THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TO THE ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF JANUARY 7, 2014, THE CHAIR WILL NOW RECOGNIZE…

TO THE ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF JANUARY 7, 2014, 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 THE MINORITY WHIP LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES, BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE CONTINUE BEYOND 11:50 A.M. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MR. JONES, FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. JONES: MADAM CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M ON

MR. JONES

YOU VERY MUCH. I'M ON THE NOR AGAIN TODAY TO TALK ABOUT -- ON THE FLOOR…

YOU VERY MUCH. I'M ON THE NOR AGAIN TODAY TO TALK ABOUT -- ON THE FLOOR AGAIN TODAY TO TALK ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, THE ABSOLUTE WASTE OF LIFE AND MONEY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS, BUT IF YOU GO BACK TO 2001, THE WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, WE HAVE SPENT OVER $1.5 TRILLION WHICH AVERAGES OUT TO ABOUT $11.2 MILLION TAX DOLLARS PAID EVERY HOUR BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IN TODAY'S NATIONAL PAPER, THE "USA TODAY," AND OTHER HEADLINES, THE HEADLINE IS THIS, "OBAMA TO KARZAI: TIME RUNNING OUT FOR SECURITY DEAL." MADAM SPEAKER, BASED ON RECENT POLLS THIS WOULD BE GOOD NEWS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IF WE WOULD NOT CONTINUE THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH AFGHANISTAN. IT IS NOTHING BUT AN ABSOLUTE WASTE OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF IT. A RECENT POLL LAST WEEK BY GALLUP SHOWED THAT ALMOST 50% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN WAS A MISTAKE TO START WITH. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS. IF IT WAS NOT A MISTAKE TO START WITH, IT'S A MISTAKE NOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND SPEND MONEY ON A CORRUPT LEADER NAMED KARZAI. MR. SPEAKER -- MADAM SPEAKER, AS I LISTEN TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, CHUCK HAGEL, YESTERDAY TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON OUR MILITARY AND THE BUDGET THAT HE WILL BE SUPPORTING THAT MR. OBAMA HAS PROPOSED, I WONDER WHY WE IN CONGRESS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF THIS HOUSE WHETHER WE AS THE HOUSE, NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SENATE NOW, WHETHER WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A 10-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH AFGHANISTAN. AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING ANYWHERE FROM $3 BILLION TO $4 BILLION A MONTH. IT IS BORROWED MONEY FROM THE CHINESE AND JAPANESE, AND WE CONTINUE TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING BECAUSE WE CAN'T -- CANNOT PAY OUR OWN BILLS. IT IS TIME FOR THE CONGRESS TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. TO BE CLEAR, THIS AGREEMENT THAT PRESIDENT KARZAI HAS ADAMANTLY REFUSED TO SIGN, AS "THE WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED EARLIER THIS WEEK, DURING A DECEMBER VISIT TO KABUL, HAGEL SUGGESTED THAT THE LATE FEBRUARY NATO MEANING, THIS WEEK, WAS A CUTOFF POINT FOR PRESIDENT KARZAI TO SIGN THE BILATERAL STRATEGIC AGREEMENT THAT SETS THE TERMS FOR A POST-2014 U.S. PRESENCE. MR. SPEAKER, WE CANNOT ANY LONGER POLICE THE WORLD. WE CAN HARDLY AFFORD TO PAY OUR OWN BILLS WITHOUT GOING TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO BORROW MONEY. MR. SPEAKER, IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO REACH OUT AND TO SAY THAT WE LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS AND WE'RE GOING TO CUT PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS AND EVEN OUR VETERANS ARE IN JEOPARDY OF GETTING THE BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE EARNED, IT'S TIME FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO PUT PRESSURE ON CONGRESS FOR US TO HAVE THIS DEBATE THAT MANY OF US IN BOTH PARTIES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, QUITE FRANKLY. MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE BESIDE ME A PHOTOGRAPH OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED ERIC EDMONDSON. ERIC IN 2005 WAS IN A HUMVEE THAT HIT BY I.E.D. THAT EXPLODED. ERIC HAS BEEN IN THE NATIONAL WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT ADS ACROSS THIS NATION. ERIC IS LIKE SO MANY OF THE WOUNDED. WE JUST DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT THEM EVERY DAY BUT WE SHOULD. ERIC HAS A WONDERFUL WIFE. HIS MOM AND DAD WERE ABLE TO RETIRE TO NEWBURN, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT, AND HELP ERIC HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE. MADAM SPEAKER, I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE SO MANY VETERANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT EARNED THE RIGHT FROM THIS GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A TSUNAMI THAT'S GOING TO HIT THIS CONGRESS IN A FEW YEARS AND WE ARE GOING TO WONDER HOW IN THE WORLD WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE. MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS TIME FOR THIS CONGRESS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO FORCE A DISCUSSION AND A DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF OUR FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN. WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I AM GOING TO ASK GOD TO PLEASE BLESS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. I ASK GOD TO PLEASE BLESS THE WOUNDED, TO BLESS THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE GIVEN A CHILD THAT DIED FOR FREEDOM IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND ASK GOD THAT WE WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF GOD AND TO PLEASE BLESS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT HE'LL DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF GOD FOR AMERICA. WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MR.…

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MCGOVERN, FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. MCGOVERN: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

MR. MCGOVERN

REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OBJECTION. MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, THERE ARE CLOSE TO 50 MILLION…

OBJECTION. MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, THERE ARE CLOSE TO 50 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE'RE

MR. MCGOVERN

ARE HUNGRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE'RE THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN…

ARE HUNGRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE'RE THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE CLOSE TO 50 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE OR HUNGRY. 17 MILLION OF THESE PEOPLE ARE KIDS, AND WE IN CONGRESS ARE NOT DOING NEARLY ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IN FACT, THIS CONGRESS HAS MADE THINGS WORSE FOR MANY STRUGGLING FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. LAST NOVEMBER, THERE WAS AN $11 BILLION CUT THAT WENT INTO EFFECT WITH REGARD TO THE SNAP PROGRAM. THAT'S THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM THAT WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS. AN $11 BILLION CUT THAT IMPACTED EVERY SINGLE BENEFICIARY ON THIS PROGRAM. EVERYBODY GOT A CUT. FOOD PRICES DIDN'T GO DOWN, BUT THEY GOT A CUT. AND THEN WE JUST RECENTLY PASSED A FARM BILL IN THIS CONGRESS THAT MADE SURE THAT THOSE WELL-OFF SPECIAL INTERESTS WERE PROTECTED. THE RICH GOT RICHER, BUT WE PAID FOR THOSE SUBSIDIES BY CUTTING SNAP BY ANOTHER $8.6 BILLION. IT IS SHAMEFUL. IT IS SHAMEFUL. AND MADAM SPEAKER, THESE CUTS ARE REAL, AND THE PEOPLE THEY IMPACT ARE REAL. SOMETIMES I WONDER WHETHER THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THESE CUTS HAVE ANY APPRECIATION OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE POOR IN AMERICA , WHETHER THEY'VE EVER BEEN TO A FOOD BANK OR SOUP KITCHEN OR EVER TALKED TO ANYBODY WHO'S ON SNAP. IT'S HARD, IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE POOR IN AMERICA, AND DESPITE WHAT I BELIEVE IS THIS INDIFFERENCE AND IN SOME CASES CONTEMPT FOR POOR PEOPLE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS CHAMBER, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUTSIDE OF THIS CONGRESS AND OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL SHOULD CARE ABOUT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND WHO ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS. LAST WEEK DURING OUR BREAK, I VISITED WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO I THINK ARE DOING THINGS THAT I FOUND TO BE INSPIRATIONAL. VISITING SOME OF THESE PLACES, THESE SOUP KITCHENS AND SHELTERS I VISITED LAST WEEK GAVE ME SOME NEW INSPIRATION AND NEW HOPE THAT MAYBE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WILL BE CONTAGIOUS AND THAT THOSE OF US IN THIS CONGRESS WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE, YOU KNOW, AND TAKE ON THE ISSUE OF HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY. I VISITED A SOUP KITCHEN CALLED NOT BREAD ALONE, WHICH WAS IN MASSACHUSETTS. I MET WITH THE SUPERVISOR, HANNAH ELLIOTT, AND A CHEF AND PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO PREPARED NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAME IN TO HAVE ONE OF THESE NUTRITIOUS MEALS. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. THESE PEOPLE HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT. SOME OF THEM ARE VETERANS. AND THEY'RE -- THEY'VE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO EAT, AND THANK GOD FOR A PLACE LIKE NOT BREAD ALONE WHO CAN COME IN AND BE IN A WARM PLACE AND HAVE A DECENT MEAL AND FEEL LIKE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM. UMASS APPLE HURST, -- UMASS, I MET A GROUP OF YOUNG STUDENTS CALLED THE FOOD RECOVERY NETWORK. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY WORK WITH THE KITCHEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASS IN APPLE HEARST WHO -- AMHERST THAT THEY TAKE THOSE LEFTOVERS AND THEY FOLLOW ALL THESE PROCEDURES THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE HEALTH CODES BUT THEY TAKE THIS FOOD AND DELIVER IT TO AN EMERGENCY SHELTER CALLED CRAIG'S DOORS, WHICH IS ALSO THERE. AND I MET THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE, KEVIN NOONAN, WHO IS A WONDERFUL MAN, AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THERE. AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING MEALS WHO CAME TO THE SHELTER ON A COLD WINTRY NIGHT. I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT IS EYE OPENING WHEN YOU TALK TO THESE PEOPLE AND YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND LEARN ABOUT HOW THEY'VE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES, BUT I'M GRATEFUL THERE ARE PLACES LIKE CRAIG'S DOORS. I'M GRATEFUL THERE ARE YOUNG STUDENTS LIKE THE ONES I MET AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASS, AMHERST, WHO HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND TRIED TO FEED PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR PLACES LIKE NOT BREAD ALONE WHO DOES A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF PROVIDING FOOD TO PEOPLE. I SAT DOWN WITH A PRESIDENT OF A UNIVERSITY AND FACULTY AND MEMBERS OF THEIR CAMPUS KITCHEN. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A FOOD BANK ON THEIR CAMPUS BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SCHOOL WHO DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT, AND THIS SCHOOL PROVIDES THEM THE SUPPORT AND HELP THEY NEED. THEY HAVE A GARDEN AND THEY'RE GROWING FOOD, NOT ONLY FOR THAT SOUP KITCHEN AND FOR THEIR FOOD BANK, BUT FOR THEIR STUDENTS AS WELL BECAUSE THEY ARE PUTTING EFFORTS ON NUTRITION. I'LL CLOSE, MADAM SPEAKER, BY SAYING THESE ARE INSPIRATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON. WE NEED TO LEARN BY THEM AND WE NEED TO DO MUCH BETTER. NOBODY IN AMERICA SHOULD GO HUNGRY. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM…

GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA, MS. ROS-LEHTINEN, FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MS. ROS-LEHTINEN

SPEAK FREELY IN VENEZUELA. WIDESPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BROKEN OUT…

SPEAK FREELY IN VENEZUELA. WIDESPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BROKEN OUT THROUGHOUT VENEZUELA TO PROTEST AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME THAT PSYCHES TO SILENCE THE PEOPLE -- SEEKS TO SILENCE THE PEOPLE AND THEIR FUNDAMENTALS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THEIR RIGHT TO ASSEMBLY. AFTER YEARS UNDER CHAVEZ, THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN ARE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES IN A UNITED CLEAR WAY THAT WHAT THEY WANT IS WHAT SHOULD BE RIGHTFULLY THEIRS, THE RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, A TRUE DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA. AND IN RESPONSE, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE PRESIDENT AND HIS THUGS TREAT THEM LIKE CRIMINALS. OVER THE PAST WEEKS, MADAM, 14 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, OVER 100 HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY DETAINED. BUT BECAUSE HE CONTROLS THE MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS, HE HAS SILENCED MANY OF THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE AND INSTEAD CASTS THE BLAME ON THE UNITED STATES FOR ALL OF THE COUNTRY'S ILLS. THE NERVE. BLAMING THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS OWN DOMESTIC PROBLEMS SEEMS TO BE THE MOTTO FOR HIM BUT THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE ARE SMARTER THAN THAT. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS JUST A SCHEME, ANOTHER SCHEME OF HIS. THE REGIME TRIED TO SILENCE ITS PEOPLE BY BLOCKING IMAGES ON TWITTER AS VENEZUELA'S TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW THE WORLD THE UGLY REALITY THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. AND AS THE VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA CONTINUES TO ESCALATE, RESPONSIBLE NATIONS IN THE HEMISPHERE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA AGAINST THE FORCES OF FEAR AND REPRESSION. WE MUST BE THE VOICE FOR THOSE SUFFERING UNDER THIS OPPRESSION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST CONDEMN THE VIOLENT ACTIONS OF THE REGIME AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE YEARNING FOR LIBERTY, FOR JUSTICE, FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. THIS FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISN'T THE STRUGGLE OF THE VENEZUELANS ONLY. IT IS THE STRUGGLE OF ALL WHO SEEK TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND FREEDOM. HOW WE RESPOND MATTERS. MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS A TEST OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST FOR A FEW. IT IS ALSO A TEST OF OUR RESOLVE. OTHER OPPRESSIVE LEADERS IN THE REGION ARE WATCHING US TO SEE IF WE BACK UP OUR LOFTY WORDS WITH ACTION. SO WE MUST NOT EQUIVOCATE, WE MUST NOT WAIVER. WE MUST STAND UP FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND WE MUST BE A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING SILENCED BY THIS REPRESSIVE REGIME, BECAUSE OUR INACTION WOULD ONLY SERVE TO EMBOLDEN OTHER ROGUE REGIMES THAT SEEK TO FIGHT BACK THE TIDES OF DEMOCRACY. THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, MADAM SPEAKER, WE HAVE SEEN THESE REGIMES, SUCH AS VENEZUELA AND THE ONE IN CUBA, WORK TOGETHER TO OPPRESS AND SILENCE CIVIL SOCIETY. JUST YESTERDAY IN MY NATIVE HOMELAND OF CUBA, ONE DOCTOR, A LEADING CUBAN PRO--DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE AND RESIP ENTER -- PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE WAS UNJUSTLY ARRESTED BY AGENTS OF THE CASTRO REGIME FOR EXPRESSING HIS SUPPORT FOR ONE OF THE LEADING OPPOSITION FIGURES WHO REMAINS IN MILITARY JAIL AS WE SPEAK. . WE MUST SEND A UNIFIED MESSAGE THAT WE WILL NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN THEY COMMIT HEINOUS ACTS AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE. WE MUST SHOW THEM THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING AND THAT THEY WILL FACE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS. AND THAT IS WHY, MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE PROPOSED HOUSE RESOLUTION 488, THAT EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA WHO YEARN FOR FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND DIGNITY. I COMMEND THE GOVERNMENT OF PANAMA FOR CALLING FOR AN URGENT MEETING OF LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN MINISTERS AT THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, O.A.S., TO ADDRESS THIS ONGOING CRISIS IN VENEZUELA. BUT SADLY THIS RESPONSE IS AN EXCEPTION AS OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE HEMISPHERE REMAIN DEAFENING SILENT. I CALL ON THE O.A.S. TO DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ITS INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER AND SUPPORT THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE'S RIGHT FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS TO BE RESPECTED IN THEIR COUNTRY AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. I URGE THE UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE A PRIORITY OF SUPPORTING THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE'S ASPIRATIONS FOR DEMOCRACY AND LIBERTY. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONGRESS TO JOIN ME IN THIS IMPORTANT CALL FOR SOLIDARITY. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR THE TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. TONKO,…

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. TONKO, FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. TONKO: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM SPEAKER, WE ARE

MR. TONKO

CHAIR. MADAM SPEAKER, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL COMPETITION, A GLOBAL RACE ON…

CHAIR. MADAM SPEAKER, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL COMPETITION, A GLOBAL RACE ON CLEAN ENERGY AND INNOVATION. IN OUR EFFORTS TO WITNESS RACE AND ENSURE OUR PLACE AS THE KINGPIN OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, FOR DECADES TO COME WE MUST SUPPORT A SECURE, ALL OF THE ABOVE DOMESTIC ENERGY SUPPLY THAT INCLUDES BOTH NEWLY ABUNDANT TRADITIONAL FOSSIL FUELS AS WELL AS CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY. ENERGY SUCH AS WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS, HYDRO, NUCLEAR, AND MORE. WE SIMPLY CANNOT CONTINUE TO RELY ON A SINGLE FOSSIL FUEL TO POWER OUR ECONOMY. THAT IS NOT WISE, LONG-TERM POLICY. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THESE ABUNDANT JOB CREATING CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES. WIND ENERGY, ONE WAY TO SUPPORT THIS CRITICAL SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR OUR NATION IS THE FEDERAL PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT. THE CREDIT THAT KEEPS ELECTRICITY RATES LOW AND ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT OF PROVEN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS. THIS CREDIT EXPIRED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND MUST BE RETROACTIVELY EXTENDED TO FOSTER JOB GROWTH AND PROMOTE A GREENER AND CLEANER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. THE P.T.C., PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT, ALSO CREATES JOBS. IN MY DISTRICT, THE CAPITAL REGION OF NEW YORK STATE, WE ARE HOST TO G.E.'S GLOBAL RESEARCH CENTER AND WIND TURBINES SERVICE SEPTRE. IN 2012 ALONE, G.E.'S WIND DIVISION PRODUCED SOME 1,722 MEGAWATTS OF POWER AND PROVIDED A LOCAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF SOME $3.2 BILLION. IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING THE PRIVATE SECTOR CREATE QUALITY JOBS THAT WILL PUT PURCHASING POWER BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, WE MUST SUPPORT WIND POWER AS ONE PART OF OUR OVERALL ENERGY POLICY AND STRATEGY. MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I RENEW MY SUPPORT FOR WIND POWER AND THE ALMOST 2,000 JOBS THIS CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE GENERATES IN MY HOME STATE OF NEW YORK. A NUMBER THAT IS GROWING BY THE DAY, AND A GROUP WHOSE WORK EVERY DAY IS HELPING TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, CLEAN THE AIR WE BREATHE, AND THE WATER WE DRINK, AND MAKE US TRULY ENERGY INDEPENDENT. WITH THAT I THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, AND I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE TEXAS GENTLEMAN, MR. OLSON. FOR FIVE…

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE TEXAS GENTLEMAN, MR. OLSON. FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. OLSON: MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE AMERICANS' NATIONAL DEBT, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN SENATOR OBAMA. SENATOR

MR. OLSON

DEBT, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN SENATOR OBAMA. SENATOR BARACK…

DEBT, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN SENATOR OBAMA. SENATOR BARACK OBAMA ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, MARCH 16, 2006, QUOTE, THE FACT THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DEBATE RAISING AMERICA'S DEBT LIMIT IS A SIGN OF LEADERSHIP FAILURE. IT'S A SIGN THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CAN'T PAY ITS OWN BILLS. IT'S A SIGN WE DEPEND ON ONGOING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO FINANCE OUR GOVERNMENT'S RECKLESS FISCAL POLICIES. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS OUR FEDERAL DEBT HAS INCREASED BY $3.5 TRILLION TO $8.6 TRILLION. THAT IS TRILLION WITH A T. THAT WILL IS MONEY WE HAVE BORROWED FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND, BORROWED FROM CHINA AND JAPAN, BORROWED FROM AMERICAN TAXPAYERS. NUMBERS THAT LARGE ARE SOMETIMES HARD TO UNDERSTAND. SOME MAY WONDER WHY THEY MATTER. HERE'S WHY. THIS YEAR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $220 BILLION ON INTEREST. END QUOTE. SENATOR OBAMA LATER EXPLAINED, QUOTE, THAT IS MORE MONEY TO PAY INTEREST ON OUR DEBT THIS YEAR THAN WE'LL SPEND ON EDUCATION, HOMELAND SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND VETERANS BENEFITS COMBINED. END QUOTE. AFTER TALKING ABOUT HURRICANE KATRINA, SENATOR OBAMA SHIFTED TO THE DEBT TAX. QUOTE, IN THE COSTS OF OUR DEBT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING EXPENSES IN OUR FEDERAL BUDGET. THIS RISING DEBT IS A HIDDEN DOMESTIC ENEMY, ROBBING OUR CITIES AND STATES OF CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE BRIDGES, PORTS, AND LEVEES. OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE REFORM, SENIORS OF THEIR RETIREMENT HEALTH SECURITY THEY COUNTED ON. EVERY DOLLAR WE PAY IN INTEREST IS A DOLLAR THAT IS NOT GOING TO INVESTMENT IN AMERICA'S PRIORITIES. INSTEAD INTEREST PAYMENTS ARE A SIGNIFICANT TAX ON ALL AMERICANS. A DEBT TAX THAT WASHINGTON DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT. IF WASHINGTON WERE SERIOUS ABOUT AN HONEST TAX RELIEF IN THIS COUNTRY, WE WOULD SEE AN EFFORT BY RETURNING TO FISCAL -- RESPONSIBLE FISCAL POLICIES. END QUOTE. SENATOR OBAMA FINALLY BROUGHT UP OUR DEBT TO OTHER NATIONS, QUOTE, NOW THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BORROWING FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES, BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE MORE WE DEPEND ON FOREIGN NATIONS TO LEND US MONEY, THE MORE OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY IS TIED TO THE WHIMS OF FOREIGN LEADERS WHOSE INTERESTS MIGHT NOT BE IN LINE WITH OURS. INCREASING AMERICA'S DEBT WEAKENS US DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. IT MEANS THAT THE BUCK STOPS HERE. INSTEAD WASHINGTON IS SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF BAD CHOICES TODAY ON TO THE BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. AMERICA HAS A DEBT PROBLEM AND A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP. AMERICANS DESERVE BETTER. I THEREFORE INTEND TO OPPOSE THE EMPT TO INCREASE AMERICA -- THE EFFORT TO INCREASE AMERICA'S DEBT LIMIT, UNQUOTE. TODAY OUR NATIONAL DEBT IS $18 TRILLION, WITH A T. CLEARLY PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS FORGOTTEN SENATOR OBAMA'S WORDS. BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE REMEMBER AND ON THEIR BEHALF I ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO DECREASE OUR DEBT BY WORKING WITH CONGRESS TO REFORM OUR TAX CODE TO MAKE IT PRO-GROWTH AND ANTI-DEBT. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. NADLER,…

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. NADLER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MR. NADLER

CHAIR. I RISE TODAY TO HONOR DAVID LACKMAN ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE…

CHAIR. I RISE TODAY TO HONOR DAVID LACKMAN ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO THANK HIM FOR HIS 25 YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE. DAVID CAME TO WASHINGTON IN 1989 TO WORK FOR FORMER CONGRESSMAN STEVE SOLIS OF BROOKLYN, HELPING HIM ON ISSUES RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, HOUSING, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 1992, DAVID BECAME MY FIRST LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR. IN 1997 DAVID MOVED TO THE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS HE'S SERVED AS THE DEMOCRATIC CHIEF OF STAFF ON THE CONSTITUTION AND CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE. AS AN EXPERT ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND PARTICULARLY ON ISSUES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS, DAVID WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PASSAGE OF THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT AND THE RELIGIOUS LAND USE AND INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS ACT. HE'S ALSO ONE OF THE FOREMOST EXPERTS IN THE HOUSE ON BANKRUPTCY, A VERY TECHNICAL AND COMPLICATED AREA OF LAW, BUT ONE THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, DAVID HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE WHERE MOST IN NEED OF CONGRESS' PROTECTION BUT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-PRICED LOBBYISTS. DAVID PERFORMED THESE SERVICES EVERY DAY, WHETHER IN DEFENDING AGAINST ATTACKS ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WORKING TO PROTECT AMERICANS' CIVIL LIBERTIES AGAINST PATRIOT ACT PROVISIONS, OR BUILDING SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO OVERTURN THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT. DAVID'S RESUME IS IMPRESSIVE, BUT IT DOES NOT TELL THE FULL STORY. DAVID IS A LEGEND IN THE HOUSE. HE'S ONE OF THOSE COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO HAS BECOME AN INSTITUTION WITHIN THE INSTITUTION. AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE CONSTITUTION SUBCOMMITTEE, DAVID HAS BEEN THE POINT PERSON ON SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DIVISIVE ISSUES FACING CONGRESS EACH YEAR. AND YET HE BRINGS A SENSE OF HUMOR, WIT, AND PERSPECTIVE THAT IS WELL-KNOWN IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT EVER SACRIFICING HIS COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE AND TO DEFENDING THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. HE HAS PROVIDED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, STAFF, AND ADVOCATES WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERTISE AND INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE. IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE I STOP PICKING UP THE PHONE AND DIALING HIS NUMBER TO ASK HIM A QUESTION ABOUT SOME MATTER BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OR TO GET HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE LATEST SUPREME COURT DECISION, OR TO JUST REMINISCE ABOUT THE DAYS OF 1970'S AND 1980'S NEW YORK POLITICS. DAVID HAS WORKED WITH ME FOR A LONG TIME AND HIS BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN AS A TRUSTED ADVISOR AND LOYAL FRIEND. MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN THANKING DAVID FOR HIS SERVICE AND FOR HIS DEDICATION TO WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN THIS INSTITUTION, BUT WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR.…

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. THOMPSON, FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. THOMPSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. MADAM SPEAKER, ON

MR. THOMPSON

SPEAKER. MADAM SPEAKER, ON FEBRUARY 7, 2014, PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED INTO…

SPEAKER. MADAM SPEAKER, ON FEBRUARY 7, 2014, PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED INTO LAW THE AGRICULTURAL ACT OF 2014. THE FIVE-YEAR FARM BILL RE-AUTHORIZATION THAT PASSED CONGRESS WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT , AND REDUCES THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEFICITS BY $16. BILLION OVER 10 YEARS. INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ACROSS MY HOME STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NATIONALLY, INCLUDING FARMERS, FORESTERS, CONSERVATIONISTS, RESEARCHERS, AND POLICY ADVOCATES HAVE PRAISED THE LAW AS AN HISTORIC IMPROVEMENT. THE FEDERAL AGRICULTURE POLICY THAT WILL IMPROVE LAND MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT KEY AREAS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AND BOLSTER IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION AND APPLIED RESEARCH. SUSAN BENEDICT, AN AMERICAN TREE PHARMACIST THAMES CERTIFIED FOREST OWNER FROM STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA, STATED, AND I QUOTE, AS A PENNSYLVANIA TREE FARMER I CAN HAPPILY SAY THIS FARM BILL WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. WITH THE PROMOTION OF NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND THE BIOBASED MARKETS PROGRAM AND GREEN BUILDING MARKETS, IMPROVED ACCESS TO CRITICAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, AN INCREASED REGULATORY CERTAINTY WHEN PROTECTING WATER QUALITY OF MY FORESTINGS ROSE, THIS FARM BILL IS TRULY THE BEST FARM BILL YET FORESTS. I APPLAUD THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR CHAMPIONING STRONG FORESTRY PROVISIONS SUCH AS THE BIOBASED MARKETS PROGRAM CHANGES FOR AMERICA'S 22 MILLION FAMILY FOREST OWNERS, END OF QUOTE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERATIONS FORESTRY IN CANE, PENNSYLVANIA, STATED, I QUOTE, FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN CONGRESS HAS PLAYED A LEVEL OF OF BIPARTISANSHIP ON THE FARM BILL THAT'S BEEN LACKING, WHICH IS FAR BETTER THAN THE GRIDLOCK WE HAVE ENUNDERERED. THIS IS A WONDERFUL BILL AND GOOD FINAL PRODUCT FROM NUMEROUS STANDPOINTS, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF FOREST SERVICE, THIS BILL GIVES SECRETARY VILSACK AND FOREST CHIEF TIDWELL MORE TOOLS TO MANAGE FORESTS WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. NOW THAT THESE TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE THE FOREST SERVICE MUST USE THEM. THIS BILL ALSO OFFICE OUR FORESTERS AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY MORE TOOLS TO ACTIVELY MANAGE, SO THIS IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, END OF QUOTE. . ONE DEAN STATED, AND I QUOTE, AGRICULTURAL POLICY IMPACTS EVERY AMERICAN BY ADVANCING FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR NATION AND BEYOND, INCLUDING PROVIDING FOR CRITICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE ARE THRILLED THAT A NEW FIVE-YEAR FARM BILL IS NOW REALITY. AS A SPECIALTY CROP STATE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST, PENNSYLVANIA'S INCLUSION OF THE CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE. THESE PROGRAMS HELP CREEP OUR PENNSYLVANIA FARMERS COMPETITIVE AND INCREASE -- IN AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT AND THE CHALLENGE OF FEEDING A GROWING POPULATION, END OF QUOTE. THE DIRECTOR OF PENNSYLVANIA'S CONSERVATION DISTRICTS STATED, AND I QUOTE, THE NEW FEDERAL FARM BILL -- WE NEEDED CONGRESS TO UNDERSTAND THESE POINTS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION EFFORTS WASN'T LOST IN THE FINAL FARM BILL LANGUAGE. THE FINAL BILL ADDRESSED OUR FISCAL CHALLENGES BY UNDERSTANDING THE NECESSITY OF REDUNKS, THE FEDERAL SPENDING, WHILE IDENTIFYING THE NEED OF EFFICIENCIES AND IMPROVEMENTS OF PROGRAM DELIVERY. THE FINAL BILL WILL ALLOW FOR CLEAR WATER FOR PENNSYLVANIA WATERWAYS, RESULTING IN HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AND STRONGER ECONOMIES, END OF QUOTE. THE CONSERVENCY STATED, DESPITE THE POLARIZED POLITICAL CLIMATE AND CHALLENGING BUDGET TIMES THIS FARM BILL WILL BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST EVER FOR CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY. THEY ARE PRACTICAL, COST-EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDES SOLID WASTE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS. THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF THE FORESTRY STATES THAT IT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HAVE CONSERVATION PROMISES ON THE GROUND AND MAKING STEWARDSHIP AFFORDABLE. IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDES STRONGER MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORESTS, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BIOBASED MARKET PROGRAM AND GREEN BUILDING MARKETS, THE FASTEST GROWING MARKET FOR WOOD PRODUCTS. IT ALSO INCLUDES STRONG SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS THAT HAS PROVISIONS OF REGULATORY CERTAINTY WHEN PROTECTING WATER QUALITY, END OF QUOTE. MR. SPEAKER, IT ISN'T EVERY DAY THAT A BROAD -- MADAM SPEAKER -- EXCUSE ME -- IT ISN'T EVERY DAY THAT A BROAD CROSS SECTION OF POLICY ADVOCATES AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FIND THEMSELVES ON THE SAME SIDE OF A GIVEN POLICY ISSUE. THEN AGAIN, IT ISN'T EVERY DAY THAT BOTH SIDES WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY AND PRODUCE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY THAT IMPROVES THE NATION'S PUBLIC HEALTH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REFORMS GOVERNMENT AND REDUCES SPENDING. MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA, MR. CARSON,…

YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA, MR. CARSON, FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CARSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

MR. CARSON

MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO DRAW ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN TO AN ISSUE THAT…

MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO DRAW ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN TO AN ISSUE THAT SOME IN THIS CONGRESS SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR WHO ARE WORKING FOR WAGES THAT CANNOT SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. IMAGINE BEING TOLD THAT YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH JUST A MONTH'S PAYCHECK. IF IT SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE IT'S BECAUSE TOO OFTEN IT IS. LOW-INCOME FAMILIES HAVE TO MAKE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES BETWEEN FOOD AND MEDICINE. THEY OFTEN LIVE IN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SEND THEIR KIDS TO SUBPAR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION. GETTING PAID THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S GETTING HARDER YEAR AFTER YEAR. IF THE MINIMUM WAGE HAD BEEN TIED TO INFLATION IN 1960, IT WOULD BE $10.10 TODAY, OR JUST OVER $20,000 PER YEAR. SOMEONE MAKING THIS TODAY WOULDN'T BE WEALTHY, BUT WORKING FULL TIME MIGHT AT LEAST ALLOW THEM TO MAKE ENDS MEET. FOR ME THIS IS WHAT OUR COUNTRY'S REALLY ALL ABOUT. IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU CAN BUILD A LIFE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS WHY I AM A VERY PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF THE FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT, WHICH FINALLY RAISES THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. NOW, UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES OPPOSE THIS VERY BILL, CLAIMING THAT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE A STATE-BY-STATE DECISION. THAT'S FINE IF YOUR STATE CHOOSES TO RAISE ITS MINIMUM WAGE. BUT IF NOT, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE NO BETTER OFF. THEY'RE STILL MAKING $7.25 AN HOUR. SO I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION. IF YOU'RE A WELL-INTENTIONED PATE YOLIC REPUBLICAN WHO WANTS TO LEAVE THE DECISION UP TO THE STATES, -- PATRIOTIC REPUBLICAN WHO WANTS TO LEAVE THE DECISION UP TO THE STATES, ARE YOU PREPARED TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHY THEY ARE WORTH LESS TO YOU THAN THE PEOPLE ACROSS STATE LINES? FOR MY PART, I DO NOT WANT LOW-WAGE HOOSIERS TO MAKE LESS THAN THOSE IN OTHER STATES JUST BECAUSE OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES NOT TO ACT. OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY WORK FEWER HOURS AND SOME MAY EVEN LOSE THEIR JOBS. THIS MAY BE TRUE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE RAISED OUR MINIMUM WAGE IN THE PAST. IN THE PAST, THE VERY SAME ARGUMENT HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE UNTRUE. SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT AMERICAN EMPLOYERS AND PARTICULARLY HOOSIER EMPLOYERS IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO WEATHER A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE WITHOUT LETTING FOLKS GO. NOW, UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT THE ONLY UNNECESSARY STRUGGLE CONGRESS HAS LAID ON AMERICA'S LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THIS YEAR. TODAY, OUR WELL-INTENTIONED PATRIOTIC REPUBLICAN LEADERS CONTINUE TO BLOCK AN EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. BECAUSE OF CONGRESSIONAL INACTION, NEARLY TWO MILLION AMERICANS, MADAM SPEAKER, WERE INSTANTLY CUT OFF FROM THEIR BENEFITS IN DECEMBER WITH 72,000 MORE BEING CUT OFF EACH WEEK. MANY OF MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS HAVE PAID INTO UNEMPLOYMENT SLUSH -- PAINTED UNEMPLOYMENT SLUSH FUNDS FOR LAZY AMERICANS. IT'S NOT ONLY OFFENSIVE, IT'S UNTRUE. AMERICANS WANT TO WORK, BUT IN MANY COMMUNITIES THERE ARE SIMPLY NO JOBS AVAILABLE. AND OUR ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, MADAM SPEAKER, EVERYTHING FROM RESTAURANTS TO MACHINE SHOPS TO RETAIL STORES CLOSE THEIR DOORS AND ARE ONLY NOW STARTING TO COME BACK. IN INDIANAPOLIS, MANY HOOSIERS ARE FINDING THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THE MODERN WORK FORCE. EDUCATED MEN AND WOMEN WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HAVE TO RETRAIN BEFORE THEY EVEN GET REHIRED. OTHERS HAVE SEEN THEIR INDUSTRY SIMPLY DISAPPEAR AND HAVE TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW CAREER. THIS IS FAR FROM LAZINESS. RETRAIN AND LOOKING FOR A JOB IS HARD WORK WITH NO PAY. THESE AMERICANS DESERVE OUR HELP COVERING EXPENSES WHILE THEY GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. MADAM SPEAKER, MY GOOD HOUSE REPUBLICAN FRIENDS HAVE YET TO BRING A REAL JOBS BILL TO THE FLOOR IN THE 113TH CONGRESS. INSTEAD FOCUSING CONTINUALLY ON DEREGULATION AND REPEALING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. MEANWHILE, THEY OVERLOOKED RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, PUTTING OUR COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE CHAIR…

GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE IN RECESS UNTIL NOON

WILL BE OFFERED BY OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER CONROY. CHAPLAIN CONROY: LET US…

WILL BE OFFERED BY OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER CONROY. CHAPLAIN CONROY: LET US PRAY. ETERNAL GOD, THROUGH WHOM WE SEE WHAT WE COULD BE AND WHAT WE CAN BECOME, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US ANOTHER DAY. IN THESE DAYS, OUR NATION IS FACED WITH PRESSING ISSUES, CONSTITUTIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND PERSONAL RIGHTS, AND MATTERS OF GREAT POLITICAL IMPORTANCE. WE THANK YOU THAT SO MANY AMERICANS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND RISEN TO THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT DEBATES OF THESE DAYS. GRANT WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING TO US ALL AS WE -- AS WELL AS AN EXTRA MEASURE OF CHARITY. SEND YOUR SPIRIT UPON THE MEMBERS OF THIS PEOPLE'S HOUSE WHO WALK THROUGH THIS VALLEY UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY. GIVE THEM PEACE AND SOLOMONIC PRUDENCE IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS. MAY ALL THAT IS DONE THIS DAY BE FOR YOUR GREATER HONOR AND GLORY, AMEN.

THE SPEAKER

LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL THEREOF.…

LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL THEREOF. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1, THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA, MR. LANKFORD. MR. LANKFORD: 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:

MR. LANKFORD

STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR…

STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE SPEAKER: THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO 15 REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE. FOR WHAT

THE SPEAKER

UP TO 15 REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE. FOR…

UP TO 15 REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA RISE? MR. LANKFORD: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.

MR. LANKFORD

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

THE SPEAKER

MR. LANKFORD

COMMENTS FOR SAND IN THE WORKPLACE, SAND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.…

COMMENTS FOR SAND IN THE WORKPLACE, SAND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES. NO ONE WILL DISPUTE THAT. BUT THIS NEW RULE IS INTERESTING INTH DESIGN. IN THE COMMENT REQUEST, OSHA SPECIFICALLY SINGLES OUT ONE INDUSTRY, OIL AND GAS, AS THE KEY REASON FOR THE RULE CHANGE. THEY WRITE, A RECENT STUDY SILICON AMONG WORKERS CONDUCTING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OPERATIONS AS THEIR PRIME REASON FOR THE RULE CHANGE. AFTER THE RULE HAS BEEN IN PRAYS SINCE 1971, THAT -- PLACE SINCE 1971. FRACKING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES. WHY THE SUDDEN CHANGE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION? I BELIEVE THE CHANGE IS BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING FOR ONE MORE WAY TO IMPEDE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. IF THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT OIL AND GAS, WILL OSHA SET NEW RULES FOR BEACH LIFEGUARDS WHO WORK IN THE SAND ALL DAY? HOW ABOUT THOSE THAT WORK IN SAND ALL DAY? WHAT ABOUT DUNE BUGGY OPERATORS IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA? THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WORK EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE OUR NATION'S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND TO GET OUR NATION OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST. BUT THEY ARE TIRED OF FIGHTING NEW UNFUNDED MANDATES. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM MASSACHUSETTS…

TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM MASSACHUSETTS SEEK RECOGNITION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MS. TSONGAS

SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND…

SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COALITION TO TALK ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND OUR NATION. THE WIND PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, CLEAN ENERGY JOBS IN MASSACHUSETTS HAVE GROWN BY 24%, AND ARE PROJECTED TO GROW ANOTHER 11% IN 2014. THANKS TO THE WIND INDUSTRY, THE COMMONWEALTH HAS SEEN AN INFLUX OF OVER 200 -- $200 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND IS HOME TO NINE WIND-RELATED MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. MASSACHUSETTS IS ALSO HOME TO THE WIND TECHNOLOGY TESTING CENTER, WHICH AT THE TIME OF ITS OPENING, WAS THE FIRST FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY CAPABLE OF TESTING LARGE-SCALE WIND TURBINE BLADES UP TO 300 FEET IN LENGTH. THIS TESTING CENTER HAS CREATED HIGH-SKILLED JOBS AND HAS HELPED SPUR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT GENERATION BLADES MADE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. WE MUST ACT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INNOVATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO CREATE NEW MANUFACTURING OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING AN EXTENSION OF THE WIND PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT. THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY…

TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM KANSAS SEEK RECOGNITION?

MS. JENKINS

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

ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MS. JENKINS: INVESTIGATIONS

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MS.…

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MS. JENKINS: INVESTIGATIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE HAS UNCOVERED NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT BY THE I.R.S.

MS. JENKINS

NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT BY THE I.R.S.…

NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT BY THE I.R.S. TO TARGET CONSERVATIVE GROUPS AND DEVELOP NEW REGULATIONS THAT COULD ESSENTIALLY SILENCE CONSERVATIVE GROUPS. IF ALLOWED TO TAKE EFFECT, THESE PROPOSED REGULATIONS IMPACT GROUPS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ALLOWED TO VOICE THEIR POSITIONS ON PUBLIC POLICY. NOTABLY, ONE GROUP EXEMPT FROM THESE PROPOSED REGULATIONS EVEN THOUGH THEY DO SIMILAR TYPES OF OUTREACH ARE LABOR GROUPS. MR. SPEAKER, OUR NATION IS FOUNDED ON THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ANY EFFORT TO HINDER GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY BY THE I.R.S. MUST BE STOPPED. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE I.R.S. REGULATIONS SHOULD BE PUT ON HOLD UNTIL AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE AGENCY'S PRIOR MISCONDUCT ARE COMPLETE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S. ACT TO ENSURE THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT USE THE I.R.S. AS A WEAPON TO SILENCE GROUPS BASED ON POLITICAL BELIEFS. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM…

GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MS. HAHN

SPEAKER. THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE HAS FAILED TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF…

SPEAKER. THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE HAS FAILED TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING, LEAVING FAR TOO MANY FAMILIES ON THE BRINK OF POVERTY. FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET ON THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE, TIMES HAVE GOTEN HARDER AND HARDER. INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10 PER HOUR WOULD BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF WORKING WOMEN CURRENTLY TRYING TO PULL THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. 2/3 OF MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS ARE WOMEN. NEARLY A THIRD OF THE FAMILIES HEADED BY A SINGLE FEMALE ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. THIS IS WRONG. NO MOTHER WHO WORKS HARD AT A FULL-TIME JOB TO PROVIDE FOR HER CHILDREN AND FAMILY SHOULD BE LIVING IN POVERTY. OUR SUCCESS AS A NATION HINGES ON THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN. WHEN WOMEN SKEDS, AMERICA SKEDS. THAT'S WHY I JUST SIGNED A DISCHARGE PETITION TO BRING A BILL TO THIS FLOOR SO WE CAN VOTE ON RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10 FOR ALL HARDWORKING AMERICANS, INCLUDING OUR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS. I THINK IT'S TIME. LET'S GIVE AMERICA A RAISE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY…

TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA SEEK RECOGNITION? MS. ROS-LEHTINEN: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND.

MS. ROS-LEHTINEN

MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MS.…

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MS. ROS-LEHTINEN: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO CALL ON THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, O.A.S.,

MS. ROS-LEHTINEN

CALL ON THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, O.A.S., TO TAKE IMMEDIATE…

CALL ON THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, O.A.S., TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA. THE O.A.S. MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PEACEFUL IN VENEZUELA ARE BEING MURDERED ON THE STREETS BY THE ME DOORA REGIME. I -- MEDURA REGIME. I COMMEND THE MEETING TO DISCUSS THE VIOLATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN VENEZUELA. IF THE O.A.S. CAN CONVENE A SPECIAL SESSION OVER THE LACK OF AIRSPACE ACCESS FOR A PLANE FROM BOLIVIA, THEN SURELY IT MUST CONVENE ONE ON THE ONGOING DEMOCRACY CRISIS IN VENEZUELA. AS A MEMBER OF THE O.A.S. AND ITS LARGEST INTERNATIONAL DONOR, THE U.S. HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THESE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES ARE UPHELD. AND IF O.A.S. DOES NOT DO MORE TO ADDRESS THESE ATTACKS ON FREEDOM, THEN, MR. SPEAKER, WE MUST USE OUR FULL VOICE, VOTE AND INFLUENCE TO COMPEL IT INTO ACTION. I THANK THE SPEAKER FOR THE TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK…

GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED,…

FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

SO ORDERED, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. LOEBSACK

SPEAKER. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE CRITICAL JOBS CREATING POLICY FOR IOWA…

SPEAKER. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE CRITICAL JOBS CREATING POLICY FOR IOWA AND OUR COUNTRY THAT MUST BE EXTENDED IMMEDIATELY, THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT. ONCE AGAIN, CONGRESS HAS ALLOWED THE TAX CREDIT TO EXPIRE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. NOW IS THE TIME TO NOT JUST TALK ABOUT JOB CREATION BUT TO ACT ON A POLICY THAT IS A PROVEN JOB CREATOR. THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT HAS HELPED REVITALIZE OUR MANUFACTURING BASE AND BUILD A HOMEGROWN INDUSTRY. THE WIND INDUSTRY SUPPORTS SOME 80,000 JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND OVER 6,000 IN IOWA ALONE. WITH IOWA A LEADER IN WIND POWER, THE INDUSTRY IS INVESTING IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND MOVING US TOWARD A CLEANER, HOMEGROWN SOURCE OF ENERGY. THE LAST TIME THE P.T.C. EXPIRED, THOUSANDS OF JOBS WERE LOST, INCLUDING HUNDREDS RIGHT IN MY DISTRICT IN IOWA. WE CAN'T LET THESE JOBS DISAPPEAR AGAIN. THE P.T.C. MUST BE EXTENDED, AND I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND SEEK…

EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:…

MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

SO ORDERED, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. HARRIS

THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE PLAN CONTINUES. LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON, CURIOUS…

THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE PLAN CONTINUES. LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON, CURIOUS TIMING, THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE SERVICES RELEASED A REPORT. MR. SPEAKER, THE C.M.S. IS WORKING WITH THE I.R.S. TO IMPLEMENT OBAMACARE, AND THE REPORT SAID IT LOOKED AT THE EFFECT ON SMALL BUSINESSES OF OBAMACARE AND THE EFFECT ON THE PREMIUMS THAT WERE GOING TO BE PAID BY MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES. MR. SPEAKER, THEIR REPORT, FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OWN ADMINISTRATION, SAID THAT 11 MILLION WORKERS WILL PAY A HIGHER HEALTH CARE PREMIUM UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THAT'S MORE THAN FIVE MILLION WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO PAY A HIGHER HEALTH CARE PREMIUM WHEN THE PROMISE THE PRESIDENT MADE WAS THAT EVERY FAMILY WOULD SAVE $2,500 PER YEAR. MR. SPEAKER, THEY'RE NOT ONLY NOT ONLY GOING TO SAVE $2,500, THOSE 11 MILLION AMERICANS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE NEXT YEAR. HARDWORKING MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT. AMERICA DESERVES BETTER. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. MCDERMOTT

TO DEAL WITH THE ONES THAT WE OUGHT TO BE DEALING WITH. WE NEED TO BE…

TO DEAL WITH THE ONES THAT WE OUGHT TO BE DEALING WITH. WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN PASSING THINGS THAT CREATE JOBS. NOW, THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT HAS BEEN -- IT'S AN BE A SLUT NO-BRAINER. WE HAVE -- IT'S AN ABSOLUTE NO-BRAINER. WE'VE USED IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS. AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS IT'S BEEN HERE, AND THE WIND INDUSTRY IS DEPENDENT ON IT. IT'S 3,000 JOBS IN MY STATE AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. WE PASSED IT IN THE 1990'S. WE LET IT EXPIRE. WE LOST ALL THE JOBS. AND WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN. NOW, CLIMATE CHANGE OUGHT TO BE IMPRESSING PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, AND THIS IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT. NOW IN THE 0TH CENTURY, WE INVESTED -- 20TH CENTURY, WE INVESTED IN AEROSPACE AND MICRO CHIP INDUSTRIES THROUGH THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT AND WE MADE ALL THE ADVANCES OF THE INTERNET AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE BASIS OF THESE PRODUCTION TAX CREDITS. THE 21ST CENTURY IS GOING TO BE ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, AND THIS HOUSE GOES AROUND ATTACKING THE I.R.S. AND DOING, TRYING TO REPEAL THE A.C.A. AND ALL OF THIS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. MR. MCDERMOTT:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. MR. MCDERMOTT: WHY DON'T YOU MAKE IT A SUSPENSION…

GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. MR. MCDERMOTT: WHY DON'T YOU MAKE IT A SUSPENSION BILL? IT WOULD PASS IN A MINUTE. THE SPEAKER

MR. MCDERMOTT

A SUSPENSION BILL? IT WOULD PASS IN A MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE…

A SUSPENSION BILL? IT WOULD PASS IN A MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH SEEK…

GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH SEEK RECOGNITION IN MR. BISHOP: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:

MR. BISHOP

TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT…

TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. BISHOP:…

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. BISHOP: MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOGAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL WHICH SERVES THE CITIZENS OF CASH VALLEY NORTHERN UTAH.

MR. BISHOP

THE CITIZENS OF CASH VALLEY NORTHERN UTAH. 1914, A HOSPITAL WITH 60 BEDS…

THE CITIZENS OF CASH VALLEY NORTHERN UTAH. 1914, A HOSPITAL WITH 60 BEDS WAS ESTABLISHED THAT BOLSTERED PATIENTS LIKE AN X-RAY MB. IN 1975, THE INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH CARE, NOT FOR PROFIT COMMUNITY SERVICE, WAS ORGANIZED WHICH BECAME A MODEL FOR HEALTH CARE EXCELLENCE. 1980, THE HOSPITAL EXPANDED AND MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION THANKS TO THE HELP OF $2 MILLION FROM PRIVATE DONORS. TODAY, THE HOSPITAL HAS 148 BEDS AND OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF HOSPITAL SERVICES. THE 100 YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH CARE SERVICES HAS BEEN POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DONATED SO MUCH OF THEIR LIVES, PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE TO THEIR PATIENTS. LOGAN REGIONAL HOSPITALS FULFILLS THE DREAMS OF ITS FOUNDERS. IT'S NOT-FOR-PROFIT GOVERNANCE, PROVIDES AN EXCELLENCE IN PROVIDING FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM…

GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK RECOGNITION? THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

>>

INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS FOR ACCESS. FAMILIES ARE…

INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS FOR ACCESS. FAMILIES ARE WATCHING TUITIONS CREEP UP YEAR AFTER YEAR WHILE THEIR INCOME AND THEIR SAVINGS HAVE NOT KEPT PACE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF ABUSIVE PRACTICES IN THE STUDENT LOAN SERVING INDUSTRY AND THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR BORROWERS TO REPAY THEIR LOANS. THESE TRENDS JEOPARDIZE THE PROMISE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS A GREAT EQUALIZER, A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. PARENTS ARE WORRIED THAT THEIR CHILDREN WON'T EVER GET A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM BECAUSE THEY'RE DROWNING IN DEBT, AND THIS WEEK, THIS WEEK THE MAJORITY WILL BRING UP LEGISLATION THAT WOULD UNDERMINE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU'S INDEPENDENT AND THEIR RULEMAKING AUTHORITY, AND THIS BILL, WELL, IT COULD WEAKEN ESSENTIAL CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND MAKE IT ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGHT ABUSE IN THE STUDENT LOAN INDUSTRY. MR. SPEAKER, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON H.R. 3193. STAND UP FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO DESERVE FAIR TREATMENT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM…

OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM HAWAII SEEK RECOGNITION?

MS. HANABUSA

STATE OF HAWAII IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THE MOST ABAUN DAUNT…

STATE OF HAWAII IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THE MOST ABAUN DAUNT RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES IN THE WORLD YET WE STILL SPEND $5.1 BILLION EVERY YEAR TO POWER OUR STATE. THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, THAT'S WHY HAWAII IS WORKING TOWARD THE GOAL OF BEING 70% ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE BY THE YEAR 2030. BUT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED, WE NEED STRONG, RESPONSIBLE POLICY THIS IS A SUPPORT AND INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND ALL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTIONS ARE NECESSARY. WE MUST RENEW THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT FOR WIND ENERGY. THE U.S. NOW LEADS THE WORLD IN WIND ENERGY PRODUCTION AND THE INDUSTRY SUPPORTS MORE THAN 80,000 DOMESTIC JOBS. IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR ECONOMY, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT WE RENEW THE P.T.C., ENSURE THAT OUR NATION CONS TO BE A WORLD LEAD FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN…

TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA SEEK RECOGNITION? WITHOUT OBJECTION THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

>>

RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THIS…

RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THIS INSTITUTION AND ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WHO WANT AN END TO THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN. IT HAS COST US TRILLIONS OF DOLLAR THIS IS A WE CAN ILL AFFORD, THERE'S $100 BILLION THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CANNOT FIND WHERE THE MONEY HAS GONE OR WHERE THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

MR. NOLAN

AFGHANISTAN IS NOW THE MOST CORRUPT NATION IN THE WORLD. AFGHANISTAN…

AFGHANISTAN IS NOW THE MOST CORRUPT NATION IN THE WORLD. AFGHANISTAN SUPPLIES MORE ILLEGAL DRUGS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAN ANY -- ALL THE REST OF THE NATIONS COMBINED. IT'S TIME TO END OUR INVOLVEMENT AND STOP THAT SHAMEFUL WASTE OF AMERICAN TAXPAYERS' AND PATRIOTS' BLOOD AND TREASURE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT…

ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDER. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

SO ORDER. MR. MCDERMOTT: MR. SPEAKER, YOU LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'D…

SO ORDER. MR. MCDERMOTT: MR. SPEAKER, YOU LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'D THINK THAT THE COSTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE DEMROBAL WARMING AND TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT ARE BREAKING THE BACK OF OUR ECONOMY.

MR. MCDERMOTT

AND TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT ARE BREAKING THE BACK OF OUR ECONOMY. BUT…

AND TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT ARE BREAKING THE BACK OF OUR ECONOMY. BUT IT'S HARDLY THE CASE. WHAT'S REALLY BEGINNING TO BREAK THE BACK OF OUR ECONOMY IS THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. FROM HURRICANE SANDY TO THE DROUGHTS IN THE MIDWEST AND THE WEST, IT'S COSTING TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. IT'S GETTING WORSE. IN FACT, 10 YEARS AGO, THE INSURANCE AGENCY ESTIMATED -- THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ESTIMATED WHAT THE COST WOULD BE AND IT WAS WAYLESS THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. NOW THAT'S -- NOW THAT APPLIES TO THE HARTFORD INSURANCE GROUP, AMPLE I.G., PRUDENTIAL, THE REINSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, THEY ALL SAY THAT THIS IS THE FOOTPRINT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE. SO YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS ACKNOWLEDGING THE PRESENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WHY CAN'T THE CONGRESS? WELL THE -- WILL THE MAJORITY OF THIS HOUSE STAY IN DENIAL THAT CLIMATE IS CHANGING THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CHANGE AND ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLAY AN OBSTRUCTIONIST ROLE OR ARE THEY GOING TO ACT RESPONSIBLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE YEN RATIONS. I HOPE IT'S THE LATTER. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

EXPIRED. OF

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ARE ORDERED OR ON WHICH THE VOTE INCURS OBJECTION UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE…

ARE ORDERED OR ON WHICH THE VOTE INCURS OBJECTION UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 20. RECORD VOTES ON POSTPONED QUESTIONS WILL BE TAKEN LATER. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI SEEK RECOGNITION? FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK RECOGNITION? MR. BRADY: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE -- MR.

MR. BRADY

THE -- MR. FARENTHOLD: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE…

THE -- MR. FARENTHOLD: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 3308, AS

MR. FARENTHOLD

MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS AND PASS THE BILL H.R.…

MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 3308, AS AMENDED. THE CLERK: A BILL TO REQUIRE A FEDERAL AGENCY TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE AND CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL AND ADVERTISING MATERIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DISSEMINATED AS TAXPAYER EXPENSE. THE

THE CLERK

MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DISSEMINATED AS TAXPAYER EXPENSE. THE SPEAKER PRO…

MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DISSEMINATED AS TAXPAYER EXPENSE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. FARNT HOLD,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. FARNT HOLD, AND THE GENTLEMAN…

TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. FARNT HOLD, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. CONNOLLY, -- FARENTHOLD, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. CONNOLLY, WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. MR. FARENTHOLD: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:

MR. FARENTHOLD

I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE…

I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. FARENTHOLD: MR. SPEAKER,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. FARENTHOLD: MR. SPEAKER, I ASK…

FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. FARENTHOLD: MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE

MR. FARENTHOLD

REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE…

REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. MR. FARENTHOLD: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HERE TODAY…

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. MR. FARENTHOLD: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON H.R.

MR. FARENTHOLD

HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON H.R. 3308, WHICH REQUIRES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO…

HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON H.R. 3308, WHICH REQUIRES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DISCLOSE ADVERTISEMENTS AND INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYER. ADVERTISEMENTS PROVIDE INFORMATION BUT MANY TIMES ARE USED TO INDUCE PEOPLE TO BUY A PRODUCT OR SERVICE. WHILE WE CAN AGREE -- WE CAN AGREE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWSER THAT SPONSORING A GOVERNMENT MARKETING PIECE. AMERICAN DECEMBER SERVE TO KNOW HOW THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. IN H.R. 3308 ADDS NEEDED TRANSPARENCY TO THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT BY REQUIRING DISCLOSURES WHEN TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON ADVERTISING AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. THIS BILL IS DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S NOT INTENDED TO BE A BURDEN ON LOCAL BROADCASTERS, THEIR ADVERTISERS, OR ANY OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. AS A FORMER BROADCASTER, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT ADVERTISING PLAYS. BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S AN ADVERTISEMENT BEING PAID FOR WITH GOVERNMENT MONEY AND WHAT'S A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AND WHAT'S BEING PAID FOR BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. THIS BILL ADDS A DISCLAIMER TO ADS AND PRINTED MATERIAL SIMILAR TO WHAT MANY -- WHAT ALL OF NUSS THIS CHAMBER ARE FAMILIAR WITH ON OUR ADVERTISING RULES FOR CAMPAIGNS WHERE YOU HAVE THE "THIS WAS PAID FOR BY" SO AND SO. THIS WOULD REQUIRE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO PURCHASE ADVERTISING TO ADD A DISCLAIMER SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, PRODUCED AND AIRED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. I'LL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AT THIS POINT, MR. SPEAKER. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. CONNOLLY: THANK…

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. CONNOLLY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF

MR. CONNOLLY

SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS…

SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MR. CONNOLLY

WAS PRINTED OR PUBLISHED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. EMAILS AND RADIO AND…

WAS PRINTED OR PUBLISHED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. EMAILS AND RADIO AND TELEVISION ADS WOULD HAVE TO SAY THIS. SOME AGENCIES ALREADY IDENTIFY THE AGENCY THIS IS A PRINTS THEM. THE ARMY PRINTS PAID FOR BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON ITS RECRUITING POSTERS THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE ARMY TO CHANGE ITS WORDING AND SAY, PRINTED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. I'VE NOT HEARD ANY EXPLANATION, EITHER AT THE COMMITTEE OR HEAR ON THE FLOOR, FOR WHY SUCH A CHANGE IS SO NECESSARY. CONGRESSWOMAN DUCKWORTH, THE FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, RAISED AN IMPORTANT POINT DURING OUR COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS INTHISM POINTED OUT THAT SOME TERMS PRINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS STATE THAT THE V.A. PRODUCED THE MATERIALS. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE VETERANS NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION AND SEEING DEPARTMENT SOFT VETERANS AFAIRS ENGENDERS JUST THAT TRUST. FOUR YEARS AGO THIS BODY PASSED A LAW CO-SPONSORED BY CHAIRMAN I, IS A CHAIRMAN OF OUR COMMITTEE THAT PROHIBITED NONGOVERNMENT PARTIES FROM SENDING MAILINGS MARKED CENSUS, WITHOUT A CLEAR DISCLAIM WE ARE THE NAME OF THE PARTY SENDING THE MAILING. THAT LAW WAS PASS THEAFED REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SENT A MAILING THAT LED RECIPIENTS TO THINK IT WAS AN OFFICIAL CENSUS DOCUMENT WHEN IT WAS NOT. WE PASSED THAT LAW BECAUSE WE WANTED TO PROTECT SON QUMERS FROM -- CONSUMERS FROM BEING MISLED INTO BELIEVING A COMMUNICATION FROM A NONGOVERNMENTAL SOURCE WAS IN FACT AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT. WE SHOULD USE THAT SAME LONLIC AND CAUTION WITH THIS BILL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS BILL IS INTERPRETED TO ALLOW AGENCIES TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT A COMMUNICATION IS PAID FOR BY THAT AGENCY, RATHER THAN BEING REQUIRED TO SAY THAT THE DOCUMENTS PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. DURING THE COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS LEGISLATION, CHAIRMAN ISSA AND MY FRIEND, CHAIRMAN FARENTHOLD, MADE COMMITMENTS TO REPRESENTATIVE DUCKWORTH TO WORK WITH HER IN FINDING MUTUALLY AGREEABLE LANGUAGE. REPRESENTATIVE DUCKWORTH SUGGESTED LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUES WE RAISED WITH THE MILITARY AND THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. UNFORTUNATELY, MR. SPEAKER, THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT -- NOT -- INCLUDED IN THIS BILL. AND NO CHANGES WERE MADE AT ALL SINCE THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED IT, DESPITE THE ASSURANCES GIVEN TO REPRESENTATIVE DUCKWORTH. I WILL NOT VOTE AGAINST THE BILL BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IF THIS BILL OR A SIMILAR BILL MOVES TO THE SENATE THAT THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE WILL KEEP THE COMMIT. S THAT ARE MADE TO REPRESENTATIVE DUCKWORTH AND THE DEMOCRATS ON OUR COMMITTEE TO FIND A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION TO THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED. MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED. MR. FARENTHOLD: THANK YOU AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE CONCERNS OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA BEFORE YIELDING TO THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL. DURING THE MARKUP, REPRESENTATIVE DUCKWORTH WAS CONCERNED ABOUT CERTAIN AGENCIES, LIKE THE V.A. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND DURING THE MARKUP, WE DID ADD A PROVISION AT THE MINORITY'S REQUEST THAT ALLOWED THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS IN EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE. IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT PROHIBIT PAID FOR BY THE ARMY OR PAID FOR BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, IT WOULD SIMPLY ADD PAID FOR BY THE ARMY AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE WOULD CLEARLY BE COMPLIANT WITH THIS LAW. THE IDEA BEING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR AND WHAT IS BEING DONATED FOR TIME, FOR INSTANCE, BY A BROADCAST FACILITY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR TO DIFFERENTIATE ADS THAT ARE NOT PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT. IF THERE'S NO DISCLAIMER WE KNOW IT'S NOT PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WHAT WE'RE AFTER IS TO LET THE TAXPAYER KNOW WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING ON THE TELEVISION, HEAR SOMETHING ON THE RADIO, SEE A PRINNED MATERIAL, THAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS FUNDED IT AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN EITHER BE PROUD OF OR THEY CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL US UP HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND SAY, WHAT THE HECK ARE GOW YOU DOING WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THESE THINGS, IT EMPOWERS THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LIMIT FEDERAL AGENT CIRCUMSTANCES WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DETRACT FROM THE FINE WORK THAT THE V.A. DOES OR TO DETRACT FROM THE CRE RE-CRUTING EFFORTS THAT OUR ARMED FORCES ARE IN

MR. FARENTHOLD

RE-CRUTING EFFORTS THAT OUR ARMED FORCES ARE IN

>>

I YIELD. MR. CONNOLLY:

MR. FARENTHOLD

IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN A TAXPAYER'S MIND THAT SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES AS…

IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN A TAXPAYER'S MIND THAT SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES AS PAID FOR BY THE U.S. ARMY WE ALL

MR. CONNOLLY

TAXPAYER'S MIND THAT SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES AS PAID FOR BY THE U.S.…

TAXPAYER'S MIND THAT SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES AS PAID FOR BY THE U.S. ARMY WE ALL

MR. FARENTHOLD

WE'VE GOT AN ALPHABET SOUP OF GOVERNMENT AGECIES, AS I REVIEWED…

WE'VE GOT AN ALPHABET SOUP OF GOVERNMENT AGECIES, AS I REVIEWED DOCUMENTERS IN BUDGET I HAVE TO GOOGLE WHAT SOME OF THE AGENCIES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO ALMOST EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT IS THE ARMY IS BUT IF YOU'RE IN THE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE BFBB IS OR SOME OF THE SMALLER SUBAGENCIES ARE? AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING AT. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD AS MUCH TIME HEAS MY CONSUME TO THE AUTHOR OF THIS BILL MY GOOD FRIEND THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. BILLY LONG A FELLOW BROADCASTER, I MIGHT ADD. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.

MR. LONG

THESE PROGRAMS OR THEIR ADS ARE COMING FROM. ONE SAID SUNLIGHT IS SAID TO…

THESE PROGRAMS OR THEIR ADS ARE COMING FROM. ONE SAID SUNLIGHT IS SAID TO BE THE BEST DISINFEKTANT. THE TAXPAYER TRANSPARENCY ACT IS ABOUT SHINING THE LIGHT ON HOW TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE SPENT BY REQUIRING EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES TO DISCLOSE THAT THESE ADVERTISEMENTS ARE PAID FOR AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. SIMILARLY, THEY HAVE REQUIREMENTS ALREADY IMPOSED ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. IT IS TIME FOR GOVERNMENT TO START WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN. BY PROVIDING MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THEIR SPENDING, EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE. AMERICANS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORT AN OPEN AND HONEST GOVERNMENT, AND THIS LEGISLATION DOES THAT BY REQUIRING EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHICH PROMOTE FEDERAL PROGRAMS. I URGE SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND LOOK FORWARD FOR ACTION IN THE SENATE AND I YIELD BACK. MR. FARENTHOLD: AND I RESERVE. MR. CONNOLLY: CAN

MR. FARENTHOLD

I REQUIRE FROM THE CHAIR HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT, BOTH SIDES? THE SPEAKER…

I REQUIRE FROM THE CHAIR HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT, BOTH SIDES? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA HAS 17 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 14 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. MR. CONNOLLY:

MR. CONNOLLY

REMAINING, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 14 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. MR.…

REMAINING, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 14 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. MR. CONNOLLY:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

REMAINING, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 14 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. MR.…

REMAINING, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 14 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. MR. CONNOLLY: COULD THE SPEAKER REPEAT HOW MUCH WE HAVE ON THIS SIDE? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 17 1/2. MR.

MR. CONNOLLY

WE HAVE ON THIS SIDE? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 17 1/2. MR. CONNOLLY: I…

WE HAVE ON THIS SIDE? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 17 1/2. MR. CONNOLLY: I THANK THE SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

CONNOLLY: I THANK THE SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE

MR. CONNOLLY

SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS AN THIS SIDE. DOES THE…

SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS AN THIS SIDE. DOES THE GENTLEMAN HAVE OTHERS ON HIS SIDE? MR. FARENTHOLD: WE DON'T. WE'RE PREPARED TO CLOSE. MR. CONNOLLY:

MR. FARENTHOLD

PREPARED TO CLOSE. MR. CONNOLLY: JUST IN CLOSING, MR. SPEAKER,

MR. CONNOLLY

I CERTAINLY LAWED THE INTENT OF THE BILL. I CERTAINLY WISH WE APPLIED THE…

I CERTAINLY LAWED THE INTENT OF THE BILL. I CERTAINLY WISH WE APPLIED THE SAME TO OURSELVES HERE IN CONGRESS. WOULDN'T IT BE INTERESTING FOR THE TAXPAYERS TO KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT A DEAD END KIND OF INQUIRY ON THE I.R.S. BEING PURSUED BY THE MAJORITY IN THIS BODY, JUST IN OUR COMMITTEE ALONE, HAS ALREADY COST THE TAXPAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES $14 MILLION, PRODUCING VIRTUALLY NOTHING? AND IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT HAS COST THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE HAD 46 OR 47 REPEAL OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT, AMENDMENTS AND BILLS IN THIS CONGRESS AND IN THE PREVIOUS CONGRESS. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I CERTAINLY AM NOT GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE BILL, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY MY COLLEAGUES, PARTICULARLY CONGRESSWOMAN DUCKWORTH, WERE NOT IN FACT ADDRESSED IN THE FINAL BILL BROUGHT BEFORE THIS FLOOR, AND IT'S MY HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT WITH SOME COMPROMISED LANGUAGE AS WE WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE OTHER BODY. AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK OUR TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. FARENTHOLD

WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE PROS AND CONS OF THE VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS THAT…

WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE PROS AND CONS OF THE VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS THAT THIS BODY DOES, I WILL SAY IT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT TO THE VARIOUS FEDERAL AGENCIES. ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT IS THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION THAT OUR COMMITTEE DOES BRING UP. I DO WANT TO SAY WE DID VISIT WITH REPRESENTATIVE DUCKWORTH. WE DO FEEL LIKE HER CONCERNS ARE -- HAVING ADDRESSED. WE COULD NOT AGREE ON SPECIFIC LANGUAGE WITH MS. DUCKWORTH, BUT WE WERE ABLE -- WE DID COME UP WITH THESE PROVISIONS THAT THE MINORITY REQUESTED AT THE MARKUP THAT ALLOWED THE O.M.B. TO COME UP WITH THE IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION SUGGESTED BY THE MINORITY TO MAKE CLEAR THAT COMMUNICATIONS FUNDED ENTIRELY BY USER FEE OR BY SOURCES OTHER THAN THAT THAT DO NOT INCLUDE FEDERAL FUNDS MAY INDICATE HOW IT'S FUNNED -- FUNDED THROUGH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. BUT THIS IS A BILL ALL DESIGNED BY TRANSPARENCY. LET TAXPAYERS SEE THE FRUITS OF THE SPENDING OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON ADVERTISEMENTS AND TO MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT THAT ON THEIR OWN AND KNOW WEIGHS GOING ON, KNOW HOW THEIR -- WHAT'S GOING ON, KNOW HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM MISSOURI POINTED OUT, SUNSHINE IS THE BUSINESS DISINFECTANT. IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND REFORM COMMITTEE. IT'S ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES. AGAIN, DESIGNED AS A REGULATION ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NOT AS AN ATTEMPT TO GO AFTER BROADCASTERS, PRINT SHOPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS JUST TO GET THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO TELL THE TAXPAYERS WHAT THEY BOUGHT WITH THE DISCLAIMER ON THERE. COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION. I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND BEHIND IT. IT'S SOMETHING I THINK WILL BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BILL'S PASSAGE AND YIELD BACK THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. ALL TIME

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE…

THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 3308, AS AMENDED. AS MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR WILL SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. THOSE OPPOSED WILL SAY 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 MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK RECOGNITION? MR. WOODALL: MR. SPEAKER, BY THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 487 AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

MR. WOODALL

CALL UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 487 AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

CLERK WILL REPORT THE RESOLUTION. THE CLERK: HOUSE RESOLUTION 487,…

CLERK WILL REPORT THE RESOLUTION. THE CLERK: HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, RESOLVED, THAT UPON ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE THE BILL H.R.

THE CLERK

OF THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE THE BILL…

OF THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE THE BILL H.R. 3865, TO PROHIBIT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FROM MODIFYING THE STANDARD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER AN ORGANIZATION IS OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 501-C-4 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE WAIVED. THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS NOW PRINTED IN THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED. THE BILL, AS AMENDED, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST PROVISIONS IN THE BILL, AS AMENDED, ARE WAIVED. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE BILL, AS AMENDED, AND ON ANY AMENDMENT THERETO TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT ONE, ONE HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, AND TWO, ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS. SECTION 2, AT ANY TIME AFTER ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION THE SPEAKER MAY, PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2-B OF RULE 18, DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL H.R. 2804, TO AMEND TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, TO REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS TO PUBLISH INFORMATION ABOUT RULES ON THE INTERNET, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE WAIVED. GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE CONFINED TO THE BILL AND AMENDMENTS SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION AND SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY. AFTER GENERAL DEBATE THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE. IN LIEU OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM NOW PRINTED IN THE BILL, IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE AN AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE CONSISTING OF THE TEXT OF RULES COMMITTEE PRINT 113-38. THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE ARE WAIVED. NO AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE IN ORDER EXCEPT THOSE PRINTED IN THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES ACCOMPANYING THIS RESOLUTION. EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER PRINTED IN THE REPORT, MAY BE OFFERED ONLY BY A MEMBER DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ, SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE REPORT EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND AN OPPONENT, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT, AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO A DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE QUESTION IN THE HOUSE OR IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST SUCH AMENDMENTS ARE WAIVED. AT THE CONCLUSION OF CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL FOR AMENDMENT THE COMMITTEE SHALL RISE AND REPORT THE BILL TO THE HOUSE WITH SUCH AMENDMENTS AS MAY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. ANY MEMBER MAY DEMAND A SEPARATE VOTE IN THE HOUSE ON ANY AMENDMENT ADOPTED IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO THE BILL OR TO THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE MADE IN ORDER AS ORIGINAL TEXT. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE BILL AND AMENDMENTS THERETO TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS. SECTION 3, IT SHALL BE IN ORDER AT ANY TIME ON THE LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 27, 2014, FOR THE SPEAKER TO ENTERTAIN MOTIONS THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES, AS THOUGH UNDER CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 15, RELATING TO THE BILL H.R. 3370, TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BIGGERT-WATERS FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM ACT OF 2012, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. FOR THE…

IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY, I'D LIKE TO YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO, MR. POLIS,

MR. WOODALL

THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO, MR. POLIS, PENDING…

THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO, MR. POLIS, PENDING WHICH I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.

MR. WOODALL

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

ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. MR. WOODALL:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU HEARD ME…

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU HEARD ME SAY IT BEFORE. IT MAKES

MR. WOODALL

HEARD ME SAY IT BEFORE. IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO BE A MEMBER OF THE RULES…

HEARD ME SAY IT BEFORE. IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO BE A MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE BECAUSE OUR ENTIRE BILL GETS READ DOWN HERE. THE ENTIRE RULES RESOLUTION GETS READ. BY GOLLY, MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU'RE NOT PROUD OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR QUE, YOU BETTER NOT SIGN -- COMMITTEE, YOU BETTER NOT SEEN UP FOR YOUR COMMITTEE WHERE EVERY WORD OF YOUR WORK GETS READ EACH TIME. I AM PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO IN THE RULES COMMITTEE. THE RULE WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR TODAY IS GOING TO MAKE TWO BILLS IN ORDER. BOTH I WOULD ARGUE, ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR PROVIDING NOT JUST TRANSPARTNERSY -- TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT GOES ON HERE IN WASHINGTON BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S VOICE GETS HEARD IN WASHINGTON. HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THIS RULE, IS A CLOSED RULE FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3865. THAT'S THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S. ACT, MR. SPEAKER. THAT'S IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THE NOW EVERY AMERICAN UNDERSTANDS TO BE THE 501-C-4 SCANDAL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFETIME, ALLEGATIONS THAT THE I.R.S. IS TARGETING FOLKS ON THE BASIS OF THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR ORGANIZATION CERTIFIED AS A TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. THAT'S NOT JUST A CONCERN OF GROUPS ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE OR THE OTHER, MR. SPEAKER, THAT'S A CONCERN OF FOLKS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. I WOULD ARGUE IS CONCERN FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE IN HAVING THEIR VOICE HEARD IS IMPORTANT. MR. SPEAKER, THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES FOR A STRUCTURED RULE FOR THE COFFERINGS H.R. 2804 THE ALL ECONOMIC REGULATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT ACT. MR. SPEAKER, THAT STRUCTURED RULE, WE MADE IN ORDER 11 AMENDMENT WELL, HAD TWO MEMBERS COME BY AND TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THEIR AMENDMENTS IN THE RULES COMMITTEE, WE MADE BOTH OF THOSE IN ORDER. IN ADDITION, WE MADE FOUR REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS AND FIVE OTHER DEMOCRAT IG AMENDMENTS IN ORDER, FOR A TEEFL 11 AMENDMENTS, FOUR REPUBLICAN AND SEVEN DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENTS IN ORDER ON THAT BILL. AS IS CUSTOMARY, PROVIDES THE MINORITY WITH A MOTION TO RECOMMIT ON BOTH BILLS. MR. SPEAKER, I SIT ON THE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE, WE JUST HAD A GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE BILL PASS HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE TODAY AND IT AIMS FOR TRANSPARENCY. THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND, MR. SPEAKER, BUT THAT WE HAVE REPLACED TAXATION IN THIS COUNTRY WITH REGULATION. SO RARELY DOES SOMEONE COME DOWN AND SAY I WANT TO TAX AN INDUSTRY, WHAT THEY WILL COME DOWN AND SAY, I WANT TO REGULATE AN INDUSTRY. IN MY GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA, MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE REGULATING JOBS RIGHT OUT OF EXISTENCE. WE DON'T HAVE TO TAX THEM OUT OF EXISTENCE, WE DON'T HAVE TO OUTLAW AN INDUSTRY, WE JUST REGULATE IT OUT OF EXISTENCE. PERHAPS THERE'S SOME INDUSTRY THIS IS A NEED TO BE REGULATED OUT OF EXISTENCE. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT FULL, OPEN DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE. BUT WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE REGULATORY PROCESS, THE IMPACT IT HAS ON JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND TODAY IN STATUTE, MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TWICE A YEAR PUBLISH A NOTICE OF ALL THOSE REGULATIONS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED AND WHAT THEIR IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE. BUT WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES, AS RECENTLY AS 2012, MR. SPEAKER, WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION JUST IGNORED THAT STATUTE ALTOGETHER. UNDERSTAND THAT, THE REQUIREMENT IS, YOU MUST INFORM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TWICE A YEAR. JUST TWICE A YEAR, ABOUT THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE PIPELINE THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THEM, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR BUSINESSES. YET THAT HAS BEEN IGNORE. NO ABILITY FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THOSE REGULATIONS SYSTEM OF WE CAME BACK IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, MR. SPEAKER, AND SAID, LISTEN, NOT ONLY SHOULD YOU BE DOING THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE DOING IT ONCE A MONTH. IF YOU'VE SEEN THE FEDERAL REGISTER RECENTLY, MR. SPEAKER, IT'S THICK. IT COMES OUT OVER DAY OF THE WEEK. IT CAPTURES ALL THE NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS COMING OUT, THEY'RE COMING OUT LIKE WATER OUT OF A SPI GOT. SO THIS -- OUT OF A SPIGOT. 10 THIS SAYS, LET'S NOT DO IT TWICE A YEAR, BUT ONCE A MONTH, LET'S MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IN A VOLUME THEY CAN SEE AND READ, WHAT THOSE NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE AND IF A -- IF AN AGENCY CHOOSES TO IGNORE THE REQUIREMENT THAT PROPOSED RULE AND REGULATION WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT, SUCH AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL GET SIX MONTHS OF NOTICE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT'S GOING ON. I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE, MR. SPEAKER. IT GOES TO THE SECOND BILL WE'RE CONSIDERING, THE STOP POLITICAL TARGETING BILL ON THE FLOOR HERE TODAY. THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT'S ON RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF MOST FOLKS IN AMERICA KNOW IT. I KNOW EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE I.R.S. TARGETING SCANDAL, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS INVOLVED IN A RULE MAKING RIGHT NOW THEY FEEL INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING INTO THE I.R.S., THE EXTENT OF THE ABUSE IS NOT YET UNDERSTOOD, THE COMMITTEES ARE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS THE LAW REQUIRES AND YET THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RELEASED A RULE THAT SAYS WE THINK WE KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH THE INVESTIGATION IS NOT DONE YET, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS TOMORROW. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS TOMORROW. FOLK CANS GO TO WWW.REGULATION.GOV, THEY CAN STILL GO AND FILE THEIR COMMENT IF THEY BELIEVE THE PEOPLE'S VOICE BEING HEARD IS IMPORTANT. BUT THINK ABOUT THAT, MR. SPEAKER. A SCANDAL THAT EVERYONE IN AMERICA UNDERSTANDS A SCANDAL THAT I BELIEVE IS OFFENSIVE TO EVERY IN AMERICA, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PARTY YOU'RE ON, YOU SHOULDN'T TARGET FOLKS THAT DISAGREE WITH YOU, WE SHOULD HAVE FALL AND OPEN DEBATE AND LET THE BEST IDEAS WIN. YET THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT YET FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO COMMENT ON IT ENDS TOMORROW. I DON'T THINK FOLKS KNOW THAT BACK HOMING MR. SPEAKER. THIS TRANSPARENCY BILL WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR TODAY INTENDS TO ADDRESS THAT. NOT JUST FOR THIS REGULATION BUT FOR ALL FUTURE REGULATIONS AND THE STOP POLITICAL TARGETING BILL WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR TODAY SAYS THIS AND THIS ALONE. IT SAYS, SINCE WE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, SINCE WE KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT THE I.R.S. HAS BREACHED THE PUBLIC'S TRUST, NOT THE ENTIRE I.R.S. BUT JUST THIS ONE SCANDAL HERE IN THE 501-C-4 OPERATION, WE KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST HAS BEEN DIMINISHED, LET'S NOT HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION, IN THE ABSENCE OF A FULL UNDERSTAND BIG THIS ECONGRESS, IN THE ABSENCE OF FULL COMMENT BY ME AMERICAN PEOPLE, LET'S NOT HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION PLEATLY REREGULATE THAT AREA. RATHER, LET'S PUT THIS OFF, NOT FOREVER, MR. SPEAKER, BECAUSE WE ALL AGREE THAT WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BUT FOR ONE YEAR AND ONE YEAR ONLY, SO THAT THE CONGRESS CAN HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN HAVE A FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT IT WAS THAT LED TO CITIZENS' VOICES BEING SILENCED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IN THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR 501C4 STATUS. THOSE ARE THE TWO BILLS WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR TODAY. THE GERMANE AMENDMENTS OFFERED, AND THERE WERE NO GERMANE AMENDMENTS OFFERED TO THE STOP POLITICAL TARGETING ACT, 11 AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY BILL ON THE FLOOR TODAY, ONLY FOUR REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS, SEVEN DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENT, SO WE CAN HAVE A FULL AND OPEN DEBATE. VERY PROUD OF THIS RULE, MR. SPEAKER AND WITH THAT, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED. MR. POLIS:…

GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED. MR. POLIS: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING ME THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES.

MR. POLIS

ME THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR. POLIS: MR. SPEAKER, I'M FORCED TO RISE AGAIN…

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR. POLIS: MR. SPEAKER, I'M FORCED TO RISE AGAIN IN OPPOSITION TO THE RULE AND TWO UNDERLYING BILLS THAT ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND AREN'T DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS SENT US HERE TO ADDRESS. EACH

MR. POLIS

THE ISSUES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS SENT US HERE TO ADDRESS. EACH OF THESE…

THE ISSUES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS SENT US HERE TO ADDRESS. EACH OF THESE BILLS WAS BROUGHT UNDER RESTRICTIVE PROCESS, ONE OF THEM A COMPLETELY CLOSED RULE THAT BLOCKED ALL EFFORTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO IMPROVE THE LEGISLATION. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE I.R.S. BILL FIRST. THE I.R.S. BILL HAS A TITLE THAT I THINK WOULD ENGENDER BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. IF WE WANT TO RUN A BILL THAT PREVENTS THE I.R.S. FROM DISCRIMINATING ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, WHETHER THEY'RE PROGRESS I HAVE OR TEA PARTY OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN, I THINK THERE WOULD BE A WAY TO COME TOGETHER IN SUPPORT, HOPEFULLY NEAR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, AROUND SUCH A BILL. LIKE MANY AMERICANS, I WAS OUTRAGED THAT ORGANIZATIONS HAD BEEN SINGLED OUT BASED ON THEIR NAME OF THEIR ORGANIZATION FOR ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT THE RIGHT CRITERIA THAT THE I.R.S. SHOULD BE USING INCH HOPE THEY GOT THE MESSAGE OVER AT THE I.R.S. LOUD AND CLEAR AND I HOPE WE CAN MOVE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO ENSURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. HOWEVER, THIS BILL ACTUALLY UNDOES ONE OF THE VERY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OWN REPORT. THERE'S EVEN A REPUBLICAN BILL IN THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE BY PETE ROSKAM THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE I.R.S. COMMISSIONER TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, INCLUDING THESE VERY REGULATION THIS IS A THIS OTHER REPUBLICAN BILL IS SEEKING TO PREVENT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF. SO MAKE UP OUR MINDS HERE, FOLKS. IF WE WANT TO MOVE TOGETHER TO PREVENT THE I.R.S. FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ANY ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, LET'S DO SO. WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING BINDING, I.ING IN STATUTE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHETHER IT'S A SENSE OF CONGRESS, I STAND READY TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA AND OTHERS TO SPEAK WITH A STRONG VOICE THAT THAT KIND OF DISCREME NATION HAS NO ROLE IN THE I.R.S. HOWEVER THAT IS ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM WHAT THIS BILL DOES WHICH GUTS ONE OF THE VERY INSPECTOR GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WAS DESIGNED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM GOING FORWARD. AS FOR THE OTHER BILL, THE ALERT ACT, IT WOULD SLOW DOWN THE REGULATORY PROCESS, INCREASE RED TAPE FOR AGENCIES, IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THIS BILL INCREASES REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR AGENCIES BY SIX TIMES. THIS IS A REPUBLICAN BUREAUCRAT WELFARE BILL. HOW MANY MORE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE TO DEAL WITH SIX TIMES MORE PAPERWORK THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM THIS BILL. WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS IN COLORADO, WHEN I TALK TO THEM, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? THEY DON'T SAY, YOU NEED TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND BURY MORE GOVERNMENT WORKERS IN MORE PAPER WORK. I WANT MORE RED TAPE. I WANT MORE RED TAPE. YET THAT'S THE BILL WE HAVE HERE TODAY, A REPUBLICAN BILL THAT WOULD BURY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER SIX TIMES AS MUCH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. FOR AGENCIES. THAT'S NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. THAT'S WHY I URGE MY COLLEAGUE IT IS TO VOTE NO ON THIS RULE AND THIS BILL. LOOK, THERE ARE SOME ISSUE THIS IS A WE COULD BE WORKING ON HERE TODAY, MR. SPEAKER. LET ME TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF ISSUE THIS IS A I BELIEVE, MY PARTY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BRICK BILLS TO THE FLOOR OF THIS CHAMBER, WE WOULD BE BRINGING THESE BILLS TO THE FLOOR OF THE CHAMBER. ONE OF THOSE IS IMMIGRATION REFORM. RATHER THAN SPENDING TIME DEBATING BILLS THAT ARE COULDN'T PRODUCTIVE, THAT AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE, LET'S CONSIDER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REPLACE OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WITH ONE THAT WORKS. THE SENATE, MR. SPEAKER, WAS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, 68 MEMBERS, DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN, AROUND A COMMONSENSE SOLUTION, SECURING OUR BORDER, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY GET IN LINE BEHIND THOSE WHO ARE LEGALLY, IMPLEMENTING MANDATORY WORKPLACE AUTHENTICATION OF WORK, ENSURING THE FUTURE KNOW OF WORKERS IN LINE WITH THE NEEDS OF COMMIR -- OUR ECONOMY AND AMERICA CAN CONTINUE TO COMPLETE. WE HAVE A NEARLY IDENTICAL BILL IN THE HOUSE, H.R. 15, BIPARTISAN BILL. I THINK IF WE BROUGHT IT FORWARD UNDER A RULE IT WOULD PASS. LET'S BRING THAT BILL FORWARD, MR. SPEAKER. NEARLY A YEAR AGO, THE NEW DEMOCRATIC COALITION IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE, WHICH I CAN CO-CHAIR, RELEASED DETAILED PRINCIPLES ON IMMIGRATION REFORM. I APPLAUD THE REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES THAT WERE ISSUED ON IMMIGRATION REFORE. THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO PASS A BILL TO CREATE AMERICAN JOBS, ENSURE THAT WE'RE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, REDEUCES THE DEFICIT BY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND REFLECTS OUR VALUES AS AMERICANS AND REFLECT OURS VALUES AS PEOPLE OF FAITH. AND YET, THE HOUSE MAJORITY HAS FOUND TIME TO SHEPHERD DOZENS OF BILLS THROUGH THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING ONE WE'RE CONSIDERING TODAY, BUT THE HOUSE HASN'T DEDICATED A SINGLE MOMENT OF FLOOR TIME TO AN IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL. WE HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED, MR. SPEAKER. WE HAVEN'T HAD A THREE-HOUR DEBATE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A ONE-HOUR DEBATE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A ONE-MINUTE DEBATE ON ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YOU DON'T GET TO YES WITHOUT SCHEDULING THE TIME AND THE SPACE FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS OF GOOD FAITH TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND DEMAND A SOLUTION FOR. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUSINESS LEADERS, FAITH LEADERS, NATIONAL AND LOCAL EDITORIAL BOARDS, ARE -- THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, ARE CALLING FOR REAL LEADERSHIP ON ADVANCING IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW. JUST YESTERDAY, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SENT A LETTER TO SPEAKER BOEHNER FOR MORE THAN 6 HUMBINGS BUSINESSES URGING CONGRESS TO PASS IMMIGRATION REFORETHE CHAMBER PRESIDENT, TOM DONOHUE, POSTED A BLOG POST EEMPHASIZING THE NEED TO HAVE A MODERNIZED E-VERIFY SYSTEM, PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN H.R. 15. LAST WEEK, A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" OP-ED CRITICIZED THE REPUBLICANS' FAILURE TO ACT ON COMMONSENSE REFORM, CITING A RECENT STUDY FROM THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU ABOUT THE COST OF FAILING TO KT A "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" WROTE, QUOTE, REPUBLICANS HAVE KILLED IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR NOW BUT THE FARM BUREAU STUDY SHOWS IT'S STILL NEEDED. THE IRONY IS MANY REPUBLICANS WHO SUPPORT HANDOUTS TO FARMERS OPPOSE REFORM FORM -- REFORM THIS IS A COULDN'T COST TAXPAYERS A DIME, END QUOTE. INSTEAD OF REDUCING THE DEFICIT, SECURING OUR BORDERS AND GIVES FARMS THE WORKERS THEY NEED, REPUBLICANS SAY, LET'S BURY THE GOVERNMENT IN RED TAPE, INCREASING THE PAPERWORK FOR AGENCIES BY SIX TIME -- SIX TIMES AND GIVE GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS TO FARMERS. THAT'S REPUBLICAN POLICIES WE'RE SEING IN THIS CONGRESS AND THAT'S WHY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOLD THIS INSTITUTION IN GREAT DISAPPROVAL. THE LONGER WE DELAY IN PASSING COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, THE GREATER THE COST OF INACTION BECOMES. ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE'S NONPARTISAN ANALYSIS, PASSING IMMIGRATION REFORM WOULD INCREASE OUR GROSE DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY 3.3%, RAISE WAGES BY $470 BILLION FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND CREATE AN AVERAGE OF 121,000 JOBS FOR AMERICANS EACH YEAR. OVER THE NEXT DECADE. SO RATHER THAN CREATE JOBS FOR FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS, HAVING TO DEAL WITH SIX TIMES AS MUCH PAPERWORK, LET'S CREATE JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MR. SPEAKER. LET'S PASS IMMIGRATION REFORM TO ENSURE THAT AMERICAN COMPANIES CAN COMPETE IN THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY, MR. SPEAKER, TO BRING A BILL FORWARD TO THE FLOOR, ANOTHER BILL, WE WOULD -- ANOTHER BILL WE WOULD BRING FORWARD IS INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10. . JUST BEFORE COMING UP HERE TO MANAGE THIS RULE I SIGNED A DISCHARGE PETITION TO BRING THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR, A BILL THAT I PROUDLY CO-SPONSOR, A BILL AUTHORED BY MY COLLEAGUE, MR. MILLER OF CALIFORNIA. RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE WOULD HELP RESTORE FAIRNESS FOR WORKING MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WOULD LIFT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS OUT OF POVERTY, WOULD FUEL DEMAND AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A LETTER FROM OVER 600 ECONOMISTS SAID THAT, QUOTE, AT A TIME WHEN PERSIST TENT HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT IS PUTTING ENORMOUS DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON WAGES, A MOIG INCREASE WOULD PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED BOOST, END QUOTE. IT'S NO PANACEA. BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT HELPING AMERICANS EARN ENOUGH SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PART OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET OR GOVERNMENT WELFARE PROGRAMS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DO THAT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. YOU KNOW WHAT? AT CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE LEVELS A FAMILY WORKING FULL-TIME 40 HOURS A WEEK EARNS ABOUT $14,000 A YEAR. MR. SPEAKER, YOU TRY LIVING ON $14,000 A YEAR. I COULDN'T DO IT. I DON'T THINK YOU COULD DO IT, MR. SPEAKER. GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A SOCIAL SAFETY NET THAT HELPS AMERICANS AND SUPPLEMENTS THEIR INCOME WHETHER IT'S MEDICAID, WHETHER IT'S FOOD STAMPS. AMERICANS EARNING $14,000 A YEAR DON'T LIVE A GREAT LIFE, BUT THEY GET A LITTLE HELP FROM US AND THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND REFLECTS OUR VALUES. IF WE CAN HELP THEM EARN A LITTLE BIT MORE, THEY WILL REQUIRE LESS HELP FROM OTHER TAXPAYERS IN PAYING THEIR RENT, PAYING THEIR BILLS, PUTTING GROCERIES ON THEIR TABLE. SO WE CAN BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN REDUCING THE NEED FOR A SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAM IF WE CAN HELP LIFT UP MORE AMERICANS OUT OF POVERTY. AND ONE SUBSTANTIAL STEP TOWARDS DOING THAT WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO BRING FORWARD, MR. SPEAKER, WOULD BE RENEWING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. AGAIN, WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RAN OUT WITH EMPLOYMENT AT HIGH LEVELS, IT SUCKS MONEY OUT OF THE ECONOMY. MONEY THAT COULD OTHERWISE GO TO CREATE JOBS AND PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH. IN THE PAST AND IN PRIOR RECESSIONS AND PRIOR TIMES WHEN WE HAD THIS LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIPARTISAN ISSUE. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN RESPONSIBLE GOVERNING MAJORITIES OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THIS CHAMBER AND THE OTHER CHAMBER THAT HAVE PUT TOGETHER EXTENSIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. AND YET ONCE AGAIN IT HAS RUN OUT AND WE SEEK TO BRING A SIMPLE BILL TO THE FLOOR THAT ENSURES THAT WE DON'T ENDANGER OUR RECOVERY BY SUCKING MONEY OUT OF THE ECONOMY IN OUR TIME OF NEED. I'LL GO ON AND ON, MR. SPEAKER, ABOUT BILLS WE COULD BE CONSIDERING, BUT SADLY THE TRUTH IS, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE THIS, WE ARE NOT CONSIDERING THOSE BILLS HERE TODAY. WE ARE CONSIDERING A BILL THAT ADDS SIX TIMES AS MUCH PAPERWORK TO ALREADY OVERWORKED FEDERAL WORKERS. AND WE ARE CONSIDERING A BILL THAT GUTS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT WAS DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT THE I.R.S. FROM DISCRIMINATING BASED ON POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT TRANSPARENCY CONSISTENT WITH OUR TAX CODE AROUND ENTITIES IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. WE CAN DO BETTER, MR. SPEAKER. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO DO BETTER, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO BETTER, MR. SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL GIVE MY SIDE OF THE AISLE A CHANCE TO DO BETTER. EITHER WAY, MR. SPEAKER, IMMIGRATION REFORM DOESN'T SOLVE ITSELF, IT TAKES THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SOLVE IT. WHILE THE PRESIDENT CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS AS HE HAS WITH THE DEFERRED ACTION PROGRAM, THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION CAN COME FROM THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDE OF THE AISLE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TOWARDS REDRESSING THE FLAWS IN OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND REPLACING CHAOS WITH THE RULE OF LAW, INCREASING OUR COMPETITIVENESS, REDUCING OUR DEFICIT, SECURING OUR BORDERS, MAKING AMERICANS SAFER, AND CREATING JOBS FOR AMERICANS. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RESERVES HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS…

GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RESERVES HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR 10 MINUTES.

MR. COLLINS

GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA FOR YIELDING ME THE TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT…

GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA FOR YIELDING ME THE TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES WHEN WE HAVE THESE DEBATES AND A LOT OF ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE THE FLOOR, WE SPEAK IN TERMS AND MY GOOD FRIEND FROM GEORGIA WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WE TALK IN TERMS OF BILL NUMBERS. WE TALK IN TERMS OF RULES. THE GOOD GENTLEMAN FROM ACROSS THE AISLE SPEAKS OF, WE TALK IN THE TERMS WE UNDERSTAND. BUT MANY TIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT BILLS AND YOU LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE THE FLOOR, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO START PAINTING THE PICTURE OF THOSE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY IT. MR. SPEAKER, WHEN WE BEGIN TO DO THAT, AND WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE BILLS ON THE FLOOR TODAY, I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY. THE STORY REINVOLVES, MR. PUCKETT, HE OWNS A SMALL BUSINESS THAT'S BEEN CREATING JOBS FOR OVER 100 YEARS, FAMILY-OWNED BRICK COMPANY. HE CONTRIBUTES THE SUCCESS OF THEIR BUSINESS TO HARD WORK AND LOYAL EMPLOYEES. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I MET MR. PUCKETT, THE CONVERSATION WAS NOT SO OPTIMISTIC. HE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE FIRST BILL I INTRODUCED, H.R. 1493, WHICH IS NOW TITLE 4 OF THIS LEGISLATION. BECAUSE HIS COMPANY HAD JUST LOST 50 JOBS AS A RESULT OF TWO REGULATIONS CRAFTED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IN A NATION OF OVER 300 MILLION, 50 JOBS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH, BUT IN MR. PUCKETT'S TOWN, THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 50 FAMILIES HAVING FOOD ON THE TABLE OR GOING HUNGRY. OR SMALL TOWNS LIKE I HAVE IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA, IT MEANS THE DIFFERENCE IN STAYING IN THEIR BELOVED PART OF THE STATE OR MOVING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FIND A JOB. EVERY STATE, EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS THEIR MR. PUCKETTS. NO BUSINESS HAS BEEN UNTOUCHED BY THE TOLL OF COSTLY AND OVERBURDENSOME REGULATIONS. SO THAT IS WHY I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS RULE AND THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE. NOW A LOT WILL BE SAID AND HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS IN SAYING THAT WE NEED TO DO OTHER THINGS. WE NEED TO GO ON TO THIS PROJECT, AND I JUST HEARD FROM MY FRIEND FROM ACROSS THE AISLE AS I HAVE DONE BEFORE FROM HERE, I'LL SIMPLY REMIND HIM IN THAT NIRVANA STATE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THEY HAD THE CHOICE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO, THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE IMMIGRATION ON THE TABLE WHILE THEY FIXED OTHER THINGS WHICH WE ARE FIXING TODAY. BUT TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MR. PUCKETTS OF THE WORLD. ENTHE BUSINESSES -- BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT NOT JUST THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE FOLKS WHO WORK FOR THEM, THE FOLKS SO MANY TIMES MISSED BY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. BY REFORMING OUR NATION'S REGULATORY SYSTEM, WE JUMP-START THE ENGINE OF OUR ECONOMY, AND WHEN OUR ECONOMY GETS UP AND GOING, OUR FAMILIES FLOURISH. NOW, A LOT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THIS WHOLE PACKAGE AND THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS WHO WILL SPEAK LATER TODAY ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TITLES. I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO TITLE 4, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS SUE AND SETTLE. ACROSS THE AISLE, AND I THINK I HAVE TALKED TO MEMBERS OF BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO GO HOME AND HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, YOU BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT REGULATION AND BILLS AND WHAT DOES THIS DO, AND I SEE THIS SENSE OF MANY IN THE AUDIENCE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEIR EYES GLAZE OVER AND THEY SAY HERE IT COMES, WASHINGTON SPEAK, WE DON'T GET IT. I'M JUST A COUNTRY BOY FROM NORTHEAST GEORGIA. AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IT IN SIMPLE TERMS. THIS IS THE WAY I DETERMINE MAKES IT SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SUE AND SETTLE LEGISLATION. TWO PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM PROBLEM. THEY DON'T GET ALONG. SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT. ONE GROUP THEY HAVE A BUSINESS OR A GROUP OR -- THAT HAVE A DISAGREEMENT OP SOMETHING GOING ON -- ON SOMETHING GOING ON, AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEIR SOLUTION SO THE ONE SAYS, WHOA, I SEE SOMETHING HERE. THERE IS A REGULATION THAT I CAN SUE ON. THIS IS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY I CAN SUE. SO WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY IN PLAY. SO WHAT WE DO WE TAKE TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ISSUE, I'LL JUST USE PEOPLE AS THE TERM HERE, AND WE HAVE THEIR OUTLET AS SAYING I'LL SUE A THIRD PARTY, WHICH BEING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WHILE I'M SUING, I'LL WORK OUT A DEAL WITH THE BUREAUCRATS IN THIS AGENCY AND GO TO A JUDGE AND GET A CONSENT ORDER, AND THEN BY THE WAY, THEN THAT CONSENT ORDER IS BINDING ON THE OTHER PERSON. NOW, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WITH A BROTHER. I HAVE OFTEN KIDDED, I THOUGHT HE WAS ADOPTED, HE'S NOT. HE'S ACTUALLY MY BROTHER. IT'S ABOUT LIKE ANY SIBLING RIVALRY. WHEN WE WOULD HAVE A DISAGREEMENT, THIS IS SORT OF LIKE HIM GOING TO MOM AND MOM ONLY BELIEVING HIM, ONLY HEARING HIS SIDE OF THE STORY, AND THEN PUNISHING ME, WHICH BY THE WAY FOR ANYBODY WATCHING TODAY THAT HAPPENED QUITE REGULARLY. I HAVE SPOKEN MANY TIMES TO MY MOM AND DAD ABOUT THIS. BUT IS THAT FAIR? NO, IT'S NOT FAIR. BOTH SIDES NEED TO BE HEARD. YOU NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. AND THAT'S WHAT SUE AND SETTLE LEGISLATION DOES. NOW, YOU CAN HEAR A LOT, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MANY FOLKS WHO COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY, TONIGHT SAYING, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT DOES. YOU ARE GUMMING UP THE WORDS. I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE DO, THE ABUSIVE USE OF CONSENT AND DECREE, AND SETTLEMENTS TO COURSE AGENCY ACTION IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS I SAID THE SUE AND SETTLE. IT IS THE REASON MR. PUCKETT WAS LOSING THESE JOBS. HE DID NOT HAVE THE INPUT BECAUSE OF ONE OF THESE DECREES. YOU SEE, AGENCIES ARE FAILING TO UPHOLD THEIR STATUTORY RULE MAKING DISCRETION, AND ARE ALLOWING LAWSUITS FROM OUTSIDE THE GROUPS TO DETERMINE THEIR PRIORITIES AND DUTIES. BETWEEN 2009 AND 2012, THE MAJORITY OF THESE SUE AND SETTLE ACTIONS OCCURRED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REALM. CLEAN WATER ACT, CLEAN AIR ACT, AND DANGEROUS SPECIES ACT. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD TRYING TO MAKE REGULATORY RULES WE HAD LIKE WE HAD TESTIFIED IN RULES COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT THAT ANYBODY THREATENING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE REGULATORY ACTION IS WANTING DIRTY WATER, DIRTY AIR, AND BABY CRIBS THAT FALL APART. THAT IS JUST A MISCHARACTERIZATION AND NOT WORTHY OF DEBATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THERE IS NO ONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT WANTS TO BREATHE DIRTY AIR. THERE IS NO ONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT WANTS DIRTY DRINKING WATER. AND THERE'S NO ONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT WANTS MALFUNCTIONING PARTS THAT HURT PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT WORTHY OF THIS DEBATE. THIS IS SIMPLY SAYING THAT WE ARE HAVING AN ISSUE OF FAIRNESS. OUR PRESIDENT TALKS FAIRNESS. HE DISCUSSES TRANSPARENCY. WE ARE CALLING ON HIM TO SAY WE AGREE WITH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, ON THIS ISSUE. LET'S HAVE TRANSPARENCY. LET'S HAVE FAIRNESS HERE. BUT YOU SEE WHEN SOMEONE ENTERS AN OUT-OF-SIGHT BACKROOM DEAL WITH UN-ELECTED EMPLOYEES, BUREAUCRATS, TO ESTABLISH WHEN THE E.P.A. WILL MEET ITS PAST DUE RESPONSIBILITIES, IT IS EFFECTIVELY DECIDING E.P.A. -- HOW E.P.A. WILL USE ITS LIMITED RESOURCES AND THUS CREATING POLICY PRIORITIES FOR THE AGENCY. IF THE E.P.A. NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN PRIORITIZING ITS MANY REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITIES, I RECOMMEND THEY CONSULT THE STATE WHO MUST IMPLEMENT THESE REGULATIONS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THEM. UNLIKE WHAT SOME CLAIM H.R. 1493, THERE NOTHING TO HINDER THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO BRING SUITS AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT. ANOTHER LET'S THROW UP SOMETHING AGAINST THE WALL TO HE SEE IF IT STICKS. THIS DOES NOTHING. THEY CAN STILL BRING THE SUITS. WE ARE JUST SIMPLY ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY. INSTEAD OF BUYING INTO THE MANTRA OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS THAT BENEFIT FROM THESE SWEETHEART DEALS, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IT DOES. AS I HAVE DESCRIBED BEFORE, IN BASIC TERMS, IT ALLOWS FAIRNESS, IT ALLOWS TRANSPARENCY, IT ALLOWS THOSE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDING TO BE A PART OF A SUIT SO THAT HE THEY CAN HAVE INPUT INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL AFFECT THEM. I BELIEVE EVERYONE CAN AGREE TO THAT. IF YOU'RE BEING AFFECTED, YOU OUGHT TO, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT THIS BILL AND THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS DO TO US. THIS IS GOOD GOVERNANCE. WHY SHOULD WE LET A CERTAIN AREA AND CERTAIN GROUP -- MR. SPEAKER, YOU KNOW THIS AS WELL, THAT THERE ARE AREAS IN WHICH THEY GET INTO THE AGREEMENT AND ONLY THEIR VIEWS ARE PUT FORWARD. SUE AND SETTLE WORKS TO ELIMINATE THAT. AND THEN ALSO THE BILL ACTUALLY REQUIRES AGENCIES TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF A PROPOSED DECREE OR SETTLEMENT IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER AND TAKE AND RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT LEAST 60 DAYS PRIOR TO FILING THE DECREE OR SETTLEMENT. AGAIN, SIMPLY IMPROVING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ABOUT HERE. THIS IS WHAT THIS BILL DOES. THIS BILL TAKES A MEASURED REASONABLE APPROACH TO THE SUE AND SETTLE PROBLEM. IT ENSURES THAT SETTLEMENTS ARE CONDUCTED AT AN OPEN AND IMPACTED STAKEHOLDERS CAN HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. THAT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE. THAT IS PUTTING TRANSPARENCY OUT THERE. THAT IS DOING THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO HERE. BUT ALSO I HAVE TO RESPOND TO MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO, AND WE HAVE GREAT DEBATES OUT HERE. I ENJOY LISTENING TO YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND COMING DOWN, MR. SPEAKER, AND HAVING THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION, BUT I WAS AMAZED BECAUSE I BELIEVE TODAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THERE ARE MANY TIMES I HAVE VERY FRUSTRATED PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, A POX ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, YOU'RE THE SAME. I' TIRED OF IT ALL. TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT HERE YOU CAN HONESTLY SAY HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE IN GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY. IT JUST CAME OUT A MINUTE AGO. I AM HERE WITH A BILL AND OTHER PARTS OF THIS BILL TODAY THAT ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR TRANSPARENCY, OPENNESS, AND WILLING TO GET REGULATIONS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE IN A LIMITED FORM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH OUR FOUNDERS THOUGHT OF SO THAT BUSINESSES CAN STILL BE BUSINESSES, EMPLOYEES CAN STILL HAVE JOBS, MOMS AND DADS CAN STILL HAVE PAYCHECKS AND TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS AT HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, BUT WHAT I HEARD A FEW MINUTES AGO WAS THE CONCERN ABOUT THE BURDEN ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE -- WITH WHAT THIS MAY CAUSE. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I BELIEVE THIS LEGISLATION CAN HELP BECAUSE WE CAN TRIM THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, GIVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHERE THEY NEED TO BE WITH STATES AND OTHERS, WHEN WE DO SO, THAT GIVES US THE PROPER -- CAN I ASK FOR ANOTHER TWO MINUTES.

MR. WOODALL

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ADDITIONAL 2 1/2 MINUTES.

MR. COLLINS

LOST THEIR JOBS, OR HAD TO CHANGE JOBS, THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW,…

LOST THEIR JOBS, OR HAD TO CHANGE JOBS, THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW, MR. SPEAKER. . THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE, MR. SPEAKER. I'M CONCERNED THAT GOVERNMENT DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO, THE BURDEN THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THEMSELVES SHOULD BE REMOVED TO WHERE OUR BUSINESSES, MY CONCERN IS THE WORKER. MY CONCERN IS MR. PUCKETT; BUT MY CONCERN EVEN MORE IS THE 50 FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE A JOB BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH REGULATORY BACKROOM DEALS, HAS CUT OUT THEIR LIVELIHOOD. WHO DO THEY SEE FOR THAT, MR. SPEAKER? WHO DO THEY GO AND COMPLAIN TO? WHAT GOVERNMENT AGENCY TAKES THEIR PHONE CALLS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS IN ESSENCE PUTTING THEM OUT OF A JOB? NO ONE ON THIS SIDE WANTS ANYTHING EXCEPT AN ECONOMY THAT'S FLOURISHING. AND PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING. AND JOBS THAT ARE SECURE. IT IS ABOUT THE EVERYDAY MAN AND WOMAN WHO GETS UP AND GOES TO WORK AND THEIR BUSINESS OWNERS ARE HAVING TO TELL THEM, NOT TODAY. WE'RE BEING INUNDATED WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS. I'LL STAND WITH THE AMERICAN WORKER EVERY DAY. I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE OF OUR GOVERNMENT NITS LIMITED FORM BUT DON'T EVER MISTAKE, THERE'S A SEPARATE PHILOSOPHY HERE ONE THAT ENCOURAGES BIG GOVERNMENT AND ONE THAT SAYS I'M FOR THE WORK WHORE GETS UP EVERY MORNING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLIS:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLIS: BEFORE FURTHER YIELDING, I WANT TO…

THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLIS: BEFORE FURTHER YIELDING, I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS. AGAIN

MR. POLIS

I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS. AGAIN THIS BILL CREATES A --…

I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS. AGAIN THIS BILL CREATES A -- CREATES A BACKDOOR INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SIX TIMES AND ADDING REQUIREMENTS TO THE RULE MAKING PROCESS, YOU KNOW THAT THIS BILL MUST CONTEMPLATE INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY TO DEAL WITH INCREASING REQUIREMENTS. AS AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO STARTED A NUMBER OF SMALL PISS, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PREDICTABILITY IN THE PROCESS. THIS WILL NOT HELP BUSINESSES THRIVE AND GROW. IT WILL CREATE HEADACHES FOR BUSINESSES AT A TIME WHEN MANY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THE RECESSION. IF WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, I'LL BRING UP AP AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10 AN HOUR. TO DISCUSS OUR PROPOSAL, I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. WISH -- MR. BISHOP: I RISE IN OPPOSITION ON THE…

FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. WISH -- MR. BISHOP: I RISE IN OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO THAT THIS BODY MAY CONSIDER H.R.

MR. BISHOP

OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO THAT THIS BODY…

OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO THAT THIS BODY MAY CONSIDER H.R. 1010 THE FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT OF 2013 THIS CRUCIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES NEARLY 30 MILLION AMERICAN WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY GRADUALLY RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM $7.25 TO $10.10 BY 2016. BEYOND 2016, THE MEN MUM WAGE WILL BE TIED TO INFLATION, ENSURING THAT AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WILL NEVER SEE THEIR WAGES STAGNATE. LET'S SEE WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS LEGISLATION. I'M SURE MANY WATCHING AT HOME AND SOME IN THIS ROOM MAY HAVE A SKEWED PERCEPTION OF THE MINIMUM WAGE, WE -- WORKER. I TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE FALL SIS. THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE MINIMUM WAGE WORKER IS 35 YEARS OLD. 54% OF THEM ARE FULL-TIME WORKERS. 55% OF THEM ARE WOMEN. THE AVERAGE EFFECTIVE WORKER EARNS HALF OF HIS OR HER FAMILY'S TOTAL NEW YORK AND MORE THAN ONE THOURT OF MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS HAVE CHILDREN. OF THE NATION'S ROUGHLY 75 MILLION CHILDREN, NEARLY ONE FIFTH OF THEM HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT WHO WOULD RECEIVE A RAISE IF THE MINIMUM WAGE WERE INCREASED TO $10.10. AN EMPLOYEE WORKING 40 HOURS A WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE 52-WEEK CALENDAR, NO TIME OFF, WILL EARN JUST $15,080 IN 2014. WHO CAN LIVE ON $15,000 A YEAR? I JUST HEARD THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK PASSIONATELY ABOUT HIS CONCERN FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER. AND I WOULD ASK THAT GENTLEMAN AND OTHERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABILITY THE AMERICAN WORKER ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THE AMERICAN WORKERS? OR ARE YOU JUST CONCERNED WITH THOSE WHO EARN AT HIGHER BRACKETS THAN $15,080 A YEAR? A WORKER WHO WORKS FULL TIME AND STILL IS PE LOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WILL QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, FOR CHIP, FOR SNAP, AN FOR OTHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT COST TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATELY $7 BILLION THIS YEAR ALONE. LET'S RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE. LET'S LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MONEY. AND LET'S SAVE ON THOSE PROGRAMS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN PLACE TO HELP THOSE MAINTAIN A STANDARD OF LIVING WHO NEED A HELPING HAND. A RECENT POLL CONDUCTED BY QUIN PEE YAK UNIVERSITY FOUND THAT 70% OF AMERICAN WORKERS SUPPORT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE. THE SAME POLL FOUND THAT DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I REFER BACK TO THE WORDS OF SPEAKER BOEHNER, IN HIS FIRST SPEECH TO THIS CHAMBER ON BEING SWORN IN ON JANUARY 5 20, 11. HE SAID,S THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

MR. POLIS

GENTLEMAN ONE MIN. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.…

GENTLEMAN ONE MIN. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED. MR. BISHOP: THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THIS IS THEIR…

IS RECOGNIZED. MR. BISHOP: THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THIS IS THEIR CONGRESS. IT'S NOT ABOUT

MR. BISHOP

PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THIS IS THEIR CONGRESS. IT'S NOT ABOUT US, IT'S ABOUT…

PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THIS IS THEIR CONGRESS. IT'S NOT ABOUT US, IT'S ABOUT THEM. AND WHAT THEY WANT , AND I'M QUOTING NOW IS A GOVERNMENT THAT'S HONEST, ACCOUNTABLE, AND RESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS. 71% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ASKING US TO DO THIS. IF THE SPEAKER'S WORDS MEAN MORE THAN JUST WORDS ON A PAGE, I URGE HIM TO BRING THIS BILL TO THE FOOR SO WE CAN RESPOND TO THE 1% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT RAISE THINKING MINIMUM WAGE IS GOOD ECONOMIC POLICY AND IS GOOD PERSONNEL POLICY. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WOOD AL: THANK…

YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WOOD AL: THANK YOU, MR.

MR. WOOD AL

SPEAKER. --

MR. WOODALL

IF HE HAS REMAINING SPEAKERS.

MR. POLIS

READY TO EGO.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.

MR. POLIS

SPEAKER. I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN…

SPEAKER. I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.

MR. JEFFRIES

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR. SPEAKER, PEOPLE WHO I REPRESENT…

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR. SPEAKER, PEOPLE WHO I REPRESENT AT HOME IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY THE DEVASTATION OF SUPERSTORM SANDY AND MANY OF THESE WORKING FAMILIES ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THIS VICIOUS STORM. HOMES WERE DESTROYED. BUSINESSES WERE RUINED. LIVES HAVE BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. THAT IS WHY, MR. SPEAKER, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS STORM AND NOW FACE SIGNIFICANT FLOOD INSURANCE RATE INCREASES AS A RESULT OF THE BIGGERT-WATERS LAW PASSED IN 2012. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMIZED BY SUPERSTORM SANDY ARE NOW FACING THE PROSPECT OF SIGNIFICANT FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUM -- PREMIUM RATE INCREASE THIS IS A IS HEADING DIRECTLY AT THEM LIKE AN OUT OF CONTROL FREIGHT TRAIN. AND THIS HOUSE SHOULD BE STEPPING IN TO STOP THAT FREIGHT TRAIN DEAD IN ITS TRACKS. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT REFORM OF THE BIGGERT-WATERS LAW. WE SHOULD SUSPEND THE FLOOD INSURANCE INCREASES THAT ARE HEADING TOWARD THESE SUPERSTORM SANDY VICTIMS. WE SHOULD ALLOW FOR FEMA TO CONDUCT AN AFFORDABILITY STUDY. WE SHOULD GIVE CONGRESS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS ISSUE CORRECT. THE FAILURE OF THIS HOUSE TO ACT ON FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DELAY AND DYSFUNCTION IN DEALING WITH THE REAL ISSUES THAT CONFRONT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR INABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD AS PREVIOUSLY PLANNED IS JUST YET ANOTHER TIME WHERE A MAN-MADE DISASTER FROM THIS HOUSE IS BEING IMPOSED ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.…

GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF

MR. WOODALL

SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF THREE MINUTES.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. WOODALL: TO SAY IF YOU CARE…

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. WOODALL: TO SAY IF YOU CARE ABOUT ANY OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP TODAY, THESE ARE NOT ISSUED INVOLVED IN THE RULE, THEY'RE NOT ISSUES COMING TO THE FLOOR TODAY BUT IF YOU CARE ABOUT OTHER ISSUES RAISED ON THE FLOOR TODAY THEN YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

MR. WOODALL

YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR…

YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD. BECAUSE I'M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THE AMERICAN VOTER STILL RUN THIS IS SHOW. THEY HAVE A TOUGH TIME HAVING THEIR VOICE HEARD BUT IF THEY CAN HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE THIS IS A WE WISH WE COULD CHANGE, MR. SPEAKER, TODAY ON THE FLOOR, WE HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN CHANGE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING REGULATION THIS IS A WILL SILENCE VOICES ON THESE VERY ISSUE THIS IS A MY COLLEAGUES ARE RAISING. LET ME READ FROM THE SIERRA CLUB. KATHY DUVAL SAYS THIS ABOUT THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS. THE PROPOSAL HARMS EFFORT THIS IS A HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS FROM OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR MEMBERS ABOUT CLEAN AIR AND WATER, TO OUR EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT TOXIC POLLUTION. MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU BELIEVE IN THIS PROCESS AS I DO, IF YOU BELIEVE IN THIS NATION AS I DO, THEN YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT THE PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE ABLE TO BE HEARD THAT IS THE ISSUE HERE TODAY. AND IF YOU BELIEVE THE PRIORITIES OF THE HOUSE SHOULD BE CHANGED IF YOU BELIEVE THE PRIORITIES OF THIS NATION SHOULD BE CHANGED IF YOU BELIEVE ANYTHING IN THIS NATION SHOULD BE CHANGED, YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PRESERVE THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S VOICE. THAT'S WHY THIS RULE MORATORIUM IS HERE TODAY, MR. SPEAKER. THAT'S WHY THE INVESTIGATION MUST GO ON. THAT'S WHY WE MUST REJECT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RUSH TO JUDGMENT HERE AND ENSURE THAT OUR PRIORITY CONTINUES TO BE THAT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THIS COUNTRY, THE AMERICAN VOTER. I RESERVE THE PLANS OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLIS: I YIELD…

FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLIS: I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. SCOTT. THE

MR. POLIS

MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. SCOTT. THE SPEAKER PRO…

MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. SCOTT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

MR. SCOTT

SPEAKER. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I RISE IN ON IGS --…

SPEAKER. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I RISE IN ON IGS -- OPPOSITION TO THE RULE BECAUSE IT NEEDS AN AMENDMENT. I RISE TODAY IN ORDER TO ASK THAT WHEN THE MOTION ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION TO END THE DEBATE IS BROUGHT UP THAT WE VOLT NO SO AT THAT POINT AN AMENDMENT CAN BE INTRODUCED. WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND IF THAT POSSIBILITY IS AVAILABLE, I'D HAVE TO BRING UP THE PROVISIONS OF H.R. 1010 WHICH WILL PROVIDE A LONG OVERDUE INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE. BILLS WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY ARE JUST DISTRACTION PRS THE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM THIS IS A PEOPLE ARE HAVING. TODAY'S FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, GROSS GROASTRIES, TRANSPORTATION. -- GROCERIES, TRANSPORTATION. SOMEONE WORKING FULL TIME AT A MINIMUM WAGE JOB TODAY ONLY EARNS ABOUT $14,000 A YEAR. AND AT THE -- AT THAT FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE TODAY, $7.25, A PARENT WORKING FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND, DOESN'T EARN ENOUGH TO GET ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL. WHEN I SAY A PARENT, THAT'S BECAUSE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DEN AND SHOWN THAT THE AVERAGE MINIMUM WAGE WORKER IS 35 YEARS OLD. RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL NOT ONLY INCREASE WORKERS' INCOME AND REDUCE TURNOVER, BUT STIMULATES THE ECONOMY AND THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE ARE SPENDING EVERY DIME THAT THEY GET, HELPING THE ECONOMY. WE'VE HEARD FEARS ABOUT POSSIBLE JOB LOSSES BUT THE EFFECT OF MINIMUM WAGE ON JOBS HAS BEEN STUDIED FOR DECADES AND HAS BEEN FRUVENE SHOW THAT THERE'S NO JOB LOSS TO BE EXPECTED NEW YORK JOB LOSS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH A MODEST INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE. WE HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE. WE CAN CHOOSE TO REQUIRE A FAIR LIVING WAGE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD FOOD AND HOUSING FOR THEIR FAMILIES, OR WE AS TAXPAYERS CAN BE LIFT -- LEFT PICKING UP THE TAB THROUGH INCREASED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS ANDEN A STAGNANT ECONOMY IS NOT IMPROVED AS IT WOULD BE WITH THE MINIMUM WAGE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO WHEN THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS MOVED AND ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TOIN CREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND IMPROVE THE ECONOMY IN THE PROCESS. I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS…

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF TWO MINUTES.

MR. WOODALL

MYSELF TWO MINUTES.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WOODALL: I SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM VIRGINIA, I…

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WOODALL: I SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM VIRGINIA, I THINK HE'S ABSOLUTELY SPEAKING FROM THE HEART WHEN HE COMES TO SHARE THE VOICE OF HIS CONSTITUENT THERE IS IN VIRGINIA, MY CONSTITUENTS TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW.

MR. WOODALL

THERE IS IN VIRGINIA, MY CONSTITUENTS TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW. THEY…

THERE IS IN VIRGINIA, MY CONSTITUENTS TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW. THEY LOOK TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, THE NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE THAT SAID, YES, YOU CAN RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, YOU CAN -- YOU CALLED IT A MODEST RAISE, THEY CALLED IT A MORE THAN 40% INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE, BUT YOU CAN RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AS SOME ARE PROPOSING AND THAT'S GOING TO LIFT 900,000 FAMILIES ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE. AND THAT'S AND THAT'S GOING TO DESTROY 500,000 JOBS. I DON'T FAULT MY COLLEAGUES AT ALL FOR BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE 900,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE LIFTED ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE. I THINK WE ALL WANT FOLKS LIFTED ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE. I WANT FOLKS WORKING THEIR WAY UP THE LADDER. IT'S A LADDER OF OPPORTUNITY WE OUGHT TO BE BUILDING IN THIS HOUSE. BUT TO DISMISS THOSE 500,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS WE'LL LOSE -- WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS ALTOGETHER, THESE ARE NOT PARTISAN FIGHTS WE HAVE, MR. SPEAKER. THESE ARE HEARTFELT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT HOW BEST TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO WHOM WE HAVE SWORN AN OATH TO THEIR CONSTITUTION THAT RULES THIS LAND. THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES, BUT THEY ARE MADE BETTER EACH AND EVERY TIME, I AM CERTAIN, MR. SPEAKER, IF WE PRESERVE THE POWER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD IN THIS DEBATE. THAT'S WHAT'S SEWS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS RULE, WHY WE MUST PASS THIS RULE TODAY TO BRING TO THE FLOOR THE STOP POLITICAL TARGETING ACT. SO THAT AMERICANS' VOICES ARE NOT SILENCED, NOT JUST NOT SILENCED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR CONTENT, BUT NOT SILENCED, PERIOD. IT'S ABHORRENT WE WOULD SILENCE VOICES ON THE BASIS OF THEIR CONTENT. BUT I WOULD ARGUE, MR. SPEAKER, IN SUPPORT, IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP VOICE FROM BEING SILENCED AT ALL IF WE DON'T TAKE IT, I BELIEVE THIS HOUSE WILL TAKE THAT STEP TODAY -AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD HERE REPRESENTING THIS RULE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLL CLOINS INQUIRE IF THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLL CLOINS INQUIRE IF THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS REMAINING SPEAKERS. MR. WOODALL: I DO NOT HAVE REMAINING SPEAKERS.

MR. WOODALL

REMAINING SPEAKERS.

MR. POLIS

CLOSE. I YIELD MY SOUTHWEST BALANCE OF THE TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TIME. MR. POLIS: THANK YOU, MR.…

IS RECOGNIZED FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TIME. MR. POLIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

MR. POLIS

SPEAKER. THESE UNDERLYING BILLS ARE DESTINED IF THEY PASS THIS CHAMBER,…

SPEAKER. THESE UNDERLYING BILLS ARE DESTINED IF THEY PASS THIS CHAMBER, LIKE SO MANY BILLS, FOR THE SENATE'S BILL GRAVEYARD. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. THEY DON'T DO WHAT THEY SAY. IF WE HAD A BILL THAT FULLY IMPLEMENTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT ANY KIND OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON POLITICAL AFFILIATION AT THE I.R.S., WE COULD PASS THAT BILL. THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN ENSURING THAT THE TERRIBLE EMBARRASSMENT AND PIE ON YOUR FACE THAT THE I.R.S. HAD, THE LOSS OF CONFIDENCE ENGENDERED AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT'S A GOOD ISSUE TO WORK ON. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE. INSTEAD WE HAVE A BILL THAT ACTUALLY GUTS ONE OF THE VERY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE EXACT OPPOSITION OF THE TITLE OF THE BILL. WE ALSO HAVE A BILL BEFORE US THAT CREATES MORE RED TAPE THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY AGENCIES. I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CALLING OUT FOR MORE RED TAPE. I DON'T THINK SMALL BUSINESSES WANT REGULATORS WHOSE APPROVAL THEY NEED TO BE SO BURIED WITH SIX TIMES AS MANY REPORTS AND 60 TIMES MORE ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO GIVE ROUTINE APPROVAL FOR VARIOUS THINGS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS NEED. IT'S A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE STEP. SO INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO ACT ON FROM IMMIGRATION REFORM TO RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, WE ARE DEBATING COUNTERPRODUCTIVE SINGLE CHAMBER BILLS THAT WILL DIE IN THE SENATE AND WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE COUNTRY IF PASSED. MY COLLEAGUE, MR. SCOTT, MR. BISHOP GAVE ELOQUENT TESTIMONY FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE. I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA, IT'S NOT A PANACEA. WOULD THAT IT WERE A SILVER BULLET TO LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY. IT WOULD HAVE 435 VOTES. I DO BELIEVE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE, THAT WHEN A FAMILY WORKS FULL-TIME AND YOU WORK FULL-TIME, YOU SHOULDN'T NEED A GOVERNMENT HANDOUT. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE IN POVERTY IF YOU'RE WORKING 40, 50, 60 HOURS A WEEK AT A BACK BREAKING JOB. RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10 WILL HELP ACCOMPLISH THAT. MR. SPEAKER, IF WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION I'LL OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO THE RULE TO BRING UP H.R. 1010, LEGISLATION TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO 1010 AN HOUR TO RESTORE FAIRNESS FOR MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SOMEONE WORKING FULL-TIME YEAR ROUND AT MINIMUM WAGE EARNS JUST OVER $14,000. THAT'S NEARLY $4,000 BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, AND IT MEANS THAT OTHER AMERICANS WILL NEED TO SUBSIDIZE THAT PERSON THROUGH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, THROUGH WELFARE, THROUGH FOOD STAMPS, BECAUSE, GUESS WHAT? $14,000 ISN'T ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR A FAMILY, HAVE A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM, EVEN TO PUT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD AND FOOD ON THE TABLE. BY RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10, WE CAN HELP AMERICANS BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH PRIDE, TO HAVE A JOB THAT GIVES THEM PRIDE. PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE AND ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD WITHOUT THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10 IS SIMPLY A RETURN TO THE LEVEL OF THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THE 1960'S. IT WOULD ALLOW MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL AMERICAN WORKERS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INSERT THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE RECORD ALONG WITH EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT A PIER IN THE RECORD. MR. POLIS:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IN THE RECORD. MR. POLIS: MR. SPEAKER, AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA SAID,…

IN THE RECORD. MR. POLIS: MR. SPEAKER, AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA SAID, THIS RULE DOES NOT CONTAIN IMMIGRATION REFORM AND A MINIMUM WAGE. BUT I

MR. POLIS

DOES NOT CONTAIN IMMIGRATION REFORM AND A MINIMUM WAGE. BUT I THINK IT'S…

DOES NOT CONTAIN IMMIGRATION REFORM AND A MINIMUM WAGE. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT IT COULD CONTAIN. WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN WITH THIS CHAMBER UNDER REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, WHAT IT WOULD CONTAIN IF THIS CHAMBER WERE UNDER DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP. THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY, THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMUNITY ALL SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ON IMMIGRATION REFORM. WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW DOESN'T WORK. THERE'S OVER 10 MILLION PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY. COMPANIES VIOLATE THE LAW EVERY DAY. THERE'S OVER -- CLOSE TO TWO MILLION DEPORTATIONS, EACH AT A COST TO TAXPAYERS OF $10,000 TO $20,000. IT'S TIME TO REPLACE OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WITH THE RULE OF LAW TO REDUCE OUR DEFICIT BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, CREATE OVER 100,000 JOBS FOR AMERICANS, FINALLY SECURE OUR BORDERS, AND ENSURE THAT NOBODY WORKS ILLEGALLY IN THIS COUNTRY POTENTIALLY UNDERMINING WAGES FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. THAT'S WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH. WE RECOGNIZE IT WOULD BE A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION. H.R. 15, THE SENATE PASSED BILL, DOESN'T HAVE EVERYTHING THAT DEMOCRATS WANT IN IT. DOESN'T HAVE EVERYTHING REPUBLICANS WANT IN IT. BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY. IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO AND DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. I URGE A NO VOTE ON THE RULE AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS…

TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WOODALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

MR. WOODALL

I YIELD MY SOUTHWEST BALANCE OF THE TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE…

I YIELD MY SOUTHWEST BALANCE OF THE TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR SEVEN MINUTES.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR SEVEN MINUTES.

MR. WOODALL

FROM MY FRIENDS HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY WHAT…

FROM MY FRIENDS HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY WHAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE HEART FEMENT SENTIMENTS OF EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF THESE UNITED STATES CAN BE HEARD HERE IN WASHINGTON. I FEAR MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO IS RIGHT. I DON'T SAY THAT LIGHTLY. HE HAS A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS AN I HOPE TO COLLABORATE WITH HIM ON EVEN MORE. I FEAR HE'S RIGHT THAT THIS IS A SINGLE CHAMBER SOLUTION. I FEAR THAT ONLY THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS CONCERNED WITH PROTECTING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH ME, MR. SPEAKER, BUT PEOPLE FROM ALL STRIPES. I READ FROM THE SIERRA CLUB EARLIER. LET ME READ FROM THE ACLU, MR. SPEAKER, FROM THEIR COMMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS RULE. THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY. SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS PRAISE OR CRITICIZE CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ON THE ISSUES, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO FREELY WITHOUT FEAR OF LOSING OR BEING DENIED TAX EXEMPT STATUS. THAT IS THE HEART OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, THE ACLU SAYS. THE HE PROPOSED RULE, THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATION'S RULE, THAT'S THE RULE WE ARE HERE TODAY TO STOP, THE PROPOSED RULE THREATENS TO DISCOURAGE OR STERILIZE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN AMERICA. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE A CHART HERE TODAY, YOU CAN'T SEE IT FROM WHERE YOU ARE, BUT IT LISTS WHAT TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO DO. A 501-C, THAT SECTION OF THE TAX CODE THAT DEALS WITH TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS. YOU HAVE 501-C-3'S, ABLE TO DO GET OUT THE VOTE WORK, VOTER REGISTRATION WORK, CANDIDATE FORUMS. 501-C-4'S ARE WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION IS REGULATING AND THAT'S THE SOURCE OF THE SCANDAL, THE TARGETING OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BASED ON THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS, AND 501-C-5 THOSE ARE THE LABOR UNIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. WHAT FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, ALL OF THESE GROUPS CAN DO GET OUT THE VOTE WORK, ALL THESE GROUPS CAN DO VOTER REGISTRATION WORK, ALL THESE GROUPS CAN DO CANDIDATE FORUMS. WHY? BECAUSE IT ADVANCES OUR REPUBLIC. IT ADVANCES THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND DISCOURSE IN AMERICA, BUT THIS, MR. SPEAKER, IS WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING. IT'S PROPOSING FOR 501-C-5'S, LABOR UNIONS, TO CONTINUE DOING ALL OF THAT MATERIAL. FOR 501-C-3'S TO CONTINUE DOING ALL OF THAT, BUT THE 501-C-4'S, THE VERY SAME 501-C-4S THAT WERE TARGETED BY THE I.R.S. ON THE BASIS OF THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS, THOSE GROUPS AND THOSE GROUPS ALONE WOULD BE SILENCED. MR. SPEAKER, AMERICA IS NOT ADVANTAGED BY THAT RULE. MAYBE IN SOME SHORTSIGHTED WAY SOMEONE BELIEVES THAT PERSONAL POLITICAL AGENDA IS ADVANCED BY THAT SCHEME, MR. SPEAKER, BUT WE DO NOT. WE AS A NATION DO NOT. IT IS A SHORTSIGHTED GAME. THAT'S WHY. WE PUT THIS BILL ON THE FLOOR TODAY TO DELAY THESE REGULATIONS, THESE NEW REGULATIONS, THIS CHANGE OF HOW AMERICAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE OCCURS, FOR ONE YEAR AND ONE YEAR ONLY WHILE THE INVESTIGATION COMPLETES ITSELF. MR. SPEAKER, I JUST WANT TO READ FROM THE REPORT THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CRAFTED AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, HE SAYS WHAT WERE THE WORDS, WHAT TRIGGERED THIS ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION THAT WENT ON? THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE, MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU USE THE WORD TEA PARTY, YOU MIGHT GET SPECIAL SCRUTINY. IF YOU USE THE WORD PATRIOT IN YOUR NAME, YOU MIGHT GET SPECIAL SCRUTINY. IF YOU WERE CONCERNED, MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS READING FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT REPORT, IF YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING, GOVERNMENT DEBT, OR TAXES, YOU COULD BE SUBJECTED TO SPECIAL SCRUTINY. IF YOU WANTED, QUOTE, MR. SPEAKER, QUOTING FROM THE REPORT, TO MAKE AMERICA A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, YOU COULD BE SUBJECTED TO SPECIAL SCRUTINY. NOW, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE FAR BEYOND THAT, MR. SPEAKER. THEY ARE NOT JUST GOING TO SUBJECT SOME GROUPS TO SPECIAL SCRUTINY AS IS THE SOURCE OF THE SCANDAL, THEY ARE SILENCING ALL GROUPS. IF YOU HAD A STATEMENT IN YOUR CASE FILE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT CRITICIZED HOW THIS COUNTRY IS BEING RUN, YOU WERE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL SCRUTINY. MR. SPEAKER, THAT IS NOT JUST OUR RIGHT, THAT IS OUR OBLIGATION. OUR OBLIGATION AS CITIZENS IS TO CRITICIZE THE WAY THIS COUNTRY IS BEING RUN WHEN WE DON'T AGREE BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T RUN THIS COUNTRY, THE CONGRESS DOESN'T RUN THIS COUNTRY, WE THE PEOPLE, RUN THIS COUNTRY. THIS RULE TO BRING THIS BILL IS ABOUT ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY. AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE TO WHOM THE CONSTITUTION INVESTS EVERY BIT OF POWER THAT THE COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER, THE AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE A VOICE WITH WHICH TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND THE INFORMATION ON WHICH TO EDUCATE THAT VOICE. MY COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, MR. SPEAKER. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON THE FLOOR OF THIS HOUSE. YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHO'S WHO REGIONALLY, POLITICALLY, WHAT IT IS THAT FOLKS BELIEVE, BUT THIS ISSUE, THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF THOSE DEFINING ISSUES. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMERICA, THE UNITED STATES CITIZEN, DESERVES A LOUD VOICE AND FULL INFORMATION? IF YOU DO, YOU VOTE YES ON THIS RULE, YOU VOTE YES ON THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION, YOU REJECT THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORT TO SILENCE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO A FULL AND OPEN DEBATE IS THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH THIS COUNTRY WILL SUCCEED W THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AND MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. AND MOVES THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THE…

BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. AND MOVES THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT. MR. POLIS: MR. SPEAKER. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.

MR. POLIS

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MR. POLIS

THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. MR. POLIS: I REQUEST

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

COLORADO. MR. POLIS: I REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:…

COLORADO. MR. POLIS: I REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER

MR. POLIS

OF THE REQUEST FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OF THE REQUEST FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING…

OF THE REQUEST FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. PURSUANT TO CLAUSELE OF RULE 20, THIS 15-MINUTE VOTE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY FIVE-MINUTE VOTES ON ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION IF ORDERED AND PASSING H.R. 1944. THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YEAS ARE 224. THE NAYS ARE 19 T THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED. THE…

YEAS ARE 224. THE NAYS ARE 19 T THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED. THE QUESTION NOW IS ON ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION. AS MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR WILL SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. THOSE OPPOSED WILL SAY NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT. MR. POLIS: ON THAT I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE. THE

MR. POLIS

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

VOTE IS REQUESTED. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR RECORDED VOTE WILL…

VOTE IS REQUESTED. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YEAS ARE 231. THE NAYS ARE 185. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. WITHOUT…

YEAS ARE 231. THE NAYS ARE 185. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE VOTE ON THE MOTION OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. GOODLATTE, TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 1944, WHICH THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. THE CLERK: UNION CALENDAR MILLION 265.

THE CLERK

MILLION 265. H.R. 1944, A BILL TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY…

SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

VOTE THE YEAS ARE 353. THE NAYS ARE 65. 2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING…

VOTE THE YEAS ARE 353. THE NAYS ARE 65. 2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE TABLE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WILL COME TO ORDER. ALL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.…

WILL COME TO ORDER. ALL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. ALL MEMBERS PLEASE CLEAR THE WELL. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. AGAIN ALL MEMBERS ARE REMINDED PLEASE TAKE CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. ALL MEMBERS ARE PLEASE ASKED TO CLEAR THE WELL AND THE AISLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

HOUSE RESOLUTION 487 I CALL UP THE BILL H.R. 3865, THE STOP TARGETING OF…

HOUSE RESOLUTION 487 I CALL UP THE BILL H.R. 3865, THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S. ACT OF 2014, AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. THE CLERK: UNION CALENDAR NUMBER…

CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. THE CLERK: UNION CALENDAR NUMBER 261, H.R.

THE CLERK

H.R. 3865, A BILL TO PROHIBIT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FROM MODIFYING…

H.R. 3865, A BILL TO PROHIBIT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FROM MODIFYING THE STANDARD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER AN ORGANIZATION IS OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR PURPOSES OF SEX 501-C-4 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS PRINTED IN THE BILL IS ADOPTED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

BY THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS PRINTED IN THE BILL IS ADOPTED. THE…

BY THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS PRINTED IN THE BILL IS ADOPTED. THE BILL AS AMENDED IS CONSIDERED AS READ. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR. CAMP, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN, WILL EACH CONTROL 30 MINUTES. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. PLEASE TAKE ALL CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. PLEASE MEMBERS CLEAR THE AISLE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN,

MR. CAMP

REMARKS AND TO INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R. 3865. THE SPEAKER PRO…

REMARKS AND TO INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R. 3865. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MR. CAMP

I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS…

I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. CAMP: THANK

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. CAMP: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I…

FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. CAMP: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R.

MR. CAMP

I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3865, THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL…

I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3865, THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S. ACT OF 2014. TO STOP THE I.R.S. AND TREASURY FROM RESTRICTING FREE SPEECH ACTIVITIES OF SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER 50 YEARS. LAST MAY WE LEARNED THAT THE I.R.S. TARGETED CONSERVATIVE GROUPS SEEKING TAX EXEMPT STATUS. FOR OVER NINTH MONTHS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATORS HAVE REVIEWED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INTERNAL I.R.S. DOCUMENTS AND INTERVIEWED I.R.S. OFFICIALS REGARDING THE TARGETING. OUR INVESTIGATION IS NOT YET OVER AND THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO WAIT FOR THE I.R.S. TO TURN OVER LOWEST LEARNERS EMAILS. DESPITE THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS BOTH IN CONGRESS AND BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, LAST NOVEMBER TREASURY RUSHED FORWARD WITH PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS TO STIFLE 501-C-4 GROUPS UPENDING RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN HAVE IS RECOGNIZED. -- THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

HAVE IS RECOGNIZED. -- THE GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO…

HAVE IS RECOGNIZED. -- THE GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. PLEASE TAKE ALL CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR, PLEASE CLEAR THE AISLES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. CAMP

SCRUTINY FOR ENGAGING IN THE BOWS BASIC UNPARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITY.…

SCRUTINY FOR ENGAGING IN THE BOWS BASIC UNPARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITY. SUCH AS ORGANIZING NONPARTISAN GET OUT THE VOTE DRIVES, REGISTERING VOTERS ARE HOSTING CANDIDATE FORUMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. IF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ANDERS VIRS THEIR WAY, THESE SORTS OF ACTIVITIES WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS. MAKING MATTERS WORSE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING THE PROPOSED RULE BASED ON A FALSE PREMISE. TREASURY ISSUED THESE RULES UNDER THE PREMISE OF CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION. IN THE TAX EXEMPT APPLICATION PROCESS, THEY USED THE TERM CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE'S INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT CONFUSION CAUSED THE I.R.S. TO SYSTEMATICALLY TARGET CONSERVATIVE GROUPS. IN FACT, WE FOUND THE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY THAT I.R.S. WORKERS IN CINCINNATI FLAGGED TEA PARTY CASES FOR WASHINGTON, D.C., BECAUSE OF, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, MEDIA ATTENTION. AND BEFORE WASHINGTON GOT INVOLVED, FRONTLINE I.R.S. EMPLOYEES WERE ALREADY PROCESSING AND APPROVING TEA PARTY APPLICATIONS WITH NO INTRUSIVE QUESTIONNAIRES OR SIGNS OF CONFUSION. IN ADDITION TO BEING BASED ON A FALSE PREMISE, THE PROPOSED RULE WAS DRAFTED IN SECRECY AND LONG BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION PROCLAIMED NEED FOR CLARITY. OUR INVESTIGATION HAS DISCOVERED THAT TREASURY AND THE I.R.S. WERE WORKING ON THESE NEW RULES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS FOR YEARS. WELL BEFORE THE TARGETING CAME TO LIGHT. WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THAT THE PROPOSED RULE IS THE RESPONSE TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S AUDIT REPORT, I.R.S. EMPLOYEES TOLD COMMITTEE STAFF IN TRANSCRIBED INTERVIEWS THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE RULE STARTED MUCH EARLIER IN SPRING OF 2011. FURTHER, A JUNE 2012 EMAIL BETWEEN TREASURY OFFICIALS AND I.R.S. DIRECTOR OF TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS, LOIS LEARNER, SHOWS THESE POTENTIAL REGULATIONS WERE BEING DISCUSSED, QUOTE, OFF PLAN. MEANING THE PLANS FOR THE REGULATIONS WERE TO BE DISCUSSED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE RULE MAKING PROCESS, AND COUNSELS FOR PUTTING A HOLD ON THE DRAFT RULES. THE INTENT OF THE RULES PROPOSED BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS CLEAR, TO LEGALIZE THE I.R.S.'S INAPPROPRIATE TARGETING OF CONSERVATIVE GROUPS. THESE PROPOSED RULES SEVERELY LIMIT GROUPS' RIGHTS TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC DEBATE BY LABELING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CANDIDATE FORUMS, GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS, AND VOTER REGISTRATION AS POLITICAL ACTIVITY FOR 501-C-4 GROUPS. FOUFER 501-C 3'S, WHICH ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENGAGE IN ANY POLITICAL ACTIVITY, AND LABOR UNIONS ARE FREE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THESE ACTIVITIES WITHOUT LIMITATION. IT'S CLEAR THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THESE PROPOSED RULES WOULD SQUASH THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. TREASURY HAS RECEIVED OVER 94,000 COMMENTS ON THE RULE SO FAR, WHICH IS THE MOST THEY HAVE EVER RECEIVED ON ANY RULE EVER. GIVEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'S SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN THE PROPOSED RULES, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT TREASURY PUT A HOLD ON THEM UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE TARGETING ARE COMPLETE SO THAT ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN AND THE PUBLIC HAS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. THIS LEGISLATION WILL ENSURE THAT TREASURY DOES NOT RUSH THIS RULE INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR, ALLOWS THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS TO ISSUE FINDINGS ON THE TARGETING, HELPS US TO STOP THE I.R.S.'S TARGETING OF TAXPAYERS BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS, AND IS A COMMONSENSE STEP TO PRESERVE THESE GROUPS' ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC DEBATE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN VOTING YES -- IN JOINING ME IN VOTING YES TO THIS LEGISLATION, AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT AT THIS TIME THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, DR. BOUSTANY, CONTROL THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CHAIR WILL

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO INFORM THE HOUSE THAT THE…

SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO INFORM THE HOUSE THAT THE SENATE HAS PASSED H.R. 2431, TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN, IS NOW RECOGNIZED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN, IS NOW RECOGNIZED.

MR. LEVIN

MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.

MR. LEVIN

OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. CAMP, IS UNVEILING A TAX MEASURE,…

OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. CAMP, IS UNVEILING A TAX MEASURE, THAT REQUIRES SERIOUS BIPARTISANSHIP TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE ARE HERE ON THE FLOOR CONSIDERING A TOTALLY POLITICAL BILL IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESURRECT AN ALLEGED SCANDAL THAT NEVER EXISTED. WAS THERE INCOMPETENCE AT THE I.R.S. IN THE PROCESSING OF 501-C-4 APPLICATIONS? YES. AND I WAS AMONG THE VERY FIRST WHO SAID THAT THOSE IN SUPERVISION SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WAS THERE CORRUPTION, POLITICAL INTERFERENCE, WHITE HOUSE INVOLVEMENT, AND ENEMIES LIST AS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE CLAIMED SINCE DAY ONE? ABSOLUTELY NOT. NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER. YESTERDAY THE I.R.S. COMMISSIONER CONFIRMED THAT $8 MILLION HAVE BEEN SPENT DIRECTLY ON THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, AS OVER 255 PEOPLE HAVE SPENT OVER 79,000 HOURS DOING NOTHING BUT RESPONDING TO CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS. AN ADDITIONAL SIX MILLION TO EIGHT MILLION HAVE BEEN SPENT TO ADD CAPACITYLE TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS TO -- CAPACITY TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS TO PROCESS SECURELY THE 500,000 PAGES, 500,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS CONGRESS HAS RECEIVED. AND WHAT HAVE THEY LEARNED? THAT BOTH PROGRESSIVE AND CONSERVATIVE GROUPS WERE INAPPROPRIATELY SCREENED OUT BY NAME. AND NOT BY ACTIVITY. AND THAT NO ONE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS OUTSIDE OF THE I.R.S. AND THAT THERE WAS NO POLITICAL MOTIVATION INVOLVED. WHEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ASKED HIS CHIEF INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF POLITICAL MOTIVATION BY THE I.R.S., THAT INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED, AND I QUOTE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT PULLING THESE SELECTED APPLICATIONS WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. THE EMAIL TRAFFIC INDICATED THAT THERE WERE UNCLEAR PROCESSING DIRECTIONS AND THE GROUP WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD GUIDANCE ON PROCESSING THE APPLICATIONS SO THEY PULLED THEM. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT NUANCE, END OF QUOTE. INDEED IT IS. AND IT'S PRECISELY THAT LACK OF CLARITY THAT THE I.R.S. WAS RESPONDING TO IN PROPOSING NEW REGULATIONS FOR 501-C-4 ORGANIZATIONS. NEW REGULATIONS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO BRING CERTAINTY IN DETERMINING WHETHER AN ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY ACTIVITIES ARE POLITICAL. THE REGULATIONS ARE AMONG SEVERAL STEPS THE I.T. HIMSELF RECOMMENDED IN HIS AUDIT REPORT THAT THE I.R.S. UNDERTAKE. EACH OF WHICH THE REPUBLICANS REPEATEDLY CALLED FOR ACTION ON. ON JUNE 3, 2013, AT A HEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN CRENSHAW TOLD ACTING I.R.S. COMMISSIONER DANNY WUERFFEL THAT, AND I QUOTE, WE ARE GOING TO INSIST THAT THE I.R.S. IMPLEMENT ALL NINE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, END OF QUOTE. A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. ROSKAM, HAS A BILL TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING NEW 501-C-4 REGULATIONS. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE APPLICATIONS FOR 501-C-4 STATUS HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED BETWEEN 2010 AND 2012 TO 3,357. AND SPENDING HAS SKYROCKETED. IN 2006 $1 MILLION WAS SPENT BY C-4 ORGANIZATIONS. $1 MILLION. 2010, $92 MILLION SPENT. AND IN 2012, $256 MILLION SPENT BY FOUR ORGANIZATIONS. THE DESIGNATION C-4 PRESENTLY ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS TO KEEP THEIR DONORS SECRET. HIDDEN AS TO WHICH INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTED. AND THAT IS EXACTLY -- THAT'S THE SECRECY THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE. WHY? WHY? BECAUSE THE THREE LARGEST SPENDERS REPRESENTING FULLY 51% OF THE TOTAL ARE A WHO'S WHO LIST OF REPUBLICAN POLITICAL OPERATIVES. CROSSROADS, IT'S INDICATED HERE, CROSSROADS G.P.S., KARL ROVE, $71 MILLION. AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, THE COKE BROTHERS, $36 MILLION. THE AMERICAN FUTURE FUND, THE COKE BROTHERS AGAIN, $25 MILLION. . THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITTEE HAD REPORTED TO IT, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS. IF YOU LIVE IN A TARGETED STATE AND YOU TURN ON YOUR TELEVISION, YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THESE GROUPS THAT WORK AT DISTORTING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY PURELY AND SIMPLY. NOT BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY OFTEN TALK ABOUT SMALL ONES, BUT TO PRESERVE THE SECRECY AROUND THE REPUBLICANS' BIG CAMPAIGN EFFORTS. THESE ARE DRAFT REGULATIONS THAT THE REPUBLICANS THEMSELVES CALLED FOR. OVER 76,000 COMMENTS, AND I THINK NOW MORE, HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, AND THE COMMENT PERIOD DOES NOT CLOSE UNTIL FRIDAY. LOOK, THESE REGULATIONS AREN'T LIKELY TO COME OUT THIS YEAR ANYWAY WITH ALL THESE COMMENTS. SO WHY THIS BILL? WHY THIS BILL? IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 501-C-4 'S. THE THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I MENTIONED THAT ARE INVOLVED AS POLITICAL OPERATIVES IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONORS NOBODY KNOWS. THIS IS SECRET MONEY. WHY ARE WE STANDING HERE AND SAYING TO THE I.R.S., DON'T LOOK AT 501-C-4'S, DON'T LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE MASSIVE ABUSE, DON'T LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHERE POLITICAL OPERATIVES, UNDER THE GUISE OF 501-C-4, HAVE MOVED FROM $1 MILLION IN MANY CASES TO $256 MILLION REPORTED TO THE S.E.C.? OUR CONSTITUENTS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, ARE OFFERING THEIR COMMENTS AND SOME OF THEM I AGREE WITH AND THEY DESERVE TO BE READ, BUT NOT TO BE SHREDDED AT THE HANDS OF A NOVEMBER CAMPAIGN STRATEGY BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THIS COUNTRY AND BY THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE OF THIS HOUSE. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME, AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. CROWLEY, BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE BALANCE OF OUR TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES AND WITHOUT OBJECTION ON MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

RESERVES AND WITHOUT OBJECTION ON MR. CROWLEY FROM NEW YORK CONTROLLING…

RESERVES AND WITHOUT OBJECTION ON MR. CROWLEY FROM NEW YORK CONTROLLING THE BALANCE OF THE TIME. NOW THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.

>>

THAT MY FRIEND ON THE OTHER SIDE MADE. THERE ARE THREE ONGOING…

THAT MY FRIEND ON THE OTHER SIDE MADE. THERE ARE THREE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE INCOMPLETE.

INVESTIGATION STILL INCOMPLETE AND ONGOING AND THE I.G. AND THERE IS A…

INVESTIGATION STILL INCOMPLETE AND ONGOING AND THE I.G. AND THERE IS A THIRD CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. SO I ASK FIRST OFF THE QUESTION, WHY -- WHY START REGULATING NOW WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION? LET'S LET ALL THIS GO TO CONCLUSION AND THEN INSTITUTE THE PROPER REFORMS. I WANT TO POINT OUT ON TARGETING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAY THAT THE I.R.S. AND TREASURY HAVE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MEASURE POLITICAL ACTIVITY, NOT WHAT CONSTITUTES POLITICAL ACTIVITY, HOW TO MEASURE IT. THE PROPOSED RULE HAS BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2011. INTERNAL I.R.S. EMAILS BETWEEN TREASURY AND I.R.S. SHOW THEY WERE DEVELOPING THE RULE OFFPLAN. THAT MEANS BEYOND THE SUNSHINE OF DISCLOSURE AND OUT IN THE OPEN, OFF PLAN. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO HIDE? WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS? THIS IS ALL BEFORE THE ALLEGATIONS CAME OUT. WHEN ASKED IN THE MARKUP OF THIS LEGISLATION WHETHER THE PROPOSED RULE ANSWERS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE I.R.S. AND TREASURY PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON MEASURING POLITICAL ACTIVITY, THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION, NONPARTISAN, SAID THE PROPOSED RULE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE MEASUREMENT ISSUE. NOW, ALL WE'RE SEEKING TO DO IS PROPOSE A -- WE'RE SEEKING TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RULE UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE ALL THE FACTS, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT NECESSARY REFORMS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. I THINK IT'S PREMATURE IN STARTING TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS THAT WOULD EMBARK UPON AT THIS TIME. AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO A MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. KELLY. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: HOW MUCH TIME? MS. HANABUSA:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MUCH TIME? MS. HANABUSA: TWO MINUTES. THE SPEAKER

MS. HANABUSA

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MINUTES. THE SPEAKER PRO

MR. BOUSTANY

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.

MR. KELLY

ENSHRINED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND WE HAVE ALL TAKEN THE SAME OATH. THE…

ENSHRINED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND WE HAVE ALL TAKEN THE SAME OATH. THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WE PRESERVE, PROTECT AND CAN HE FEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. I AM -- DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. I HEAR DOLLAR NUMBERS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY. NEVER BEFORE IN AMERICA WERE RE-WE WORRIED ABOUT THE COST OF MONEY WHEN -- WERE WE WORRIED ABOUT THE COST OF MONEY. IT HAS NO DOLLARS ATTACHED TO IT. IT IS BASICALLY FUNDAMENTALLY AMERICAN. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN CITIZENS NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK THAT BUT FIRST AMENDMENT, BY THE WAY, PROTECTS AND ENSHRINES. 45 WORDS IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT PROTECT AND ENSHRINED OUR RIGHTS. THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT AN R OR A D. IT'S ABOUT A WE. THIS IS ABOUT AN ENTIRE CAN YOU BE. IF WE SAY, THIS HAS TO DO WITH AN ELECTION. AN ELECTION? REALLY, AN ELECTION? WE CANNOT ALLOW THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE NOT TO BE HEARD IN OUR TOWN SQUARES WHEN THEY NEED TO SPEAK OUT THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY CAN SPEAK OUT WITHOUT BEING THREATENED, WITHOUT BEING WORRIED WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM THIS IS SO BASICALLY WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS AND I WILLRY TARIANS. IT -- AND LIBRY TARIANS. IT HAS -- LIBRITARIANS. MY GOSH HAVE WE HAVE FALLEN WHAT THE FOUNDERS INTENDED IT HE VERY BEGINNING. WE CANNOT HAVE THIS DEBATE IN SERIOUS AND SAY WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY TO PROTECT THE REITZ RIGHTS OF OUR -- PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF OUR AMERICAN CITIZENS. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FOOLISH. SO I AM VERY, VERY STRONG ON THE PROTECTION OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. 3865 RECONFIRMS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. THEY CAN SPEAK OUT ON ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE THEY WANT WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ANYBODY INTERFERING WITH IT, ESPECIALLY A GOVERNMENT. THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT A PEOPLE THAT SERVES OUR GOVERNMENT. AND TO THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, ON THE FLOOR IS ABSOLUTELY SO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE THINK. AGAIN, THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAS GOT TO BE HEARD. I DON'T CARE, CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, WHEREVER YOU'RE COMING FROM, YOU CAN SPEAK OUT ANYTIME YOU WANT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. KELLY: I

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. KELLY: I THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO

MR. KELLY

BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE…

BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN…

TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. MR. CROWLEY: MR. SPEAKER, HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS ON EACH SIDE FOR HOUSEKEEPING PURPOSES? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK CONTROLS 22 MINUTES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA

MR. CROWLEY

PURPOSES? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK CONTROLS 22…

PURPOSES? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK CONTROLS 22 MINUTES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FROM NEW YORK CONTROLS 22 MINUTES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA CONTROLS…

FROM NEW YORK CONTROLS 22 MINUTES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA CONTROLS 21 1/2. MR. CROWLEY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH

MR. CROWLEY

MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO…

MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. CROWLEY:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. CROWLEY: MR.…

IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. MR. CROWLEY: MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE OUTRAGE AND THE INNUENDOS OF OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND FOX NEWS.

MR. CROWLEY

THE INNUENDOS OF OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND FOX NEWS. THIS IS A PHONY,…

THE INNUENDOS OF OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND FOX NEWS. THIS IS A PHONY, A PHONY INVESTIGATION AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA LAUNCHED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. FACTS LIKE THE PERSON WHO BEGAN THESE INVESTIGATIONS WAS A SELF-DESCRIBED CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. FACTS THAT 500,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO CONGRESS AND THERE IS NO, NO SMOKING GUN. FACTS LIKE THE FIVE DOZEN INTERVIEWS OF I.R.S. EMPLOYEES AT 15 CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND. THESE ARE THE FACTS THAT I REALIZE SOME WILL CHOOSE TO NOT BELIEVE THE FACTS VERSUS FICTION. SO LET ME PROVIDE SOME BASIC COMMONSENSE INFORMATION. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO OVERSEES THE I.R.S., SOMEONE WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THEN-PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, SOMEONE WHO HAS ADMITTED THAT HE COVERED UP POLITICAL TARGETING OF PROGRESSIVE GROUPS IN HIS REPORT TO CONGRESS, SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PRIVATE MEETINGS -- WHO HAD A NUMBER OF PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH THE REPUBLICAN CHAIR OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, DARRELL ISSA, AND THEN CAME OUT TO ISSUE PUBLIC STATEMENTS AS FACTS, THIS SOMEONE, JEH RUSSELL GEORGE, TESTIFIED UNDER OATH THAT HE NOTIFIED CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISSA OF HIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE I.R.S. IN THE SUMMER OF 2012. DO YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE WAS HAPPENING IN THE SUMMER OF 2012? A VERY CLOSE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. DOES ANYONE HONESTLY THINK IF THERE WAS AN ACTUAL SCANDAL OR AN ACTUAL TARGETING OF JUST TEA PARTY GROUPS BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE MONTHS AND THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE 2012 ELECTIONS WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS GOING TO BE BALLOT THAT CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISSA WOULDN'T BLOW THE WHISTLE AND EXPOSE IT, WHEN HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS ONGOING AND OCCURRING? THIS DOESN'T PASS THE LAUGH TEST. THIS IS ANOTHER PHONY SCAM IN THE REALM OF PHONY SCAMS MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES MAKE UP TO GO AFTER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS. BUT IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING IS JUST AS THE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE THEIR CRUSADE TO DISCREDIT THE I.R.S., THE REPUBLICANS HAVE RALLIED AROUND THEIR VERSION OF TAX REFORM. I HAVE A COPY OF THE SUMMATION RIGHT HERE. THIS IS JUST THE SUMMATION. A RADICAL VERSION THAT WILL EMPOWER, EMPOWER THE I.R.S.. THIS LEGISLATION THEY'RE OFFERING TODAY WILL EMPOWER THE I.R.S. AND RAISE TAXES ON FAMILIES WHILE CUTTING THEM FROM MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE TRYING TO RIP THE TAX CODE OUT FROM ITS ROOTS AND THAT IT WOULD BE REWRITTEN BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TOGETHER. WELL, GUESS WHAT, DEMOCRATS WERE NEVER ONCE INVITED TO HELP DRAFT, DRAFT THIS BILL. SPEAKER BOEHNER EVEN DISMISSED DEMOCRATIC CRITICISM OF THE PROCESS BY, QUOTE, SAYING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, UNQUOTE. SO WHAT IS THE RESULT? A REPUBLICAN -- A RADICAL REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN THAT WILL, IF ENACTED, END THE TAX BREAK FOR FAMILIES TO DEDUCT THEIR STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES THAT THEY ALREADY PAID IN TAXES TO THE STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. IT WILL SLASH MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION FOR HOMEOWNERS. IT WILL CREATE A NEW TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY. IT WILL TAX WORKERS WITH A HEALTH CARE OFFERED BY THEIR EMPLOYER. IT WILL INCREASE TAXES ON HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. IT WILL INSTITUTE THE CHAINED C.P.I. TO RAISE TAXES, ALSO KNOWN TO REDUCE VETERANS' AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS CHECKS. THIS REALLY BEGS THE QUESTION, WHOSE SIDE IS OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON? THEY TRY TO LOOK POPULOUS BY CREATING FALSE SCANDALS AND BASHING THE I.R.S., BUT IN REALITY THEY MASK IT AND RADICALLY REDESIGN THE TAX CODE, MAKING FAMILIES PAY MORE SO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS CAN PAY LESS. AND THAT IS THE REAL SCANDAL HERE THIS AFTERNOON, MR. SPEAKER. WITH THAT I'LL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YORK RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. BOUSTANY

SPEAKER. I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE TAX REFORM, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS…

SPEAKER. I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE TAX REFORM, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE GENTLEMAN HASN'T READ THE BILL YET AND I THINK YOU SHOULD READ THE BILL BEFORE YOU DEBATE TAX REFORM. THAT WILL COME AT ANOTHER DAY. I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS A BIPARTISAN I.R.S. INVESTIGATION BY CONGRESS. I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT IN THAT REGARD THAT THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE DOCUMENT REQUEST ARE BIPARTISAN. JOINT REQUESTS FROM CHAIRMAN CAMP AND RANKING MEMBER LEVIN. AND RANKING MEMBER LEVIN ALSO ADMITS THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS INCOMPLETE. AND SO WE HAVE TO GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND LET THIS INVESTIGATION BE DONE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS BEFORE WE START ISSUING NEW LAW OR HAVING NEW REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WHICH WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT OF INFRINGING ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. NOW, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS ON THE OTHER SIDE MENTIONED THE I.R.S. SPENDING MONEY AND MANPOWER ON THIS INVESTIGATION. YES, THE I.R.S. ALSO SPENT $40 MILLION ON CONFERENCES OVER A PERIOD -- OVER THE PERIOD OF THE TARGETING. ONE CONFERENCE ALONE COST $4.1 MILLION. WASTE. IN 2012, THE I.R.S. SPENT $21.6 MILLION ON UNION ACTIVITY. TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON UNION ACTIVITY. EXPLAIN THAT TO THE TAXPAYER. AND THE I.R.S. SPENDS ABOUT $5 MILLION ANNUALLY ON ITS FULL SERVICE PRODUCTION STUDIO IN NEW CARROLLTON, MARYLAND. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE WASTE. THEY'RE TIRED, AND THEY ARE ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT INFRINGEMENT ON THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. SO WITH THAT I'M VERY PLEASED TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR. RENACCI, FOR -- RENACCI. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. RENACCI: MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OHIO IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. RENACCI: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN…

OHIO IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. RENACCI: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE TAXPAYER TRANSPARENCY ACT. AMERICANS ACROSS

MR. RENACCI

IN SUPPORT OF THE TAXPAYER TRANSPARENCY ACT. AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY…

IN SUPPORT OF THE TAXPAYER TRANSPARENCY ACT. AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE DEEPLY -- STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S. MANY IN OHIO'S 16TH DISTRICT, MY DISTRICT, CONTACTED MY OFFICE TO EXPRESS GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE I.R.S. NOT ONLY DID A PUBLIC AGENCY VIOLATE THE PUBLIC TRUST, IT INFRINGED ON OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE BEGAN INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS OF THIS NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO. WHAT WAS DISCOVERED IS DISTURBING. THE COMMITTEE FOUND EVIDENCE THAT CONSERVATIVE GROUPS WERE TARGETED TO EXTEND FAR BEYOND WHAT WAS INITIALLY REPORTED. AS PART OF ITS ONGOING INVESTIGATION, THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF I.R.S. DOCUMENTS AND INTERVIEWED HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES. RECENTLY THE I.R.S. PUBLISHED DRAFT RULE THIS IS A WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CONTINUED TARGETING OF POLITICAL GROUPS. THESE RULES REPRESENT A DISREGARD FOR THE LIBERTIES OUTLINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMONSTRATE THE DANGERS OF A GROWING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE I.R.S. ACTIONS BRING TO LIGHT JUST HOW RAMPANT ABUSE IS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT TOLERATE IT AND NEITHER WILL CONGRESS. THIS LEGISLATION IS COMMONSENSE, REQUIRE THE I.R.S. TO HALT ITS LAWMAKING PROCESS WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED. IT'S CRITICAL TO GATHER ALL THE FACTS BEFORE THE I.R.S. IMPLEMENTS THESE RULETS WHICH WERE CREATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THIS LEGISLATION BUILDS UPON A BILL I INTRODUCED LAST YEAR THAT WOULD SPECIFICALLY SPELL OUT THAT ANY I.R.S. EMPLOYEE, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION, WHO TARGETED A TAXPAYER FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES COULD BE IMMEDIATELY RELIEVED OF THEIR DUTY. IT PASSED THE HOUSE WITH BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. WHETHER YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, A DEMOCRAT, OR AN INDEPENDENT, ABOVE ALL, WE ARE AMERICANS. TARGETING ANYONE BASED ON ANY AFFILIATION GOES AGAINST THE VERY PRINCIPLES THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED UPON. AMERICANS OF ALL POLITICAL BELIEFS DESERVE TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT BE TARGETED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. I THANK CHAIRMAN CAMP FOR HIS HARD WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND I URGE MY THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE BRANS OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE…

GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.

>>

ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, NEBRASKA, NEW YORK, AND OHIO. ALL THESE STATES HAVE…

ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, NEBRASKA, NEW YORK, AND OHIO. ALL THESE STATES HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THEY HELPED DRAFT THIS LEGISLATION, THE QUESTION IS, WHOSE SIDE ARE THEY ON? WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON STATE, MR. MCDERMOTT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. MCDERMOTT:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FROM WASHINGTON IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. MCDERMOTT: WELL, MR.…

FROM WASHINGTON IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. MCDERMOTT: WELL, MR. SPEAKER,

MR. MCDERMOTT

HERE WE ARE BACK IN THE THEATER OF THE ABSURD. THE REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING…

HERE WE ARE BACK IN THE THEATER OF THE ABSURD. THE REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING VALUABLE TIME AND RESOURCES ON POLITICAL THEATER CRAFTED TO MAKE THE PRODUCERS AT FOX TELEVISION HAPPY WHILE THEY SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS. THERE HAVE BEEN SIX SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS, NOT A SINGLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE HAS BEEN FOUND DEMONSTRATING POLITICAL MOTIVATION OR WHITE HOUSE INVOLVEMENT IN THE I.R.S. GROUPING OF THE TEA PARTY APPLICATIONS BY NAME. NOW ONE OF MY COLLEAGUE SASS PHYSICIAN. HE'S FROM LOUISIANA. HE'S OPERATED MANY TIMES. YOU DO NOT BEGIN SURGERY UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PATIENT. WE HAVE SIX INVESTIGATIONS WHICH FOUND NO REASON TO OPERATE, NO REASON TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION, YET HERE IT IS. IRONICALLY, THE REAL TRICKERY OF THIS IS THIS BILL. IT'S DESIGNED TO PROTECT KARL ROVE'S CROSSROAD G.P.S. AND THE KOCH BROTHERS FROM HOUSTON FROM EXPOSING WHERE THE MONEY THAT THEY PUT INTO THE POLITICAL PROCESS IS BEING USED. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT A 501C4 IS ABOUT. YOU GIVE THE MONEY TO THE ORGANIZATION, THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPORT YOUR NAME TO ANYONE. AND THEN THE ORGANIZATION CAN USE IT ANY WAY THEY WANT. NOW IF AN ORGANIZATION COMES TO THE I.R.S. AND SAYS, WE WANT A 501C4, THE I.R.S. SHOULD ASK A FEW QUESTIONS, DON'T YOU THINK? IF THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE AN EXEMPTION FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR THOSE PEOPLE PAYING THE TAXES WHO PUT IT IN THERE. KARL ROVE AND ALL HIS COHORTS OUGHT TO PAY TACKS IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND IT'S THE I.R.S.'S JOB TO FIND THAT OUT. THE SAME WITH LIBERAL GROUPS. THEY TREAT ALL THE GROUPS, ANY GROUP THAT COMES IN, HAS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY. AND WE'VE HAD SIX INVESTIGATIONS, BUT NOW WE HAVE A BILL WITHOUT ANY CONCLUSION FROM ANY COMMITTEE OR ANY INVESTIGATION THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM. THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE SHOULD NOT BE THE STAGE FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO WORK OUT THEIR NOVEMBER ELECTION STRATEGY AND FUNDING. IF REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TO WORK ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD GET SERIOUS, ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES, THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT OUGHT TO PASS OUT OF HERE TO UNANIMOUS CONSENT. THERE ARE A THOUSAND THING THIS IS A OUGHT TO BE HAPPENING HERE TODAY INSTEAD OF THIS SILLY BILL WHICH WILL HAVE NO EFFECT. IT'S NOT GOING THROUGH THE SENATE, THE PRESIDENT ISN'T GOING TO SIGN IT, IT IS SIMPLY POLITICAL AT THER TO GIVE THE DIRECTORS AT FOX TV THINGS TO PUT ON TELEVISION. IF YOU INTEND TO DO SOMETHING REAL, YOU CAN. BUT THIS BILL IS NOT REAL. IT IS SIMPLY TO REIGNITE THE BASEST ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE WHITE HOUSE. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FROM NEW YORK RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. BOUSTANY

MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS…

MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN…

FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.

MR. CANTOR

SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY…

SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S. ACT. MR. SPEAKER, THE POLITICAL -- MR. SPEAKER, POLITICAL SPEECH WAS CONSIDERED BY OUR FOUNDERS TO BE DESERVING OF THE UTMOST PROTECTION. THE FIRST AMENDMENT THEY WROTE IS NO LESS CRUCIAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY TODAY THAN IT WAS IN THOSE INITIAL DAYS. SINCE THOSE DAYS, AMERICANS HAVE COME UP WITH ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO EXERCISE THEIR FUNDAMENTAL FREE SPEECH RIGHTS, INCLUDING ASEMIBLING TOGETHER IN ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING. THESE GROUPS, INCLUDING THOSE KNOWN AS 501C4 ORGANIZATIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY. MANY OF THESE GROUPS ARE FORMED TO SPECIFICALLY ENGAGE AND EDUCATE OUR CITIZENRY THROUGH CANDIDATE FORUMS, DEBATES, GRASS ROOTS LOBBYING, VOTER REGISTRATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD SO AMERICA HAS AN INFORMED PUBLIC. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR TAX EXEMPT STATUS BUT NOW, MR. SPEAKER, THAT STATUS IS UNDER THREAT FROM NEW REGULATIONS BEING PROPOSED BY THE I.R.S. THE GOAL HERE IS CLEAR. THESE REGULATIONS WILL -- WERE RE-- WERE REVERSE ENGINEERED IN ORDER TO DIRECTLY SILENCE POLITICAL OPPONENTS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. THAT IS THE WORST KIND OF GOVERNMENT ABUSMSE SILENCING YOUR CRITICS IS COMMON PLACE IN AUTHORITARIAN COUNTRY, NOT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND FRANKLY, IT'S A COWARDLY ACT TO SILENCE PEOPLE VIA BACKROOM REGULATIONS. THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH ANY ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES, WHETHER CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL, STILL DESERVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM. THIS KIND OF GOVERNMENT ABUSE MUST STOP AND IT MUST STOP NOW. TODAY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER BECAUSE THIS BILL PREVENTS THESE COSTLY REGULATIONS FROM TAKING EFFECT ON GROUP THIS IS A PROMOTE ISSUES BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT. NEARLY 70,000 COMMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FROM BOTH SIDES OR ALL SIDES OF THE IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE SUBMISSIONS ARE NEGATIVE. RECENTLY THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION SUBMITTED A 26-PAGE COMMENT TO I.R.S. COMMISSIONER JOHN COSCA OF NON STATING, SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS PRAISE OR CRITICIZE CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ON THE ISSUES AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO FREELY WITHOUT FEAR OF LOSING OR BEING DENIED TAX EXEMPT STATUS, FETCH DOING SO COULD INFLUENCE A SINT'S VOTE. THE ACLU CONTINUED, STATING THAT THE ADVOCACY WORK DONE BY THESE GROUP STHESS HEART OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. THE ACLU AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO SPOKE OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATION ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. POLITICAL SPEECH REPRESENTS THE BEST PART OF AMERICA. THE ABILITY FOR AMERICANS TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND LET THEM KNOW WHEN THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THEM. NO MATTER WHICH SIDE OF THE AISLE WE'RE ON, MR. SPEAKER, WE MUST PROTECT THAT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM SYSTEM OF LET US STAND TOGETHER TODAY AND PASS THIS BILL SO THAT AMERICANS, WHETHER INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY, CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION. I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN CAMP AS WELL AS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BOUSTANY AND THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND ALL THOSE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT ON THIS ISSUE AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES.

MR. CROWLEY

OF AMERICANS NOT TO HAVE A TAX PLACED ON THEIR HEALTH CARE. THOSE ARE THE…

OF AMERICANS NOT TO HAVE A TAX PLACED ON THEIR HEALTH CARE. THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF FREEDOMS BEING THREATENED TODAY, MR. SPEAKER. WITH THAT, I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA THEMBING CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. BECERRA: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR…

RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. BECERRA: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS BILL IS TO CALL IT THE PREVENT SECRET MONEY FROM DISCLOSURE ACT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT. WHAT MATTERS

MR. BECERRA

DISCLOSURE ACT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT. WHAT…

DISCLOSURE ACT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT. WHAT MATTERS TODAY TO MOST AMERICANS? IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS BACK HOME OR ON THE STREET, THEY'LL TELL YOU, ARE YOU WORKING ON MAKING SURE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS CREATING JOBS. DOES THIS BILL HELP CREATE JOBS? NO. THEY'LL SAY, AT LEAST MAKE SURE IF I'M PAYING TAXES YOU'RE USING IT THE RIGHT WAY. DOES THIS BILL HELP TAXPAYERS SAVE MONEY? NO. SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? YOU'RE HEARING FOLKS TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION DOESN'T GUARANTEE CAMPAIGN DONORS GET SPECIAL TAX CREATE FOR PROTECTION. THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED SPEECH, NOT SECRET CONTRIBUTIONS. SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM IS THE I.R.S. HAS FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS ARE FUNNELING A LOT OF DARK, SECRET MONEY INTO ORGANIZATION THIS IS A UNDER THE TAX CODE ARE PERMITTED AND THEY'RE USING THIS TO INFLUENCE OUR AMERICAN CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO IS MAKING THESE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, SECRET DOLLARS, TO INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS HERE IN AMERICA. SIT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS GIVING THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS? WE DON'T KNOW. IS IT MONEY LAUNDERERS TRYING TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS? WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO IS GIVING THIS MONEY BECAUSE UNDER THE TAX CODE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE FILING, THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO DISCLOSE WHO HAS GIVEN THEM ONE RED CENT. THAT TAX CODE SECTION 50RKS1C4, VERY SIMILAR TO 501C3, THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH. 501C4 IS KNOWN AS SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THOSE SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS SPENT WORKING IN OUR ELECTION? THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE COMBINED SPENT $255 BILLION IN THE 2012 ELECTIONS. THAT'S HOW MUCH THE TWO PARTIES SENT. HOW MUCH DID SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS SPEND IN MORE THAN THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES COMBINED. $256 BILLION. CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE ONE PENNY CAME FROM? NO, YOU CAN BE THE. BECAUSE IT'S ALL SECRET MONEY. IT'S ALL SECRET MONEY. WHAT ARE PROPONENTS OF THE BILL TRYING TO DO? THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THE MONEY. WHY? WE DON'T KNOW. BUT IT SURE WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW WHO IS GETTING ALL -- GIVING ALL THIS MONEY WHEN EIGHT YEARS THE SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS GAVE $1 MILLION FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. $226 BILLION IN 2012, EIGHT YEARS AGO, $1 MILLION. SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BUY ELECTIONS AND WE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE THOSE DONORS DON'T HAVE TO BE DISCLOSED. IT'S TIME TO MAKE SURE THOSE DONATIONS ARE DISCLOSED. THAT'S ALL THE I.R.S. IS TRYING TO DO IT'S CLOAKED AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT BY PROPONENTS OF THIS BILL. LET'S NOT HIDE THE MONEY. IT'S TIME TOTIES CLOSE THOSE CONTRIBUTORS. VOTE DOWN THIS BILL. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.

MR. BOUSTANY

DENYING WE MAY NEED RETOMORROW TOS IN THIS. THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA…

DENYING WE MAY NEED RETOMORROW TOS IN THIS. THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA AND I HAVE HAD THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS BUT I POINT OUT THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE AND NEED TO BE COMPLETE BUT THE RANKING MEMBER MENTIONED EARLIER IN HIS COMMENTS MONEY. DONORS. AS REASONS FOR THIS RULE. BUT NEITHER WORD, NEITHER THE WORD DONOR OR MONEY, CONTRIBUTIONS, APPEARS IN THE REGULATION. AND IT'S BEEN CITED BY THE FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR OR COMMISSIONER OF THE I.R.S. THERE WAS A CONFUSION, A COB FUSION NARRATIVE EMERMED ON THE BASIS OF REALLY NO INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AT THE I.R.S. THERE'S BEEN NO INTERVIEW OF THE EMPLOYEES, NO FACTS ESTABLISHED, WE'RE STILL DOING THIS INVEST FROM OUR STANDPOINT AS IS -- THIS INVESTIGATION IF OUR STANDPOINT AS IS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND WE KNOW FROM OUR INVESTIGATION SO FAR IN INTERVIEW, HAVING INTERVIEWS WITH THE CINCINNATI EMPLOYEES, THAT THEY WERE NOT CONFUSED BY THE RULES, THEY WERE PROCESSING THE APPLICATIONS UNTIL INTERFERENCE CAME DOWN FROM WASHINGTON, FROM HIGHER UP IN THE EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS DWOIFINGS THE I.R.S. THE EMPLOYEES THEN FLAGGED TEA PARTY APPLICANTS BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE QUOTE, MEDIA INTEREST. 24 HOURS AFTER THE FLAGGING FOR MEDIA INTERESTS, THESE WASHINGTON, D.C., OFFICIALS AT THE I.R.S. REQUESTED TEA PARTY APPLICATIONS. UNLIKE THE I.R.S., THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER AND WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED THIS INVESTIGATION, BUT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATORS HAVE INTERVIEWED NEARLY THREE DOZEN I.R.S. OFFICIALS FROM FRONT LINE SCREENERS TO THE FORMER COMMISSIONER. WE REVIEWED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS AN IS NEARING COMPLETION. A CENTRAL FIGURE IN THIS INVESTIGATION IS LOIS LERNER AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE INFORMATION WE HAVE REQUESTED FROM LOIS LERNER. WE PUT THE NEWLY CONFIRMED COMMISSIONER ON NOTICE, IF HE WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REFORMS AND DO ALL THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO DURING HIS TENURE AT I.R.S., WELL, WE GOT TO GET THIS INVESTIGATION DONE. WE HAVE TO GET THE FACTS ON THE TABLE AND THIRST HAS TO COME CLEAN BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS AGENCY IS AT THE -- OCCUPIES A CENTRAL PART OF EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN'S LIFE. IT AFFECTS EVERY ONE OF US. THIS AGENCY HAS THE POWER TO DESTROY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AND THAT'S WHY THE TRUST AND THE INTEGRITY NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. AND THIS RULE -- ALL THIS RULE DOES, IT SHUTS DOWN SPEECH. IT DOES NOTHING, NOTHING THAT THESE -- THESE GENTLEMEN, OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HAVE MENTIONED IN TERMS OF REFORMS AND CLEANING UP THE ELECTION SYSTEM AND ALL THAT. NO, IT DOES NONE OF THAT. IT JUST SIMPLY STIFFLES SPEECH. WE OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE OWE IT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THIS INSTITUTION TO COMPLETE THIS INVESTIGATION, PUT THE FACTS ON THE TABLE. FOLLOW THE FACTS WHEREVER THEY MAY LEAD. THIS IS MOTT POLITICAL. THIS IS SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE FACTS. NOW, RATHER THAN A RECENTLY DRAFTED CONFUSION, THIS RULE FOCUSES THE SILENCE ON THESE SMALL GROUPS, SILENT CONSERVATIVES. AS EARLY AS 2011, LONG BEFORE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT, I.R.S. OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BEGAN TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED RULE. WE HAVE EMAIL FROM TREASURY TO I.R.S. OFF PLAN. NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE OF THESE EMAILS BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN OFF PLAN? WHY WAS THIS DISCUSSED? AND WHY WAS THIS DISCUSSED BEFORE THE ALLOCATIONS CAME FORWARD FROM THESE VARIOUS GROUPS? THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. AND RATHER THAN OCCURRING CONFUSION, THE PROPOSED RULE WOULD SILENCE THESE SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE AFFECT ON SOME OF THESE RIGHT-LEANING CONSERVATIVE GROUPS THAT WERE SUBJECT IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TARGETING. MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.

MR. CROWLEY

HE KNOWS AND WE KNOW THAT IT WENT WELL BEYOND THAT. THERE WERE PROGRESSIVE…

HE KNOWS AND WE KNOW THAT IT WENT WELL BEYOND THAT. THERE WERE PROGRESSIVE GROUPS THAT WERE ALSO SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION. BUT MR. SPEAKER, LET ME ALSO POINT OUT TO MY FRIEND FROM LOUISIANA, HE MENTIONED THAT MAYBE MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAD NOT YET AT THE REUSSED THE REPUBLICAN TAX -- PER USED THE REPUBLICAN TAX REFORM ACT OF 2014. I'M ASSUMING HE READ THE PROPOSED REGULATION. HE SAID THAT MONEY WAS NOT MENTIONED, WHEN IN FACT ON THE FIRST PAGE, CONTRIBUTIONS OF MONEY OR ANYTHING OF VALUE TO OR SLIT TAKE OF CONTRIBUTIONS ON -- OR TO SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANY 501-C-4 ENGAGED IN CANDID POLITICAL ACTIVITY, SO MONEY IS MENTIONED ON THE FIRST PAGE, JUST TO SET THE STRAIGHT, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, THIS REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN, RADICAL TAX PLAN WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME TAX WORKERS FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THEIR JOB AND TAXED PREVIOUSLY UNTAXED SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME. THE QUESTION AGAIN IS, WHOSE SIDE ARE THEY ON? WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MY FRIEND, MR. BILL PASCRELL. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. PASCRELL: THANK

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. PASCRELL: THANK YOU, MR.…

NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. MR. PASCRELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR SINCERELY THE GOOD DOCTOR. I

MR. PASCRELL

GREATEST RESPECT FOR SINCERELY THE GOOD DOCTOR. I THINK HE'S A REASONABLE…

GREATEST RESPECT FOR SINCERELY THE GOOD DOCTOR. I THINK HE'S A REASONABLE MAN, A GOOD PERSON. BUT WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING, YOU'RE LOSING. I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATION. AFTER WE LEARNED LAST YEAR ABOUT THE INEXCUSABLE WAY THE I.R.S. EVALUATED APPLICATIONS FOR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS -- BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE -- I WAS HOPEFUL WE COULD HAVE A BIPARTISAN RESPONSE. AFTER ALL, IT WAS NOT ONLY CONSERVATIVE GROUPS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THAT HAD THEIR APPLICATIONS SING NALED OUT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WORDS -- SIGNALED OUT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WORDS TEA PARTY, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, NO ONE IS DISAGREEING ABOUT THAT. PROGRESSIVE GROUPS WERE FILTERED AS WELL. MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES AND I WERE EQUALLY OUTRAGED BY THIS BEHAVIOR. WE PUT IT ON THE RECORD. BUT THOSE HOPES FADED QUICKLY WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE WEREN'T ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING THIS WRONGDOING AND FIXING THE PROBLEM. THIS BILL IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE HOW INSTEAD THEY ARE ONLY CONCERNED WITH SCORING CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS. WHERE I AM FROM IN PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, WE WOULD CALL THIS PURIC SOFTESTRY, EMPTY ARGUMENTS, DECEITFUL. THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS. THE EXAMPLES THE REPUBLICAN LEADER POINTED OUT COULD BE UNDER SECTION 527, BUT IF YOU'RE UNDER 527, YOU NEED TO DISCLOSE WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM. SO YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE UNDER SECTION 527 OF THE TAX CODE. YOU'D RATHER BE IN ANOTHER SECTION. AND WHAT IS THAT OTHER SECTION? YOU ARE NOT TAX LIABLE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHO GAVE YOU THE MONEY. WHAT IS THIS? RUSSIA, CHINA? YOU HEARD THE NUMBERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE DIFFERENCE? THEY'D HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY RETRIBUTION HAS BEEN FOUND ON EITHER -- WITHIN EITHER POLITICAL PARTY. SO THIS IS REALLY A WITCH-HUNT. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IT IS THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS HERE THAT'S ON TRIAL. THE FACT IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT'S RULINGS HAVE LEGALIZED A TORE EPT OF HUNDREDS OF -- TORRENT OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CORPORATE SPENDING THAT'S INFECTED OUR ELECTIONS. WE ASK AGAIN TODAY, JOIN US IN CORRECTING THAT DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT. IT HAS INFECTED OUR LEGAL PROCESS.

MR. CROWLEY

ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS YIELDED…

ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS YIELDED AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECOND.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDED AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECOND.

MR. PASCRELL

IN THE TAX CODE PRECISELY FOR TAX-EXEMPT POLITICAL GROUPS. NO, THEY DON'T…

IN THE TAX CODE PRECISELY FOR TAX-EXEMPT POLITICAL GROUPS. NO, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO UNDER THOSE GROUPS, BECAUSE IF THEY GO UNDER THOSE GROUPS, THEN THEY HAVE TO TELL US WHO'S CONTRIBUTING TO THEM. THIS IS ABSOLUTE CHAGRINRY. THIS IS NOT SOME RABBIT DOWN THE HOLE CONSPIRACY THEORY TO PROSECUTE THE PRESIDENT. MR. CROWLEY: ONE MORE MINUTE. MR.

MR. CROWLEY

PASCRELL: THEY ARE PROVIDING CLEAR RULES OF THE ROAD. BOTH FOR TAX

MR. PASCRELL

CLEAR RULES OF THE ROAD. BOTH FOR TAX EMPTY GROUPS AND THE I.R.S. ABOUT…

CLEAR RULES OF THE ROAD. BOTH FOR TAX EMPTY GROUPS AND THE I.R.S. ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY IS POLITICAL ACTIVITY SO THEY KNOW WHAT IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE LAW. THIS ISN'T ABOUT FREE SPEECH. THIS ISN'T ABOUT BEING A TEA PARTY OR PROGRESSIVE. SPEND ALL THE MONEY YOU WANT TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ABOUT ANY ELECTION. JUST DON'T BE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO WHILE CALLING YOURSELF A TAX-EXEMPT SOCIAL WELFARE GROUP. WE'RE PAYING MORE TAXES BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AND YOU I KNOW, DOCTOR, ARE TOTALLY AGAINST THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT REALLY IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS PREFER THAT SOME GROUPS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS. THOSE PARTICULARLY WHO DON'T TELL US, WHO DON'T -- DONATED TO THE GROUP. THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

I ASK HOW MUCH TIME SLEFT ON BOTH SIDES?

MR. CROWLEY

BOTH SIDES?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS 4 1/2. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA HAS 11…

GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS 4 1/2. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA HAS 11 1/2. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. BOUSTANY

SPEAKER. IN THE "NATION" MAGAZINE, THE ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE WRITES, A…

SPEAKER. IN THE "NATION" MAGAZINE, THE ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE WRITES, A 501-C-4'S IS MADE UP OVER 46,000, MOSTLY SMALL ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE THAT ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN CIVIC LIFE. THEY WERE NOT INVENTED IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE. THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR GENERATIONS. THEIR PURPOSE ISN'T TO HIDE DONORS. IT'S TO ADVANCE POLICIES. THEY ALSO ADD, THESE GROUPS WERE INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE TO ADVANCE A POLICY CAUSE WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THIS IS FROM THE LIBERAL SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. I'M NOW PLEASED TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO TODD YOUNG FROM -- A MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. YOUNG: THANK…

GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. YOUNG: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. MR. SPEAKER, I

MR. YOUNG

YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY BECAUSE…

YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL ISSUE. IT AFFECTS GROUPS IN MY HOME STATE OF INDIANA AS WELL AS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, I'VE BEEN PRESENT DURING HEARINGS WHERE WE LEARNED THAT THE I.R.S. TARGETED CONSERVATIVES AND TEA PARTY GROUPS. DURING THOSE SAME HEARINGS, I'VE SHARED LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS THAT SHOWED SOME OF THE TARGETED CONSERVATIVE GROUPS OR MY FELLOW HOOSIERS. NOW REGRETFULLY, IT APPEARS THE I.R.S., RATHER THAN HOLDING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TARGETED SORT OF ACTIVITY, IS SEEKING TO MAKE POLITICAL TARGETING PART OF THEIR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. THE RECENTLY PROPOSED I.R.S. REGULATION THAT PERTAINS TO THESE 501-C-4 GROUPS IS DESIGNED TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT CLEAR INHIBITS THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITIES. NOW, 501-C-4 IS THE SECTION OF OUR TAX CODE THAT MANY CONSERVATIVE GROUPS TRIED TO FILE UNDER. THEY CAN'T FILE UNDER 501-C-3 BECAUSE THAT WOULD LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN GRASSROOTS LOBBYING. THEY CAN'T FILE AS 501-C-5'S BECAUSE THEY AREN'T A LABOR UNION. THEY CAN'T FILE AS C-6 BECAUSE THEY AREN'T A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THEY CAN'T FILE AS 528 BECAUSE THAT WOULD LIMIT THEM TO POLITICAL ACTIVITY. NONE OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE AFFECTED BY THESE NEW REGULATIONS. ONLY 501-C-4'S. NOW, THIS SEEMS CURIOUS TO ME AND THE REGULATION SEEMS TO PREVENTING THEM ENGAGING IN CIVIL DISCOURSE. THAT'S WHY I STRONGLY SUPPORT H.R. 3865, THE STOP TARGETING OF POLITICAL BELIEFS BY THE I.R.S., OR THE STOP ACT. THIS BILL DOESN'T SAY THAT THE I.R.S. CAN'T REGULATE THIS ISSUE OR THEY SHOULD NOT REGULATE THIS ISSUE. INSTEAD, IT JUST TELLS THEM TO WAIT UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS TARGETING CONCLUTES BEFORE DISCUSSING WHETHER ANY CHANGES TO THE -- CONCLUDES BEFORE DISCUSSING WHETHER ANY CHANGES TO THE RULES. IT WOULD HELP PROTECT THE POLITICAL SPEECH AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND THOSE AROUND THE COUNTRY. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL, AND I YIELD BACK.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESEVES.…

GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESEVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS NOW RECOGNIZED.

MR. CROWLEY

OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RESERVES.…

OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YORK RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. MR. BOUSTANY: I YIELD THREE…

YORK RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. MR. BOUSTANY: I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO OUR FRIEND ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE MR.

MR. BOUSTANY

OUR FRIEND ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE MR. ROSKAM. MR. ROSKAM: THANK…

OUR FRIEND ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE MR. ROSKAM. MR. ROSKAM: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THERE'S ONE

MR. ROSKAM

SPEAKER. THERE'S ONE THING WORSE THAN GRIDLOCK, ACCORDING TO MY…

SPEAKER. THERE'S ONE THING WORSE THAN GRIDLOCK, ACCORDING TO MY PREDECESSOR, CONGRESSMAN HENRY HYDE. THE WORSE THING THAN GRIDLOCK IS THE GREASED CHUTE OF GOVERNMENT. AND IT'S IRONIC THAT THE VERY ADMINISTRATION THAT JAMMED THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, KNOWN IN THE VERNACULAR AS OBAMACARE, THE VERY GROUP THAT FOISTED THAT ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITHOUT MUCH OVERSIGHT, WITHOUT MUCH DISCUSSION, JAMMED IT THROUGH, NOW HAS A NEW REMEDY AS IT RELATES TO THIS LATEST PROBLEM, AND THAT IS, DO IT AGAIN. DO IT AGAIN ON ANOTHER ISSUE. YOU KNOW, WE HEARD OUR FRIEND FROM NEW JERSEY POSING A QUESTION AND HE'S MISINFORMED BY HIS -- BY THE NATURE OF HIS QUESTION, SOMEHOW THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS PAYING FOR THIS. YET WE HAD TESTIMONY THAT MR. CAMP, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, ASKED THIS QUESTION OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION, THIS IS DAVE CAMP, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, DO THESE PROPOSED REGULATIONS RESPOND TO SOME KIND OF REVENUE LOSS OR TAX AVOIDANCE SCHEME IN ANSWER, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, SIR. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE GENERALLY EXEMPT AND A REVENUE LOSS HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE BASIS FOR THESE PROPOSED REGULATIONS. LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES. HERE'S THE REALITY. THE REALITY IS THAT THIS STIFLED SPEECH. THIS IS FROM AN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S BEEN COMPLICIT IN OVERSEEING AN INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE THAT'S PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS, THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO SAY YOU GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE AND YOU DON'T. WE OUGHT NOT DO THIS THERE'VE BEEN OVER 100,000 COMMENTS ON THIS PROPOSED REGULATION, NORSE WHO WANT TO PARTIES AND -- PARTICIPATE AND OFFER THEIR OWN COMMENTS, GO TO ROSKAM.HOUSE.GOV/DON'TBE SILENCED TO OFFER THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS. WE KNOW THAT AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO OVERRESPOND, AN ADMINISTRATION THAT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH CREDIBILITY ON BEING THOUGHTFUL AND NIMBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING ABOUT LEGISLATION IS NOT THE ADMINISTRATION WE SHOULD TRUST AT THIS TIME WITH A RULE OF SUCH INCREDIBLE CONSEQUENCE. I URGE THE PASSING AN OF THIS BILL AND I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS YIELD BACK. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ILLINOIS YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. MR. CROWLEY: I YIELD ONE…

ILLINOIS YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. MR. CROWLEY: I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW MEXICO, MS. LUJAN

MR. CROWLEY

THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW MEXICO, MS. LUJAN GRISHAM. THE SPEAKER PRO…

THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW MEXICO, MS. LUJAN GRISHAM. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MRS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MRS. LUJAN GRISHAM: MR. SPEAKER, FEDERAL LAW…

IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MRS. LUJAN GRISHAM: MR. SPEAKER, FEDERAL LAW STATE THIS IS A SOCIAL WELFARE GROUPS MUST EXCLUSIVELY PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE.

MRS. LUJAN GRISHAM

WELFARE GROUPS MUST EXCLUSIVELY PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE. SOCIAL WELFARE…

WELFARE GROUPS MUST EXCLUSIVELY PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE. SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDES ACTIVITIES LIKE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, OR VETERANS CARE. NOT PARTISAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES. NOW THERE'S AN IMPORTANT BOOK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT'S A DICTIONARY. WE HAVE THAT BOOK HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A LAW MAKING INSTITUTION AND THE PRECISE DEFINITIONS OF WORDS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED UP THE WORD EXCLUSIVELY, IT MEANT EVERYTHING. EXCLUDING EVERYTHING ELSE. SOLELY OR ONLY. HOWEVER, THE I.R.S. MUST HAVE FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE DEFINITION FOR EXCLUSIVELY WHEN IT ISSUED A REGULATION ALLOWING SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS TO ONLY PRIMARILY PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE. THIS CONTRADICTION BETWEEN FEDERAL LAW AND I.R.S. REGULATION HAS ALLOWED THESE GROUPS TO SPEND OVER A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY. NOT THEIR SOCIAL WELFARE MISSION. WHILE KEEPING THEIR DONORS SECRET. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES SIMPLEY TO VOTE AGAINST THE BILL AND LET THE I.R.S. MOVE FORWARD WITH ITS PROPOSED REGULATION TO CORRECT THIS. EXCLUSIVELY SHOULD MEAN EXCLUSIVELY. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. BOUSTANY HOC --

MR. BOUSTANY

REMAINS? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN HAS 3 1/2 MINUTE THE…

REMAINS? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN HAS 3 1/2 MINUTE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS TWO MINUTES. MR. BOUSTANY: I

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS TWO MINUTES. MR. BOUSTANY: I YIELD TWO MINUTES…

GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS TWO MINUTES. MR. BOUSTANY: I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. THE SPEAKER

MR. BOUSTANY

THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS…

THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR. SCALISE: MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

RECOGNIZED. MR. SCALISE: MR. SPEAKER, WE SHOULD NOT STAND BY AND LET THE…

RECOGNIZED. MR. SCALISE: MR. SPEAKER, WE SHOULD NOT STAND BY AND LET THE I.R.S. TARGET

MR. SCALISE

BY AND LET THE I.R.S. TARGET AMERICAN CITIZENS BASED ON THEIR POLITICAL…

BY AND LET THE I.R.S. TARGET AMERICAN CITIZENS BASED ON THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS. YET THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. IT'S BEEN UNCOVERED. THE PRESIDENT TRIES TO ACT LIKE IT'S SOME ISOLATED INCIDENT AND YET OF COURSE WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF TESTIMONY THAT SHOWS THAT THIS GOES WAY BEYOND SOME LOCAL OFFICE, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD, ABUSE OF POWER BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH THIS LATEST PROPOSAL IS LITERALLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD TRY TO SHUT DOWN AN ENTIRE SEG. OF AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, MR. SPEAKER. THE I.R.S. SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO AND TARGET PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AND PRESIDENT OBAMA IS ENCOURAGING THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY WHERE YOU LITERALLY HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE USING ENEMY LISTS TO GO AFTER PEOPLE WITH GROUPS LIKE THE I.R.S., THE E.P.A., THE NLRB, AND THE ENTIRE ALPHABET SOUP OF FEDERAL AGENCY THIS IS A SEEMS TO WANT TO GO AFTER PEOPLE THAT MIGHT SAY SOMETHING, EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THAT THE WHITE HOUSE DISAGREES WITH. THAT'S NOT HOW AMERICA WORKS. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS GREAT COUNTRY IS BUILT UPON, MR. SPEAKER. IF THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T LIKE THE POLITICAL VIEWS OF SOMEBODY, THAT'S WHAT THE GREAT DISCOURSE OF THIS COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY SO GREAT IS THAT WE CAN DISAGREE. WE CAN EXERCISE THOSE GREAT RIGHTS THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS PUT IN PLACE AND THAT WAS LATER ESTABLISHED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS. THE FIRST OF THOSE BILL OF RIGHTS BEING THE FIRST AMENDMENT, ENCOURAGING FREE SPEECH. IT'S WHAT MAKES US STRONG AS A NATION. YET HERE COMES THE I.R.S. TRYING TO SHUT DOWN, USE THE HEAVY HAMMER OF THEIR POWER TO TRY TO SHUT DOWN POLITICAL SPEECH OF PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, MR. SPEAKER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT. HERE IN THIS HOUSE. I COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THE LEGISLATION WHICH I'M PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR BUT OVER 94,000 AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY WEIGHED IN ON THIS AS WELL, SIGNING LETTERS AND INPUTTING PUBLIC COMMENT, INCLUDING 70 MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE THAT CHIMED IN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS. THIS WILL BE A BIPARTISAN VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION TO STOP THE ABUSE OF THE I.R.S. AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME, MR. SPEAKER, AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE SPEAKER: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES.

THE SPEAKER

EXPIRED, THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW…

EXPIRED, THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. MR. CROWLEY: I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR RADICAL REPUBLICAN TAX BILL. IT'S

MR. CROWLEY

COLLEAGUES DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR RADICAL REPUBLICAN TAX BILL.…

COLLEAGUES DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR RADICAL REPUBLICAN TAX BILL. IT'S AN ACTUAL BILL ON THE PLERN TAX PAYING PUBLIC. IT'S GOING TO TAX SOCIAL SECURITY, ELIMINATE TAX DEDUBSEN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES THAT TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY PAID. IT WILL IMPLEMENT CHAIN R.P.I. THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON A PHONY SCANDAL, I UNDERSTAND IT. NOT THIS EXTREME SCANDAL REPUBLICAN TAX BILL, A BILL THAT WILL FORCE UPON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, WITH THAT, I YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR. VAN HOL. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR THE BALANCE OF THE -- BALANCE OF THE TIME WHICH IS THREE MINUTES. MR. VAN HOLLEN:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FOR THE BALANCE OF THE -- BALANCE OF THE TIME WHICH IS THREE MINUTES. MR.…

FOR THE BALANCE OF THE -- BALANCE OF THE TIME WHICH IS THREE MINUTES. MR. VAN HOLLEN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I THANK MY FRIEND AND CREAG. I'VE LISTENED

MR. VAN HOLLEN

MY FRIEND AND CREAG. I'VE LISTENED ALL AFTERNOON AS MY REPUBLICAN…

MY FRIEND AND CREAG. I'VE LISTENED ALL AFTERNOON AS MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE HELD FORTH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. NO ONE IS DEBATING THAT. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT, DESPITE YOUR BEST EFFORTS TO SUGGEST IT IS. WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT IS LETTING ORGANIZATIONS SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SECRET MONEY, SECRET MONEY, TRY TO BUY ELECTIONS TO SERVE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS. THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT. NOW, OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE READ THE REPORT BUT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS FOR THE I.R.S. TO REVISE ITS REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES TO CLARIFY THIS PARTICULAR AREA. I WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT ALL OF US WOULD WANT THE I.R.S. OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT A 501-C-4 IS PRIMARILY INVOLVED IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY OR PRIMARILY INVOLVED IN SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITY. I DON'T WANT THEM UNDER THE NOSE OF EVERY ORGANIZATION TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S WHY THE I.R.S. IS TRYING TO REFORM THIS AREA OF THE LAW. SO WHY ISN'T THAT WHAT OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WANT? PAUSE THIS ISN'T ABOUT ALLOWING THOSE GROUPS TO EXERCISE FREE SPEECH. IT'S ALLOWING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE USED TO CHANNEL SECRET MONEY WITHOUT DISCLOSING THOSE EXPENDITURES TO THE VOTERS. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. BECAUSE YOU CAN SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU WANT ON POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ORGANIZE AS A 527, ANOTHER ORGANIZATION UNDER THE TAX CODE WHICH BY THE WAY, IS ALSO TAX EXEMPT. SO WHY ISN'T THAT GOOD ENOUGH? YOU CAN SAY AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE UNDER 527'S, PEOPLE ARE SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS, THEY HAVE TO DISCLOSE. THEY HAVE TO TELL VOTERS WHO THEY ARE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THOSE VOTES. BUT THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES. THIS THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THIS MESSY SITUATION BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ALL THAT SECRET MONEY TO FLOW INTO THESE CAMPAIGNS. WE BELIEVE VOTE VERSE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHO IS TRYING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO INFLUENCE THESE VOTES. AND BY THE WAY, EIGHT OF THE NINE JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT IN CITIZENS UNITED, A CASE WHICH I HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH LOTS OF PARTS OF IT, BUT EIGHT OF THE NINE JUSTICES REAGREE WITH US THAT TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT. HERE'S WHAT JUSTICE KENNEDY SAID -- THESE TRANSPARENCY LAWS, QUOTE, IMPOSE NO CEILING ON CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITIES, AND QUOTE, TO NOT PREVENT ANYONE FROM SPEAKING. BUT THEY HAVE A GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST IN PROVIDING THE ELECTORATE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOURCES OF ELECTION-RELATED SPENDING. EIGHT OUT OF NINE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AFREE WITH WHAT EVERY POLL SHOWS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY WANT TRANSPARENCY IN OUR ELECTIONS BECAUSE WHY? TRANSPARENCY BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY. I THINK EVERY AMERICAN HAS AN INTEREST IN KNOWING WHO IS SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. TO TRY TO GET THEM ELECTED TO CONGRESS. TO SERVE PARTICULAR SPECIAL INTERESTS SYSTEM OF MR. SPEAKER, FOR GOODNESS' SAKES THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THIS IS ABOUT ALLOWING SECRET MONEY IN CAMPAIGN THIS IS A WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW THAT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS…

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. BOUSTANY

MENTION THAT THE REGULATION DOES NOT MENTION DONORS. SECONDLY, I WOULD…

MENTION THAT THE REGULATION DOES NOT MENTION DONORS. SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE ACLU ITSELF SAID THESE REQUIREMENTS, QUOTE, WILL POSE INSURMOUNTABLE COMPLIANCE ISSUE THIS IS A GO BEYOND PRACTICALITY AND RAISE FIRST AMENDMENT CONCERNS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENRE PORT BUT DIDN'T PRECISELY CHARACTERIZE WHAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID IN HIS REPORT THAT THE I.R.S., ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, DOES THE I.R.S. PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MEASURE POLITICAL ACTIVITY, NOT WHAT CONSTITUTES POLITICAL ACTIVITY. WITH THOSE CLARIFICATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. BRADY A MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. MR. BRADY: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU AND DAVE CAMP FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR FREE SPEECH.

MR. BRADY

THANK YOU AND DAVE CAMP FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR FREE…

THANK YOU AND DAVE CAMP FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR FREE SPEECH. WHENEVER SOMEONE IN WASHINGTON TELLS YOU DON'T WORRY, IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT FREE SPEECH, TRUST ME, IT IS. A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE FRIGHTENED BY THE THOUGHT THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT WOULD TARGET THEM BASED ON THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS. I'M CONVINCED THE DARKEST DAYS IN AMERICA'S HISTORY IS WHEN -- HAS BEEN WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO SILENCE THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM. WE SUFFER UNDER THIS INTIMIDATION DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, UNDER THE ANTI-WAR ERA, AND NOW TODAY BECAUSE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SOME WHO SIMPLEY WANT TO MAKE THE COUNTRY BETTER AND HAVE THAT VOICE, ARE NOW BEING TARGETED. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS NOT ABOUT CLEARING UP CONFUSION. THIS IS ABOUT INTIMIDATION. THIS IS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT USING ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AGENCIES IT HAS, THE I.R.S., THE ONLY AGENCY THAT CAN DESTROY YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR BUSINESS' LIFE WITH THEIR IMMENSE POWER, TARGETED PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS. IF YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IS FREE SPEECH, I WOULD POINT TO THIS. LOOK AT ORGANIZATIONS BACK HOME IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THOSE WHO WANT TO DO GET OUT THE VOTE. SO GO VOTE AND HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD. VOTER REGISTRATION. CANDIDATE FORUMS. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUES. AND GRASS ROOTS LOBBYING, LETTING THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEIR MIGHT BES -- MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND WEIGH IN. THAT IS FREE SPEECH. THAT IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WHEN THIS GOVERNMENT TARGETS AMERICANS BASED ON IT, WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT. MAKE NO MISTAKE, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, TEA PARTY, PROGRESSIVE, I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'RE AT ON THIS WE CANNOT LET THE GOVERNMENT HAVE THIS POWER, IT MUST BE STOPPED NOW. I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS YIELD BACK. THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. MR. BOUSTANY: DOES THE OTHER…

YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. MR. BOUSTANY: DOES THE OTHER SIDE HAVE TIME? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE OTHER SIDE HAS EXPIRED. MR.

MR. BOUSTANY

SIDE HAVE TIME? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE OTHER SIDE HAS EXPIRED. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

EXPIRED. MR. BOUSTANY: HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS?

MR. BOUSTANY

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TWO MINUTES. MR. BOUSTANY: LET ME CLOSE THE DEBATE BY SAYING, THROUGHOUT…

TWO MINUTES. MR. BOUSTANY: LET ME CLOSE THE DEBATE BY SAYING, THROUGHOUT THIS VIGOROUS DISCUSSION, WE WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS BILL JUST SIMPLEY ASKS FOR A ONE-YEAR DELAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RULE TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR CONGRESS COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION, FOR THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL, FOR TAX -- TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION SO WE HAVE THE FACTS ON THE TABLE. WE

MR. BOUSTANY

TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION SO WE HAVE THE FACTS ON THE TABLE. WE…

TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION SO WE HAVE THE FACTS ON THE TABLE. WE SHOULDN'T BE JUMPING AED OF THE GUN AND TRYING TO POSSIBLY AND LIKELY INFRINGE ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ON THE PART OF SO MANY PEOPLE UNLESS WE HAVE THE FACTS. THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, MR. LEVIN, ADMITS, HE'S ADMITTED THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS INCOMPLETE. LET'S JUST GIVE THIS TIME. WE OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO DO THAT. WE OWE IT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THIS INSTITUTION TO DO OUR WORK PRIOR TO HAVING THESE PARAMUR -- PREMATURE JUDGMENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE RULE DOESN'T ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUE THAT WAS BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY SYSTEM OF MR. SPEAKER WORK THAT I ASK THAT THIS BILL -- THAT WE ALL VOTE FOR THIS BILL, SUPPORT IT, MOVE IT FORWARD, LET'S HIT THAT PAUSE BUTTON, LET'S COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION AND CO-OUR -- DO OUR DUE DILL SWRENS. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. ALL TIME HAVING EXPIRED, PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. THE QUESTION

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED ON THE BILL AS…

TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. THE QUESTION IS ON ENGROSSMENT AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL, THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE AYES HAVE IT, THIRD READING. THE CLERK: A BILL TO TO PROHIBIT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FROM MODIFYING THE STANDARD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER AN ORGANIZATION IS OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 501-C-4 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. THE SPEAKER

THE CLERK

WELFARE FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 501-C-4 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF…

WELFARE FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 501-C-4 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND SEEK RECOGNITION?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

DESK? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: IS THE GENTLEMAN OPPOSED TO THE BILL? MR.…

DESK? THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: IS THE GENTLEMAN OPPOSED TO THE BILL? MR. VAN

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OPPOSED TO THE BILL? MR. VAN HOLLEN: I AM. THE CLERK:

MR. VAN HOLLEN

MR. VAN HOLLEN OF MARYLAND MOVES TO RECOMMIT THE BILL H.R.

THE CLERK

MOVES TO RECOMMIT THE BILL H.R. 3865 TO THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS…

MOVES TO RECOMMIT THE BILL H.R. 3865 TO THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT THE SAME BACK TO THE HOUSE FORTHWITH WITH THE FOLLOW AMENDMENT ADD THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS, PROMOTING DEMOCRACY FROM THE CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF SECRET DONORS. NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL PROHIBIT THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY REQUIRING THE CHRIS CLOSURE OF SECRET POLITICAL DONORS. SECTION 4, RESTORING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR AMERICA'S JOB SEEKERS. THIS ACT SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE SECRETARY OF TREASURY HAS CERTIFIED THAT THE MOST RECENT PERCENTAGE OF THE INSURED UNEMPLOYED, THOSE FOR WHOM UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES WERE PAID DURING PRIOR AN EMPLOYMENT WHO ARE RECEIVING FEDERAL OR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, U.I. BENEFITS, WHEN THEY ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING WORK IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE RECEIVING SUCH BENEFITS FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF 2013 AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S QUARTERLY U.I. DATA SUMMARY MEASUREMENT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RESIP YHENCY RATE FOR ALL U.I. PROGRAMS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM --

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM --

>>

POINT OF ORDER.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN'S POINT OF ORDER IS RECOGNIZED. PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE…

GENTLEMAN'S POINT OF ORDER IS RECOGNIZED. PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES IN SUPPORT OF HIS MOTION.

MR. VAN HOLLEN

SPEAKER. THIS IS THE FINAL AMENDMENT TO THE BILL, WHICH WILL NOT KILL THE…

SPEAKER. THIS IS THE FINAL AMENDMENT TO THE BILL, WHICH WILL NOT KILL THE BILL OR SEND IT BACK TO COMMITTEE. IF ADOPTED, THE BILL WILL IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO FINAL PASSAGE AS AMENDED, AND AS THE MOTION INDICATED, IT ADDRESSES SECRET MONEY IN ELECTIONS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE END THAT SECRET MONEY AND ALSO DEALS WITH THE ISSUE OF EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, WHICH MY COLLEAGUE, MR. LEVIN, WILL DISCUSS IN A MINUTE. BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE OF SECRET MONEY BECAUSE THIS RESOLUTION, WHAT WE'RE ASKING OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US ON, IS TO VOTE ON A VERY SIMPLE STATEMENT. TO SAY THAT NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL LIMIT, RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY FROM ISSUING REGULATIONS, REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE OF SECRET POLITICAL DONORS. OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ALL AFTERNOON HAS SAID THIS IS ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. THAT'S NOT WHAT THEIR BILL'S ABOUT. EVERYONE'S IN FAVOR OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. AS I INDICATED EARLIER, YOU CAN FORM WHAT'S KNOWN AS A 527 ORGANIZATION AND WHETHER YOU'RE AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN ORGANIZATION IN THAT FORUM, YOU CAN SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY AND INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS. WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, THE VOTERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHO IS BANKROLLING THESE CAMPAIGN EFFORTS. WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS A HUGE INCREASE, AN EXPLOSION IN MONEY BEING SPENT BY OUTSIDE GROUPS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS TO TRY AND ELECT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT WHATEVER INTERESTS THOSE GROUPS MAY SUPPORT. AND THIS BILL, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, WILL STILL ALLOW ALL THIS MONEY TO BE SPENT. BUT -- AND HERE'S THE KEY -- MOST OF THAT MONEY IS NOW FLOWING THROUGH 501-C-4 ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE SOME GROUPS HAVE BEEN ABUSING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO ALLOW THEM TO USE AS SECRET CONDUITS, CONDUITS TO ALLOW THEM TO SECRETLY FUND CAMPAIGNS. AND ALL WE'RE SAYING IS, LET'S NOT TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT AND ABILITY OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO PASS REGULATIONS, TO NOT ALLOW THAT SECRET MONEY. BECAUSE I THOUGHT MOST OF US AGREED IN TRANSPARENCY, AND I THOUGHT MOST OF US AGREED IN ACCOUNTABILITY AND I KNOW THAT EIGHT OF THE NINE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, EVEN IN A CONTROVERSIAL CASE, SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE. THEY SAY THAT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY. YOU KNOW WHAT EVERY POLL SHOWS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY AGREE, SO LET'S VOTE FOR DISCLOSURE AND VOTE FOR THIS MOTION. WITH THAT I YIELD THE BALANCE OF THE TIME TO MR. LEVIN.

MR. LEVIN

FACTS. ONLY THOSE WHO WON'T LOOK DON'T SEE THEM. 1.9 MILLION AMERICANS,…

FACTS. ONLY THOSE WHO WON'T LOOK DON'T SEE THEM. 1.9 MILLION AMERICANS, LONG-TERM EMPLOYED, HAVE LOST THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SINCE DECEMBER 28. ANOTHER 72,000 EVERY WEEK. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LIFTED 2 1/2 MILLION FROM POVERTY IN 2012, AND NOW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ARE SINKING INTO POVERTY BECAUSE THIS INSTITUTION AND THE HOUSE MAJORITY DO NOT ACT. THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THIS COUNTRY, 36% OF JOBLESS WORKERS OVER SIX MONTHS. THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF JOBLESS RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN OVER 50 YEARS. IT'S MINDLESS NOT TO ACT IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. IT'S HEARTLESS NOT TO ACT IN TERMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL LIVES OF HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. VOTE, VOTE FOR THIS MOTION TO RECOMMIT. I DON'T SEE HOW MIB CAN GO HOME -- ANYONE CAN GO HOME AND VOTE NO. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

FROM MARYLAND. MR. VAN HOLLEN: I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

MR. VAN HOLLEN

THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE? MR.…

YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE? MR. CAMP: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WITHDRAW MY POINT OF ORDER AND SEEK TIME IN OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION.

MR. CAMP

OF ORDER AND SEEK TIME IN OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CAMP: THANK YOU, MR.…

GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CAMP: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS MOTION TO RECOMMIT ACTUALLY ALLOWS AND PERPETUATES THE TARGETING OF AMERICANS BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

MR. CAMP

OF AMERICANS BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. THIS MOTION TO RECOMMIT…

OF AMERICANS BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. THIS MOTION TO RECOMMIT PERMITS THE GOVERNMENT TO RESTRICT THE FREE SPEECH OF AMERICANS. I CAN'T STAND FOR THIS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN'T STAND FOR THIS AND SHOULD NOT STAND FOR THIS. VOTE NO ON THIS MOTION TO RECOMMIT.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED…

GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ORDERED ON THE MOTION TO RECOMMIT. THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE NOES HAVE IT. THE MOTION IS NOT AGREED TO. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE? MR. VAN HOLLEN: ON THAT I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER

MR. VAN HOLLEN

THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE QUESTION IS ON -- THE YEAS…

THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE QUESTION IS ON -- THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ON -- THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS…

ON -- THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE 20, THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO FIVE MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME FOR ANY ELECTRONIC VOTE ON THE QUESTION OF PASSAGE OF THE BILL. THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ARE 191, THE NAYS ARE 230. THE MOTION IS NOT AGREED TO. THE QUESTION IS ON…

ARE 191, THE NAYS ARE 230. THE MOTION IS NOT AGREED TO. THE QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL. THIS IS A -- ALL THOSE IN -- FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE?

>>

THE CHAIR WILL GO TO A VOICE VOTE FIRST.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

A VOICE VOTE FIRST. THE QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL. THOSE IN FAVOR…

A VOICE VOTE FIRST. THE QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND. MR. VAN HOLLEN: MR. SPEAKER, ON THAT I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE. THE SPEAKER

MR. VAN HOLLEN

I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: A RECORDED VOTE IS…

I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: A RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

IS REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS…

IS 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, A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.] THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ON THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 243, THE NAYS ARE 176.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

ARE 243, THE NAYS ARE 176. THE BILL IS PASSED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE…

ARE 243, THE NAYS ARE 176. THE BILL IS PASSED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE TABLE. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. ALL MEMBERS CEASE CONVERSATIONS. THE HOW IT'S WILL COME TO ORDER -- THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO SEEK RECOGNITION?

MR. POLIS

THE PROTECT ANONYMOUS SPECIAL INTERESTS ACT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE…

THE PROTECT ANONYMOUS SPECIAL INTERESTS ACT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE CLERK WILL REMINORITY AMENDMENT. THE CLERK:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: MR. POLIS OF COLORADO MOVES TO AMEND THE ACT READ AS…

AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: MR. POLIS OF COLORADO MOVES TO AMEND THE ACT READ AS FOLLOW, TO PROTECT ANONYMOUS SPECIAL INTERESTS BY PROHIBITING THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE BY MODIFYING THE -- FROM MODIFYING SPECIAL INTERESTS. THE

THE CLERK

MODIFYING THE -- FROM MODIFYING SPECIAL INTERESTS. THE SPEAKER PRO…

MODIFYING THE -- FROM MODIFYING SPECIAL INTERESTS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 6, THE AMENDMENT IS NOT DEBATABLE. THE QUESTION

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

6 OF RULE 6, THE AMENDMENT IS NOT DEBATABLE. THE QUESTION IS ON THE…

6 OF RULE 6, THE AMENDMENT IS NOT DEBATABLE. THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THE NOES HAVE IT. MR. POLIS:

MR. POLIS

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE? MR. POLIS: I REQUEST A RECORDED…

DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE? MR. POLIS: I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:

MR. POLIS

VOTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: A RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED. THOSE IN…

VOTE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: A RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED. THOSE IN FAVOR OF A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THOSE IN FAVOR OF A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING…

THOSE IN FAVOR OF A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE. -- A 15-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE NAYS ARE 241. THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE…

THE NAYS ARE 241. THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA SEEK RECOGNITION? MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I SEND TO THE DESK

MS. FOXX

SPEAKER. I SEND TO THE DESK A PRIVILEGED REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON…

SPEAKER. I SEND TO THE DESK A PRIVILEGED REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES FOR FILING UNDER THE RULE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE TITLE. THE CLERK: REPORT TO ACCOMPANY HOUSE RESOLUTION 492, RESOLUTION…

THE TITLE. THE CLERK: REPORT TO ACCOMPANY HOUSE RESOLUTION 492, RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL, H.R.

THE CLERK

RESOLUTION 492, RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL, H.R.…

RESOLUTION 492, RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL, H.R. 899, TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS WITH RESPECT TO IMPOSING FEDERAL MANDATES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR AND ORDERED PRINTED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

HOUSE CALENDAR AND ORDERED PRINTED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN…

HOUSE CALENDAR AND ORDERED PRINTED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

>>

AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS ON H.R. 2804. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:…

AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS ON H.R. 2804. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, AND RULE 18, THE…

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2804. THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MS. FOXX, TO PRESIDE OVER THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

THE CHAIR

THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2804, WHICH

THE CLERK

TO PUBLISH INFORMATION ABOUT RULES ON THE INTERNET AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.…

TO PUBLISH INFORMATION ABOUT RULES ON THE INTERNET AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE CHAIR: PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE BILL IS CONSIDERED READ THE FIRST TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE CHAIR

READ THE FIRST TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. GOODLATTE, AND THE…

READ THE FIRST TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. GOODLATTE, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. JOHNSON, EACH WILL CONTROL 30 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. MR. GOODLATTE: I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE CHAIR:

MR. GOODLATTE

AS I MAY CONSUME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.

THE CHAIR

MR. GOODLATTE

ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD ONCE AGAIN PIVOT TO THE ECONOMY. THE BOTTOM LINE…

ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD ONCE AGAIN PIVOT TO THE ECONOMY. THE BOTTOM LINE OF HIS SPEECH, AFTER 4 1/2 YEARS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, QUOTE, WE'RE NOT THERE YET. THE PRESIDENT WAS RIGHT. WE'RE NOT THERE -- WE WERE NOT THERE YET, NOR ARE WE THERE TODAY. JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUE TO FALL SHORT OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO PRODUCE A REAL AND DURABLE RECOVERY IN OUR COUNTRY. THE NOMINAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS DOWN, BUT THAT IS NOT BECAUSE ENOUGH WORKERS HAVE FOUND JOBS, IT IS BECAUSE SO MANY UNEMPLOYED WORKERS HAVE DESPAIRED OF EVER FINDING NEW FULL-TIME WORK. THEY HAVE EITHER LEFT THE WORK FORCE OR SETTLED FOR PART-TIME JOBS. AS LONG AS THIS SITUATION CONTINUES, CONGRESS MUST STAY FOCUSED ON ENACTING REFORMS THAT WILL STOP THE LOSSES, RIRN AMERICA TO PROSPERITY -- RETURN AMERICA TO PROSPERITY AND RETURN DISCOURAGED WORKERS TO THE DIGNITY OF A GOOD, FULL-TIME JOB. THE LEGISLATION WE CONSIDER TODAY IS JUST THAT KIND OF REFORM. THROUGH ITS STRONG, COMMONSENSE MEASURES, THE ALERT ACT WILL POWERFULLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY REFORM THE FEDERAL REGULATORY SYSTEM, FROM HOW REGULATIONS ARE PLANNED TO HOW THEY ARE PROMULGATED AND DEALT WITH IN COURT. THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT CONGRESS CANNOT PASS TOO SOON. FOR A WHILE THE -- FOR WHILE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S PIVOT TO THE ECONOMY HAS FALTERED, THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY HAS NOT WAVER AN INSTANT IN ITS IMPOSITION OF NEW COSTLY REGULATIONS ON OUR ECONOMY. THE ALERT ACT RERESPONDS BY OFFERING REAL RELIEF TO THE REAL AMERICANS WHO SUFFER UNDER THE MOUNTING BURDENS OF REGULATION. CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, ROB JAMES, A CITY COUNCILMAN FROM AVON LAKE, OHIO, WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS TERM ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF NEW AND EXCESSIVE REGULATION ON HIS TOWN, ITS WORKERS AND ITS FAMILIES. AVON LAKE IS A SMALL TOWN FACING DEVASTATION BY IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN ANTIFOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANT REGULATIONS. THESE REGULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DESTROY JOBS IN AVON LAKE, HARM AVON LAKE'S FAMILIES AND MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR AVON LAKE TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES, QUALITY SCHOOLS AND HELP FOR ITS NEEDIEST CITIZENS, WHILE ALL THE WHILE DOING COMPARATIVELY LITTLE TO CONTROL MERCURY EMISSIONS WHICH ARE THE STATED TARGET OF THE REGULATIONS. TITLE 1 OF THE ALERT ACT HELPS PEOPLE AND TOWNS LIKE ROB JAMES AND AVON LAKE AT THAT -- AVON LAKE TO KNOW IN REALTIME WHEN DEVASTATING REGULATIONS ARE PLANNED, COMMENT IN TIME TO HELP CHANGE THEM, ESTIMATE THEIR REAL COST, AND BETTER PLAN FOR THE RESULTS AS AGENCIES REACH THEIR FINAL DECISIONS. CONSIDER, TOO, BOB SELLS, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND PRESIDENT OF THE VIRGINIA-BASED DIVISION OF A HEAVY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRODUCER. HIS COMPANY AND ITS WORKERS WERE HARMED BY E.P.A. CEMENT KILN REGULATIONS THAT WERE TECHNICALLY UNATTAINABLE AND INCLUDED PROVISIONS VASTLY CHANGED FROM WHAT E.P.A. PROPOSED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. OTHER E.P.A. EMISSION REGULATIONS THAT WERE STRICTER THAN NEEDED TO PROTECT HEALTH, JERRY MANDER TO IMPOSE EXPENSE OF CONTROLS ON OTHER TYPES OF EMISSION, AND WHICH PROHIBITED COMMONSENSE USES OF CHEAP AND SAFE FUEL THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGULATIONS THAT, WITHOUT INCREASING SAFETY, VASTLY INCREASED RECORD KEEPING FOR READY-MIX CONCRETE DRIVERS, UNNECESSARILY LIMITED THEIR HOURS AND SUPPRESSED THEIR WAGES. TITLE 2 OF THE ALERT ACT HELPS TO PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE BOB SELLS AND HIS WORKERS FROM REGULATIONS THAT ASK JOB CREATORS TO ACHIEVE THE UNYOU A CHEEVEBLE. DO NOT -- THE UNACHIEVABLE, DO NOT HELP TO CONTROL TARGETS, SUPPRESS HOURS AND WAGES FOR NO GOOD REASONS AND INUNDATE AMERICANS WITH UNNECESSARY PAPERWORK. TITLE 3 OF THE ALERT ACT OFFERS LONG-NEEDED HELP TO SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE LIKE CARL HARRIS, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF CARL HARRIS COMPANY IN WICHITA, KANSAS. MR. HARRIS IS A SMALL HOMEBUILDER. EVERY DAY HE HAS TO FIGHT AND OVERCOME THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS NOW ACCOUNT FOR 25% OF THE FINAL PRICE OF A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOME. MR. HARRIS PARTICIPANTS IN SMALL BUSINESS REVIEW PANELS, EXISTING LAW USES TO TRY TO LOWER THE COST OF REGULATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. BUT HE HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW LOOPHOLES IN EXISTING LAW ALLOW FEDERAL AGENCIES TO IGNORE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS WHILE CHECKING THE BOX OF CONTACTING SMALL BUSINESSES. ONE CASE IS THAT OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION'S CRANES RULE, WHICH WAS EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATED BEFORE SMALL BUSINESS WAS EVER CONSULTED AND THREATENED TO IMPOSE DISPROPORTION AT COSTS ON SMALL -- DIS-- DISPROPORTIONATE COSTS ON SMALL BUILDERS. THIS TAKES INTO REAL ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTY SMALL BUSINESSES FACE AND LOWER COSTS ON SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MUST BE LOWERED. FINALLY, CONSIDER AND PUCK ETTE III, THE FOUR -- PUCKETT III, A FOURTH GENERATION BUSINESS OWNER. HIS COMPANY DISTRIBUTES BRICKS TO MORE THAN 15 STATES, HAS SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION EMPLOYEES, OFFERS A FULLY FUNDED PROFIT-SHARING RETIREMENT PLAN, AND A 401-K MATCHING PROGRAM, AND HAS A NURSE PRACTITIONER COME ON SITE TWICE A MONTH TO PROVIDE A FREE CLINIC TO ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES. BUT HIS COMPANY MAY NOW BE SHUTTERED IN THE FACE OF TWO WAVES OF SUE AND SETTLE BRICK MAKING EMISSIONS REGULATIONS THAT THREATEN TO PUT HIS COMPANY AND OTHERS LIKE IT OUT OF BUSINESS. AFTER TIME-CONSUMING LITIGATION, THE FIRST REGULATIONS WERE THROWN OUT IN COURT. BUT NOT BEFORE THE COMPANY HAD ALREADY LOST AT LEAST $750,000 IN COMPLIANCE COSTS AND THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAD LOST $100 MILLION. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT REGULATIONS THREATEN TO BE TWICE AS EXPENSIVE, SO EXPENSIVE THAT COLUMBUS BRICK COMPANY EXPECTS TO HAVE TO DOWNSIZE BY 2/3 OR CLOSE. THE TRANSLATION FOR HARDWORKING AMERICANS EMPLOYED BY SUCH BUSINESSES IS HIGHER PRICES FOR GOODS, FEWER JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND LOWER WAGES. TITLE 4 OF THE ALERT ACT HELPS PEOPLE LIKE ALLEN FIND OUT ABOUT SUE AND SETTLE RULEMAKING DEALS IN TIME, MAKE SURE THEIR CONCERNS ARE HEARD BY AGENCIES AND THE COURTS, AND HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO ACHIEVE A JUST RESULT FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM. IN ALL OF THESE WAYS AND MORE, THE ALERT ACT BRINGS URGENTLY NEEDED REGULATORY RESTORM TO HARDWORKING AMERICANS -- REFORM TO HARDWORKING AMERICANS, WHETHER THEY ARE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO BE HEARD BY FACELESS WASHINGTON BUREAUCRACIES, OR CITIZENS OF SMALL TOWNS CRUSHED BY THE IMPACTS OF REGULATIONS THAT FORCE PLANT CLOSINGS, HARM FAMILIES AND KILL THE REVENUES NEEDED TO PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES. I THANK MR. BACCHUS, MR. HOLDING AND MR. COLLINS FOR JOINING WITH ME IN OFFERING THE INDIVIDUAL BILLS THAT NOW COME TO THE FLOOR TOGETHER AS THE ALERT ACT. AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE FOR THIS URGENTLY NEEDED LEGISLATION AND RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES.

THE CHAIR

VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

SPEAKER. I YIELD SUCH TIME TO MYSELF AS I MAY CONSUME.

THE CHAIR

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. JOHNSON

WEEK WOULD BE STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE WEEK. MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE…

WEEK WOULD BE STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE WEEK. MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE CALLED FOR US TO COMMEMORATE THIS WEEK BY THE INTRODUCTION OF DRACONIAN ANTISAFETY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES TO DECLARE WAR ON THE RULES THAT PROTECT AMERICANS, INCLUDING BABIES, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. AND THAT'S WHY, MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO H.R. 2804, THE ACHIEVING LESS, EXCESS IN REGULATION, AND REQUIRING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2014, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SO-CALLED ALERT ACT. THE ALERT ACT IS A CONTINUATION OF THE SAME REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCT AT ALL COST PARADIGM THAT LED TO THE SEQUESTER AND TO THE SHUTDOWN OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS RACE TO THE BOTTOM APPROACH TO THE REGULATORY PROCESS IS WASTEFUL AND DANGEROUS AND IT PRIORITIZES PROFITS OVER PROTECTING AMERICANS. ALTHOUGH THE ALERT ACT PURPORTS TO EASE THE BURDEN OF REGULATIONS ON AMERICAN BUSINESSES, IT WOULD NOT CREATE A SINGLE JOB, GROW THE ECONOMY OR HELP ANY SMALL BUSINESS LIVE TO. NOR DOES IT -- THRIVE. NOR DOES IT ADDRESS SERIOUS ISSUES, THE MINIMUM WAGE, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, PAY EQUITY OR IMMIGRATION REFORM, THAT WOULD HELP SO MANY AMERICAN WORKERS AND BUSINESSES. INSTEAD, THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO STRAIGHTJACKET THE SAME RULEMAKING PROCESS THAT PROTECTS COUNTLESS AMERICANS EVERY DAY. TITLE 1 OF THE BILL IMPOSES A SIX-MONTH MORATORIUM ON RULES. THE RULEMAKING PROCESS IS ALREADY TRANSPARENT, DELIBERATIVE AND EXHAUSTIVELY INCLUSIVE OF THE VIEWS OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES. ADDING AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS TO THIS PROCESS WOULD DO LITTLE EXCEPT TO CREATE UNCERTAINTY AND INCREASE COMPLIANCE COSTS. INSTEAD OF CUTTING THROUGH RED TAPE, TITLE 2 OF THE BILL WOULD ADD REQUIREMENTS TO THE RULEMAKING PROCESS. . THIS IS YET ANOTHER REASON WHY THIS BILL WOULD STREAMLINE THE RULE MAKE PREDICTABILITY THAT SMALL BUSINESSES RELY ON TO MAKE LONG-TERM DECISIONS. AND IN CASE THE FIRST TWO TITLES DIDN'T ADEQUATELY CONVEY THE MESSAGE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING DEEP-POCKETED INTERESTS CREATE REGULATORY MISS CHIEF AND CONFUSION IN-- MISCHIEF AND CONFUSION INSTEAD OF OFFERING SOLUTIONS, TITLES 3 AND 4 WOULD ALLOW VIRTUALLY ANY PARTY UNDER THE SUN TO CHALLENGE A PROPOSED RULE IN FEDERAL COURT NO MATTER THEIR CONNECTION OR LACK THEREOF TO THE ISSUE. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS BILL IS A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. IT WOULD JEOPARDIZE CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAFETY REGULATORY PROTECTIONS AND UNDERMINE THE VERY SMALL BUSINESSES IT CLAIMS TO PROTECT. BY GIVING A HANDOUT TO WELL-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS TO CHALLENGE PROPOSED RULES, CREEDS AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, THE ALERT ACT WOULD STACK THE DECK AGAINST THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER. WHO WOULD BE HARMED BY THIS REGULATORY -- DEREGULAR TORE AND ANTI-REGULATORY -- DEREGULATORY AND ANTI-REGULATORY TRAIN WRECK? EVERY AMERICAN WHO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE FRESH AIR AND WHO WANTS TO DRINK CLEAN WATER. EVERY MOTHER WHO WANTS A SAFE FORMULA FOR HER BABY AND CRIBS THAT DON'T COLLAPSE ON THE BABY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, EVERY SMALL BUSINESS COMPETING FOR AN EDGE IN A MARKETPLACE DOMINATED BY LARGE WELL-FUNDED COMPETITORS, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN MY OBSERVATION OF STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE BY REPUBLICANS WEEK AND IN MY OPPOSITION TO THE ALERT ACT. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THIS DANGEROUS LEGISLATION, AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. GOODLATTE

TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MR. HOLDING, A…

TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MR. HOLDING, A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AND A CONTRIBUTOR OF ONE OF THE BILLS THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ALERT ACT. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. HOLDING: MADAM

THE CHAIR

CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. HOLDING: MADAM CHAIRMAN, I…

CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. HOLDING: MADAM CHAIRMAN, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R.

MR. HOLDING

IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2804, ALERT ACT, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN…

IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2804, ALERT ACT, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE AND CHAIRMAN BACHUS AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. COLLINS, FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN MAKING THIS LEGISLATION BETTER. IN MY DISTRICT IN NORTH CAROLINA, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE A PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY. THE BUSINESSES, LIKE MANY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ARE BEING HARMED BY EXCESSIVE REGULATIONS. EXCESSIVE REGULATIONS MEAN LOWER WAGES FOR WORKERS, FEWER JOBS AND HIGHER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS, AND OFTENTIMES, MADAM CHAIRMAN, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT GIVEN ENOUGH NOTICE OF HOW NEW REGULATIONS WILL AFFECT THEIR EVERYDAY OPERATIONS. THEY ARE FACED WITH TOUGH DECISIONS, WHETHER TO CUT WORKERS' HOURS OR WAGES OR ADJUST THEIR BUSINESS PLAN ELSEWHERE. THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED THE ALERT ACT, TO ENSURE THE ADMINISTRATION PUBLISHES ITS REGULATORY AGENDA IN A TIMELY MANNER AND PROVIDES ANNUAL DISCLOSURES ABOUT PLANNED REGULATIONS, THEIR EXPECTED COSTS, FINAL RULES AND A CUMULATIVE REGULATORY COSTS IN GENERAL. DURING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST TERM, OUR NATION'S CUMULATIVE REGULATORY COSTS BURDEN INCREASED BY $488 BILLION, COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO MAKE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW THE EFFECTS OF NEW REGULATIONS IN A TIMELY, REASONABLE MANNER. THE ADMINISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A REGULATORY AGENDA TWICE A YEAR, BUT THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO DO SO ON TIME. AND YOU'LL RECALL, MADAM CHAIRMAN, THAT IN 2012, THE ADMINISTRATION MADE NEITHER DISCLOSURE -- MADE NEITHER DISCLOSURE, WHICH WAS REQUIRED BY LAW, UNTIL DECEMBER, AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION. THIS DEPRIVED VOTERS OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW PROPOSED REGULATIONS WOULD INCREASE PRICES FOR HOUSEHOLD GOODS, LED TO STAGNANT WAGES AND DECREASED JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THIS SPORNT WHEN FEDERAL REGULATIONS ALREADY PLACE AN AVERAGE BURDEN OF ALMOST $15,000 PER YEAR ON EACH AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD. THAT'S NOT A BURDEN THAT FOLKS IN THIS ECONOMY OR REALLY ANY ECONOMY SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR. MADAM CHAIRMAN, THIS BILL IS NOT ABOUT SUTTING DOWN THE REGULATORY PROCESS -- SHUTTING DOWN THE REGULATORY PROCESS BUT PROVIDED MUCH-NEEDED SUNLIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY. IT PROVIDES MONTHLY ONLINE UPDATES ON PLANNED REGULATION AND THEIR EXPECTED COSTS SO THAT EVERYONE WHO IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED CAN KNOW IN REAL TIME AND HOW TO PLAN FOR THE REGULATION' IMPACT OR HOW TO CAST THEIR VOTE. THE ALERT ACT IS COMPREHENSIVE REFORM THAT PROMOTES ECONOMIC GROWTH, TAKES STEPS TOWARD REFORMING THE REGULATORY SYSTEM AND PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY THAT OUR CITIZENS DESERVE. AND I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS…

BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

MR. BARROW FOR TWO MINUTES.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.

MR. BARROW

CHAIRMAN, AND I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. MADAM CHAIRMAN, I RISE…

CHAIRMAN, AND I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. MADAM CHAIRMAN, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2804, THE ALL ECONOMIC REGULATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT, OR ALERT ACT, OF 2013, AND IN SUPPORT OF THE MILLER-COURTNEY AMENDMENT. I'M PLEASED THAT THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDES THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ACT, A BILL FOR WHICH I AM AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR, WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA, MR. BACHUS. THERE ARE 30 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES IN AMERICA AND THEY EMPLOY OVER HALF OF OUR WORK FORCE. THESE ARE COMPANIES IN MY DISTRICT LIAR SARAH'S IN THE CITY OR A CAFE IN AUGUSTA. EVERY DAY THEY HELP AMERICAN FAMILIES AND DRIVE COMMERCE. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE MILLER-COURTNEY AMENDMENT. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, 14 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 40 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN A COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSION AT THE IMPERIAL SUGAR REFINERY IN GEORGIA. SINCE THEN I WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUE, MR. MILLER, TO PRESSURE OSHA TO MITIGATE THIS KNOWN HAZARD. I'M HOPEFUL THAT OSHA CAN COMPLETE THIS LONG OVERDUE WORK IN THIS AREA TO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND CREATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS. THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE COURTNEY-MILLER AMENDMENT AND THE UNDERLYING BILL AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: MADAM…

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: MADAM CHAIRMAN, AT THIS TIME I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. GRAVES, A MEMBER

MR. GOODLATTE

I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. GRAVES, A MEMBER…

I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. GRAVES, A MEMBER OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.

THE CHAIR

IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.

MR. GRAVES

TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FOR WORKING WITH US TODAY. I RISE…

TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FOR WORKING WITH US TODAY. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2804, TO THE ALERT ACT. THIS LEGISLATION REPRESENTS A VERY IMPORTANT EFFORT TO BRING SOME COMMON SENSE AND TRANSPARENCY TO AN OUT-OF-CONTROL REGULATORY PROCESS THAT'S STIFLING GROWTH AND ESPECIALLY AMONG SMALL BUSINESSES. I'M ESPECIALLY PLEASED THAT THIS LEGISLATION, WHICH THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS WORKED ON, H.R. 2542, THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ACT. I'M PLEASED IT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE ALERT ACT. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE FOR WORKING ON THE TITLE OF THIS BILL. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AGENCIES HAVE BEEN REQUIRED FOR THE R.F.A. TO EXAMINE THE IMPACTS ON REGULATION -- OF REGULATION ON SMALL BUSINESSES. THOSE IMPACT ARE SIGNIFICANT -- THOSE IMPACTS ARE SIGNIFICANT. THEY NEED TO CONSIDER LESS BURDENSOME ALTERNATIVES. THE PROBLEMS IS THAT AGENCIES STILL FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THAT LAW AND THE RESULT IS UNWORKABLE REGULATIONS THAT PUT UNNECESSARY BURDENS ON AMERICA'S BEST JOB CREATORS, WHICH ARE SMALL BUSINESSES. IN NUMEROUS HEARINGS OVER THE YEARS, THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE HAS HEARD ABOUT THE REGULATIONS HAS HAD ON MANUFACTURERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME AND MONEY ON REGULATORY COMPLIANCE PAPERWORK. THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ACT IS GOING TO ELIMINATE LOOPHOLES THAT AGENCIES HAVE USED TO AVOID COMPLIANCE WITH THE R.F.A. MOST IMPORTANTLY IT REQUIRES AGENCIES TO GENERALLY SCRUTINIZE THE IMPACTS REGULATIONS ON SMALL BUSINESSES BEFORE THEY'RE FINALIZED. EXAMINING WHETHER THESE ARE LESS BURDENSOME OR LESS COST -- EXAMINING WHETHER OR NOT THESE ARE LESS BURDENSOME OR LESS COSTLY JUST MAKES COMMON SENSE AND REDUCING UNNECESSARY REGULATORY BURDENS FREES UP SOME SCARCE TIME, IT FREES UP MONEY AND RESOURCES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES CAN USE TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS AND HIRE EMPLOYEES. THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ACT IS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION. IT HAS STRONG SUPPORT AMONG THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND IT SIMPLY REQUIRES AGENCIES TO DO THEIR HOME WORK BEFORE THEY REGULATE. AND IF AGENCIES DO THEIR WORK, MORE AMERICANS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING. AND WITH THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I'D YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE CHAIR

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA…

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS. THE CHAIR: THE…

YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. MS. JACKSON

THE CHAIR

FOR FOUR MINUTES. MS. JACKSON LEE: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY GOOD…

FOR FOUR MINUTES. MS. JACKSON LEE: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION. I

MS. JACKSON LEE

FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS…

FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION. I THANK THE CHAIRMAN AS WELL AND FOR THE KURT CISEXTENDED TO MEMBERS TO -- COURTESIES EXTENDED TO MEMBERS TO ALLOW US TO HAVE A VIGOROUS DISCOURSE ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I'D JUST LIKE US TO TAKE A JOURNEY DOWN MEMORY LANE, AND I'M SURE THAT MANY OF US WILL BE REMINDED OF THE FAMOUS PINTO AND THE ORIGINAL CRAFTING OF THAT AUTOMOBILE. NO COMMENTARY ON THE GREAT INDUSTRY THAT SO MANY OF US ADMIRE, BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE MEMORIES, WE REALIZE SOME OF THE INJURIES THAT OCCURRED IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE PINTO. OR MAYBE CARS WITHOUT SEAT BELTS OR AIR BAGS OR MAYBE WE RECALL TIMES WHEN WE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND WE NOTICED NOT ONLY A HEAVY FOG BUT POLLUTED AIR. MAYBE SOME OF US HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO POLLUTED WATER. OR MAYBE YOU'VE TRAVELED INTERNATIONALLY, EVEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY, SEEN THE CONDITIONS THAT MANY WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES LIVE IN. THE UTILIZATION OF DIRTY WATER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER WATER. OR THE FOOD DANGER BECAUSE IT IS NOT REGULATED. WELL, MY FRIENDS, UNFORTUNATELY THE LEGISLATION THAT IS HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE SEEMS TO TAKE US BACKWARDS DOWN A POISONOUS MEMORY LANE. SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION. I SAID TODAY IN A COMMITTEE HEARING THAT I KNOW THAT MEMBERS COME HERE WITH GOOD INTENTION, SO I WILL NOT ATTRIBUTE TO ANYONE THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT COME TO THE FLOOR WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT IT IS A BILL THAT HAS NOT BEEN AS A WHOLE CONSIDERED BY THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. IT IS NOW BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH THREE SEPARATE BILLS COMBINED, NOW CALLED THE ALERT BILL, BUT IT REALLY IMPOSES UNNEEDED AND COSTLY ANALYTICAL AND PROCEDURAL --, COSTLY, ANALYTICAL AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM FROM PERFORMING THEIR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES FROM PROTECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. IT CREATES UNNECESSARY REGULATORY LEGAL UNCERTAINTY, INCREASES COSTS FOR BUSINESSES AND STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND IMPEDES PLAIN COMMON SENSE. I WILL OFFER AN AMENDMENT DEALING WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY. WE HAVE JUST HAD A HEARING TODAY AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE, IF YOU WILL, OF THE WORK OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT. WITH OUR NEW SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SECRETARY JOHNSON, WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THE RIGHT TRACK RECOGNIZING FRANCHISED TERRORISM, THE NEEDS FOR SECURING THE BORDER. MANY OF THE WORK DONE BY HOMELAND SECURITY IS A REGULATORY STRUCTURE, AND I WOULD INSIST THAT WHY WOULD WE WANT TO IMPEDE SECURING AMERICA ? WELL, MY COLLEAGUES, THIS IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THIS LEGISLATION, THE ALL ECONOMIC REGULATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT ACT. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I HAD AN AMENDMENT DEALING WITH BABY FORMULA. FOR THOSE OF US THAT RAISED CHILDREN AS MOTHERS, WHO TEND TO THEIR NEEDS AS THEY ARE NEWBORNS AND USED AN INFANT FORMULA, IT IS WELL-KNOWN THAT THERE IS A GREAT NEED TO REGULATE COMPANIES THAT MAN INFANT FORMULAS IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT BABIES FROM FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES AND PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH. THE F.D.A. ON THURSDAY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO REVISE EARLIER THIS MONTH INFANT FORMULA REGULATIONS WITH AN INTERIM FINAL RULE AND THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON. BUT GUESS WHAT, THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE WILL STAND IN THE WAY. AN IRON WALL, IF YOU WILL, PROHIBITING ANY RULE FROM BEING FINALIZED UNTIL CERTAIN INFORMATION IS POSTED FOR SIX MONTHS. HOW LONG WILL SIX MONTHS BE IN THE LIFE OF AN INFANT? MAY I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE, TWO MINUTES?

MR. JOHNSON

ONE MINUTE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE…

ONE MINUTE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE. MS. JACKSON LEE:

THE CHAIR

FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE. MS. JACKSON LEE: CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER ACT,…

FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE. MS. JACKSON LEE: CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER ACT, SO OVERRIDING ANY ASPECT OF REGULATING THIS IMPORTANT FOOD PRODUCT, ADDING MORE THAN 60 ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL AND ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS TO THE F.D.A.'S WORK ON TRYING

MS. JACKSON LEE

THAN 60 ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL AND ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS TO THE F.D.A.'S…

THAN 60 ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL AND ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS TO THE F.D.A.'S WORK ON TRYING TO HELP BABIES AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR RULES TO BE DELAYED OR STOPPED BY ALLOWING REGULATED INDUSTRY AND ANTI-REGULATORY ENTITIES TO INTERVENE. AND SO IN ACTUALITY THIS IS NOT SAVING MONEY. IT WILL BE A QUAGMIRE OF SPENDING MONEY. AND THE INNOCENT LIVES OF BABIES, WHO DEMAND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ADULTS TO PROTECT THE FOOD PRODUCT THAT THEY NEED FOR LIFE, THAT WILL BE STOPPED. WELL, MADAM SPEAKER, I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE OF HORRIBLE CAR CRASHES AND NO SEAT BELTS AND NO AIR BAGS AND POLLUTED AIR AND DANGEROUS WATER, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE DOING. I LOOK FORWARD TO INTRODUCING ON THE FLOOR REGARDING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD WANT TO STAND IN THE WAY FOR SECURING AMERICA. WITH THAT IN MIND, I HOPE THAT WE WILL FIND A WAY TO DEFEAT THIS LEGISLATION OR TO MAKE IT BETTER AND ASK OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE THEY STANDING FOR. I YIELD BACK. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. GOODLATTE

THE CHAIR

IS RECOGNIZED. GOODLATTE GRAT IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE…

IS RECOGNIZED. GOODLATTE GRAT IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE MAJORITY LEADER,

THE CHAIR

FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. MADAM…

FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. MADAM CHAIR, I RISE

MR. CANTOR

FROM VIRGINIA. MADAM CHAIR, I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE ALERT ACT AND…

FROM VIRGINIA. MADAM CHAIR, I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE ALERT ACT AND IN DEFENSE OF WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES WHO FACE THE DANGER THAT OVERZEALOUS WASHINGTON REGULATORS WILL DESTROY THEIR JOBS AND IMPOSE NEW RED TAPE THAT CUTS THEIR WAGES. AN AMERICA THAT WORKS ALLOWS SMALL BUSINESSES TO FLOURISH. JOBS CAN BE CREATED. AND FOR FOLKS TO HAVE MORE TAKE-HOME PAY IN THEIR POCKETS. BUT AMERICA DOESN'T WORK WHEN WASHINGTON REGULATORS IMPOSE MORE RED TAPE ON BUSINESSES, LARGE AND SMALL, REGARDLESS OF THE COSTS. THIS BILL FIXES THAT. I HEAR A LOT ON THIS FLOOR ABOUT THE WARNINGS OF DAYS GONE BY AND THE FEAR MONGERING ATTACHED TO TRYING TO INSTILL ACCOUNTABILITY ON THIS BUREAUCRACY IN WASHINGTON. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WANTS TO DEFEND OVERZEALOUS DEMOCRATS AND IMPOSING UNNECESSARY BURDENS THAT HAVE CLOGGED THIS ECONOMY. NOW, AMERICA DOESN'T WORK WHEN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS USE THE COURTS TO IMPOSE BACKROOM REGULATIONS THAT DESTROY JOBS AND REDUCE TAKE-HOME PAY. THIS BILL BEFORE US FIXES THAT. MAKE NO MISTAKE, EXCESSIVE RED TAPE HURTS WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS REPORTED THAT A PROPOSED OSHA REGULATION WOULD IMPOSE COSTS ON THE GROWING DOMESTICIC ENERGY SECTOR EQUAL TO 1,120 PER AFFECTED EMPLOYEE. THESE EMPLOY YES, SIR SHOULD NOT HAVE TO -- EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SMALLER PAYCHECKS AND ANOTHER EMERGING PRACTICE OF WASHINGTON REGULATORS THAT HIDES THE REAL IMPACT THAT EXCESSIVE REGULATION HAS ON JOBS. UNDER THE PRETENSE OF MINIMAL REGULATORY IMPACT, THIS ADMINISTRATION ARGUES THAT THE JOBS LOST FOR INSTANCE IN MINING, MANUFACTURING OR CONSTRUCTION WILL BE OFFSET BY NEW JOBS IN REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. THEREFORE, A MAJORITY OF THEIR REGULATIONS LOOK A LOT BETTER AND NOT AS HARMFUL. THIS IS WRONG. THIS IS NOT BEING STRAIGHT WITH THE PUBLIC. WE MUST DELIVER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS BUREAUCRACY. I DOUBT IT IS ANY SOLACE TO THE PLANT WORKER WHO LOSES HIS OR HER JOB BECAUSE OF REGULATIONS BECAUSE A NEW JOB IN ANOTHER SECTOR WILL BE CREATED TO COMPLY WITH THESE REGULATIONS. TODAY, WE'LL CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT BY OUR COLLEAGUE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, TO MIX THESE PROBLEMS. THIS AMENDMENT WILL HELP PROTECT MIDDLE-CLASS JOBS AND WAGES. IT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF REFORM THAT WILL MAKE AMERICA WORK AGAIN. AMERICANS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SETTLE TO THE NEW NORMAL OF SLOW ECONOMIC AND JOB GROWTH THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS SEEMED TO EMBRACE. WE IN THIS HOUSE REJECT THIS NEW NORMAL AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO CREATE AN AMERICA THAT WORKS AGAIN. I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE, REPRESENTATIVES HOLDING, AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE TO SUPPORT WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES BY SUPPORTING THIS BILL. AND I YIELD BACK. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE

THE CHAIR

VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

A DECENT WAGE -- BY THE WAY $7.25 AN HOUR FOR A FULL-TIME WORKER WOULD…

A DECENT WAGE -- BY THE WAY $7.25 AN HOUR FOR A FULL-TIME WORKER WOULD EQUATE TO ABOUT $14,000 500 A YEAR. -- 14,500, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR A WORKING PERSON TO RAISE A FAMILY AND TAKE CARE OF THAT FAMILY. THEY NEED HELP WHEN THEY MAKE $7.25 AN HOUR. THEY WOULD NEED HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT IF THEY COULDN'T RELY ON FRIENDS AND RELATIVES FOR SUPPORT. AND THAT'S A SHAME IN THIS DAY AND TIME WHERE A PERSON WORKING A MANUFACTURING JOB OR EVEN A JOB IN A MINE OR ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE WOULD BE MAKING $7.25 AN HOUR. WE SHOULD PERHAPS, MADAM SPEAKER, BE PAYING ATTENTION TO INCOME GENERATORS SUCH AS THAT KIND OF LEGISLATION AS OPPOSED TO LEGISLATION LIKE H.R. 2804, WHICH WOULD SIMPLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PROTECT THOSE WORKERS IN THOSE UNSAFE OCCUPATIONS LIKE MINING, LIKE CONSTRUCTION WORK, LIKE MANUFACTURING, KEEPING THE WORK SITE, THE JOB PLACE SAFE, REGULATIONS ARE WHAT DO THAT. WITH THAT, I WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR.…

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR. HASTINGS, THE

MR. GOODLATTE

TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR. HASTINGS, THE…

TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR. HASTINGS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. MR. HASTINGS: I THANK

THE CHAIR

MINUTES. MR. HASTINGS: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I

MR. HASTINGS

YIELDING. I RISE TO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AND THE PORTION THAT IS SPONSORED…

YIELDING. I RISE TO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AND THE PORTION THAT IS SPONSORED BY OUR COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA, MR. COLLINS, THAT WILLVILLE TRANSPARENCY OF SETTLEMENT PRACTICES. IN 2011, THE ADMINISTRATION ENTERED INTO A MEGA SETTLEMENT WHICH WAS A CLOSED-DOOR SETTLEMENT WITH TWO GROUPS THAT INCREASED THE HABITAT DESIGNATIONS THAT COULD IMPACT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES AND THOUSANDS OF RIVER MILES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE SETTLEMENTS SHUT OUT EFFECTIVE STATES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WHO DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE CURRENT AND BEST SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT IS BEING USED. IN MY OWN DISTRICT, OFFICIAL WILDLIFE LISTED A PLANT SUBSPECIES DESPITE CLEAR DATA THAT IT WAS NOT LIKELY TO GO EXTINCT. SETTLEMENT DEADLINES TRUMPED THE SCIENCE. THESE SETTLEMENT LISTINGS COULD REIMPACT FIVE WESTERN STATES A NEXT YEAR THE LISTINGS OF THE GREATER SAGE GROUSE COULD COVER 250 MILLION ACRES IN 13 WESTERN STATES AND THE LONG-EARED BAT THAT COULD IMPACT MIDWESTERN AND EASTERN STATES. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL, THE SETTLEMENT MANDATES DECISIONS FOR 374 AQUATIC SPECIES IN GULF OF MEXICO. THE POINT IS, IMPORTANT E.S.A. DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED BY ARBITRARY COURT DECISIONS OR DEADLINES OR NEGOTIATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SUPPOSEDLY ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC INTERESTS. THIS LEGISLATION ENSURES THAT AFFECTED STATES AND OTHER PARTIES CAN HAVE A SAY BEFORE AN UNELECTED JUDGE SIGNS IT AND ENSURES THAT NO SETTLEMENT MOVES FORWARD WITHOUT THE PUBLIC KNOWING WHAT'S IN IT. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I YIELD BACK MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN

THE CHAIR

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

AISLE CARED AS MANY ABOUT -- MUCH ABOUT AMERICA'S WORKERS AS THEY DO ABOUT…

AISLE CARED AS MANY ABOUT -- MUCH ABOUT AMERICA'S WORKERS AS THEY DO ABOUT AMERICA'S BIG BUSINESSES. OH, HOW I WISH THEY CARED MORE TO LET A MINIMUM WAGE BILL COME TO THE FLOOR, WHERE INTERNATIONAL THAT MOST MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WOULD FIND IT WITHIN THEIR HEARTS TO REALIZE THAT $7.25, JUST CAN'T MAKE IT ON THAT WITHOUT HELP. AND EVERYONE WHO GOES OUT AND WORKS HARD EVIDENCE SHOULD BE -- EVERY DAY, SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE PAID A FAIR, LIVING WAGE AND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. WITH THAT, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR.…

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH, A

MR. GOODLATTE

MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH, A…

MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH, A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SCIENCE, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED. MR. SMITH:

THE CHAIR

IS RECOGNIZED. MR. SMITH: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, THE…

IS RECOGNIZED. MR. SMITH: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR YIELDING ME TIME. I SUPPORT

MR. SMITH

CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR YIELDING ME TIME. I SUPPORT H.R.…

CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR YIELDING ME TIME. I SUPPORT H.R. 2804, ACHEESK -- THE ALERT ACT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT I HEAR FROM TEXAS EMPLOYERS IS THE AVALANCHE OF UNNECESSARY FEDERAL REGULATORY COSTS. REGULATION REDIRECTS SCARES CAPITAL TO COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN FACT, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HAS DETERMINED THAT FEDERAL REGULATIONS COST THE ECONOMY $1.75 TRILLION EACH YEAR. THIS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION IS REGULATORY RELIEF BILLS THAT THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS WORKED ON IN RECENT YEARS TO PROTECT BUSINESSES. I AUTHORED TWO OF THE BILLS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN H.R. 2804 AND APPRECIATE THEY ARE BEING CONSIDERED AGAIN THIS CONGRESS. THE ALERT ACT ADDS TRANSPARENCY TO THE REGULATORY PROCESS. IT STRENGTHENS EXISTING LAWS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FEDERAL AGENCIES FROM BYPASSING COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES DESIGNED TO PROTECT SMALL BUSINESSES AND REQUIRES FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PICK THE LEAST COSTLY ALTERNATIVE RULE TO ACHIEVE THAT STATUTORY GOAL. H.R. 2804 LIMITS ORGANIZATIONAL -- ORGANIZATION' ABILITY TO BRING FEDERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST FEDERAL AGENCIES. THESE RESULT IN ONE-SIDED REGULATIONS THAT SHUTS STAKEHOLDERS OUT OF THE PROCESS. THE ALERT ACT RESTORES THE PROPER BALANCE TO CONSENT DECREASE AND SETTLEMENTS. MADAM CHAIRMAN, I THANK CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED REGULATORY RELIEF TO AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND I URGE ADOPTION OF H.R. 2804 AND I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON:…

VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

MR. JOHNSON

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY DELIBERATELY DOWNPLAYS THE BENEFITS OF REGULATION…

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY DELIBERATELY DOWNPLAYS THE BENEFITS OF REGULATION AND EXAGGERATES THE COST OF REGULATION, WHEN IN FACT THE BENEFITS OF REGULATION FAR EXCEEDS THE COSTS, WHETHER THOSE BENEFITS ARE DEFINED IN MONETARY TERMS OR IN TERMS OF PROMOTING VALUES LIKE PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ENSURING CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY. THE EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED DOWN IN TEXAS NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE TOWN -- I BELIEVE IT WAS A FERTILIZER PLANT. MANY LIVES LOST. IF THERE HAD BEEN ADEQUATE LEGISLATION AND ADEQUATE REGULATION TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE AND THE WORKERS IN THE PLANT, THEN THOSE FOLKS WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS PREVENTING THE PROMULGATION OF THE KINDS OF RULES THAT WOULD PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT AMERICA, NOT JUST WORKERS, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE -- WHO HAVE TO EAT, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO DRINK, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO BREATHE. AND THE BENEFITS OF REGULATION FAR OUTWEIGH THE COSTS. THE 2012 DRAFT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REPORT THAT THE COST AND BENEFITS OF REGULATIONS CONCLUDED THAT THE NET BENEFITS OF REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THROUGH THE THIRD FISCAL YEAR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAVE EXCEEDED $91 BILLION. THIS AMOUNT, WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY MONETARY SAVINGS, BUT ALSO LIVES SAVED AND INJURIES PREVENTED, IS MORE THAN 25 TIMES THE NET BENEFITS THROUGH THE THIRD FISCAL YEAR OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. AND THESE ARE IMPORTANT POINTS THAT I BELIEVE MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE LIKE TO OMIT FROM THEIR ANALYSIS. WITH THAT, I'LL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE CHAIR

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: AT…

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, MR. BARRR.

MR. GOODLATTE

TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, MR. BARRR.

THE CHAIR

FOR TWO MINUTES. . . .

MR. BARR

OF THE AISLE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION…

OF THE AISLE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WORKERS IN AMERICA. AND I WOULD SUBMIT, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT IF WE TRULY ARE INTERESTED IN THE INTERESTS OF AMERICAN WORKERS, WE VOTE IMMEDIATELY TO PASS REGULATORY RELIEF IN THE FORM OF THE ALERT ACT. IF MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WERE TRULY INTERESTED IN THE WELFARE OF THE WORKING PEOPLE OF AMERICA, THEY WOULD STOP THE OVERBURDENSOME REGULATION THAT'S PUTTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. IN KENTUCKY, IN MY HOME STATE, IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS TRUE, CONSIDER THE FACTS AND THE FACTS ARE THESE. THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS 1.5% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. THERE'S NOT A RECESSION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY. IT'S A DEPRESSION. AND IT'S A DEPRESSION BECAUSE OF OVERBURDENSOME REGULATIONS COMING OUT OF THE E.P.A. WHICH ARE PUTTING THOUSANDS OF MY FELLOW KENTUCKIANS AND ALL OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS OUT OF WORK. THESE ARE HEARTLESS POLICIES. WE'VE LOST 7,000 JOBS IN KENTUCKY'S COAL MINES IN JUST THE LAST FIVE YEARS, PUTTING COAL INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1927. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WELFARE OF WORKERS, THESE PEOPLE NEED PAYCHECKS AND IT'S BECAUSE OF UNACCOUNTABLE, UN-- OVERBURDENSOME REGULATION, UNACCOUNTABLE BUREAUCRATS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT THESE PEOPLE NO LONGER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THIS IS WRONG. WE NEED TO ROLL BACK THESE BURDENSOME REGULATIONS, AND I'LL SAY THIS IN CONCLUSION, MADAM SPEAKER, AND THAT IS THAT IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN WE COMBINE LEGISLATIVE POWER INTO THE HANDS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. MADISON IN FEDERALIST NUMBER 47 , IN QUOTING, THE ACCUMULATION OF ALL POWERS, EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIARY, IN THE SAME HANDS, WHETHER OF ONE, A FEW OR MANY AND WHETHER HE HAD RED TEAR MAY JUSTLY BE PRONOUNCED THE DEFINITION OF TYRANNY. THERE CAN BE NO LIBERTY WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWERS ARE UNITED IN THE SAME PERSON. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AMERICA TODAY. I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

HAS EXPIRED. MR. BARBER: I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME --

MR. BARBER

MR. BARR

THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN…

THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON:

THE CHAIR

THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON: I WILL RESERVE THE…

THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON: I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN

MR. JOHNSON

TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR.

THE CHAIR

FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: MADAM CHAIRMAN, AT THIS TIME…

FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: MADAM CHAIRMAN, AT THIS TIME IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR. BACK US, THE

MR. GOODLATTE

TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR. BACK US, THE

THE CHAIR

FOR FOUR MINUTES. MR. BACHUS: WHEN THE LAW IS AGAINST YOU, ARGUE THE FACTS.

MR. BACHUS

YOU, ARGUE THE FACTS. WHEN THE FACTS ARE AGAINST YOU, ARGUE THE LAW. WHEN…

YOU, ARGUE THE FACTS. WHEN THE FACTS ARE AGAINST YOU, ARGUE THE LAW. WHEN THE LAW AND THE FACTS ARE AGAINST YOU, YELL LIKE HELL AND CALL YOUR OPPONENT NAMES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE. THIS IS A GOOD LAW THAT WE'RE PROPOSING. THE FACTS ARE ON OUR SIDE, SO -- AND I GOT TO HAND IT TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. CRIB COLLAPSING, BABY FORMULA POISONING REPUBLICANS, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. LET'S GO BACK TO THE FACTS. GET RID OF THE RHETORIC AND TALK ABOUT THE FACTS. THE NUMBER ONE FACT IS THAT AMERICA'S OUT OF WORK. THE CHAIRMAN MENTIONED THAT. ANDY BARR, THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. THIS COUNTRY NEEDS JOBS. YOU'VE CALLED US, THAT WE'RE AGAINST THE AMERICAN WORKER. WE WANT THE -- WE WANT THE AMERICAN WORKER. WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE JOBS, AND TO BE AN AMERICAN WORKER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A JOB. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE WAGES, BUT WHEN YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED THERE IS NO WAGE. TALK ABOUT AMERICAN DREAM, OWNING A HOME. NOT ANYMORE. JUST HAVING A JOB. AND 14% OF OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IS ABSORBED BY FEDERAL REGULATION. NOW, SOME OF THOSE ARE GOOD REGULATIONS. WE'RE NOT DOWN HERE ON THE FLOOR WANTING TO REPEAL SOME SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR CRIBS. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LOOSEN THE REGULATIONS ON BABY FORMULA. WE'RE ATTACKING -- AND LET ME SAY THERE ARE GOOD REGULATIONS, THERE ARE BAD REGULATIONS AND THEN THERE'S SOME REALLY UGLY REGULATIONS. $1.8 TRILLION IS THE ANNUAL PRICE TAG IN COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS. THAT'S NOT INCOME TAX. THAT'S NOT HEALTH CARE. THAT'S FEDERAL REGULATIONS. THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, NOT SOME REPUBLICAN, SAID IT COSTS $11,000 PER AMERICAN WORKER TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS. $11,000. WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT ALL OF THAT'S BAD. WHAT WE'RE SAYING OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS -- AND BY THE WAY, $1.8 TRILLION, $520 MILLION OF THAT BURDEN WAS PASSED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND THERE'S $87 BILLION WORTH OF REGULATIONS WAITING JUST THIS YEAR TO BE PASSED. NOW, THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND TREASURY, THEY TESTIFIED AT THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE EVERY YEAR AND THEY SAY IF YOU CAN INCREASE THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY 2%, WE CAN CREATE JOBS. 2%. IF WE CAN GROW IT FROM 2% TO 4%. LET ME SUBMIT THAT IN THAT 14% OF THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT THAT'S ABSORBED BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS, WE CAN FIND ONE OUT OF SEVEN OF THOSE REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN CHANGE. I'LL CLOSE BY TELLING YOU A GOOD ONE. THE CHAIRMAN STARTED BY TALKING ABOUT THE CEMENT INDUSTRY. THE E.P.A. PROPOSED A REGULATION THAT WOULD HAVE PUT 200,000 AMERICAN CEMENT WORKERS OUT OF WORK. WE ASKED WHY, THEY SAID BECAUSE OF MERCURY AND ARSENIC IN THE AIR. WE HAD A MAP AND IT SHOWED NO MERCURY AND ARSENIC AROUND OUR CEMENT PLANTS. AND WE SAID, WHERE'S THIS MERCURY AND ARSENIC COMING FROM? CHINA AND MEXICO. MR. GOODLATTE: MADAM CHAIRMAN, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA.

MR. GOODLATTE

TO YIELD AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA.

MR. BACHUS

TO MEXICO OR CHINA. WELL, IT WAS, REALLY. IT WAS TO RAISE OUR STANDARDS OR…

TO MEXICO OR CHINA. WELL, IT WAS, REALLY. IT WAS TO RAISE OUR STANDARDS OR TIGHTEN OUR STANDARDS THREE TIMES MORE STRINGENT THAN THE E.U. IT WOULD HAVE COST ALL THE PROFITS OF THE CEMENT INDUSTRY FOR 25 YEARS TO COMPLY. AND WHEN I ASKED SOMEONE AT THE E.P.A., WAIT A MINUTE, THE POLLUTION ISN'T COMING FROM OUR PLANTS. IT'S COMING FROM MEXICO OR CHINA. THEY SAID, IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM. YES, IT IS. JUST LIKE ANDY BARR'S PROBLEM IS HIS WORKERS ARE BEING PUT OUT OF A JOB. THAT'S ALL OUR PROBLEM. IT'S MY PROBLEM, IT'S YOUR PROBLEM, IT'S HIS PROBLEM. WE'RE UP HERE STANDING FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER. IF WE GROW THIS ECONOMY BY 2% OR 3% WE WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH JOBS, AND THESE REGULATIONS WILL START THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THE CHAIR

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

SPEAKER. THE GENTLEMAN SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY AS A LAWYER, AND HE MAKES…

SPEAKER. THE GENTLEMAN SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY AS A LAWYER, AND HE MAKES EXCELLENT POINTS. REGULATIONS DO COST. SO OUT OF A $15 MILLION GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, $1.8 TRILLION DEDICATED FOR REGULATORY EXPENSES, WHICH PROTECTS LIVES. I CAN'T PUT A VALUE ON ONE HUMAN LIFE, BUT TENS OF THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON THE JOB IS CERTAINLY WORTH $1.7 TRILLION OUT OF $15 TRILLION NA YEAR. BUT I WILL YIELD TO -- TRILL IN A YEAR. BUT -- $15 TRILLION IN A YEAR. BUT I'LL YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. CARTWRIGHT, FOR FOUR MINUTES.

THE CHAIR

PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.

MR. CARTWRIGHT

CHAIRMAN. THIS BILL IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR DURING THIS WEEK THAT…

CHAIRMAN. THIS BILL IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR DURING THIS WEEK THAT HAS BEEN LABELED STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE WEEK. I'M HERE TO SAY THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS SOME STOPPING POWER ALL RIGHT. IT WOULD STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM PROTECTING OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY BY BRINGING THE REGULATORY PROCESS TO A GRINDING HALT. I WANT TO ADDRESS TITLE 1 OF THIS ANTI-REGULATORY PACKAGE RIGHT NOW. IT INCLUDES THE TAX OF THE ALL ECONOMIC REGULATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT ACT. THIS LEGISLATION, MADAM CHAIR WOMAN IS UNNECESSARILY BURDENSOME FOR AGENCIES. AGENCIES ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE STATUS UPDATES TWICE A YEAR ON THEIR PLANS FOR PROPOSING AND FINALIZING RULES PURSUANT TO THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ACT AND EXECUTIVE ORDER 12866. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE AGENCIES TO REPORT MONTHLY. THEY ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO REPORT TWICE A YEAR. THIS TAKES THEM TO MONTHLY. IT'S INCREDIBLY BURDENSOME ON AGENCIES, BUT THE MOST EGREGIOUS PROVISION IN TITLE 1 WOULD PROHIBIT AGENCY RULES FROM TAKING EFFECT UNTIL THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS REQUIRED BY THE BILL ONLINE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. THIS MORATORIUM FROM THE NOTICE AND COMMENTS REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT OR IF THE PRESIDENT ISSUES AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, THEREFORE IT DELAYS MOST REGULATIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS. AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT TRANSPARENCY IN THE RULEMAKING PROCESS IS A GOOD THING, BUT THIS BILL SACRIFICES COMMON SENSE IN THE NAME OF IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY WITHOUT ACHIEVING ANY KIND OF MEANINGFUL TRANSPARENCY. AGENCIES ALREADY MAKE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE DURING THE RULEMAKING PROCESS. ON THE WEBSITE, REGULATIONS.GOV. THIS BILL WOULD SIMPLY REQUIRE AGENCIES TO MAKE INFORMATION PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, BUT IT DOESN'T DO THAT. UNDER THIS HAD BILL, AN AGENCY COULD POST INFORMATION ABOUT THE COSTS OF A PROPOSED RULE ON ITS OWN WEBSITE FOR A YEAR, BUT IF THE ADMINISTER OF THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DIDN'T POST THE INFORMATION FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, THE AGENCY WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM FINALIZING THE RULE. MADAM CHAIR, MY AMENDMENT WOULD STRIKE THE MORATORIUM PROVISION IN TITLE 1, STRIKING THAT PROVISION WOULD ENSURE THAT AN AGENCY RULE WILL NOT BE NEEDLESSLY HELD UP BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DID NOT POST A PIECE OF INFORMATION ONLINE FOR EXACTLY SIX MONTHS. I'VE BEEN ASSURED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE THAT MY AMENDMENT IS REVENUE NEUTRAL. I URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR MY AMENDMENT, AND I YIELD BACK WITH MY THANKS. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR.…

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: MADAM CHAIRMAN, THE ONLY SPEAKER ON OUR SIDE IS MY CLOSE.

MR. GOODLATTE

ONLY SPEAKER ON OUR SIDE IS MY CLOSE. IF THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WILL…

ONLY SPEAKER ON OUR SIDE IS MY CLOSE. IF THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WILL PROCEED.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON: THANK YOU.

MR. JOHNSON

MADAM SPEAKER, MY COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA SAID THAT WE ALL NEED TO COME…

MADAM SPEAKER, MY COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA SAID THAT WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND REAL SOLUTIONS TO CREATE JOBS. I SUBMIT THAT ONE WAY THAT WE CAN CREATE JOBS IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK AND THAT WE HAVE INCREASED THE MINIMUM WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE, ANOTHER WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH IMMIGRATION REFORM. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SMALL BUSINESSES EVERYWHERE HAVE COME TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRATION REFORM, COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. WHY? BECAUSE IT CREATES JOBS. DAVID PARK, THE CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF JOB CREATORS ALLIANCE, WROTE IN 2012 THAT, QUOTE, IMMIGRATION REFORM IS KEY TO SPURRING INNOVATION AND GETTING THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHO REALIZES THE ROLE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS PLAY IN CREATING NEW JOBS. AS FOUNDER AND C.E.O. OF A BOUTIQUE MERCHANT BANK, I HAVE STARTED -- ACQUIRED NEARLY 30 SMALL AND MID-SIZED COMPANIES, CREATING HUNDREDS OF JOBS FOR AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND I'M ALSO AN IMMIGRANT AND AN EXAMPLE OF HIGHLY SKILLED IMMIGRANTS, EDUCATED IN THE UNITED STATES, CAN DRIVE JOB CREATION RIGHT HERE. SO IMMIGRATION REFORM, MADAM SPEAKER, IS A JOB CREATOR. . WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET AN IMMIGRATION BILL, WHICH, BY THE WAY, HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE SENATE. WE CAN'T GET IT HEARD BY THIS CONGRESS. WE CANNOT BRING A BILL TO THE FLOOR THAT WOULD PASS THE HOUSE THAT WOULD RESULT IN COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. WE CANNOT BRING A BILL TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR A RAISE FOR AMERICANS WHO WORK FOR $7.25 AN HOUR, FULL-TIME, $14,500 A YEAR. SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TO FEED THEIR FAMILY AND TAKE CARE OF ONESELF. WE CAN'T GET JOB-CREATING BILLS THAT WOULD STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY BY PROVIDING FOR DOLLARS TO GO TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION. TOWARDS REPAIRING AND ENHANCING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. INSTEAD, WE GET CAUGHT UP ON MESSAGING BILLS, LIKE THE ACHIEVING LESS ACCESS AND REGULATION REQUIRING TRANSPARENCY ACT ALSO KNOWN AS THE ALERT ACT. I OPPOSE THIS BILL FOR NUMEROUS REASONS, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH, IT WOULD JEOPARDIZE REGULATORY PROTECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BILL REQUIRES AGENCIES TO CONSIDER POTENTIAL COSTS AND BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH PROPOSED AND FINAL RULES, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW. THIS SUPERMANDATE WOULD EFFECTIVELY TRUMP ALL OTHER STATUTES SUCH AS THE CLEAN AIR ACT, THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT, THAT PROHIBIT OR LIMIT THE USE OF COST INFORMATION IN SETTING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, TITLE 2 OF THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE AGENCIES AND FEDERAL COULD YOU TELL US TO CONSIDER WHETHER A RULE HAS, QUOTE, SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE ABILITY OF THE UNITED STATES-BASED ENTERPRISES TO COMPETE WITH FOREIGN-BASED ENTERPRISES IN DOMESTIC AND EXPORT MARKETS. THE PRACTICAL EFFECT, MADAM SPEAKER, IS THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE AGENCIES AND THE COURTS TO CONSIDER THE BUSINESS AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT OF OTHER NATIONS. CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, A PROPOSED RULE THAT IMPOSES HEIGHTENED CLEAN AIR REQUIRKTSE ON AMERICAN STEEL MANUFACTURERS. H.R. 2804 WOULD NECESSARILY REQUIRE CONSIDERATION WHETHER THIS REGULATION WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN HIGHER COMPLIANCE COSTS, COULD MAKE AMERICAN STEEL PRODUCTS LESS COMPETITIVE IN A COUNTRY SUCH AS CHINA, THAT HAS A MUCH LESS STRINGENT OR NO REGULATORY REGIME. WHILE THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS UNDER THIS REQUIREMENT MAYBE DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE, ITS DANGEROUS RAMIFICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEALTH HAZARD RISKS PRESENTED BY EXTENSIVE AIR POLLUTION AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN OVER THERE AND TRIED TO BREATHE, YOU KNOW THAT THE AIR IS GREATLY POLLUTED OVER THERE. SO THE CHINESE HAVE FINALLY AWAKENED TO THAT FACT, BUT THE END RESULT IS THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF AMERICANS AND THE SAFETY OF THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD BE COMPROMISED SO THAT AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS CAN BETTER COMPETE WITH THEIR FOREIGN COUNTERPARTS. THIS IS A SHORTSIDED REGULATORY RACE TO THE BOTTOM THAT PRIORITIZES PROFITS OVER SAVING LIVES. ANOTHER FUNDAMENTAL FLAW WITH H.R. 2804 IS THAT IT WILL GREATLY LENGTH THEN AND NOT SHORTEN THE ALREADY TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS BY WHICH FEDERAL RULES ARE PROMULGATED. AVOIDING UNDUE DELAY IN REGULATION BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT AMERICANS IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES. ON AVERAGE, MADAM SPEAKER, IT TAKES BETWEEN FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS FOR AN AGENCY TO PROMULGATE A NEW RULE. BUT INSTEAD OF STREAMLINING THE RULE-MAKING PROCESS, THIS BILL EXTENSIVELY ADDS NUMEROUS PROCEDURAL HURDLES TO THE PROCESS. IN TITLE 2 OF THE BILL, 60 ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL STEPS TO THE RULEMAKING PROCESS ARE INCLUDED. NOT ONLY THAT, TITLE 2 REINSTATES A LONG DISCREDITED RULEMAKING PROCESS THAT REQUIRES TRIAL-TYPE PROCESS. THIS TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS WAS WIDELY REJECTED DECADES AGO AS BEING HIGHLY INEFFECTIVE. RECENTLY, PROPOSED REGULATIONS THAT COULD BE IMPANTHED BY THIS AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE BILL INCLUDE RULES IMPLEMENTING THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT, STANDARDS TO REDUCE FOOD CONTAMINANT, LIKE SALMONELLA THAT WOULD HELP PREVENT 1.75 MILLION CASES OF ILLNESS, STRENGTHENING -- ANYTHING THING THAT WOULD BE INTERRUPTED, ANOTHER RULES PROCESS. STRENGTHENING CHEMICAL FACILITY ACCIDENT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN RESPONSE TO THE 2013 FERTILIZER EXPLOSION IN WEST TEXAS THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 12 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS. ANOTHER INTERRUPTION WOULD BE PREVENTING THE FFER AND DISTRIBUTION OF TAINTED AND COUNTERFEIT PRESCRIPTION DWRUGS DRUGS. ALSO IMPACTED, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S NATIONAL STANDARDS TO PREVENT, DETECT AND RESPOND TO PRISON RAPE. ANOTHER INTERRUPTION, ADJUSTING THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES TO MEDICARE PROVIDERS FOR IN-STAGE REENAL DISEASE, SETTING PAYMENTS TO PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS UNDER THE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM. IT WOULD ALSO STOP THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MEAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM UNDER THE HEALTHY HUNGER KIDS ACT OF 2010. IT WOULD PREVENT IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS FOR VISA -- H-2 VISAS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, MADAM SPEAKER, I OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION AND I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN

THE CHAIR

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE REMAINING…

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE REMAINING MINUTES.

MR. GOODLATTE

MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION. LET'S BEGIN BY…

MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION. LET'S BEGIN BY REVIEWING THE FACTS. $1.8 TRILLION-PLUS AND THAT IS JUST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS MIND YOU, THAT IS NOT STATE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, $1.8 TRILLION DOLLARS, ONE/EIGHTH OF THE TOTAL PRODUCTION, SPENT ON GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. SOME OF THOSE ARE NECESSARY AND THIS BY NO MEANS ELIMINATES THE REGULATIONS BUT PUTS THEM THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE WE KNOW THAT THE REGULATIONS ARE NEEDED AND IN THE MOST COMMONSENSE WAY. LOWER COSTS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES. LOWER TAXES FOR AMERICANS WHO FACE RIGHT NOW AN AVERAGE PER FAMILY COST OF $11,500 A YEAR IN HIGHER COSTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES AND HIGHER TAXES AS A RESULT OF REGULATORY BURDEN. IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO JOB CREATION IN OUR COUNTRY. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT MANUFACTURING TODAY. LAST YEAR, FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES REACHED $2 TRILLION IN PRODUCTION, $2 TRILLION. SOUNDS REMARKABLE UNTIL YOU CONSIDER THAT REGULATIONS COST $1.86 TRILLION, JUST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, ALMOST WIPING OUT THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY IF ALL THOSE REGULATIONS APPLIED TO MANUFACTURING, WHICH, OF COURSE, THEY DO NOT. CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS, CONSIDER THE IMPACT UPON ROB JAMES, A CITY COUNCILMAN IN AFEON LAKE, OHIO WHO IS EXPERIENCING REDUCED REVENUE BECAUSE REGULATIONS OF POWER PLANT -- WITH UNNECESSARY I HAD LOGICAL-DRIVEN, ANTI-FOSSIL-FUEL REGULATION ARE PROJECTED TO DESTROY JOBS. CONSIDER THE JOB LOSS IN THE BUSINESS OF MR. ALAN PUCKET IN HIS BRICK COMPANY WHO EXPECTS TO LAY OFF 2/3 OF HIS EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THE SECOND ROUND OF THE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS WHERE SOMEONE SUES THE REGULATORY AGENCY AND MAKES A SETTLEMENT OF THAT IN A FRIENDLY CASE THAT MR. PUCKETT AND HIS EMPLOYEES DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SUIT AND COULDN'T ENTER IT AND THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON THE COST OF BUYING A HOME, ONE OF THE BASIC PARTS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM WHEN MR. CARL HARRIS OF WICHITA, KANSAS SAID ONE-QUARTER OF THE COST OF A HOME TODAY IS IN THE FORM OF REGULATION. THE COST OF THOSE REGULATIONS. WITH THIS REGULATION IN PLACE, BUSINESSES ACROSS AMERICA AND WORKERS ACROSS AMERICA WILL EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN THEIR PROFITABILITY AND INCREASE IN THEIR WAGES. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN THE MARKETPLACE WITH REGARD TO WAGES. THEY WOULD RISE ON THEIR OWN IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE PRACTICAL STEPS IN REVIEWING REGULATIONS BEFORE THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS COUNTRY. AND FINALLY LET ME SAY THAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FREEDOM. GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS SUPPRESSES IDEAS, IMPLEMENTING NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS. YES, WE NEED TO HAVE REGULATIONS TO PROTECT SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE, YES, WE NEED REGULATIONS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY NEED TO BE COMMONSENSE REGULATIONS THAT ARE GOING ABOUT DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND NO MORE AND IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY AND THEY ARE GOING ABOUT DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED, WHO ARE GOING TO SEE BUSINESSES LOST AND WORKERS LOSE THEIR JOBS AND NO NOTICE THAT THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AND I YIELD BACK. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK. ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS EXPIRED. PURSUANT TO THE RULE,

THE CHAIR

ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS EXPIRED. PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE BILL…

ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS EXPIRED. PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE. IN LIEU OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM PRINTED IN THE BILL, IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT UNDER FIVE-MINUTE RULE AN AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE CONSISTING OF THE TEXT OF RULES COMMITTEE PRINT 113-38. THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ. NO AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE IN ORDER EXCEPT THOSE PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 11-361. EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE OFFERED IN THE ORDER ONLY PRINTED IN THE REPORT BY A MEMBER DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT, SHALL BE CONSIDERED READ, SHALL BE DEBATED FOR THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE REPORT EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND AN OPPONENT, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT FOR DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE QUESTION.

THE CHAIR

AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361. FOR WHAT PURPOSE…

AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK RECOGNITION? MR. JOHNSON: AS THE DESIGNEE OF MR. CARTWRIGHT, I'M OFFERING AMENDMENT NUMBER 1. THE CHAIR:

MR. JOHNSON

CARTWRIGHT, I'M OFFERING AMENDMENT NUMBER 1. THE CHAIR:

THE CHAIR

AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT NUMBER…

AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT NUMBER 113-361, OFFERED BY MR.

THE CLERK

REPORT NUMBER 113-361, OFFERED BY MR. JOHNSON OF GEORGIA.

THE CHAIR

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. JOHNSON, AND A MEMBER…

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. JOHNSON, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.

MR. JOHNSON

THIS AMENDMENT SIMPLY STRIKES THE MORATORIUM PROVISIONS IN TITLE 1 OF THE…

THIS AMENDMENT SIMPLY STRIKES THE MORATORIUM PROVISIONS IN TITLE 1 OF THE BILL. MADAM SPEAKER, A REGULATORY MORATORIUM MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. CAPS SUNSTEIN FORMER HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS, OBSERVED, QUOTE, A MORATORIUM WOULD NOT BE A MACHETE BUT A NUCLEAR BOMB IN THE SENSE THAT IT WOULD PREVENT REGULATIONS THAT COST VERY LITTLE AND HAVE VERY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS. THIS IS YET ANOTHER AN AMENDMENT BY THE MAJORITY TO OBSTRUCT AT ALL COSTS AND STOP ALL REGULATIONS. IN THE LAST CONGRESS, WE CONSIDERED H.R. 4078, WHICH WOULD HAVE IMPOSED A MORATORIUM FOR ANY QUARTER WHERE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS' AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN 6%. ALTHOUGH THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE PASSED THE BILL, IT, OF COURSE, DIED IN THE SENATE. A MORATORIUM THREATENS KEY HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS. DURING THE 104TH CONGRESS, THE HOUSE PASSED THE REGULATORY TRANSITION ACT OF 1995, A BILL THAT IMPOSED A REGULATORY MORATORIUM PENDING THE INSTITUTION OF A RISK ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT REGIME. THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT, DEMOCRATS IN THEIR DISSENT TO THE REPORTED BILL, OBSERVED THAT THE LEGISLATION WAS ILL-CONSEEVED THAT IT HAD UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES. IN PARTICULAR, THEY NOTED THE BILL IGNORES INTERESTS OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN. THERE IS NO EFFORT IN THIS BILL TO SORT OUT THE GOOD FROM THE BAD. IT'S A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION. . . . IT WOULD HALT REGULATIONS FAVORED BY BUSINESSES SUCH AS RULES AT THE F.C.C. TO ALLOCATE PORTIONS OF SPECTRUM FOR NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. ACCORDINGLY, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT THAT WOULD STRIKE THE BILL'S PERNICIOUS MORATORIUM PROVISION. AND I WILL RESERVE.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA RESERVES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK…

GEORGIA RESERVES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK RECOGNITION? MR. GOODLATTE: I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN

MR. GOODLATTE

AMENDMENT. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THE CHAIR

MINUTES.

MR. GOODLATTE

BUSINESSES, THE LEAST WE CAN ASK IS THAT THEY BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.…

BUSINESSES, THE LEAST WE CAN ASK IS THAT THEY BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT. WHAT COULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT THAN REQUIRING THEM, THE REGULATORS, ON A MONTHLY BASIS, ONLINE, TO UPDATE THE PUBLIC WITH REALTIME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT NEW REGULATIONS ARE COMING AND HOW MUCH THEY'LL COST? ONCE THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION, AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS AND JOB CREATORS WILL BE ABLE TO PLAN AND BUDGET MEANINGFULLY FOR NEW COSTS THEY MAY HAVE TO ABSORB. AND IF THEY'RE DENIED THAT INFORMATION, THEY WILL ONLY BE BLINDSIDED. THAT'S NOT FAIR. TITLE 1 OF THE ALERT ACT MAKES SURE THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC. TO PROVIDE A STRONG INCENTIVE TO AGENCIES TO HONOR ITS REQUIREMENTS, TITLE 1 PROHIBITS NEW REGULATIONS FROM BECOMING EFFECTIVE UNLESS AGENCIES PROVIDE TRANSPARENT INFORMATION ONLINE FOR SIX MONTHS PRECEDING THE REGULATIONS IT'S ISSUING. THE AMENDMENT SEEKS TO ELIMINATE THAT INCENTIVE. WITHOUT AN INCENTIVE LIKE THAT IN EXISTING LAW, WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, REPEATED FAILURES TO MAKE DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY STATUTE AND EXECUTIVE ORDER, INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S YEAR-LONG HIDING OF THE BALL ON NEW REGULATIONS DURING THE 2012 ELECTION CYCLE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT AND RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA

THE CHAIR

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON: MADAM…

RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, THE MAJORITY IS PURSUING THIS LEGISLATION IN COMPLETE DISREGARD OF VARIOUS RECENT EXAMPLES OF REGULATORY FAILURE. THESE

MR. JOHNSON

THIS LEGISLATION IN COMPLETE DISREGARD OF VARIOUS RECENT EXAMPLES OF…

THIS LEGISLATION IN COMPLETE DISREGARD OF VARIOUS RECENT EXAMPLES OF REGULATORY FAILURE. THESE INCLUDE THE COAL MINE EXPLOSION IN WEST VIRGINIA WHICH TOOK THE LIVES OF 29 MINERS. IN FACT, NEXT MONTH WILL MARK THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THAT EXPLOSION. THE EXPLOSION OF B.P.'S DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL RIG IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WHICH STEMMED FROM LACK -- LAX REGULATION OF OIL DRILLING PLATFORMS. THAT'S ALSO A PROMINENT EXAMPLE. THE HOME FORECLOSURE CRISIS, THE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS, AND THE ENSUING GREAT RECESSION, ALL OF WHICH STEMMED FROM THE FACT THAT REGULATORS UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION LACKED THE DIRECTION, RESOURCES AND AUTHORITY TO CONFRONT THE HIGHLY RECKLESS BEHAVIOR OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PARTICULARLY THE LENDING AND FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES. IT WAS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THESE REGULATORY FAILURES IN THE FINANCIAL REALM THAT CONGRESS PASSED THE DODD-FRANK ACT AND OTHER MEASURES DURING THE 111TH CONGRESS, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE TRIED TO REPEAL THOSE MEASURES AND HAVE TRIED TO REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. OF THE 58 BILLS THAT WERE PASSED OUT OF THIS SO-CALLED DO-NOTHING CONGRESS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS SESSION, NOT ONE OF THEM WAS A JOBS BILL. NOT ONE JOB CREATED. DO WE SET OURSELVES UP AGAIN FOR THE KIND OF REGULATORY WILD, WILD WEST THAT GOT US INTO TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE? WITH THAT, I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE.

THE CHAIR

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR.…

GEORGIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: AT THIS TIME IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR. BACHUS, THE

MR. GOODLATTE

PLEASURE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR. BACHUS,…

PLEASURE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR. BACHUS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

THE CHAIR

ALABAMA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

MR. BACHUS

THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS TALKED ABOUT THESE REGULATIONS ALL BEING…

THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS TALKED ABOUT THESE REGULATIONS ALL BEING NECESSARY. BUT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SAID WE NEED TO REPEAL UNNECESSARY FEDERAL REGULATIONS. HE STOOD RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE WHEN HE GAVE TWO STATE OF THE UNIONS AND SAID WE NEED TO ELIMINATE SOME OF OUR FEDERAL REGULATIONS. AND HE CHARGED THE CONGRESS TO DO THAT. IT'S BEEN PART OF HIS AGENDA. IT'S BEEN PART OF WHAT HE'S CAMPAIGNED ON. IT'S BEEN PART OF WHAT HE'S BROUGHT TO THE CONGRESS IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGEMENT AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS BILL DOES -- MESSAGE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS BILL DOES. HE SAID, REGULATIONS AREN'T ABSTRACT IDEAS. THEY'RE -- THEY COST MONEY. AND CERTAIN CERTAIN CASES THE BENEFIT IS SEVERAL -- AND IN CERTAIN CASES THE BENEFIT IS SIMPLY NOT THERE. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ENDANGERING PUBLIC HEALTH. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REGULATIONS THAT ENDANGER JOBS UNNECESSARILY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE CHAIR

HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES. AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. JOHNSON

RESCIND AND REPEAL ANY UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS. BUT WE'VE BEEN BUSY…

RESCIND AND REPEAL ANY UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS. BUT WE'VE BEEN BUSY CUTTING GOVERNMENT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. AND THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE US WON'T CUT ANY REGULATIONS, BUT IT CERTAINLY WILL KEEP ANY REGULATIONS FROM COMING FORWARD. AND I THINK THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVE OF THE REPUBLICANS HERE WHICH IS TO PROTECT BIG BUSINESS. WITH THAT I WILL YIELD BACK. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE

THE CHAIR

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: I YIELD MYSELF THE…

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE: I YIELD MYSELF THE BALANCE OF THE TIME AND JUST SAY THAT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE PROVISION OF THE BILL THAT THIS AMENDMENT ATTACKS IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROVISION THAT JUST PROVIDES FOR TRANSPARENCY.

MR. GOODLATTE

ATTACKS IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROVISION THAT JUST PROVIDES FOR…

ATTACKS IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROVISION THAT JUST PROVIDES FOR TRANSPARENCY. IT SAYS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO REGULATIONS -- IT DOESN'T STOP ANY OF THE REGULATIONS THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA REFERENCED IT. SIMPLY SAYS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE REGULATIONS, TELL US ABOUT THEM AHEAD OF TIME. SO AS YOU MOVE TOWARD THE FINAL IMPLEMENTATION, THE LAST SIX MONTHS BEFORE IT GOES INTO EFFECT, THE PUBLIC GETS TO SEE IT, THE MEDIA GETS TO SEE IT, THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IMPACTED GET TO SEE IT, THE WORKERS WHO MAY LOSE THEIR JOBS GET TO SEE IT. THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PREPARE FOR IT, ALLOWS THEM TO COMMENT, IT ALLOWS THEM TO TRY TO CHANGE THE LAW. IT IS SIMPLY A FAIR WAY TO ENTER INTO REGULATIONS. AND IT'S A COMMONSENSE PROVISION THAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE BILL AND THE AMENDMENT SHOULD BE DEFEATED AND I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

MR. MURPHY

THE CHAIR

DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 PRINTED IN HOUSE…

DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR.

THE CLERK

IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. MURPHY OF FLORIDA. THE CHAIR:…

IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. MURPHY OF FLORIDA. THE CHAIR: PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. MURPHY, AND A MEMBER

THE CHAIR

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. MURPHY, AND A MEMBER

MR. MURPHY

A FORMER SMALL BUSINESSMAN, I AM ACUTELY AWARE OF THE STRAIN UNNECESSARY…

A FORMER SMALL BUSINESSMAN, I AM ACUTELY AWARE OF THE STRAIN UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS HAVE ON BUSINESS. WHILE I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING GOAL OF REDUCING THE REGULATORY BURDEN ON AMERICAN COMPANIES, TRULY SMART REGULATORY REFORM WOULD PRESERVE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE CLEAN AIR LAWS, FOOD SAFETY AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONS. IT WOULD NOT PILE ON DUPLICATIVE PROCEDURAL HURDLES ON ALREADY INEFFICIENT AGENCIES. GUMMING UP GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY AND OBSTRUCTING AGENCIES' MOST BASIC FUNCTIONS. TOO OFTEN THE BAIT UP -- THE DEBATE UP HERE ABOUT MORE OR LESS REGULATIONS -- UP HERE IS ABOUT MORE OR LESS REGULATIONS WHEN WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON SMARTER REGULATIONS. WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO AGREE THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN CLEAN WATER FOR AMERICANS, AN ISSUE WE'RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH ON THE TREASURED COAST. WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO AGREE THAT WHEN A CONSUMER WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR OF A BANK, LOOKING FOR A MORTGAGE, THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN PROTECTING THAT CONSUMER. THESE REGULATIONS SHOULD HELP THE PUBLIC WITHOUT UNNECESSARILY HINDERING BUSINESS. OUR NATION'S ECONOMIC ENGINE. WE MUST BOTH PROTECT AMERICANS AND ENABLE COMMERCE. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS NOT AGAINST ALL REGULATION. THEY ARE AGAINST EXCESSIVELY BURDENSOME REGULATION. IN MY DISTRICT, BUSINESS OWNERS BELIEVE THAT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLEAN WATER STANDARDS IS NOT ANTIGROWTH. IN FACT, IT'S PROJOBS. WHEN I RECENTLY TOURED THE FAMILY-RUN TRUCKING COMPANY IN MY DISTRICT, THEY WERE NOT AGAINST TRUCK SAFETY STANDARDS. THEY DO THE RIGHT THING BY THEIR WORKERS AND THEY ABIDE BY SAFE DRIVING RULES. AND THEY WANT REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT OTHERS DO THE SAME. WHAT THEY ARE AGAINST ARE NEW TRUCK SAFETY STANDARDS THAT HINDER GROWTH WITHOUT ACTUALLY MAKING TRUCKING ANY SAFER. SMARTER REGULATIONS SHOULD PROTECT GOOD BUSINESSES FROM BAD ACTORS. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE. DENNY HUDSON, HE RUNS SEA COAST BANK, A SMALL COMMUNITY BANK IN FLORIDA. LIKE MANY SMALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, THEY WEATHERED THE FINANCIAL CRISIS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE RISKY FINANCIAL BEHAVIOR. THEY EXPECTED MORTGAGES TO BE REPAID ON TIME AND THEY WANTED THE SMALL BUSINESSES THEY SUPPORTED TO SUCCEED. AFTER THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2008, NEARLY TOOK DOWN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, MOST PEOPLE AGREED THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATORS NEEDED TO BETTER PROTECT OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM. BUT IF NEW REGULATIONS KEEP COMMUNITY BANKS LIKE SEA COAST FROM GETTING CREDIT WORTHY YOUNG FAMILIES INTO THEIR FIRST HOME OR PROVIDING CAPITAL TO NEW SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT'S A PROBLEM. MY AMENDMENT IS SIMPLE. WHILE RECOGNIZING THE GOAL OF THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE REGULATORY PROCESS, MY AMENDMENT MAINTAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, CONSUMER HEALTH AND WORKPLACE SAFETY. I PROPOSE REMOVING COSTLY HURDLES THAT WOULD MAKE GOVERNMENT LESS EFFICIENT, WHILE PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO HOLD THEIR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE WHEN IT FAILS TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY AND CIVIL RIGHTS. MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT TOO MUCH BUREAUCRACY. WE SHOULD NOT COMPOUND THE PROBLEM BY CREATING DUPLICATIVE GOVERNMENT PROCESSES. LET'S EXAMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REGULATIONS ALREADY IN PLACE. SENATOR KING INTRODUCED A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WOULD EXACTLY THAT. IT WOULD ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO IDENTIFY AND EITHER STRIKE TO IMPROVE OUTDATED AND OBSOLETE REGULATIONS. WE SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING IN THIS BODY. AT A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE WITH LESS, CAN WE REALLY AFFORD TO INCREASE SPENDING WITH MORE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY? I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS COMMONSENSE AMENDMENT, TO IMPROVE THE UNDERLYING BILL, SAVE THE PARTISAN FIGHT OVER CONTROVERSIAL SECTIONS FOR ANOTHER DAY, STREAMLINE THE REGULATORY PROCESS AND SAVE $70 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS. I THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN

THE CHAIR

BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEKS…

BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEKS RECOGNITION?

MR. GOODLATTE

OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT, MADAM SPEAKER. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS…

OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT, MADAM SPEAKER. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THE CHAIR

MR. GOODLATTE

SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKERS AND FAMILIES ARE BEING CRUSHED BY AN ANNUAL…

SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKERS AND FAMILIES ARE BEING CRUSHED BY AN ANNUAL REGULATORY BURDEN THAT IN 2012 AMOUNTED TO $15,000 PER HOUSEHOLD. THAT'S AN EXPENSE BIGGER THAN ANY FAMILY EXPENSE EXCEPT FOR HOUSING AND THE NUMBER OF NEW COSTLY REGULATIONS JUST KEEPS GROWING AND GROWING. IN RESPONSE, TITLES 2 AND 4 OF THE BILL, WHICH THIS AMENDMENT SEEKS TO STRIKE, THOSE TWO TITLES RIGHT INTO STATUTE BEST PRACTICES IN RULEMAKING, THAT HELP TO LOWER COSTS, AVOID UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS, AND KEEP PRO-REGULATORY SPECIAL INTERESTS FROM ABUSING THE COURT TO FORCE NEW COSTLY REGULATIONS UPON THE PUBLIC. AND THEY DO ALL OF THIS WITHOUT DENYING THE ABILITY OF AGENCIES TO ISSUE NEW REGULATIONS THAT ARE SENSIBLE TO FULFILL STATUTORY MANDATES. WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT THAT THE BILL DO THAT? BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THESE ARE BEST PRACTICES, THEY ARE TOO OFTEN HONORED IN THE BREACH OR NOT AT ALL BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT YET WRITTEN INTO STATUTE. THE AMENDMENT SUBSTANTIALLY GUTS THE BILL, DENIES IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS TO AMERICAN WORKERS, FAMILIES AND JOB CREATORS, AND UNJUSTIFIABLY PROLONGS THE TIME DURING WHICH REGULATORY AGENCIES CAN OPERATE WITHOUT ADEQUATE CHECKS AND BALANCES. SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT AND RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. .

THE CHAIR

FLORIDA HAS YIELDED BACK. MR. GOODLATTE: I YIELD BACK. THE

MR. GOODLATTE

THE CHAIR

HIS TIME. THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

HIS TIME. THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE NOES HAVE IT, AND THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO. IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER 3, PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA SEEK RECOGNITION? MR. ROTHFUS: I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK. THE

MR. ROTHFUS

THE DESK. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361…

THE DESK. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. ROTHFUS

THE CLERK

IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. ROTHFUS OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE CHAIR:…

IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. ROTHFUS OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE CHAIR: PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. ROTHFUS, AND

THE CHAIR

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. ROTHFUS, AND A MEMBER…

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. ROTHFUS, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. ROTHFUS

CHAIRMAN. AMERICANS FACE A REGULATORY BURDEN WITH STAGGERING COSTS TO OUR…

CHAIRMAN. AMERICANS FACE A REGULATORY BURDEN WITH STAGGERING COSTS TO OUR ECONOMY AND WITH SUBSTANTIAL IMPACTS ON FAMILY BUDGETS. A RECENT PAPER BY THE COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE ESTIMATES THAT THE COST OF FEDERAL REGULARS LATIONS TO THE ECONOMY EXCEEDS $1.8. IT IS PREDICTED THAT $143 BILLION IN NEW REGULATIONS MAY BE FINALIZED THIS YEAR. THESE FIGURES ARE VERY TROUBLING. THAT IS WHY THE BILL WE ARE CONSIDERING IS SO IMPORTANT. H.R. 2804 REFORMS THE REGULATORY PROCESS AND PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH WE NEED TO GET OUR ECONOMY BOOMING AGAIN AND ADD JOBS. THE AMENDMENT THAT I OFFER TODAY, WITH MY FRIEND, MR. BARRR IS SIMPLE AND ONE THAT I HOPE BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WILL SUPPORT. IF IT DECREASES EMPLOYMENT OR WAGES BY 1%, IT WILL BE SUBJECT TO HEIGHTEND REVIEW AND ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENT. THE AMENDMENT REQUIRES THAT AGENCY HEADS TO CERTIFY THAT THEY KNOWINGLY APPROVED A RULE THAT WILL RESULT IN LOST JOBS OR REDUCED WAGES. THE PRINCIPLE IS SIMPLE. IF FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT RULES THAT TAKE WAGES OR JOBS FROM AMERICANS, THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DECISIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS THINK THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS. BUREAUCRATIC ELITES ARE REGULATING SOLID, GOOD-PAYING JOBS OUT OF EXISTENCE. AT A TIME WHEN WAGES ARE STAGNANT FOR AMERICAN WORKERS AND WE SO DESPERATELY NEED TO ADD JOBS TO THE ECONOMY, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. ON FEBRUARY 7, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAVELING UNDERGROUND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK AND OPERATIONS ABOUT A MINE IN MY DISTRICT. MINE TERSE WORK HARD TO POWER OUR ELECTRIC GRID AND SUPPLY OUR STEEL MILLS. BUT THEIR WAY OF LIFE IS BEING REGULATED OUT OF EXISTENCE. DAN, THE MINE ELECTRICIAN ASKED ME, WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE TO CURB THE PRESIDENT'S WAR ON COAL? HE SAID AS A MINE ELECTRICIAN, MY MEN ARE ASKING ME QUESTIONS LIKE, ARE WE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR NEW JOBS? THIS EXTENDS BEYOND THE COAL FIELDS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND KENTUCKY. IT COSTS $14,700, 30% OF A PENNSYLVANIA'S FAMILY'S ANNUAL INCOME. IT WILL COST FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES 14 BILLION HOURS, WHO THINKS THIS IS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE USE OF THEIR TIME? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD MORE LOST JOBS AND REDUCED WAGES. IT MEANS ONE LESS PERSON NEEDED TO HELP WITH SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE OR OTHER CRITICAL PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS, EDUCATION, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT AND I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO MY FRIEND, MR. BARR, FROM KENTUCKY. MR. BARR: I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT HE AND HIS STAFF PUT INTO THIS AMENDMENT WHICH I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE WITH HIM.

MR. BARR

I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE WITH HIM. IN KENTUCKY, THE…

I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE WITH HIM. IN KENTUCKY, THE OVERREGULATION OF THE KENTUCKY COAL INDUSTRY HAS REALLY TAKEN A TOLL. UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, APPALACHIAN KENTUCKY HAS LOST 7,000 JOBS IN FIVE YEARS PUTTING THE EMPLOYMENT TO ITS LOWEST LEVELS SINCE RECORDS WERE FIRST KEPT IN 1927. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE REGULATORY REFORM LEGISLATION BY HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE THOSE AGENCIES. AND I THANK MY FRIEND FROM PENNSYLVANIA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK. MR. ROTHFUS: I RESERVE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN

MR. ROTHFUS

THE CHAIR

PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEKS RECOGNITION? MR.…

PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEKS RECOGNITION? MR. JOHNSON: I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE ROTHFUS AMENDMENT.

MR. JOHNSON

THE ROTHFUS AMENDMENT.

THE CHAIR

FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: THIS WOULD ADD ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS IN THE…

FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: THIS WOULD ADD ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS IN THE REGULATORY PROCESS THAT EXAMINES WHETHER OR NOT REGULATIONS HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON JOBS AND WAGES.

MR. JOHNSON

A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON JOBS AND WAGES. ADDING THIS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT…

A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON JOBS AND WAGES. ADDING THIS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT IS HIGHLY SPECULATIVE AND ANNUAL IT CALL WOULD FURTHER SLOW DOWN THE RULEMAKING PROCESS ADDING MORE RED TAPE. I INVITE THE GENTLEMEN TO SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT, AMENDMENT NUMBER 9, WHICH WE WILL GET TO SHORTLY, THAT WOULD EXCLUDE FROM THE BILL ANY RULE, CONSENT DECREE OR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WOULD RESULT IN NET JOB CREATION OR HAVE GREATER BENEFITS THAN COSTS. I WOULD ALSO HOPE MY FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WOULD HAVE A DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AND TAKE ACTIONS TO FOSTER JOB GROWTH INSTEAD OF ADDING MORE RED TAPE TO THE REGULATORY PROCESS. TO THE EXTENT THAT REGULATIONS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH JOBS, H.R. 2804'S PRO OPPONENTS SHOULD OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT NUMBER 9 THAT ALL RULES WOULD RESULT IN JOB CREATION. WITH RESPECT TO REGULATIONS STIFLING JOB CREATION, THE EVIDENCE, MADAM SPEAKER, IS TO THE CONTRARY. IF ANYTHING, REGULATIONS CAN PROMOTE JOB GROWTH AND PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK. FOR INSTANCE, THE BLUE-GREEN ALLIANCE NOTES THAT STUDIES ON THE DIRECT IMPACT OF REGULATIONS ON JOB GROWTH HAVE FOUND THAT MOST REGULATIONS RESULT IN MODEST JOB GROWTH OR HAVE NO EFFECT. AND ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS CONSISTENTLY SURGED FORWARD IN CONCERT WITH THESE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS. THE CLEAN AIR ACT IS A SHINING EXAMPLE GIVEN THAT THE ECONOMY HAS GROWN 204% AND PRIVATE SECTOR JOB CREATION HAS EXPANDED 86% SINCE ITS PASSAGE IN 1970. IN REFERENCE TO THE CLEAN AIR ACT, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET OBSERVED THAT 40 YEARS OF SUCCESS WITH THIS MEASURE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AND STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH GO HAND-IN-HAND. REGULATIONS CREATE VALUABLE JOBS AND RESEARCH ACROSS AGENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, A PENDING REGULATION LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF AIRBORNE MERCURY WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE POLLUTANTS BUT CREATE 45,000 TEMPORARY JOBS AND 8,000 PERMANENT JOBS AS THE "NEW YORK TIMES" NOTED LAST MONTH. HEIGHTENED VEHICLE EMISSION STANDARDS HAVE SPURRED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION EFFORTS THAT HAVE GENERATED MORE THAN 150,000 AT 504 FACILITIES IN 43 STATES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE MAJORITY'S OWN WITNESS DEBUNKED THE MYTH THAT IT STYMIED JOB CREATION DURING HIS TESTIMONY BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON AN ANTI-REGULATORY BILL, CHRISTOPHER DEENCHMUTH STATED IN HIS PREPARED TESTIMONY THAT THE FOCUS ON JOBS CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION IN REGULATORY DEBATES AND THAT THE EMPLOYMENT EFFECTS OF REGULATION, WHILE IMPORTANT, ARE INDERMENT. THE BILL THAT IT CREATES A DISINTIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO ADD JOBS WAS REJECTED BY A SENIOR POLICY ANALYST IN THE REAGAN AND THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED H.W. BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS. HE OBSERVED THAT IT IS INVENTED BY REPUBLICANS THAT ALLOWS THEM TO USE CURRENT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS TO PURSUE AN AGENDA SUPPORTED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY YEAR END AND YEAR OUT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A SIMPLE CASE OF POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY, NOT A SERIOUS EFFORT TO DEAL WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. THAT WAS BRUCE BARTLETT. WAKE FOREST LAW PROFESSOR HAS TESTIFIED THAT, QUOTE, ALL OF THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE CONTRADICTS THE CLAIM THAT REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY IS DETERING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT. CONSTANT DEMAND, NOT REGULATIONS, DRIVES HIRING CHOICES.

THE CHAIR

MR. JOHNSON

SUPPRESSES JOB CREATION AND I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

MR. ROTHFUS

GENTLEMAN HAS ONE MINUTE LEFT. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN

THE CHAIR

MINUTE LEFT. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.

THE CHAIR

RECOGNIZED.

MR. GOODLATTE

HIS AMENDMENT, WHICH PROTECTS AMERICA'S WORKERS. THE CHAIR: THE REQUEST OF…

HIS AMENDMENT, WHICH PROTECTS AMERICA'S WORKERS. THE CHAIR: THE REQUEST OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE. THE GENTLEMAN FROM

THE CHAIR

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE. THE…

GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE. THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. ROTHFUS: I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PASS THIS AMENDMENT. IT IS

MR. ROTHFUS

TO PASS THIS AMENDMENT. IT IS A GOOD AMENDMENT. IT WILL SHINE A LIGHT ON…

TO PASS THIS AMENDMENT. IT IS A GOOD AMENDMENT. IT WILL SHINE A LIGHT ON THE REGULATORY LEAPS AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON OUR JOBS AND OUR WAGES. AND I URGE PASSAGE OF THE AMENDMENT.

THE CHAIR

BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY…

BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO. MR. ROTHFUS: I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE.

MR. ROTHFUS

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, WILL BE POSTPONED. IT

THE CHAIR

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, WILL BE POSTPONED. IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK RECOGNITION? MR. BRADY: I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK. THE CHAIR:

MR. BRADY

THE DESK. THE CHAIR: THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT. THE

THE CHAIR

THE AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT…

THE AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. BRADY

THE CLERK

HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. BRADY OF TEXAS. THE CHAIR: PURSUANT TO…

HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. BRADY OF TEXAS. THE CHAIR: PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. BRADY, AND

THE CHAIR

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. BRADY, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED,…

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. BRADY, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. MR. BRADY: WE ARE GOING THROUGH A VERY DISAPPOINTING ECONOMIC RECOVERY. MILLIONS

MR. BRADY

VERY DISAPPOINTING ECONOMIC RECOVERY. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CAN'T FIND…

VERY DISAPPOINTING ECONOMIC RECOVERY. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CAN'T FIND FULL-TIME WORK. AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE JUST DROWNING IN RED TAPE. OFTEN ASK, DOES ANYONE IN WASHINGTON CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE ECONOMY FROM ALL THIS NEW RED TAPE BEFORE THEY PUT IT IN PLACE? SADLY, NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. 2012 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPOSED 3,708 NEW FEDERAL RULES. GUESS HOW MANY OF THEM HAD A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS? SIMPLY ASK THE QUESTION, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE ECONOMY. THE ANSWER IS 14. 14 OUT OF MORE THAN 3,000. I APPLAUD THE CHAIRMAN'S COMMITMENT TO INFORM THE PUBLIC HOW THE GOVERNMENT CONDUCTS RED TAPE. I HAVE A SOUND REGULATORY ACT WHICH I THINK IS HELPFUL TO MOVE THIS REFORM THROUGH. AND THE POINT HERE IS THIS, WHEN THE FEDERAL AGENCY STEPS OUT TO ADOPT NEW RULES, THE AGENCY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO STATE THE OBJECTIVE OF THOSE RULES OR REGULATIONS AND OUR CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INFENDS TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS RED TAPE. AND THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UP FRONT WHAT METRICS IT'S GOING TO USE TO MEASURE THE PROGRESS TOWARD THAT OBJECTIVE, NO MORE MANIPULATIVE STATISTICS OR FUZZY MATH. IT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CERTIFY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT IT WILL MEET THE OBJECTIVE THAT THE AGENCY ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED. IT IS COMMON SENSE. IT SAYS TO THE REGULATORS, TELL US YOUR OBJECTIVE, HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MEET IT AND MEASURE AND WHAT IT DOES. MAY BE COMMON SENSE AND PUT THIS PAINFUL RECOVERY BEHIND US. I WOULD YIELD TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE,

THE CHAIR

GOODLATTE: I STRONGLY SUPPORT HIS AMENDMENT.

MR. GOODLATTE

SUPPORT HIS AMENDMENT. ONE OF THE SIMPLEST MOST EFFECTIVE AND MOST…

SUPPORT HIS AMENDMENT. ONE OF THE SIMPLEST MOST EFFECTIVE AND MOST COMMONSENSE MEASURES WE CAN TAKE TO MAKE SURE AGENCIES ISSUE SMARTER REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE THEM TO IDENTIFY ACHIEVEABLE OBJECTIVES AND IDENTIFY METRICS WHETHER THEY WILL MEASURE THOSE ARE ACHEEVED AND LIVE BY THEIR OWN STATED OBJECTIVES AND WHETHER THE METRICS SAY THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS -- WHETHER THE METRICS SAY THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS CAN ACHIEVE THEM. THAT IS PLAIN, SIMPLE COMMONSENSE DECISION MAKING THAT AMERICAN FAMILIES LIVE BY EVERY DAY. IT IS HIGH TIME THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES LIVE BY THESE STANDARDS, TOO. AND I YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

I RESERVE.

MR. BRADY

THE CHAIR

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE? .

MR. JOHNSON

REMINDS ME MUCH WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PARENT -- ME OF WHEN I WAS A YOUNG…

REMINDS ME MUCH WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PARENT -- ME OF WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PARENT AND I HAD MY CHILDREN AT HOME AND IT CAME TIME FOR MY FAVORITE TV PROGRAM AND I WOULD TELL THEM TO GO UPSTAIRS AND CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM AGAIN. AND THEY WOULD SAY, DADDY, WE ALREADY CLEANED UP THE ROOM. I SAID, WELL, GO CLEAN IT UP AGAIN. AND THEN WHEN THEY SCAMPER UPSTAIRS, I PUT THE TV ON AND WATCH MY PROGRAM IN PEACE. I GAVE UP SOME BUSY WORK. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES. IT CREATES AN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT IN THE RULEMAKING PROCESS FOR AN AGENCY TO ARTICULATE ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES AND METRICS INDICATING PROGRESS TOWARDS THOSE OBJECTIVES. THIS AMENDMENT PILES ON THE BILL'S NUMEROUS MANDATORY NEW RULEMAKING REQUIREMENTS AND IT IMPLIES THAT AGENCIES ISSUE RULES THAT LACK AN ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT REGULATIONS ALREADY GO THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC NOTICE AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AS WELL AS BEING SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW. THE BILL WOULD IMPOSE UNNEEDED AND COSTLY ANALYTICAL AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS ON AGENCIES THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM PER FORMING THEIR STATUTORY -- PERFORMING THEIR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES. IT WOULD ALSO CREATE NEEDLESS REGULATORY AND LEGAL UNCERTAINTY, INCREASE COSTS FOR BUSINESSES AND STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, AND IMPEDE COMMONSENSE PROTECTIONS FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. THAT'S WHY, MADAM SPEAKER, THERE ARE MORE THAN 150 CONSUMER GROUPS, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, LABOR UNIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES STRENUOUSLY OPPOSED TO THIS BILL. THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE AFL-CIO, THE ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, THE CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA, CONSUMERS UNION, THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS, THE U.A.W., THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S LAW CENTER, THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY, PUBLIC CITIZEN, THE SIERRA CLUB, SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS, AND THE UNITED STEEL WORKERS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. LIKEWISE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ISSUED A STRONGLY WORDED VETO THREAT AGAINST THIS BILL. IT WARNS THAT THE BILL WOULD IMPOSE UNNEEDED AND COSTLY ANALYTICAL AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS ON AGENCIES THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM PERFORMING THEIR STARTORY -- STATUTORY DUTIES. AND FOR THOSE REASONS I STRONGLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME? MR. JOHNSON:

THE CHAIR

THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME? MR. JOHNSON: THE GENTLEMAN WOULD YIELD BACK. THE…

THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME? MR. JOHNSON: THE GENTLEMAN WOULD YIELD BACK. THE CHAIR:

MR. JOHNSON

BACK. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA YIELDS BACK THE REMAINDER OF…

BACK. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA YIELDS BACK THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN

THE CHAIR

YIELDS BACK THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS…

YIELDS BACK THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED.

MR. BRADY

ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN SEND YOUR KIDS UP TO CLEAN THEIR ROOM AGAIN. LOOK, THIS…

ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN SEND YOUR KIDS UP TO CLEAN THEIR ROOM AGAIN. LOOK, THIS IS JUST SAYING TO WASHINGTON, TELL US WHAT YOUR GOAL IS, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEASURE IT, AND IF YOU ACHIEVE IT, BEFORE YOU PUT THIS RED TAPE ON OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, IT'S COMMON SENSE AND FRANKLY LONG OVERDUE. I URGE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT AND YIELD BACK.

THE CHAIR

MR. RIGELL

THE CHAIR

THE AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 5 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT…

THE AMENDMENT. THE CLERK: AMENDMENT NUMBER 5 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR.

THE CLERK

IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. RIGELL OF VIRGINIA. THE CHAIR:…

IN HOUSE REPORT 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. RIGELL OF VIRGINIA. THE CHAIR: PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.

THE CHAIR

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. RIGELL, AND A MEMBER…

RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. RIGELL, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. MR. RIGELL: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FELLOW VIRGINIAN, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE UNDERLYING BILL. I ALSO

MR. RIGELL

VIRGINIAN, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE UNDERLYING BILL.…

VIRGINIAN, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE UNDERLYING BILL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. GRAVES, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS, FOR WORKING WITH ME AND MY SFAFF ON ADVANCING MY AMENDMENT -- MY STAFF ON APPED ADVANCING MY AMENDMENT. I THINK MY AMENDMENT IS NOTEWORTHY FIRST FOR ITS BREVITY. IT'S ONLY 14 WORDS LONG IN TOTAL. YET IT PACKS A POWERFUL AND MUCH-NEEDED PUNCH. BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES A CENTRAL ISSUE TO JOB CREATION, WHICH IS A SHARED VALUE AND SHARED OBJECTIVE IN THIS HOUSE. AND THAT IS INCREASING ACCESS TO CREDIT. AND IN SOME CASES NOT PROHIBITING ACCESS TO CREDIT. MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS NOT A THEORETICAL ISSUE FOR ME. I'VE BEEN A BUSINESSMAN FOR 30 YEARS, AN ENTREPRENEUR FOR ABOUT 23 YEARS, AND I KNOW THE GREAT JOY OF LOOKING INTO AN APPLICANT, THEIR EYES, AND FELLOW AMERICAN, AND SAYING THESE INCREDIBLE WORDS, YOU'RE HIRED. THOSE ARE LIFE-CHANGING WORDS. AND UP WITH OF THE REASONS THAT -- ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I COULD SAY THOSE WORDS TO THOSE WHO HIRED OR APPLIED AT OUR COMPANY WAS BECAUSE A LOCAL LENDER, A SMALL LOCAL BANK WAS ABLE TO LENDS ME THE MONEY I NEEDED TO START MY BUSINESS AND TO GROW MY BUSINESS. YET THOSE VERY SAME SMALL LENDERS, THOSE SMALL BANKS IN VIRGINIA'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, MADAM CHAIR M, THEY ARE -- MADAM CHAIR, THEY ARE REELING FROM NEW REGULATIONS, ALL OF WHICH ARE REALLY BURDENSOME. SO MANY OF WHICH ARE NOT NEEDED AT ALL. THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN WRITTEN. AND THE RESULT IS THAT SOME BANKS ARE HIRING, BUT THEY'RE NOT HIRING LOAN OFFICERS, THEY'RE HIRING COMPLIANCE OFFICERS. FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, MADAM CHAIRMAN, AND MY OWN DELIBERATE AND INTENTIONAL LISTENING TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND LENDERS IN VIRGINIA'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, I'VE COME TO A CONCLUSION WHICH IS CLEAR, IT'S IRREFUTABLE IN MY MIND AND IT'S DEEPLY TROUBLING. AN THAT IS THAT THE ACTIONS OF THIS -- AND THAT IS THAT THE ACTIONS OF THIS BODY COLLECTIVELY AND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT, NOT EASIER, BUT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET THE CREDIT THAT THEY NEED. TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS AND TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE. NOW, THIS CANNOT BE RECONCILED WITH THE WORDS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA SHARED IN THIS VERY CHAMBER IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH IN 2012. IT WAS A STATEMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BASIS FOR COMMON GROUND. HE NOTED CORRECTLY THAT MOST NEW JOBS WERE CREATED IN BUSINESSES LIKE MY OWN. A STARTUP IN A SMALL BUSINESS. AND HE SAID THIS. LET'S PASS AN AGENDA THAT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED. THESE ARE HIS WORDS. TEAR DOWN REGULATIONS THAT PREVENT ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS FROM GETTING THE FINANCING TO GROW. WELL, HOUSE RESOLUTION 2804 DOES JUST THAT. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AND MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD IN THAT AREA. AND THAT'S WHY I'VE COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS EVENING. WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE HERE, TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR THE HARDWORKING AMERICAN AND WOMEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE LABORING UNDER AN INCREASING LEVEL OF BURDEN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ONE THAT SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY, YET IT CONTINUES TO PUT ROAD BLOCK AFTER ROAD BLOCK AFTER ROAD BLOCK IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE AND HARDWORKING AMERICANS WHO ARE TRYING TO CREATE A JOB. AND HAVE MORTGAGES ON THEIR HOMES, THEY'VE SIGNED THESE LOANS PERSONALLY, I UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN AND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED BY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. IT'S ONE REASON I SOUGHT THIS OFFICE, WAS TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR THOSE WHO, IF YOU UNLEASH THEM, THEY'RE THE MOST POWERFUL JOB CREATING ENGINE THE WORLD'S EVER KNOWN. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN AMERICA. THAT'S WHAT HOUSE RESOLUTION 2804 DOES AND I THINK MY AMENDMENT STRENGTHENS THAT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS. I ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF MY AMENDMENT BECAUSE I THINK IN DOING SO, THEY'LL VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AND FAVOR OF 2804 AND FOR MY AMENDMENT. I THANK THE CHAIR AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR

THE CHAIR

TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT.

MR. JOHNSON

THE CHAIR

FIVE MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, AT THIS -- THIS AMENDMENT…

FIVE MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, AT THIS -- THIS AMENDMENT HARKINS ME BACK TO THE TIME WHEN -- HARKENS ME BACK TO THE TIME WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG AND I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WOULD NOT JUMP INTO SOMETHING WHERE ONE OF THEIR SCHOOLMATES MIGHT BE BEING BULLIED AND THEN THEY WOULD JUMP IN ON THE PART OF THE BULLY OR JUST PARTICIPATE IN THE ANTAGONISM AGAINST THE VICTIM AND I TOLD THEM NOT TO PILE ON. THIS

MR. JOHNSON

AGAINST THE VICTIM AND I TOLD THEM NOT TO PILE ON. THIS AMENDMENT IS A…

AGAINST THE VICTIM AND I TOLD THEM NOT TO PILE ON. THIS AMENDMENT IS A CLASSIC CASE OF PILING ON. IT WOULD ADD AN EIGHTH REQUIREMENT FOR THE INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS SPECIFIED BY THE BILL. THE AGENCY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE A DETAILED STATEMENT DESCRIBING ANY IMPAIRMENT OF THE ABILITY OF SMALL ENTITIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO CREDIT. THE BILL ALREADY REQUIRES AGENCIES TO CONSIDER ALL INDIRECT COSTS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THIS ISSUE. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW YET ANOTHER GROUND FOR A REGULATED ENTITY TO CHALLENGE A RULEMAKING. TITLE 3 DOES NOTHING TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHER SMALL ENTITIES REDUCE COMPLIANCE COSTS OR TO ENSURE AGENCY COMPLIANCE WITH THE R.F.A. INSTEAD THE BILL SIMPLY IMPOSES -- OR THIS AMENDMENT WOULD IMPOSE ANOTHER UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON AGENCIES. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PILING ON OF THE ALREADY BURDENSOME NEW RULEMAKING REQUIREMENTS. AND THIS AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS THE BILL, IGNORE THE FACT THAT THE SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE THEIR LARGER COUNTERPARTS CAN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS AS WELL AS THAT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE ALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE SERVICES AND GOODS THAT AFFECT OUR LIFES AND CARRY THE SAME RISS -- LIVES AND CARRY THE SAME RISKS AND HARMS THAT THE LARGE BUSINESSES PROVIDE. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO SOMEONE WHO IS BREATHING DIRTY AIR OR DRINKING POISONED WATER, WHETHER THE HAZARDS COME FROM A SMALL OR A LARGE BUSINESS. THE AMERICAN -- SPEAKING OF BUSINESS, THE AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL IS A GROWING NATIONAL COALITION OF BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING POLICIES THAT SUPPORT A VIBRANT AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY. THE AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL, THROUGH ITS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, REPRESENTS OVER 200,000 BUSINESSES AND MORE THAN 325,000 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, LOCAL AND STATE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, MICROENTERPRISES, SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, GREEN AND STEABLE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES, LOCAL SUSTAINABLE LIVING ECONOMY GROUPS, WOMEN AND MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS AND INVESTORS. AND VESTER NETWORKS. WHILE SOME -- INVESTOR NETWORKS. WHILE SOME INSIDE THE BELTWAY CLAIM THAT REGULATIONS ARE HOLDING BACK OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY, THE AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW. THEY, ALONG WITH OTHER SMALL BUSINESSON ORGANIZATIONS, RE-- BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, RELEASED A FEBRUARY, 2012, POLL OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHICH FOUND THAT SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T SEE REGULATIONS AS A MAJOR CONCERN. OUR POLLING OR THEIR POLLING CONFIRMED THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS VALUE REGULATIONS IF THEY ARE WELL CONSTRUCTED AND FAIRLY ENFORCED. THEY FOUND THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BELIEVE CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE,LE 6% OF THEM BELIEVE -- 86% OF THEM BELIEVE SOME REGULATION IS NECESSARY FOR A MODERN ECONOMY AND 93% OF RERESPONDENTS BELIEVED THEIR BUSINESS CAN LIVE WITH SOME REGULATION IF IT IS FAIR AND MANAGEABLE. . 78% OF SMALL EMPLOYERS AGREE THAT REGULATIONS ARE IMPORTANT IN PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES FROM UNFAIR COMPETITION AND TO HELP LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WITH BIG BUSINESSES. 79% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SUPPORT HAVING CLEAN AIR AND WATER IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY, EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS HEALTHY. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INCLUDE THE LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL. THE CHAIR: THE BUSINESS' REQUEST WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE.

THE CHAIR

WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE. AND THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS…

WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE. AND THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. JOHNSON: IF I MAY, MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INSERT INTO THE RECORD THE STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FULL COMMITTEE, RANKING MEMBER -- EXCUSE

MR. JOHNSON

OF THE FULL COMMITTEE, RANKING MEMBER -- EXCUSE ME, THE RANKING MEMBER,…

OF THE FULL COMMITTEE, RANKING MEMBER -- EXCUSE ME, THE RANKING MEMBER, RANKING MEMBER CONYERS. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN'S REQUEST WILL BE HANDLED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE AS WELL. THE

THE CHAIR

REQUEST WILL BE HANDLED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE AS WELL. THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

REQUEST WILL BE HANDLED UNDER GENERAL LEAVE AS WELL. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR THE REMAINING ONE MINUTE. MR. RIGELL: THE REGULATIONS ARE CONTINUING TO BURDEN THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND I YIELD TO MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE. THE

MR. RIGELL

MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS…

MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. MR. GOODLATTE:

THE CHAIR

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HIS AMENDMENT. TITLE

MR. GOODLATTE

AMENDMENT. TITLE 3 MAKES IMPORTANT REFORMS TO ENSURE THAT AGENCIES…

AMENDMENT. TITLE 3 MAKES IMPORTANT REFORMS TO ENSURE THAT AGENCIES IDENTIFY THEIR NEW REGULATIONS WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS ON SMALL BUSINESSES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVERSE EFFECTS IS TO IDENTIFY WHETHER THESE NEW REGULATIONS WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO OBTAIN CREDIT. SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE THE NEW JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY BUT WITHOUT ACCESS TO CREDIT, HOW CAN THEY DO THAT? HOW CAN THEY SURVIVE. THE GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT MAKES SURE THAT IT IS A REFORM THAT IS LONG OVERDUE AS OUR COUNTRY STRUGGLES TO ACHIEVE A DID YOURABLE JOB RECOVERY. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT.

THE CHAIR

QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. THOSE…

QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT, THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO. IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER 6 PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 11-361. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM FROM COLORADO SEEK RECOGNITION?

MR. TIPTON

AT THE DESK.

THE CLERK

HOUSE REPORT NUMBER 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. TIPTON OF COLORADO. CHIRMENT…

HOUSE REPORT NUMBER 113-361 OFFERED BY MR. TIPTON OF COLORADO. CHIRMENT PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 487, THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR. TIPTON, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO OF THE MR. TIPTON: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. AND I THANK

MR. TIPTON

CHAIRMAN. AND I THANK THE CHAIRMEN FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND I YIELD…

CHAIRMAN. AND I THANK THE CHAIRMEN FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF MY AMENDMENT, TO TITLE 3, WHICH WILL ENSURE A REQUIREMENT THAT UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ACT REMAINS INTACT. AS THE 1 70'S CAME TO A CLOSE, CONGRESS TOOK NOTE OF THE CHALLENGESES SMALL BUSINESSES ARE FACING. THEY WERE FACING A NUMBER OF COMPLICATED REGULATIONS. THIS LED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 1980, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE AGENCY RULEMAKING. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LOOKING TO REGULATE THE PRIVATE SECTOR MUST EVALUATE THE COSTS OF DOING SO ON SMALL BUSINESSES AND WHEN THE COSTS ARE FOUND TO BE HUGE, A KEY PIECE IS 610 WHICH REQUIRES AGENCIES TO EVALUATE THE NECESSARY AT THIS TIME OF EVERY EXISTING REGULATION THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE AMENDED OR RESCINDED TO MINIMIZE BURDENS ON SMALL BUSINESSES. AS PART OF SECTION 610 REVIEW PROCESS, AGENCIES MUST ANNUALLY PUBLISH THE LIST OF REGULATIONS THEY PLAN TO REVIEW IN FEDERAL REGISTER. THIS MAKES AMENDMENT TO TITLE 3 TO ENSURE THE CURRENT ANNUAL PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT REMAINS IN PLACE. IT IS APPROPRIATE TO EXERCISE FOR THE AGENCIES TO REVIEW OLD REGULATIONS AND WEED OUT THOSE THAT ARE NOT EFFECTIVE OR OVERLY BURDENSOME. 10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO TRANSFORM MARKETPLACES. REVIEWING THE ACTUAL IMPACTS OF EXISTING REGULATIONS EVERY 10 YEARS JUST MAKES SENSE. UNDERING THE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES ON THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES THAT MAIL EFFECT THE NECESSITY OF THE REGULATIONS ARE A FEW OF THE REASONS TO MAKE THESE REVIEWS ESSENTIAL. THE REGULATORY BURDEN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES HAS NOT LIGHTENED. AGENCIES HAVE BEEN BUSY ISSUING NEW REGULATIONS THAT THEY HAVE SOMETIMES FAILED TO COMPLY WITH EXISTING REQUIREMENTS TO ANNUALLY PUBLISH THEIR LIST OF REGULATIONS TO BE REVIEWED AND THEN REVIEW THEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS WILL RELIEVE FEDERAL AGENCIES OF ANY AMBIGUITY AS TO WHETHER THIS ANNUAL PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT STILL EXISTS AND ENSURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AFTER A REGULATION HAS BECOME IMPLEMENTED. I URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE YES. AND I RESERVE.

THE CHAIR

RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM…

RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK RECOGNITION?

MR. JOHNSON

AMENDMENT, MADAM SPEAKER. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE…

AMENDMENT, MADAM SPEAKER. THE CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: IT IS TO

THE CHAIR

MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: IT IS TO MY HORROR THAT I WOULD AGREE TO THIS…

MINUTES. MR. JOHNSON: IT IS TO MY HORROR THAT I WOULD AGREE TO THIS AMENDMENT, BUT IT SIMPLY CORRECTS A DRAFTING ERROR, SO WE DO NOT OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT.

MR. JOHNSON

ERROR, SO WE DO NOT OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT. IT MAKES A THOROUGHLY FLAWED…

ERROR, SO WE DO NOT OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT. IT MAKES A THOROUGHLY FLAWED BILL, SLIGHTLY LESS THOROUGHLY FLAWED. AND WITH THAT, I YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.

THE CHAIR

OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED. MR. TIPTON: I…

OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED. MR. TIPTON: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT AND SPEAKS VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

MR. TIPTON

THIS AMENDMENT AND SPEAKS VERY IMPORTANT POINT. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE…

THIS AMENDMENT AND SPEAKS VERY IMPORTANT POINT. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AGENCIES ARE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THE LAW IS REQUIRING. THIS WILL ACHIEVES THAT. WITH THAT -- I YIELD TO CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE.

MR. GOODLATTE

MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN IN MAKING IT UNANIMOUS.

MR. TIPTON

THE CHAIR

I MOVE THAT THE --

MR. CONNOLLY

MR. GOODLATTE

COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE. THE CHAIR: THE QUESTION IS ON THE COMMITTEE DO NOW…

COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE. THE CHAIR: THE QUESTION IS ON THE COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THE CHAIR

THE COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO.…

THE COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. ACCORDINGLY, THE COMMITTEE RISES.

THE CHAIR

HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION HAVING HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R. 2804,…

HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION HAVING HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R. 2804, DIRECTS ME TO REPORT THAT IT HAS COME TO NO RESOLUTION THEREON. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION REPORTS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

OF THE UNION REPORTS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R.…

OF THE UNION REPORTS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R. 2804 AND HAS COME TO NO RESOLUTION THEREON. THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A COMMUNICATION.

THE CLERK

DEPOSITION ON SIMILAR MATTERS IN A PARTICULAR CIVIL CASE. AFTER CONSULTING…

DEPOSITION ON SIMILAR MATTERS IN A PARTICULAR CIVIL CASE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, I WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATIONS REQUIRED BY RULE 8. SIGNED SERSI, ROSA L. DELAURO, MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TRUSTEES OF GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY.

THE CLERK

MR. BUTTERFIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE CHAIR…

MR. BUTTERFIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE CHAIR ANNOUNCES THE SPEAKER'S APPOINTMENT AND THE ORDER OF THE HOUSE ON JANUARY 3, 2013 OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBER ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE TO THE BRITISH-AMERICAN INTERPARALLEL MEN TEAR GROUP.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE BRITISH-AMERICAN INTERPARALLEL MEN TEAR GROUP.

THE CLERK

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE HOUSE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS. THE CLERK: LEAVE OF ABSENCE…

THE HOUSE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS. THE CLERK: LEAVE OF ABSENCE REQUESTED FOR MR.

THE CLERK

REQUESTED FOR MR. WESTMORELAND OF GEORGIA FOR TODAY AFTER 2:30 P.M. THE…

REQUESTED FOR MR. WESTMORELAND OF GEORGIA FOR TODAY AFTER 2:30 P.M. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE REQUEST IS GRANTED. UNDER THE

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

THE REQUEST IS GRANTED. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S APOLICY OF JANUARY 3, 2013,…

THE REQUEST IS GRANTED. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S APOLICY OF JANUARY 3, 2013, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GREEN, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60 MINUTES FOR 60 MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE MINORITY LEADER. MR. GREEN: I THANK ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH LEADERSHIP WHO HAVE ALLOWED US TO HAVE THIS TIME TONIGHT TO DISCUSS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AS YOU

MR. GREEN

THIS TIME TONIGHT TO DISCUSS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AS YOU ARE AWARE, BLACK…

THIS TIME TONIGHT TO DISCUSS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AS YOU ARE AWARE, BLACK HISTORY MONTH HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN A MONTH OR THIS TIME HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN A MONTH. IT STARTED OUT AS A WEEK. AND THE FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY WEEK, WHICH EVOLVED INTO BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS MR. CARTER G. WITTSON. AND HE IS RENOWNED FOR NOT ONLY HAVING STARTED THIS TIME AND MADE IT A PART OF THE ANNUAL EVENTS THAT WE CELEBRATE, BUT HE'S ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS WRITINGS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM HIS BOOK "THE MISEDUCATION OF THE NEGRO." DR. WOODSON CAPSULIZED A SIGNIFICANT POINT WITH THIS PASSAGE THAT I SHALL READ. HE INDICATES, WHEN YOU CONTROL A MAN'S THINKING, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIS ACTIONS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TELL HIM WHERE TO STAND HERE OR GO YONDER. HE WILL FIND HIS PROPER PLACE AND HE WILL STAY IN IT. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND HIM TO THE BACK DOOR. HE WILL GO WITHOUT BEING TOLD. IN FACT, IF THERE IS NO BACK DOOR, HE WILL CUT ONE FOR HIS SPECIAL BENEFIT. HIS EDUCATION MAKES IT NECESSARY . DR. CARTER G. WOODSON WROTE THIS IN 1933. AND IN 1933, HE WAS TRYING TO CALL TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR COUNTRY THE PLIGHT OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO, THE PLIGHT WAS ONE THAT INVOLVED THE MENTALITY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO AND HE WAS CALLING TO OUR ATTENTION HOW EDUCATION WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE AMERICAN NEGRO TO BECOME THE INDEPENDENT PERSON THAT COULD DO FOR HIMSELF AND TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF AND LIVE A LIFE THAT WAS BASED UPON HIS FULFILLING HIS ROLE IN THE AMERICAN DREAM. WELL, THIS WAS IN 1933. I'M HONORED TODAY THAT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE FILED WITH THE HOUSE, H.RES. 481, AND THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN SIGNED ON TO BY ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS AS WELL AS OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. THIS RESOLUTION EXTOLLS THE VIRTUES OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THE AMERICAS AND PEOPLE UNDER HARSH CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE. IT GOES INTO WHAT WE CALL THE GREATEST STORY THAT IS YET TO BE TOLD, A STORY OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE AMERICAS UNVOLUNTARILY AND HAVE DONE EXCEEDINGLY WELL IN THIS COUNTRY. WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT THANK GOD WE HAVE COME AS FAR AS WE HAVE. . THIS YEAR WE'RE CELEBRATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMERICA. AND WE'D LIKE TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. HOWEVER, BEFORE YOU CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT THE TIMES WERE LIKE IN 1964. TO GET SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1964. AND THIS IS NOT BEING DONE TO SHAME ANYONE, IT'S NOT BEING DONE TO CAUSE PERSONS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF GUILTY REFLECTIONS. THIS IS BEING DONE SO AS TO HELP US COMMEMORATE SOME THINGS AND CELEBRATE SOME OTHERS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES THAT WE LIVED IN. THE LIVED -- I LIVED DURING THESE TIMES. AND I'D LIKE TO START WITH APRIL 12, 1963, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO WALK US UP THROUGH SOME EVENTS THAT WILL BRING US TO THE SIGNING OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. IT WAS APRIL 12, 1963, THAT DR. KING WAS ARRESTED IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. HE WAS THERE TO WORK WITH OTHERS, TO INTEGRATE A CITY THAT WAS DEEPLY SEGREGATED. AND IN SO DOING HE WAS INFORMED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY AND OTHERS THAT HE WAS TAKING INAPPROPRIATE ACTION, HE WAS ACTING TOO SOON, THAT THE TIME WAS NOT RIPE FOR WHAT HE WAS DOING IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. AS A RESULT OF BEING THERE AND PROTESTING, DR. KING WAS ARRESTED. HE WAS TAKEN TO JAIL, STAYED IN JAIL FOR NINE DAYS. AND WHILE IN JAIL HE WROTE HIS FAMOUS LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL IN RESPONSE TO A STATEMENT THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY OF THE AND IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL, I BEG THAT YOU READ IT, BECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE TIMES AND UNDERSTAND WHY DR. KING HAD TO DO WHAT HE WAS DOING. THE LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PIECES OF AMERICAN LITERATURE THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO. AND I BEG YOU TO PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT. LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO JUNE 11, 1963. THIS IS WHEN GOVERNOR GEORGE WALZ STOOD IN THE DOOR -- WALLACE STOOD IN THE DOOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA TO BLOCK THE ENTRY OF VIVIAN MALONE AND JAMES HOOD. THESE WERE TWO STUDENTS WHO WERE ENROLLING. AND IN SO DOING HE CAUSED THE PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, PRESIDENT KENNEDY, TO FEDERALIZE THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD SO THAT THESE TWO STUDENTS COULD MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. THESE WERE THE TIMES THAT I LIVED IN. THESE WERE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED LEADING UP TO THE SIGNING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965, ALSO THE PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS ACT OF 1964. JUNE 21, 1964, THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS WERE IN MISSISSIPPI. THEY LOST THEIR LIVES IN MISSISSIPPI REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE. WHEN THEY DIED IT CAUSED THE COUNTRY TO GRIEVE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THREE PEOPLE WHO BUT ONLY TRIED TO REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE HAD LOST THEIR LIVES AT THE HANDS OF THE K.K.K. THESE WERE THE TIMES THAT I LIVED IN. AUGUST 28, 1963, DR. KING CALLED FOR A MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND THAT MARCH TOOK PLACE. THAT MARCH WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. 200,000 TO 300,000 PEOPLE ASSEMBLED. AND THIS IS WHEN DR. KING GAVE HIS FAMOUS "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH. THEY ALSO HAD A LIST OF DEMANDS . A LIST OF DEMANDS THAT INCLUDED A NUMBER EIGHT ON A LIST OF 10. NUMBER EIGHT WAS A MINIMUM WAGE OF $2 AN HOUR. THAT MINIMUM WAGE OF $2 AN HOUR ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION WOULD BE MORE THAN $13 AN HOUR TODAY. THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS A PART OF THE REASON WHY WE HAD THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON. AND I'M SO PROUD THAT DR. KING STOOD HIS GROUND SO AS TO HELP US DEVELOP THAT MINIMUM WAGE THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE AT A -- AS A LIVING WAGE AND THERE IS BEFORE THE HOUSE NOW H.R. 1010, A BILL THAT WOULD PRODUCE A LIVING WAGE BECAUSE IT INDEXES THE MINIMUM WAGE TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. IT WOULD MOVE THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM $7.25 AN HOUR TO $10.10 AN HOUR IN INCREMENTS. NOT ALL AT ONCE. IT WOULD ALSO HELP PERSONS WHO ARE TIP WORKERS, WHO ARE MAKING CURRENTLY $2.13 AN HOUR. IT WOULD RAISE THEIR WAGES AND WOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO INDEX THEIR WAGES SO THAT THEY WOULD FIND THEMSELVES BEING ABLE TO HOPEFULLY LIVE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME. IN THIS, THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, A COUNTRY WHERE ONE OUT OF EVERY 60 PERSONS IS A MILLIONAIRE, AND I DON'T BEGRUDGE ANYONE WHO'S A MILLIONAIRE, A COUNTRY WHERE IN ONE OF EVERY 11 HOUSEHOLDS IS WORTH $1 MILLION, AND I ABSOLUTE THOSE WHO ARE -- SALUTE THOSE WHO ARE WORTH $1 MILLION. BUT IN THIS COUNTRY, WHERE WE HAVE SO MUCH WEALTH, I DON'T BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO WORK FULL TIME AND LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. AND FIND THAT EMPLOYERS ARE SUBSIDIZED SO THAT THESE WORKERS CAN BE PAID A WAGE THAT IS AT OR NEAR A POVERTY LEVEL AND RECEIVE OTHER SUBSIDIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM MAKE IT IN AMERICA. SO I AM HONORED THAT DR. KING PUSHED FOR A WAGE OF $2 AN HOUR AT THAT TIME, WHICH WOULD BE MORE THAN $13 AN HOUR TODAY. MOVING FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 15 OF 1963. A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE AT THE 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. THIS IS WHEN FOUR BABIES, I SAY THEY WERE BABIES, ADDIE WATTS 14, CYNTHIA WAS -- WAS 14, CYNTHIA WAS 14, ANOTHER WAS 14 AND DENISE WAS 11. THEY ALL LOST THEIR LIVES IN CHURCH, IN CHURCH, FOUR BABIES, FOUR YOUNG GIRLS. THESE WERE THE TIMES THAT I LIVED IN. THESE WERE THE TIMES THAT PRECEDED THE SIGNING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND 1965. NOVEMBER 22, 1963, A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECIDED TO COME TO TEXAS AND WHILE IN TEXAS THE PRESIDENT WAS ASSASSINATED. THE HONORABLE JOHN F. KENNEDY LOST HIS LIFE IN MY HOME STATE. I WAS BORN IN LOUISIANA BUT TEXAS IS MY HOME STATE AT THIS TIME. AND WHEN HE LOST HIS LIFE, THE COUNTRY WENT INTO MOURNING. IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR THIS COUNTRY, TO HAVE A PRESIDENT ASSASSINATED. AND THIS COUNTRY FOUND THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD, HOWEVER. AND ANOTHER PERSON BECAME PRESIDENT AND THAT OF COURSE WAS THE HONORABLE LYNDON JOHNSON WHO WAS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND IT WAS LYNDON JOHNSON WHO ON JULY 2, 1964, SIGNED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. NOW, THIS CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 IS ONE THAT BROUGHT GREAT BENEFITS TO PERSONS OF MY GENERATION. BECAUSE IT DEALT WITH PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND IT INTEGRATED OR DESEGREGATED PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, PLACES THAT WE FREQUENT NOW AND WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THESE PLACES. IN MY LIFETIME WE COULD NOT ENTER THE FRONT DOOR OF PLACES THAT WE NOW TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THESE THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY, MANY DO, NOT ALL, BUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE OF MY IL, WE REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE -- ILK, WE REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE. AND I CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE WOULD TRAVEL ACROSS COUNTRY, MR. SPEAKER. WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN PLACES THAT WE COULD STOP AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN PLACES THAT WE DARE NOT STOP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AT ALL. AND WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE IT FROM ONE STOP TO THE NEXT AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN PLACES THAT WE COULD EAT AND THERE WERE PLACES WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE BACK DOOR. AND WE WOULD, WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THESE PLACES, ALWAYS COURTEOUS AND KIND TO THE PEOPLE WHO GREETED US, AND A GOOD MANY OF THEM WERE COURTEOUS AND KIND TO US, BUT THERE WERE MANY WHO WERE NOT. I REMEMBER ONCE WHEN WE WERE TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE WANTED SOME WATER AND WE STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION AND THE OPERATOR, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PERSON WAS THE OWNER, SO I SHALL USE THE TERM OPERATOR, SAID, YES, YOU MAY HAVE WATER, BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO DRINK IT OUT OF AN OIL CAN. YOU CAN TAKE THAT CAN AND YOU CAN CLEAN IT UP AT BEST YOU CAN -- AS BEST YOU CAN AND YOU CAN DRINK YOUR WATER FROM THAT CAN. THESE WERE THE TIMES THAT I LIVED IN. THE TIMES THAT THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS ACT ADDRESSED. I CAN REMEMBER THE COLORED WATER FOUNTAINS, WHENEVER WE WENT OUT SOME PLACE NEAR MY HOME, IF WE WANTED WATER WE HAD TO DRINK FROM A COLLAR WATER FOUNTAIN -- COLORED WATER FOUNTAIN. THAT COLORED WATER FOUNTAIN WAS USUALLY NOT NEARLY AS CLEAN AS THE WHITE WATER FOUNTAIN. I CAN REMEMBER HAVING TO SIT IN THE BACK OF THE BUS. I TRAVELED FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE BUS AND WHEN I GOT TO SOME PLACE NEAR CALIFORNIA, THEY ALLOWED ME TO SIT NEAR THE FRONT OF THE BUS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I'D ACTUALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT NEAR THE FRONT OF THE BUS. I REMEMBER HAVING TO SIT IN THE BALCONY OF THE MOVIE. WE WERE NOT ALLOWED, IN MY LIFETIME, TO SIT AT THE FIRST LEVEL. WE ALWAYS WERE REQUIRED TO GO INTO THE BALCONY OF THE MOVIE. BACK OF THE BUS, BALCONY OF THE MOVIE, AND THEN ARRESTED AND PLACED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE JAIL. THIS IS THE ERA THAT I GREW UP IN THAT PRECEDED THE SIGNING OF THE PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS ACT, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTS OF 1964 -- ACT OF 1964. MR. SPEAKER, I'M SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT MEANS MORE TO ME THAN A SIMPLE DOCUMENT WITH WORDS ON IT. THIS DOCUMENT MAY HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN INK, BUT IT WAS SIGNED IN THE BLOOD OF GOODMAN AND CHENEY, SIGNED IN THE BLOOD OF THOSE BABIES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AT THE 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, WRITTEN IN INK, SIGNED IN BLOOD, AND IT MEANS SOMETHING TO PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION. SO I'M PROUD TONIGHT AND I'M HONORED THAT THE LEADERSHIP HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN THIS COUNTRY. THE MEANS BY WHICH WE HAVE INTEGRATED OURSELVES. AND I'M PROUD THAT MY COUNTRY HAS COME A LONG WAY. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, WE HAVE COME A VERY LONG WAY IN THIS COUNTRY. AND IF ANYBODY SAYS WE HAVEN'T COME A LONG WAY, I WOULD CHALLENGE THEM. I WOULD CHALLENGE THEM. BECAUSE I LIVED THROUGH SEGREGATION. I KNOW WHAT SEGREGATION LOOKED LIKE. I SAW IT ON SIGNS THAT SAID "COLORED" AND "WHITE." I KNOW WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE. I WENT TO THE BACK DOOR AND TO BATHROOMS THAT WERE NOT CLEAN. I KNOW WHAT IT FELT LIKE. BECAUSE I WAS PUSHED AND SHOVED AND TOLD WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO. THESE WERE THE TIMES THAT I LIVED IN. BUT THANK GOD WE'VE COME A LONG WAY AND WE NO LONGER LIVE IN THE TIMES THAT PRECEDED THE SIGNING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. MR. SPEAKER, I'M HONORED THAT I HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER HERE WHO IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS AND I THEN HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER WHO HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT HE WILL CALL TO OUR ATTENTION AND I WILL RETURN AND I'M GOING TO SAY A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965. BUT BEFORE I DO THIS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME TIME WITH ANOTHER MEMBER FROM THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, FROM A DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES THE CITY OF EL PASO, TEXAS'S 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THE HONORABLE MR. O'ROURKE. I YIELD TO HIM SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. . -- MR. O'ROURKE:

MR. O'ROURKE

HONOR TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IN HIS SPECIAL ORDER…

HONOR TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IN HIS SPECIAL ORDER HOUR TODAY TO RECOGNIZE OUR HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO ACHIEVING CIVIL RIGHTSANCE PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. AND SOME OF OUR SHAMEFUL PAST THAT'S BEEN TURNED THROUGH THE VERY HARD WORK THEY ARE -- HARD WORK, THE BLOOD, THE SWEAT REFERENCED TO MY COLLEAGUE, INTO VICTORY, RICKETRIES THAT ARE NOT YET COMPLETE, VICTORIES WE ARE STILL WORKING ON, BUT VICTORIES NONETHELESS. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AREA I REPRESENT, EL PASO, TEXAS, AND ITS STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY FOR ALL MEN UNDER THE LAW. I'LL BEGIN WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES ABOUT EL PASO. THE STORY OF 1949 BOWIE BEARS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM. THAT WAS TEAM THAT WAS MADE UP OF MEMBERS WHO LIVED IN THE SEGUNDO BARRIO, ALL MEXICAN AMERICAN MEMBERS, EXTREME POVERTY, PLAYED BASEBALL WITH BALLS MADE OF SCRAP PIECE OF CLOTHE, GLOVES STITCHED TOGETHER IN THEIR OWN HOME AND WON THE CITY CHAMPIONSHIP, WON THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND AS THEY TRAVELED IN 1949 ON THOSE COUNTRY HIGHWAYS TO OUR CAPITAL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, TRAVELED ON A BUS, THEY WERE DENIED THE ABILITY TO STAY AT MOTELS. NOMEX CANS OR DOGS ALLOWED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO EAT IN RESTAURANT, THEY HAD TO EAT IN THE KITCHENS OR EAT OUTSIDE ON THE BUS. AND THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AGAINST AN AUSTIN, TEXAS, HIGH SCHOOL TEAM THEY SLEPT UNDER THE BLEACHERS IN THE FIELD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PLAY ON INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO STAY IN A HOTEL OR MOTEL IN THAT CITY AND WENT ON TO WIN THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN TEXAS. NOT TOO MUCH LONGER AFTER THAT, IN 1955, EL PASO BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO INTEGRATE ITS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS HAS POINTED OUT, UP UNTIL THAT POINT, THERE WERE SEPARATE SCHOOLS FOR BLACK CHILDREN, THERE WERE SEPARATE COOLS FOR WHITE CHILDREN AND NOT TOO LONG BEFORE THAT, SEPARATE SCHOOLS FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN. SO 1955, THE SCHOOL BOARD IN EL PASO, TEXAS, MADE A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION TO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS, THERE, THE FIRST IN TEXAS, ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE FORMER CONFEDERACY. IN 196 , THEY ELECTED THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN MAYOR OF A MAJOR U.S. CITY. AND THEN ON JUNE 7, 1962, THE EL PASO CITY COUNCIL, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ALDERMAN BERT WILLIAMS, PASSED THE FIRST CITY ORDINANCE OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN THE FORMER CONFEDERACY OUTLAWING SEGREGATION IN HOTELS, MOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND THEATERS. THESE PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAD SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED THAT WERE SEGREGATED AND IN MANY CASES BARRED TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND IN SOME CASES IN EL PASO IN EARLIER YEARS TO MEXICAN AMERICANS. PRESIDENT KENNEDY IN A SPEECH THAT FOLLOWING YEAR IN 1963 A SPEECH TITLED THE SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, RECOGNIZED THIS ACHIEVEMENT IN TEXAS IN EL PASO, WHERE WE WERE THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN THE FORMER CONFEDERACY TO DESEGREGATE THOSE PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION. AND LASTLY, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD DRAW OUR ATTENTION TO THE 1966 TEXAS WESTERN MINERS, A COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM THAT FIELDED THE FIRST ALL-BLACK STARTING FIVE TO COMPETE FOR A NATIONAL TITLE GAME. AND THOSE FIVE YOUNG MEN NOT ONLY WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST SOME OF THE LONGEST OF ODDS, VERSUS KENTUCKY, BUT IN DOING SO, THEY EFFECTIVELY ENDED SEGREGATION IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND DID A LOT TO FURTHER END DISCRIMINATION MORE BRDLY IN THE UNITED STATES. AND SO I WOULD JUST JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUE AND ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH HIS COMMENTS ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND THE IMMEDIATE TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, TO RECOGNIZE THOSE TRIUMPHS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVE SOD FAR BUT NOT TO CLAIM VICTORY UNTIL WE ARE ASSURED THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW. EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX. AND THAT WE TRULY ARE A COUNTRY THAT TREATS EVERYONE EQUALLY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. SO I HOPE THAT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF EL PASO, TEXAS, A COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUCH A PROUD HISTORY IN LEADING IN TEXAS, LEADING IN THE FORMER CONFEDERACY, LEADING IN THE U.S. ON IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY ISSUES, THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN YOU, MR. GREEN, IN THIS FIGHT, AND JOIN THIS CONGRESS IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK. MR. GREEN: I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT RECITATION AND YOU HAVE ALREADY BECOME A PART OF THIS CONGRESS, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO OF THE FIGHT. YOU REALLY

MR. GREEN

OF THIS CONGRESS, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO OF THE FIGHT. YOU REALLY HIT THE…

OF THIS CONGRESS, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO OF THE FIGHT. YOU REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. I WANT TO SALUTE YOU AND LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN A VERY SHORT TIME IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME -- TIME WITH US THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT, I'D LIKE TO YIELD SOME TIME TO MR. GRAYSON AT THE END OF MY TIME AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO GIVE A FIVE-MINUTE WARNING OR NOT -- IF YOU CAN JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT, I'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 35 MINUTES. MR.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MINUTES. MR. GREEN: VERY GOOD. I ASSURE YOU MR. GRAYSON,

MR. GREEN

ASSURE YOU MR. GRAYSON, WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR YOU. I'D LIKE TO NOW MOVE…

ASSURE YOU MR. GRAYSON, WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR YOU. I'D LIKE TO NOW MOVE FORWARD TO 1965. 1965 AND PERSONS WHO ASSEMBLED AT A CHURCH NEAR THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE, I WOULD BEG THAT YOU TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE BRIDGE. REMEMBER NOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 B, AND MOVING FORWARD TO 1965, I MENTIONED PERSONS ASSEMBLED AT A CHURCH, I'VE MENTIONED THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE. THESE PERSONS ASSEMBLED AT THIS CHURCH BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO MARCH FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. A PEACEFUL MARCH. WHEN THEY APPROACHED THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE THEY KNEW THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BRIDGE WERE MEN WITH CLUBS, SOME ON HORSES, AND THEY KNEW THAT THEIR FAITH WAS -- THEIR FATE WAS UNCERTAIN BUT THEY MARCHED ON. AND WHEN THEY APPROACHED THESE MEN, I CAN REMEMBER MR. JOHN LEWIS, THE HONORABLE JOHN LEWIS, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM GEORGIA, HE TELLS THE STORY AND HE SAYS THAT THEY WERE BEATING THEM AND HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE. THEY WERE BEATING -- THEY WERE BEATEN ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CHURCH WHERE THEY STARTED. THIS WAS IN 1965. A YEAR AFTER THE 1964 VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS SIGNED. WELL, DR. KING CAME TO MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, TO SELMA, ALABAMA, AND DR. KING PROCEEDED WITH THE MARCH. THIS WAS AFTER THE TIME THAT WE CALL BLOODY SUNDAY. DR. KING CAME AND THEY MARCHED FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. BUT NOW, THIS IS WHERE THE STORY GETS INTERESTING. BECAUSE THERE IS A PERSON THAT I HAVE LABELED THE GREATEST UNSUNG HERO OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. BARRING NONE, THE GREATEST UNSUNG HERO OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. A PERSON WHO IS KNOWN TO VERY FEW PEOPLE, A PERSON WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR DR. KING AND THE MARCHERS TO MOVE FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY WITHOUT HAVING TO CONFRONT THE CON STAB LAIR THAT ENGAGED IN A BRUTAL ACT PREVIOUSLY AND MAY HAVE DONE A SIMILAR THING. THIS MAN, THE GREATEST UNSUNG HERO OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS A REPUBLICAN. THIS MAN WAS NOT OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY. HE WAS AN ANGLO. THIS MAN WAS APPOINTED TO A FEDERAL JUDGESHIP BY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER. THIS MAN SIGNED THE ORDER FOR THEM TO MARCH FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, SIGNING AN ORDER IS NO BIG DEAL. IT WAS THEN. REMEMBER THE TIMES. IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO SIGN A -- THAT ORDER. IN FACT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE HE HAD TO BE PROTECTED BY U.S. MARSHALS. FRANK M. JOHNSON THE HONORABLE FRANK M. JOHNSON, DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, BUT THE STORY OF FRANK M. JOHNSON DOESN'T REALLY START WITH THE EDMUND FETE PETTUS BRIDGE, I STARTS WITH ROSA PARKS. WHEN THE SHE TOOK THAT SEAT AND IGNITED THE SPARK THAT STARRED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SHE WENT TO JAIL THAT NIGHT. THERE'S A WHITE SIDE TO BLACK HISTORY. HER BAIL WAS POSTED BY MS. VIRGINIA DEWER AND HER HUSBAND, A WHITE WOMAN POSTED THE BAIL TO GET ROSA PARKS OUT OF JAIL. THERE'S A WHITE SIDE TO BLACK HISTORY. BUT LET'S GET BACK TO FRANK M. JOHNSON. THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD NOT RIDE THE BUS. FOR OVER A YEAR THEY PROVIDED ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION AND BOYCOTTED. IN SO DOING, IN BOYCOTTING, THEY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES BUT OF THE WORLD. BUT HERE'S THE OTHER SIDE. THE BOYCOTT WAS EFFECTIVE BUT IT WAS AN ORDER FROM FRANK M. JOHNSON AS A PART OF A THREE-JUDGE PANEL CONCLUDING THAT THAT SEGREGATION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BASED UPON BROWN VS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WHICH HAD BEEN DECIDED ABOUT A YEAR EARLIER. FRANK M. JOHNSON SIGNED THE ORDER ALONG WITH TWO OTHER JUDGES. FRANK M. JOHNSON WENT ON TO SIGN ORDERS INTEGRATING SCHOOLS, VOTING RIGHTS, HIS HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH ORDERS THAT HE SIGNED TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE SOUTH. PARAPHRASING DR. KING, FRANK M. JOHNSON GAVE MEANING TO THE WORD JUSTICE. A WHITE, REPUBLICAN FEDERAL JUDGE. I MENTION THESE THINGS TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. AND THAT IT INCLUDES PEOPLE OF ALL HUES AND GENDERS AND PERSUASIONS AND IT IS A HISTORY THAT QUITE FRANKLY WE CANNOT FORGET, THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS OF IT THAT WE ARE NOT PROUD OF, BUT IT'S A HISTORY THAT IS OURS AND WE CAN NEVER, EVER IGNORE OUR HISTORY. JUST AS WE CANNOT IGNORE WHAT HAPPENED AT PEARL HARBOR, JUST AS WE CANNOT IGNORE WHAT HAPPENED ON 9/11, WE CANNOT IGNORE MANY OF THE THING THIS IS A HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS. WITH FRANK M. JOHNSON HAVING ATHROID MARCHERS TO MOVE FORWARD BY SIGNING THIS ORDER, LATER ON, THE SAME PRESIDENT, LYNDON JOHNSON, SIGNED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965. I AM PROBABLY IN CONGRESS BECAUSE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965. BECAUSE IT PROVIDED A MEANS BY WHICH DISTRICTS COULD BE DRAWN WITH CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO POPULATION AS OPPOSED TO GEOGRAPHY. THAT VOTING RIGHTS ACT, SECTION 5, IS WHAT ALLOWED A GOOD MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT HERE IN THIS CONGRESS TODAY TO BE HERE. THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AND SECTION 5 OF IT AND AS YOU KNOW, SECTION 5 HAS BEEN MADE IMPOTENT BY THE EVISCERATION OF SECTION 4. SECTION 4 WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN MY YEARS ON THE PLANET IS THAT WHILE I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE JUDICIARY, I DO RESPECT THE JUDICIARY. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE DECISION TO DECLARE SECTION 4 UNCONSTITUTIONAL. BUT I RESPECT THE OPINION AND AS A RESULT I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO CORRECT IT HERE IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS. I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE TO DO SOMETHING TO STRENGTHEN THE VOTING RIGHTS ABOUT, THE SAME VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT MR. JOHN LEWIS MARCHED TO BRING INTO BEING, THAT PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES TO BRING INTO BEING. . THAT SAME VOTING RIGHTS ACT CAN BE STRENGTHENED AND BE MADE USEFUL AND VIABLE FOR A GOOD MANY PEOPLE. SO I WILL CONCLUDE WITH THIS, BUT I DO WANT ONE MORE EVIDENCE OF HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT. CAN YOU GIVE ME ONE MORE COUNT ON THE TIME? AND I WILL COME TO MY CONCLUSION. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 27 MINUTES.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MR. GREEN

I ASSURE YOU YOU'LL HAVE AMPLE TIME. I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH THIS. I…

I ASSURE YOU YOU'LL HAVE AMPLE TIME. I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH THIS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GREAT COUNTRY, NOTWITHSTANDING ALL THAT I'VE EXPLAINED ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, THIS IS A GREAT COUNTRY. AND I LOVE MY COUNTRY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS ALLOWED ME PRIVILEGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT I PROBABLY COULD NOT HAVE ENJOYED IF ANOTHER PLACE. -- IN ANOTHER PLACE. SO LET ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU. I WAS NOT BORN INTO RICHES, OBVIOUSLY, BASED UPON THE STORIES THAT I'VE TOLD. FROM VERY POOR PARENTS. MY FATHER COULD NEITHER READ NOR WRITE. AND I REMEMBER GOING TO WORK WITH MY FATHER ONE DAY, HAVE NO IDEA OF WHY I WAS THERE. MY FATHER WAS A MECHANIC'S HELPER, HE WAS NOT A MECHANIC. HE WAS A HELPER. HE WAS THE PERSON WHO WOULD CLEAN UP THE WET SPOT ON THE FLOOR. ELVES THE PERSON WHO WOULD FETCH THE TOOLS -- HE WAS THE PERSON WHO WOULD FETCH THE TOOLS AND DO THE THINGS THAT WERE REQUIRED THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD NOT DO. AND I HEARD THEM ADDRESS MY FATHER BY A NAME THAT I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH. THEY CALLED HIM SECRETARY. AND AS ANY CHILD WOULD, I SUPPOSE, I MADE AN INQUIRY. WHY DO THEY CALL YOU SECRETARY? AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WERE MAKING FUN OF HIM, THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT HE COULD NOT READ, THAT HE COULD NOT WRITE. AND THEY WERE MAKING FUN OF HIM. AND I SAID, WELL, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? WHY WOULD YOU LET THEM MAKE FUN OF YOU LIKE THIS? WHY WOULD YOU LET THEM DO THIS TO YOU? IT HURT AS A YOUNG CHILD TO SEE YOUR FATHER BEING MADE FUN OF BECAUSE HE COULD NOT READ AND HE COULD NOT WRITE. AND BY THE WAY, IT WAS NOT HIS CHOICE, IT WASN'T HIS CHOICE TO BE A PERSON WHO COULD NOT READ OR WRITE. BUT MY FATHER'S ANSWER IS REALLY WHAT THIS STORY IS ALL ABOUT. WHEN I SAID TO HIM, WHY WOULD YOU LET THEM DO THIS TO YOU? AND HE SAID TO ME, AFTER HAVING TOLD ME MANY MORE THINGS, BUT HE SAID TO ME, I DO IT AND I ACCEPT IT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE. AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL THAT THE SON OF A SECRETARY CAN NOW STAND IN THE WELL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND READ AND WRITE LAWS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, MR. SPEAKER, I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE THIS HOUR AND I BELIEVE THAT OURS IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THAT IT REALLY DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, THINGS WE NEED TO CORRECT. BUT ON A BAD DAY IT'S GOOD TO LIVE IN THE U.S. AND ON A BAD DAY WHEN YOUR DOG THAT YOU REARED FROM A PUP, ON A BAD DAY WHEN YOUR SPOUSE WANTS TO DESSERT YOU, HAVE IT HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GOD BLESS YOU AND I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO MR. GRAYSON. MR. GRAYSON: MR.

MR. GRAYSON

SAD ANNIVERSARY, YEARS AGO TODAY -- 20 YEARS AGO THE BRILLIANT COMEDIAN…

SAD ANNIVERSARY, YEARS AGO TODAY -- 20 YEARS AGO THE BRILLIANT COMEDIAN BILL HICKS DIED OF CANCER AT THE AGE OF 32. HICKS' COMEDY HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS. HE'S BEEN VOTED THE FOURTH GREATEST STANDUP COMEDIAN OF ALL TIME. AND IF HICKS WERE ALIVE TO HEAR THAT, HE WOULD COMPLAIN BITERLY ABOUT LOSING OUT TO GANDHI, EINSTEIN AND STALIN. IN HONOR OF BILL HICKS, I'D LIKE TO TRY TO YIELD THIS PLATFORM TO HIM. THIS IS HOW BILL HICKS ENDED HIS OWN PERFORMANCES. HE WOULD SAY TO THE AUDIENCE, YOU'VE BEEN FANTASTIC, I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE SHOW. THERE'S A POINT TO MY ACT -- IS THERE A POINT TO MY ACT? LET'S FIND A POINT. I WOULD SAY THERE'S A POINT TO MY ACT AND I HAVE TO. THE POINT IS THIS. FOR THE WORLD IS A RIDE LIKE AN AMUSEMENT PARK. AND WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO GO ON IT, YOU THINK IT'S REAL, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW POWERFUL OUR MINDS ARE. AND THE RIDE GOES UP AND DOWN AND IT GOES ROUND AND ROUND. IT HAS THRILLS AND CHILLS AND IT'S VERY BRIGHTLY COLORED AND IT'S VERY LOUD AND IT'S FUN FOR A WHILE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON THE RIDE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY BEGIN TO QUESTION, IS IT REAL OR IS IT A RIDE? AND OTHER PEOPLE, THEY REMEMBER AND THEY COME BACK TO US AND THEY SAY, HEY, DON'T WORRY, DON'T BE AFRAID EVER. BECAUSE IT'S JUST A RIDE. AND WE KILL THOSE PEOPLE. WE KILL THOSE PEOPLE. WE TELL THEM, SHUT HIM UP. WE HAVE A LOT INVESTED IN THIS RIDE. SHUT HIM UP. LOOK AT THE FUROWS OF WORRY, LOOK AT MY BIG BANK ACCOUNT AND MY FAMILY. THIS HAS TO BE REAL, THIS CAN'T JUST BE A RIDE. BUT IT'S JUST A RIDE. AND WE ALWAYS KILL THOSE GOOD GUYS WHO TRY TO TELL US THAT IT'S JUST A RIDE. YOU HAVE EVER NOTICED THAT? AND WE LET THE DEMONS RUN AMOK. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT'S JUST A RIDE AND WE CAN CHANGE IT ANY TIME WE WANT. IT'S ONLY A CHOICE, NO EFFORT, NO WORRY, NO JOB, NO SAVINGS, AND MONEY, IT'S JUST A RIDE. IT'S A CHOICE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN FEAR AND LOVE. THE EYES OF FEAR WANT TO YOU PUT BIGGER LOCKS ON YOUR DOORS AND BUY GUNS AND CLOSE YOURSELF OFF. THE EYES OF LOVE INSTEAD SEE ALL OF US AS ONE. HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THE WORLD RIGHT NOW INTO A BETTER RIDE. TAKE ALL THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND ON WEAPONS AND DEFENSE EACH YEAR AND INSTEAD SPEND IT ON FEEDING AND CLOTHING AND EDUCATING THE POOR OF THIS WORLD, WHICH WE CAN DO MANY TIMES OVER. NOT JUST ONE HUMAN BEING, BUT ALL OF US, NO ONE EXCLUDED. AND THAT WE CAN EXPLORE SPACE TOGETHER, BOTH INNER AND OUTER FOREVER IN PEACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOU'VE BEEN GREAT. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT. YOU'RE FANTASTIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BILL HICKS WROTE HIS OWN EULOGY AND THAT WAS HOW HE ENDED HIS ACT. THIS IS WHAT HE SAID IN HIS OWN FINAL WORDS, IN HIS OWN EULOGY. I LEFT HERE IN LOVE, IN LAUGHTER, AND IN TRUTH. WHEREVER TRUTH AND LOVE AND LAUGHTER ABIDE, I AM THERE IN SPIRIT. REST IN PEACE, BILL HICKS, I YIELD MY TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS YIELD BACK?

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

TEXAS YIELD BACK?

MR. GREEN

THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MR. GRAYSON

THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

MOTION TO ADJOURN. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE AYES…

MOTION TO ADJOURN. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. ACCORDINGLY THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL 10:00 A.M. TOMORROW FOR MORNING HOUR