THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF JANUARY 17, 2012, THE CHAIR WILL NOW…

PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF JANUARY 17, 2012, THE CHAIR WILL NOW RECOGNIZE MEMBERS FROM LISTS SUBMITTED BY THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS FOR MORNING HOUR DEBATE. THE CHAIR WILL ALTERNATE RECOGNITION BETWEEN THE PARTIES WITH EACH PARTY LIMITED TO ONE HOUR AND EACH MEMBER OTHER THAN THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS AND MINORITY WHIP LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES EACH. BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE CONTINUE BEYOND 1:50 P.M. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. POE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MR. POE

UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES, REVISE AND EXTEND…

UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES, REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MR. POE

MR. SPEAKER, THE COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD THE GREAT RULER AND HIS…

MR. SPEAKER, THE COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD THE GREAT RULER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION. HE COSTS TOO MUCH. HE SPENDS TOO MUCH. HE TAXES TOO MUCH. HE REGULATES TOO MUCH. HE CUTS DEFENSE TOO MUCH. HE GROWS THE GOVERNMENT TOO MUCH. HE DIVIDES THE PEOPLE TOO MUCH. HE BLAMES OTHERS TOO MUCH. HE CONTROLS OUR LIVES TOO MUCH. HE DESPISES CRITICISM TOO MUCH. HE SAYS NO TO DOMESTIC ENERGY TOO MUCH. HE OBSTRUCTS DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO TOO MUCH. HE SAYS YES TO OPEC TOO MUCH. HE SUBSIDIZES BANKRUPT GREEN ENERGY TOO MUCH. HE IGNORES THE BORDER TOO MUCH. HE SUES STATES TOO MUCH. HE INFRINGES ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TOO MUCH. HE TRIES TO MAKE AMERICANS DEPENDENT ON THE GOVERNMENT TOO MUCH. HE LIKES GIVING AWAY SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY TOO MUCH. HE CAMPAIGNS TOO MUCH. HE EXPANDS GOVERNMENT TOO MUCH. HE BORROWS TOO MUCH. HE TAXES PEOPLE WHO DIE TOO MUCH. HE TAXES PEOPLE WHO LIVE TOO MUCH. HE LIKES THE WORD TRILLION TOO MUCH. HE INCREASES UNEMPLOYMENT TOO MUCH. HE LIKES THE PHRASE MORE DEFICIT TOO MUCH. HE LETS GASOLINE PRICES RISE TOO MUCH. HE MAKES HEALTH CARE COST TOO MUCH. HE IGNORES THE CONSTITUTION TOO MUCH. AND HE PANDERS TO RADICAL INTEREST GROUPS TOO MUCH. HE BERATES CAPITALISM TOO MUCH. HE REFUSES TO COMPROMISE TOO MUCH. AND HE REALLY LIKES BIG GOVERNMENT TOO MUCH. MR. SPEAKER, WE CANNOT AFFORD THE GREAT RULER AND ESPECIALLY HIS ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. CONNOLLY, FOR FIVE…

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. CONNOLLY, FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MR. CONNOLLY

ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES, REVISE AND…

ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES, REVISE AND EXTEND.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MR. CONNOLLY

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. OF COURSE, THOSE WATCHING ON TELEVISION AND HERE…

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. OF COURSE, THOSE WATCHING ON TELEVISION AND HERE IN THE HOUSE I ASSUME MY FRIEND FROM TEXAS WAS TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. CERTAINLY HE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA. BUT I WANT TO TALK TODAY ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. THE RESIDENTS OF MY NORTHERN VIRGINIA DISTRICT ENDURE ONE OF THE WORST COMMUTES IN THE NATION. EACH CITIZEN SPENDS AN AVERAGE OF 74 HOURS STUCK IN TRAFFIC. COSTING THE AVERAGE COMMUTER NEARLY $1,500 A YEAR IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY AND CONSUMPTION. THEY ARE UNDERSTANDABLY FED UP WITH CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC AND THEY WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO GET THERE ON TIME. THEY WANT TO ATTEND CHILD SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE HALF A DAY OFF FROM WORK. THE UNMET NEEDS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA ALONE TOP $600 MILLION A YEAR. ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA THEY EXCEED $100 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. MY CONSTITUENTS AND I ARE READY FOR A ROBUST TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT WILL REPAIR OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND EXPAND OR COMMUTING OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY TRANSIT. SADLY H.R. 7 IS NOT THAT BILL AND IT'S LAUGHABLE FOR THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY TO CLAIM OTHERWISE. THEIR PLAN WILL CUT INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORTATION AND NATION'S CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND WILL CUT NOT CREATE JOBS. IN HIGHWAY FUNDING ALONE VIRGINIA WILL LOSE $361 MILLION UNDER THIS PROPOSAL. COMPARED TO CURRENT FUNDING. H.R. 7 COMPLETELY ELIMINATES BUS AND BUS FACILITY FUNDING FOR THE WASHINGTON AREA METRO SYSTEM AND THE NATION'S OTHER METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITIES. JUST FIVE STATES OUT OF 50 WILL RECEIVE MORE HIGHWAY DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. ALL THE REST ARE LOSERS. THIS BILL ELIMINATES ALL DEDICATED USER FUNDING FOR TRANSIT, COUNTING EVEN THE CONSERVATIVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO URGE CONGRESS TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL. NATIONALLY THIS BILL WILL CUT $16 BILLION AND RESULT IN THE LOSS OF MORE THAN HALF A MILLION JOBS. WHICH WILL SERVE AS AN ABRUPT SPEED BUMP FOR OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. MR. SPEAKER, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. WE CAN AND MUST DO BETTER. 26 BUSINESS LEADERS IN MY COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE PRIM AND FAIRFAX CHAMBERS OF -- PRINCE WILLIAM AND FAIRFAX CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS SIGNED A RESOLUTION WHICH THEY SAID QUOTE NEW TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN INVESTMENT NOT A COST. AND FAILURE TO INVEST WILL RESULT IN ECONOMIC DECLINE. THEY'RE RIGHT. THEY HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT MAKING SIGNIFICANT NEW DEDICATED AND RELIABLE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE. DUE TO THIS LACK OF INVESTMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, FEDERAL REVENUES ARE NOW THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN MY STATE. THAT'S WHY $500 MILLION IN STATE DOLLARS ARE DIVERTED ANNUALLY FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION TO SIMPLY MAINTENANCE AS MORE AND MORE ROADWAYS DETERIORATE ALONG WITH THEM OUR COMPETITIVENESS FOR ATTRACTING NEW EMPLOYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. BUT IT'S NOT JUST ROADS. MY COMMUNITY SUPPORTS A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES BUS AND VAN POOLS, COMMUTER AND RAIL, AND MASS TRANSIT. WE HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST TRANSIT USERSHIP IN THE NATION, YET OUR SUCCESS IN GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND OFF THE ROADS IS NOW IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THIS BILL. ELIMINATING DEDICATED FUNDING FOR TRANSIT. BREAKING UP 0-YEAR COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO -- 30-YEAR COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT MULTIMODAL OPTIONS FOR COMMUTERS ACROSS AMERICA. UNDER THIS PROPOSAL MONEY THAT'S BEEN DEDICATED TO TRANSIT WILL GO TO HIGHWAYS, A ONE-TIME GENERAL FUND TRANSFER OF $40 BILLION IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE UP FOR IT. AND TO FURTHER SALT THE WOUNDS OF MY CONSTITUENTS, MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSED TO PAY FOR THAT ONE-TIME GENERAL FUND TRANSFER BY GUTTING THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. AS A RESULT OF THE TWO-YEAR PAY FREEZE, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE ALREADY CONTRIBUTED $60 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO DEFICIT REDUCTION, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THIS NEW PROPOSAL WOULD PILE ON BY INCREASING OUT-OF-POCKET RETIREMENT COSTS BY AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE REDUCING OVERALL BENEFITS BY 40%. ONCE AGAIN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS USING DEDICATE THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE -- DEDICATED FEDERAL WORKERS AS A PUNCHING BAG POLITICALLY AND DISCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EVEN CONSIDERING A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE. LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN BILL WILL ACTUALLY REDUCE SPENDING IN TRANSPORTATION, END THE RELIABLE USER FEE FUNDING SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1956, SHIFTING THE BURDEN ON TO THE BACKS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. THAT'S NOT PROGRESS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. IN FACT, IT WILL JUST MAKE CONGESTION WORSE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DEFEAT THIS BILL AND WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN ALTERNATIVE. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE IN RECESS…

PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00 P.M. TODAY.

MISS FOX

TO CLAUSE 1, RULE 1, I DEMAND A VOTE ON AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL…

TO CLAUSE 1, RULE 1, I DEMAND A VOTE ON AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE QUESTION IS ON AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL. SO…

THE QUESTION IS ON AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL. SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA SEEK RECOGNITION?

MS. FOXX

ON THAT I DEMAND THE YEAS AND NAYS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 , FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION ARE…

PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 , FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION ARE POSTPONED. -- THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL PLEASE RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 , FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION ARE POSTPONED. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, MR. WILSON.

MR. WILSON

EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR GUESTS IN THE GALLERY, PLEASE JOIN ME. I PLEDGE…

EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR GUESTS IN THE GALLERY, PLEASE JOIN ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTARIAN REQUEST FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES. FOR WHAT…

THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTARIAN REQUEST FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA RISE?

MR. WILSON

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. WILSON

SPEAKER, YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT RELEASED HIS BUDGET FOR 2013 WHICH CALLS…

SPEAKER, YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT RELEASED HIS BUDGET FOR 2013 WHICH CALLS FOR A CUT IN DEFENSE SPENDING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1998. BY ALMOST $500 BILLION. IT IS CLEAR THE PRESIDENT IS SIMPLY TAKING RESOURCES AWAY FROM OUR MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND USING THE FUNDS TO GROW THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE MORE UNSUSTAINABLE DOMESTIC PROGRAMS. PUTTING SENIOR CITIZENS AT RISK OF A DEVALUED DOLLAR AND BURDENING YOUNG PEOPLE AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH CRUSHING DEBT. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON STOPPING DEFENSE CUTS SEQUESTRATION, THE PRESIDENT IS PUTTING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK AND OUR ALLIES IN JEOPARDY DURING A TIME OF INTERNATIONAL INSTABILITY. CUTTING OUR DEFENSE BUDGET WITH RECORD BREAKING TAX INCREASES DESTROYING JOBS WILL NOT REDUCE THE NATIONAL DEFICIT BUT ONLY A DIVERSION OF FUNDS. I URGE THE PRESIDENT TO RECOGNIZE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS NATIONAL TO THE DEFENSE TO PROVIDE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, WE WILL NEVER FORGET SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE?

MS. EDWARDS

TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MS. EDWARDS

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA RISE?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA RISE?

MR. PITTS

TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. PITTS

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL CELEBRATE WITH A BOX OF CHOCOLATES OR CANDY.…

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL CELEBRATE WITH A BOX OF CHOCOLATES OR CANDY. ALL TOLD CONSUMERS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND MORE THAT $1.5 BILLION -- MILLION ON CANDY THIS HOLIDAY. WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS GOVERNMENT SUGAR CONTROLS ARE MAKING THAT HEART SHAPED BOX MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT NEEDS TO BE. WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT AMERICAN COMPANIES ARE STRUGGLING TO COMPETE AGAINST FOREIGN PRODUCERS WHO PAY HALF AS MUCH FOR SUGAR. BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT PRICE SUPPORTS, MARKETING ALLOTMENTS, AND INPORT QUOTEOS, U.S. CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES PAY ALMOST DOUBLE THE AVERAGE WORLD MARKET PRICE FOR SUGAR. BY SOME ESTIMATES THIS COULD BE COSTING US MORE THAN 20,000 JOBS. MANY OF US WHO HAVE WATCHED GOOD JOBS LOST BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES THE PROFITS OF A RELATIVELY SMALL GROUP OF GROWERS AND PRODUCERS. REFORMING OUR SUGAR PROGRAM ISN'T A PARTISAN ISSUE WHICH IS WHY I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO INTRODUCE H.R. 138 A 5, THE FREE MARKET SUGAR ACT WITH MY FRIEND FROM CHICAGO, DANNY DAVIS. MAY NEXT VALENTINE'S DAY CAN BE SWEETER FOR AMERICAN WORKERS AND CONSUMERS. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA RISE?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

>>

YOU. SIR. IN 2010 THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DELIVERED A $250 CHECK TO…

YOU. SIR. IN 2010 THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DELIVERED A $250 CHECK TO SENIORS IN MY DISTRICT WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO COVER THE GAP BETWEEN THE COST OF THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND THEIR MEDICARE COVERAGE.

MR. CARSON

SAME SENIORS BENEFITED FROM AN AVERAGE SAVINGS OF $248 ON THEIR…

SAME SENIORS BENEFITED FROM AN AVERAGE SAVINGS OF $248 ON THEIR MEDICATION. FOR MY WELL-MEANING REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO SAY HEALTH REFORM IS HURTING MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES, I ASK THEM TO IMAGINE SPENDING TWO AND THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PER MONTH. FOR MOST SENIORS $648 IS A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. AND IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WILL PROVIDE 340R EFFICIENT CARE BY BUNDLING MEDICARE SERVICES INVESTED IN OUR HEALTH CARE WORK FORCE, AND FOCUSING ON QUALITY. REPLACING MEDICARE WITH VOUCHERS WOULD ERASE THE PROGRESS WE HAVE ALREADY MADE TOWARD PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE AND LEAD TO FEWER CHOICES FOR BENEFICIARIES. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO WORK WITH ME ON SOLUTIONS THAT GUARANTEE CONTINUED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR OUR SENIORS. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?

MR. BURGESS

TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. REVISE AND EXTEND.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. BURGESS

MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COLLEAGUE, FELLOW TEXAN, A…

MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COLLEAGUE, FELLOW TEXAN, A VETERAN, TRUE AMERICAN HERO. CONGRESSMAN SAM JOHNSON SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FOR 29 YEARS. DURING SERVICE HE FLUE 62 -- FLEW 62 COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE KOREAN WAR AND 25 MISSIONS IN VIETNAM. WHILE FLYING HIS 25TH MISSION, HE WAS SHOT DOWN AND CAPTURED IN NORTH VIETNAM. ON FEBRUARY 12, 1973, AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT, CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON WAS RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AND REUNITED WITH HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. THIS WEEK WE HONOR CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON AND CELEBRATE THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS HOMECOMING. THROUGH THE YEARS OF AGONY HE PERSEVERED AND LEFT VIETNAM WITH THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN FIGHTING FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE ALL CALLED TO OFFICE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. FOR MEMBERS OF MY CLASS 10 YEARS AGO IT WAS A TRAGIC EVENT OF SEPTEMBER 11. FOR CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON IT WAS HIS IMPRISONMENT THAT EMPOWDERED HIM. IT IS AN HONOR TO CELEBRATE A MAN WHO HAS GIVEN NOT ONLY PART OF HIS LIFE TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS BUT A MAN WHO CONTINUES TO REPRESENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM AMERICAN SAMOA REVISE AND EXTEND?

MR. FALEOMAVAEGA

I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO DREM. REVISE AND EXTEND.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MR. FALEOMAVAEGA

SPEAKER, THE HOUSING CRISIS PLUNGED OUR ECONOMY INTO A RECESSION WE ARE…

SPEAKER, THE HOUSING CRISIS PLUNGED OUR ECONOMY INTO A RECESSION WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME. HOMEOWNERSHIP IS AT THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND YET OVER 10 MILLION AMERICAN FAMILIES NOW OWN MORE THAN THEIR HOME THAN WHAT IT'S WORTH. PRESIDENT OBAMA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PLAN THAT WOULD GIVE HOMEOWNERS A CHANCE TO SAVE HUNDREDS MONTHLY AND APPROXIMATELY $3,000 YEARLY ON THEIR MORTGAGES BY REFINANCING AT HISTORICALLY LOW INTEREST RATES. UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PLAN, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO EXPEND THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE HOME AFFORD AND MODIFICATION PROGRAM TO BORROWERS WITH HIGHER DEBT LOANS AND TRIPLE INCENTIVES PAID TO BANKS TO REDUCE PRINCIPAL ON LOANS AND HELP BORROWERS REBUILD. THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO EXTENDING IT TO DECEMBER, 2013, TO HELP RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS TO LOWER THEIR COSTS AND STAY THIS NIR HOMES. I THANK PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR HIS PROPOSAL THAT WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICAN NEAMS. I THANK THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS COMMITMENT TO HELPING AMERICAN FAMILIES MOVE FORWARD. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?

>>

REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. REVISE AND…

REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

>>

THE SUPREME COURT WILL SOON TAKE UP THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONALIZED HEALTH…

THE SUPREME COURT WILL SOON TAKE UP THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE LAW.

MR. POE

DOWN IN HISTORY AS IT AFFECTS EVERYONE AMERICAN. UNLESS EVERY CITIZEN HAS…

DOWN IN HISTORY AS IT AFFECTS EVERYONE AMERICAN. UNLESS EVERY CITIZEN HAS THE SEAT INSIDE THE SUPREME COURT, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS OR HEAR THE QUESTIONS BY THE JUSTICES. THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE JUSTICE IN ACTION. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PROCEEDINGS ON TV MUCH LIKE THEY DO WITH C-SPAN WHEN CONGRESS IS IN SESSION. I KNOW CAMERAS CAN BE PLACED IN A COURTROOM WITHOUT DISRUPTION BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST JUDGES IN TEXAS TO ALLOW AN UNOBTRUSIVE CAMERA IN THE COURTROOM. I DID SO WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM AND PROVED THE CYNICS WRONG. A LACK OF SEATING CAPACITY IS NO REASON TO DENY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE SUPREME COURT. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE AND ALL ACCESS PASS TO WATCH THE HIGH COURT IN ACTION. THE SUPREME COURT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COURT IN THE WORLD. LET THE WORLD KNOW WHAT TAKES PLACE BEHIND THOSE CLOSED DOORS. LET CAMERAS AND THE PEOPLE IN. THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?

>>

REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

>>

SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT ASSURED AMERICAN SENIORS THAT UNDER…

SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT ASSURED AMERICAN SENIORS THAT UNDER HIS HEALTH CARE PACKAGE THEIR INSURANCE PLANS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME HEALTH CARE CHOICES AS BEFORE THE LAW.

MS. BUERKLE

MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW MAKES…

MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW MAKES DRASTIC CUTS TO THE MEDICARE PROGRAM BY MORE THAN $136 BILLION. WITH THESE CUTS, MR. SPEAKER, MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN WHAT THEY COVER. THOSE REDUCTIONS WILL LIMIT SENIORS' ABILITY TO CHOOSE THE MEDICARE PLAN THAT BEST SUITS THEM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT THE CUTS WILL HIT LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND THE DISABLED WITH DISPROPORTIONATE CUTS. ABOUT 70% OF THE CUTS WILL BE IMPOSED ON THOSE WITH INCOMES BELOW $32,4 UPPED00 -- $32,00 PER YEAR. IT WILL GIVE THE 120,000 SENIORS IN MY DISTRICT WHO CHOOSE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE FEW CHOICES AND INCREASED COSTS. MR. SPEAKER, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO WORK WITH ME TO PROTECT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?

>>

TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MRS. MCMORRIS RODGERS

RODGERS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT…

RODGERS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT IS ON THE MINDS OF EVERY SENIOR IN AMERICA AND THAT QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE? AND WHAT IS THIS CONGRESS DOING TO PROTECT IT? THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WHICH WAS RELEASED JUST YESTERDAY FAILS TO ADDRESS THE INEVITABLE BANKRUPTCY THIS PROGRAM FACES. HIS BUDGET INCLUDES A RECORD BUDGET DEFICIT, HIS BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES OVER $2 TRILLION IN TAX INCREASE THAT IS WILL NOT ONLY DESTROY JOBS BUT DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE. WE KNOW THAT OBAMACARE CUT $500 BILLION OUT OF MEDICARE. . AND NOW THE PRESIDENT IN HIS BUDGET IS ASKING FOR $350 BILLION IN CUTS. THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE BILL IS DESTROYING A PROGRAM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT SENIORS. IT'S LIMITING ACCESS, INCREASING COSTS AND LOWERING QUALITY CARE. ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE DOCTORS LIMITS THE NUMBER OF MEDICARE PATIENTS THEY SEE. JUST TRY TO FIND A DOCTOR IN EASTERN WASHINGTON WHO WILL TAKE A NEW MEDICARE PATIENT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE MUST DO BETTER. THANK YOU.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA RISE?

MS. FOXX

TO -- FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, MR.…

TO -- FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, MR. SPEAKER.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MS. FOXX

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S INTERESTING THAT OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE…

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S INTERESTING THAT OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO HIDE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CUTS TO MEDICARE THAT CAME WITH OBAMACARE AND THOSE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS RECOMMENDED IN HIS BUDGET. HOWEVER, THE TRUTH WILL OUT. THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE TAKEOVER, LIKE HIS LATEST BUDGET, IS BAD FOR OUR NATION'S SENIORS. ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE AND TAX INCREASE LAW SLASHED MONEY FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS USED BY MILLIONS OF SENIORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO AN OCTOBER "FORBES" ARTICLE, THE AVERAGE BENEFICIARY, ACCORDING THOSE WHO STAY IN THE STRIPPEDDOWN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM WILL ACCRUE $3,700 IN BENEFITS BY 2017. THAT WILL AFFECT THE 40,000 IN MY MOSTLY RURAL NORTH CAROLINA DISTRICT WHO ENJOY THOSE PLANS. SO MUCH FOR THE PRESIDENT'S PROMISE THAT, "IF YOU LIKE YOUR PLAN YOU CAN KEEP IT." THAT'S JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY I VOTED AGAINST THE HEALTH CARE LAW AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ITS REPEAL. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A COMMUNICATION.

THE CLERK

THE HONORABLE THE SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT TO THE…

THE HONORABLE THE SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN CLAUSE 2-H OF RULE 2 OF THE RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CLERK RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012, AT 10:25 A.M. THAT THE SENATE PASSED WITHOUT AMENDMENT H.R. 1162. WITH BEST WISHES I AM, SIGNED SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A COMMUNICATION.

THE CLERK

THE HONORABLE THE SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT TO THE…

THE HONORABLE THE SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN CLAUSE 2-H OF RULE 2 OF THE RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I HAVE THE HONOR TO TRANSMIT A SEALED ENVELOPE RECEIVED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 13, 2012, AT 2:14 P.M. AND SAID TO CONTAIN A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT WHEREBY HE SMITS HIS BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES -- SUBMITS HIS BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013. WITH BEST WISHES I AM. SIGNED SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS, CLERK OF THE HOUSE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CLERK WILL READ THE MESSAGE.

THE CLERK

WAS BUILT ON THE IDEA THAT ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO WORK HARD AND PLAY BY…

WAS BUILT ON THE IDEA THAT ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO WORK HARD AND PLAY BY THE RULES CAN MAKE IT IF THEY TRY NO MATTER WHERE THEY STARTED OUT. BY GIVING EVERY AMERICAN A FAIR SHOT, ASKING EVERYONE TO DO THEIR FAIR SHARE AND ENSURING THAT EVERYONE PLAYED BY THE SAME RULES, WE BUILT THE GREAT AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS AND MADE OUR COUNTRY A MODEL FOR THE WORLD. TODAY, AMERICA IS STILL HOME TO THE WORLD'S BEST UNIVERSITIES, MOST PRODUCTIVE WORKERS AND MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES. BUT FOR MANY AMERICANS, THE BASIC BARGAIN AT THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS ERODED. LONG BEFORE THIS RECESSION HIT, THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD FEELING THAT HARD WORK HAD STOPPED PAYING OFF, THAT FEWER AND FEWER OF THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ECONOMY ACTUALLY BENEFITED FROM THAT SUCCESS. THOSE AT THE VERY TOP GREW WEALTHIER WHILE EVERYONE ELSE STRUGGLED WITH PAYCHECKS THAT DID NOT KEEP UP WITH THE RISING COST OF EVERYTHING, FROM COLLEGE TUITION TO GROCERIES, AND AS A RESULT TOO MANY FAMILIES FOUND THEMSELVES TAKING ON MORE AND MORE DEBT JUST TO KEEP UP, OFTEN PAPERED OVER BY MOUNTING CREDIT CARD BILLS AND HOME EQUITY LOANS. THEN, IN THE MIDDLE OF 2008, THE HOUSE OF CARDS COLLAPSED. TOO MANY MORTGAGES HAD BEEN SOLD TO PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD OR EVEN UNDERSTAND THEM. BANKS HAD PACKAGED TOO MANY RISKY LOANS INTO SECURITIES AND THEN SOLD THEM TO INVESTORS WHO WERE MISLED OR MISINFORMED BY THE RISK INVOLVED. HUGE BETS HAD BEEN MADE AND HUGE BONUSES HAD BEEN PAID OUT WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. AND THE REGULATORS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE CRISIS EITHER LOOKED THE OTHER WAY OR DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ACT. IN THE END, THIS GROWING DEBT AND IRRESPONSIBILITY HELPED TRIGGERED THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. COMBINED WITH NEW TAX CUTS AND NEW MANDATORY PROGRAMS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN PAID FOR, IT THREW OUR COUNTRY INTO A DEEP FISCAL HOLE, AND MILLIONS OF HARDWORKING AMERICANS LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR HOMES AND THEIR BASIC ECONOMIC SECURITY. TODAY, WE ARE SEEING SIGNS THAT OUR ECONOMY IS ON THE MEND, BUT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. INSTEAD, WE ARE FACING A MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING TO GET THERE. WHAT IS AT STAKE IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS COUNTRY -- THIS WILL BE A COUNTRY WHERE WORKING PEOPLE CAN EARN ENOUGH TO RAISE A FAMILY, BUILD MODEST SAVINGS, OWN A HOME AND SECURE THEIR RETIREMENT. THIS IS THE DEFINING ISSUE OF OUR TIME. THIS BUDGET REFLECTS MY DEEP BELIEF THAT WE MUST RISE TO MEET THIS MOMENT. BOTH FOR OUR ECONOMY AND FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO GET AHEAD. WE BUILT THIS BUDGET AROUND THE IDEA THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS ALWAYS DONE THE BEST WHEN EVERYONE GIVES A FAIR SHOT. EVERYONE DOES THEIR FAIR SHARE AND EVERYONE PLAYS BY THE SAME RULES. IT REJECTS THE -- YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN ECONOMICS WHICH LED TO THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE RICHEST AND POOREST AMERICANS THAT UNDERMINES OUR BELIEFS IN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND THE ENGINE OF OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH. WHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS IS SHRINKING AND FAMILIES CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO BUY THE GOODS AND SERVICES IN A BUSINESSES ARE SELLING, IT DRAGS DOWN OUR ENFIRE ECONOMY. AND COUNTRIES WITH LESS INEQUALITY TEND TO HAVE STRONGER AND STEADIER ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER THE LONG RUN. THE WAY TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY AND STRENGTHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN AMERICA GETS A FAIR SHOT AT SUCCESS. INSTEAD OF LOWERING OUR STANDARDS AND OUR SIGHTS, WE NEED TO WIN A RACE TO THE TOP FOR GOOD JOBS THAT PAY WELL AND OFFER SECURITY FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS. TO SUCCEED AND THRIVE IN THE GLOBAL HIGH-TECH ECONOMY, WE NEED AMERICA TO BE A PLACE WITH THE HIGHEST SKILLED, HIGHEST EDUCATED WORKERS, THE MOST ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND THE STRONGEST COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD. THIS BUDGET MAKES INVESTMENTS THAT CAN HELP AMERICA WIN THIS RACE, CREATE GOOD JOBS AND LEAD THE WORLD ECONOMY. AND IT DOES SO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED AN ECONOMY THAT IS NO LONGER BURDENED BY YEARS OF DEBT AND WHICH EVERYONE SHOULDERS THEIR FAIR SHARE TO PUT OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER. WHEN I TOOK OFFICE THREE YEARS AGO, MY ADMINISTRATION WAS LEFT WITH AN ANNUAL DEFICIT OF $1.3 TRILLION OR 9.2% OF G.D.P. AND A PROJECTED 10-YEAR DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $8 TRILLION. THESE DEFICITS WERE THE RESULT OF A PREVIOUS EIGHT YEARS OF UNDERTAKING INITIATIVES BUT NOT PAYING FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY TWO LARGE TAX CUTS AND A NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND RECESSION THAT MADE THE FISCAL SITUATION WORSE AS REVENUE DECREASED AND AUTOMATIC GOVERNMENT OUTLAYS INCREASED TO COUNTER THE DOWNTURN. WE HAVE TAKEN MANY STEPS TO RE-ESTABLISH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, FROM INSTITUTING A STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO RULE FOR SPENDING TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET LINE BY LINE, LOOKING FOR OUTDATED, INEFFECTIVE OR DUE PLICK THINK PROGRAMS TO CUT OR REFORM. IMPORTANTLY, WE ENACTED THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHICH WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE AMERICANS WITH MORE AFFORDABLE CHOICES AND FREEDOM FROM INSURANCE COMPANY ABUSES BUT WILL ALSO REDUCE OUR BUDGET DEFICITS BY MORE THAN $1 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES. AS ECONOMIC GROWTH WAS BEGINNING TO TAKE HOLD LAST YEAR, I TOOK FURTHER STEPS TO PUT OUR NATION ON A FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PATH THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATION OF THE ECONOMY FOR YEARS TO COME. IN APRIL OF 2011, I PUT FORWARD MY FRAMEWORK FOR SHARED PROSPERITY AND SHARED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT BUILT ON THE 2012 BUDGET TO IDENTIFY $4 TRILLION IN DEFICIT REDUCTION. DURING NEGOTIATIONS OVER EXTENDING THE DEBT CEILING IN THE SUMMER, I PRESENTED TO CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ANOTHER BALANCED PLAN TO ACHIEVE $4 TRILLION IN THE DEFICIT REDUCTION. FINALLY, IN SEPTEMBER I SENT MY PLAN FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEFICIT REDUCTION TO THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE DEFICIT REDUCTION WHICH DETAILED A WAY TO ACHIEVE $3 TRILLION IN DEFICIT REDUCTION ON TOP OF THE $1 TRILLION ALREADY ACHIEVED IN THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011 THAT I SIGNED INTO LAW THE PREVIOUS MONTH. I ALSO MADE SURE THAT THIS PLAN COVERED THE COST OF THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT, A SET OF BIPARTISAN, COMMONSENSE PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO PUT MORE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, PUT MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND DO SO WITHOUT ADDING A DIME TO THE DEFICIT AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS CLEAR THAT GLOBAL EVENTS WERE SLOWING THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND OUR ABILITY TO CREATE MORE JOBS. UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS BLOCKED BOTH OUR DEFICIT REDUCTION MEASURES AND ALMOST EVERY PART OF THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT WITH A SIMPLE REASON THAT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO ACT THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. IN THE YEAR AHEAD, I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE POLICIES THAT WILL SHORE UP OUR ECONOMY AND OUR FISCAL SITUATION. TOGETHER WITH THE DEFICIT REDUCTION, I SIGNED INTO LAW THIS PAST YEAR, THE BUDGET WILL CUT THE DEFICIT BY $4 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE. THIS WILL PUT THE COUNTRY ON A COURSE TO A LEVEL OF DEFICITS BELOW 3% OF THE G.D.P. BY THE END OF THE DECADE AND WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO STABILIZE THE FEDERAL DEBT RELATIVE TO THE SIZE OF THE ECONOMY. TO GET THERE THIS BUDGET CONTAINS A NUMBER OF STEPS TO PUT ON -- TO PUT US ON A FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PATH. FIRST, IT IMPLEMENTS THE TIGHT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING CAPS THAT I SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011. IT WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $10 TRILLION UNTIL DEFICIT REDUCTION IN THE NEXT DECADE BUILDING ON REDUCTIONS WE ALREADY HAVE MADE. THIS WILL RESULT IN A CUT IN DISCRETIONARY SPENDING OF $42 BILLION SINCE 2010 WHEN HIGHER LEVELS OF FEDERAL SPENDING WERE ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE A JUMP-START TO THE ECONOMY. MEETING THE SPENDING TARGETS IN THIS BUDGET MEANT SOME VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES. REFORMING CONSOLIDATING OR FREEZING PROGRAMS WHERE WE COULD. CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT WERE NOT EFFECTIVE OR ESSENTIAL AND EVEN SOME THAT WERE BUT NOT NOW UNAFFORDABLE AND PRECISELY TARGETING OUR INVESTMENTS. EVERY DEPARTMENT WILL FEEL THE IMPACT OF THESE REDUCTIONS AS THEY CUT PROGRAMS OR TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS TO FREE UP MORE RESOURCES FOR AREAS CRITICAL TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WORK BETTER AND COST LESS USING COMPETITION AND HIGH STANDARDS TO GET THE MOST FROM THE GRANTS WE AWARD, GETTING RID OF EXCESS FEDERAL REAL ESTATE AND SAVING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY CUTTING OVERHEAD AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST. SECOND, THIS BUDGET BEGINS THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING MY NEW DEFENSE STRATEGY THAT RECONFIGURES OUR FORCE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE COMING DECADE. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN OUR TROOPS AND THEIR CAPABILITIES. MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS. AFTER A DECADE OF WAR, WE ARE AT AN INFLEXION POINT. AMERICAN TROOPS HAVE LEFT IRAQ AND WE ARE UNDERGOING A TRANSITION IN AFGHANISTAN SO AFGHANS CAN ASSUME MORE RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE DEBILITATED AL QAEDA'S LEADERSHIP, PUTTING THAT TERRORIST NETWORK ON THE PATH TO DEFEAT. AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO RENEW OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTHS HERE AT HOME WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STRENGTH IN THE WORLD AND THAT INCLUDES PUTTING OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER, TO ENSURE THE DEFENSE BUDGET IS DRIVEN BY CLEAR STRATEGIES THAT REFLECTS OUR NATIONAL INTEREST, I DIRECTED THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC REVIEW. I PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW REFLECTING MY GUIDANCE AND THE FULL SUPPORT OF OUR NATION'S MILITARY LEADERSHIP AT THE PENTAGON ON JANUARY 5. THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY ELEMENTS TO THIS NEW STRATEGY. TO SUSTAIN A GLOBAL REACH, WE WILL STRENGTHEN OUR PRESENCE IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION AND CONTINUE VIGILANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE WILL INVEST IN CRITICAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ALLIANCES, INCLUDING NATO, WHICH HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN MOST RECENTLY IN LIBYA IN A IT IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER, LOOKING PAST IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN TO FUTURE THREATS, THE MILITARY NO LONGER WILL BE SEIZED FOR LARGE-SCALE, PROLONGED STABILITY OPERATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WILL FOCUS MODERNIZATION ON EMERGING THREATS AND SUSTAINING EFFORTS TO GET RID OF OUTDATED COLD WAR ERA SYSTEMS SO WE CAN INVEST IN THE CAPABILITIES WE NEED FOR THE FUTURE, INCLUDING INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITIES. MY ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE CAPABILITIES RELATED TO COUNTERTERRORISM AND COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND WE WILL ALSO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO OPERATE IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ADVERSARIES TRY TO DENY US ACCESS AND WE WILL KEEP FAITH WITH THOSE WHO SERVE BY GIVING PRIORITY IT OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS, SERVICE MEMBERS' MENTAL HEALTH AND THE WELL-BEING OF MILITARY FAMILIES. ADAPTING OUR FORCES TO THIS NEW STRATEGY WILL ENTAIL INVESTING IN HIGH-PRIORITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS UNMANNED SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT AND UPGRADED TACTICAL VEHICLES. IT WILL MEAN TERMINATING UNNECESSARY AND LOW-PRIORITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE C-27 AIRCRAFT AIRLIFT AND A NEW SATELLITE AND MAINTAINING PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE JOINT STRYKE FIGHTER. ALL TOTAL, REDUCTIONS IN DEFENSE SPENDING WILL SAVE $487 BILLION OVER THE FLEX 10 YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE END OF OUR MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ AND THE WINDDOWN OF OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN WILL MEAN THAT THE COUNTRY WILL SPEND 24% LESS ON OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS, O.C.O., THIS YEAR, THAN IT DID LAST YEAR, SAVING $30 BILLION. I ALSO AM PROPOSING A MULTIYEAR CAP ON O.C.O. SPENDING SO WE FULLY REALIZE THE CHANGE OF POLICY. . THIRD, I BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY EVERYONE MUST SHOULDER THEIR FAIR SHARE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BENEFITED MOST FROM OUR ECONOMY AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A TEACHER, A NURSE, OR A CONSTRUCTION WORKER WHO EARNS $50,000 A YEAR SHOULD NOT PAY TAXES AT A HIGHER RATE THAN SOMEBODY MAKING $50 MILLION A YEAR. THAT IS WRONG. IT IS WRONG FOR WARREN BUFFETT'S SECRETARY TO PAY A HIGHER TAX RATE THAN WARREN BUFFETT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT CLASS WARFARE. THIS IS ABOUT THE NATION'S WELFARE. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING FAIR CHOICES THAT BENEFIT NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE FANTASTICALLY WELL OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, BUT THAT ALSO BENEFIT THE MIDDLE CLASS, THOSE FIGHTING TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. IN THE BUDGET I REITERATE MY PROPOSITION TORE EXTEND THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES MAKING MORE THAN 250,000 A YEAR AND OPPOSITION TO A MORE GENEROUS ESTATE TAX THAN WE HAD IN 2009 BENEFITING OVERWHELM THE VERY LARGEST ESTATES. THESE POLICIES WERE UNFAIR AND UNAFFORDABLE WHEN THEY WERE PASSED, AND THEY REMAIN SO TODAY. HE WILL PUSH FOR THEIR EXPIRATION IN THE COMING YEAR. I ALSO PROPOSE TO ELIMINATE SPECIAL TAX BREAKS FOR OIL AND GAS COMPANIES, PREFERRED TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO PURCHASE CORPORATE JETS, TAX RULES THAT GIVE A LARGER PERCENTAGE DEDUCTION TO THE WEALTHIEST 2% THAN TO MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES FOR ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS. AND A LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST MONEY MANAGERS IN THE COUNTRY TO PAY ONLY 15% ON THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THEY EARN. AND I SUPPORT TAX REFORM THAT OBSERVES THE BUFFET RULE THAT NO HOUSEHOLD MAKING MORE THAN $1 MILLION ANNUALLY SHOULD PAY A SMALLER SHARE OF ITS INCOME TAXES THAN MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES PAY. FOURTH, TO BUILD ON THE WORK WE HAVE DONE TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, I AM PROPOSING MORE THAN $360 BILLION IN REFORMS TO MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS OVER 10 YEARS. THE GOAL OF THESE REFORMS IS TO MAKE THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. AND TO HELP MAKE OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REWARD HIGH QUALITY MEDICINE. WHEN IT DOES NOT DO AND WHAT I WILL NOT SUPPORT ARE EFFORTS TO TURN MEDICARE INTO A VOUCHER OR MEDICAID INTO A BLOCK GRANT. DOING SO WOULD WEAKEN BOTH PROGRAMS AND BREAK THE PROMISE WE HAVE MADE TO AMERICAN SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. A PROMISE I AM COMMITTED TO KEEPING. FINALLY, TO ADDRESS OTHER LOOMING LONG-TERM CHALLENGES TO OUR FISCAL HEALTH, I HAVE PUT FORWARD A WIDE RANGE OF MANDATORY SAVINGS. THESE INCLUDE REDUCTIONS IN AGRICULTURE SUBSIDIES, CHANGES IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND HEALTH BENEFITS, REFORMS TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM AND THE POSTAL SERVICE. AND NEW EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A BETTER RETURN TO TAXPAYERS FROM MINERAL DEVELOPMENT DRAWN FROM THE PLAN I PRESENTED TO THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFICIT REDUCTION. THESE MANDATORY PROPOSALS WOULD SAVE $217 BILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE. REIGNING IN OUR DEFICIT -- REINING IN OUR DEFICITS IS NOT AN END OF ITSELF. IT IS NECESSARY TO -- IT IS A NECESSARY STEP TO REBUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION SO OUR ECONOMY CAN GROW AND CREATE JOBS. THAT IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL. AND AS WE TIGHTEN OUR BELTS BY CUTTING, CONSOLIDATING, AND REFORMING PROGRAMS, WE MUST ALSO INVEST IN THE AREAS THAT WILL BE CRITICAL TO GIVING EVERYONE AMERICAN -- EVERY AMERICAN A FAIR SHOT AT SUCCESS AND CREATING AN ECONOMY THAT IS BUILT TO LAST. THAT STARTS WITH TAKING ACTIONS NOW TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY AND BOOST JOB CREATION. WE NEED TO FINISH THE WORK WE STARTED LAST YEAR BY EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX CUT AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO PUT MORE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. THAT IS WHY I INTRODUCED THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT LAST YEAR AND WHY I WILL CONTINUE TO PUT FORWARD MANY OF THE IDEAS IT CONTAINED AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK BY REBUILDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDING BUSINESSES TAX INCENTIVES TO INVEST AND HIRE, AND GIVING STATES AID TO REHIRE TEACHERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING WILL BE CRITICAL FOR ANYONE TRYING TO COMPETE FOR THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE. THAT IS WHY I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE EDUCATION A NATIONAL MISSION. WHAT ONE LEARNS WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON WHAT HE OR SHE EARNS. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR AMERICANS WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE OR MORE IS ONLY ABOUT HALF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. AND THE INCOMES OF COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE TWICE AS HIGH AS THOSE WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, I SET THE GOAL FOR AMERICA TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THE WORLD BY 2020. TO REACH THAT GOAL WE INCREASED THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL PELL GRANT BY MORE THAN $900 TO HELP NEARLY 10 MILLION NEEDY STUDENTS TO AFFORD A COLLEGE EDUCATION. THE 2013 BUDGET CONTINUES THAT COMMITMENT AND PROVIDES THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN THE MAXIMUM AWARD OF $5,635. IN THIS BUDGET I ALSO PROPOSE A SERIES OF NEW PROPOSALS TO HELP FAMILIES WITH THE COST OF COLLEGE, INCLUDING MAKING PERMANENT THE AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT. A PARTIALLY REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT WORTH UP TO $10,000 PER STUDENT OVER FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE. AND REWARDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT ACT RESPONSIBLY IN SETTING TUITION. PROVIDING THE BEST VALUE AND SERVING NEEDY STUDENTS WELL. TO HELP OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED FOR THE JOBS IN THE FUTURE, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR EFFORT TO PREPARE 100,000 SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHERS OVER THE NEXT DECADE, TO IMPROVE OUR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WE ARE CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO THE RACE TO THE TOP INITIATIVE THAT REWARDS THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO RAISE STANDARDS, RECRUIT AND RETAIN GOOD TEACHERS, AND RAISE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. MY BUDGET HAS $850 MILLION IN THIS EFFORT WHICH ALREADY HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO COVER EARLY LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL -- IN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND TO PREPARE OUR WORKERS FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW WE NEED TO TURN OUR UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM INTO RE-EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, THAT INCLUDES GIVING MORE COMMUNITY COLLEGES THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BECOME COMMUNITY CAREER CENTERS, PLACES THAT TEACH SKILLS THAT BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW. FROM DATA MANAGEMENT TO HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING. ONCE OUR STUDENTS AND WORKERS GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED FOR THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE JOBS END UP IN AMERICA. AND TODAY'S HIGH-TECH GLOBAL ECONOMY THAT MEANS THE UNITED STATES MUST BE THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO TAKE AN IDEA FROM THE DRAWING WORD TO THE FACTOR OF FOUR TO THE -- FACTORY FLOOR TO THE SHELF OF EACH STORE N THIS BUDGET WE ARE SUSTAINING OUR LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN NONDEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, R&D, EVEN AS OVERALL SPENDING DECLINES, THEREBY KEEPING US ON TRACK TO DOUBLE R&D FUNDING IN THE KEY R&D AGENCIES. WE ARE SUPPORTING RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH THAT WILL ACCELERATE THE TRANSLATION OF NEW DISCOVERIES IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AND TO NEW THERAPIES AND CURES. ALONG WITH INITIATIVES AT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL SPEED UP THE APPROVAL OF NEW MEDICINES. WE MAKE IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN THE SCIENCE AND RESEARCH NEEDED TO TACKLE THE MOST IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES AND WE ARE INVESTING IN THE FIELDS AS VARIED AS CYBERSECURITY, NANOTECHNOLOGY, AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. THIS BUDGET ALSO PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON THE BASIC RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO THE BREAK THROUGHS OF TOMORROW WHICH INCREASINGLY IS NO LONGER BEING CONDUCTED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AS WELL AS HELPING INVENTORS BRING THEIR INNOVATION FROM LABORATORY TO MARKET. THIS BUDGET REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY. WE DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER AND GROWING THE ECONOMY. BY CONSERVING ICONIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES, RESTORING SIGNIFICANT ECOSYSTEMS FROM THE EVERGLADES TO THE GREAT LAKES AND ACHIEVING MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER AND AIR QUALITY, WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT SERVE AS THE ENGINES OF THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES. MOREOVER, THIS BUDGET CONTINUES MY ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING AMERICA'S DIVERSE CLEAN SOURCES OF ENERGY. THE BUDGET ELIMINATES UNWARRANTED TAX BREAKS FOR OIL COMPANIES WHILE EXTENDING KEY TAX INITIATIVES TO SPUR INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION. THE BUDGET ALSO INVESTS IN R&D TO CATALYZE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOAL IN DOUBLING THE SHARE OF ELECH TERRORIST FORFEIT CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES BY 2035. BY PROMOTING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND ADVANCED VEHICLE MANUFACTURING, INCLUDING FUNDING TO ENCOURAGE GREATER USE OF NATURAL GAS IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, THE BUDGET WILL HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF REDUCING OIL IMPORTS BY 1/3 BY 2025 AND POSITION THE UNITED STATES TO BECOME THE FIRST COUNTRY TO HAVE ONE MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BY 2015. WE ALSO ARE WORKING TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY USE BY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS BY 20%. TO COMPLEMENT OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR AND WE'LL WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UTILITIES, AND STATES, TO INCREASE THE ENERGY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY WHILE INVESTING IN THE INNOVATIVE PROCESS AND MATERIALS THAT CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE ENERGY USE. IT IS ALSO TIME FOR GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS PART TO HELP MAKE IT EASIER FOR ENTREPRENEURS, INVESTORS, AND WORKERS TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND THRIVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. I AM CALLING ON CONGRESS TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN WORK ON CORPORATE TAX REFORM THAT WILL CLOSE LOOPHOLES, LOWER THE OVERALL RATE, ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT HERE AT HOME, SIMPLIFY TAXES FOR AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESSES, AND NOT AT A -- ADD A DIME TO THE DEFICIT. MOREOVER, TO FURTHER ASSIST THESE COMPANIES, WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE REORGANIZATION OF THE PARTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HELP BUSINESSES GROW AND SELL THEIR PRODUCTS AGROD. IF GIVEN CONSOLIDATION AUTHORITY WHICH PRESIDENTS HAD FOR MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY, I WILL PROPOSE TO CONSOLIDATE SIX AGENCIES INTO ONE DEPARTMENT, SAVING MONEY AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR ALL COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY SMALL BUSINESSES, TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY. FINALLY, THIS BUDGET ADVANCES THE NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE PROS PIRET AND TRADE PROMOTIONING THAT CREATES AMERICAN JOBS, AND SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL VALUES AROUND THE WORLD. IT INCREASES FUNDING FOR THE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS THAT STRENGTHEN THE ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN NEEDING SHARED CHALLENGES. OPENING MARKETS TO AMERICAN EXPORTS AND PROPOSE DEVELOPMENT. AND INVEST IN THE INTELLIGENCE AND HOMELAND SECURITY CAPABILITIES TO DETECT, PREVENT, AND DESCEND -- DEFEND AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST OUR COUNTRY. AS WE IMPLEMENT OUR NEW DEFENSE STRATEGY, MY ADMINISTRATION WILL INVEST IN THE SYSTEMS AND CAPABILITIES WE NEED THAT OUR ARMED FORCES ARE FIGURED TO MEET IN THE CHALLENGES IN THE COMING DECADE. WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN IMPROVING GLOBAL HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY SO WE ADDRESS THE REAL CAUSES OF CONFLICT AND SECURITY THREAT. AND WE WILL KEEP FAITH WITH OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, THEIR FAMILIES, AND VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR NATION. THESE PROPOSALS WILL TAKE US A LONG WAY TOWARDS STRENGTHENING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND GIVING FAMILIES THE SENSE OF SECURITY THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING FOR TOO LONG. BUT IN THE END, BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE WILL REQUIRE ALL OF US TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. PARENTS WILL NEED TO TAKE GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, HOMEOWNERS WILL HAVE TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A HOUSE OR TAKING OUT A LOAN. BUSINESSES WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING RIGHT BY THEIR WORKERS AND OUR COUNTRY. AND THOSE OF US IN PUBLIC SERVICE WILL NEED TO KEEP FINDING WAYS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE. UNDERSTANDING AND HONORING THE OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE TO OURSELVES AND TO EACH OTHER IS WHAT HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT. WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, PULL TOGETHER, AND DO OUR PART. BUT AMERICANS ALSO DESERVE TO KNOW THAT THEIR HARD WORK WILL BE REWARDED. THIS BUDGET IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I HOPE IT WILL SERVE AS A ROAD MAP FOR HOW WE CAN GROW THE ECONOMY, CREATE JOBS, AND GIVE AMERICANS EVERYWHERE THE SECURITY THEY DESERVE. SIGNED, BARACK OBAMA, THE WHITE HOUSE. FEBRUARY 13, 2012.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND ORDERED PRINTED. PURSUANT…

REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND ORDERED PRINTED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE IN RECESS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 4:45 P.M. TODAY.

>>

THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE CLERK

TO SENATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 10…

TO SENATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 10 MAIN STREET IN EAST ROCKAWAY NEW YORK AS THE JOHN J. COOK POST OFFICE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLY, AND THE…

PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLY, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM NO, MR. CLAY, EACH WILL CONTROL -- MISSOURI, MR. CLAY, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. KELLY

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. I ASK…

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. KELLY

H.R. 2079, INTRODUCED BY THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK, MRS. MCCARTHY,…

H.R. 2079, INTRODUCED BY THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK, MRS. MCCARTHY, WOULD DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT NUMBER 10 MAIN STREET IN EAST ROCKAWAY, NEW YORK, AS THE JOHN J. COOK POST OFFICE. THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR AND WAS FAVORABLY REPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM LAST YEAR. HE SERVED THE COMMUNITY OF EAST ROCKAWAY FOR SIX DECADES WORKING AS A LETTER CARRIER. SERVING HIS COMMUNITY FOR 60 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS. HE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND EXEMPLIFIED PROFESSIONALISM EACH AND EVERY DAY ON THE JOB. MR. COOK DELIVERED MAIL ON THE SAME ROUTE FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE 60 YEARS ON THE JOB AND ACCORDING TO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY HE CONTINUALLY TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS PEOPLE SPANNING MANY GENERATIONS. ACCORDING TO ONE EAST ROCKAWAY RESIDENT HE WAS QUITE SIMPLY THE BEST. HE KNEW ALL HIS CUSTOMERS VERY WELL AND GAVE PERSONALIZED SERVICE EVERY YEAR. THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY DON'T MAKE PEOPLE LIKE ANY ANY MORE. SADLY MR. COOK PASSED AWAY IN 2005 AT THE AGE OF 78. HE LEFT BEHIND HIS WIFE, ROBERTA, AND MANY WHO WILL MISS THIS TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT AND MODEL POSTAL EMPLOY. I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO JOIN ME IN -- MODEL POSTAL EMPLOYEE. I URGE ALL OF MY MEMBERS TO JOIN ME IN PASSING THIS AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. CLAY

MR. SPEAKER. AS A MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE,…

MR. SPEAKER. AS A MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE, I AM PLEASED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2079, A BILL TO DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 10 MAIN STREET IN EAST ROCKAWAY, NEW YORK, AS THE JOHN J. COOK POST OFFICE. THE MEASURE BEFORE US WAS INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN MCCARTHY ON JUNE 1, 2011, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMITTEE REQUIREMENTS, H.R. 2079 IS CO-SPONSORED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK DELEGATION. IT WAS REPORTED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON NOVEMBER 3, 2011. AND AT THIS TIME, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK AS MUCH TIME AS SHE MAY CONSUME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK IS RECOGNIZED.

MRS. MCCARTHY

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO THANK CERTAINLY MR. KELLY FROM…

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO THANK CERTAINLY MR. KELLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, AND MR. CLAY FROM MISSOURI, FOR HELPING ME GET THIS THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AND I APPRECIATE THAT. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO HONOR MR. JOHN J. COOK, A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, A MODEL AMERICAN POSTAL WORKER AND AN INTORY INDICATE RESIDENT OF THE EAST ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING MR. SANTORO FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION. MR. COOK BEGAN WORKING FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE IN 1944. FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS HE SERVED OUR EAST ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY AS A LETTER CARRIER WHO EXEMPLIFIED THE AMERICAN WORK ETHIC, DISPLAYING PROLVESALISM, COURTESY AND TIRELESS DEDICATION. AFTER SERVING IN WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, MR. COOK BEGAN WORKING FOR THE LOCAL POST OFFICE AND QUICKLY BECAME AN INTORY INDICATE PART OF THE EAST ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY. DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, MR. COOK TOOK PRIDE IN HIS WORK DELIVERING THE MAIL TO THE EAST ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER. HE TAILORED HIS DELIVERY TO THE WISHES OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER. FOR EXAMPLE, HE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT IMPORTANT MESSAGES, SUCH AS A WEDDING INVITATION OR COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE LETTERS WERE PLACED ON THE TOP OF THE DAY'S MAIL FOR THAT CUSTOMER. MR. COOK WOULD GO ABOVE AND BEYOND HIS EXPECTED DUTIES. AT TIMES HE EVEN WOULD CANCEL HIS FAMILY VACATIONS BECAUSE THE POST OFFICE NEEDED HIM FOR A LAST-MINUTE SHIFT. AS PUBLIC SERVANTS WE CAN RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF DEDICATION, HARD WORK AND SERVICE TO ONE'S COMMUNITY. IN HIS -- IT IS ONLY FITTING AND PROPER THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POSTAL SERVICE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR A GREAT MAN LIKE MR. COOK. HE TRULY WAS A GREAT AMERICAN. MR. COOK EXEMPLIFIED THESE VALUES ON A DAILY BASIS AND BECAME ESTEEMED MEMBER OF OUR EAST ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY. HE WATCHED THE CHILDREN OF HIS CUSTOMERS GROW UP AND MARRY AND HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN. TO RENAME THE POST OFFICE IN MR. ROOK'S HONOR WILL BE A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE TO A WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND A MODELED PUBLIC SERVANT. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING H.R. 2079 IN HONOR OF MR. JOHN J. COOK. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI RESERVES THE…

THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. KELLY

I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS AT THE MOMENT AND I CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE…

I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS AT THE MOMENT AND I CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI.

MR. CLAY

MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND I AM READY TO CLOSE IF THAT'S…

MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND I AM READY TO CLOSE IF THAT'S OK WITH THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA. HAVING NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS, I ONCE AGAIN URGE ADOPTION OF H.R. 2079. I ALSO ASK THAT WE KEEP THE EXAMPLE OF MR. COOK'S CAREER IN MIND AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO CRAFT WHAT SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT THE INSTITUTION MR. COOK LOVED SO MUCH, THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR NATION SO WELL. AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. KELLY

MR. SPEAKER, I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 209, AND I…

MR. SPEAKER, I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 209, AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 2079. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. KELLY

I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE YEAS AND NAYS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS…

THE YEAS AND NAYS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 AND THE CHAIR'S PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS MOTION WILL BE POSTPONED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

MR. KELLY

THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE CLERK

A BILL TO DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE…

A BILL TO DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 1100 TOWN AND COUNTRY COMMONS IN CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, AS THE LANCE CORPORAL MATTHEW P. PATHENOS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLY, AND THE…

PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLY, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. CLAY, WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. KELLY

YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.

MR. KELLY

I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO…

I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. KELLY

SPEAKER, H.R. 3247, INTRODUCED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. AKIN,…

SPEAKER, H.R. 3247, INTRODUCED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. AKIN, WOULD DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 1100 TOWN AND COUNTRY COMMONS IN CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, AS THE LANCE CORPORAL MATTHEW P. PATHENOS POST OFFICE BUILDING. THE BILL IS CO-SPONSORED BY THE ENTIRE MISSOURI STATE DELEGATION AND WAS REPORTED FAVORABLY BY THE COMMITTEE OF OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM ON NOVEMBER 3 OF LAST YEAR. MR. SPEAKER, IT IS FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE NAME THIS POST OFFICE IN CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, FOR MARINE CORPORAL -- LANCE CORPORAL PATHENOS, A TRUE AMERICAN HERO WHO GAVE HIS LIFE COURAGEOUSLY DEFENDING FREEDOM. MORE THAN A SELFLESS MARINE, MR. SPEAKER, LANCE CORPORAL PATHENOS WAS A LOVING SON, BROTHER AND FRIEND. AS ONE OF HIS FELLOW MARINES REFLECTED AFTER HIS TRAGIC PASSING, THE BEST THING ABOUT MATT WAS HIS ABILITY TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY WITH A SMILE AND HOLD IT ALL DAY LONG. EVEN WHILE IN THE MIDST OF WAR, LANCE CORPORAL PATHENOS STROVE TO BRING JOY TO HIS FELLOW MARINES AND FRIENDS. THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY HE WAS. WITH THE SACRIFICE WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL. I'D LIKE TO YIELD AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FROM MISSOURI AND THE SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. AKIN

MR. CLEAVER

JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3247 AND THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR…

JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3247 AND THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION. AND THE LEGISLATION WILL NAME THE POSTAL FACILITY IN TOWN AND COUNTRY COMMONS IN CRESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, AFTER LANCE CORPORATE MATTHEW P. PATHENOS. H.R. 3247 WAS INTRODUCED BY MY COLLEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE AKIN AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE MISSOURI DELEGATION, INCLUDING MYSELF. THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON OCTOBER 24 OF LAST YEAR AND WAS CONSIDERED BY AND REPORTED FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE BY VOICE VOTE SHORTLY PHOTOGRAPHER ON NOVEMBER 3, 2011. TRAGICALLY, ON FEBRUARY 2, 2007, LANCE CORPORATE -- LANCE CORPORAL PATHENOS WAS KILLED WHILE CONDUCTING OPERATIONS IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ. DESCRIBED AS A DISCIPLINED AND PATRIOTIC JELT HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY PROUDLY. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DEDICATION TO HIS COUNTRY, MR. SPEAKER, I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF THIS BRAVE MARINE BY SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 3247 AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. SPROIP THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:: THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI.

MR. CLAY

I ONCE AGAIN URGE ADOPTION OF H.R. 3037 -- OF H.R. 3247 IN HONOR OF THE…

I ONCE AGAIN URGE ADOPTION OF H.R. 3037 -- OF H.R. 3247 IN HONOR OF THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF LANCE CORPORAL MATTHEW P. PATHENOS AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE JELT IS RECOGNIZED.

>>

FOR THE SERVICE OF LANCE CORPORAL PATHENOS.

MR. KELLY

ALL THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF H.R. 3247. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE…

QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF H.R. 3247. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. KELLY

THE YEAS AND NAYS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN…

IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTING. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

MR. KELLY

THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 3248. THE SPEAKER PRO…

THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 3248. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE CLERK

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE CLITELE. CLOIP TO THE TITLE.

THE CLERK

TO DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT…

TO DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 112 SOUTH FIFTH STRET IN SAINT CHARLES, MISSOURI, AS THE LANCE CORPORAL DREW W. WEAVER POST OFFICE BUILDING. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MR. KELLY

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. AKIN

RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H R. 3248, A BILL I INTRODUCED TO HONOR THE LIFE…

RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H R. 3248, A BILL I INTRODUCED TO HONOR THE LIFE OF DREW W. WEAVER BY DESIGNATING THE POST OFFICE IN SAINT CHARLES, MISSOURI, AS THE LANCE CORPORAL DREW W. WEAVER POST OFFICE BUILDING. 5 RESIDENT OF SAINT CHARLES, MISSOURI, LANCE CORPORAL WE'RE WAS PART OF THE THIRD LIGHT ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, FIRST MARINE DIVISION, FIRST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2007, LANCE CORPORAL WEAVER DIED WHILE CONDUCTING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE OF IRAQ. AS CAPTAIN MARK C. BROWN NOTED, DREW WAS KNOWN FOR HIS ENTHUSIASM AND HIS ABILITY TO MOTIVATE THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM. DREW'S CONTRIBUTION TO HIS COUNTRY WAS HONORED BY HIS COMMUNITY WHEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE AND PROCESSION. A GRADUATE OF ST. CHARLES WEST HIGH SCHOOL, FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF DREW REMEMBER HIM AS AN ENERGETIC YOUNG MAN WHO WAS EAGER TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY. RYAN HANSEN, HIS BEST FRIEND, AND A FELLOW SERVICEMAN, SAID DREW LOVED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND WAS PROUD OF WHAT HE WAS DOING IN THE MARINE CORPS. AS THE FATHER OF THREE MARINES, UP WITH OF WHOM HAS SERVED IN IRAQ, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO STAND HERE TODAY TO HONOR ONE OF OUR FALLEN MARINES. DREW'S COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO HIS COUNTRY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN ARE THE FINEST THE NATION HAS TO OFFER. HIS AND HIS FAMILY'S SACRIFICE SHOULD SERVE AS A REMINDER TO ALL OF US THAT THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY AS AMERICANS IS NOT FREE BUT THE RESULT OF TREMENDOUS BRAVERY AND SELFLESS SERVICE OF MEN AND WOMEN WILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY FOR FREEDOM'S CAUSE. AS REVEREND JAMES BENT NOTED IN DREW'S FUNERAL, I THINK WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM THAT THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY IN THIS COUNTRY IS PRECIOUS,S THAT -- THAT IT IS SPECIAL AND THAT IT MUST BE PRESERVED, SOMETIMES AT GREAT PERSONAL COST. OUR NATION WILL BE FOREVER INDEBTED TO LANCE CORPORAL DREW WEAVER. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES JOIN ME TODAY IN HONORING LANCE CORPORAL DREW WEAVER. VOTE YES ON H.R. 3248. MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE JELT FROM PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES. THE…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE JELT FROM PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN MISSOURI IS RECK -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. CLAY

MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3248 WHICH DESIGNATES THE…

MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3248 WHICH DESIGNATES THE FACILITY OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE LOCATED AT 112 SOUTH FIFTH STREET IN ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI, AS THE LANCE CORPORAL DREW W. WEAVER POST OFFICE BUILDING. THIS LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER OF 2011 BY MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND, REPRESENTATIVE TODD AKIN OF MISSOURI, AND CONSIDERED AND POINTED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE BY A VOICE VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2011. ADDITIONAL WILL -- ADDITIONALLY, ALONG WITH ALL MY FEMALE HE MOBE -- FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE MISSOURI DELEGATION, WE ARE PROUD TO BE CO-SPONSORED OF THIS BILL. AS WAS MENTIONED, WEAVER WAS A NATIVE OF ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI WHO BRAVELY SERVED WITH THE THIRD LIGHT ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, FIRST MARINE DIVISION, FIRST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, OUT OF 29 PALMS, CALIFORNIA. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2008, THE YOUNG MARINE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ, WHILE CONDUCTING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. MR. SPEAKER, LANCE CORPORAL DREW WEAVER'S LIFE AND SERVICE STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH AND SUPPORT OF HIS DEVOTED FAMILY. HE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE BRAVERY AND DEDICATION OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE JOINED HIM IN SERVING THIS NATION AND MAKING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. HIS DEVOTION TO DUTY WAS IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, HIS UNIT, AND THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. IT IS MY HOPE WE CAN HONOR THIS OUTSTANDING MARINE THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 3248 AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE JELT RESERVES. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE JELT RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. KELLY

FURTHER SPEAKERS, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. CLAY

H.R. 3248 IN HONOR OF CORPORAL DREW W. WEAVER WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN SERVICE…

H.R. 3248 IN HONOR OF CORPORAL DREW W. WEAVER WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND I YIELD BACK MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. KELLY

THE SACRIFICE LANCE CORPORAL WEAVER AND SO MANY OTHER YOUNG AMERICANS HAVE…

THE SACRIFICE LANCE CORPORAL WEAVER AND SO MANY OTHER YOUNG AMERICANS HAVE MADE. I URGE ALL MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE TO JOIN ME IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H R. 3248?…

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H R. 3248? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3'S BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. KELLY

I ASK FOR THE CRAZE AN NAYS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND…

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12A OF RULE 1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ON THIS THIS 303, THE NAYS ARE 89 WITH ONE MEMBER VOTING PRESENT. THE…

ON THIS THIS 303, THE NAYS ARE 89 WITH ONE MEMBER VOTING PRESENT. THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. MEMBERS WILL KINDLY CLEAR THE WELL AND TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBER. THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS.

THE CLERK

OF ABSENCE REQUESTED FOR MR. CAMPBELL OF CALIFORNIA FOR TODAY AND…

OF ABSENCE REQUESTED FOR MR. CAMPBELL OF CALIFORNIA FOR TODAY AND WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15. MR. CULBERSON OF TEXAS FOR TODAY, MRS. DAVIS -- MR. DAVIS OF ILLINOIS FOR TODAY AND MR. HEINRICH OF NEW MEXICO FOR TODAY.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUESTS ARE GRANTED. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN…

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUESTS ARE GRANTED. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

REQUEST UNANIMOUSEN TO KENT -- CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS CROYSED.

>>

SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT A VERY HAPPY OCCASION…

SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT A VERY HAPPY OCCASION FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE ARIZONA DELEGATION. I'M PROUD TO HAVE INTRODUCED H.CON.RES. 100 WHICH INVITES THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO JOIN WITH THE ARIZONA DELEGATION IN COMMEMORATING ARIZONA'S CENTENNIAL. FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS, ARIZONA HAS STOOD AS A BEACON OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME TO THE STATE TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILYLESS.

MR. QUAYLE

DIVERSITY, A SOARING OPTIMISM, DRIVEN BY AN INNOVATIVE SPIRIT. THEY CAME…

DIVERSITY, A SOARING OPTIMISM, DRIVEN BY AN INNOVATIVE SPIRIT. THEY CAME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT ARIZONA EMBODIES WHAT'S BEST IN AMERICA. I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND I'M PROUD TO CALL ARIZONA HOME. I'M PROUD THAT IT'S THE PLACE I HAVE CHOKE CHOSEN TO START MY FAMILY AND REPRESENTING THIS WONDERFUL STATE IS AN HONOR BEYOND WORDS. ARIZONA'S HAD 100 GREAT YEARS. WE START THE NEXT 100 WITH THE SAME SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM AND DETERMINATION THAT MADE OUR STATE GREAT AND WE STILL POSSESS THAT SAME FIERCE INDEPENDENCE NEEDED TO KEEP IT GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA SEEK RECOGNITION?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.

>>

BUT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING --

MR. IS WEEK ERT

SPECIAL. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. ARE THERE FURTHER REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. ARE THERE FURTHER REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES? UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011 THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA, MR. KING, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60 MINUTE AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE MAJORITY LEADER.

MR. KING

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY…

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOU TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TAKE UP SOME MEASURES -- ISSUES OF OUR DAY. FIRST I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE PAYROLL TAX EXTENSION AND UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION AND THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE BEING DELIBERATED NOW AS THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS TRYING TO GET TO A FINAL SOLUTION. I TAKE YOU BACK, MR. SPEAKER, TO THE LAME DUCK SESSION A YEAR AGO LAST DECEMBER WHEN WITHIN, OH, 30 TO 45 DAYS OF THE ELECTION OF THIS 112TH CONGRESS, THE LEGITIMIZED AND NOW 112TH CONGRESS, LAME DUCK SESSIONS TOOK PLACE, INITIATED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, MITCH MCCONNEL, AN PRESIDENT OBAMA, TO DEAL WITH A WAY OF EXTENDING THE BUSH TAX BRACKETS TO AVOID THE AUTOMATIC IMPOSITION OF A 55% DEATH TAX AT MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S, BEGINNING IN THE FIRST MINUTE OF 2011, AND ALSO THE -- THE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY, IT WAS ALSO THE REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EXTENDED, AND THE LIST WENT ON. MR. SPEAKER, I JUST MAKE THE POINT THAT WE HAD 87 FRESHMAN REPUBLICANS WAITING IN THE WINGS IN THAT LAME DUCK SESSION RM THEY WERE THE LEGITIMATE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHEN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS MAKES A DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD ON LARGE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, ANY LARGE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, IN A LAME DUCK SESSION, THEN IT MUST BE SOMETHING THAT IS URGENT AND MANDATORY THAT WE TAKE THAT KIND OF ACTION. OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID NOT IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD -- FIRST OF ALL, THOMAS JEFFERSON SAID LARGE INITIATIVES SHOULD NOT BE ADVANCED ON SLENDER MAJORITIES. LARGE INITIATIVES SHOULD NOT BE ADVANCED ON SLENDER MAJORITIES. BUT MR. SPEAKER, ALSO, LARGE INITIATIVES SHOULD NOT BE ADVANCED BY LAME DUCK SESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING HOME. 87 FRESHMAN REPUBLICANS, NINE FRESHMAN DEMOCRAT THEY REPLACED ALL OF THEM, PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING HOME. THERE'S YOUR MATH. 96 MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS TODAY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHERS ADDED, BUT 96 WERE WAITING IN THE WINGS TO BE SWORN INTO OFFICE HERE IN THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY SO THEY COULD DO THEIR JUST CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND WHILE THAT WAS GOING ON, THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE FOR A LAME DUCK SESSION, A LARGE INITIATIVE LAME DUCK SESSION TO ADDRESS BUSH TAX BRACKET EXTENSIONS, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT EXTENSIONS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE SEVERANCE OF THE 50-50 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. NOW, I'VE WATCHED THAT SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND SINCE I CAME HERE TO THIS CONGRESS AND IT WAS AT ABOUT A PLUS OF 1.-- OF ABOUT $1.74 TRILLION AN IT'S GROWN TO $3.4 TRILLION, AN IT'S MOVING QUICKLY NOW, THE HIGHER THE UNEMPLOYMENT, THE MORE DAMAGE IT DOES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. AS WE'RE SEEING BABY BOOMERS RETIRE AND QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THERE ARE MORE AND MORE DEMANDS ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. BUT THE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY THAT WAS PASSED, AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED, BUT IT ACTUALLY CREATED $130 BILLION HOLE IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. NOW YOU CAN CHARGE IT AGAINST THE GENERAL FUND AND WHEN THE TIME COMES TO PAY THE BILL, IT'LL HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND IS BORROWED FROM BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANYWAY. BUT THE ACCOUNTING CREATED $130 BILLION HOLE AND YOU CAN COUNT THAT UP PROPORTIONATELY AROUND $10 BILLION OR $11 BILLION A MONTH EACH YEAR THERE'S A SUSPENSION OF THE 2% CONTRIBUTION OF THE EMPLOYEE INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS FROM THE LAME DUCK SESSION. WE NEVER SHOULD HAVE, MR. SPEAKER, NEVER SHOULD HAVE SEVERED THE 50-50 BOND BETWEEN EQUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND OUT OF THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE. AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR CLASS ENVY, IT OPENS THE DOOR, IT ALREADY HAD DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE EMPLOYER, IN BENEFIT OF THE EMPLOYEE. NOW IF IT HAD BEEN A REDUCTION OF 1% FROM THE EMPLOYER AND 1% FROM THE EMPLOYEE, AT LEAST THEN THE 50-50 BOND WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHHELD. WE HAVE IN THE PAST ADJUSTED THE SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTION RATE SO THAT WE HAVE A VIABLE FUND. BUT WE HAVE NOT IN THE PAST BROKEN THAT 50-50 EQUAL CONTRIBUTION EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE. THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAME DUCK SESSION. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WAS AGREED TO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND THE BUSH TAX BRACKETS, EXTENDING THE BUSH TAX BRACKETS AT THAT TIME GETS US JUST UNTIL DECEMBER 31 OF THIS YEAR, THEN THE GAME CHANGES AGAIN. NOW, IT IS A WAY TO AVOID HAVING THAT BE A DEBATE WHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA IS UP FOR RE-LECH JUST LIKE THE DEBT CEILING WAS TIMED SO THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN ESSENTIALLY DIRECT A DEBT CEILING INCREASE AND AVOID HAVING A FIGHT HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE TO APPROVE ANOTHER DEBT CEILING INCREASE. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE'VE NEGOTIATED SOME AGREEMENTS TO KEEP THE PRESIDENT OFF THE HOOK FOR HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE COMING INTO THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. BUT TO ADD INTO THAT AGREEMENT THE LAME DUCK DEAL, I'LL CALL IT, MR. SPEAKER, WHEN YOU ADD IN THE PAYROLL TAX SITUATION, THAT SUSPENDED 2% FROM THE EMPLOYEE AND -- AND DIDN'T SUSPEND ANY FROM THE EMPLOYER AND BROKE THAT BOND, WE ALSO HAD THE EXTENSION OF THE BUSH TAX BRACKETS AND HAD AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE DEATH TAX, WHICH WAS ZERO ON THE DAY THAT THIS WAS VOTED UPON, BUT IT JUMPED TO 35%, IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO GO TO 55%. WE HAD ALSO AN EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OUT TO 99 WEEKS, MR. SPEAKER, 99 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE, AS FAR AS THE CHARTS I HAVE LOOKED AT AND MY MEMORY, UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, 99 WEEKS. SO THE 99 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT AND EXTENSION OF REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS AND A FEW OTHER, SMALLER PROGRAMS, TOTALEDERS $212 BILLION -- TOTALED $212 BILLION IN OUTLAYS FOR THE DURATION OF THAT BILL. THAT BILL THAT WAS NEGOTIATED BY PEOPLE WHO WERE ANXIOUS TO MAKE A DEAL AND WHY? I HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHY REPUBLICAN RRS ANXIOUS TO MAKE A DEAL, MR. SPEAKER, BECAUSE WE HAD 87 NEW FRESHMEN WAITING IN THE WINGS. THE LEGITIMATE VOICES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE SHOCK TROOPS THEY SENT HERE THEY SENT THEM HERE FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM RAN ON THE 100% REPEAL OF OBAMA CARE, THEY RAN ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THEY RAN ON A BALANCED BUDGET AND $212 BILLION WENT OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE LAME DUCK DEAL WITHOUT HARDLY ANY DEBATE. $212 BILLION, MOST OF IT TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR 99 WEEKS, SOME FOR REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS, AND THAT DID NOT INCLUDE THE $130 BILLION CREATED BY THE SUSPENSION OF 2% OF THE CONTRIBUTION RATE INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND, THAT HOLE THAT WAS CREATED, ALL THIS SO THE BUSH TAX BRACKETS COULD BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE RE-ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. THAT AGREEMENT, MR. SPEAKER, IN MY OPINION, AND STRONG CONVICTION, SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED IN A LAME DUCK SESSION. WE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE NEW MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS, THE 87 FRESHMAN REPUBLICAN THE NINE FRESHMAN DEMOCRAT, WEIGH IN, TO HAVE A CHANCE TO DEBATE, TO CONFIGURE A POLICY, AND TO VOTE. BUT MEANWHILE, THEY WERE WAITING IN THE WINGS GOING THROUGH ORIENTATION WHILE THIS VOTE WAS TAKING PLACE. AND BY THE TIME THEY WERE SEATED HERE IN THIS CONGRESS, THAT HORSE WAS OUT OF THE BARN. THAT PLANE HAD LEFT THE RUNWAY. AND THE HORSE WAS OUT OF THE BARN, THE PAYROLL TAX WAS WHAT IT WAS, AND IT WAS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE FIRST DAY OF THIS YEAR, AS WE KNOW, NOW IT'S BEEN EXTENDED FOR TWO MONTHS AND WE'RE IN THE GOS TO SEE WHAT TO DO WITH THE REST OF IT. THE PROBLEM IS ROOTED BACK IN A BAD DEAL, THE LAME DUCK DEAL, AND NOW THIS FRESHMAN CLASS IS BEING ASKED TO ADDRESS IT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND NOT NECESSARILY REACHING THEIR POCKETS TO PAY THE PRICE BUT TO PAY THE POLITICAL PRICE TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS GOING TO GO ON AND ON AND ON, UNTIL WE PUT THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER, MR. SPEAKER. WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER, AND TO GET THERE POLITICALLY, NO ONE CAN PAINT THAT PICTURE FOR ME, NO ONE CAN DRAW THAT MAP AN SINCE I COULDN'T DRAW THAT MAP EITHER, I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, IT'S $212 BILLION IN OUTLATOS EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FROM THE LAME DUCK SESSION A YEAR AGO LAST DECEMBER AND $130 BILLION IN THE HOLE IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND, FIND IT SOME OTHER WAY BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS. AND THE RESULT OF EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OUT TO 99 WEEKS WAS THAT WE HAD A LOT OF WORKERS IN AMERICA THAT WERE 63 YEARS OLD THAT FOUND THEMSELVES UNEMPLOYED, WITH UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS GUARANTEED WITH NO OBLIGATION ON THEIR PART EXCEPT SIGN UP, OUT FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR WORKING CAREER, AND SO IT AMOUNTED TO AN EARLY RETIREMENT FOR 63-YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEES OR 64 -YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEES IN AMERICA, UNMEASURED IN WHAT ITS IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY, AND MEANWHILE, THE MEASURE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PAY PEOPLE NOT TO WORK FOR TWO YEARS IS THAT THEIR SKILLS ATROPHY, THEY'RE OUT OF THE WORK FORCE, TECHNOLOGY MOVES ON, NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT GETTING CAUGHT UP WITH AND STAYING CAUGHT UP WITH TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES AND THE MODERN SHIFTS WITHIN OUR VERY NIMBLE ECONOMY WE MUST HAVE BUT THE SKILLS THEY HAD ON THAT DAY ARE ATROPHYING. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT. WE SHOULD HAVE. IT'S BEEN THE CONSISTENT DUH RAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN 26 WEEKS, THAT'S A HALF A YEAR. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT RUNS OUT, PEOPLE ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO GO TO WORK THAN THE WEEK BEFORE IT RUNS OUT. IT IS A FACT, IT IS NOT AN OPINION, IT IS A FACT, MR. SPEAKER. BUT MY POINT HERE IS THAT WE'RE IN THIS DISCUSSION TODAY WITH A PRETTY DIFFICULT DECISION THAT'S BEING MADE BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, BY THE SPEAKER, THE MAJORITY LEADER, AND OTHERS, BUT THIS DIFFICULTY WE HAVE NOW IS ROOTED IN WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A MISTAKE IN THE LAME DUCK DEAL. AND OH, MR. SPEAKER, HOW I WONDER, HOW MUCH DIFFERENT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF WE HAD WAITED AND SEATED THE FRESHMAN CLASS, CONSULTED WITH THEM, ASKED THEM IF THEY WANNED TO SEVER THAT 50-50, EQUAL CONTRIBUTION RATE BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE WILLING TO ACCEPT ON THEIR CONSCIENCE $130 BILLION HOLE IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND, ASK THEM IF THEY WERE READY TO FACE EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX REDUCTION AND DOING SO IN PERPETUITY AS LONG AS THE OTHER SIDE IS WILLING TO PLAY CLASS ENVY, ARE WE GOING TO BE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO DIG A HOLE IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND? THAT IS ONE QUESTION IN FRONT OF US. ANOTHER ONE THAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THE FRESHMAN CLASS ALSO, DID YOU EVER REALLY THINK THAT 99 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT WAS THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO? HOW DID YOU INTEND TO FUND THAT? WOULD YOU HAVE FOUND A PAID FOR IF YOU THOUGHT 99 WEEKS WAS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO DEAL WITH AN UNSETTLED EMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN AMERICA? DO YOU HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESSES WITH EMPLOYEES WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO HIRE THEM OFF OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS? WE HAD A HEARING BEFORE THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, MR. SPEAKER, AND THAT -- BEFORE THAT COMMITTEE, WE HAD FOUR OR FIVE EMPLOYERS, SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYERS, MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN SIX, BUT I ASKED THEM, GOING DOWN THE LINE, HAVE YOU HAD ANY KIND OF LUCK HIRING FROM THE UNEMPLOYMENT? AND THEY INVARIABLY SAID, ONCE THE UNEMPLOYMENT EXPIRES, I CAN HIRE THEM JUST FINE. ONE EMPLOYER OUT OF THE LIST SAID THAT SHE HAD HIRED OFF OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS ON ONE OCCASION. THAT'S FAIRLY TYPICAL. I WILL TELL YOU I KNOW BUSINESSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LOOK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY SEE THAT THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THEY'D LIKE TO HIRE, THEY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RUN OUT, THEY'LL BE KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR, A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RUN OUT SO THAT THEY'RE IN LINE TO HIRE THEM. EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LINING UP TO HIRE THE UNEMPLOYED BUT THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T GET THAT DONE AS LONG AS UNEMPLOYMENT IS BEING PAID. YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNFORTUNATE. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T FIND A JOB. THERE ARE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN PARTS OF THE ECONOMY, IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT'S FAR WORSE THAN THAT THAT I REPRESENT IN NORTHWEST IOWA, MR. SPEAKER. BUT WE NEED A LOGICAL UNEMPLOYMENT PLAN. PERHAPS ONE THAT RASH ETS THOSE -- RATCHETS THOSE BENEFITS IN AN INCREMENTAL WAY SO THAT IT SLOWLY PROVIDES MORE INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO WORK. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU AS AN UNEMPLOYED CAN'T FIND A JOB IN THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN, IN THE PROFESSION THAT YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE BEEN PRACTICING BEFORE YOU WERE LAID OFF. NO, MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE MANY MORE ASPECTS TO THIS. THERE'S SUCH A THING AS TRAVEL. GO AND GET A JOB WHERE YOU CAN GET ONE, RELOCATE THERE, IF THE JOB'S GOD ENOUGH. GO CHECK IT OUT, CALL FOR YOUR FAMILY. THAT'S HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. AND FOR OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ESSENTIALLY SAY TO PEOPLE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE OBLIGATED TO RELOCATE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE OVER ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE THINK THAT SOMEHOW WE OUGHT TO TAKE THE JOBS TO WHERE PEOPLE LIVE. IT PUTS ME IN MIND OF AN ARTICLE THAT WAS RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN, I HAPPEN TO HAVE READ IT IN "THE DES MOINES REGISTER" SOME YEARS AGO, PERHAPS MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, MR. SPEAKER. THEY HAD GONE INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AND A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND INTERVIEWED EVERY HOUSEHOLD THERE. AND ALL THE RESIDENTS IN SIX BLOCKS BY A SIX-BLOCK AREA, 36 SQUARE BLOCKS AND AS THEY INTERVIEWED THE FAMILIES AND DID, I GUESS I CAN'T SAY THE WORD -- AND ANALYZED THE FAMILIES AND IDENTIFIED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMILIES, THEY DIDN'T FIND A SINGLE MALE EMPLOYED HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD IN ALL 36 SQUARE BLOCKS OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IN MILWAUKEE. THE HISTORY OF THAT AREA WAS THAT THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAD PREDOMINANTLY BEEN DEFENDED FROM THOSE WHO MOVED UP TO MILWAUKEE RIGHT AFTER THE PROHIBITION ENDED TO TAKE ON THE BREWRY JOBS, THE GOOD BREWRY JOBS IN MILWAUKEE. THEY BREWED A LOT OF BEER IN MILWAUKEE AND THEY CREATED GOOD JOBS THERE RIGHT AT THE ENOF THE PROHIBITION ERA AND PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO MOVE FROM THE GULF STATES UP INTO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GO TO WORK IN THE BREWRIES. WELL, NOW -- SO THAT WOULD BE THE 1930'S AND FROM THE 1930'S TO THE 1990'S A 60-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, SO TO SPEAK, SO THOMAS JEFFERSON WOULD CALL THAT DELEE GENERATIONS, I'D SAY PROBABLY SO. ONE GENERATION ARRIVED IN MILWAUKEE AT THE DAWN OF THE AFTERMATH OF PROHIBITION, ANOTHER GENERATION WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE -- AND THE GRANDCHILDREN WERE STILL LIVING THERE BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE EMPLOYED MALE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD IN 36 SQUARE BLOCKS AND THE STORY WAS ABOUT THE LAMENT, MR. SPEAKER, THAT WE COULDN'T BRING JOBS TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT TRUTHFULLY THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS HAD MOVED TO MILWAUKEE FROM THE GULF STATES FOR THE JOBS AND IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO THE PERSON WRITING THE ARTICLE THAT PEOPLE COULD ALSO MOVE FOR JOBS IN THE MODERN ERA. THAT IS WHAT YOU MUST DO, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FLEXIBLE, MOBILE ECONOMY, WE'VE GOT TO GO TO WHERE THE WORK IS. BUT THE DISINCENTIVE IS THERE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DISCOURAGES SUCH THINGS AND WE DON'T ASK VERY MUCH THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY IS IT NOT A SINGLE MALE OF HOUSEHOLD IS EMPLOYED IN THIS ENTIRE SIX-BLOCK BY SIX-BLOCK AREA OF MILWAUKEE AND THE BIGGEST ANSWER OF THAT IS THAT THE 72 DIFFERENT MEANS TESTED WELFARE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ARE DISINCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO FIND A JOB. NOW, THAT SOUNDS SHOCKING TO THE HYPERVENT LAZING -- HYPERVENTILATING LIBERAL LEFT, MR. SPEAKER, BUT IT'S JUST A FACT. IT'S A FACT OF HUMAN NATURE. SO THE DISCOURAGEMENT FROM FINDING A JOB IS CREATE -- HAS CREATED THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A TRADITION OF WORKING ANYMORE AND IT'S A VERY SAD THING TO THINK THAT AMERICA, THAT WAS BUILT ON HIGH PRODUCTIVITY AND THE EFFICIENCY WE HAVE AND THE INTUITIVE NATURE, THE INSTINCTIVE, INNOVATIVE NATURE OF AMERICANS, HAS BEEN WHAT'S MADE OUR ECONOMY SO STRONG AND HERE WE SAT WITH THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER UNEMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE 99 WEEKS OR 79 WEEKS OR 69 WEEKS. MR. SPEAKER, 26 WEEKS HAD BEEN LONG ENOUGH FOR ALMOST HULLA -- ALMOST ALL OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. WE ARE NOT AT AN ECONOMIC SITUATION THAT MATCHES THAT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION AT THIS POINT. ALTHOUGH THE DEBT THAT'S BEEN ACCUMULATED DOES MATCH THAT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THEN SOME. I RECALL THE PRESIDENT COMING BEFORE OUR REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 10 OF 2009, SHORTLY AFTER HE'D BEEN INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT, TO MAKE THE CASE THAT WE SHOULD ADVANCE HIS ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN. HIS $787.5 BILLION, GROWN INTO $8.25 BILLION, SHOVEL READY, SPEND NOW, PAY INTEREST AND PAY PRINCIPAL LATER PLAN. ANSWERED SAID TO US, F.D.R.'S NEW DEAL ACTUALLY DID WORK. IT WORKED BUT F.D.R. LOST HIS NERVE AND IN THE SECOND -- HE GOT WORRIED ABOUT SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY AND SO HE PULLED BACK. AND WHEN HE PULLED BACK IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1930'S IT BROUGHT ABOUT A RECESSION WITHIN A DEPRESSION. THESE ARE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S WORDS. AND THIS RECESSION WITHIN A DEPRESSION, UNEMPLOYMENT WENT UP AND BEFORE THEN THE ECONOMY COULD RECOVER, ALONG CAME WORLD WAR II, THE GREATEST ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN EVER. THAT'S THE PRESIDENT'S PRESENTATION TO US. HE CONVINCED ME AND I THINK EVERYBODY THAT WAS LISTENING THAT DAY THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL NOT LOSE THE NERVE THAT HE BELIEVES F.D.R. LOST. PRESIDENT OBAMA IS THE LEAD KEYNESIAN ECONOMIST ON STEROIDS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY AND I BELIEVE THE WORLD. AND HE BELIEVES THAT BORROWING MONEY AND SPENDING MONEY WILL STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND AS THAT ECONOMY ROLLS, THE BENEFITS OF IT WILL CREATE JOBS. HE BELIEVES THAT IF YOU BORROW MONEY AND HAND IT TO PEOPLE, NOT IN EXCHANGE FOR A GOOD OR SERVICE THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED BUT JUST GET IT IN THEIR HANDS, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IF THEY'LL WORK FOR IT, FINE, GIVE THEM SOMETHING FOR WORKING, IF THEY WON'T OR CAN'T, GIVE THEM SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY CAN SURELY BE BUSY SPENDING, THEY'VE GOT MORE TIME TO DO THAT IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING, AFTER ALL, AND SPENDING MONEY STIMULATES THE ECONOMY. MR. SPEAKER, KEYNESIAN ECONOMISTS BELIEVE THAT, THAT SPENDING MONEY STIMULATES THE ECONOMY. I BELIEVE THIS, THAT WE HERE IN AMERICA HAVE TO PRODUCE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT HAVE A MARKETABLE VALUE AND CAN BE SOLD COMPETITIVELY HERE AND ABROAD. WE NEED TO PRODUCE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC DOLDRUM THAT WE'RE IN, NOT SPEND OUR WAY OUT OF IT. I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND IN THE PRESIDENT'S CASE I HAVE TO SAY, GIVE HIM HIS DUE, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, $4 TRILLION OR $5 TRILLION OF EXTRA AMOUNT OF DEBT THAT'S BEEN PILED UPON US, THEY BELIEVE THAT IF YOU SPEND THAT THAT COMES BACK TO YOU SEVERAL FOLD. IN FACT, THE STATEMENT WAS MADE BY OUR SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE THAT FOR EVERY $1 IN FOOD STAMPS THAT GETS SPENT, IT STIMULATES $1.84 IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. NOW, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY DON'T WE GIVE OUT A LOT MORE FOOD STAMPS, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO JUST -- AND THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO PRODUCE THE FOOD AND THEY HAVE TO DELIVER IT, STOCK IT, SHELF IT, THOSE THINGS. WELL, IF THAT'S SUCH A GOOD ECONOMIC STIMULATER, WHY DON'T WE JUST DO ALL OF THAT AND THEN THROW THE FOOD AWAY? WE CAN STIMULATE THE ECONOMY TOO. BUT WHO'S GOING TO PAY THE DEBT? AND HERE'S WHAT I DO BELIEVE, MR. SPEAKER. AND THAT IS THAT IF WE BORROW MONEY AND HAND IT TO PEOPLE AND SAY, SPEND IT, SPEND IT, SPEND IT, IT'S YOUR PATRIOTIC DUTY, IT MAY STIMULATE THE ECONOMY FOR A SHORT WHILE. I CALL IT A SUGAR HIGH. MAYBE JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE YOU CAN GET THAT BUMP, VERY, VERY TEMPORARY. BUT THE TRADEOFF IS THAT THE TRAUF THAT YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE BE FALLING INTO -- TROUGH THAT YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE BE FALLING INTO MAY NOT, NOT WILL NOT, BUT MAY NOT BE AS DEEP AS IT WOULD BE OTHERWISE. BUT THE RESULT WILL BE YOU HAVE TO RECOVER AND YOU HAVE TO PAY OFF THE INTEREST AND THE PRINCIPAL. SO EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT FALL AS FAR, YOU HAVE A LOT BROADER TROUGH TO RECOVER FROM. WE HAVE TO PAY THE INTEREST AND WE HAVE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL ON ALL OF THIS DEBT THAT'S BEEN ACCUMULATED OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS YEARS. TANNED DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE -- AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS SOMEHOW FORGIVEN FOR THE DEBT THAT'S BEEN DRIVEN UP. BUT DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE IRAQ WAR, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION CAME WITHIN $160 BILLION OF BALANCING THE BUDGET. $160 BILLION. THAT SOUNDS LIKE LOOSE CHANGE TODAY COMPARED TO THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET THAT HE ROLLED OUT WHICH IS MINUS $1.33 TRILLION. YOU ADD UP A DEFICIT OF $1.33 TRILLION AND YOU INCREASE TAXES BY MORE THAN $1.5 TRILLION IN THAT PROCESS, YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS, MR. SPEAKER. THIS BUDGET THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS OFFERED SHOULD BE THE NEWS OF THE DAY. AND MAYBE WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S IN IT. BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY HERE INSTEAD IS IT'S DEBT ON ARRIVAL , THAT HIS BUDGET WILL NOT BE BROUGHT UP, CERTAINLY NOT HERE IN THE HOUSE, I DON'T BELIEVE SO, I DON'T THINK SO HERE IN THE HOUSE, UNLESS IT'S TO HILL ILLUSTRATE ITS LACK OF SUPPORT -- UNLESS IT'S TO ILLUSTRATE ITS LACK OF SUPPORT. BUT LAST YEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET WAS BROUGHT UP ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND OF ALL THE TALK ABOUT GIVING THE PRESIDENT HIS DUE AND WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT ON HIS BUDGET, HIS BUDGET WAS VOTED OBJECT IN THE SENATE AND VOTED DOWN -- ON IN THE SENATE AND VOTED DOWN 97-0. 97-0. MR. SPEAKER, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION COME TO THE FLOOR OF THIS CONGRESS THAT HAD THAT KIND OF UNANIMOUS, WELL, I GUESS I CAN'T SAY SUPPORT, UNANIMOUS REJECTION. THAT WOULD BE TOUGH ON MY EGO -- EGO IF I COULDN'T GET ANYBODY TO AGREE WITH ME AFTER I HAD ALL OF THAT STAFF TO PUT THAT BIG BUDGET TOGETHER. BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET SAID. THE PRESIDENT NOW HAS A POLITICAL DOCUMENT, NOT A FISCAL MANAGEMENT DOCUMENT, THAT HE WILL RUN AROUND THE COUNTRY TALKING ABOUT HIS BUDGET AND HE WILL USE IT TO BEAT UP ON REPUBLICANS THAT DON'T SUPPORT HIS BUDGET AND MAYBE HE'LL REALIZE THAT IT ISN'T JUST REPUBLICANS, LAST TIME IT WAS HARRY REID AND ALL THE DEMOCRATS THAT VOTED ON THE BUDGET OVER IN THE SENATE. WE DIDN'T SUPPORT IT OVER ON THIS SIDE EITHER. WE HAD A COUPLE OF BUDGETS COME TO THE FLOOR HERE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAST YEAR, MR. SPEAKER. AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE R.S.C. BUDGET THAT BALANCED IN EIGHT TO NINE YEARS AND THE OTHER ONE WAS WHAT WE CALL THE RYAN BUDGET, THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE BUDGET. THAT'S THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY PASSED HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND EVEN THOUGH THAT BUDGET HAD A LEVEL OF AUSTERITY TO IT AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS GROUNDBREAKING IN THE BOLDNESS WITH WHICH IT ADDRESSED A PATH TO PROSPERITY, IT WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH, MR. SPEAKER. IT WENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IT WAS BOLD BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS, NOT PARTICULARLY BOLD BY THE STANDARDS THAT WE NEED TO ENVISION THE FUTURE. AND TODAY WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, OR I GUESS IT WAS YESTERDAY, MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE TWO TO THREE YEARS AND WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING ONE HUGE GREECE. I HAVE BEEN MAKING A SIMILAR STATEMENT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO AND THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT, BY THE WAY GREECE IS A RELATIVELY EASY BAILOUT IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEIR ECONOMY IS ONLY 2% OF THE E.U.'S G.D.P. THAT'S EUROPEAN UNION'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, JUST IN CASE THE ACRONYMS ARE BOTHERING PEOPLE, MR. SPEAKER. 2% OF THE E.U.'S G.D.P.. NOT THAT HARD TO FIX. BUT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF DIFFICULTY. THE RYAN BUDGET A YEAR AGO, THOUGH, DIDN'T BALANCE FOR 26 YEARS. AND LEFT US WITH A NATIONAL DEBT AT THE END OF 10 YEARS OF $23 TRILLION. WALKED INTO IT WITH $14.3 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT AND ENDED UP 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WITH $23 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT. BUT WHEN THE DEBT CEILING DEAL WAS MADE LAST AUGUST, IT BROKE FAITH WITH THE RYAN BUDGET, THE PROJECTED $23 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT BECAME $26 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT. BUT IN FAIRNESS, WITHOUT APPLYING THE RYAN BUDGET, WE WERE LOOKING AT $28 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT 10 YEARS FROM NOW. $14.3 TRILLION TO $28 TRILLION, THE RYAN BUDGET DIALED THE $28 TRILLION DOWN TO $23 TRILLION. THE DEBT CEILING DEAL DIALED IT BACK UP TO $26 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT IN 10 YEARS. IT'S HARD TO DECLARE A VICTORY OVER A $1.2 TRILLION CUT ON A DEBT CEILING DEAL IF YOU'RE REDUCING THEIR PROJECTED NATIONAL DEBT FROM $28 TRILLION DOWN TO $26 TRILLION AND IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH A BUDGET THAT NO LONGER IS BINDING, HAVING BROKEN FAITH WITH AT LEAST THE BIG NUMBERS WITHIN THAT REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE/RYAN BUDGET, ON A BUDGET THAT DIDN'T BALANCE FOR 26 YEARS, I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY THREE SONS THAT ARE GROWN AND THEY'RE IN THEIR 30'S RIGHT NOW AND SAY TO THEM, SORRY, WE DIDN'T HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IN THE PREVIOUS DECADE. WE HAVEN'T HAD AN EFFECTIVE BALANCED BUDGET, I DON'T BELIEVE, PASSED IN THIS MILLENNIA. AND IN 26 YEARS IF ALL GOES WELL AND WE ALREADY SAID IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO, WE MIGHT SEE A BALANCED BUDGET BUT YOU WILL, MY SONS, BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT SOCIAL SECURITY THAT WILL BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE TRUST FUND THAT HAS BY THEN HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF NOT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HOLDS CREATED IN IT BY PAYING FOR THINGS NOW THAT MAKE US FEEL GOOD OR WE AVOID THE POLITICAL CONFRONTATION OF IT, AND YOU'LL NEVER HAVING WORKED AND PAID TAXES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN AN ENTIRE CAREER AND KNOW THAT A BALANCED BUDGET'S PASSED OUT OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. YOU CAN IMAGINE, MR. SPEAKER, THOSE SONS IN THEIR 30'S THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WELL OVER A DECADE NOW, TO GO THROUGH AN ENTIRE CAREER AND BE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY, SOCIAL SECURITY ED JIBBLET, HAVING WAMB -- SOCIAL SECURITY ELIGIBILITY, HAVING WATCHED A HOLE EXPAND BILLINGER AND BIGGER IN THE TRUST FUND EVERY YEAR WHILE THEY'RE CLOSER AND CLOSER TO FINALLY BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND WE CAN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW? AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING A DEFICIT FOR ALL OF THOSE YEARS. 26, 28, 30, 40 YEARS OF DEFICITS ARE WHAT'S STARING US IN THE FACE NOW. BEFORE WE GET TO THE POINT OF PAYING OFF THE FIRST DOLLAR ON OUR NATIONAL DEBT. THAT'S IF WE STICK WITH RYAN'S BUDGET OF LAST YEAR AND I'M HOPEFUL WE'LL DO BETTER THIS YEAR BUT THE PRESIDENT, WHO SPEAKS IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, IN FRONT OF WHERE YOU'RE SEATED RIGHT NOW, MR. SPEAKER, WHEN HE CAME FOR THIS MUCH-ANTICIPATED STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MADE NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF A BALANCED BUDGET. HE DIDN'T MAKE A MENTION OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, LET ALONE AUSTERITY HE LAID OUT HIS AGENDA OF SPENDING AND I GUESS I KNOW NOW WHY HE DIDN'T ADDRESS THE PROMISE HE MADE THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN HE SAID HE'D CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF BY THE END OF HIS TERM. WELL, NO, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A DEFICIT PROPOSAL BY HIS BUDGET OF ROUGHLY HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. HE'S GOT RED INK IN HIS OWN BUDGET OF $1.33 TRILLION. HE SAYS THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR US TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT THE ECONOMY CAN'T STAND IT NOW. WELL THE CREDITORS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS MUCH LONGER EITHER. AND AS I SAT OVER ASKING A SERIES OF QUESTIONS IN THE GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER'S OFFICE NOT LONG AGO, WE WENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL DEBT OF THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN TROUBLE. THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR BOND RATINGS JUST LOWERED BY THE NEWS THAT I SAW TODAY. IF YOU ADD UP THE DEBT, THE NATIONAL DEBT OF THOSE COUNTRY, AND I'LL NAME THEM, GREECE, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, ITALY, IRELAND, BELGIUM, THOSE COUNTRIES IF YOU TAKE THE NATIONAL DEBT OF THOSE COUNTRIES, NOT INCLUDING FRANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT JUST THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN, FOR MONTHS NOW, HANGING IN THE BALANCE OF FACING THE FEAR OF DEFAULT, THEIR TOTAL CUMULATIVE NATIONAL DEBT IF THEY PAID OUT EVERYTHING THEY OWED AS A COUNTRY, THE SOVEREIGN DEBT OF THOSE COUNTRIES I HAVE MENTIONED, TOTALS $4.5 TRILLION. THE PRESIDENT ALREADY MET THAT RUNNING UP THE DEBT IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF OFFICE HE HAD ALREADY ARIFED AT A LITTLE OVER $4 TRILLION SYSTEM OF WE'RE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. THE RED INK SPENT UNDER IN THIS ADMINISTRATION WAS ENOUGH RED INK TO PAY OFF THE SOVEREIGN DEBT OF THE NATIONS IN THE E.U. THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE. NOW I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT. BUT LOOK AT THE AUSTERITY THAT GREECE IS HAVING TO ACCEPT AND THE FIRES IN THE STREETS WHEN THE STREETS OF ATHENS GO AFLAME WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT ABOUT 15,000 GOVERNMENT JOBS HAVE BEEN CUT IN ORDER TO MEET THE BUDGETARY GUIDELINES THAT THEY MUST MEET IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BORROW MONEY FROM, WHO ARE THE PLAYERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION? IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO GERMANY TODAY. 15,000 GOVERNMENT JOBS CUT IN GREECE ALONE. A LITTLE COUNTRY THAT'S 2% OF THE G.D.P. OF THE E.U. AND WE'RE HERE, WE CAN'T TIGHTEN OUR BELT. WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT PUTS A BUDGET OUT THAT WILL NOT EVEN SPEAK OF MOVING TOWARD BALANCE HE WILL NOT SPEAK ABOUT TIGHTENING OUR BELT. BUT HE WILL DEMAGOGUE PEOPLE WHO WILL PROPOSE SUCH THINGS, INCLUDING PAUL RYAN. SO MR. SPEAKER, I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE CALL POB THE -- UPON THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE SEEKING THE OVAL OFFICE AND ASK THEM, RENEW YOUR EFFORTS, DECLARE THAT AND ASK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MERP PEOPLE, THAT IF YOU ARE ELECTED TO THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICE IN THIS LAND, AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, CALL FOR A MANDATE FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR THIS CONGRESS TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND OUT OF THE SENATE AN THE MESSAGE TO THE STATES TO BEGIN THE ORDEAL OF THE RATIFICATION OF A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE 38 STATES THAT ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT MUST HAVE A G.D.P. CAP. I'LL STAND ON 18%. THAT'S THE HISTORIC CAP OUT OF THE G.D.P. FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 18%, AND MUST REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY IN ORDER TO RAISE TAXES. MR. SPEAKER, THIS COUNTRY WILL NOT SURVIVE IN THE LONG RUN WITH LESS. THE WILL TO BALANCE THE BUDGET DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS CONGRESS TODAY, IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE HOUSE, IT SURELY DOESN'T EXIST IN THE SENATE. THE PUSH FROM THE PRESIDENT FOR DEFICIT SPENDING IS ONE OF THE FACTORS BUT IF YOU REMOVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE CRITES AND PUT A NEW INDIVIDUAL IN THERE WHO IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, WE STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE TENENCY TO OVERSPEND AND THE UNWILLINGNESS TO TIGHTEN THE BELT AN LISTEN AND TO -- AND THE UNWILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT INSIST WE BALANCE THIS BUDGET. SO, MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO SEE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CALL FOR A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. I WANT THAT TO BE ACTUALLY THE SECOND PLANK IN THEIR PLATFORM. THE FIRST PLANK NEEDS TO BE THE FULL, 100% REPEAL OF OBAMACARE. THAT'S AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT FOR US TO GET OUR LIBERTY BACK AND IT'S AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. WE CAN'T AFFORD OBAMACARE, IT TAKES AWAY OUR LIBERTY, IT TAKES AWAY OUR FREEDOM, IT TAKES AWAY OUR CHOICES. WE'RE DEALING NOW WITH A DEBATE OVER THE RIGHT TO CONSCIENCE. NEVER HAVE WE SEEN A PRESIDENT THAT HAD THE LEVEL OF AUDACITY TO BELIEVE THAT HE COULD SIT IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND DICTATE THE TERMS OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES TO EVERY AMERICAN. THE PRESIDENT DID SO, MAKE NO MISTAKE, MR. SPEAKER, IT WASN'T KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, SITTING IN HER OFFICE WITH TRUSTED ADVISORS AT H.H.S. THAT DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO COMPEL ESPECIALLY THE CATHOLIC BUT THE FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS WHO ARE PROVIDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO PROVIDE ALSO FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES THAT 100% OF THEM WOULD COVER BIRTH CONTROL PILLS, ORE CONTRACEPTIVES -- OTHER CONTRACEPTIVES, THAT 100% WOULD COVER STERILIZATIONS, TUBAL LIGATIONS AND VASECTOMIES IN PARTICULAR, THAT 100% WOULD COVER THE MORNING AFTER PILL OR THE -- THE PLAN B PILL THAT COMES IN AFTER THE MORNING AFTER PILL. THE PILL THAT IS PRESCRIBED TO BRING ABOUT AN A-- ABORTION UP TO FIVE DAY BUS IS EFFECTIVE UP TO 22 DAYS. THAT WOULD BE FOUR DAYS AFTER THE BABY'S HEART STARTS BEATING, I MIGHT ADD, MR. SPEAKER. TO COMPEL ANY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, ANY PERSON OF FAITH, LET ALONE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHICH IS THE LARGEST SINGLE INSTITUTION STANDING FOR LIFE AND MARRIAGE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE WHITE HOUSE UNDERSTANDS THAT IF THEY CAN PLOW THROUGH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON LIFE AND MARRIAGE AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE, THEN THERE'S NO INSTITUTION LEFT THAT CAN STAND UP TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HIS RADICAL SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIVE AGENDA WOULD HAVE NO SERIOUS IMPEDIMENT FROM THAT POINT FORWARD. THANKFULLY, MR. SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN BISHOPS UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE WHEN KATHLEEN SEBELIUS MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY THE ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO COMPEL REAL JUS INSTITUTIONS, IN PARTICULAR CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS, TO FUND, PROVIDE AND PAY FOR BIRTH CONTROL PILLS, STERILIZATION, ABORT FASHTES -- ABORTIFACIENTS. THAT WAS A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO CONSCIENCE, WHICH IS GUARANTEED IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, FREEDOM OF RELIGION. BUT FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND I SHOULD PROBABLY NOT USE THAT TERM QUITE SO BENIGNLY BECAUSE THIS IS FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO ISSUE SUCH AN ORDER, TELLS US HOW RADICAL AND AGGRESSIVE HIS AGENDA IS. MAYBE HOW OUT OF TOUCH HE IS WITH THE FAITH COMMUNITY IN AMERICA, BUT I COMPLIMENT THE AMERICAN PISH SHOPS FOR TAKING SUCH A BOLD STAND, MR. SPEAKER. AND THE STAND NEEDED TO BE TAKEN. WHEN YOU THINK OF THE MARTYRS OF HISTORY, IT'S NOT A HARD STAND TO TAKE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE CRUCIFIED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR HEAD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE STONED TO DEATH FOR TAKING A STAND LIKE THIS. YOU MIGHT BE RIDICULED, BUT WHEN YOU STAND ON PRINCIPLE, HOW CAN THAT HURT? IT DOESN'T. IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLE, IT DOESN'T. SO MR. SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS TOOK THIS POSITION, THEY SAID IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO CONSCIENCE AND THEY WROTE, WE CANNOT, WE WILL NOT OBEY THIS UNJUST LAW. THE STRONGEST LANGUAGE I HAVE HEARD READ FROM THE PULPIT IN MY YEARS AS A FAITHFUL CATHOLIC. WE CANNOT, WE WILL NOT OBEY THIS UNJUST LAW. A BOLD POSITION, A BRIGHT LINE, UNCOMPROMISING, AND THE -- I KNOW THE QUESTION WAS POSED THAT THE DELAY OF 12 MONTHS IN IMPLEMENTING THE RULE WAS TO GIVE THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS AND ADJUST TO THE IMPOSITION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN REQUIRING THEM TO VIOLATE THEIR CONSCIENCE. MR. SPEAKER, I SUBMIT THAT ONE DOES NOT VIOLATE THEIR CONSCIENCE. IF IT IS A CONSCIENCE CLAUSE THAT PROTECTS YOU, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT IT'S YOUR CONSCIENCE THAT PROIBLETS YOU FROM KLOSSING THE LINE. THE LIVES OF BABY ARE ENDED BY MORNING AFTER PILLS, AND IT'S A DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH AND NO GOVERNMENT CAN COMPEL A CHURCH TO VIOLATE ITS CONSCIENCE. NOR CAN A GOVERNMENT COMPEL INDIVIDUALS TO VIOLATE THEIR CONSCIENCE. THIS RULE THAT WAS IMPOSED WAS DESIGNED TO DO THAT AND I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT CALCULATED THAT HE COULD FRACTURE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN DOING SO AND HAVING -- IF HE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT, THERE WOULD NOT BE AN IMPEDIMENT IN THE WAY WITH THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE RADICAL SOCIAL AGENDA. BUT MR. SPEAKER, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, THE BURN SHOP -- BISHOPS LISTENED TO THE PRESIDENT'S, QUOTE, ACCOMMODATION, CLOSE QUOTE, AND BOUGHT A LITTLE TIME AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO STUDY THIS AND DELIBERATE AND GIVE YOU AN ANSWER. AND THEY DID. THEY STUDIED, DELIBERATED AND CAME BACK WITH AN ANSWER, IT WAS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, 48 HOURS, IF I RECALL, REJECTED THE PRESIDENT'S ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE IT STILL VIOLATES CONSCIENCE AND VIOLATES THE CONSCIENCE OF MANY FAITHFUL AMERICANS AND AMERICANS OF ALL RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS, PARTICULARLY RUNS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. SO, MR. SPEAKER, WE NOW HAVE A BRIGHT LINE DRAWN ALONG THE LINE OF CONSCIENCE PR TEXT. WE'RE HAVING A GOOD AMERICAN DEBATE ON CONSCIENCE PROTECTION AND I'M HOPEFUL WEETH GET THAT ESTABLISHED BUT I WOULD CAUTION THIS BODY, MR. SPEAKER, IF I WERE ADDRESSING THEM INSTEAD OF YOURSELF, THAT WESTERN NOT ACCEPT THE IDEA THAT WE CAN GO INTO OBAMACARE, ALL THIS POWER AND AUTHORITY IS ROOTED IN OBAMACARE, OBAMACARE GRANT THIS IS AUTHORITY TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE PRESIDENT ASSUMES THE AUTHORITY BECAUSE HE MAKES THE APPOINTMENTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT SUCH AS KATHLEEN SO BEALEUS. BUT TO MAKE CHANGES IN OBAMACARE THAT LOWER THE PRESSURE, THE 1099 SQUEAL FORMS COMPONENT, THIS HOUSE PASSED A BILL TO REPEAL IT. AND YOU'VE GOT OTHER COMPONENTS OF OBAMACARE THAT HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUS AND EFFORTS MADE TO REPEAL A LITTLE PIECE HERE A LITTLE PIECE THERE, THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TAX WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE. NOW WE HAVE THE VIOLATION OF CONSCIENCE THAT IMPOSES THAT EVERYBODY IN AMERICA PAY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE'S CONTRACEPTIVES AND THEIR STERILIZATIONS AND THEIR APARTIFACIENTS. MY CONSCIENCE WON'T LET ME DO THAT, MR. SPEAKER. YET THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES HE HAS THE POWER BUILT INTO OBAMACARE AND EVERY TIME WE PASS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT TAKES SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD AMEND OUT THE MOST EGREGIOUS ASPECTS OF OBAMACARE. I REMEMBER THE LANGUAGE WHEN OBAMACARE WAS PASSED, SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THIS CONGRESS, I COUNT YOU ALL AS LEADERS AS I ADDRESS YOU, MR. SPEAKER, HAVE SAID WE WILL REPEAL THE MOST EGREGIOUS ASPECTS OF OBAMACARE. THE MOST EGREGIOUS ASPECT, MR. SPEAKER, EVERY ASPECT OF OOBAMACARE IS REGRIEGES -- EGREGIOUS. IT IS BECAUSE IT'S A VIGES OF OUR AMERICAN LIBERTY. IF WE AGREE -- REPEAL ONE EGREGIOUS ASPECT ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER, EACH TILE WE DO THAT, WE TAKE THE LID THEY'VE PRESSURE COOKER AND LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HEAT TO COME UP WHERE WE CAN SOLVE THE WHOLE MESS. . I HAVE ARGUED SINCE THE BEGINNING, WE NEED TO HOLD THE LID, KEEP THE PRESSURE ON, KEEP THE HEAT INCREASE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE ARE ALREADY TO PASS REPEAL OF OBAMACARE AND SEND IT TO THE NEXT PRESIDENT. THIS PRESIDENT, WE HAVE AN IDEA WHAT HE WOULD DO WITH IT. BUT THE NEXTMENT WILL SIGN THE REPEAL. I WORKED ON THAT AND WORKED WITH EACH OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON THIS AND EVERY REPUBLICAN CAPPED HAS TAKEN A PLEDGE OR AN OATH MULTIPLE TIMES FOR FULL REPEAL OF OBAMACARE, ALMOST ALL BUT ONE OF THEM HAVE PLEDGED TO RIP IT OUT BY THE ROOTS AND NOT LEAVE ONE PARTICLE LEFT OF IT BEHIND. IT'S WHAT WE MUST DO IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP FAITH WITH OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND WE MU DO IF WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT AND REFURBISH THE LIBERTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO US AS AMERICANS. IF WE HOPE TO HAVE A ECONOMIC FUTURE WITH AN UNSUSTAINABLE OBAMACARE STARRING AT US AND IF WE ARE GOING TO LEAD THE WORLD IN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE, IT'S WHAT WE MUST DO IF WE ARE GOING TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO UPHOLD. THESE ARE REASONS FOR FULL 100% OF REPEAL OF OBAMACARE. NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST WEEKS OF THE NEXT CONGRESS AND THE REPEAL NEEDS TO BE SET ON THE PODIUM, PREPARED THERE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNIONS SO WHEN HE TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE, HIS FIRST ACT IN OFFICE CAN BE TO SIGN THE REPEAL OF OBAMACARE RIGHT THERE AT THE PODIUM, WEST PORTICO OF THE CAPITOL, AND I HOPE TO HAVE A GOOD SEAT ON THAT OCCASION AND I WILL CONTINUE THIS ARGUMENT TO POSITION US SO THAT THIS CONGRESS IS PREPARED TO PASS THAT REPEAL. AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD JUST GO THROUGH A WARM-UP DRILL HERE FAIRLY SOON. NOW THIS IS VALENTINE'S DAY, FEBRUARY 14. SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 30, 60 DAYS, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO RENEW AND REFRESH OUR VOTE TO REPEAL OBAMACARE AGAIN. PERHAPS THE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND HAVE CHANGED THEIR MIND, BUT I BELIEVE THIS CONGRESS SHOULD REMIND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE STILL 100% OF THE REPUBLICANS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, IN FAVOR OF THE FULL 100% REPEAL OF OBAMACARE. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO SEND. MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD ALSO SUBMIT THAT THE REPEAL OF DODD-FRANK IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT KS TOO. WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF UNDOING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION BEFORE WE GET TO THE DOING TO START THE REFORM PROCESS. WE WOULD HAVE LOST TWO OR THREE OR MORE YEARS BEFORE PRESIDENT OBAMA BEING LOCKED UP IN A CONGRESS THAT'S LED BY NANCY PELOSI THEN AND HARRY REID ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND WILL HAVE LOST FOUR YEARS OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS AND THAT CAN'T COME AS LONG AS OBAMACARE SITS IN THE WAY AND DODD-FRANK SITS IN THE WAY. THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BY BARNEY FRANK AND CHRIS DODD TO SPUR PRESUMABLY THE FINANCIAL WORLD. SOLUTIONS CAME FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO THIS AS A FINANCIAL PACKAGE, MR. SPEAKER. AND IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 1 13TH CONGRESS, PASS THE REPEAL OF THE DODD-FRANK AND COMMUNITY REVIFMENT ACT AND MOVE FANEY AND FREDDIE AND SOME OF THAT IS IN THE AGREEMENTS BEING NEGOTIATED RIGHT NOW BUT WON'T BE STRONG ENOUGH OR BOLD ENOUGH AND LET'S REPEAL SARBANES-OXLEY. IF WE DO THAT, RUNNING THE TABLE, REPEAL, DODD-FRANK, SARBANES OXLEY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL LAY A FOUNDATION WHERE WE CAN WRITE SOME REREASONABLE REGULATIONS ON OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OPEN OUR COUNTRY TO DO BUSINESS AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE OF THIS CONGRESS TO REMOVE THE REPEAL OF DODD-FRANK THAT MICHELE BACHMANN HAS INTRODUCED. AND SHE IS THE LEAD ON REPEAL OF DODD-FRANK AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY FOR HER TO COME BACK TO THE CONFERENCE AFTER A BRILLIANT RUN TO THE PRESIDENCY AND BRING THE REPEAL BILL TO THE FLOOR AND IT SENDS A MESSAGE, MR. SPEAKER. THE MESSAGE THAT IT SENDS IS THAT THE HOUSE IS FOR REPEAL OF DODD-FRANK AND SEND IT OVER THERE TO THE SENATE AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO ABOUT IT, BUT GETTING THAT MARKER DOWN HELPS ENCOURAGE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, THIS CONGRESS IS IN AND WILL BE IN LOCK-STEP WITH THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. THOSE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE UNIVERSAL AMONG ALL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES SHOULD BE MOVED BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, PASSING OFFICIALENING LIR. 87% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY SUPPORT ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND SITS THERE AS A DORMANT ISSUE BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ONLY AGENDA THIS CONGRESS HAS IS JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. PEOPLE EARN BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS IN THEIR JOBS WHEN THEY HAVE ENGLISH SKILLS. WE BURN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND THAT MEANS CONSUMED OR WASTE, THAT WAS HYPER BOWL, SO TO SPEAK, WE WASTE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN THE STRONGEST, MOST POWERFUL FORCE KNOWN TO HUMIDITY IS HAVING A -- HOW MANITY IS HAVING A COMMON LANGUAGE. IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL UNIFYING FORCE IN THE WORLD. WHEN GOD LOOKED DOWN ON THE TOWER OF BABEL, BEHOLD THEY SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE AND BUILDING A TOUR TO THE HEAVENS WITH THE ARROGANCE WE REMEMBER. BEHOLD ONE PEOPLE THEY SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE AND NOTHING THEY PROPOSE TO DO WILL NOW BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM BECAUSE OF HAVING A COMMON LANGUAGE TO BIND THEM TOGETHER. AND SO, GOD SCRAMBLED THEIR LANGUAGE AND THAT'S WHERE THE TOWER OF BABEL CAME TOGETHER AND THEY SPLIT UP TO FOUR WINDS AND THAT'S THE OLD TESTAMENT STORY OF HOW WE ENDED UP WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT NATIONS. WE KNOW HISTORICALLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED. PEOPLE MOVE INTO ENCLAVES. EVEN IF THEY GO WITH A LANGUAGE, IT GOES INTO SOMETHING ELSE IF IT DOESN'T INTERRELATE WITH THE OTHER COMMUNICATIONS IN THE REGION, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE WORLD. SO WE HAVE ENCOURAGEMENT GOING ON IN THIS CULTURE OF ENCOURAGING LANGUAGE ENCLAVES INSTEAD OF SUCCESS OF ASSIMILATION. AND WE SHOULD MOVE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE UNITY ACT. 87% ISSUE. I KNOW NOTHING MORE POPULAR THAN THAT. IF I HAVE AN AGENDA HERE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT IS POPULAR AS 87% AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND I CAN'T GET A VOTE. AND MEANWHILE THE PRESIDENT CAN OFFER HIS BUDGET, THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH THAT. THERE IS A LOT OF DISPARITY BETWEEN THE TWO. THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. LET'S MOVE ENGLISH, REPEAL OF DODD-FRANK, REPEAL OF OBAMACARE. THOSE PIECES WOULD BE GOOD MESSAGES TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THERE ARE GOOD PIECES OF POLICY TO LAY ON THE DESK OF HARRY REID AND JOIN THE CORD WOOD OF THE JOBS LEGISLATION THAT THIS HOUSE HAS SENT OVER TO THE SENATE AND HELP THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO NEEDS TO COME IN WITH A STRONG MANDATE FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FROM THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS WITH A CLEAR VISION THAT AMERICANS SUPPORT OUR NEW PRESIDENT TO TAKE US WHERE WE NEED TO GO AS A PEOPLE. BUT THE COMPONENTS OF THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT NEED TO INCLUDE A BALANCED BUDGET, A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT, A COMMITMENT TO THAT BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT AND A MANDATE FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GET THAT BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT PASSED. ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED, MR. SPEAKER. AND WE NEED TO CALL FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO CALL FOR A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. I WOULD GO THROUGH THESE ISSUES AGAIN. PASS A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT, ONE THAT REQUIRES A SUPERMAJORITY TO RAISE TAXES AND LEGITIMATE EXEMPTIONS FOR A DECLARED WAR OR CASE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT, REPEAL OBAMACARE AND REPEAL DODD-FRANK AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH A COUNTRY THAT IS BASED UPON FREEDOM, UPON LIBERTY, UPON FREE ENTERPRISE. IF WE DO THAT, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. WE HAVE TO PAY DOWN PRINCIPAL BEFORE WE GET RID OF THE INTEREST BILL. THIS IS A HUGE CREDIT CARD THAT HAS BEEN RUN UP. THE DEBT OF THE COUNTRY IN TROUBLE AND THE E.U., $4.5 TRILLION AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S 1.3 TRILLION THREATENING TO TAKE HIS TERM OF THE PRESIDENCY WELL OVER $5 TRILLION, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF $6 TRIAL QUON IN ACCUMULATED DEBT IN HIS TIME IN OFFICE. AND WHATEVER WE DO THAT'S GOOD, WE STILL HAVE TO PAY THE INTEREST AND PRINCIPLE ON THAT DEBT SO THE RECOVERY TIME, THE DEBT WE MIGHT HAVE FALLEN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BUT TAKES A LOT LONGER TO RECOVER WHEN YOU BORROW THE MONEY TO DO SO. THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE CAPITAL AND INVESTMENT AND RISK AND NATURE OF KEYNESIAN AND I'M A SUPPLY SIDER AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BORROWING MONEY AND HANDING IT TO PEOPLE AND SPENDING THAT MONEY IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO RECOVER FROM THIS ECONOMY. WE ARE GOING TO RECOVER FROM THIS UNWARD ECONOMY BY PRODUCING GOODS AND SERVICES THAT HAVE A MARKETABLE ECONOMY. IF WE DO THAT, WE'LL ECONOMY AND REBALANCE OUR TRADE DEFICIT AND MAKE INDUSTRY STRONG AGAIN AND BE THE POWERHOUSE OF THE WORLD. AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE ARE STRONG CULTURALLY, MILITARILY, ECONOMICALLY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOOKED UP BY THE REST OF THE WORLD. IF WE FAIL ECONOMICALLY, IF WE BECOME ONE HUGE GREECE AS CHAIRMAN RYAN IS CONCERNED AND AS I AM AND MANY OTHERS, IF WE BECOME ONE HUGE GREECE, THERE IS NO ONE TO BAIL US OUT. THERE IS NO ONE THERE. WE CAN HOLD OUR TIN CUP OUT BUT NO ECONOMY WILL BE BIG ENOUGH TO PUT THE TIN CUP OUT TO GET A MEAL. WE WOULD BE IN A SITUATION OF DEFAULT AND WOULD BE A SAD, SAD DAY IN AMERICA. TAKE GENERATIONS TO BUILD OUR CREDIT BACK AGAIN. TAKE GENERATIONS AND THE TRAJECTORY WOULD BE SO ALTERED THAT WE COULD NEVER RECOVER. THE POWER OF THE WORLD -- THE POWER IS A VACUUM AND IT FILLS IT. IF AMERICA HAS AN ECONOMIC CRISIS, AS I'M SUGGESTING LOOMS IN OUR FUTURE, THAT POWER, THAT GLOBAL VACUUM WILL BE FILLED BY OUR COMPETITORS AND MUCH OF THAT POWER THAT IS PROPER SCRECTED AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE PAID FOR BLOOD AND WE MUST MAINTAIN THAT FOR THE FUTURE DESTINY OF OUR COUNTRY AND MAINTAIN IT FOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO PROJECT FREEDOM AND LIBERTY. WE ARE A GREAT COUNTRY AND GREATEST UNCHALLENGED NATION OF THE WORLD. WE GET OUR STRENGTH FROM WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND FREE ENTERPRISE CAPITALISM AND NEED TO UNDERSTAND THOSE UNDERPINNINGS OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AND NEED TO CELEBRATE THEM AND TEACH THEM AND NEED EVERY CHILD TO UNDERSTAND THE PILLARS OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AND RECITE THEM IN THE VERY CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT IS STANDING UP FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TODAY ALONG WITH THE OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. IT'S A BIG PICTURE WE HAVE GOING ON. IT'S A GREAT COUNTRY THAT WE ARE. GREAT COUNTRY FILLED WITH GREAT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH INDIVIDUAL SPIRITS, INDIVIDUAL SENSE OF SELF-SACRIFICE, WILLING TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT AND CARRY THEIR SHARE OF THE LOAD. WHAT DO THEY WANT OUT OF IT? AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, PROSPER, RAISE THEIR FAMILY, LIVE FREE WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT REACHING IN AND REGULATING EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES AND UTILIZE THE GOD-GIVEN LIBERTY THAT WAS ARTICULATED AND PROMOTE THAT HUMANITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHENEVER THERE MAY BE. MR. SPEAKER, I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE DISCUSSION I HAVE HAD WITH YOU THIS EVENING AND I WOULD YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. . .

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. GARAMENDI IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60 MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE MINORITY LEADER.

MR. GARAMENDI

MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY TWO OF MY…

MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES, MR. TONKO FROM NEW YORK, MR. ALTMIRE, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND ABOUT ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE THINK REALLY WILL PROPEL AMERICA BACK TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WORLD'S ECONOMIES. WE'VE HAD SOME TOUGH TIMES BUT WE'VE SEEN SOME PROGRESS AND IF WE CAN ONCE AGAIN MAKE IT IN AMERICA, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS ECONOMY GROW, WE'LL SEE THE MIDDLE CLASS COME BACK TO LIFE, WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN EXPANSION OF WEALTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA WHEN WE MAKE THINGS IN AMERICA. LET ME JUST START OFF THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE. SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT NOTHING GOOD HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WHEN IN FACT THIS CHART, WHICH IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STATISTICS OFFICE, POINTS OUT VERY, VERY CLEARLY WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM SINCE THE GREAT RE-- SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION BEGAN. THE GOLD COLUMNS OVER ON THE FAR LEFT, OR FAR RIGHT, DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN SEE THE GREAT DECLINE THAT TOOK PLACE FROM 2007 UNTIL JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2009 WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA CAME INTO OFFICE. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE SEEN A STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN THE NUMBER OF JOBS IN AMERICA. SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SEEING HERE IN THIS 2009 PERIOD, A CONTINUED DECLINE, EACH WEEK THAT WENT BY, WE SAW IMPROVEMENTS, LESS OF A FALLOFF AND WE BEGAN TO EMERGE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE GREAT RECESSION. SO BEGINNING HERE IN ABOUT 2010, BEGAN TO TURN AROUND AND WE BEGAN TO SEE POSITIVE JOB GROWTH AND EVERY MONTH SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE SEEN A POSITIVE JOB GROWTH IN AMERICA. NOT ENOUGH, NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY ANY OF US ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, NOT ENOUGH, I'M SURE, ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND CERTAINLY AS PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID WHEN HE APPEARED HERE AT THE STATE OF THE UNION, NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE PRESIDENT. SO WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET GOING FORWARD. PROPOSAL CAME TO THE CONGRESS YESTERDAY THAT BUDGET LAYS OUT HOW HE WOULD LIKE AMERICA TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOW WE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE CAN PUT INTO PLACE THE LAWS, PROGRAMS, AND THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. SO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND TONIGHT BUILDING OFF THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE. OVER THE LAST YEAR, MY CREAGS -- COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE KEY LADDERS TO SUCCESS. THOSE THINGS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA AND EDUCATION, RESEARCH, IT'S THE MANUFACTURING, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH THEM. TONIGHT, WE'D LIKE TO START BY FOCUSING ON ONE PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WHICH WAS THE R&D, THE RESERGE AND DEVELOPMENT PORTION OF THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET. NOW IN ANY ECONOMY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GROW THAT ECONOMY, YOU HAVE TO STAY IN THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGIES. AMERICA HAS BEEN THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT THIS AND IN DOING SO, WE HAVE CREATED EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW BUSINESSES. UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THOSE BUSINESSES GO OFFSHORE BUT THE GENESIS OF THAT GROWTH IS OFTEN IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, USUALLY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THAT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET. CERTAINLY WE SEE IT IN HEALTH CARE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. WE SEE IT IN THE NATIONAL SCIENCE, IN THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT, AND IN THE MILITARY. EACH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAS A RESEARCH BUDGET AND FROM THAT BUDGET COMES NEW INNOVATION, NEW PRODUCTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEFENSE RESEARCH AGENCY, KNOWN AROUND HERE AS CAR PA, REALLY DID THE -- AS DARPA, REALLY DID THE GRUNT WORK TO CREATE THE INTERNET AND WE'VE SEEN WHAT THAT HAS MEANT TO AMERICA. WITH THAT INTRODUCTION, $148 BILLION IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FOR ALL THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE NEW SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S HEALTH PROBLEMS, TODAY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, ENERGY ISSUES AND DEFENSE ISSUES. FORTUNATELY, MY TWO COLLEAGUES TODAY ARE WELL STEEPED AND VERY, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE RESEARCH BUDGET. MY COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK, MR. TONKO, YOU RAN A RESEARCH PROGRAM IN NEW YORK. SHARE WITH US AND THEN IF YOU WOULD REFLEGGET ON THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.

MR. TONKO

ABSOLUTELY. REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER…

ABSOLUTELY. REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER FOR AN HOUR OF THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION, DIALOGUE THAT NEEDS TO BE EXCHANGED HERE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR SO AS TO PROMOTE WHAT I BELIEVE IS A VERY PROGRESSIVE AGENDA AND IN MY HEART, I BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS PROMOTED A BUDGET HERE THAT ALLOWS TAOS MOVE FORWARD IN A PROGRESSIVE STYLE. TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES, TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, CUTTING EDGE IDEAS THAT WILL TAKE US, AS A SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY, EMBRACING OUR INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SOUNDNESS OF JOB CREATION IN THE REM OF HIGH TECH. NOW, WE HAVE BEEN -- IN THE REM OF HIGH TECH. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ON THE FLOOR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT THE VISION OF REIGNITING THE AMERICAN DREAM. REIGNITING THAT MESH DREAM THROUGH THE UNDERPINNINGS OF SMALL BUSINESS AS THE PULSE OF AMERICAN ENTERPRISE AND CERTAINLY ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE THOSE DREAMERS AND MOVERS AN SHAKERS AND BUILDERS THAT PROVIDE THE SOULFULNESS OF THE VISION OF HOW WE CAN MOVE IDEAS FORWARD THAT TRANSLATES INTO JOBS, TRANSLATES INTO PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN FINALLY A THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS, MAKING CERTAIN THAT IN ANY DEMOCRACY, THE MEASUREMENT OF A RESOUNDING FUTURE COMES THROUGH THE MEASUREMENT OF HOW WELL THAT DEMOCRACY'S MIDDLE CLASS IS PERFORMING. SO WE KNOW THAT THROUGH REFORMS OUT THERE, WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THIS BUDGET AND ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEUR DEVELOPMENT AN THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS DYNAMICS IN A WAY THAT WILL BUILD THE SUSTAINABLE OUTCOME. WE CANNOT, IN MY OPINION, I TOTALLY BELIEVE, WE CANNOT CUT OUR WAY TO PROSPERITY, CUT OUR WAY TO OPPORTUNITY, CUT OUR WAY TO AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY. WE DO IT THROUGH INVESTMENT, INVESTMENT OF THE SOUNDEST ORDER. NOW TO YOUR POINT, I HAD SERVED BEFORE ENTERING CONGRESS AS PRESIDENT AND C.E.: O-- C.E.O. OF NYCERTA, THE NEW YORK CENTER FOR ENERGY RESEARCH. IT WAS QUITE AN EYE OPENER TO SEE THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES OF A NEW VARIETY OF A CUT -- OF A NEW VARIETY, OF A CUTTING EDGE OPPORTUNITY. THERE, NOT ALL THE RESEARCH SNARE JOES WERE PERHAPS A SUCCESS STORY BUT WITHOUT THAT INVESTMENT, WITHOUT GOVERNMENT JOINING FORCES WITH ACADEMIA AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE DO NOT STRIKE THAT SORT OF VISIONARY OUTCOME. AND WHAT YOU SAW WERE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENTS MADE THAT ENABLED US TO PAVE THE WAY FOR INVESTMENTS IN THE INTERNET OR G.P.S. OR WORKING THROUGH THE VISION OF HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE MILITARY AND SHARING A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION, AND THAT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, WITH THE GROWTH OF JOBS HERE, IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT'S THE SORT OF OPPORTUNITY THAT'S ENVISIONED HERE BY THE PRESIDENT IN HIS BUDGET PRESENTATION TO CONGRESS. AND IT'S THAT SORT OF INVESTMENT THAT BELIEVES IN THE AMERICAN WORKER, BELIEVES IN THE THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS, BELIEVES IN THE STRENGTHENING THAT SMALL BUSINESS BRINGS TO ANY COMMUNITY AND BELIEVES IN ENTREPRENEURS, THAT RAGS TO RICHES SCENARIO, THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH THE PART OF OUR AMERICAN STORY. THE AMERICAN HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH SUCCESS STORIES. RAGS TO RICHES SCENARIOS WHERE AMERICA WAS SEEN AS THE PROMISED LAND. WELL, WE HAVE NOT ABANDONED MANUFACTURING, WE HAVE ENDORSED THIS IDEA OF INVESTING IN MANUFACTURING, INVESTING IN RESEARCH, AND I AM REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOUNDNESS, WITH THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION IN A WAY THAT TRANSLATE INTO JOBS. NO OTHER HIGHER PRIORITY AND WE DO IT BY REIGNITING THE AMERICAN DREAM. REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, SEEING THOSE SUCCESS STORIES THROUGH THE LENS OF NYCERTA, THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY AND RESEARCH TRADE AUTHORITY, WHERE YOU'RE SEEING IT IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES BEING BUILT, ENERGY RETROFITS FOR BUSINESSES, THESE ARE THE SORTS OF IDEAS THAT A SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY EMBRACES. WE DON'T ABANDON THESE GOAL WELL, GET INTO IT FULL STEAM. AND BY THE WAY, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER NATIONS IN WHAT IS A GLOBAL RACE ON CLEAN ENERGY AND INNOVATION, AND IF WE DON'T TAKE THAT IN, IF WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THAT RACE, WE WILL WATCH NATIONS PASS US BY AN WE WILL LET DOWN GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN WORKERS AND THAT WOULD BE UNFORGIVABLE.

MR. GARAMENDI

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH…

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH RESEARCH AND TRANSLATING THAT RESEARCH INTO REAL THINGS AMERICANS CAN MAKE. THE GREAT MANUFACTURING CENTER OF AMERICA IS REPRESENTED HERE BY MR. ALTMIRE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND ON MAKING IT IN AMERICA.

MR. ALTMIRE

THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA AND MY FRIEND FROM NEW YORK, MR. TONKO. WE…

THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA AND MY FRIEND FROM NEW YORK, MR. TONKO. WE HAVE A DISCUSSION GOING NOW ON MANUFACTURING IN AMERICA. OUR COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN MANUFACTURING AND R&D, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. IT'S CRITICAL TO LOOK AT THOSE TOGETHER. THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT WHY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH IN MANUFACTURING, WE HAVE LOST OUR CORE MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES. I COME FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WE HAVE SEEN THE STEEL INDUSTRY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RESURGENCE TODAY, IT'S BEEN MANY, MANY YEARS SINCE WE LOST A LOT OF THAT STEEL INDUSTRY THAT WE HAD IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND IT WAS THE CORE BASE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR GENERATIONS IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA. AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'VE SEEN OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY DECIMATED BY FOREIGN COMPETITION. AND THE REASON R&D RELATES TO THIS, AS THE GENTLEMAN KNOWS, IS IT'S A CONTINUUM. AT FIRST WHEN AMERICA LOST ITS MANUFACTURING LEAD TO OTHER COUNTRY WELL, KEPT THE INNOVATION AN R&D. BUT THE CONTINUING THAT EXISTS BETWEEN SOMEONE IN AMERICA COMING UP WITH AN IDEA, AN INVENTION, TURNING THAT THROUGH R&D INTO A REAL PRODUCT A ALE INNOVATION, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE LEADERS IN THAT IN AMERICA. AMERICANS HAVE LED THE WAY WITH INNOVATION, WITH CREATION, WITH TECHNOLOGY. AN THEN TURNING THAT INTO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, TURNING THAT TOWARD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURING, EXPORTATION TO OTHER COUNTRY CREERKS ATING A BASE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO USE THAT PRODUCT. THE WHOLE CONTINUUM IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THROUGH FOREIGN COMPETITION. WE LOST OUR LEAD IN A LOT OF THOSE THINGS. BECAUSE OF OUR FAILURE TO INVEST IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE OF OUR FAILURE TO KEEP UP WITH THE FOREIGN COMPETITION, WE'VE LOST EVEN MORE THAN JUST THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR. WE'VE LOST OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE ON THE INNOVATION SIDE AS WELL. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICAL EVEN IN THE TIMES THAT WE FACE NOW, SEVERE FISCAL RESTRAINT, A RECESSION THAT WE ARE FINALLY RECOVERING FROM, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN R&D BECAUSE AS THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK SAID IF WE DON'T DO IT, OTHER COUNTRIES WILL, AND THEY ARE. IF WE EXPECT TO COMPETE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY, IF WE EXPECT TO GET BACK OUR LEAD IN MANUFACTURING, WHICH WE ARE STARTING TO DO, IT HAS TO BEGIN AT THAT FIRST STAGE OF INNOVATION, OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. CREATING NEW PRODUCTS, LEADING TO NEW WAYS OF MANUFACTURING, MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF MANUFACTURING AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE RESEARCHENCE IN AMERICA BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT CONTINUUM THAT EXISTS AND IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY FOR WORKERS TO BEGIN TO MOVE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AN TURN IT BACK OVER.

MR. GARAMENDI

MR. TONKO

TON THANK YOU FOR THAT LEAD AND MR. ALTMIRE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR US…

TON THANK YOU FOR THAT LEAD AND MR. ALTMIRE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR US TO INVEST IN MANUFACTURING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT DROP, LOSING THE MANY MILLIONS OF MANY MANUFACTURING JOBS, PERHAPS THE LARGEST LOSS OF MANUFACTURING JOBS IN WORLD HISTORY, IT'S UP THERE, RANKS VERY HIGH. WHY? POLICY, TAX POLICY THAT ENCOURAGED TAKING JOBS OFFSHORE AND INVESTING IN OTHER NATIONS. WE WERE REWARDING THAT BEHAVIOR. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS PUTTING THE BRAKES ON A PROCESS THAT REALLY WAS DESTROYING HOPE FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. AND SO NOW WHAT WE SEE IS A NEW VISION OF PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR THOSE WHO WILL BUILD OPPORTUNITY IN THIS NATION. AND THEN ALSO, I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE FOCUS THAT EXISTED OR DIDN'T EXIST OVER THE PAST DECADE AND A HALF, YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE GOING AS A NATION AND THE FOCUS WASN'T ON AGRICULTURE, IT WAS NOT ON MANUFACTURING, BUT IT WAS ON SURFACE SECTOR AND THE FINANCIAL SURFACE SECTOR. AND WE KNOW THAT SCENARIO. SUFFICE IT TO SAY, WE TURNED OUR BACK AND SAID, HERE'S THE KEY, PLAY AS YOU WISH, NO WATCHDOG AND PEOPLE CREATED VEHICLES IN WHICH COULD SIR COUPLE VEPT REGULATIONS. WE PUT AT RISK EVERY FAMILY THAT INVESTED INTO THEIR FUTURE, WAS PUT AT RISK. WE IGNORED MANUFACTURING.

MR. GARAMENDI

I FLUPET YOU FOR A MOMENT? YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT…

I FLUPET YOU FOR A MOMENT? YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK AND I JUST -- I WANT TO HAND YOU THIS CHART. HOLD THAT ONE UP THERE AND LET ME GO BACK TO THE MICROPHONE. YOU MENTIONED THE EFFORT THAT WE MADE IN THE 2002 TO CHANGE FROM AN ECONOMY TO A FIRE ECONOMY, FINANCE, INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE, A FIRE ECONOMY, ONE THAT COLLAPSED, BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT MANIPULATING MONEY, INSTEAD OF CREATING MECHANICAL ENGINEERS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERS AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERS, WE CREATED FINANCIAL ENGINEERS. THE RESULT, NOT GOOD. THE GREAT RECESSION.

MR. TONKO

VALID POINT. AND WHERE WAS THAT LINEAR, WHERE WAS THAT OUTREACH, THAT…

VALID POINT. AND WHERE WAS THAT LINEAR, WHERE WAS THAT OUTREACH, THAT EXTENSION INTO ALL OF AMERICA WITH THE GOOD PRODUCTS WE DEVELOPED THAT WOULD SERVE THIS NATION WELL? AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS BRINGING BACK SOME PROGRAMS, WHAT WAS IGNORED WAS THE MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP. M.E.P. IS A PROGRAM THAT I HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TIME, FROM MY MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE CLINGING ON, WHO ARE WORKING TRYING TO BE PRODUCTIVE, OFFERING HOPE TO THE WORKER, SAYING WHERE IS THE M.E.P. PROGRAM. WELL, IT WAS BROUGHT BACK LAST YEAR AND REINSTATED FOR THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. SUPPORT THE MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP. WHAT IS THAT? M.E.P. PROGRAM. WHAT DOES THAT DO? IT ALLOWS FOR MANUFACTURERS, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURING FIRMS TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL MARKETS. THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID LET'S GET INTO EXPORTING AND BUILD IT IN AMERICA AND EXPORT IT TO THE WORLD. THAT'S A VIBRANT ECONOMY AND IT ENABLE US TO EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND TO ADOPT THOSE TECHNOLOGIES AND RETROFIT OUR MANUFACTURING BASE WITH THAT KNOW-HOW, WITH THAT PRODUCTIVITY EMERGENCYIN GROWING. THAT MEANS GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL MARKET, TO CREATE JOBS AND TO PROVIDE HOPE AGAIN FOR THE WORKER. SO IT IS GOOD THAT M.E.P. IS BACK IN THIS BUDGET AND IT IS A STATEMENT, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT WE CARE ABOUT MANUFACTURING, WE CARE ABOUT SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT AS THE SPRINGBOARD, THE ECONOMIC SPRINGBOARD TO THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT WE SO MUCH DESERVE. AND IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES. THAT'S WHAT A BUDGET IS. IT'S LIKE WHERE YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR INVESTMENT, HOW ARE YOU DEVELOPING THAT FORMULA, AND WHAT IS THE HOPE THAT YOU ANTICIPATE THAT IS TRANSLATING TO AMERICA'S WORKING FAMILIES. THIS IS THE MOMENT. THIS IS THE MOMENT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD BY RE-IGNITING THE AMERICAN DREAM, DOING IT THROUGH SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS, INVESTING IN THE DREAMERS, THOSE MOVERS, THOSE BUILDERS, THOSE ENTREPRENEURS AND RESULTING IN A THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS. AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE A STRONG DEMOCRACY. RE-IGNITE THE MIDDLE CLASS AND WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO.

MR. GARAMENDI

MR. ALTMIRE, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING LONG AND HARD ON THESE ISSUES AND CARRY…

MR. ALTMIRE, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING LONG AND HARD ON THESE ISSUES AND CARRY ON.

MR. ALTMIRE

TALK ABOUT THE TRADE DEFICIT WE ARE FACING IN THIS COUNTRY. I WANT TO…

TALK ABOUT THE TRADE DEFICIT WE ARE FACING IN THIS COUNTRY. I WANT TO CLOSE THE LOOP WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND I HEAR A LOT BACK HOME, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE, ABOUT FEDERALLY-FUNDED RESEARCH AND SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS AN EXAMPLE SOMEWHERE OF A RESEARCH PROJECT THAT SEEMS ON THE SURFACE TO BE UNJUSTIFIABLE, IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE WILL ARGUE IT'S RIDICULOUS WE ARE FUNDING CERTAIN THINGS. AND I WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF FEDERALLY RESEARCH THAT HAS PAID HUGE DIVIDENDS FOR EVERY DAY LIFE. THERE WAS IN THE LATE 1970'S AND EARLY 1980'S, BIG NATIONAL STORY ABOUT FEDERALLY-FUNDED RESEARCH ABOUT THE EYESIGHT OF EAGLES. IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE OF NO USE OF SOCIETY. LO AND BEHOLD, WHAT DID WE GET? NIGHT-VISION GOGGLES FOR OUR TROOPS, SOFT CONTACT LENSES, WE GOT SO MANY INNOVATIONS FROM THAT TYPE OF RESEARCH, TOUCHSCREEN ON OUR IPAD WAS FUNDED OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE. THE G.P.S. SYSTEM THAT SO MANY OF US RELY ON, THE INTERNET, CREATED AS WE ALL KNOW THROUGH THE PENTAGON AND FEDERALLY-FUNDED RESEARCH. I WOULD SAY TO THOSE WHO MAY BE SKEPTICAL OF SERP PROJECTS, THERE ARE SOME THAT ON THE SURFACE THAT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA IN THE BEGINNING THAT HAVE PAID HUGE DIVIDENDS AND I WOULD GO BACK TO LASIC EYE SURGERY AND SO INVESTMENT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. IT PAYS BACK SO MUCH MORE ABOUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. R&D TAX CREDIT IS KEY, MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP THAT THE GENTLEMEN WAS TALKING ABOUT, A KEY PART, BRINGING BACK A RESURGGENT MANUFACTURING BASE. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T DO THAT AND AREN'T COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS WHAT THIS CHART SHOWS. THIS WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE TO OUR COLLEAGUES. THIS IS THE U.S. TRADE DEFICIT FROM 1976 THROUGH 2008 AND AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND SEE IT IS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND HAS BEEN HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR A VERY LONG TIME. AND THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS WHY THAT IS, SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR FOREIGN COMPETITORS AND JOINING THE WORLDCOM PETITION BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR FOREIGN POLICIES AND HAVE NOT HAD A STRATEGIC MANUFACTURING STRATEGY IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE WERE A LITTLE BIT SLOW TO REACT AS TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OVERSEAS. AND WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN, SIT BACK AND WAIT WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES IMPROVE, MODERNIZE, BECOME MORE COST EFFICIENT, BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE AND MAKE THIS TREND MORE WORSE FOR THE AMERICAN WORKEROR TAKE ACTION, INVEST IN OUR FUTURE AND CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE DO OUR MANUFACTURING STRATEGY, TO INCENTIVIZE MAKING PRODUCTS IN AMERICA. AND WE TALKED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA AND I ON THIS FLOOR ABOUT A PROVISION OF OUR TAX CODE WHICH MAY WELL BE THE MOST EGREGIOUS AND UNJUSTIFIABLE PROVISION IN THE TAX CODE WHICH IS IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL ASSET, A PLANT, A MANUFACTURING PLANT, AND YOU WANT TO MOVE THAT PLANT OVERSEAS AND CLOSE YOUR OPERATIONS AND GET RID OF AMERICAN WORKERS AND LITERALLY MOVE THOSE ASSETS OVERSEAS, IN SOME CASES, YOU CAN GET A TAX DEDUCTION FOR THE COST OF YOUR MOVING EXPENSES. THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WILL COVER THE COST TO MOVE THAT PLANT OVERSEAS. THAT IS LUDICROUS AND NO REASON THAT PROVISION SHOULD EXIST AND ONE OF THE REASONS YOU SEE THE CHART GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SLOW TO REACT. BUT WE ARE AT A TURNING POINT IN THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND CHANGE THE POLICIES THAT HAVE LED TO OUR TRADE DEFICIT AND BEGIN TURNING THE CORNER AND BEGIN HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

MR. GARAMENDI

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR POINTING OUT THE EYE OF THE EAGLE AND WE HAVE TO…

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR POINTING OUT THE EYE OF THE EAGLE AND WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THIS PARTICULAR PRIZE AND THAT IS REBUILDING THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR. THIS CHART NEEDS A FURTHER EXPLANATION. WHAT WE DID BEGINNING IN 2000, BEFORE THAT, WAS DEVELOP A FIRE ECONOMY, FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE, NOT MANUFACTURING. SO MANUFACTURING WAS ALLOWED TO DECLINE AND OF COURSE, REAL ESTATE, FINANCE AND INSURANCE GREW AND BECAME THE ESSENTIAL ECONOMY IN THE YEAR 2000 TO 2010 AND THE GREAT COLLAPSE IN 2007 AND 2008 WHICH MR. TONKO SAID, REGULATORY OVERSIGHT DISAPPEARED. WE ARE REVERSING THAT. MR. ALTMIRE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE EGREGIOUS TAX POLICY OF GIVING THE TAXPAYERS WHEN COMPANIES OFFSHORE JOBS. IT WAS 2010, JUST BEFORE THE NEW CONGRESS CAME -- ACTUALLY 2009, BEFORE THE NEW CONGRESS CAME INTO EFFECT, THAT RE-ENACTED LEGISLATION THAT ELIMINATED MUCH OF THOSE TAX BREAKS. THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE AND IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, HE CALLS FOR THE FULL ELIMINATION OF TAX BREAKS TO COMPANIES THAT OFFSHORE JOBS AND AS HE SAID HERE IN THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, TURN THAT AROUND AND GIVE A TAX BREAK TO COMPANIES THAT BRING JOB BACK TO AMERICA. AND IN HIS BUDGET AND IN HIS PROPOSAL ARE SPECIFIC ACTIONS ON TAX LAW THAT WE MUST TAKE TO CARRY OUT THAT COMMITMENT TO AMERICAN AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT WANT TO BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA. WE CAN DO THIS, PUBLIC POLICY PLAYS INTO THIS. THE BUDGET, THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PIECE OF IT. THAT IS THE START OF THE IDEA OF A NEW BUSINESS OR A NEW TECHNOLOGY. AND THEN THE MANUFACTURING SUPPORT THAT GOES WITH IT, TAX POLICY. WE TALKED ABOUT THE VAST MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS. ALL OF THOSE ARE THE FEEDSTOCK TO GET THESE COMPANIES UP AND GOING SO THAT THE ENTREPRENEUR USING THE RESEARCH AND CREATING A SMALL BUSINESS WILL ULTIMATELY CREATE A BIGGER MIDDLE CLASS AND RE-IGNITING THE AMERICAN DREAM IN DOING THAT. . MR. TONKO, I THINK WE OUGHT TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, THAT'S OK WITH YOU GENTLEMEN.

MR. TONKO

BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TALK OF MANUFACTURING GROWTH, BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN…

BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TALK OF MANUFACTURING GROWTH, BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN HELD UP TREMENDOUS TCHARTS THAT -- CHARTS THAT TELL THE STORY. WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING IS WHEN YOU OVERLAY THOSE TWO CHARTS WITH THE DEFICIT, THE TRADE DEFICIT, AND THE LOSS OF MANUFACTURING JOBS, THEY MIMIC EACH OTHER. THEY ABSOLUTELY TRACE THE SAME CURVE. SO AS YOU DROP THOSE MANUFACTURING JOBS, AS THE COMMITMENT, THE TAX POLICY, THE INVESTMENT IN MANUFACTURING DECLINED AND THE DEFICIT, TRADE DEFICIT IMPACT FROM REPRESENTATIVE ALTMIRE'S CHART, THEY'RE MIMICING EACH OTHER. YOU CAN SEE THE PRECIPITOUS DROP HERE. ALMOST AT THE SAME RATE AS THE IMPACT OF THE TRADE DEFICIT. SO WE CAN STEP BACK AND DEAL WITH FACTS, OR WE CAN BE IN DENIAL. WE CAN BE BITTER ABOUT SUCCESS AND COME ONTO THE FLOOR AND TRY HOLD BACK SUCCESS BUT INSTEAD OF A TUG OF WAR ON THIS HOUSE FLOOR, LET'S TUG TOGETHER. LET'S TUG FORWARD TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE INVESTING WHERE WE OUGHT TO. LET'S CUT WHERE WE CAN BUT INVEST WHERE WE MUST. AND ONE OF THOSE INVESTMENTS HAS GOT TO BE IN THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL INVESTMENT, YEAR TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL INFRATRUCKTURE, BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THIS MANUFACTURING COMEBACK. WHEN I SEE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING EMBRACED IN MY DISTRICT WHERE WE AS A HUB IN THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND THE CAPITAL REOF NEW YORK HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN CLEAN ENERGY AND INNOVATION, THOSE ARE COMING ABOUT BECAUSE OF CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, TO TRANSMIT MORE ELECTRONS OVER CABLE, WE TALK ABOUT THE INVESTMENT IN CHIPS, GROWING THOSE CHIPS TO A SMALLER AND SMALLER DIMENSION, SO THEY CAN HAVE AN IMPACT, ENERGY GENERATION, HEALTH CARE, YOU NAME IT. ANY INDUSTRY CAN BE IMPACTED BY THIS NANOTECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT. THERE'S ALL THIS INVESTMENT BUT YOU NEED THE WORKERS WHO ARE NOW BEING PART OF AN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING STAGE IN OUR SOCIETY. WHERE WE'RE HAVING MORE AND MORE INVESTMENT, KEEN INTELLECT YOU NEED TO TRAIN THOSE WORKERS. THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, LOOK, WE'VE GOT A VEHICLE THAT IS VERY SOUND OUT THERE THEY'RE CALLED COMMUNITY COLLEGES. IN MY DISTRICT WE HAVE NOT ONLY HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FULTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SCHENECTADY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BUT WE HAVE AN AG AND TECH CAMPUS IN THE SUNY SYSTEM, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM. ALL OF THESE ARE DOING CUTTING EDGE INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH THAT GOS TO WAR THAT SPILLS OVER TO THE WORKER. SOLAR ENERGY, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE TRADE, ALL THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR COLLEGES. THE PRESIDENT SAID LET'S GO FORWARD AND INVEST, I BELIEVE THERE'S AN $ BILLION INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO TRAIN THE WORKER. LET'S NOT PULL BACK ON SUCCESS. WE SEE WHAT'S WORKING. WE KNOW WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE THE FORMULA BASED ON HISTORY THAT OUGHT TO SPEAK TO US. AND LET'S GET IT DONE. THE WORKER CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION. THIS DECISION MAKING ON THIS FLOOR SHOULD BE ABOUT HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY, NOT ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION. BUT ABOUT THE NEXT JOBS WE CAN BRING INTO THE DISTRICTS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY, THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT IN A CUMULATIVE FORMAT WILL SPELL A REIGNITING OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. A REIGNITING OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. MY DISTRICT IS -- DISTRICT IS A DOE FAR AREA TO THE ERIE CANAL. WE SAW A NECKLACE OF COMMUNITIES EMERGE FROM THAT INVESTMENT WHICH CAME AT A TOUGH TIME FOR THIS NATION. GOVERNOR BEDE WITT CLINTON SAID, HERE'S A SOLUTION, WE HAVE A TOUGH ECONOMY, LET'S PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHIPPING OUR CARGO, BUILDING, AND WHAT HAPPENED? A NUMB OF IMMIGRANT PATTERNS TRAVELED TO THESE SHORES IN HOPE OF THAT RAGS-TO-RICHES SCENARIO AND THEY INVESTED. THEY WERE THE BRAINS BEHIND THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME HERE AND DEVELOPED, ALONG WITH THE INDUSTRIAL GIANTS, AN AGENDA FOR JOBS. WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN. THIS IS THE AMERICAN PIONEER SPIRIT, THE D.N.A. WITHIN MY DISTRICT IS ABOUT A PIONEER SPIRIT, WHERE THESE MILL TOWNS BECAME THE EPICENTERS OF INVENTION AND INNOVATION AN THE SAME STORY CAN BE LIVED TODAY IF WE'RE WILLING TO REIGNITE THE AMERICAN DREAM THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN SMALL BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURS AND A THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS.

MR. GARAMENDI

CON TOE -- MR. TONKO, THANK YOU, YOU HAVE HIT ONE OF THOSE ISSUES…

CON TOE -- MR. TONKO, THANK YOU, YOU HAVE HIT ONE OF THOSE ISSUES DIRECTLY. WE OUGHT NOT MOVE ON TO TRANSPORTATION BEFORE WE DEAL WITH HUMAN CAPITAL, THAT IS IN THE AMERICAN WORKER. THE PRESIDENT LAID OUT $8 BILLION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH COMPANIES TO EDUCATE THE WORK FORCE. I CAN GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE NEW YORK DAVIS, CALIFORNIA, THERE'S A BIOPESTICIDES FIRM THAT GOES OUT AND FINDS MIKE ROBES OR VARIOUS KINDS OF NATURAL OCCURRING MATERIAL AND USES THAT AND MAKES THAT INTO A BIOPESTICIDE, NOT A CHEMICAL BUT A BIOESTEST -- BIOPESTICIDE. THEY NEED TECHNICIANS IN THEIR LABORATORIES AND MANUFACTURING THEY GO TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO BRING UP THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND BRING THOSE WORKERS IN. THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE EDUCATION BEHIND THEM. MUCH OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS PROPOSING, NOT ONLY WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUS WITH PELL GRANTS AND PROPOSING $30 BILLION GOING INTO OUR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS, SO THAT THOSE SCHOOLS CAN BE UPGRADED AND AN ADDITIONAL $30 BILLION TO BRING THE TEACHERS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

MR. TONKO

YIELD THAT ONE POINT, WHAT I BELIEVE IS ALSO IMPORTANT WITH THE COMMUNITY…

YIELD THAT ONE POINT, WHAT I BELIEVE IS ALSO IMPORTANT WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE INVESTMENT IS THE STATED PURPOSE OF CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE ONE PERSON WORKING IN A VACUUM OR ONE INSTITUTIONAL NETWORK WORKING IN A VACUUM BUT RATHER A PARTNERSHIP THAT IS FOSTERED BY THIS BUDGET PROCESS. BY THE THINKING HERE OF THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH CONGRESS. LET'S DEVELOP THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACADEMIA, COMMUNITY COLLEGES TRAINING PEOPLE, NOT -- AND RETRAINING. MANY PEOPLE ARE STARTING SECOND CAREERS. THEY LOST A JOB THROUGH NO FALL OF THEIR OWN. THIS WAS A BRUTAL TIME ON AMERICA'S MANUFACTURING BASE. LET'S BRING THAT BASE BACK AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO IT GROWS MORE AND MORE OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE THAT AS SHARP A COMPETITIVE EDGE AS POSSIBLE AS WE ENTER INTO THE GLOBAL SWEEP TAKES -- SWEEP STAKES ON JOBS.

MR. GARAMENDI

YOU, MR. TONKO. MR. ALTMIRE, I SEE YOU'RE READY TO GO HERE.

MR. ALTMIRE

GENTLEMAN HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH TO WORK WITH. I VISITED JUST YESTERDAY A…

GENTLEMAN HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH TO WORK WITH. I VISITED JUST YESTERDAY A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, THEY HAVE AN AMAZING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN GOING ON BECAUSE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIANS, PRIVATE INDUSTRY, BELIEVES IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THEY HAVE A $40 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, THEY EXCEEDED $30 MILLION AN THE DISCUSSION WAS ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THE INNOVATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, NOT JUST IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BUT ACROSS -- ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE ENERGY RESOURCES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA THAT ARE UNIQUE AND ALL THE TIME WE HEAR ABOUT EMPLOYERS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE JOBS AVAILABLE BUT THEY CAN'T FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED TO FILL THOSE SPOTS. SO BEING RIGHT ON THE CUTTING EDGE, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY HAS ALMOST TWO DOZEN NEW PROGRAMS TO TRAIN WORKERS AND RETRAIN IN SOME CASES TO FILL THE NEW SPOTS. GEOLOGISTS, MANAGERS, PEOPLE OUT THERE ON THE WORK SITES, ALL TYPES OF WAYS THROUGH THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY, ENERGY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, COMMUNITY COLLEGES DO PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN THIS BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, TO IDENTIFY THE NEED, TO RETRAIN WORKERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS THROUGH DOWNSIZING OR CHANGES IN THE WORK FORCE. IT'S AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR THIS COUNTRY AND THE PRESIDENT IS RIGHT TO PUT A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS PART OF OUR REIS -- RESURGENCE IN THIS COUNTRY. ON TRANSPORTATION --

MR. GARAMENDI

MR. TONKO

THIS, LAST NIGHT, I SPOKE BEFORE THE E.R.C., THE RESEARCH CENTER AT…

THIS, LAST NIGHT, I SPOKE BEFORE THE E.R.C., THE RESEARCH CENTER AT R.P.I., WELL REGARDED IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS AND ENGINEERS OF THE FUTURE. THEIR FUNDING IS PRIMARILY N.S.F., NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, FUNDING. THERE WAS A 5% INCREASE IN N.S.F. IN THIS BUDGET. AND RIGHTFULLY SO. WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THIS THINK TANK IS STRETCHING THE CREATIVE GENIUS AS IT REFERS TO LIGHTING DESIGN. LIGHTING DESIGNS THAT WILL BE USED IN WAYS THAT ARE UNBELIEVABLY CREATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE. AND IT'S ABOUT CREATING THE INCUBATORS OF THE FUTURE, THE ENTREPRENEURS OF THE FUTURE, IT'S ABOUT DEVELOPING THE PROFESSORS THAT WILL TRAIN STUDENTS INTO THE FUTURE. IT IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE UNBELIEVABLY SOUND AND IT IS N.S.F. FUNDED. FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, WELL, OUR BEST DAYS ARE BEHIND US, WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT IS THAT THERE'S OPTIMISM, THERE'S GREAT OPTIMISM. THERE'S A REASON TO BE HOPEFUL. THERE'S A CHARGE FOR US TO BE OPTIMISTIC BY INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S THE TOOLS THAT AMERICA'S BASE NEEDS. THEY NEED THESE TOOLS AND HOW DARE WE NOT PROVIDE THEM? RATHER THAN DENOUNCING WORKERS, EARLIER STATEMENT THOPES FLOOR WERE DENOUNCING WORKERS INSTEAD OF PROVIDING HOPE, TRAINING AN RETRAINING PEOPLE IN AREAS THAT WILL BE -- MET THEIR SPECIFIC STRENGTH. WE ALL HAVE CERTAIN SKILL SETS OR HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE SKILL SETS. THERE'S A PASSION EVERYONE HAS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF WORK. LET'S NOT DENOUNCE THE WORKER BUT INSERT HOPE INTO THE EQUATION AND PROVIDE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED BY THIS MANUFACTURING BASE.

MR. GARAMENDI

MR. ALTMIRE, LET'S TAKE US TO TRANSPORTATION. I WAS ABOUT TO RESPOND THAT…

MR. ALTMIRE, LET'S TAKE US TO TRANSPORTATION. I WAS ABOUT TO RESPOND THAT WHILE THE LIGHTING IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD, IT'S CALIFORNIA WHERE THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE, THE L.E.D., IS BEING MANUFACTURED BY A STARTUP COMPANY THAT'S TAKE THAN TECHNOLOGY AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ASSISTANCE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA. IS HOWEVER, CONTROLLING THIS FOR THE NEXT 20 MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO TRANSPORTATION. MR. ALTMIRE, WHY DON'T YOU GET US GOING ON TRANSPORTATION.

MR. ALTMIRE

OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. TONKO, WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ERIE CANAL AN THE…

OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. TONKO, WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ERIE CANAL AN THE FORESIGHT AND THE FEAT IT TOOK TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. I WAS THINKING AS THE GENTLEMAN WAS TALKING -- WAS TUCKING -- TALKING ABOUT TODAY AN THE DEBATE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE GOING TO DEBATE TOMORROW AND PROBABLY VOTE ON THURSDAY ON AN UNDERFUNDED TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN THE FORESIGHT THAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS DISCUSSING OCCURRED IN NEW YORK. I THINK ABOUT THE DEBATE THAT MUST HAVE OCCURRED IN NEW YORK WHEN THE ERIE CANAL WAS PROPOSED AND THE COST AND THE EXPENSE AND THE MANPOWER AND JUST THE TIME COMMITMENT THAT WAS NECESSARY, THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TASK. THINK ABOUT THE INTERCONTINENTAL RAILROAD IN THE 1800'S AND WHAT MUST THE COUNTRY' THE BAIT, THE POLITICAL DEBATE HAVE BEEN AT THAT TIME? WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE DEBATE IN THE 1940'S AND 1950'S WHEN PRESIDENT EISENHOWER FINALLY GOT OFF THE GROUND, THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, AND BEGAN CONNECTING OUR ROADS IN A WAY THAT WE HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF TRANSPORTATION IN THIS COUNTRY TO MOVE GOODS FROM POINT A TO POINT B. MANUFACTURING, MAKE IT IN AMERICA, WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IF YOU MAKE IT IN AMERICA, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO MOVE GOODS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE CAN DO THAT IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS. WE CAN DO THAT ON OUR WATERWAYS, THROUGH SHIPPING, CARGO SHIPS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE BARGES IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS IN PITTSBURGH, I HAVE A SYSTEM OF LOCKS AND DAMS IN THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT, SIX DIFFERENT LOCKS AND DAMS THAT AVERAGE 85 YEARS OLD, THEY WERE BUILT TO LAST 50, TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN RATED BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS IN IMMINENT THREAT OF FAILURE, THAT IS A CRISIS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT'S HAPPENING IN SIMILAR WAYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY YOU LOOK AT OUR AVIATION SYSTEM IF YOU WANT TO MOVE GOODS BY AIR, WE HAVE AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS STILL BASED IN TECHNOLOGY FROM THE 1950'S. AND THERE'S NEXTGEN TECHNOLOGY THAT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY, IT IS EXPENSIVE BUT IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND IT'S A COMMITMENT WE NEED TO MAKE IN THIS COUNTRY, AS THEY'VE MADE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. OUR COMPETITORS DON'T HAVE THE SAME BOTTLENECKS THAT WE DO AT THEIR AIRPORT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE MODERN AIR TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY. AND THEN YOU GET TO OUR RAIL SYSTEM. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE BOTTLENECKS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AND OTHER PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY, OUR LACK OF MODERN INVESTMENT IN OUR RAIL SYSTEM. BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE IS OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES. AND A HIGHWAY SYSTEM, I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S VISION WITH THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND THE WAY THAT THIS BILL LACKS THAT SAME VISION BECAUSE IT UNDERFUNS -- UNDERFUNDS THAT INVESTMENT AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE OR DOESN'T EVEN INCENTIVIZE PRODUCTS TO BE MADE IN AMERICA. AND THERE ARE LITERALLY TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEED IN OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. CERTAINLY WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO AFFORD IT ALL. BUT I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO PUT AMERICAN WORKERS BACK TO WORK, TO PUT AMERICAN JOBS BACK IN PLAY IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, TO HAVE A RESURGENCE, A REGENERATION OF OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR THAN THROUGH OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I JUST -- I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THE LOST OPPORTUNITY THAT THE BILL WE'RE DEBATING PRESENTS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS AMERICAN WORKERS CAN WIN, AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS CAN WIN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AMERICA COULD WIN. AND WE'RE MISSING THAT OPPORTUNITY. BUT THROUGH THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY, MAYBE WE CAN MOVE THIS COUNTRY IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

MR. GARAMENDI

THANK YOU, MR. ALTMIRE, FOR GETTING US STARTED. AND I'VE GOT TO COMPLIMENT…

THANK YOU, MR. ALTMIRE, FOR GETTING US STARTED. AND I'VE GOT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE REALLY NEAT SEGUE THAT YOU USED THE EERIE CANAL TO MOVE TO MODERN TRANSPORTATION. THAT WAS VERY, VERY NICELY DONE. WE DO HAVE A REAL CHALLENGE. THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP A TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, WHO'S NOW BEEN IN OFFICE NEARLY 3 1/2 YEARS, AND WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR I THINK OVER 20 YEARS AND A REPUBLICAN, SAYS THAT THIS IS THE WORST TRANSPORTATION BILL HE HAS EVER SEEN, EVER SEEN. THIS TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP IS UNDERFUNDED, IT TOTALLY ELIMINATES THE FUNDING STREAM, THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECTOR. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AMTRAK, BUSES, LIGHT RAIL, THE METRO SYSTEMS HERE IN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO, ATLANTA AND OTHER PLACES, THAT ARE GOING TO BE CUT OUT OF THE FUNDING STREAM. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE NONSENSE AND NONSTARTERS AND ULTIMATELY DETRACT FROM THE GOAL THAT YOU SO WELL STATED, MR. ALTMIRE, OF BUILDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED FOR A MODERN, THRIVING, GROWING ECONOMY THAT'S BASED UPON MANUFACTURING. NOW, IF ALL YOU'RE DOING IS SENDING BUY AND SELL SIGNALS OVER THE INTERNET, I GUESS YOU DON'T NEED A HIGHWAY. BUT IF YOU'RE SENDING CARS AND RAIL SYSTEMS AND YOU'RE SENDING EQUIPMENT BACK AND FORTH ACROSS AMERICA, YOU BETTER HAVE ALL OF THAT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE SO AS WE REBUILD THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR WE WILL NEED THIS IN PLACE. NOW, MR. TONKO, YOU TOOK THE TRAIN FROM NEW YORK TODAY.

MR. TONKO

THERE'S CONCERN EXPRESSED ON THAT TRAIN THAT THE TRANSPORTATION BILL…

THERE'S CONCERN EXPRESSED ON THAT TRAIN THAT THE TRANSPORTATION BILL ADVANCED IN THIS HOUSE FALLS GROSSLY SHORT OF WHAT'S NEEDED. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MANY SECTORS OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND -- OR RATHER INFRASTRUCTURE COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT JUST OUR TRADITIONAL ROADS AND BRIDGES WHICH REQUIRE ASSISTANCE. IT'S MASS TRANSIT, IT'S RAIL, BUT IT'S ALSO TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND IT'S ENERGY. AND IT'S WATER. SO ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRES AN INVESTMENT AND HOW DO WE MAKE UP GROUND WHERE WE HAVE UNDERINVESTED IN THIS AREA? WELL, THE PRESIDENT PROPOSES A $10 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK BILL THAT WILL LEVERAGE GOVERNMENT MONEYS AND PRIVATE SECTOR MONEYS THAT WILL ENABLE US TO PROVIDE FOR THE SORTS OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED. NOW, INVESTING IN OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE HAS GREAT MERIT. MANY OF US CAN CITE THOSE WEAKNESSES OUT THERE. MY DISTRICT, IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, LOST 10 PEOPLE WHEN A BRIDGE COLLAPSED ALONG THE NEW YORK STATE THOROUGHWAY. THERE ARE DEFICIENT BRIDGES OUT AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THERE ARE THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE MANY BELIEVE WE'RE GOING INTO A WATER ECONOMY IN THE NEXT 10, 20 YEARS. IF THAT'S SO, HOW ARE WE TREATING THAT RESOURCE OF WATER? ARE WE BEING MOST SUFFICIENT? AND ENERGY, IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO A CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE ARENA FOR ENERGY SUPPLIES AND DIVERSIFY OUR MIX, WE NEED TO RETROFIT THE GRID SYSTEM, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ALL WORK. IN ORDER TO INCORPORATE THESE IDEAS. OR WE CAN STAY BEHOLDEN TO A FOSSIL-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ENERGY SUPPLIES. WHICH MEANS THAT WE'LL BE BEHOLDEN TO NATIONS THAT ARE OFTENTIMES UNFRIENDLY TO THE UNITED STATES AND USE THOSE ENERGY CONSUMER DOLLARS, AMERICAN CONSUMER DOLLARS, TO PORE INTO THEIR TREASURY AND DEVELOP THEIR TROOPS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE AMERICAN FORCES. SO IT'S AN ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY. SO THERE ARE MANY DYNAMICS HERE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A FULL PICTURE VIEW. NOT JUST DEALING IN SOME SORT OF SNAPSHOT OF DENIAL, THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT IS WORTHY OF THE NEEDS OF AMERICANS OUT THERE, FROM COAST-TO-COAST. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT SPUTNIK MOMENT. THAT'S WHAT INSPIRED OUR WIN IN THE GLOBAL RACE ON SPACE. U.S. VERSUS USSR. WE HAD IT ALL. GOT KNOCKED ON THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS, STOOD UP, DUSTED OFF THE BACKSIDE AND SAID, NEVER AGAIN, AND WE WON THAT GLOBAL RACE ON SPACE. WHAT IS OUR SPUTNIK MOMENT TODAY? IS IT BRIDGES COLLAPSING WITH PEOPLE DYING? IS IT PAYING GOD AWFUL PRICES FOR ENERGY SUPPLIES AND NOT CREATING OUR NEW ENERGY SUPPLIES? IS IT IGNORING A WATER ECONOMY THAT IS TO COME AND WILL BE A STRENGTH FOR THIS NATION AND A WISDOM TO INVEST IN A WATER RESOURCES? ALL OF THESE MOMENTS COULD BE REFERRED TO AS SPUTNIK MOMENTS AND WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THAT RECENT HISTORY AND HAVE IT INFLUENCE OUR THINKING AND HAVE US GO FORWARD WITH A SOUND INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE. SO, I SEE GREAT POTENTIAL HERE IN THIS BUDGET. I SEE GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I SEE INVESTING OUR WAY TO OPPORTUNITY, INVESTING OUR WAY TO AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY, INVESTING OUR WAY TO THE REIGNITING OF THE AMERICAN DREAM WHICH IS OUR PRINCIPLE FOUNDATION BY THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IN THIS HOUSE. LET'S REIGNITE THAT AMERICAN DREAM, LET'S DO IT THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS, THROUGH INVESTMENT IN ENTREPRENEURS AND A THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS PRIME AMONGST THOSE AREAS OF INVESTMENT.

MR. GARAMENDI

YOU ARE SO VERY CORRECT ABOUT REIGNITING THE AMERICAN DREAM AND ONE OF THE…

YOU ARE SO VERY CORRECT ABOUT REIGNITING THE AMERICAN DREAM AND ONE OF THE DREAMS I HAVE IS TO DRIVE DOWN INTERSTATE FIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND NOT HAVE MY CAR KNOCKED TO PIECES ON THE UNIMPROVED AND THE FALLING APART HIGHWAYS. IN AMERICA TODAY WE HAVE 150 ,000 MILES OF ROADS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR. 150,000 MILES. THAT'S ABOUT 50 TIMES BACK AND FORTH ACROSS AMERICA. NOW, IF WE DID THAT AND REPAIRED THOSE HIGHWAYS, WHAT COULD HAPPEN? WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF WE ACTUALLY BUILT A REAL ROBUST TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IN AMERICA? WELL, BACK TO THE JOBS ISSUE. BACK TO MAKING IT IN AMERICA. WHAT IF OUR TAX DOLLARS WERE TO BE USED TO BUY AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT? THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, H.R. 613, IS NOW WORKING ITS WAY INTO THE TRANSPORTATION BILL, THE BILL THAT OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES PUT OUT HAS A VERY, VERY WEAK BUY AMERICA. THIS PARTICULAR BILL, H.R. 613, I HAPPEN TO BE THE AUTHOR AND KIND OF PROUD OF THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WOULD REQUIRE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS, WHICH WILL BE USED TO FUND THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, THE AIRPORTS, THE NEXTGEN SYSTEM, THE ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT BOTH MR. TONKO AND MR. ALTMIRE TALKED ABOUT, THAT THOSE BE MADE IN AMERICA. THAT WE MAKE IT IN AMERICA. WE USE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO ACTUALLY MAKE THESE THINGS IN AMERICA. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A HIGH SPEED RAIL, LET'S MAKE IT IN AMERICA. AND IN FACT, THAT'S HAPPENED. IN THE STIMULUS BILL, THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT, THERE WAS A PROVISION FOR SOME $12 BILLION FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND AN ADDITIONAL SENTENCE WAS ADDED TO THAT LAW THAT SAID, ALL OF THIS MONEY MUST BE SPENT ON TRAINS AND EQUIPMENT MADE IN AMERICA. GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT BUILD HIGH SPEED SYSTEMS DECIDED, OH, $12 BILLION, WE WANT A PIECE OF THAT. AND SO THEY CAME TO AMERICA AND THEY BUILT MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, RIGHT -- ONE IN SACRAMENTO. OUR SECRETARY LAHOOD WAS THERE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO VISITING THAT FACTORY. A GERMAN COMPANY BUILT A LARGE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, TO MAKE LIGHT RAIL, TO MAKE LOCOMOTIVES FOR AMTRAK, TO MAKE AND TO BE PREPARED TO BUILD THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SYSTEMS THAT ARE COMING. WHY DID THEY DO IT? BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND THAT SAID YOUR TAXES -- YOUR TAX MONEY, AMERICAN TAXPAYER MONEY MUST BE SPENT ON AMERICAN EQUIPMENT. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS TO EXTEND THAT IDEA AS WE GO FORWARD, SO THAT WHEN WE BUILD BRIDGES, THE STEEL IS AMERICAN STEEL AND IT'S PUT TOGETHER BY AMERICAN ROADERS AND BY AMERICAN IRON WORKERS AND THAT THE CEMENT IS AMERICAN CEMENT AND THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT ARE BEING USED TO DEVELOP THESE THINGS ARE AMERICAN-MADE. WE CAN REBUILD THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR WHEN WE DECIDE IT IS THE PUBLIC POLICY THAT WE USE AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA ONCE AGAIN. THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT DOES THE SAME THING FOR ENERGY PRODUCTS. YOU'VE HEARD OF SOLAR SYSTEMS, THE PHOTO VOTAKE SYSTEMS, THE -- PHOTO VOTAKE SYSTEMS, ALL OF THOSE ENERGY PRODUCTS ARE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN THE FUTURE AND ONCE AGAIN OUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS USED TO SUPPORT THAT AND MY LEGISLATION SAYS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET AMERICAN TAXPAYER MONEY TO SUPPORT YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM OR YOUR WIND FARM, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BUY AMERICAN-MADE SOLAR PANELS, SOLAR EQUIPMENT AND WIND TURBINES. WE CAN MAKE IT IN AMERICA. SO ALL OF THESE THINGS FIT TOGETHER. A TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO GIVE AMERICA WHAT IT NEEDS TO TRAVEL AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT OUR WORKERS ARE PREPARED AND R&D, RESEARCH AND DEVELOP, PROGRAM THAT ALLOW LOUIS US TO INNOVATE FOR -- THAT ALLOWS US TO INNOVATE FOR TOMORROW'S ECONOMY. MR. TONKO, COULD YOU WRAP IT UP FOR US?

MR. TONKO

ABSOLUTELY. I THINK BEYOND THE INNOVATION AND THE IDEAS THAT TRANSLATE…

ABSOLUTELY. I THINK BEYOND THE INNOVATION AND THE IDEAS THAT TRANSLATE INTO JOBS, RESEARCH EQUALS JOBS, RESEARCH EQUALING JOBS, THERE ARE THESE BENEFITS OF CONNECTING US AS A NATION. WE'RE A LARGE NATION GEOGRAPHICALLY. AND THE INTERCONNECTING THAT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT. NOW, WE KNOW BEYOND THE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THE RAIL AND THE GRID SYSTEM FOR OUR ENERGY SUPPLIES THERE'S A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. AND THAT EFFORT TO CREATE A NATIONAL WIRELESS INITIATIVE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT WILL RANGE FROM FIRST RESPONDERS WITH INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO A HIGH SPEED INTERNET SYSTEM SO THAT WE'RE WIRING INTO REMOTE AREAS AND ENABLING THIS COUNTRY TO TRULY PROSPER. SO TONIGHT WE HAVE HEARD SUCH GREAT COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE MUST DO ABOUT CUTTING WHERE WE CAN, BY ADDRESSING INEFFICIENCY AND WASTE AND FRAUD AND OUTMOTED PROGRAMS. BUT MAINTAINING THE VIGILANCE ABOUT INVESTING WHERE WE MUST. IF WE DO NOT INVEST WE DENY THE AMERICAN DREAM. IF WE INVEST WE REIGNITE THAT AMERICAN DREAM, WE REIGNITE THE DREAM THROUGH THE INVESTMENT IN A HISTORIC DISPLAY OF WHAT AMERICA IS AT HER GREATEST, WHEN SHE INVESTS IN IDEAS, SHE INVESTS IN HER WORKERS, INVESTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN SMALL BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURS, THOSE DREAMERS, SHAKERS, MOVERS, BUILDERS AND INVEST IN A THRIVING MIDDLE CLASS. IT CAN BE DONE AND IT WILL BE DONE, IF WE PUT OUR MINDS TO IT. MR. GARAMENDI, WE HAVE WORK TO DO. .

MR. GARAMENDI

WE HAVE WORK TO DO, MR. SPEAKER. WE YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GOHMERT, FOR 30 MINUTES.

MR. GOHMERT

MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR…

MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. SO MUCH GOING ON. AND WE HAVE HAD IN RECENT DAYS THE TESTIMONY OF THE DIRECTOR OF C.B.O., CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, MAKING PROJECTIONS. WE HAVE HAD THE WHITE HOUSE DICTATING WHAT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS PEOPLE COULD OBSERVE AND PRACTICE AND WHICH THEY COULD NOT. AND THEN WHAT WAS SAID TO BE A COMPROMISE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS, ACTUALLY INSTITUTIONS, COULD PRACTICE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, WHICH THEY UTILIZE, WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE THE COVERAGE THAT THE PRESIDENT DICTATES, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. AND THEN NATURALLY THE WAY THINGS WORK, INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL SPREAD OUT THE COSTS AND HELP PAY FOR THEM ANY WAY, WHICH WILL BE ONCE AGAIN IN BREACH OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. IT'S QUITE INTERESTING AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE THIS IN, MR. SPEAKER, AS WE HAVE SEEN OBAMACARE BASICALLY RAMMED DOWN THE THROATS OF AMERICANS WITH THE MAJORITY NOT WANTING THE BILL PASSED, WITH THE VAST MAJORITY IN CONGRESS NOT HAVING READ THE BILL AND SPEAKER PELOSI SAYING WE WILL HAVE TO PASS IT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT. WELL, AS PEOPLE FINDING OUT WHAT'S IN IT, THEY AREN'T TERRIBLY HAPPY. WHEN YOU REALIZE IT AS SOME OF US WERE ARGUING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR BEFORE IT PASSED, THAT IF THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE BILL PASSED, IT WOULD BE SUCH AN INTRUSION INTO THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS THAT, AS I SAID HERE ON THE FLOOR, IT WOULD BE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING RUNNING -- EVERYTHING. THAT INCLUDES SETTING ASIDE PEOPLE'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WHEN IT CAME INTO CONFLICT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE BILL. WE KNEW IT WOULD RUN UP TREMENDOUS DEBT. WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD CUT MEDICARE BY $500 BILLION, SOMETHING OUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A WHOLE LOT, BUT BEFORE THE SUPERCOMMITTEE FIASCO EVER OCCURRED, THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PASSED A BILL, MAJORITY OF THE AMERICANS WANT DIDN'T WANT PASSED, THAT WOULD REST CONTROL AWAY FROM AMERICANS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS AND WOULD TAKE CONTROL AND GIVE IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN A WAY THAT WAS NEVER ANTICIPATED IN THE CONSTITUTION. SO AS WE HAVE SEEN, THIS WHITE HOUSE DICTATE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE CATHOLIC HOSPITALS WHAT THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE IN THE WAY OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. IT HAS BEEN QUITE INTERESTING. AND WE'VE HEARD MANY CATHOLIC LEADERS WHO HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, GEE, WE SUPPORTED PRESIDENT OBAMA WHEN HE WAS SENATOR, RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND WE THOUGHT HE WOULD DO ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS. FROM CONVERSATIONS, AS PRESIDENT JENCHINGKINS HAD WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WOULD BE USURPATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND ONE TO PRACTICE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. ANYBODY HOE WANTS CONTRACEPTION IN AMERICA CAN GET IT. THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. AND IN FACT, IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY, PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE CONTRACEPTION PROVIDED WHEN I LOOK AT THE FIFTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, THERE IS A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ANYBODY WHO WAS PUSHING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BASICALLY PROVIDE WHATEVER PEOPLE WANT IN THE WAY OF HEALTH CARE PAID FOR BY SOMEBODY ELSE. I DON'T REMEMBER THEM SAYING, WELL, THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE EVERYBODY GUNS. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE ASSURED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND UNDER THE BILL OF RIGHTS, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BUY THEM FOR EVERYBODY. IN VIEW OF THE WHITE HOUSE'S POSITION, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S POSITION ON WHAT PRACTICES, WHAT RELIGIOUS PRACTICES HE WOULD ALLOW THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO OBSERVE, MR. SPEAKER, I FIGURE WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE AN ADDITION TO THE CONSTITUTION SINCE THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN THESE ACTIONS, AND I THINK MAYBE WE NEED TO OBSERVE SOME LANGUAGE THAT WE INSERT INTO THE SHADOW OF THIS, SO WHERE IT SAYS IN AMENDMENT ONE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAWS RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE DELF, I THINK IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ACTIONS CONSISTENT AS THOSE REFLECTED BY SECRETARY SEBELIUS, WE NEED TO INSERT THERE, A LINE THAT COMES UP AND SAYS, BUT ONLY IF YOUR -- YOU ARE A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION AND YOUR BELIEFS AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE IF YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS COME INTO CONFLICT WITH SECRETARY SEBELIUS OR THE WHITE HOUSE, UNLESS THE WHITE HOUSE IS WILLING TO MAKE SOME INSURANCE COMPANY DEAL WITH YOUR PRACTICE, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SET ASIDE YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. SO, APPARENTLY THE PARAGRAPH HAS BEEN INSERTED INTO THE CONSTITUTION. I'M HOPEFUL THAT ON THIS ISSUE, THE SUPREME COURT WILL STRIKE DOWN OBAMACARE AND SAY THERE ARE SO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS BILL THAT ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE MANDATE TO BUY A PRODUCT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY IS ONLY ONE OF THEM, BUT THAT MANDATE, OF COURSE, IS CENTRAL TO THE BILL ITSELF. BUT THEN THE WAY IT SUPERSEDES THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION'S BELIEFS, WHY DON'T WE SAY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY SEBELIUS AND SO-CALLED COMPROMISE, HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO RECOGNIZE AN INDIVIDUAL'S BELIEFS, WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THEY SAY, IT IS CONFINED TO THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, BECAUSE UNDER THIS WHITE HOUSE'S INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION, IF YOU'RE AN INDIVIDUAL AND YOU ARE COMBAP TIES, CAGGET -- IF YOU ARE CATHOLIC, JEWISH, MUSLIM -- AND APPARENTLY THE F.B.I. HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CON SPIRITORS IN TRYING TO ELIMINATE ANY LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT OFFEND PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED TERRORIST, WE DON'T WANT TO OFFEND THOSE WHO WANT TO KILL US, THIS WHITE HOUSE SEES IT IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL AND NOT A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, THEN YOU HAVE NO RIGHT UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO PRACTICE YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IF THEY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA OR KATHLEEN SEBELIUS WANTS TO DO. YOU HAVE TO SET THEM ASIDE. IT'S ONLY THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND OF COURSE WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT WAS AN INSTRUCTOR, NOT A PROFESSOR AND I'M SURE HE UNDERSTANDS THE CONSTITUTION, BUT UNDER THEIR BELIEFS YOU HAVE TO SET THEM ASIDE. IF YOU ARE NOT A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DEMAND TO PUT YOUR PRACTICES INTO USE. SO, APPARENTLY, FIRST AMENDMENT, ACCORDING TO THEM, ONLY APPLIES TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. YOU KNOW, I NEVER LEARNED THAT IN LAW SCHOOL. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT IF YOU READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND HOW THAT ENDED UP BY THE END OF THE REVOLUTION OPENING THE DOOR, OF COURSE, FOR THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND FOUR YEARS LATER FOR THE CONSTITUTION, THAT ALL THIS WORKED TOGETHER. THAT THERE WAS A BELIEF AT THAT TIME IN THE RIGHTS OF A INDIVIDUAL, NOT A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, THE RIGHTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL. THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE STATUTES HERE -- STATUES HERE IN THE CAPITOL, ONE OF THE TWO FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS FOR A REVEREND NAMED MUHLENBERG AND IS HE IS TAKING OFF HIS MINISTERIAL ROBE BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT WE WERE ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIEN ABLE RIGHTS AND THERE COMES A TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR THOSE RIGHTS. AND SO, REVEREND MUHLENBERG WAS PREACHING AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CHAPTER THREE THAT THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN. AND WHEN HE GOT TO VERSE EIGHT, THERE IS A TIME FOR WAR AND A TIME FOR PEACE. HE TOOK OFF HIS MINISTERIAL ROBE, AND THERE HE WAS IN AN OFFICER'S UNIFORM AND IN ESSENCE SAID, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NOW IS A TIME FOR WAR AND RECRUITED PEOPLE FROM HIS CHURCH TO JOIN HIM IN THE FIGHT FOR REVOLUTION THAT RECRUITED PEOPLE FROM THE TOWN AND BY THE END OF THE WAR, MUHLENBERG WAS A GENERAL AND HIS BROTHER, WHO WAS ALSO A REVEREND AND A STORY TOLD THAT HIS BROTHER DID NOT AGREE WITH HIM RECRUITING FROM THE PULLPIT, BUT AFTER HIS CHURCH WAS BURNED DOWN HE BECAME ACTIVE AND BECAME A PARTICIPANT IN THE REVOLUTION AND ENDED UP BEING THE FIRST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THOSE WHO KNOW WHERE THE TERM SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE CAME FROM KNOW IT CAME FROM NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION. NO WHEREIN HERE, NO WHERE BEFORE THE END OF THE CONSTITUTION DO YOU FIND THE WORDS SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, NOR DO YOU FIND THE WORDS WALL OF SEPARATION. THOSE ARE BOTH CONTAINED IN A LETTER THAT JEFFERSON WROTE TO THE DANBURY BAPTISTS. IN THE CONSTITUTION, YOU DON'T SEE ANY PROHIBITION AGAINST THEM DATING THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF WITH THESE WORDS, DONE IN CONVENTION BY THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF THE STATES, PRESENT THIS 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1,787. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT THINK IT OFFENDED THE CONSTITUTION TO DATE IT AS BEING DONE IN THE YEAR 1,787, THAT BEING IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1,787. SO, IMAGINE THE FOUNDERS' SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER , WHEN IT SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NEVER PROHIBIT THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION WOULD SOMEHOW BASE BELIEFS ON SOMETHING UNWRITTEN IN THE CONSTITUTION AS GIVING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HIS APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE POWER TO ORDER PEOPLE TO DISREGARD THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, SET THEM ASIDE AND DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT ORDERED. . FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO GO TO WAR OVER A TAX ON THEIR BREAKFAST DRINK, THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE RILED UP IF KING GEORGE HAD TAKEN THIS KIND OF ACTION. SO, WE'RE TOLD THAT EVERYONE IN AMERICA MUST PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. YET WE'RE TOLD BY THE PRESIDENT HE DOES NOT MEAN TO DIVIDE AMERICA. AND YET I WOULD HOPE THAT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, BEFORE THE ELECTION, HE WOULD PUT THE LAW WHERE HIS MOUTH IS AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR SO LONG NOW THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, I AM FINALLY GOING TO GO ALONG WITH THE REPUBLICANS WHO SAY, WE OUGHT TO HAVE A FLAT TAX. DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WARREN BUFFETT, OR WHOMEVER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FLAT TAX. STEVE FORBES SAID IT COULD BE DONE WITH A 17% FLAT TAX. EVEN ALLOWING FOR A MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION, EVEN ALLOWING FOR CHARITABLE DEDUCTION. AND THAT WAY IF YOU'VE GOT A FLAT TAX, THEN WARREN BUFFETT WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUE OR HIS COMPANY WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUE AS IT IS NOW TO AVOID PAYING THE MILLIONS OR BILLIONS IN TAXES THAT ARE ALLEGED TO BE OWED. HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT THE I.R.S. SO HARD AT THE SAME TIME HE'S SAYING HE DOESN'T MIND PAYINGING MORE. IT WOULDN'T BE ANY QUESTION. IT'S A FLAT TAX. JUST TAKE YOUR INCOME, MULTIPLY IT BY THE FLAT TAX, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, HOW MUCH YOU MAKE, AND THAT WILL BE YOUR TAX. BECAUSE WITH 53% OF AMERICANS BEING THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE PAYING MORE IN INCOME TAX THAN THEY GET BACK, WE BETTER ACT IN A HURRY. BECAUSE ONCE WE CROSS THAT LINE WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING GET MORE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAN THEY PAY IN, WE'RE NOT COMING BACK ABSENT A MIRACLE OF GOD. SO, I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO REALIZE THAT ALL THE SPEECHES HE'S BEEN GIVING ABOUT PAYING FAIR SHARE REALLY LEAD YOU TO ONE UNAVOIDABLE CONCLUSION, IT'S TIME TO QUIT SAYING SOME DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY TAX, IT'S TIME TO SAY, LOOK, EVERYBODY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, EVERYBODY HAS A PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME. NOW, OF COURSE STEVE FORBES HAD PROPOSED UNDER HIS FLAT TAX THAT IN ORDER TO SHIELD THE POOR AND OF COURSE WE COULD DEBATE ON WHAT POOR IS, BUT IN THE UNITED STATES HIS PROPOSAL WAS THAT IF YOU'RE A FAMILY OF FOUR, I BELIEVE IT'S $46,000 OR LESS, YOU WOULDN'T PAY ANY TAX. HOW COULD ANYBODY ARGUE WITH THAT? A FLAT TAX COULD DO THAT. IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FROM THE PRESIDENT FOR A BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. AND IT'S QUITE INTERESTING. THERE'S A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" ARTICLE AND I'LL QUOTE FROM THIS, THE AMAZING OBAMA BUDGET, AND IT'S DATED TODAY, VALENTINE'S DAY, 2012, SAYS, FEDERAL BUDGETS ARE BY DEFINITION POLITICAL DOCUMENTS BUT EVEN BY THAT STANDARD YESTERDAY'S WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 IS A BRILLIANT BIT OF MISDIRECTION. WITH A TAX INCREASE ON THE WEALTHY AND DEFENSE SPENDING CUTS THAT WILL NEVER MATERIALIZE, THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT IN PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SECOND TERM REVENUES WILL SOAR, OUTLAYS WILL FALL AND $1.3 TRILLION IN ANNUAL DEFICITS WILL BE CUT IN HALF LIKE THE LADY IN THE BOX ON THE STAGE. ALL VOTERS NEED TO DO IS SUSPEND DISBELIEF FOR ANOTHER NINE MONTHS, IGNORE THIS FIRST THREE YEARS, IT SAYS FOUR, BUT THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, THE REAL NEWS IN MR. OBAMA'S BUDGET PROPOSAL IS THE STORY OF THOSE YEARS WHERE THE TALE WILL TELL. IT SAYS DOWN FURTHER, ALL OF THIS IS ADDED AN ASTONDISHING $5 TRILLION IN DEBT -- AN ASTONDISHING $5 TRILLION IN DEBT IN A -- AN ASTONISHING $5 TRILLION IN DEBT IN A SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL TERM. IT KEEPS RISING TO 77.4% NEXT YEAR. ECONOMISTS BELIEVE THAT WHEN DEBT TO G.D.P. REACHES 90% OR SO, THE ECONOMIC DAMAGE BEGINS TO RISE AND THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE DEBT THAT FUTURE TAXPAYERS OWE, CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES THROUGH THE I.O.U.'S AND SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. IT GOES ON TO SAY, MR. OBAMA'S CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISOR REPORTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS A NEW GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX. TALKING ABOUT A NEW TAX. IT'S A GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX. WOULDN'T IT BE EASIER JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A FLAT TAX, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. I DON'T HAVE THIS IN A BLOWUP, BUT THE DEBT BOOM, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET OF THIS WHITE HOUSE, SHOWS THAT FOR 2012 AND 2013 WE GO FROM A FEDERAL DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC AS A SHARE OF G.D.P., AROUND 35%, JUST SPIKING UP AS "WALL STREET JOURNAL" POINTS OUT TO BETWEEN 75% AND 80%. PRETTY DRAMATIC. THERE'S AN ARTICLE FROM JEFFREY ANDERSON TODAY SAID, ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE'S OWN FIGURES, THE ACTUAL OR PROJECTED DEFICIT TALLIES FOR THE FOUR YEARS IN WHICH OBAMA HAS SUBMITTED BUDGETS ARE AS FOLLOWS. $1.293 TRILLION IN 2010. $1.3 TRILLION IN 2011. $1.327 TRILLION IN 2012. AND $900 BILLION IN 2013. THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S THE YEAR THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. FURTHER DOWN IT SAYS, TO HELP PUT THAT COLOSSAL SUM OF MONEY INTO PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU TAKE OUR DEFICIT SPENDING UNDER OBAMA AND DIVIDE IT EVENLY AMONG THE ROUGHLY 300 MILLION AMERICAN CITIZENS, THAT WORKS OUT TO JUST OVER $17,000 PER PERSON OR ABOUT $70,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. THAT'S JUST THE DEBT THAT HAS OWE CREWED -- THAT HAS ACCRUED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE HELM. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT UNDER THE BILL THAT I WAS AGAINST BUT GOT PASSED AWAY, THE -- PASSED NAY, THE DEBT CEILING EXTENSION LAST SUMMER, TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT ALL THE DEBT CEILING AUTHORITY HE WOULD WANT THAT SHOULD CARRY HIM CLEAR THROUGH THE ELECTION, IT'S ALREADY APPEARING THAT IT WASN'T NEAR ENOUGH. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE SUPERCOMMITTEE THAT WAS GOING TO PROTECT US AND TAKE CARE OF US, MAKE THE CUTS THAT WERE NECESSARY AND NOW THAT THOSE HAVEN'T HAPPENED, WE'RE GUTTING OUR OWN DEFENSE. GUTTING OUR OWN DEFENSE. ANYBODY THAT STUDIES HISTORY KNOWS YOU NEVER PUT YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY ON THE TABLE FOR NEGOTIATIONS. AND WE'VE DONE THAT. NOW, THIS CHART IS PRETTY TELLING AND IT'S BASED ON THE TESTIMONY OF C.B.O. DIRECTOR BEFORE THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE. MAKES IT PRETTY BASIC. DIRECTOR OF C.B.O. AND THE PROJECTIONS FOR THIS YEAR HAS PROJECTED THE U.S. TAX REVENUE WILL BE $2,523,000,000,000. THE HEAD OF C.B.O. IN HIS FEBRUARY 2, 2012, TESTIMONY PROJECTS THE FEDERAL BUDGET THIS YEAR WILL BE $3,601 ,000,000,000 APPROXIMATELY. THAT IS A DEFICIT FOR ONE YEAR OF $1,079,000,000,000. OUR NATIONAL DEBT CURRENTLY APPEARS TO BE $15 TRILLION. ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF C.B.O., OUR BUDGET CUTS FROM 2010 WHEN COUPLED WITH THE ONES PROJECTED FOR 2012 -- 2011 ACTUALLY AMOUNTED TO AROUND $41 BILLION. SO, THAT'S KIND OF HARD FOR SOME OF US TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS WITH SO MANY ZEROS. SO IT MAY BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE , MY STAFF HAS DONE A GLEAT JOB OF -- GREAT JOB OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR ME, BY REMOVING EIGHT ZEROS FROM ALL OF THOSE TRILLION-DOLLAR NUMBERS, IT MAKES IT MORE EASILY DECERTAINBLE IF YOU SAY, ALL RIGHT, LET'S LOOK AT IT AS A FAMILY BUDGET. A FAMILY BUDGET. THEY'RE BRINGING IN $25,230 FOR ONE YEAR BUT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND $36,010 IN THAT SAME YEAR. THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE THEIR DEBT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO OBEY $10,790 -- OWE BY $10,790, IT SHOULD BE $10,7802 LOOKS LIKE -- $10,780 LOOKS LIKE. SO THAT'S ON THE NEW CREDIT CARD. WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A CREDIT CARD BALANCE OF $153,480. THAT SHOULD PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. AS A COUNTRY IT'S BASICALLY LIKE BEING A FAMILY MAKING $ 25,000 SPENDING $36,000, NOT ONCE BUT FOUR YEARS IN A ROW UNDER THIS PRESIDENT. AND WE ALREADY HAD $153,000 IN DEBT AND WE'RE ONLY BRINGING IN $25,000. AND THIS IS LIKE CREDIT CARD DEBT. IT'S NOT SECURED BY A HOME. EXCEPT FOR AMERICA. WE HAVE PUT OUR FUTURE, AMERICA'S FEATURE, OUR CHILDREN, GRAND -- FUTURE, OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN'S FUTURE, ALL IN HOC -- HAWK FOR THIS MUCH AND WE CAN PROUDLY SAY THOSE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND, I GET SARCASTIC TIME TO TIME, WE CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT SINCE 2010-2011, IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE EIGHT ZEROS WE HAVE CUT $410 OF OUR SPENDING. WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE OWE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BETTER THAN WE'VE DONE. AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STAND. WE'VE BEEN TOLD OF COURSE THAT WHETHER YOU'RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT THAT WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED AS A FRESHMAN YOUR ODDS OF BEING DEFEATED IN THE FIRST ELECTION, YOU STAND FOR AS AN INCUMBENT, ARE 10% TO 20%. THAT MEANS THERE WERE SOME FANTASTIC FRESHMAN REPUBLICANS THAT WERE ELECTED IN THIS LAST ELECTION. 10% TO 20% OF THEM MAY GET DEFEATED IN THE NEXT ELECTION AND WHAT WILL THEY HAVE TO SHOW? UNLESS WE STAND UP AND SAY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, MR. PRESIDENT, SENATOR REID, WE'RE STANDING ON OUR PRINCIPLES SO THAT WE CAN LEAD THE NEXT GENERATION -- LEAVE THE NEXT GENERATION AS GOOD OR BETTER COUNTRY AS WE INHERITED BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SO TART MOVING AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START STANDING ON PRINCIPLE VERY QUICKLY. EASY TO DO. SOME SAY, OH, IT WILL BE SO HARD MAKING ALL THESE CUTS. NO IT WON'T. WE CAN GO BACK TO THE 2008 BUDGET THAT THE MOST LIBERAL CONGRESS IN HISTORY HAD PASSED, DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOT ENOUGH SPENDING THAT YEAR, GO TO THAT BUDGET. THAT KNOCKED OUT $1 TRILLION RIGHT THERE. ENOUGH OF THE GAMES. IT'S TIME TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA, STAND UP FOR A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, CUT THE WASTEFUL SPENDING, STOP THE CRONY CAPITALISM FOR GROUPS LIKE SOLYNDRA AND LET'S GET THIS ECONOMY GOING BACK AGAIN. STRONG, STRONGER, STRONGEST EVER. WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A…

THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE HOUSE STANDS IN RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR.