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WORK ON THAT EVERY DAY UNTIL
THAT'S ACCOMPLISHED.
THAT'S MY PLEDGE TO YOU, MR.
PEOPLE.
SPEAKER, AND THE AMERICAN
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO ADDRESS
YOU HERE ON THE FLOOR.
AND I THANK YOU.
AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA, MR. WOLF, FOR 30
MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
ON A BLISTERING EVENING IN
PHOENIX RECENTLY, A PROMINENT
GROUP OF CIVIC LEADERS MET TO
TALK ABOUT AMERICA.
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE
CONVERSATION TO GET AROUND TO
THE FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SMART
AMERICANS GET TO TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS THESE DAYS.
TOPIC A IS THE GROWING SENSE
THAT OUR BEST DAYS AS A NATION
ARE BEHIND US, THAT OUR KIDS
WON'T LIVE AS WELL AS WE DID,
THAT CHINA IS IN THE DRIVER'S
SEAT.
THOSE WERE THE OPENING WORDS OF
AN OCTOBER 2010 "TIME" MAGAZINE
PIECE AUTHORED BY VETERAN
REPORTER JOE KLEINE WHO
CANVASED THE COUNTRY DURING THE
HEIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN SEASON.
KLEIN'S ASSESSMENT OF THE
NATIONAL MOOD WAS UNDERSCORED
BY "NEW YORK TIMES" COLUMNIST
DAVID BROOKS WHO RECENTLY
WROTE, I QUOTE, THE CURRENT
SOUR MOOD IS NOT JUST CAUSED BY
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, EMERGENCE
FROM THE FEAR THAT AMERICA'S
BEST DAYS ARE BEHIND IT.
I BELIEVE THIS FOREBODING
NATIONAL ANXIETY IS BORN OF
CERTAIN REALITIES.
EXPLOITING DEBT AND DEFICITS,
SHUTTERED FACTORIES, RISING
UNEMPLOYMENT, AND AN
ACRIMONIOUS TENOR TO OUR
NATIONAL DISCOURSE.
PEOPLE FEAR THAT AMERICA'S
INFLUENCE IS WANING AND OUR
QUOTE SHINING CITY ON THE HILL
IS DIMMING.
I MUST ADMIT TO SHARING THESE
SAME ANXIETIES AS THE FATHER OF
FIVE AND THE GRANDFATHER OF 15.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT MY COUNTRY'S
FUTURE.
YET I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE
REALIZATION OF THESE FEARS IS
INEVITABLE.
WE CAN WALK BACK FROM THE
PRECIPICE.
WE HAVE OPTIONS.
SOBER MINDED PEOPLE BELIEVE
THAT WE MUST DRAMATICALLY
CHANGE COURSE, ESPECIALLY AS IT
RELATES TO OUR BALLOONING
NATIONAL DEBT AND DEFICIT, AND
I AGREE.
YET IS AMERICA AND HER LEADERS
WILLING TO MAKE THE TOUGH
DECISION THAT IS ARE NECESSARY?
-- DECISIONS THAT ARE
NECESSARY?
THE LYRICS IN THE SIMON AND
GARFUNKEL SONG IN THE "THE
BOXER" SAYS, MAN HEARS WHAT HE
WANTS TO HEAR AND DISREGARDS
THE REST, APTLY DESCRIBES THE
MOOD IN WASHINGTON WHEN IT
COMES TO ADDRESSING FEDERAL
SPENDING.
WITHIN DAY'S OF THE PRESIDENT'S
FISCAL COMMISSION REPORT ON THE
DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO
ADDRESS GROWING MANDATORY
SPENDING, IT WAS BUSINESS AS
USUAL WITH THE CONGRESS PASSING
AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
SUPPORTING A TAX AND SPENDING
BILL WITH $857 PRICE TAG THAT
BILLION
PRICE TAG THAT INCLUDED A TAX
HOLIDAY, RAIDING THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND AT A COST
OF $112 BILLION AND IT'S NOT
PAID FOR.
THEREBY INCREASING THE NATIONAL
DEBT.
SO THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS,
WILL WASHINGTON SUMMON THE
COURAGE AND THE FORTITUDE TO
MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS TO
GOVERN BASED ON PRINCIPLE AND
NOT POLITICS,?
TO LEAD THE COUNTRY TOWARD A
BRIGHTER TOMORROW EVEN IF IT
MEANS SACRIFICING IN THE SHORT
TERM?
HISTORICALLY AMERICANS ARE
WILLING TO SACRIFICE, MANY OF
OUR COUNTRYMEN HAVE MADE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ON OUR OWN
SHORES THAT IN DISTANT LAND AND
PLACES LIKE ANTIETAM, NORMANDY,
SAIGON, KANDAHAR, AND BAGHDAD.
IT IS ON THEIR SHOULDERS WE
STAND WOBBLY AT TIMES BUT STAND
NONETHELESS.
THE NATION'S FUTURE NOW FALLS
TO US.
WILL WE STEP UP TO THE PLATE OR
WILL WE FAIL TO ACT?
FOR TOO LONG ROUTINELY
INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THE GOVERNMENT CAN BORROW
WITHOUT TAKING ANY ACTION TO
STEM THE COUNTRY'S GROWING DEBT
HAS BEEN STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURE.
BUT THE STORM WARNING SIGNS
HAVE BEEN POSTED AND I AM
HEEDING THEIR OMINOUS CALL.
WHEN CONGRESS IS ASKED TO
INCREASE THE STATUTORY DEBT
LIMIT, WHICH WILL LIKELY HAPPEN
IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I WILL
VOTE NO UNLESS, LET ME BE
COMPLETELY CLEAR HERE, THERE IS
A FIRM COMMITMENT TO DEAL WITH
THE LARGER ISSUE WHERE THE VOTE
ITSELF IS TIED TO A PLAN TO PUT
AMERICA ON A PATH TO FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
7.
I HAVE COME TO THIS DECISION
BASED ON A MULTITUDE OF FACTORS
I WILL EXPLORE IN THE REMAINING
TIME.
CONSIDER THESE GAME REALITIES,
OUR NATION IS MORE THAN $14
TRILLION IN DEBT, WE ACCUMULATE
A TERROR DOLLAR -- A TRILLION
DOLLAR DEBT EVERY YEAR.
STANDARD AND MOORE'S SAID THE
A.A.A. CREDIT RATING IS AT RISK
IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T CORRECTED.
THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A
DOWNGRADED CREDIT RATING ARE
SEVERE.
RISE.
THE COST TO BORROW MONEY WILL
EVERYTHING FROM A HOME LOAN TO A
CAR LOAN TO A STUDENT LOAN WILL
INCREASE.
INTEREST ON THE DEBT WAS $202
BILLION IN 2010.
THAT'S NEARLY $4 BILLION A WEEK.
IN 2021, INTEREST ON THE DEBT IS
PROJECTED TO BE $1 TRILLION A
YEAR OR ROUGHLY $2.7 BILLION A
DAY.
UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT IN EUROPE AND
THE RESULTING ECONOMIC WOES AND
AUSTERITY MEASURES LED TO RIOTS
IN THE STREET.
IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE WE SEE THAT AT -- IT IS
JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE
SEE THAT AT HOME.
IF WE ARE ON THE SAME TRAJECTORY
AS THESE COUNTRY, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS SHOULD GIVE
US PAUSE.
SPAIN WAS AT A WHOPPING 19.8% IN
DECEMBER.
NOTED HISTORIAN KNEEL FERGUSON
AUTHORED A PIECE IN THE APRIL,
2010, "FOREIGN AFFAIRS"
EXPLORING THE THEORY THAT GREAT
EMPIRES DECLINE SWIFTLY FROM
ROME, TO THE MING DYNASTY TO THE
BRITISH EMPIRE, HISTORY IS RIFE
WITH STORE ROIFS SEEMINGLY
INVINCIBLE WAR POWERS THAT
COLLAPSE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.
FERGUSON ADDS WHILE THERE'S A
VARIETY OF THEORIES OF WHY THEY
DECLINE, HE SAID MOST IMPERIAL
FALLS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH FISCAL
CRISIS.
IF PAYING $202 BILLION A YEAR IN
INTEREST ALONE ISN'T A FISCAL
CRISIS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
IS AMERICA HEADING OFF A CLIFF?
CONSIDER THAT LAST YEAR, A
REPORT FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE REVEALED THAT FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS,
SOCIAL SECURITY WAS TAKING IN
LESS IN TAXES THAN IT WAS
SPENDING IN BENEFITS.
IN ADDITION, A RECENT REPORT
FOUND THAT AS OF 2011, AS IT
OPEN THE FIRST OF THE BABY
BOOMERS WILL TURN 65 AT THE RATE
OF 10,000 A DAY FOR THE NEXT 19
YEARS.
10,000 A DAY FOR THE NEXT 19
YEARS.
OR CONSIDER THAT JUST OVER THE
PAST DECADE, FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
OF U.S. DEBT HAS INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 5% TO 40% TO
46% TODAY.
IF THE U.S. DOES NOT BEGIN TO
REIN IN SPENDING, EVERY PENNY OF
THE FEDERAL BUDGET WILL GO TO
INTEREST ON THE DEBT AND
ENTITLEMENT SPEND BIG 2028.
THIS HAS GRAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR
A HOST OF NATIONAL PRIORITIES.
FERGUSON IS NOT ALONE IN HIS
WARNINGS.
IN 2007, THEN-U.S. COMPTROLLER
GENERAL DAVID WALKER WARNED OF
STRIKING SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
AMERICA'S CURRENT SITUATION AND
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
RESPECTIVE -- RESPECTED BUSINESS
LEADER NORM AUGUSTINE WHO
CHAIRED A NATIONAL ACADEMIES
COMMITTEE ON -- CAPTURED WELL
THE SITUATION IN WHICH AMERICA
NOW FINDS ITSELF WHEN HE SAID,
QUOTE, IN THE TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN
ECONOMY IN WHICH WE LIVE,
AMERICANS HAVE COME TO ACCEPT
LEADERSHIP AS THE NATURAL AND
ENDURING STATE OF AFFAIRS BUT
LEADERSHIP IS HIGHLY PERISHABLE.
IT MUST BE CONSTANTLY REEARNED.
HE WENT ON TO SAY, UNLESS WE DO
THINGS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT,
INCLUDING STRENGTHENING OUR
INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION, THE 21ST CENTURY WILL
BELONG TO CHINA OR INDIA.
AS AMERICA SINKS DEEPER INTO
DEBT, WE SEEM SATISFIED UTTERLY
TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT WITH NO
CONCERN FOR THE FUTURE.
AS OUR OWN INVESTMENTS IN THE
FUTURE LAG, CHINA IS FORGING
AHEAD, MAKING CRITICAL GAINS IN
EDUCATION WHILE OUR CHILDREN ARE
LEFT IN THE WAKE.
ONE WOMAN IN ARIZONA WHO SPOKE
DECLINE -- WHO SPOKE TO HIM IN
HIS HEARTLAND TRAVELS SAID,
POIGNANTLY, WE SEEM TO BE MIRED
IN MEDIOCRITY WHILE CHINA IS
STEAMING AHEAD.
DO WE REALLY WANT THE 21ST
CENTURY THIS CENTURY, TO BE THE
CHINESE CENTURY?
DO WE REALLY WANT TO LEAVE OUR
CHILDREN A COUNTRY MIRED IN
MEDIOCRITY?
LAST YEAR, A FIVE-YEAR FOLLOWUP
REPORT TITLED "RISING ABOVE THE
GATHERING STORM REVISITED" NOTED
THAT ALMOST A THIRD OF U.S.
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SAY
THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME
LEVELS OF SKILL SHORTAGES.
THIS FAILURE TO TRAIN THE NEXT
GENERATION OF ENGINEERS AND
SCIENTISTS HAS A DIRECT BEARING
ON OUR ECONOMY.
THE U.S. GRADUATES ONLY --
GRADUATES ONLY HALF THE NUMBER
OF PHYSICISTS TODAY THAT WE DID
IN 1956.
THE GATHERING STORM REPORT
DETERMINED THAT FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY,
THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF
AMERICANS IS LESS WELL EDUCATED
THAN ITS PARENTS AND WARNED
THAT, QUOTE, THE UNITED STATES
APPEARS TO BE ON A COURSE THAT
WILL LEAD TO A DECLINING
STANDARD OF LIVING FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
AGAINST THIS BACK DROP, ROUGHLY
HALF OF AMERICA'S OUTSTANDING
PUBLICLY HELD DEBT IS NOW
FOREIGN OWNED WITH CHINA AND
SAUDI ARABIA AMONG THE LARGEST
HOLDERS.
SAUDI ARABIA WAS HOME TO MANY OF
THE 9/11 TERRORISTS.
SAUDI ARABIA'S RADICAL WAHABISM
IS TAUGHT IN SOME OF THEE MOST
EXTREME MOSQUES AND MA DRASASS.
THEIR TEXT -- AND MADRASAS.
THEIR TEXTBOOKS ARE FILLED WITH
HATE FOR CHRISTIANS AND JEWS.
A RECENT "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT
-- ARLINGTON REPORTED, SAUDI
DONORS REMAIN THE CHIEF FINANCE
YEARS OF GROUPS LIKE AL QAEDA,
END OF QUOTE.
IS THIS A COUNTRY WE WANT TO BE
BEHOLDEN TO FINANCIALLY?
OR WHAT ABOUT COMMUNIST CHINA?
IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY THE
U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY THAT
CHINA'S ATTEMPT TO SPY ON U.S.
AGENCIES AND BUSINESS ARE THE
MOST AGGRESSIVE OF ALL FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE F.B.I., QUOTE,
POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE
NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO THE
COMPROMISE OF U.S. CRITICAL
NATIONAL ASSETS, END OF QUOTE.
CHINA ALSO ROUTINELY VIOLATES
THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF ITS
OWN PEOPLE.
EVEN THIS WEEK, AS CHINESE
PRESIDENT HU JINTAO IS AFFORDED
THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF A
WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER,
CATHOLIC BISHOPS, PROTESTANT
CHINESE JAILS FOR PRACTICING
PASTORS,ITY BET TAN MONKS ARE IN
THEIR FAITH.
I'VE SEEN HOW CHINA PLUNDEREDITY
BET.
CHINA ABUSES -- CHINA'S ABUSES
DO NOT STOP AT HOME.
THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT ARMS
SUPPLIERS TO THE GENOCIDAL
REGIME IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN.
DO WE REALLY WANT CHINA TO BE
OUR BANKER?
ALL THESE REALITIES MUST PROMPT
SOME SOUL SEARCHING ON THE PART
OF OUR NATION'S LEADERSHIP.
ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO, DURING
THE LAST REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, I
CAME TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE
PROPOSING AN INDEPENDENT,
BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO ADDRESS
UNSUSTAINABLE FEDERAL SPENDING.
IT WOULD PUT EVERYTHING ON THE
TABLE, ENTITLEMENTS, ALL OF THE
SPENDING AND TAX POLICIES.
THE SAFE COMMISSION, SHORT FOR
SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE
ECONOMY, WOULD OPERATE IN A
TRANSPARENT WAY.
HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY TO HEAR FROM THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM A
VESTED INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME.
FURTHER IT WOULD REQUIRE
CONGRESS TO VOTE ON ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I REINTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATION
WITH CONGRESSMAN JIM COOPER IN
THE 110TH AND 11TH CONGRESSES.
SENATOR CONRAD AND GREGG
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT
BECAME THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE
SIMPSON BOWLES COMMISSION.
I GIVE CREDIT TO THE DEFICIT
COMMISSION.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T AGREE WITH
EVERY PART OF ITS REPORT, BUT
THE COMMISSION'S WORK WAS AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN MOVING THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION FORWARD.
IT PUT FORTH SERIOUS IDEAS
RATHER THAN JUST KICKING THE CAN
DOWN THE ROAD AND HAD I BEEN
APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION
WHILE SUPPORTING SOME CHANGES, I
WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR HIS FINAL
REPORT.
I COMMEND ITS MEMBERS WHO VOTED
YES, SUCH AS SENATOR COME CO---
TOM COBURN, REPUBLICAN OF
OKLAHOMA A CHAMPION OF LOW
TAXES, FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO
DO SO.
THE PLAN SET FORTH BY THE
SIMPSON-BOWLES COMMISSION,
SUPPORTED BY A JORE OF THE
COMMISSION'S 18 MEMBERS, MAKES
IT CLEAR THAT ADDRESSING THE
DEBT AND DEFICIT ISN'T JUST A
SIMPLE EXERCISE IN ROOTING OUT
WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.
IT IS ALL WELL AND GOOD TO
ELIMINATE EARMARKS, FRAUD,
WASTE, AND ABUSE AND REIN IN
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, BUT
THESE THINGS ALONE DO NOT COME
CLOSE TO SOLVING THE DEBT AND
THE DEFICIT.
THE INFAMOUS BANK ROBBER WILLIE
SUTTON REPORTED HE ROBBED BANKS,
QUOTE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE
MONEY WAS.
IN OUR GOVERNMENT, THE MONEY IS
IN ENTITLEMENTS, MEDICARE,
MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
LET ME SAY IT AGAIN.
IF WE DO NOT DEAL WITH MEDICARE,
MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY,
WE CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT
REALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR US
AND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT
STRENGTHENS AMERICA, CREATING
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOBS.
THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT AND AT
TIMES CONTROVERSIAL BUT THE
LONGER WE WAIT, WE CAN BE
CERTAIN IT WILL BECOME MORE
DIFFICULT AND MORE
CONTROVERSIAL.
THE COMMISSION'S FORTH RIGHT
ASSESSMENT ABOUT WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO PUT US IN A GOOD
FISCAL STANDING WAS A STEP IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE SUCCESS OF ANY ENDEAVOR,
HOWEVER, IS PREDICATED ON
ACTIVELY INVOLVING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND MUST REQUIRE AN UP OR
DOWN VOTE IN CONGRESS.
THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION CAME
UP SHORT IN THAT REGARD.
WE HAVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT,
WHICH NECESSITATES A BIPARTISAN
SOLUTION.
SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PASSED AND
BE ENACTED INTO LAW AND THE
SOONER THE BETTER.
IF WE NEGLECT TO DO THIS,
AMERICA WILL DECLINE AND IT WILL
DECLINE ON OUR WATCH.
WE WILL HAVE FAILED OUR CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN.
WE WILL HAVE BROKEN FAITH WITH
THE FAMILY -- FOUNDING FATHERS
AND PAST GENERATIONS WHO HAVE
SACRIFICED GREATLY TO MAKE THIS
NATION OUR -- MAKE THIS NATION,
OUR NATION, A SHINING CITY ON A
HILL.
WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE THE
ALBATROSS OF DEBT AROUND OUR
COLLECTIVE NECKS.
THAT'S WHY, UNLESS THERE'S A
FIRM COMMITMENT TO DEAL WITH THE
LARGER FINANCIAL CRISIS OR THE
VOTE ITSELF IS TIED TO A
POSSIBLE DEBT SOLUTION, I'LL
VOTE AGAINST THE DEBT LIMIT
INCREASE.
AND AGAIN, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO
CONSIDER DOING THE SAME.
I DON'T SAY THIS LIGHTLY.
I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE
IMPLICATIONS.
IN A RECENT LETTER TO
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP,
TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY
GEITHNER SPOKE IN NEAR
APOCALYPTIC TERMS ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCES OF DEFAULT.
IF EVEN A FRACTION OF HIS
ANALYSIS IS ACCURATE, IT IS
CLEAR THAT THIS IS A -- THIS
ISN'T A DECISION TO BE MADE
CASUALLY.
IT IS PARESISLY BECAUSE THE
STAKES ARE SO HIGH THAT I
BELIEVE THAT DEBT -- THE DEBT
LIMIT VOTE CAN SERVE AS A
TRIGGER TO FORCE CONGRESSIONAL
ACTION, ACTION THAT OTHERWISE
WILL NOT BE TAKEN.
THE COUNTRY DOES NOT CURRENTLY
HAVE A CREDIT CARD LIMIT AND WE
NEED ONE IN ORDER TO STOP THE
MORTGAGING OF OUR COUNTRY'S
FUTURE.
FAILURE TO ACT NOW ON FISCAL
PROBLEMS WILL ENSURE THAT IN THE
FUTURE, THERE WILL BE A TAX
INCREASE AND DRASTIC ENTITLEMENT
REDUCTIONS AND NO MONEY FOR
IMPORTANT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
AS INFRASTRUCTURE, NATIONAL
SECURITY, MEDICAL RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION.
THE LONGER IT TAKES TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE, THE MORE DRACONIAN
THE OPTIONS WILL BE WHEN THE
NATION IS FORCED TO CHANGE
BE.
COURSE AS IT MOST ASSUREDLY WILL
IF YOU WERE ON SOCIAL SECURITY
AND METHOD CARE, YOU SHOULD
INSIST THAT THE CONGRESS AND THE
ADMINISTRATION ACT.
IF YOU ARE A YOUNG ADULT, YOU
SHOULD BE WORRIED THAT YOUR
GENERATION WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY
GENERATION.
LESS WELL OFF THAN YOUR PARENTS'
IF YOU CARE ABOUT AMERICA'S
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IF YOU YEARN
FOR OUR COUNTRY TO HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO COMBAT GLOBAL
SCOURGES IF YOU HOPE FOR THE DAY
WHEN THERE'S A CURE FOR CANCER
AND ALZHEIMER'S, YOU SHOULD
PRESS CONGRESS AND THE
ADMINISTRATION TO STEP UP TO THE
PLATE NOW.
WE MUST ALL ASK OURSELVES DO, WE
WANT TO MAKE A POINT OR DO WE
WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
IF THE ANSWER IS THE LATTER, IT
IS CLEAR THIS IS A CONFERENCE --
A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO BE
HAVING TODAY.
WE MUST NOT PUT IT OFF.
AT HIS 1996 FAIRWELL ADDRESS, --
FAREWELL ADDRESS, GEORGE
WASHINGTON ADMONISHED HIS FELLOW
COUNTRYMEN, WE SHOULD AVOID
THROWING UPON FUTURE GENERATIONS
WHAT WE OUGHT TO BEAR.
A BRIEF WORD TO AMERICA'S FAITH
COMMUNITY WHO SHOULD BE
INTIMATELY CONCERNED WITH THE
MORAL COMPONENT OF THIS CRISIS.
IF WE SAY WE CARE ABOUT THE
POOR, WE MUST SPEAK UP, FOR THEY
WILL BE THE HARDEST HIT IF WE
.
FAIL TO ACT.
IF WE SAY WE ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT JUSTICE, WE MUST NOT BE
CONSISTENT WITH COMMITTING A
NATIONAL GENERATIONAL
INJUSTICE.
NOT ONLY IS OUR CURRENT COURSE
IMMORAL IT IS UN-AMERICAN.
GENERATIONS PAST HAVE ALWAYS
PASSED THE TORCH OF THE
AMERICAN DREAM TO THEIR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
PRESENTLY WE ARE POISED TO HAND
FLAME.
OFF THE STRUGGLING FLICKER OF A
THE IMPLICATIONS OF AMERICA ON
DECLINE ALSO HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS
THE WORLD OVER.
IN A DECEMBER 5 "WASHINGTON
POST" OUTLOOK PIECE, AUTHOR
ROBERT CAP LYNN WRITES, QUOTE,
AMERICA'S ABILITY TO BRING A
MODICUM OF ORDER TO THE WORLD
IS FADING IN SLOW MOTION.
A LOOK AT THE DAILY HEADLINES
WE ARE REMINDED THAT THE WORLD
IS A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS PLACE
WHEN OUR NATION IS PERCEIVED AS
WEAK OR WORSE YET WHEN THAT
PERCEPTION BECOMES A REALITY.
SURELY WE CAN AGREE ON THE
EMORMITY OF WHAT IS AT STAKE.
THE PRECISE BLUEPRINT FOR HOW
TO MOVE FORWARD MAY SEEM BLURRY
AT TIMES, BUT THE IMPLICATIONS
OF DOING NOTHING MUSTPROPEL US
ONWARD.
ACT?
DO WE SUMMON THE COURAGE TO
I BELIEVE WE CAN SEE A BIRTH IN
AMERICA MARKED BY GRAND
INNOVATIONS IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY THAT ARE THE WONDERS
OF THE WORLD.
ADVANCES IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
THAT SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES.
AND FURTHER EXPLORATION INTO
THE REMAINING FRONTIER OF SPACE
AND MUCH MORE.
A COLUMNIST WROTE RECENTLY,
AMERICA HAS BECOME A GREAT
NATION BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AN
OPTIMISTIC PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON
BOTH SUCCESS AND LIBERTY.
AMERICA'S CAN-DO SPIRIT HAS
BEEN RAISED US UP FROM A
HANDFUL OF FARMERS TO THE COULD
HE LOSSCIES OF THE PLANET.
IF WE CAN REGAIN THAT SPIRIT,
THERE IS NOT A REASON IN THE
WORLD THAT THE 21ST CENTURY
WILL NOT BE THE AMERICAN
CENTURY.
JUST AS THE 20TH CENTURY WAS.
I WAS REMINDED ONCE AGAIN OF
THAT UNIQUE AMERICAN SPIRIT ON
ELECTION DAY WHEN I STOPPED BY
THE SNOW WHITE GRILL IN
WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, WHEN I
WAS THERE ONE MAN SAID TO ME,
WE ARE READY.
WE ARE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE.
RIGHT.
WE ARE READY TO DO WHAT'S
AND SEVERAL OTHERS AT THE LUNCH
COUNTER ECHOED THE SAME.
BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS, ARE
AMERICA'S LEADERS PREPARED TO
SACRIFICE?
ARE AMERICA'S LEADERS PREPARED
TO DO IT RIGHT?
BATTLE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN ON
BOTH SIDES.
THE MOVEON.ORG IS ON THE LEFT
AND THE AMERICANS FOR TAX
REFORM ON THE RIGHT HAVE
WIELDED THEIR POLITICAL
EFFECT.
INFLUENCE WITH REMARKABLE
ONLY TO PARALYZE, TO PARALYZE
THE CONGRESS AND THE BAM --
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ON
ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE OF OUR TIME.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO
LET THAT HAPPEN.
IN 1787 ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS SAID TO
HAVE WEPT WHEN HE SIGNED THE
DOCUMENT.
JAMES MADISON WROTE IN A LETTER
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, QUOTE,
WHILE IT'S THE LAST MEMBERS
WERE SIGNING IT, HE SAID DR.
FRANKLIN LOOKING TOWARDS THE
PRESIDENT'S CHAIR AT THE BACK
OF WHICH A RISING SUN HAPPENED
TO BE PAINTED, OBSERVED TO A
FEW MEMBERS NEAR HIM, THE
PAINTERS HAVE FOUND IT
DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH IN
THEIR ART A RISING SUN FROM A
SETTING SUN.
AND THEN DR. FRANKLIN REMARKED,
THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE
SESSION, QUOTE, I HAVE OFTEN
LOOKED AT THE PICTURE WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO TELL WHETHER IT
WAS A RISING SUN OR A SETTING
SUN.
AND THEN FRANKLIN CONTINUES,
NOW I EVER THE HAPPINESS TO
KNOW THAT IT IS -- I HAVE THE
HAPPINESS TO KNOW THAT IT IS
INDEED A RISING NOT A IS THING
SUN.
EVERY POLITICIAN LOVES TO SAY
THAT THE SUN HAS BARELY BEGUN
TO RISE ON AMERICA AND THAT
AMERICA'S BEST DAYS ARE YET
AHEAD.
IF WE STEAL OURSELVES WITH
TOUGH DECISIONS AND COMMIT TO
DOING THE RIGHT THING, IF WE
WORK FOR ECONOMIC AND MORAL
REBIRTH, WE WILL HONESTLY BE
ABLE TO JOIN THE CHORUS OF
VOICES REACHING BACK TO OUR
NATION'S FOUNDING AND ECHOING
ACROSS THE AGES WHICH ENJOIN US
TO BELIEVE THAT THE SUN HAS
INDEED BARELY BEGUN TO RISE ON
A COUNTRY AND THAT AMERICA'S
BEST DAYS ARE YET TO COME.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION.
WE ARE AMERICANS AND WE CAN
PREVAIL.
THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
FROM THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I NOW MAKE A MOTION THAT THE
HOUSE DO NOW ADJOURN.
THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO
ADJOURN.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY
AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS AGREED TO.
ACCORDINGLY, THE HOUSE STANDS
ADJOURNED UNTIL NOON ON MONDAY
NEXT FOR MORNING HOUR DEBATE
AND 2:00 P.M. FOR LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS.
MEMBERS APPROVED RESOLUTIONS
FOR MEMBERS TO COME UP WITH NEW
HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS.
COMMITTEES WERE INSTRUCTED TO
COME UP WITH A NEW FORMULA TO