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CHICAGO.
THE GREENHOUSING PROJECT IN
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THANKS SO MUCH.
THAT'S ALL FOR WASHINGTON
JOURNAL.
WE NOW GO TO THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE
CONTINUE BEYOND 11:50 A.M.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT, MR.
WELCH, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, RIGHT NOW FAMILIES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ARE SITTING
AROUND THEIR KITCHEN TABLES
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY
CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO
FINANCE A COLLEGE EDUCATION
WHEN THE COST OF THAT IS RISING
CARE.
FASTER THAN THE COST OF HEALTH
PARENTS ARE MAKING SOME VERY
DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
SHOULD WE REFINANCE OUR HOMES
AND DWINDLE OUR RETIREMENT?
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN WE BORROW?
HOW MUCH CAN WE ASK OUR KIDS TO
BORROW IN ORDER TO PUT THIS
FINANCIAL PACKAGE TOGETHER?
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME MANY OF
THESE PARENTS ARE CONSIDERING
THE UNTHINKABLE.
MAYBE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND
THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE.
MEANWHILE, IN 52 DAYS IF
CONGRESS DOES NOT ACT, A VERY
BAD SITUATION WILL GET WORSE.
ON JULY 1, THE INTEREST RATES
ON THE STAFFORD STUDENT LOANS
WILL DOUBLE FROM 3.4% TO 6.8%.
VERMONT STUDENTS, AMERICAN
STUDENTS AND PARENTS NEED
ACTION FROM CONGRESS AND NEED
IT NOW.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I'VE
BEEN ASKING VERMONTERS TO SHARE
THEIR REAL-WORLD STORIES AND
I'D LIKE TO TELL A FEW.
KATIE GRADUATED WITH $36,000 IN
STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY SHE'S HAD
A HARD TIME FINDING A JOB SO
SHE TOOK AN INTERNSHIP SO SHE
CAN KEEP ADVANCING HER CAREER.
SHE WORKS FIVE TO SIX DAYS A
WEEK MAKING $25 A DAY.
SHE'S ESSENTIALLY PROVIDING
WELL-EDUCATED CHEAP LABOR BUT
SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
SHE DOESN'T REGRET HER DECISION
TO GO TO COOL BUT SHE'S GETTING
EXTREMELY APPREHENSIVE TO GET
HER BACK.
THIS FINANCIAL ALBATROSS OFF
SUE FROM NEW PORT HAS $26,000
IN DEBT.
SHE ALSO HAS SOME MEDICAL
PROBLEMS WHICH LIMITS THE KIND
OF WORK SHE CAN DO BUT SHE CAN
WORK AND HAS A FULL-TIME JOB,
BUT STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS ARE
$600 A MONTH, MAKING IT VERY
DIFFICULT FOR HER TO PAY HER
OTHER BILLS, AND SHE HAS NO
SAVINGS AND NO RETIREMENT.
PETER, A PARENT, HE ALWAYS
BELIEVED HE COULD SEND HIS SON
TO COLLEGE.
NOW HE'S NOT SURE THAT HE CAN.
HIS SON IS -- HAS DONE HIS PART
-- GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL
WITH HONORS, AND HE'S BEEN
ACCEPTED TO A NUMBER OF VERY
GOOD INSTITUTIONS.
BUT WITH TUITION COST AT THOSE
SCHOOLS RANGING FROM $30,000 TO
$56,000 A YEAR, PETER IS JUST
NOT SURE THAT THEIR FAMILY IS
GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS
WORK OUT.
JULIE FROM HUNTINGTON, VERMONT,
SHE GREW UP IN A SINGLE-PARENT
HOME LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY
LINE, BUT SHE WAS TOLD THAT IF
SHE WORKED HARD IN SCHOOL,
STUDIED, SHE COULD ACHIEVE A
GREAT FUTURE.
SHE DID HER PART.
SHE ALSO WAS TAUGHT, BY THE
WAY, THAT SHE SHOULD AVOID DEBT
AT ALL COSTS, BUT SHE IS
PURSUING COLLEGE BUT WORKING
THREE JOBS WHILE SHE'S GOING TO
SCHOOL FULL TIME AND SHE'S
STILL PILING UP DEBT.
SHE WAS TAUGHT TO BELIEVE THAT
IF SHE WORKED HARD AND APPLIED
HERSELF SHE COULD ACHIEVE GREAT
THINGS.
NOW WORKING THREE JOBS, PILING
UP DEBT, IS THERE A WAY OUT IS
THE QUESTION SHE'S ASKING.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS MORE THAN
ABOUT EXTENDING THE LOW
INTEREST ON THE STAFFORD LOANS.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A PATHWAY FOR
PEOPLE TRYING TO CLIMB INTO THE
MIDDLE CLASS TO GET THERE AND
FOR PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE CLASS
TO STAY THERE.
HOW MUCH MORE BURDEN CAN WE
IMPOSE ON FOLKS WHO WANT A
FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, FOR
THEIR KIDS?
IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE
IN THIS WORLD THAT WE'RE IN TO
DOUBLE STUDENT INTEREST RATES
FROM 3.4% TO 6.8%.
IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO
STAND UP FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS,
FOR THOSE FOLKS FROM VERMONT
AND FOR THOSE AROUND THE
COUNTRY WHO ARE TRYING TO DO
THE BEST FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR
THEIR COUNTRY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA, MR. CONNOLLY,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
CLIMATE DENIERS HAVE BURIED
THEIR HEADS SO DEEP IN THE SAND
THEY CAN'T HEAR THE SECRETARY
OF DEFENSE WARNING US ABOUT THE
RISK OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
LAST WEEK SECRETARY PANETTA
GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON NATIONAL
SECURITY.
HE SAID, QUOTE, THE AREA OF
CLIMATE CHANGE HAS A DRAMATIC
IMPACT ON NATIONAL SECURITY.
RISING SEA LEVELS, SEVERE
DROUGHTS, THE MELTING OF THE
POLAR CAPS AND DEVASTATING
NATURAL DISASTERS ALWAYS DEMAND
FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND
DISASTER RELIEF AND HE MIGHT
HAVE ADDED AND THREATEN
MILITARY BASES, ESPECIALLY
NAVAL BASES AROUND THE WORLD.
AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING
RECORD-BREAKING DROUGHT IN THE
SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST AND
TORNADIC ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH
AND MIDWEST.
SEVERE WEATHER, MANIFESTATIONS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE, HAVE A
DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ARMED
SERVICES NATIONAL SECURITY.
SECRETARY PANETTA FOCUSED ON
THE GEOPOLITICAL RISKS ON
DROUGHT, FAMINE AND HURRICANES.
THESE TROUBLING EVENTS CREATE
NEW DEMANDS FOR HUMANITARIAN
INTERVENTION BUT CAN ALSO
DESTABILIZE POLITICAL REGIMES
AND ENABLE THE RISE OF EXTREME
ELEMENTS.
CONGRESS MAY BE FIDDLING WHILE
TEXAS AND WILDFIRE-PRONE
REGIONS OF THE MOUNTAIN WEST
BURN, BUT THE ARMED SERVICES
ARE RESPONDING AGGRESSIVELY TO
THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE NAVY IS LEADING THE EFFORT
TO BOOST THE PRODUCTION OF
BIOFUELS AND PROTECT AMERICANS
AGAINST RISING OIL PRICES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
CONSUMES SOME 350,000 BARRELS
OF OIL EVERY DAY.
EACH $10 INCREASE IN A BARREL
OF OIL COSTS OUR DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE AND THE TAXPAYERS $1.3
BILLION EVERY YEAR.
BY CREATING A SUPPLY OF
BIOFUELS, THE NAVY'S PROTECTING
TAXPAYER INTERESTS FROM
VOLATILE OIL PRICES WHILE
REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS
POLLUTION ASSOCIATED WITH
FOSSIL FUELS.
ALSO REDUCING ITS
OWN DEPENDENCE ON MIDDLE
EASTERN OIL SINCE IT MAKES NO
SENSE THE D.O.D. BE PROVIDING
BUSINESS TO GOVERNMENTS THAT
SUPPORT TERRORISM.
THE ARMY AND THE AIR FORCE HAVE
ALSO MADE GROUNDBREAKING
INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE
ENERGY, REDUCING GLOBAL WARMING
POLLUTION WHILE STRENGTHENING
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY POSTURE.
AND THE ARMY IS DEPLOYING
ENERGY-EFFICIENT RETROFITS TO
ACHIEVE NET ZERO ENERGY
CONSUMPTION.
MEANING THAT THE BASES PRODUCE
AS MUCH ENERGY AS THEY CONSUME.
THESE EFFORTS REDUCE GLOBAL
WARMING POLLUTION AND PROTECT
POLITICAL FACILITIES FROM A
CYBERATTACK ON THE GRID.
THE ARMY'S IMPLEMENTED NEW
ENERGY SAVING PERFORMANCE
CONTRACTS AT OTHER BASES,
INCLUDING IN MY DISTRICT.
TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
AND ASSOCIATED GREENHOUSE GAS
POLLUTION BY REDUCING THE 24.5
BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR THE
FEDERAL AGENCIES SPEND ON
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION, THESE
EFFORTS PROTECT TAXPAYERS.
IN TODAY'S FISCAL CRIMET, THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IS AWARE
THAT THE -- THAT INVESTING IN
CLEAN ENERGY REDUCES THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S OIL
DEPENDENCE AND LOWER ITS FUEL
COST TO FREE UP RESOURCES FOR
OTHER PRIORITIES AND TO REDUCE
THE BURDEN ON TAX PERS.
I'M SURPRISED BY THE RESISTANCE
OF A FEW MEMBERS WHO WRAP
THEMSELVES IN THE MANTLE OF
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY EVEN
WHILE OPPOSING THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO SAVE ON
ENERGY COSTS.
THE D.O.D.'S SUCCESS IN THIS
AREA IS ACTUALLY A MODEL FOR
OTHER AGENCIES TO FOLLOW.
THERE USED TO BE BIPARTISAN
CONSEN CENSUS HERE AND WE
SHOULD ADDRESS THE -- CONSENSUS
HERE AND WE SHOULD ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS.
ONE WHO SERVED AS THE
REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM MY HOME
VIRGINIA FOR 30 YEARS
INTRODUCED THE FIRST BILL TO
ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING WHICH
CAME TO THE SENATE FLOOR.
SINCE HIS RETIREMENT IN 2008,
HE'S BEEN A LEADING ADVOCATE
FOR REDUCTIONS IN GLOBAL
WARMING POLLUTION IN ORDER TO
IMPROVE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
SADLY, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP WOULD TAKE AMERICA
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, BY
BLOCKING CLEAN AIR ENFORCEMENT
AND BY REVERSING ENERGY
EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR LIGHTS
AND APPLIANCES.
AS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE BECOME MORE POWERFUL
WITH THESE PASSING SEASONS, WE
SHOULD HEED SECRETARY PANETTA'S
WARNING AND I ASK THAT THE MAY
4 ARTICLE IN "THE HILL" BY
CARLOS MUNOZ ON THE SUBJECT BE
ENTERED IN THE RECORD AND I
YIELD BACK.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM AMERICAN SAMOA,
MR. FALEOMAVAEGA, FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE FULL TEXT OF MY STATEMENT
BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER,
I RISE TODAY WITH DEEP SYMPATHY
TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO THE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF A BELOVED
SON, FATHER, BROTHER, UNCLE,
LEADER AND AS A MEMBER OF THE
EXTENDED FAMILY, AN NFL GREAT
AND THE SON OF AMERICAN SAMOA,
JUNIOR SEAU, WHOSE LIFE ENDED
TRAGICALLY IN OCEANSIDE,
CALIFORNIA.
IT IS A VERY SAD TIME FOR MOTT
ONLY THE NATIONAL SPORTS WORLD,
BUT ALSO FOR OUR POLL NEARBYIAN
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE -- POLONESIAN
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE LOST A SON WHO ARE IN
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
A BEAUTIFUL LIFE HAS COME TO A
TRAGIC END.
YET, WE REMEMBER JUNIOR AS THE
YOUNG MAN FULL OF LIFE, THE
LEADER ABLE TO LIGHT UP ANY
ROOM, A DEVOTED SON AND FATHER
AND COMMUNITY LEADER.
WE REMEMBER THE STRENGTH OF
THIS UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL, A TRUE
SAMOAN WARRIOR.
JUNIOR WAS BORN ON JANUARY 19,
1969, IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.
THE AMERICAN SAMOAN PARENTS.
AFTER JUNIOR WAS BORN, THE
FAMILY RETURNED TO AMERICAN
SAMOA WHERE JUNIOR GROW UP FOR
SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE RETURNING
TO THE SAN DIEGO AREA.
JUNIOR ATTENDED OCEANSIDE HIGH
SCHOOL WHERE HE LETTERED IN
FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AS WELL
AS TRACK AND FIELD FOR THE
OCEANSIDE PIRATES.
HE WAS A STARTER AT
LINEBACKER AND TIGHT END.
HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR
ATHLETE.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AS A STUDENT
IN 1987, THE YEAR HE GRADUATED,
"PARADE" MAGAZINE SELECTED SEAU
TO THE ALL-AMERICAN TEAM.
HE WAS NAMED CALIFORNIA
INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR,
AVOCADO LEAGUE DEFENSIVE PLAYER
OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS BEING
NAMED TO CALIFORNIA'S
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM WITH A 3.6
GRADE POINT AVERAGE.
AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL,
SEAU PLAYED FOR THE TROJANS FOR
THE 1987 TO 1990 AND IN 2009
LATER WAS INDUCTED IN THE
U.S.C. HALL OF FAME.
IN 1990 -- THE 1990 NFL DRAFT,
JUNIOR WAS DRAFTED IN THE FIRST
ROUND OF THE FIFTH OVERALL PICK
TO THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS.
SEAU IMMEDIATELY BECAME THE
HEART AND SOUL OF THE CHARGERS
DEFENSE, EARNING THE NICKNAME
THE TASMANIAN DEVIL, FOR HIS
PASSION AND EXPLOSIVE ATHLETIC
SKILLS ON THE FIELD.
IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND ON THE
FIELD, SEAU HAD THE ABILITY TO
MOTIVATE HIS TEAMMATES.
HE WAS NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER
OF THE YEAR IN 1988 AND 1989.
JUNIOR PLAYED 12 CONSECUTIVE
PRO BOWLS FROM 1991 TO 2002,
THE MOST FOR ANY PLAYER IN THE
HISTORY OF THE CHARGERS AND
TIED FOR THE THIRD LONGEST
STREAK EVER IN THE NFL.
HE WAS ALSO SELECTED ALL-PRO
SIX TIMES IN HIS CAREER AND HE
LED THE CHARGERS TO THEIR
FIRST-EVER SUPER BOWL
APPEARANCE IN 1995.
AFTER 13 YEARS IN SAN DIEGO,
JUNIOR PLAYED THREE YEARS FOR
THE MIAMI DOLPHINS WHERE HE
RECEIVED THE MIAMI DOLPHINS DON
SHULA LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR TWO
CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
AFTER ONLY ONE DAY OF
RETIREMENT IN 2006, HE ANSWERED
NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS AND BECAME DEFENSIVE
CO-CAPTAIN DURING THE PATRIOTS
18-0 SEASON THAT TOOK THE TEAM
TO THE SUPER BOWL IN 2008.
JUNIOR FINALLY RETIRED IN 2010
BEING PLAYED 20 SEASONS IN THE
NFL AND FINISHING WITH A CAREER
OF 1,849 TACKLES, 56.5 SACKS,
18 INTERCEPTIONS, THREE FORCED
FUMBLES AND 21 PASS DEFLECTION.
JUNIOR SEAU IS WIDELY
ACKNOWLEDGE AS ONE OF THE BEST
LINEBACKERS IN NFL HISTORY, BUT
HIS PASSION AND SUCCESS IN
FOOTBALL WAS PARALLELED IN HIS
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND WORK
OFF THE FIELD.
IN 1992, JUNIOR ESTABLISHED THE
JUNIOR SEAU FOUNDATION, GIVING
SAN DIEGO AREA YOUTH ONGOING
SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS THAT
ACQUIRE THEM TO FACE LIFE'S
CHALLENGES WITH ENTHUSIASM,
.
WITH HOPE AND DIGNITY.
FOUNDATION IT HAS
DISTRIBUTED NEARLY $4 MILLION,
INCLUDING $800,000 IN
SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE SCHOLARS FOR
EXCELLENCE PROGRAM AND OVER
$330,000 TO JUNEOR'S PROGRAMS
WHICH PROVIDES FOR
UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH TO SHOP
ALONGSIDE A PROFESSIONAL COLLEGE
ATHLETE FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR
THEIR FAMILIES.
IN APRIL, 2007, THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL" RANKED JUNIOR SEAU'S
FOUNDATION AS THE 13TH LARGEST
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FOUNDATION
BASED ON ASSETS.
JUNIOR, AS MUCH AS HE WAS AN
OUTSTANDING FOOTBALL PLAYER,
JUNIOR WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED
AS A HUMANITARIAN AND SUPPORTER
FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED HELP THE
MOST.
A DEAR FRIEND AND MOTIVATIONAL
FIGURE.
HE WAS A CHARISMATIC LEADER WHO
COULD NOT WALK INTO A ROOM
WITHOUT HAVING THE EFFECT OF
THOSE AROUND HIM.
HE WAS LOVED BY EVERYONE WHO
KNEW HIM AND HIS MAGNETISM BOTH
ON AND OFF THEFIELD IMPACTED
NATIONWIDE AND ANY
INDIVIDUAL HE CONTACTED.
WHEN YOU SPEAK OF SAMOANS IN THE
NFL, MR. SPEAKER, JUNIOR SEAU IS
ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES THAT COME
TO MIND.
HE WAS AN AMBASSADOR OF ASIAN
AND PACIFIC AMERICANS AND
THROUGH HIS SUCCESS HE WAS ABLE
TO BROADEN THE PUBLIC'S
UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION
OF OUR POLYNESIAN PEOPLE.
HE HAS BEEN --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD BACK.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. MILLER, FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, LAST
YEAR I INTRODUCED THE KEEPING
ALL STUDENTS SAFE ACT TO PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM ABUSIVE SECLUSION
AND RESTRAINT PRACTICES IN
SCHOOL.
TWO YEARS AGO THIS LEGISLATION
PASSED THE HOUSE WITH BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY IT NEVER BECAME
LAW.
THE INCIDENTS OF STUDENTS BEING
ABUSED OR INAPPROPRIATELY
RESTRAINED IN SCHOOL CONTINUE TO
OCCUR.
WE CANNOT SIT BY.
CONGRESS MUST STEP UP TO THE
CHILDREN.
PLATE AND PROTECT OUR NATION'S
IN RECENT MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING MORE DISTURBING STORIES
OF STUDENTS BEING DANGEROUSLY
RESTRAINED BY TEACHERS AND STAFF
WHILE IN SCHOOL.
IN SEVERAL OF THESE CASES
STUDENTS HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS
INJURY OR EVEN DIED AS A RESULT
OF THEIR INJURIES.
IN DECEMBER, IN KENTUCKY,
9-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER BAKER,
WHO HAS AUTISM, WAS STUFFED INTO
A DUFFEL BAG IN THE SCHOOL AS
PUNISHMENT.
IN CONNECTICUT CHIRP ARE AFRAID
TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY
HAVE HEARD OTHER STUDENTS
SCREAMING IN SMALL WINDOWLESS
ROOMS.
THE STUDENTS IN THESE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS REFER TO THESE ROOMS AS
SCREAM ROOMS.
IN TEXAS, 10-YEAR-OLD LUCAS
HINES, WHO SUFFERS FROM
SEIZURES, DYSLEXIA, AND ADHD WAS
PUT IN A CHOKEHOLD WHILE RIDING
HOME ON A TEXAS SCHOOL BUS.
FOR FOUR MINUTES THE SCHOOL
SUPERVISOR REFUSED TO RELEASE
HIM IN THE CARE OF HIS MOTHER.
INSTEAD KEPT HIM IN THE
DANGEROUS CHOKEHOLD.
ON APRIL 18, AT THE LINCOLN
WATTS SCHOOL IN NEW YORK,
16-YEAR-OLD COREY FOSTER WAS
RETRAINED BY SCHOOL STAFF WHO
WERE TRYING TO REMOVE HIM FROM
THE BASKETBALL COURT.
WITNESSES REPORTED SEVERAL
STUDENTS PILED ON TOP OF HIM --
HIM.
SEVERAL STAFF MILD ON TOP OF
DIED.
HE WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST AND
HIS STORY IS FAR TOO SIMILAR TO
A STORY I LEARNED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO, THE STORY OF CEDRIC A.
14-YEAR-OLD IN TEXAS, WHO WAS
RESTRAINED FACE DOWN WITH HIS
TEACHER SITTING ON TOP OF HIM.
BREATHE.
HE YELLED OUT HE COULDN'T
MINUTES LATER HE DIED ON THE
FLOOR OF HIS CLASSROOM.
TRAGEDIES LIKE COREY'S AND
CEDRIC'S NEED TO STOP.
IN MARCH, THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION RELEASED NATIONWIDE
DATA SHOWING THAT THE -- THE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRAINT AND
SECLUSION IN SCHOOL EACH YEAR.
THIS MAP SHOWS THAT 31 STATES
HAVE HAD REPORTS OF ABUSIVE
INCIDENTS SINCE THE LAST TIME
THAT WE TRIED TO ENACT THE
KEEPING ALL STUDENTS SAFE ACT.
NO CORNER OF THE COUNTRY IS
IMMUNE FROM ABUSE.
IT IS WIDESPREAD AND GONE ON FAR
TOO LONG.
THIS MAP SHOWS WE NEED A
NATIONALLY DRIVEN REFORM BECAUSE
WE ARE SEEING CHILDREN ARE STILL
SUBJECT TO THE WORST PRACTICES
IN THESE SETTINGS.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT RELEASED,
ONLY 30 STATES HAVE ANY
MEANINGFUL PROTECTION.
ONLY 18 STATES PROHIBIT
RESTRAINTS THAT RESTRICTS
BREATHING.
ONLY 16 STATES LIMIT THE USE OF
RESTRAINT THROUGH EMERGENCIES
HARM.
INVOLVING IMMEDIATE RISK OR
ONLY 16 STATES BAN THE USE OF
MECHANICAL RESTRAINT.
AND ONLY 24 STATES HAVE ANY
REQUIREMENT THAT PARENTS BE
NOTIFIED THAT THEIR CHILD WAS
RESTRAINED OR SECLUDED IN
SCHOOL.
IN FACT, CHILDREN CAN GO TO
SCHOOL DAY AFTER DAY, BE
BE SECLUDED, BE
LOCKED IN DARK ROOMS, KEPT IN
THOSE ROOMS WHERE THEY URINATE
ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR PARENTS
ARE NEVER NOTIFIED.
WHERE IS IT THAT PARENTS WERE --
ARE SECLUDED FROM THE
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR
STUDENTS?
PUBLIC POLICY?
WHERE IS THAT A MATTER OF GOOD
THE CHILD SHOULDN'T DEPEND UPON,
AND THEIR SAFETY, ON WHAT STATE
THEY LIVE IN.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THIS
CONGRESS NEEDS TO SET MINIMUM
STANDARDS AND MODEL STANDARDS.
WE HAVE THE FEDERAL LAWS IN
PLACE TO PREVENT SECLUSION
ABUSES THAT HAPPEN IN HOSPITALS
AND OTHER HEALTH FACILITIES, BUT
CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE ANY FEDERAL
PROTECTION AGAINST THESE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND
TORTUROUS PRACTICE WHEN IS THEY
ARE IN SCHOOL.
SCHOOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A
SAFE PLACE, A PLACE FOR CHILDREN
TO LEARN, A PLACE FOR CHILDREN
TO SOCIALIZE.
PARENTS SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR
CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE AT
SCHOOL.
NO CHILD SHOULD BE FORCED TO
SUFFER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND
ARE TRYING TO LEARN.
INJURY OR EVEN DEATH WHILE THEY
THE KEEPING ALL STUDENTS SAFE
ACT WOULD SET MINIMUM SAFETY
STANDARDS FOR THE USE AND
RESTRAINT OF SECLUSION IN SCHOOL
AND PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT
FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO REDUCE
THE USE OF SECLUSION AND
RESTRAINT.
IT MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO STRAP
CHILDREN TO CHAIRS, TO PUT
CHILDREN IN DUFFEL BAGS, OR
RESTRICT THEIR BREATHING.
SECLUSION RESTRAINT PRACTICES
SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN EMERGENCY
SITUATION BY TRAINED STAFF AND
SHOULD END AS SOON AS THE
EMERGENCY HAS PASSED.
THIS LEGISLATION MAKES IT CLEAR
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR TORTURE AND
ABUSE IN AMERICA'S SCHOOLS.
NEWS REPORTS SHOW CHILDREN BEING
TIED UP WITH DUCT TAPE, SPAT ON
BY STAFF, LOCKED IN ROOMS FOR
HOURS AT A TIME IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
THIS LEGISLATION WON'T BRING
BACK COREY OR CEDRIC BUT IT CAN
PREVENT FUTURE ABUSES FROM
OCCURRING.
I CALLED ON THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND WORK
FORCE TO MARK UP THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION SO WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD ON PASSING THE CRITICAL
LEGISLATION INTO LAW.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE NOTHING
LESS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLY,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THIS WEEK WE ARE VERY BUSY IN
THE HOUSE.
LAST NIGHT WE DIDN'T GET OUT
UNTIL WELL BEYOND MIDNIGHT.
THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING ELSE
HAPPENING THIS WEEK THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY THIS BODY
BUT THE NATION, AND THAT'S
MOTHER'S DAY.
THE FATHER OF OUR NATION, GEORGE
WASHINGTON, SAID OF HIS MOTHER,
ALL I AM I OWE TO MY MOTHER.
I ATTRIBUTE ALL MY SUCCESS IN
LIFE TO THE MORAL, INTELLECTUAL,
AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION I
RECEIVED FROM HER.
THE ROLE A MOTHER PLAYS IN A
CHILD'S LIFE IS UNLIKE ANYTHING
ELSE.
SHE'S THE LIFE GIVER, THE
CAREGIVER, AND THE SOURCE OF
STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT
HER CHILDREN'S LIFE.
SHE WIPES AWAY THE TEARS, CLEANS
THE SCRAPES, AND HEALS THE HURTS
WE ALL EXPERIENCE.
NOT JUST THROUGH OUR CHILDHOOD
BUT BEYOND.
WE OWE EVERYTHING TO OUR MOMS.
AND THEY DESERVE THE RECOGNITION
AND RESPECT THEY HAVE RIGHTLY
EARNED.
MY MOTHER RAISED MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS AND ME WITH A LEVEL OF
TENDERNESS SHOWN BY NO OTHER.
US THE VIRTUES OF
HARD WORK, HUMILITY, AND
SELFLESSNESS BY LIVING EACH OF
THOSE VIRTUES HERSELF.
MY MOM IS NO LONGER WITH ME, BUT
THIS WEEKEND I WILL CELEBRATE
HER AND REMEMBER AND HONOR THE
LEGACY SHE AND EVERY MOTHER
LEAVES BEHIND.
OUR NATION MUST ALWAYS VALUE THE
WORK MOTHER'S DO AND THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TO OUR SOCIETY.
IF WE EVER FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE
WORK BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE
HOME, THEN WE BEGIN TO LOSE
SIGHT AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR
NATION.
WITHOUT OUR MOMS WE WOULD FAIL
TO REALIZE THE PROMISE WITHIN
EACH OF US FOR THEY ARE OUR
GREATEST SUPPORTERS.
THEY ARE CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES
AND VITAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO EVERY
MOTHER IN AMERICA.
WE THANK YOU AND WE HONOR YOU
FOR YOUR VALUABLE SERVICE AND
ENDLESS LOVE AND SACRIFICE.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLELADY
FROM OREGON, MRS. BONAMICI, FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
TODAY I RISE TO CONGRATULATE
OREGON'S LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL ON
WINNING THE 2012 NATIONAL FINALS
OF THE "WE THE PEOPLE
COMPETITION."
SHE'S STUDENTS WORKED DILIGENTLY
TO ACHIEVE THIS HONOR
DEMONSTRATING OUTSTANDING
TEAMWORK AND IMPRESSIVE
CONSTITUTION.
UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COUNTRY'S
WE THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZEN AND
THE CONSTITUTION, IS A CIVIC
EDUCATION CURRICULUM IN WHICH
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT OUR COUNTRY
AND GOVERNMENT WHILE PREPARING
FOR A MOCK CONGRESSIONAL
HEARING.
DURING THE HEARING STUDENTS ARE
CHALLENGED TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS,
KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT EVENTS,
ABILITY TO WORK AS A TEAM, AND
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
CONSTITUTION AND ITS ORIGINS.
AFTER WINNING OREGON'S STATE
COMPETITION, THE LINCOLN HIGH
TEAM TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON,
D.C., TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL
FINALS.
AFTER THREE DAYS OF COMPETITION
AGAINST CLASSES REPRESENTING 47
STATES, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS,
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL WAS DECLARED
THE WINNER.
TO THE STUDENTS OF LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL, OUR FUTURE LEADERS, YOUR
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IS NOT
ONLY -- HAS NOT ONLY BROUGHT YOU
THIS AWARD, IT'S MADE YOU
OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AND MODELS
FOR YOUR PEERS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE
WINNING CLASS.
AVERY, KATHERINE, MARTY, HALLY,
RYAN, DANNY, JOHN, JULIAN,
JULIA, MICHAEL, NATINA, KEN
DOCTOR, ROBIN, KATIE, SIERRA,
JOHN, EMMA, DUNCAN, WILLIAM,
SAMMY, JUST
CONTINUE, BECKETT, EMMA, SAGE,
NITA, AIRY, MOLLY, CAROLYN,
ATAYA, AND COLE.
THANK YOU TO THE CLASSROOM LAW
PROJECT FOR ORGANIZING THE
PROGRAM IN OREGON AND FOR ALL
YOU DO TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT
DEMOCRACY.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT
LEAST, I CONGRATULATE TIM
SWINEHART, THE STUDENTS'
TEACHER, WHOSE LEADERSHIP WAS
INSTRUMENTAL TO LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL'S SUCCESS AS WELL AS
THEIR COACHES, STEVE, JASON,
JEFF, CHRISTY, JENNIFER, BEN,
JONATHAN, AND ALLISON.
GREAT WORK, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL,
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM OHIO, MS.
SCHMIDT, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY IN HONOR AND IN
MEMORY OF A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF
MINE AND A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF
BROWN COUNTY, COUNTY
COMMISSIONER RICK EAGEN.
RICK'S PASSION FOR COMMUNITY
SERVICE SPANNED HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE RIPPLEY
FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALMOST 30
YEARS.
HE SERVED 14 YEARS IN LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
HE WAS ALSO A FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER AND VICE MAYOR OF
RIPPLEY, OHIO.
BUT RICK DIDN'T STOP THERE.
HE WANTED TO DO MOMPLET -- MORE.
HE WANTED TO BE COUNTY
COMMISSIONER BECAUSE HE FELT HE
COULD LEAD THE COUNTY FORWARD.
AND SO HE RAN FOR COMMISSIONER
AND LOST.
HE RAN AGAIN AND LOST.
THEY SAY THE THIRD TIME'S A
AND RICK DECIDED TO TEST
THAT WATER AND SO IN 2010 HE
THREW HIS HAT IN THE RING.
UNFORTUNATELY VERY EARLY ON HE
WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY TRAGIC
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.
ONE THAT NEARLY TOOK HIS LIFE.
IT TOOK HIS LEG.
IT TOOK HIS ABILITY TO BREATHE.
AND HE HAD A TRACHEOTOMY UNTIL A
FEW WEEKS AGO.
HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR
NEARLY A YEAR.
HE CAME OUT THAT AUGUST,
CAMPAIGNED, AND MIRACULOUSLY WON
THE ELECTION.
HIS DREAM CAME TRUE AND HE BEGAN
TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY IN
ANOTHER WAY.
HE LOVED HIS COMMUNITY.
HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY.
AND HE LOVED HIS FAMILY.
HE FOUGHT EVERY DAY TO MAKE THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
AND A FEW WEEKS AGO THE DOCTORS
BELIEVED THEY COULD CHANGE HIS
COURSE AND
TAKE THE TRACH OUT AND ALLOW HIM
TO BREATHE NORMALLY AGAIN AND
THEY DID BUT COMPLICATIONS
ENSUED AND WE LOST RICK THIS
WEEK.
I AM SO SAD FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO
HAVE LOST SUCH A DYNAMIC AND
.
WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL.
PUBLIC SERVANTS LIKE RICK ARE
HARD TO COME BY.
HIS WONDERFUL WIFE, MARGARET,
AND HIS CHILDREN, DOUGLAS AND
TIFFANY, WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE
TO LIVE WITH THAT REMARKABLE
MAN, NO LONGER BE ABLE TO LOVE
HIM AND HUG HIM AND SO I ASK
THIS BODY TO REMEMBER THOSE
LIKE RICK WHO PUT THEIR LIVES
BEFORE THEMSELVES, WORK HARD TO
MAKE OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE
, TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A
FAMILY.
AND I ASK THAT THE LORD ALLOW
COMMISSIONER RICK TO BE IN HIS
HANDS AND MAY MY DEAR FRIENDS
AND MY COMMUNITY REST IN PEACE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
QUIGLEY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, LAST WEEK THE
A.T.F. ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF
THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF ITS
MULTIPLE SALES REPORTING
PROGRAM, OR M.S.R., FOR SEMI
AUTOMATIC RIFLES.
THE NUMBERS PROVE THE M.S.R.'S
IS ALREADY AN INVALUABLE TOOL
FOR FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKING
ALONG THE SOUTHWEST BORDER.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 3,000
REPORTS OF RIFLE SALES BETWEEN
TEXAS, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.
IT HAD 120 CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY
25 CASES INVOLVING 100
DEFENDANTS HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED
FOR PROSECUTION.
THE A.T.F. ALSO REPORTED A
DECLINE IN LARGE VOLUME RIFLE
PURCHASES INDICATING THE
TRAFFICKERS ARE ALTERING THEIR
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DUE TO THE
NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
THE M.S.R. PROGRAM WAS CREATED
TO COUNTERACT THE DANGEROUS
TRAFFICKING OF GUNS ALONG OUR
BORDER WITH MEXICO.
THESE GUNS FUEL THE CARTELS WAR
IN MEXICO, DESTABILIZING OUR
SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR AND THIRD
LARGEST TRADING PARTNER.
ACCORDING TO THE A.T.F. DATA,
70% OF THE FIREARMS RECOVERED
AND TRACED FROM DRUG CARTEL
CRIMES IN MEXICO ORIGINATE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
SO IN LIGHT OF THE POSITIVE
IMPACT THE M.S.R. HAS HAD, WHAT
IS THE HOUSE VOTING TO DO THIS
WEEK?
MEASURE.
THAT'S RIGHT, REPEAL THE
A POLICY RIDER IN THE COMMERCE,
JUSTICE AND SCIENCE 2013
APPROPRIATIONS BILL WOULD CUT
ALL FUNDING FOR REPORTING THE
SALE OF MULTIPLE SEMI AUTOMATIC
RIFLES.
YES, THIS HOUSE WILL VOTE TO
BLOCK FUNDING SUCCESSFULLY
REMOVING SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLES
FROM THE UNDERGROUND GUN TRADE.
THESE ARE THE GUNS THAT
ENDANGER AMERICANS ALONG THE
BORDER AND FUEL AN ALLOUT WAR
A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY.
ENDING THE M.S.R. REQUIREMENT
IS NOT ABOUT PROTECTING
ANYONE'S RIGHTS.
REPORTING THE SALE OF MULTIPLE
SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES DOES NOT
INFRINGE ON SECOND AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
IN FACT, A SIMILAR MULTIPLE
SALES REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN IN
PLACE FOR HANDGUNS FOR OVER 20
YEARS.
THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK TAKES
GUN DEALERS 12 MINUTES TO
COMPLETE BUT CAN GIVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT CRUCIAL
INTELLIGENCE ON STRAW PURCHASED
RIFLES.
A GEORGE BUSH-APPOINTED FEDERAL
JUDGE UPHELD THE M.S.R.
REQUIREMENT, FINDING IT DID NOT
DISTURB THE BALANCE BETWEEN
REGULATION AND A GUN OWNER'S
RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
SO THE GUN LOBBY HAS NOW TURNED
TO CUTTING ITS FUNDING BECAUSE
WHY ALLOW A PROGRAM
SUCCESSFULLY FIGHTING GUN
TRAFFICKING TO CONTINUE
UNDISTURBED?
THIS HAS BECOME AN ALL-TOO
FAMILIAR EVENT FOR THE A.T.F.
WHICH IS -- HAS OPERATED UNDER
TEMPORARY LEADERSHIP SINCE 2006
TO BLOCKED CONFIRMATION IN
THE SENATE.
ACCORDING TO "THE WASHINGTON
POST," IN 2010, THE A.T.F. HAD
THE SAME NUMBER OF AGENTS IT
HAD IN 1970, WHILE THE F.B.I.
HAS GROWN BY 50% AND THE D.E.A.
BY 233%.
GUN OWNERSHIP RECORDS ARE KEPT
ON PAPER BECAUSE THE N.R.A. HAS
SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED AGAINST
FUNDING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
WITH RECORD KEEPING FROM THE
1950'S AND FUNDING FROM THE
1970'S, IT'S NO WONDER LAW
ENFORCEMENT STRUGGLES IN 2011.
SO MAYBE IT'S NOT -- 2012.
SO MAYBE IT'S NOT SURPRISING
THAT THE M.S.R. WOULD ENCOUNTER
SUCH HEATED OPPOSITION.
AN EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATIVE TOOL
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH ONLY A
NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT ON GUN
DEALERS?
THAT WOULD BE EVIDENCE OF
REGULATORY SOLUTIONS THAT CAN
WORK FOR EVERYONE.
THE DEALERS, THE BUYERS AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY THE PUBLIC.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE GUN
LOBBY DOESN'T WANT.
IF COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS LIKE
MULTIPLE SALES REPORTING CAN
STAND, WHAT'S NEXT?
REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR
SALES AT GUN SHOWS WHICH 69% OF
N.R.A. MEMBERS SUPPORT, DENYING
PEOPLE ON THE TERRORIST WATCH
LIST THE RIGHT TO BUY A GUN?
TO GUN LOBBY, THERE'S NOTHING
OUT.
SCARY THAN COMMON SENSE WINNING
SO THIS WEEK LET'S SCARE THEM,
LET'S WIN ONE FOR COMMON SENSE.
LET'S KEEP REPORTING THE SALE
OF MULTIPLE SEMI-AUTOMATIC
HANDGUNS.
RIFLES LIKE WE DO WITH
LET'S ALLOW THE A.T.F. CONTINUE
MAKING IMPROVEMENTS ON THE
SOUTHWEST BORDER.
LET'S CHOOSE WHAT'S BEST FOR
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SECURITY
AND COMMON SENSE.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
WOOLSEY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, TOMORROW THIS BODY
WILL VOTE ON A REPUBLICAN
BUDGET BILL THAT IS NOTHING
SHORT OF REPREHENSIBLE.
ONCE AGAIN, MY FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE
THE POOR AND THE
WORKING CLASS FAMILIES CONTINUE
TO SUFFER AND STRUGGLE BECAUSE
HEAVEN FORBID WE SHOULD ASK THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO DO ITS
SHARE TO MEET OUR FISCAL
CHALLENGES.
YOU CAN'T WALK IN THIS CHAMBER,
MR. SPEAKER, WITHOUT HEARING A
SELF-SERVING AND SELF-RIGHTEOUS
LECTURE FROM A MEMBER OF THE
MAJORITY ABOUT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT WHEN THEY SAY, LET'S CUT
SPENDING, WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN
IS LET'S SHRED THE SAFETY NET.
SO THEIR BILL PUTS A GIANT
BULL'S-EYE ON THE PROGRAM THAT
STRUGGLING FAMILIES NEED TO
KEEP THEIR HEADS ABOVE WATER,
ESPECIALLY IN THIS TOUGH
ECONOMY.
UNDER THEIR BILL, FEWER WOMEN
WILL GET BREAST CANCER
SCREENINGS, FEWER POOR CHILDREN
WILL GET MEALS AT SCHOOL OR
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AND 1.7
MILLION FEWER SENIORS WILL GET
MEALS ON WHEELS AND OTHER
SERVICES.
THEY ARE WILLING TO CUT
MEDICAID CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
AND CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION AND THEY WANT TO
PUSH 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE OFF THE
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM, A PROGRAM,
BY THE WAY, THAT MY FAMILY
IMMEDIATED TO SURVIVE WHEN I
WAS A SINGLE WORKING MOM MORE
THAN 40 YEARS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DONE
WITHOUT FOOD STAMPS.
BUT I GUESS THE PART OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S THE
MOST BLOATED, THE WELL-FED
BUREAUCRACY CONTINUES TO
SUPPORT THE MAJORITY LAVISHLY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THE PENTAGON, THE MILITARY
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.
EVEN THOUGH THE SEQUESTER IS
SUPPOSED TO APPLY ACROSS THE
BOARD, THE MAJORITY WANTS TO
EXEMPT DEFENSE.
THEY WANT TO MAKE DOMESTIC
PROGRAMS ABSORB ALL THE CUTS.
THAT'S THE WAY THEY DO
BUSINESS.
THEY PINCH PENNIES ON THE VERY
REAL HUMAN NEEDS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEY NICKEL AND DIME
HARDWORKING FAMILIES WHO
DESERVE A FAIR SHOT AND NEED A
HAND UP.
FOR 10 1/2 YEARS, MR. SPEAKER,
WE'VE BEEN AT WAR.
AND BETWEEN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE OUT $1.3 TRILLION.
THAT'S TRILLION WITH A T, MR.
SPEAKER.
$1.3 TRILLION WASTED ON A
POLICY THAT IS KILLING OUR
PEOPLE, HURTING OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY AND UNDERMINING OUR
STANDING IN THE WORLD.
FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR WE
COULD REPLACE PERMANENT WARFARE
WITH A SMART SECURITY PLATFORM
THAT WILL KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE
BY FOCUSING ON DEVELOPMENT,
DIPLOMACY AND INVESTMENT IN
HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN THE
DEVELOPING WORLD.
AND WE HAVE PLENTY LEFT OVER,
PLENTY TO SHORE UP THE SAFETY
FUND ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS
AND RESTORE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT REDUCING
THE DEFICIT, THEN PROGRESSIVES
ARE WILLING TO TALK, BUT THERE
HAS TO BE A SHARED SACRIFICE.
APPROACH.
THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCED
WE WON'T TAKE IT OUT ON MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
NOT WAGING A FAILED WAR THAT IS
OUR BIGGEST TICKET ITEM.
NOT WHEN WE CONTINUE TO THROW
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT COLD WAR
AIRCRAFT AND WEAPON SYSTEMS
THAT ARE SERVING ABSOLUTELY NO
PURPOSE.
NOT WHEN WE CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN A NUCLEAR ARSENAL
THAT'S ENOUGH TO DESTROY
CIVILIZATION SEVERAL TIMES
OVER.
TARGETING SOCIAL SERVICES WHILE
GIVING DEFENSE AND WAR SPENDING
A FREE PASS IS NOT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S IDEOLOGICAL WARFARE.
LET'S GET OUR PRIORITIES
STRAIGHT.
IT'S TIME TO CUT DEFENSE
SPENDING, MR. SPEAKER.
IT'S TIME TO BRING OUR TROOPS
HOME AND IT'S TIME TO REINVEST
IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE
I YIELD BACK.
TIME IS NOW.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM ALABAMA, MS.
SEWELL, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
AMERICA'S POSTAL WORKERS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, SENIOR CITIZENS AND
RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS
NATION.
I STAND BEFORE THIS CHAMBER
GRATEFUL CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES'
POSTAL SERVICE AND THE IMPACT
OF ITS FISCAL CRISIS ON
COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA.
THE POST OFFICE IS AN ICONIC
AMERICAN INSTITUTION, WOVEN IN
THE FABRIC OF OUR EVERYDAY
LIVES.
FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS, THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED
STATES POSTAL SERVICE HAVE
FULFILLED THEIR MISSION TO
DELIVER UNIVERSAL, TRUSTED,
TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AMERICANS DEPEND ON THE POSTAL
SERVICE, RAIN OR SHINE, SIX
DAYS A WEEK, FROM MONTANA TO
ALABAMA, FROM NEW YORK TO
CALIFORNIA, FROM FLORIDA TO
ALASKA.
WHETHER IT'S OVERNIGHT, FLAT
RATE, FIRST CLASS, THE UNITED
STATES POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERS.
TODAY, THE POSTAL SERVICE IS
TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF
INSOLVENCY AND ITS FUTURE
REMAINS UNCERTAIN.
SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN FIRST
CLASS MAIL VOLUME, EVOLVING
CONSUMER TRENDS AND THE
INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES IN
OPERATING COSTS MEAN THAT THE
POSTAL SERVICE MUST REDUCE ITS
FOOTPRINT.
RE-ORGANIZE TO REMAIN VIABLE IN
THE 21ST CENTURY.
ON MAY 15, THE MORATORIUM ON
POSTAL CLOSURE WILL BE LIFTED
AND THOUSANDS OF POST OFFICES
AND MAIL PROCESSING FACILITIES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WILL BE
TARGETED FOR CLOSURE.
IF CONGRESS DOES NOT ACT, THE
LIFTING OF THIS MORATORIUM
COULD MARK THE BEGINNING OF A
SLOW AND PAINFUL PROCESS OF
DOWNSIZING, LAYOFFS AND
RE-ORGANIZATION FOR THE U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE.
WE MUST TAKE SWIFT AND DECISIVE
ACTION TO CREATE A MORE
EFFICIENT BUSINESS MODEL FOR
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE.
I BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTMENT IN
THE FUTURE OF THE POSTAL
SERVICE IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR
ECONOMY, IN SMALL BUSINESSES
AND IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT REQUIRES OUR PROMPT
ATTENTION AND DESERVES OUR
IMMEDIATE ACTION.
SO MUCH'S AT STAKE IN THIS
POSTAL REFORM.
WE KNOW THAT REFORM IS
NECESSARY GIVEN THE CURRENT
MARKET REALITY, BUT WE CANNOT
REFORM THE POSTAL SERVICE ON
THE BACKS OF THE RURAL AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY.
FOR SO MANY OF THESE
COMMUNITIES, THE POST OFFICE IS
THE MEETING PLACE, THE PLACE
WHERE YOU SEND YOUR PACKAGES
AND RECEIVE YOUR MEDICINE.
THE LIFTING OF THE MORATORIUM
ON MAY 15 IS AN ISSUE OF UTMOST
CONCERN TO THE CONSTITUENTS
THAT I REPRESENT IN ALABAMA.
HILL,
MAGNOLIA AND SAWYERVILLE,
ALABAMA, THE LOCAL POST OFFICE
IS MUCH MORE THAN A PLACE FOR
SENDING AND RECEIVING MAIL.
POST OFFICES ARE THE VITAL
LIFELINES FOR THESE RURAL
ISOLATED COMMUNITIES.
THESE LIFELINES MUST BE
PRESERVED AND PROTECTED.
I AM SURE THAT WE AS AMERICANS
MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL
AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE AND
EFFICIENT POSTAL SERVICE.
CONSIDER THE RIPPLE EFFECT AND
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE
CLOSURE OF A POST OFFICE.
HOW IT MAY AFFECT AN ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
IMAGINE SMALL TOWN AMERICA
WHERE THE POST OFFICE LIES AT
THE HEART OF ITS COMMUNITY, AN
INTEGRAL PART OF ITS HISTORY
AND IDENTITY.
THIS IS THE CASE IN MANY OF THE
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MY
DISTRICT.
CLOSURES WILL HURT MYRTLEWOOD,
ALABAMA, AND SO MANY ACROSS
THIS NATION.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANNOT
AFFORD TO REDUCE SERVICES,
LOWER COSTS ON THE BACKS OF
THESE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
YES, WE MUST ALL BUCKLE UP.
WE MUST ALL DECIDE TO SHOW
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IN THESE MARKET CONDITIONS
WE KNOW THAT REDUCTIONS ARE
NECESSARY, BUT SURELY WE CAN DO
SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE REDUCTIONS ARE NOT ON THE
BACKS OF THE RURAL, UNDERSERVED
AND UNDERPRIVILEGED
COMMUNITIES.
MANY OF THE POSTAL SERVICES
THAT ARE BEING OFFERED ARE
COMMUNITIES.
IRREPLACIBLE IN THESE
FOR SENIORS WHO CAN'T LEAVE
THEIR HOMES, MAIL CARRIERS
DELIVER LIFE-SAVING MEDICATION,
AND FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, BULK
AND FLAT RATE MAIL ENABLE THEM
TO GROW AND CREATE JOBS.
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE PROVIDES AMERICANS WITH
UNIVERSAL AND INVALUABLE
SERVICE AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO COME TOGETHER AND
PASS A BIPARTISAN,
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE
FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES
THAT WILL NOT
AFFECT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
.
MORAN, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO VOICE MY
STRONG OBJECTION TO AN UNWEISS
-- AN UNWEISS AND DANGEROUS
POLICY PROVISION INCLUDED IN THE
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL ON THE FLOOR
TODAY.
IT WOULD UNDERMINE THE ABILITY
OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
INVESTIGATE AND CURB GUN
TRAFFICKING ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
BORDER.
IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR THE
A.T.F. BEGAN A PROGRAM TO
ACQUIRE LICENSED GUN DEALERS IN
THE FOUR MOST DANGEROUS BORDER
STATES TO REPORT WHEN AN
INDIVIDUAL BUYS MULTIPLE ASSAULT
DAYS.
RIFLES WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS
JUST AS ALL DEALERS HAVE
REPORTED MULTIPLE HANDGUN SALES
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THE CURRENT RULE IS NARROWLY
TAILORED TO GENERATE USEFUL
INTELLIGENCE ON ILLEGAL GUN
TRAFFICKING BY MEXICAN DRUG
CARTELS.
ACCORDING TO A.T.F. DATA, 70% OF
FIREARMS RECOVERED AND TRACED IN
DRUG CARTEL CRIMES IN MEXICO
ORIGINATED FROM THE UNITED
STATES.
WE KNOW THAT SEMIAUTOMATIC AND
ASSAULT RIFLES SOLD ON THE BOARD
FUEL MEXICAN CARTEL VIOLENCE,
VIOLENCE THAT HAS KILLED MORE
THAN 47,000 PEOPLE IN MEXICO,
INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF POLICE
AND MILITARY PERSONNEL.
THIS LULE IS WORKERING -- THIS
RULE IS WORKING, JUST THE PAST
NINE MONTHS A.T.F. OPENED MORE
THAN 120 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
BASED ON MULTIPLE ASSAULT RIFLE
SALES REPORTS.
AND THIS ACTION IS
CONSTITUTIONAL.
THE RULE IS CONSTITUTIONAL.
THE AUTHORITY TO OPERATE SUCH A
PROGRAM HAS BEEN UPHELD BY
FEDERAL COURTS.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THE
LEGAL AUTHORITY.
BUT THIS BILL WE WILL VOTE ON
TODAY AT THE BEHEST OF THE
N.R.A. AND OTHER GUN GROUPS
WOULD BLOCK FUNDING FOR THIS
VITAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS ONLY THE
LATEST IN A LONG LIST OF
IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION THIS IS
CONGRESS HAS TAKEN ON GUN
POLICY.
SUCH AS LOADED FIREARMS ARE NOW
PERMITTED IN NATIONAL PARKS.
THE D.C. VOTING RIGHTS BILL THAT
ENJOYED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WAS
SCUTTLED, SCUTTLED BY REQUIRING
RESTRICTIONS OF THE D.C. CITY
COUNCIL REGARDING THE TYPE OF
GUN SAFETY LAWS THAT THEY COULD
ENACT IF THEY WANTED THEIR RIGHT
FOR A VOTE.
RESTRICTIONS BLOCKING STATE AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCESS TO
IMPORTANT CRIME TRACE DATA WERE
MADE PERMANENT.
JUST LAST YEAR THE HOUSE PASSED
LEGISLATION TO OVERRIDE THE
CONCEAL CARRY REQUIREMENTS OF
INDIVIDUAL STATES, ESTABLISHING
A LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR
FEDERAL STANDARD.
IN SPITE OF ALL THESE ACTIONS TO
WEAKEN GUN LAWS, JUDGING BY THE
OUTLANDISH STATEMENTS FROM THE
N.R.A. YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE
SECOND AMENDMENT WAS UNDER
CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE N.R.A.
SAID LAST YEAR THAT THE CLAIM
THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
HAS DONE VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO
RESTRICT THE RIGHTS OF GUN
OWNERS, AND I QUOTE, HE SAID, IS
A BIG FAT STINKING LIE.
THAT'S HIS QUOTE.
HE WENT FURTHER TO CLAIM THAT
THE PRESIDENT'S LACK OF ACTION
IS ALL PART OF AS IN AIVE OBAMA
CONSPIRACY TO DECEIVE VOTERS
THAT HIDE HIS TRUE INTENTIONS TO
DESTROY THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN
OUR COUNTRY, AGAIN ANOTHER
QUOTE.
ACTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK
LOUDER THAN WORDS, BUT
APPARENTLY FOR SOME PEOPLE
CRACEY CONSPIRACY FANTASY --
CRAZY CONSPIRACY FANTASIES SPEAK
LOUDEST OF ALL.
INSTEAD OF WEAKENING GUN LAWS
FURTHER, WE SHOULD BE PASSING
COMMONSENSE MEASURES THAT ARE
OF AMERICANS.
SUPPORTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY
IN FACT, ACCORDING TO A POLL
CONDUCTED BY A REPUBLICAN
POLLSTER, 82% OF N.R.A. MEMBERS
AND 86 OF NONN.R.A. GUN OWNERS
SUPPORT PROHIBITING SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS FROM PURCHASING GUNS.
69% OF N.R.A. MEMBERS AND 85% OF
NON-N.R.A. GUN OWNERS SUPPORT
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL GUNS
HELD AT GUN SHOWS, YET THE
N.R.A. OPPOSES IT.
THERE ARE BILLS INTRODUCED IN
CONGRESS RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS
THESE TWO ISSUES THAT DENYING
FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES TO
DANGEROUS TERRORISTS AND THE
FIXED GUN CHECK ACT.
NEITHER ONE HAS RECEIVED SO MUCH
AS A SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING IN
THIS CONGRESS.
INSTEAD WE ARE DEBATING A BILL
THAT INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT
WOULD REMOVE A MODEST YET
VALUABLE TOOL FOR FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO STOP THE ILLEGAL
SMUGGLING OF FIREARMS.
WHERE ARE OUR PRIORITIES?
I DO WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN WOLF
AND RANKING MEMBER FATTAH FOR
THE
C.J.S. BILL FOR MIXED
AMENDMENTS, IT'S A $7 MILLION
INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR, THAT'S
PROGRESS.
BUT THE FACT THAT THE PROGRAM
THAT ASSISTS STATES IN THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND UPGRADE OF
INFORMATION SUCH AS MENTAL
HEALTH RECORDS AND DATA BASES
USED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
FOR FIREARMS PURCHASE, IF WE HAD
THAT PERHAPS OUR COLLEAGUE WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN SHOT.
IT'S THE LONG-TIME SINCE WE
SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS, BUT
INCREASED FUNDING IS A STEP IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION --
DIRECTION, BUT THE INCLUSION OF
THE A.T.F. PROVISION IS NOT.
IT WILL ONLY SERVE TO UNDERMINE
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S
ABILITY TO STOP ILLEGAL GUN
TRAFFICKING.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO STOP
WEAKONNING GUN POLICY TO SERVE
THE NARROW INTEREST OF THE GUN
LOBBY AND START ENACTING LAWS
THAT PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE