OF
CONTINUING OUR PRACTICE OF
EXTENDING IMPORT SANCTIONS
AGAINST BURMA FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
BURMA'S REGIME IS ONE OF THE
MOST -- ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST
REPRESSIVE AND CONTINUES TO
PREPRESS DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENTS
AND HUMANITARIAN IMISM.
ON NOVEMBER 7, 2010, THE
MILITARY HU -- JUNTA KNOWN AS
THE STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL OR SPDC, HELD AN
ELECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
20 YEARS.
HOWEVER, WHILE THE ELECTIONS ARE
USUALLY -- WHILE ELECTIONS ARE
USUALLY CONSIDERED A STEP
TOWARDS DEMOCRACY, IN THIS CASE
IT WAS ACTUALLY A STEP
BACKWARDS.
THESE ELECTIONS WERE NOT
TRANSPARENT, INCLUSIVE OR
NOTABLY BURMA'S LEADING
PRODEMOCRACY PARTY, THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, AS WELL AS
OTHERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS.
AND BY ENSURING THAT MOST
CANDIDATES WERE FORMER HIGH
RANKING GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY
OFFICIALS, THE ELECTION VICTORY
BY THE GOVERNMENT-BACKED UNION
SOL DARITY AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY
SIMPLE -- SOLIDARITY AND
DEVELOPMENT PARTY SIMPLY MEANS
THAT THE MILITARY JUNTA REMAIN
IN CONTROL WITH THE I HAVE NEAR
OF AN ELECTION TO JUSTIFY
ITSELF.
SHORTLY FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS,
-ON--ON-, FREEDOM FIGHTER, NOBEL
PEACE PRIZE RECIPIENT, AND
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL WINNER
AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE
N.L.D., WAS FINALLY RELEASED
AFTER HAVING BEEN FALSELY
DETAINED FOR 15 OF THE PAST 21
YEARS.
HOWEVER, IN A MOVE HIGHLIGHTING
HOW LITTLE THINGS HAVE CHANGED
IN BURMA, THE JUNTA RECENTLY
WARNED SUE CHI THAT THERE MAY BE
CHAOS AND RIOTS IF SHE CONTINUES
ON HER CROSS COUNTRY TOUR TO
MEET WITH SUPPORTERS.
THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CHIDED SUE
CHI AND THE N.L.D. FOR THEIR
POLITICAL WORK AND THREATENED
THAT THEY SHOULD STOP DOING SO
TO AVERT UNNECESSARY
CONSEQUENCES.
ANUNANUN'S LAST TOUR, SHE WAS
ATTACKED BY A PROGOVERNMENT MOB
THAT KILLED MANY OF HER
FOLLOWERS AND LANDED HER UNDER
HOUSE ARREST FOR THE NEXT SEVEN
YEARS.
IN SHORT, THE POLITICAL
SITUATION IN BURMA AND FOR THE
BURMESE PEOPLE HAS NOT CHANGED
AT ALL.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IS NO
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN
RIGHTS REPORT IN BURMA ECHOED BY
THE MARCH UNITED STATES COUNCIL
RESOLUTION CITES A LAUNDRY LIST
OF GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
THAT ARE SIMPLY APPALLING.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE
REGIME IN WHICH MILITARY
OFFICERS WIELD ULTIMATE
AUTHORITY AT EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO FORCE --
USE FORCED LABOR, DENIES
PARTICIPATION IN ANY DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES AND COMMITS EXTRA
JUDICIAL KILLINGS.
THE REGIME DETAYLOR DANES CIVIC
ACTIVISTS INDEFINITELY AND
WITHOUT CHARGE AND IT ENGAGES IN
HARASSMENT, ABUSE AND DETENTION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PRODEMOCRACY
ACTIVISTS.
THE REGIME IS RUMORED TO HOLD AN
ESTIMATED 2,100 POLITICAL
PRISONERS, ETHNIC VIOLENCE
INFLICTED BY THE ARMY IS ALSO
RIFE.
THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT REPORTS
OF RENEWED FIGHTING IN NORTHERN
BURMESE PROVINCE BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT AND ETHNIC MINORITY
VILLAGERS RESULTING IN
REPORTEDLY UP TO 20,000
REFUGEES.
NOT ONLY HAVE THESE PEOPLE BEEN
DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES AND MANY
KILLED, THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN --
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN WIDESPREAD
REPORTS OF THE *** OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING ON OUR
END?
I'M PLEASED THAT THIS CONGRESS
AMPLIFIED OUR SANCTIONS THREE
YEARS AGO TO ELIMINATE TRADE IN
JEWELRY CONTAINING BURMESE
RUBIES, EVEN IF THE JEWELRY WAS
MADE IN AND EXPORTED FROM A
THIRD COUNTRY.
THE EXPANSION WAS DESIGNED TO
BRING ABOUT MULTILATERAL
PRESSURE ON THE REGIME THROUGH
THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD
TRADE ORGANIZATIONS, SIMILAR TO
SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION ON
CONFLICT DIAMONDS.
I URGE SIMILAR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST
BURMESE RUBIES AT THE U.N. AND
W.T.O.
I MUST BE CLEAR THAT I GENERALLY
VIEW IMPORT SANCTIONS WITH GREAT
SEPTEMBER SIMILAR -- SKEPTICISM.
HOWEVER, IF THERE WAS A RIGHT
WAY TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS --
SANCTIONS, I THINK THAT THESE
BURMA SANCTIONS ARE CRAFTED TO
MAXIMIZE THE ABILITY TO AFFECT
CHANGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY REQUIRE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE ANNUAL
REPORTS ON BURMA THAT INCLUDE
FINDINGS OF WHETHER U.S.
NATIONAL SECURITY, ECONOMIC AND
FOREIGN POLICY INTERESTS ARE
BEING SERVED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE
PERHAPS THE MOST CRITICAL ASPECT
OF THE BURMA SANCTIONS PROGRAM
IS THAT THEY REQUIRE US TO
REDIRECT OUR ATTENTION EVERY
SUMMER TO THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER THESE SANCTIONS SHOULD
BE CONTINUED.
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
SELF-EXECUTING, WE HERE IN
CONGRESS MUST CONSIDER THIS
ISSUE AND VOTE TO CONTINUE THEM
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT OUR
GREATEST HOPE FOR AFFECTING REAL
CHANGE IN BURMA IS
MULTILATERALISM.
I AM THEREFORE DISAPPOINTED THAT
THERE HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENT
MULTILATERAL PRESSURE AGAINST
THIS REGIME.
I STRONGLY URGE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO PUT MORE
PRESSURE ON OUR TRADING PARTNERS
TO PLACE THE LEADERS OF THIS
REGIME UNDER TARGETED ECONOMIC
PRESSURE THAT DENIES THEM ACCESS
TO PERSONAL WEALTH AND SOURCES
OF REVENUE.
I CALL ON THE UNITED NATIONS,
BURMA'S SOUTHEAST ASIAN
NEIGHBORS AND THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO STEP UP
ENGAGEMENT CONSIDERABLY.
I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION
BECAUSE IT INCREASES OUR CHANCES
TO BRING ABOUT THIS MULTILATERAL
EFFORT, TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND
END THE LONG-TIME SUFFERING OF
THE BURMESE PEOPLE.
MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
YOU ALREADY
DIVIDED THE TIME, DIDN'T YOU?
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 66, A
MEASURE TO RENEW THE BAN ON
IMPORTS FROM BURMA.
OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS, BURMA'S
AUTHORITARIAN REGIME HAS KILLED
POLITICAL OPPONENTS, WAGED WAR
AGAINST ETHNIC MINORITYINGS AND
IN THE PROCESS HAD THE WORST
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS IN THE
MODERN ERA.
FINALLY, WITH CONTINUED
PRESSURE FROM CONGRESS, AND THE
INSPIRING LEADERSHIP OF THE
NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, BURMA'S
MILITARY JUNTA PROMISED TO LAY
DOWN ITS ARMS AND CLEAR THE WAY
FOR DEMOCRACY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS A SHAM.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE
RIFE WITH FRAUD.
OPPOSITION PARTIES WERE BANNED
FROM OFFERING UP CANDIDATES.
VOTES WERE RIGGED TO PROVIDE
ELECTORAL LEGITIMACY TO THE
CURRENT RULE.
ONCE AGAIN, THE PEOPLE OF BURMA
WERE DENIED A FREE AND FAIR
OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN
LEADERS.
WIDESPREAD.
UNDER THE GUISE OF A NEW
CIVILIAN IN PARLIAMENT, IT'S
REGIME.
IN THE LIGHT OF THE UNCHANGED
POLITICAL REALITY IN BURMA, THE
RENEWAL OF AMERICA'S BAN ON
BURMESE IMPORTS COULD NOT BE
MORE URGENT.
WE MUST SEND A MESSAGE TO
BURMA'S NEW RULERS THAT TURN
OUT TO BE THE SAME AS THE OLD
RULERS THAT EMPTY PROMISES OF
DEMOCRATIC REFORM ARE
UNACCEPTABLE.
THERE ARE SOME WHO WILL
QUESTION WHETHER WE SHOULD
MAINTAIN OUR IMPORT BAN
FOLLOWING BURMA'S ELECTION AND
THES BY SOLUTION OF THE
MILITARY JUNTA.
EVEN OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES HAVE
BEGUN TO RETHINK THEIR STRATEGY
AS E.U. TRAVEL AND FINANCIAL
RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED
ON CERTAIN OFFICIALS IN THE NEW
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT APPROACH,
MR. SPEAKER, IS THAT MEANINGFUL
REFORM HAS YET TO TAKE PLACE IN
BURMA.
BY OPENING OUR ORDERS TO
BURMESE IMPORTS, WE WOULD ONLY
STRENGTHEN AND ENRICH THE SAME
OLD REGIME THAT MAINTAINS A
STRANGLEHOLDED ON CIVIC AND
FAMILY LIFE IN BURMA.
ACCORDING TO THE U.N., THE NEW
GOVERNMENT FAILED TO MAKE ANY
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON LAND
CONFISCATION, EXTRA JUREBL
KILLINGS AND *** VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN AND THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION AFFIRMS THESE
VIEWS.
BURMA'S SANCTIONS ARE UNIQUE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT OF THE
BURMESE SALESPEOPLE.
THE NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE
RECENTLY SAID HERSELF, THE
SANCTIONS SHOULD BE -- SHOULD
REMAIN IN PLACE AND ONLY BE
CHANGED WHEN THINGS HAVE
CHANGED HERE.
HER POLITICAL PARTY ALSO
CONFIRMED ITS VIEW THAT
AMERICAN SANCTIONS DO NOT HURT
THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
THAT'S A QUOTE.
LARGE.
AS THE TRUE TARGET IN BURMA'S
UNDEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.
IN RESPONSE, TRUE TO FORM, THE
SO-CALLED NEW GOVERNMENT WARNED
PUBLICLY THAT SHE AND MEMBERS
OF HER PARTY WOULD MEET, AND I
QUOTE, TRAGIC ENDS.
IF THEY CONTINUE TO CALL FOR
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS.
IN PASSING H.R. 66, AND
RE-AUTHORIZING THE BLOCK
BURMESE JADE ACT OF 2008,
CONGRESS WILL SEND A CLEAR
MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO THE
PEOPLE OF BURMA IN THEIR
ASPIRATIONS FOR TRUE DEMOCRACY
AND A LASTING PEACE.
UNTIL THERE IS MEANINGFUL
REFORM IN BURMA, MR. SPEAKER,
WE MUST KEEP STEADFAST IN OUR
SUPPORT OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE
AND MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE ON
BURMA'S UNDEMOCRATIC RULERS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PASS
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 66 AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
GENTLEMAN RISE?
I YIELD TWO AND A HALF
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PITTS.
I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION TO
RENEW SANCTIONS AGAINST THE
BRUTAL MILITARY DICTATORS IN
BURMA.
THE PLIGHT FACING THESE PEOPLE
OF BURMA REMAINS TERRIBLE.
THEY CONTINUE TO DEPRIVE NERT
GROUPS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
THEIR LIVES.
IT DOES SO WITH IMPUNITY.
THEIR HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS
CONTINUE TO BE HORRIFIC.
THE REGIME IN BURMA IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMITTING
VIRTUALLY EVERY HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATION IMAGINABLE.
THE ATROCITIES PERPETRATED BY
THE REGIME RANGE FROM *** AS A
WEAPON OF TERROR, THE
RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS,
ETHNIC CLENSING, FORCED LABOR,
POLITICAL DETENTION AND THE
LIST GOES ON.
I RECEIVED FIRSTHAND REPORTS IN
MY OFFICE DETAILING THEIR USE
OF ETHNIC MINORITIES AS HUMAN
LAND MINE SWEEPERS.
OVER ONE MILLION REFUGEES AND
500,000 INTERNALLY DISPLACED
PEOPLES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO
FLEE THEIR HOMES AND 750,000 OF
THE COUNTRY'S INHABITANTS
REMAIN STATELESS, INDICATIVE OF
THE TIMES THEY HAVE TURNED TO
CENSORSHIP OF THE INTERNET AS
WELL AS INDIVIDUAL EMAIL
ACCOUNTS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING
SITES TO BLOCK DISSEMINATION OF
EVIDENCE RELATING TO
ATROCITIES.
THEY MUST REALIZE THAT SUCH
ATTEMPTS TO HIDE ITS RECORDS OF
ABUSE AND MOCK CONSTITUTIONAL
REFORMS CANNOT COVER UP THEIR
WAR AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE.
SUCH A RECORD ONLY DEMONSTRATES
THE REGIME'S ILLEGITIMACY.
I CALL ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO
RENEW ITS EFFORTS IN FULFILLING
THE BURMESE FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2003 AND
PARTICULARLY THE PROVISION
WHICH REQUIRES OUR GOVERNMENT
TO CRAFT A MULTILATERAL
SANCTIONS REGIME AGAINST BURMA.
BY RENEWING THESE SANCTIONS,
CONGRESS IS MAKING OUR NATION'S
CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
PARAMOUNT IN OUR FOREIGN
RELATIONS INTEREST.
THE SAME.
THE PEOPLE OF BURMA MUST KNOW
THAT WE STAND WITH THEM.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON.
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
CROWLEY, SUCH TIME AS HE MAY
CONSUME.
I THANK MY FRIEND
FROM WASHINGTON FOR YIELDING ME
THE TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 66.
THIS MEASURE IS A SEEN OF HOW
WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER ON
FOREIGN POLICY WHEN WE PUT OUR
MINDS TO IT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS IN BURMA, BOTH HERE IN
THE HOUSE AS WELL AS IN THE
SENATE.
THE BURMESE FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY ACT AND THE BURR
MEESE JADE ACT HAVE PREVENTED
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF
THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT.
WE ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF
BURR MANY SEE US AS AN ALLY IN
THEIR STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
AND WE SEND A MESSAGE THAT THE
UNITED STATES WILL NOT TURN A
HUMANITY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT BURMA
IS RULED BY ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST BRUTAL GOVERNMENTS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE
SEEN ONGOING ABUSES COMMITTED
BY THE BURMESE MILITARY
INCLUDING RAPES, TORTURE, AND
KILLINGS.
JUST LAST WEEK, HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH RELEASED A REPORT
DOCUMENTING HOW VILLAGERS ARE
SUBJECTED TO SUMMARY
EXECUTIONS, TORTURE AND BEING
USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS DURING
CONFLICT.
WOMEN IN BURMA LIVE IN CONSTANT
FEAR OF RAPES BY SOLDIERS OF
THEIR OWN MILITARY.
FOR THE LEADERS OF THE BURMESE
MILITARY, *** IS A TACTIC OF
WAR.
ONE USED TO TORMENT AND
INTIMIDATE ENTIRE POPULATIONS.
NOT JUST THEIR IMMEDIATE
VICTIMS.
IN FACT, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, ON
JULY 5, THE BURMESE SOLDIERS
CARRIED OUT FOUR MORE RAPES
AGAINST ETHNIC CIVILIANS.
THE INNOCENTVILLES WERE OF ALL
DIFFERENT AGES AND ONE OF THOSE
VICTIMS WAS AS YOUNG AS 12
YEARS OF AGE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS *** BY
A MEMBER OF THE BURMESE
MILITARY.
AS A RESULT OF THOUSANDS OF
BRUTAL RAPES AND OTHER ABUSES,
BURMESE VILLAGERS CONTINUE TO
FLEE THEIR HOMES INTO THE
JUNGLE WHERE THEY LIVE AS
REFUGEES OR INTERNALLY
DISPLACED PEOPLE.
AS BAD AS THESE ABUSES ARE,
THIS BILL IS NOT ONLY ABOUT
STOPPING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE
INSPIRATION FOR THIS MEASURE
CAME FROM A REMARKABLE WOMAN,
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
RECIPIENT.
SHE LED HER POLITICAL PARTY TO
VICTORY IN BURMA'S LAST FLEE
AND FAIR ELECTION IN 1990.
MANY PEOPLE CALL HER THE NELL
SO -- NELSON MANDELA OF BURMA
AND THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO AWARD
HER THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD
MEDAL.
UP UNTIL LAST NOVEMBER, SHE WAS
ALSO THE WORLD'S ONLY
IMPRISONED NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
RECIPIENT AND TODAY, EVEN
THOUGH SHE'S NO LONGER UNDER
FORMAL HOUSE ARREST, THE
MILITARY HAS THREATENED HER
OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN AN
ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE HER INTO
SILENCE.
SHE'S CALLED ON PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO TAKE
ACTION SAYING, AND I QUOTE,
PLEASE USE YOUR LIBERTY TO
PROMOTE OURS, END QUOTE.
SHE AND THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
IN BURMA HAVE ALSO MAINTAINED
SANCTIONS ON BURMA.
THIS IS SIMILAR TO HOW THE
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS DID
IN THE 1980'S.
PASSING THE BILL ISN'T ALL WE
MUST DO I WANT TO URGE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO FULLY
IMPLEMENT THE BURMESE FREEDOM
AND ACT AND BURMESE JADE ACT.
IT GIVES US TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT
TOUGH, BILATERAL SANCTIONS ON
MEMBERS OF THE REGIME AND ITS
CRONIES THAT WE SHOULD RECEIVE
THE UNITED STATES ISN'T THE
ONLY COUNTRY THAT HAS IMPOSED
SANCTIONS ON BURMA.
THIS IS NOT A BILATERAL EFFORT.
IT IS A MULTILATERAL EFFORT.
WHILE EVERY COUNTRY HAS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SANCTIONS,
THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN ACTION
INCLUDE AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW
ZEALAND, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
MORE.
WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL WE CAN
TO EXPAND THESE SANCTIONS INTO
EFFORT.
THAT'S WHY IN THE BURMESE JADE
ACT, WE ASK THE PRESIDENT TO
APPOINT AN ENJOY TO -- ENVOY TO
WORK INTERNATIONALLY ON
INCREASING PRESSURE TO THE
BURMESE REGIME.
NOW THAT THE ENVOY HAS BEEN
NOMINATED, I URGE OUR
COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE TO
CONFIRM HIM WITHOUT HASTE AND
HOPE HE GETS TO WORK QUICKLY.
I ALSO URGE THE INVESTIGATION
OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
MILITARY.
THEY ARE CLEARLY CARRYING OUT
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
THE SOONER THESE ABUSES ARE
INVESTIGATED, THE SOONER
THEY'LL END.
THIS BILL IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
I STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE BILL AND URGE ITS IMMEDIATE
ADOPTION AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I YIELD TO MR.
HOPE, THE -- THREE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS RESOLUTION.
WHEN I FIRST VISITED BURMA
DECADES AGO, I EARN WILL -- I
LEARNED WHAT A DIFFERENCE A
MISGUIDED REGIME CAN MAKE.
BURMA HAD A RICH
HISTORY, FERTILE LAND, ABUNDANT
RESOURCES AND A PRODUCTIVE
POPULATION.
IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE
COUPE IN THE EARLY 198 -- THE
CUE -- THE COUP IN THE EARLY
1960'S, THEY BRUTALIZED THEIR
TODAY.
FOR MORE THAN 20 YEAR THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS
SOUGHT TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO
TRY TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR
RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY AND
THE RULE OF LAW IN BURMA.
ONE TOOL HAS BEEN THE USE OF
SANCTIONS.
THE BURMESE FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY ACT WAS SIGNED INTO
LAW EIGHT YEARS AGO THIS MONTH.
AND IT REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT
TO IMPOSE A BAN ON THE IMPORT
OF PRODUCTS FROM BURMA.
IT BLOCKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR
LOANS FROM INTERNATIONAL
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
FREEZES THE ASSETS OF AND BANS
VISAS FOR KEY MEMBERS OF THE
MILITARY JUNTA THAT'S IMPOSED
ITS WILL ON THE BURMESE PEOPLE
FOR DECADES.
I BELIEVE THESE SANCTIONS
SHOULD BE RENEWED BECAUSE
THERE'S EVIDENCE THEY ARE
WORKING.
LAST NOVEMBER, BURMESE
ELECTIONS WERE CLEARLY
ILLEGITIMATE AND NOT A FREE
EXPRESSION OF THE WILL OF THE
BURMESE PEOPLE BUT THE
CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL
PRESSURE ON AND SCRUTINY OF THE
JUNTA MAY BE HAVING SOME
TANGIBLE EFFECTS.
THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP
NOTED EARLIER THIS YEAR TWO
SENIOR JUNTA LEADERS HAVE
RESIGNED SINCE THE ELECTIONS
AND THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THAT
PRESSURE HAS EASED ON SOME OF
THE MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS IN
THE COUNTRY.
BURMA'S GREATEST HUMAN RIGHTS
FIGURE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, TOLD
THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING
NETWORK YESTERDAY THAT CONTINUED
USE OF TARGETED SANCTIONS IS
IMPORTANT.
QUOTE, I THINK IT'S MUCH BETTER
TO HAVE VERY, VERY CLEAR
TARGETS, SHE SAID.
AND CONTINUED, QUOTE, I DO NOT
THINK IT'S REALLY VERY
REASONABLE JUST TO SAY WE WANT
AN IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN RIGHTS,
IN YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD,
IT'S TOO VEGAS.
-- VAGUE.
THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS, THE INCLUSION OF ALL
IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, THE
RULE OF LAW AND SO ON, PICK OUT
THE IMPORTANT POINTS AND SAY,
WELL, IF YOU WANT SANCTIONS
REMOVED, YOU'VE GOT TO DO THESE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE NEED TO CONTINUE
STANDING WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI
AND ALL OF THE FREEDOM-SEEKING
BURMESE.
THIS RESOLUTION GIVES US A
CHANCE TO DO THAT.
WHICH IS WHY I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US IN
SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.
MR. SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO INQUIRE AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA
HAS ANY -- EXCUSE ME, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON HAS
ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISHING TO
SPEAK ON THIS.
NO.
AND I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT THIS
BILL EXPIRES ON THE 26TH OF JUNE
-- JULY, SO WE NEED TO ACT ON IT
QUICKLY AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
HIS TIME.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I'M IN FULL AGREEMENT.
WE NEED TO MOVE AND PASS THIS
AND I THINK WE'LL GET IT BASSED
-- PASSED.
I MUST SAY FOR THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WASHINGTON, AT LEAST WE
HAVE A TRADE BILL ON THE FLOOR,
I HOPE THERE ARE MANY MORE TO
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PRESIDENT
TO SEND THE THREE PENDING
AGREEMENTS TO US SO WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD ON THESE AND EMBARK ON A
VERY AGGRESSIVE TRADE AGENDA AND
WITH THAT I WILL YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 66 AS
AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED AND THE JOINT
RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN
SPEECHES.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR WIN MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION -- ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, YOU MAY ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, TWO THINGS COME
FROM A TOWN CALLED KILN,
MISSISSIPPI, THAT'S AN -- A
FAMOUS NFL QUARTERBACK AND LAZY
MAGNOLIA BEER.
WE KNOW BRETT'S STORY BUT LET ME
TELL BUT LAZY MAGNOLIA.
ONE CHRISTMAS LESLIE HENDERSON
BREW KIT.
THE TWO ENGINEERS STARTED
BREWING BEER AND EVENTUALLY
TURNED THEIR HOBBY INTO A
BUSINESS.
WE CAN FIX OUR FALTERING ECONOMY
BY GIVING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
H.R. 1236, THE
SMALL BREW ACT, DOES THAT.
ALLOWING A MUCH-NEEDED TAX CUT
TO OUR SMALL BREWERS.
BY LOWERING THE TAX ON THE BEER
THEY PRODUCE, THESE COMPANIES
WILL HAVE MORE REVENUE TO INVEST
IN MAINTAINING AND HIRING
EMPLOYEES.
THIS LEGISLATION THEREFORE
PROMISES TO CREATE OVER 4,000
JOBS.
ON THAT CHRISTMAS A FEW YEARS
AGO, LAZY MAGNOLIA BEER HAD NO
EMPLOYEES.
TODAY IT -- TODAY IT PROVIDES
JOBS TO ABOUT 20 PEOPLE IN
THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS AN AMERICAN
SUCCESS STORY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
ARE THERE FURTHER REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES?
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,
MRS. ELLMERS, IS RECOGNIZED FOR
60 MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF
THE MAJORITY.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE AND
EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
TODAY WE HAVE A WONDERFUL GROUP
OF WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO COME
TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THE ISSUES
AT HAND RIGHT NOW IN WASHINGTON.
AND ACROSS AMERICA.
AS WE ALL ARE SO CONCERNED WITH
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR ECONOMY
THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE ARE UP
LATE AT NIGHT WONDERING HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING THAT
MORTGAGE, WONDERING HOW THE CAR
PAYMENT IS GOING TO BE MADE.
AND WHICH PAYMENTS YOU'LL MAKE
THIS MONTH AND WHICH PAYMENTS
YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT OFF FOR
ANOTHER TIME.
WE'RE ALL DOING IT, WE MIGHT AS
WELL ALL ADMIT IT AND IT'S TIME
TO COME TOGETHER FOR SOLUTIONS
AND ANSWERS.
AND WE AS G.O.P. WOMEN IN
CONGRESS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
THESE ISSUES ARE.
WE ARE THE WOMEN THAT ARE TAKING
CARE OF OUR CHILDREN, WE'RE
TAKING CARE OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS,
WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR PARENTS
AND THEIR HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND
WE'RE WATCHING OUT FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE OK.
AND WE CONTINUE ON THIS PATH, WE
SIMPLY CANNOT RUN ON THIS PATH
OF UNSUSTAINABLE SPENDING AND
FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY.
WE NEED JOBS BACK IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE JOBS
AND ARE WORRIED IF THEY'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM.
AND YET THERE ARE OTHERS WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND WONDER
IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FIND
ANOTHER JOB.
WE UNDERSTAND THIS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S
AFFECTING ALL OF OUR
MR. HOLDEN:S AND WE'RE GOING TO
COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS -- OUR
HOUSEHOLDS AND WE'RE GOING TO
THESE ISSUES.
BEFORE I GET STARTED I'M GOING
TO PASS ALONG TO YOU ONE OF THE
GREATEST QUOTES THAT I THINK
HITS HOME TO ALL OF US FROM
RONALD REAGAN.
ALL GREAT CHANGE IN AMERICA
BEGUNS -- BEGINS AT THE DINNER
TABLE.
HOW TRUE IS THAT?
WE ALL KNOW, NOW, MANY OF OUR
HOUSEHOLDS, WE DON'T ALL EAT
DINNER TOGETHER ANYMORE LIKE WE
USED TO.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP DINNER
TIME WAS A SPECIFIED TIME AND WE
ALL CAME TOGETHER AND IF YOU
DIDN'T GET TO THE TABLE, YOU
DIDN'T EAT.
BUT TODAY WE'RE ALL ON DIFFERENT
SCHEDULES, BUT THAT DINNER TABLE
STILL REMAINS.
AND WE STILL SIT THERE AND WE
DISCUSS THESE ISSUES WITH OUR
SPOUSES.
MY HUSBAND IS A DOCTOR, HE
PRACTICES IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WE HAVE A SON WHO IS 16.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIS FUTURE,
I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY HUSBAND'S
PRACTICE BECAUSE HE IS
SUFFERING, REALIZING THAT THE
VOLUME OF PATIENCE -- PATIENTS
HE ONCE WAS SEEING HAS
DECREASED.
THAT'S OUT OF FEAR AND THAT'S
OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
THAT WE HAVE CREATED NOW.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD I'M GOING
TO BE INTRODUCING TO YOU SOME OF
THE GREATEST WOMEN THAT I HAVE
HAD THE HONOR OF GETTING TO KNOW
HERE IN D.C.
I HAVE MANY FRIENDS BACK HOME,
BUT THESE LADIES ARE MY FAMILY
HERE.
AND I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH
MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, MRS. SUE MYRICK, AND
SHE HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO ME, BUT
MOSTLY A FRIEND AND I THANK YOU,
SUE, FOR COMING TODAY AND
SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
WELL, IT'S MY HONOR
TO BE HERE AND I THANK YOU FOR
YIELDING ME THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE A
LOT OF COLLEAGUES HERE AND MOST
OF US SHARE THE SAME IDEAS
RELATIVE TO WHAT WE'RE ABOUT,
YOU MENTIONED AND ARE TALKING
THERE ABOUT THE DINNER TABLE AND
WOMEN BEING FINANCIAL PLANSERS.
WE DO THE BUDGET, WE'RE THE ONES
THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY, AS
YOU SAID, WE'RE THE HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS, ALL OF THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED YOUR
HUSBAND IN BUSINESS BUT I ALSO
AM A FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
AND WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S
HAPPENING TODAY THERE ARE SO
MANY BUSINESSES, I THINK THERE
ARE LIKE 400 NEW BUSINESSES
EVERY DAY THAT ARE STARTED BY
WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WHEN I TALK TO BUSINESS
OWNERS AT HOME, THEY SAY TO ME,
YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT I COULD
EXPAND MY BUSINESS BUT I'M
AFRAID TO BECAUSE OF THE
UNCERTAINTY THAT'S OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT POLICIES ARE
COMING DOWN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
KIND OF HEALTH CARE COSTS I'M
GOING TO HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TAX POLICIES
AND IF I HIRE SOMEBODY WHAT IT'S
GOING TO COST ME TO RETAIN THAT
EMPLOYEE, I DON'T WANT TO HIRE
THEM AND TRAIN THEM AND THEN
HAVE TO TURN RIGHT AROUND AND,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE LET THEM GO
BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP
THEM.
AND SO THE POLICIES THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON AND ALL THE WOMEN IN
CONGRESS ON OUR SIDE OF THE
AISLE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT
THESE ISSUES ARE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PUT POLICIES IN PLACE
THAT HELP AND PROMOTE THOSE
SMALL BUSINESSES TO EXIST
BECAUSE THEY HIRE MOST OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, MOST OF
THE JOBS ARE PROVIDED BY SMALL
BUSINESS AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT.
I ALSO, FROM ANOTHER STANDPOINT,
USED TO BE THE MAYOR OF
CHARLOTTE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE FIRST AND ONLY
I WISH SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD RUN
ON THE FEMALE SIDE.
BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT WE
HAD TO OPERATE WITH A BALANCED
BUDGET.
VERY SIMPLE.
YOU KNOW?
AND YOU CAN DO IT.
AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING THIS WEEK
AND ACTUALLY PASSED THE BILL
YESTERDAY OF YOU THE CUT, CAP
AND BALANCE.
I MEAN, WHAT A NOVEL IDEA.
IT'S THE WAY ALL OF US LIVE ALL
THE TIME, IT'S HOW WE DO OUR
BUSINESS AND THERE'S NO REASON
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LIKE THE
49 STATES THAT BALANCE THEIR
BUDGET, CAN'T BE LIVING UNDER A
BALANCED BUDGET.
YEAH, IT'S TOUGH, I MEAN, WE
HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD
DECISIONS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE
IN ALL THAT HAVE IS WE CAN DO IT
AND IF WE HAVE THE RESOLVE, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO DO
IT, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS
GOVERNMENT MONEY, IT'S ALL THE
TAXPAYERS WHO SEND THEIR MONEY
UP HERE TO WASHINGTON, THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE SPENDING AND WE'VE
BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH OF IT.
SO I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT
THAT WE REALLY DID HAVE A VOTE
ON THAT BILL YESTERDAY THAT
SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO
LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS, WE'RE
GOING TO DO WHAT YOU DO EVERY
DAY AND WE AS WOMEN CAN HAVE A
VOICE IN THAT.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE A
VOICE IN THAT AND I THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER
SO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPRESS
THAT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I YIELD NOW TO ERA BUTLER.
THANK YOU.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST MONL
NATION.
WE ARE RIGHT NOW MAKING
DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT JUST
GOING TO IMPACT THOSE OF US HERE
TODAY BUT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR
CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.
I AM SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF
THIS BODY THAT PASSED A
BIPARTISAN SOLUTION TO OUR
BUDGETING PROBLEMS JUST
YESTERDAY.
WE PASSED, LIKE THE GENTLELADY
SPOKE ABOUT, A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT
OF CONTROVERSY HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO
WATCH PEOPLE POSTURE HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., FOLKS BACK
HOME ARE SENDING EMAILS AND
THEY'RE CALLING ME SAYING, YOU
CAN JUST GET SOME SOLUTIONS DONE
IN WASHINGTON?
AND MY RESPONSE IS, I COMPLETELY
AGREE.
IT IS FRUSTRATING TO WATCH
PARTISAN BICKERING TAKING PLACE
AND I KIND OF SMILE TO MYSELF
AND I THINK, JUST PUT MORE WOMEN
IN CHARGE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO
FIGHT FOR SOLUTIONS AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE HERE DOING TODAY.
PROMOTING THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO PASS ON THE FLOOR
JUST YESTERDAY.
SOLUTIONS THAT REQUIRE THIS
HOUSE, THIS BODY, NOT TO SPEND
MORE MONEY THAN IT HAS COMING
IN.
YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T BE A
RADICAL CONCEPT, IT SHOULDN'T BE
CONTROVERSIAL IN THE LEAST.
EVERY MOTHER WATCHING THIS,
EVERY MOTHER IN AMERICA,
DAUGHTER, SISTER, AUNT
UNDERSTANDS YOU CANNOT SPEND
MORE MONEY EACH MONTH THAN YOU
HAVE COMING IN.
YOU KNOW, WOMEN IN THE HOUSEHOLD
TEND TO BE THE DECISION MAKERS
WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES TO
HEALTH CARE, TO EDUCATION, TO
PARENTAL, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE
OF OLDER PAINTS OR FAMILY.
WOMEN TEND TO BE THOSE DECISION
MAKERS.
WHICH GIVES US A
SOLUTION-ORIENTED BENT WHICH IS
WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY SAYING WE
ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYBODY
WHO PUTS A PLAN ON PAPER TO MOVE
THIS COUNTRY FORWARD, THAT
REDUCES GOVERNMENT OVERSPENDING,
AGAIN, VERY SIMPLE, DON'T SPEND
MORE THAN YOU HAVE COMING IN
EVERY MONTH, THAT IS A PLAN TO
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
DON'T TREAT SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN,
DON'T TREAT SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AS YOUR PERSONAL PIGGY
BANK, YOU CAN'T JUST GO BACK TO
THE CASH COW EVERY TIME YOU WANT
TO SPEND MORE MONEY.
IT'S IRONIC, MARGARET THATCHER,
I SAW THIS QUOTE I THINK
YESTERDAY, BASICALLY SAID, I'M
GOING TO PARAPHRASE HER LOOSE
WILL YOU BUT SHE SAID -- LOOSELY
BUT SHE SAID, THE PROBLEM WITH
SOCIALISTS IS THEY RUN OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY AND THAT'S
THE REALITY.
WOMEN UNDERSTAND.
YOU JUST CAN'T LIVE BEYOND YOUR
MEANS FOR SUSTAINED AMOUNTS OF
TIME.
AND FOR TOO LONG PEOPLE OF BOTH
PARTIES, RIGHT, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS, OVERSPENT.
PEOPLE OF BOTH PARTIES IN THE
WHITE HOUSE HAVE OVERSPENT.
WE CAN TALK A LONG TIME ABOUT
WHAT GOT US HERE BUT THAT'S NOT
GOING TO GET US OUT OF THE MESS.
WHAT WE NEED NOW IS OUR SOLUTION
AND THE SOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED
YESTERDAY, AGAIN, A BIPARTISAN
SOLUTION TO CUT THE
OVERSPENDING, CAP FUTURE GROWTH
OF GOVERNMENT AND BALANCE OUR
BUDGET IS A SOLUTION THAT'S
GOING TO GET OUR COUNTRY ON A
PATH TO PROSPERITY, IT'S GOING
TO TELL JOB CREATORS, KEEP DOING
WHAT YOU DO BEST, ENTREPRENEUR,
KEEP DREAMING, HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS IN
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON WE HAVE
DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT.
THREE YEARS-PLUS NOW OF FAMILIES
HURTING, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
I ENCOURAGE THE SENATE, I
ENCOURAGE THE WHITE HOUSE TO
COME TO AN AGREEMENT, SHOW US
SOMETHING ON PAPER, WE'RE
WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO
NEGOTIATE, WE'RE ALL ABOUT
MAKING A SOLUTION HAPPEN FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT LET'S LIVE
WITHIN OUR MEANS, IT SHOULDN'T
BE THAT DIFFICULT.
SO WITH THAT I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER AND I'M PROUD TO BE A
PART OF IT AND I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, I YIELD
TO MY GOOD FRIEND FROM ALABAMA,
MRS. ROBY, A MOTHER OF TWO AND
WISE BEYOND HER YEARS.
I THANK YOU FOR
THOSE KIND REMARKS.
WHAT AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO
BE HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
REPRESENTING ALABAMA'S SECOND
DISTRICT, BUT ALSO HERE JUST TO
EMBRACE THE VERY QUOTE YOU
BEGAN WITH, ALL GREAT CHANGE IN
AMERICA BEGINS AT THE DINNER
TABLE.
FROM PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.
AS I SIT HERE AND I'M LISTENING
TO MY COLLEAGUES, I CAN'T HELP
BUT REFLECT BACK ON MY TIME AS
A CHILD AROUND THE DINNER TABLE
WITH MY PARENTS AND MY SIBLINGS
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
PARENTS I HAD THAT ENCOURAGED
DEBATE BUT TAUGHT ME THE
RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE AS AN
AMERICAN AND AN INDIVIDUAL AND
CERTAINLY I CREDIT MY WONDERFUL
PARENTS WITH THE -- FOR THE
OPPORTUNITIES I HAD TO LEAD ME
TO THIS PLACE TODAY TO HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF -- PRIVILEGE AND
HONOR OF REPRESENTING ALABAMA'S
SECOND DISTRICT.
THIS WEEK THIS CONGRESS IS
EMBARKING ON A HISTORICAL PATH.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AND
EACH OF US BRINGS TO THE TABLE,
AS WOMEN WHO PUMP GAS AND GO TO
THE GROCERY STORE AND SEE THE
RISING COST OF MILK, WE BRING A
PERSPECTIVE TO THIS CONGRESS I
THINK IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO
DEMONSTRATE EXACT PLI WHERE
THIS COUNTRY IS NOW.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING TO
MAKE THE CHOICE BETWEEN WHETHER
THEY'RE PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR
TABLE OR GAS IN THEIR CAR THAT
THEY CAN GET TO THEIR JOB TO
SPROID -- PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PART
OF THIS, ALL OF US HERE ON THE
FLOOR TODAY, SINCE THE DAY WE
WALKED IN PARTICULARLY THIS
PAST JANUARY, WE HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING TO TIGHTEN THE BELT
AROUND -- TIGHTEN THE
GOVERNMENT'S BELT.
EVERY AMERICAN HAS DONE SO IN
THE PAST, SEVERAL YEARS, AND
IT'S TIME THAT THIS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DOES THE SAME.
WE DID IT WITH THE CONTINUING
RESOLUTION.
WE DID IT WITH THE HOUSE BUDGET
RESOLUTION, AND WE HAVE BEEN
DOING IT THROUGHOUT THE
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND WE
HAVE DONE IT THIS WEEK.
OUR CHILDREN, HI CHILDREN, MY
CHILDREN -- MY CHILDREN, MY
CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, THEY
DESERVE A FUTURE FREE OF
CRUSHING TAXES SO THEY HAVE THE
SAME OPPORTUNITIES I MENTIONED
I HAD BEFORE.
THEY DESERVE TO BE FREE FROM A
LIFE OF INDEBTEDNESS TO CHINA.
THE CUT, AP, AND BALANCE ACT
ENSURING WE FULFILL OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO
PAY FOR OUR DEBTS.
WE'RE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW, YOU
AND I COULD NEVER CALL UP OUR
CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND SAY,
HEY, CREDIT CARD COMPANY, I'VE
MAXED OUT MY CARD, I DON'T HAVE
ANY CASH TO PAY YOU THE
INTEREST ON WHAT I ALREADY OWE,
SO COULD YOU JUST INCREASE MY
CREDIT LIMIT?
CAN YOU IMAGINE?
CAN YOU IMAGINE GOING TO YOUR
HUSBAND AN SAYINGISH MAXED IT
OUT AND NEED A LITTLE MORE, SO
I'M GOING TO CALL THE CREDIT
CARD COMPANY.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
IF WE DON'T INSIST, JUST LIKE
YOU AND I WOULD IN OUR HOME,
JUST LIKE OUR SPOUSES WOULD,
JUST LIKE WE WOULD FOR OUR
CHILDREN, IF WE DO NOT INSIST
THAT THERE BE SIGNIFICANT
SPENDING REFORMS WHERE WE CUT
UP THAT CREDIT CARD AND SAY NO
MORE, YOUR CHILD WOULDN'T
CHANGE HIS OR HER BEHAVIOR IF
YOU JUST CONTINUED TO GIVE THEM
MORE, NOR WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR
BEHAVIOR IF YOUR CREDIT CARD
COMPANY ALLOWED THAT KIND OF
ACTION.
WE SHOULD REQUIRE THE SAME OF
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WE DO
IN OUR HOMES.
IT IS SO URGENT THAT WE PROVIDE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH
HONEST, HONEST SOLUTIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS WEEK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT
COMING WEEKS AS WE CAN DO ALL
THAT WE CAN AS REPUBLICANS --
AS REPUBLICAN WOMEN TO HELP
TURN THIS TIDE OF SPENDING IN
24 COULDN'T -- IN THIS COUNTRY
SO WE CAN SAVE THIS COUNTRY
FROM THE NEXT GENERATION.
IT CANNOT BE ABOUT THE NEXT
ELECTION.
IT MUST BE ABOUT THE NEXT
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I YIELD
BACK.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO MY
VERY, VERY SPECIAL FRIEND, MRS.
BIGGERT OF ILLINOIS WHO HAS
BEEN A VOICE OF REASON.
SHE IS A STRONG WOMAN HERE IN
CONGRESS FOR US IN THE G.O.P.
CONFERENCE AND I APPRECIATE ALL
OF HER REMARKS WHICH ARE ALWAYS
EXTREMELY THOUGHTFUL.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR
DOING THIS, I THINK THAT WE'VE
GOT SUCH GREAT WOMEN THAT HAVE
COME INTO THIS CONGRESS IN THIS
LAST TURN AND I REALLY -- YOU
ARE ALL MOVING FORWARD AND
REALLY, I THINK, SETTING THE
TONE FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
IN THE FUTURE.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS TIME FOR
AMERICA TO LIVE WITHIN ITS
MEANS.
I GOT AN EMAIL FROM A
CONSTITUENT FROM LOCKPORT,
ILLINOIS, RECENTLY AND SHE
WROTE TO ME IMPLORING CONGRESS
TO SAY NO.
NO TO ALL PERSONAL INCOME TAX
SINGLE MOM.
THINK OF HOW MANY SINGLE MOMS
ARE OUT THERE, HAVING TO WORK,
TO KEEP THEIR KIDS CLOTHED AND
IN SCHOOL AND KEEP HER HOME
GOING.
SHE SAID THAT SHE A SINGLE MOM,
STRUGGLING TO KEEP HER HOME,
RAISE HER SON AND PAY HER
BILLS.
SHE SAYS, I CANNOT PAY ANY MORE
TAXES.
I WILL LOSE EVERYTHING.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY LIKE THAT
OUT THERE.
A GENTLEMAN FROM DALLAS GROVE,
ILLINOIS, WROTE TO ME AND SAID,
IT'S SAD TO SEE THE CONSTANT
DISAGREEMENT IN WASHINGTON OVER
ALMOST ALL ISSUES INCLUDING
NATIONAL SECURITY, FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, ETC., BUT THE BUDGET
MUST BE CONTROLLED.
THIS IS THE HARD-EARNED MONEY
OF AMERICAN TAXPAYERS THAT MUST
BE SPENT WISELY.
LESS IS BETTER.
WE MUST LIVE ON BUDGETS AND NOT
BE ABLE TO BORROW WHENEVER WE
RUN OUT OF MONEY AS THE
GENTLELADY JUST SAID.
WE DON'T HAVE -- MOST PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD THAT
THEY CAN GO AND GET THEIR LIMIT
RIZZED.
NEITHER SHOULD -- RAISED.
NEITHER SHOULD WE.
WE HAVE TO CUT TAXES AND STOP
LET'S GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
SO THIS COUNTRY CAN PROSPER AND
BE GREAT AGAIN.
FOR TOO LONG, THE GOVERNMENT
SPENT THE TAXPAYERS INTO A DEBT
THEY CAN CANNOT AFFORD AND PUT
TRILLIONS INTO THE SO-CALLED
STIMULUS, THE ECONOMY HAS GROWN
ONLY WEAKLY IN THIS -- AS A
RESULT.
OUR TAX BURDEN IS APPROACHING
THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN OUR
COUNTRY'S HISTORY AND IS
EXPECTED TO RISE.
UNLESS WE TAKE ACTION NOW, IT
COULD EXED 20% OF G.D.P. IN
THREE YEARS A RECORD WE'VE ONLY
SEEN ONCE IN 35 YEARS.
SIMILARLY, HOUSEHOLD TAXES ARE
EXCESSIVELY HIGH, EVEN IN A
SLOW ECONOMY AT OVER 18,000
LAST YEAR, THE AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD TAX BURDEN HAS ALMOST
DOUBLED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT THE
INTEREST ON OUR DEBT FOR ONE
YEAR IS EQUAL TO THE ENTIRE
BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR, AGRICULTURE AND
VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMBINED.
IT MEANS THAT EACH AMERICAN'S
HAIR SOFT -- SHARE OF OUR DEBT
IS OVER 46,000 -- IS OVER
WHEN I THINK OF OUR FAMILY,
THIS MEANS THAT MY NINE
GRANDCHILDREN WOULD
COLLECTIVELY OWE OVER $414,000
IF THEY HAD TO PAY THEIR SHARE
OF OUR DEBT TODAY.
BEFORE MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON
GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE, HELIO
$103,000 ON OUR NATIONAL DEBT.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THAT'S HIGH WE TOOK THIS FIRST
STEP TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS
YESTERDAY BY PASSING THE CUT,
CAP, AND BALANCE ACT.
OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS PLAN GOES
TOO FAR BY RESTRICTING FUTURE
BORROWING.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THIS
BILL SIMPLY CAPS SPENDING AT
THE SAME SUSTAINABLE RATES AS
PAST GENERATIONS, ABOUT 20% OF
G.D.P., A POST-WORLD WAR II
AVERAGE NO MORE AND NO LESS.
DON'T WE CARE AS MUCH ABOUT OUR
OUR PARENTS DID?
I DO.
AND I THINK -- SO DO THE PEOPLE
WHO SENT US HERE TO TO
WE NEED TO SHOW OUR CREDITORS,
OUR COMPETITORS AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE
WILLING TO MAKE THE TOUGH
CHOICES NEEDED TO RESTORE
CONFIDENCE AND GROWTH IN THE
UNITED STATES.
I'M SO PROUD OF ALL THE WOMEN
THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS
AND ARE REALLY MAKING A
DIFFERENCE AND SHOWING THAT WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD AND BALANCE
OUR BUDGET AND LIVE WITHIN OUR
MEANS LIKE FAMILIES ALL ACROSS
AMERICA.
I THANK YOU.
TO YOUR POINTS, I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO REFER TO THIS CHART
RIGHT HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE TWO
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TALKING
ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY
THOSE TAXES.
THAT CHECKBOOK RIGHT THERE WAS
OBVIOUSLY -- WITH OBVIOUSLY A
THAT CHECK.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR BUT
WE ALL KNOW THAT FEELING THIS
RAN IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
MAYE 6, 2011, IT SAYS FINANCIAL
PLANNERS SAY THEY'RE SEE
MANAGER WOMEN BECOME THISING --
BECOMING THE SOLE DECISIONMAKER
WHEN IT COMES TO THE FAMILY'S
FINANCES, AS YOU WERE SPEAKING.
MORE AND MORE ARE WOMEN ARE
TAKING ON THE ROLE OF THE
FAMILY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER.
THEY CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT
TRULY COSTS TO RUN THE FAMILY.
I THINK WE SHOULD
TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO
RUN THE COUNTRY AND STICK TO
THAT BUDGET AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO MY
GOOD FRIEND, THE LAST TIME WE
HAD A SPECIAL ORDER, I JUST
LITERALLY WATCHED HER BECAUSE
SHE IS A NUMBERS PERSON AND I
AM ALWAYS SO IMPRESSED BY THAT
BECAUSE I AM NOT A NUMBERS
PERSON.
SO THANK YOU TO MY -- THE
GENTLELADY FROM KANSAS, SHE IS
AGAIN JUST SO INCREDIBLY SMART
AND I THANK YOU, LYNN JENKINS,
FOR COMING TODAY TO HELP US
WITH THIS EFFORT.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FROM NORTH CAROLINA
FOR YIELDING.
I AM LYNN JENKINS FROM THE
SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
WOMAN.
A MOTHER OF TWO.
AND A C.P.A. WITH NEARLY 20
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HELPING
SMALL BUSINESSES, MAJOR
CORPORATIONS AND AMERICAN
FAMILIES BUDGET AND RETURN TO
SOLVENCY.
YOU SEE A FAMILY UP THERE IN
THE PICTURE AND I HAVE SPENT
NEARLY TWO DECADES WORKING WITH
FAMILIES ACROSS THE DINNER
TABLE TO HELP THEM CHART THEIR
WAY BACK TO PROSPERITY AND
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND I CAN
TELL YOU THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE
SERIOUS ABOUT BALANCING YOUR
BUDGET AND RETURNING TO
SOLVENCY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
BOTH SIDES OF THE LEDGER.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE
TAKING IN AND WHAT YOU'RE
SPENDING, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
YOUR ASSETS AND YOUR
LIABILITIES.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING
AND LIABILITIES, IT SEEMS THAT
IN THIS TOWN, THERE IS SOME
CONSENSUS TA -- CONSENSUS THAT
WASHINGTON DOES INDEED HAVE A
SPENDING PROBLEM.
THE TIME TO REIN IN THIS
OUT-OF-CONTROL WASTEFUL
WASHINGTON SPENDING AND DEBT IS
LONG OVERDUE.
THAT IS WHY THE HOUSE HAS
PASSED A RESPONSIBLE FACT-BASED
BUDGET THAT WILL CURB FEDERAL
SPENDING BY MORE THAN $6
TRILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS
AND WHY JUST YESTERDAY, WE
PASSED A MEASURE TO AGAIN CUT
SPENDING BY TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND TAP IN -- AND CAP
ANY FUTURE SPENDING AS PART OF
THE DEAL TO GRANT THE PRESIDENT
HIS REQUEST TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING.
BUT IT IS OUR ASSETS THAT MAKE
OUR COUNTRY TRULY BLESSED.
BECAUSE OUR GREATEST ASSET IS
THE STRENGTH, THE DRIVE, AND
THE INGENUITY OF THE AMERICAN
WORKER AND THE AMERICAN
BUSINESS OWNER.
THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO ENHANCE
THIS ASSET AND THEREFORE
INCREASE OUR REVENUES IN A WAY
THAT GROWS THE ECONOMY AND IT
IS NOT TO HIT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES WITH TAX INCREASES
OR MORE REGULATION.
BUT RATHER TO INSTITUTE THESE
PRO-GRETH POLICIES LIKE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE DOING IN OUR
EFFORTS TO REFORM THE TAX CODE
TO MAKE IT FAIRER AND FLATTER
TO INCREASE EXPORTS BY FINALLY
PENDING TRADE
AGREEMENTS, INCREASE OUR ENERGY
REDUCTION AND REMOVE THE
BURDENSOME REGULATIONS STIFLING
GROWTH IN HIRING.
YOU SIMPLY CAN'T TAX YOUR WAY
OUT OF THIS MESS AND INTO A
ROBUST ECONOMY.
YOU HAVE TO GROW YOUR WAY OUT
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD
FOR IT.
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF AGREED
WITH ME JUST LAST YEAR WHEN HE
SAID, RAISING TAXES WOULD, AND
I QUOTE, JUST TAKE MORE DEMAND
OUT OF THE ECONOMY AND PUT
BUSINESSES IN A FURTHER HOLE.
BALANCING OUR BUDGET IS
CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE.
JUST AS IT IS CRITICAL TO EVERY
BUSINESS AND FAMILY ACROSS THIS
GREAT COUNTRY SYSTEM OF IT'S MY
HOPE THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT
HERE IN WASHINGTON CAN FINALLY
SEE THE ERRORS OF ITS WAYS,
MAKE REAL CUTS TO THIS OUT-OF-
CONTROL SPENDING BING, PUT HARD
CONTROLS ON THE ATTEMPTS TO
LIMIT SPENDING IN THE FUTURE
AND ESTABLISH PRO-GROWTH
POLICIES TO LIFT US OUT OF THE
STAGNANT ECONOMY AND INTO
PROSPERITY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
DESERVE.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
I NOW YIELD TO MY GOOD FRIEND
FROM IT'D, PART OF -- FROM
SOUTH DAKOTA, PART OF OUR
FRESHMAN CLASS WHO HAS TRULY
SHOWN HER LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY,
MRS. NOEM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO
HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.
MRS. NOEM THANK YOU AND I THANK
THE GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING TO
-- MRS. NOEM: THANK YOU AND I
THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR
YIELDING TO ME.
I RISE AS A PROUD REPUBLICAN
WOMAN AND A WIFE AND A MOTHER
AND SOMEONE CONCERNED
HABITS.
WE NOT ONLY NEED A SOLUTION TO
DIG OURSELVES OUT OF THE
SITUATION WE ARE IN BUT MAKE
SURE WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES
BACK IN THE SAME PLACE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
PUTTING OURSELVESES ON A NEW
FISCAL PATH THAT ADDRESSES THE
PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US.
THE FRUSTRATING THING ABOUT
THAT ENTIRE PROCESS IS THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ON THE
SIDELINES.
CERTAINLY WE ALL KNOW THE
BIBLICAL PHRASE, WITHOUT A
VISION PEOPLE PERISH, AND
THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY.
WE DON'T HAVE A LEADER WILLING
TO STEP FORWARD AND TELL US
WHAT HE TRULY THINKS ARE THE
OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US.
THAT'S BEEN LEFT TO OTHERS AND
HE'S BEEN MORE THAN WILLING TO
STAND ON THE SIDELINES AND
CRITICIZE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THE OPTIONS BROUGHT FORWARD HIS
ORIGINAL BUDGET FAILED TO EVEN
PROBLEMS.
WHILE THE DEMOCRATIC LED SENATE
VOTED DOWN HIS BUDGET
UNANIMOUSLY, NO ONE JUMPED
ONBOARD BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED
THAT UNDER HIS PLAN, THAT WE
DOUBLED OUR DEBT IN FIVE YEARS
AND TRIPLED IT IN 10.
IT CERTAINLY WASN'T GOING TO BE
THE EAB TO WHAT WE NEEDED --
WHAT GOING TO BE THE ANSWER TO
WHAT WE NEEDED TO PREVENT THIS
FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT WE FIND
OURSELVES IN.
SINCE THEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THE
PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
DURING A HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE
HEARING, THE C.B.O. DIRECTOR
REFERENCED PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
REVISED BUDGET SPEECH BY SAYING
THIS, WE DON'T ESTIMATE
SPEECHES.
WE NEED MUCH MORE SPECIFICITY
THAN WAS PROVIDED IN THAT SPEECH
FOR US TO DO OUR ANALYSIS.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE WAS
SAYING WAS, WE CAN'T SCORE A
SPEECH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT A
SPEECH MEANS, ANYBODY CAN GIVE A
REALLY GREAT SPEECH.
WHAT WE NEED IS LEADERSHIP.
WE NEED SOMEONE TO STEP UP TO
THE TABLE, TELL US WHAT WE NEED
TO DO TO ADDRESS OUR PROBLEMS SO
WE CAN PUT IT INTO ACTION.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN
THIS LEAD.
IN THE LOOMING BUDGET CRISIS,
WE'VE SHOWN SHOWN TIME AND TIME
AGAIN THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT
CUTTING OUR SPENDING, WE'RE
SERIOUS ABOUT BALANCING THE
BUDGET.
IN FEBRUARY WE PASSED H.R. 1
THAT CONTINUED FUNDING THROUGH
THE SENATE.
WHICH IN EFFECT ESSENTIALLY
DELAYED ANY ACTION UNTIL IT GOT
DOWN TO THE BRINK OF A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
IN MARCH WE PASSED A BUDGET PLAN
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012, WE'RE
STILL WAITING, MORE THAN 800
DAYS, FOR THE SENATE TO PASS ANY
KIND OF ANYTHING THAT RESEMBLES
A BUDGET.
WE'RE DOING OUR WORK HERE IN THE
HOUSE.
WITH YOU WE -- BUT WE CAN'T DO
IT ALONE.
WE NEED A WILLING PARTNER IN THE
PRESIDENT, WE NEED A WILLING
PARTNER IN THE SENATE.
LAST NIGHT THE HOUSE AGAIN
PASSED YET ANOTHER PLAN TO GET
OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER.
WE VOTED WLOMINGLY TO SUPPORT
CUT, CAP AND BALANCE --
OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUPPORT CUT,
CAP AND BALANCE.
I SUPPORTED THIS PLAN BECAUSE MY
CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN CALLING
ME FOR WEEKS TELL MEG TO SUPPORT
SERIOUS CHANGE, -- TELLING ME TO
SUPPORT SERIOUS CHANGE.
THEY REALSIZE THEY CAN'T SPEND
MORE MONEY THAN THEY HAVE IN
THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
THEY WANT THEIR GOVERNMENT TO
HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE.
BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND THE NEED
TO BALANCE A CHECK BOOK.
OUR COUNTRY, JUST LIKE OUR
FAMILIES, CAN'T CONTINUE TO
SPEND MORE THAN IT MAKES.
EVEN MY 9-YEAR-OLD SON REALIZES
THAT.
RECENTLY HE HAD THE CHANCE TO
COME OUT WITH ME TO WASHINGTON,
D.C., AND HE WANTED TO SPEND
SOME TIME AS THE SPY MUSEUM.
HE DID A LOT OF CHORES ASHEDS
THE RANCH TO EARN MONEY BUT WHEN
HE GOT THERE AND WALKING THROUGH
THE GIFT SHOP HE REALIZED HE
DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY
EVERYTHING HE WANTED.
HE SAW A LOT OF THINGS HE WANTED
TO TAKE HOME WITH HIM BUT HE
PRIORITIZE.
HE HAD TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND
LEAVE SOME THINGS THERE BECAUSE
HE SIMPLY COULD COULD --
COULDN'T AFFORD THAT.
WAS HE DISAPPOINTED?
HE WAS HEARTBROKE.
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, THAT TAUGHT
HIM A LIFE LESSON THAT HE WILL
ONLY LEARN FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE
COMMON SENSE, WHO UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU CAN'T SPEND MONEY YOU
DO NOT HAVE AND YOU HAVE TO
PRIORITIZE AND MAKE CHOICES.
AMERICA IS OUT OF MONEY.
WE KNOW THIS AND PRESIDENT OBAMA
TAX REFORM.
YES, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY OUR
PRIORITIES AND, YES, WE
ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO STOP SPENDING
MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
STRONG LEADERSHIP, ACTION,
COURAGE, ALONG WITH RESPONSIBLE
SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED FROM ALL OF
US IF WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE
AMERICAN DREAM FOR OUR KIDS AND
OUR GRANDKIDS.
AS A WIFE, MOTHER AND A
REPUBLICAN WOMAN, I SUPPORT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT,
SMALLER GOVERNMENT SO MY KIDS
CAN GROW UP WITH LIBERTIES AND
FREEDOMS AND SO THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING THE
BILLS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO
RACK UP IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S TIME TO CHANGE OUR WAYS AND
I CERTAINLY THANK THE
GENTLEWOMAN FOR YIELDING TO ME.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING,
WE ALL HAVE OUR STORIES, OUR
ANECDOTES ABOUT OUR HOUSEHOLD
BUDGETS AND WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH.
MY SON IS 16 YEARS OLD AND HE
JUST RECEIVED HIS DRIVER'S
LICENSE JUST A COUPLE MONTHS
AGO.
BUT THE DEAL WITH HIM IS, BEN,
YOU CAN'T GET A CAR UNTIL YOU
FINISH THAT EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE
RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE GAS
THAT GOES IN IT.
WELL, THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT
GOES BY HERE IN WASHINGTON THAT
I DON'T RECEIVE A PICTURE THAT
HE TEXTS ME OF THE NEWEST TRUCK
THAT HE'S FOUND OR THE NEWEST
JEEP BUT THERE AGAIN HE
UNDERSTANDS THE DEAL, THE DEAL
IS NO VEHICLE UNTIL THE EAGLE
SCOUT PROJECT IS AT LEAST UNDER
WAY AND I'M YIELDING ON THAT.
I'M NEGOTIATING WITH HIM.
BUT THAT'S THE PLAN.
AND SOMETIMES, AS YOU SAID, WE
JUST CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING WE
WANT.
WE CAN'T.
BECAUSE WHEN TAXPAYER DOLLARS
ARE BEING SPENT IT'S NOT AN
ENDLESS FLOW OF MONEY COMING
INTO WASHINGTON THAT'S FROM SOME
UNKNOWN SOURCE, IT'S TAXPAYER
DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING.
WE HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF
THAT AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO
THAT THAN TO CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE -- THE CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE PLAN WE PASSED IN THE
HOUSE JUST YESTERDAY EVENING.
IT WAS SO INCREDIBLY POWER TOLVE
SEE THOSE NUMBERS UP ON THE
BOARD.
AND -- POWERFUL TO SEE THOSE
NUMBERS UP ON THE BOARD AND TO
THINK THAT WE COULD PUT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT IN
PLACE WHICH IS BASICALLY
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION.
THIS WOULD BE HISTORICAL, A
HISTORIC MOMENT FOR US AND WE'LL
BE PART OF IT AND PRESIDENT
OBAMA WILL BE THE PRESIDENT THAT
PUTS THAT FORWARD FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
AND I JUST AGAIN AM SO PROUD OF
IT AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID,
WHEN YOU BRING IT HOME, WE ALL
HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE BUDGETS
IN OUR OWN HOUSEHOLDS,
WASHINGTON SHOULD BE DOING THE
SAME.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD NOW TO VICE
CHAIR, ONE OF ANOTHER MEMBER OF
LEADERSHIP AND JUST A VOICE OF
UNDERSTANDING, REASON AND
LEADERSHIP FOR THE G.O.P. WOMEN,
VICE CHAIR OF OUR G.O.P.
CONFERENCE, MRS. MCMORRIS
RODGERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING TO OFFER YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
I'M PROUD TO BE HERE THIS
EVENING TO JOIN THE REPUBLICAN
WOMEN AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY
THANK YOU, AS OUR LEADER FROM