Congratulating the National Football League Champion New Orleans Saints for winning Super Bowl XLIV and for bringing New Orleans its first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1079, congratulating the National Football League Champion New Orleans Saints for winning Super Bowl XLIV and bringing New Orleans its first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. As a New Orleanian and Representative to Congress for Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, I am honored to congratulate the Saints on their historic season.

I want to thank the 22 original cosponsors and 75 total cosponsors of House Resolution 1079 for joining me to congratulate and support the Saints. I would also like to thank my colleagues in the entire Louisiana delegation for their dedication to the recovery of south Louisiana. We have collaborated in Congress on efforts to rebuild our region, and I hope to continue working with them in the future.

The Saints' motto all season has been ``Finish Strong.'' And they did that very thing with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints' Super Bowl victory not only shows the dedication and hard work of the organization, coaches, and players, but also represents a beacon of hope for the City of New Orleans and a catalyst for recovery throughout Louisiana. House Resolution 1079 emphasizes the positive influence that the Saints have had on people in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.

I introduced House Resolution 1079 to congratulate the Saints because for the past 5 years the Saints have symbolized the City of New Orleans through their pride, resiliency, traditions, suffering, faith, loyalty, and hope.

This resolution congratulates Saints owners Tom Benson and Rita Benson LeBlanc for their investment in the future of the Saints and their dedication and commitment to a strong and united New Orleans. This resolution also congratulates Doug Thornton, Senior Vice President of Stadiums and Arenas, for helping the Saints return to New Orleans by playing an integral role in rebuilding the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

House Resolution 1079 also brings attention to the individuals who made this season a success. I want to specifically thank head coach Sean Payton for his love and commitment to the people and the City of New Orleans, and to congratulate him in being the lone head coach in Saints history to open a season with 13 straight wins and holding the all-time winning percentage record for a Saints head coach.

This resolution also highlights statistics from the Saints' regular season and Super Bowl XLIV, such as Drew Brees completing 70.6 percent of his passes during the regular season, which is an NFL record; Darren Sharper setting an NFL record for most interception return yardage in a regular season with 376 yards; the Saints leading the league in 2009 with 31.9 points per game and 403.8 yards per game; the 2009 Saints surpassing team records for most points in a season, most touchdowns in a season, longest winning streak, most interception return yards, and most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a game.

Other statistics from Super Bowl XLIV were Drew Brees setting a Super Bowl record with 32 pass completions, Marques Colston leading the Saints in receiving yards with 83, the team rushing for a total of 51 yards on 18 carries, and Garrett Hartley setting a Super Bowl record with three field goals of over 40 yards.

For the past several months, I have been reading statements on the House floor about the importance of the Saints and their positive impact on New Orleans and I want to continue that tradition with a few statements from my district.

Ms. Loretta Brehm writes, ``The whole Saints organization exemplifies leadership, professionalism, and a `never give up attitude.' They have brought together all parts of our community, regardless of race, religion, or economic status. Much has been given to our community by their generous spirit and positive actions. If we as a community can model from their success, there is no limits to what we can accomplish.''

Ms. Melissa Smith writes, ``All those involved with the Saints organization took a chance on the City of New Orleans. Doug Thornton performed a miracle and ensured that the team had a facility to play in. The Bensons returned the team to New Orleans. And the team as a whole provided an avenue for all of us to come home and gave us the faith we need to overcome certain odds.''

New Orleanians remark about the resurgence of the team and how they spur the resurgence of the city. ``The New Orleans Saints gave this city hope during a time when we didn't have this hope in ourselves. They provided people with a plan that depends on discipline, dedication, and determination. We may be tired and poor right now, but we are contenders. We are New Orleans. We are America.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 1 minute to my good friend from Indiana, Mr. Dan Burton. He and I entered into a little bet, and the bet was 5 pounds of Indiana steaks for 5 pounds of Louisiana shrimp. And I must say this past weekend the steaks were very, very delicious.

I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the State of Louisiana (Mr. Fleming).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to my dear friend from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy). He has been a wonderful friend as well as a wonderful supporter of me in the past year.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot find a more ardent Saints fan than the next speaker, Mr. Steve Scalise. He represents about 10 percent of New Orleans and a good part of Jefferson Parish. And most of the fans of New Orleans comes from the parishes that Mr. Scalise represents.

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished Member from the State of Louisiana, Dr. Boustany. Dr. Boustany has been a wonderful friend to me as well as a wonderful mentor, and it's always good to know that there will always be a great person for me to lean on.

I thank the gentleman very much. And because the Saints have been so important to my constituents, I will be making official copies of the resolution to be available to them. They can receive a copy by contacting my office in Washington or New Orleans.

I want to close with a prayer for the Saints, delivered by Archbishop Philip Hannan at the first Saints and Sinners Banquet in 1968. It reads:

``Our heavenly Father, who has instructed us that the `saints by faith conquered kingdoms and overcame lions,' grant our Saints an increase of strength and faith so that they will not only overcome the Lions, but also the Bears, the Rams, the Giants, and even those awesome people in Green Bay. May they continue to tame the Redskins and fetter the Falcons as well as the Eagles. Give to our owners and coaches the continued ability to be as wise as serpents and simple as doves, so that no good talent will dodge our draft. Grant to our fans perseverance in their devotion and unlimited lung power, tempered with a sense of charity to all, including the referees. May our beloved Bedlam Bowl be a source of good fellowship, and may the `Saints Come Marching In' be a victory march for all, now and in eternity.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the great city of New Orleans and our great State of Louisiana, and her beloved Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints. The bond between this great city and her team is a special one indeed. In the past few years, both have worked together hand in hand to rebuild and inspire our city. No players in the NFL and their community have had a greater bond and love for each other then do ours. Because, from out of the devastation of Katrina, we have all grown and cried together . . . and so has our love for each other. The Saints season this year in many ways has mirrored New Orleans and its climb from out of the abyss. This year's Super Bowl was not only one of the greatest, but also the largest watched event in the history of television. I ask that this poetic tribute penned by Albert Caswell of the Capitol Guide Service be placed in the Record in honor of them.

Fat Sunday,

When, Dat Da Saints Came Marching In!

A day they'll long remember, as The Football God's will

contend there!

When a Cool Brees blew into town . . . as number ``9'', Drew,

and gunned . . . Gunned Da Colts Down!

As The Saints corralled em, and put em out to pasture . . . a

real ``Who Dat?'' Disaster!

You see, everybody was dissing . . . this Cajun Country's

football team's edition. . .

But, from this City of The Saints . . . where pain and

heartache has so been. . .

When, came a rising . . . as a team and a city rebuilding,

with but tears in eyes then, their dreams realizing!

For in this land of The Bayou, where hope and dreams and

faith somehow never ends . . . Why Who!

As the Colts came into town, as everyone thought they were

the real studs to be found. . .

But, from those ocean breezes . . . you could hear those

``Who Dat'' heart's a beating!

Fat Sunday, When Dat Da Saints Came Marching In. . .

Getting behind early, when Coach Payton . . . said Don't Do

Dat . . . Worry!

As Garrett was showing his Hartley, kicking two fields in the

first half . . . To Do Dat his part, he!

An onside kick by Morsted, playing to win! Be Bold! For

that's how the coach has always been!

As The Saints Came Marching In!

As Drew Daddy, took em down the field . . . so cool and so

unreal . . . as he refused to yield!

As the defense was Vilmanizing, all those horses, making them

losing stride then. . .

Leaving the Colts offense, with but tears in their eyes then!

For on the bench it so seemed, like Peyton . . . lost his

dream. . .

Was forever waiting . . . awaiting to get in. . .

As Thomas showed his promise, as number ``23'' went 16 yds

for a TD. . .

When, in the 4th quarter, touchdown . . . as The Shockey

treatment was in order. . .

As it was getting close . . . with Peyton, moving in for the

tying score . . . it meant the most!

As he threw the ball, you could hear his heart call . . .

``WHO DAT?''

As it was number ``22'' Porter, saying Peyton, your our of

order!

Running the ball back, all the way back to The French

Quarter. . .

Gator Got You Manning! As Archie cried . . . When I played,

where were you guys then?

As it was one heck of a game, with courageous hearts like

Fereeny to be seen. . .

As a City on this night, took one more giant step towards the

light!

And Healing It Would Seem!

With, all of that darkness of a past . . . she could smile

and she could laugh. . .

And, let it be said, no more paper bags over heads . . . for

The Saints. . .

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. NUNES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That seems to be the Democrats' creed and motto.

There wouldn't be any need for today's bill if the failed trillion- dollar stimulus package last year actually worked. A year ago the Democrats promised the American people their so-called stimulus would keep unemployment at 8 percent, but a year later we are near 10 percent.

Put simply, you cannot create jobs by dumping a trillion dollars into Federal agencies. The administration claims that $1.5 billion in stimulus moneys saved or created 1,664 jobs in California's San Joaquin Valley where I live. Even if one charitably assumes the accuracy of these numbers, the Federal Government has spent a whopping $900,000 to save or create one job in the San Joaquin Valley. Despite spending $900,000 per job, there are still communities in the valley that suffer from 20 to 40 percent unemployment. In fact, in the wake of the stimulus, we saw 3 million additional Americans lose their jobs rather than the 3.7 million jobs that are now being promised by the Obama administration. Sadly, a record 16 million Americans are now unemployed because the stimulus promises were empty and unaffordable.

Is it any wonder why the American people continue to ask, Where are the jobs?

It appears that the stimulus was not very stimulating outside of Washington. So here we are back again with yet another multibillion- dollar plan slapped together by the Democrats that will probably, once again, fail.

Madam Speaker, the Soviet Union experience, sadly, taught us that just because you're going to grow 1 billion bushels of potatoes does not mean that there will be potatoes on the shelves. Similarly, just because the Democrats have chosen to message this as a ``jobs'' bill does not mean that it will actually create a job.

The centerpiece of the Democrats' new bill is a payroll tax exemption, a hiring credit for employers to bring on new workers. While I give the Democrats credit for acknowledging that tax cuts are preferable to spending increases, the sad reality is that this is a political charade and it won't work. How do we know? Because the same idea didn't work when Jimmy Carter tried it in the late 1970s.

Numerous studies by noted economists from all across the political spectrum have confirmed that these temporary hiring incentives will have little, if any, positive effect on jobs. It is beyond ridiculous to claim that you can have a meaningful impact upon a $14 trillion economy by spending $13 billion on gimmick tax cuts. Let's think about it: If you're an employer, are you really going to hire someone for a permanent position because you get a modest, temporary tax incentive?

We could have improved this bill had the Ways and Means Committee actually held a hearing and a markup, but once again we see significant tax legislation taken directly to the floor without a committee hearing, without a committee markup, and without an opportunity to even offer amendments.

I understand that there was a change in the chairmanship on the Ways and Means Committee yesterday, but, in fact, this bill on the floor today proves that it's a political sham. It is far from serious to enact sound policy to improve our economy when you can't even decide who the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is going to be.

You don't have to read Adam Smith to know that markets cannot thrive

with uncertainty. What employers really need from Washington is the assurance that the Democrats' massive Big Government tax-and-spend agenda isn't going to drive them out of business.

Employers face uncertainty about the Democrats' massive takeover of the health care system, about the new $1 trillion cap-and-trade energy tax. They face uncertainty with environmental regulations like those that have driven 84 saw mills from California since 1989, and they face uncertainty about the largest tax increase in American history that will be enacted this year.

Madam Speaker, employers don't need more Federal spending to create good private sector jobs; they already know how to create good jobs if Washington would just get out of the way.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California, my good friend (Mr. Lewis).

(Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds.

I just want to clarify, I heard the other side of the aisle say that this bill was going to create 1 million jobs. We are going to spend $13 billion to create 1 million jobs. The $1 trillion stimulus bill last year was promised to create 3.7 million jobs. At some point, I would like to--

Yes, I would like to yield to the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself an additional 30 seconds.

Reclaiming my time, actually, Mr. Blumenauer, my good friend, spoke about the jobs. Earlier, I had heard another gentleman on the other side of the aisle speak about 1 million jobs. I'm just trying to figure out the math. This is about a $13 billion to $15 billion bill to create 1 million or hundreds of thousands of jobs. Last year we spent $1 trillion to create 3.7 million jobs, and we lost 3 million jobs.

Yes, of course.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to a member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown- Waite).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

I would like to remind my colleagues here in this House that last year there was a provision offered that didn't cost $1 trillion, didn't cost $1 billion, didn't cost $1 million, didn't cost $1, and that was a provision to let water flow to my constituents in the San Joaquin Valley of California so people could go back to work. But, instead, nearly every Democrat Member from California in this Congress opposed that amendment. So last summer we had tens of thousands of farmers and farmworkers standing in food lines in the most productive ag land in the United States or in the world.

I yield myself an additional 15 seconds.

A zero cost provision could not go into this bill, and now we have farmworkers eating carrots imported from China. So, all this talk about jobs, it is all phony. The American people have had enough of this nonsense.

I yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

I would like to yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

I yield myself 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I still have yet to have someone explain to me from the other side of the aisle how the trillion-dollar stimulus bill passed last year that was supposed to create 3.7 million jobs--instead, we lost 3 million--and how this bill that spends $13-or-so billion-- still a lot money, but not nearly a trillion dollars--is going to create a million jobs, as they continue to repeat on that side of the aisle. I would like for someone to answer the question.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to yield myself 15 seconds.

Madam Speaker, simple math: If you're going to spend $13 billion to create a million jobs, then why don't we just spend another $200 billion and we create 16 million jobs, and everybody would have a job.

I'd like to yield 2 minutes to my friend to clarify an earlier point, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

Madam Speaker, if there are no additional speakers, I'm prepared to close.

Madam Speaker, during this entire debate today, as the gentleman from Ohio said, this is just a sham. And to sit here and complain about the Senate and procedural things, I mean, we ought to do another Shamwow Summit at the White House. Maybe that would clarify and fix the problems.

We're not Senators. We don't control the Senate. I don't understand the math that you guys use. No one has answered it yet. You guys spent a trillion dollars last year, said you were going to create 3.7 million jobs, but you lost 3 million jobs. Now you say you're going to spend $15 billion and now you're going to create a million jobs. So let's go over some math just so we can clarify things, because I know we're going to continue to hear that Republicans are obstructionists, Republicans have no plans. So let me just go over some math that perhaps folks will understand.

The Democrats have 250-some-odd votes in this House. It only takes 218 votes to pass a bill. In the U.S. Senate you still have almost a supermajority with 59 votes. So what is the problem? Quit calling Republicans obstructionists. You have the White House, you have the Senate, you have the House of Representatives. No more Shamwow Summits, Madam Speaker. Let's get back to work. Vote ``no'' on this bill. This is a scam.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1137, I call up the bill (H.R. 2847) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

I have a motion at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request.

(Mrs. MALONEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 2847, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. The HIRE Act is about our three most important priorities in this Congress: jobs, jobs, and jobs. The HIRE Act builds on legislation that the Senate passed last week, including direct hiring tax incentives for business, support for Recovery Act bond incentives that put local dollars to work creating jobs all across this country, and transportation funding that improves our communities, builds infrastructure, and supports local businesses. All told, more than 1 million jobs will be created by this legislation.

This bill really is help for small businesses on Main Street and millions of Americans who are ready to see the benefits of a growing economy. Across this great country, our economy is showing signs of recovery. But consumers need more confidence, and employers need incentives to hire workers. Today, we give business direct incentives to hire new workers. I am pleased that the HIRE Act accomplishes this in a responsible manner.

Not only does it fully pay for all of the important investments in job creation, but it actually contributes to reduce our deficit by nearly $1 billion. Let me repeat that again, reduce the deficit by $1 billion. The bill is a good step to rebuild our job market, but we still have a ways to go. I expect that this will just be a downpayment on our continuing work to create jobs and restore our economy.

This bill includes, as you have already heard, about $77.15 billion of investment in surface transportation projects. It also reauthorizes Federal highway public transit initiatives and highway safety funding that is needed all across America. When extensions were blocked last week in the Senate, transportation projects across this country were held up and almost 2,000 employees were furloughed. Today, we are going to take action not only to make sure that doesn't happen again, but that we create jobs by investing in local priorities across this country, not only transportation projects that need to be moving in our communities, building on infrastructure and providing jobs for America, but also the HIRE Act that creates tax credits for local businesses.

Representative Steve Kagen and myself introduced a bill back in January for tax credits to hire new employees. This bill builds on that. It is a little different than what we had, but it makes a difference. Despite some economic growth in recent months, the unemployment rate around the country remains high. Too many Americans are unemployed. In my State, it is above the national average, almost 11.2 percent. Just this past week, I visited an employment office where people were saying all we need is a hand up, not a handout; give us an opportunity to go to work.

In addition to that, we are providing funds for making sure that our qualified school construction bonds in the Recovery Act that we passed last year will work. This bill really is about jobs. I can say to you when we are talking about jobs, we are talking about education. I happen to believe education is the one thing that levels the playing field for everyone. Today we are going to have the opportunity to put our stamp on and vote for a piece of legislation that will provide good places for teachers to teach and children to learn.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would remind the gentleman that I was a small businessman in the 1970s when this tax credit was in before. Not only did we use it and create jobs; we had tremendous growth in this country.

I talked to two chambers of commerce in the last month. They are tickled to death that somebody is willing to help them instead of doing the very thing the Senate did last week and hold everything up. It's time we moved on and got something done.

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman, Mr. Oberstar, who knows something about infrastructure.

I yield the gentleman another 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield another 15 seconds to the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the acting chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the Speaker of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Will the gentleman yield?

I thank the gentleman for his willingness to help, but the rule does not provide for that.

It is your time.

No. The rule does not provide for it.

What was the gentleman's request?

The gentleman is doing the same thing that happened in the other body. We are just trying to slow down a piece of legislation that needs to move to get to the President's desk so it can be signed so we can help the American people.

The rules do not provide for that. You would need a unanimous consent request to do that.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 10 seconds to remind the gentleman that how we got here was the American people lost somewhere in the neighborhood of $15-plus trillion in value of their homes and assets over the 18 months through July of last year until we passed something and started to turn it around. Since then, they've gained about $5 trillion back in, but we've got a ways to go.

I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Chandler).

I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Madam Speaker, today we have an opportunity to start the process of putting people back to work, and I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this piece of legislation. The

piece that some of my colleagues on the other side have complained about on the tax credits for small businesses will be used to put people to work. And I would remind them that there were nine Republican Senators on the other side who joined as cosponsors in this piece of legislation. So it was bipartisan on the Senate side.

The HIRE Act really does four key things. Let me remind my colleagues, in closing: First, it will give direct tax incentives to businesses to hire new workers with provisions similar to the bill that I introduced earlier this year. It also restores full value of direct payment options for certain tax credit bond programs, including a program that has been supported in previous Congresses.

Let me speak on that for just a minute because it goes to the heart of the problem we're about. If we really believe and say we're for children, if we really say we're for jobs, there are $22 billion worth of zero interest school bonds, tax exempt bonds, in this bill. And this bill fixes the problem so they can go directly to Treasury and get the credit. Those job bonds can be sold and we can put people to work across this country building schools and other infrastructure. That's in addition to the highway dollars we've just been talking about.

Finally, Madam Speaker, it would give a small business tax incentive to buy new equipment and to grow. That is an important piece. If we truly believe we are for small businesses, today is the day we get a chance to put a vote on the board: Are we for them or are we against them? They can tell very quickly because this bill will go to the Senate, and then it's going to the President of the United States for signing.

Finally, it would give our State and local governments greater certainty on funding for highway projects that we just heard about. I have long believed that if we invest in schools now, it will save money in the long term and make our economy stronger and make a difference in the future. I served for 8 years as State superintendent of the schools in my home State. I coauthored the provision that we're talking about here. We can now fix that problem.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this piece of legislation for jobs for the American people, schools for our children, and a chance to help heal and help those who do not now have work.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I have spoken many times on this floor about my great admiration for the chairman of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Oberstar, and he knows that this bill isn't fair. He knows that this bill isn't fair, because he produced a chart last week that has 50 States, plus the District of Columbia, so it is 51, and 22 States get nothing under this bill and four States walk away with 58 percent.

Not surprisingly, I heard the Speaker likes the bill. California gets 30 percent of the highway funding under this bill. Any Member who is interested is more than free to come peruse this at their leisure.

Now, I give Chairman Oberstar great credit, because he wasn't happy with this, I believe last week, and he fought with his leadership, and he has produced today a letter from Senator Reid saying he is going to fix it sometime in the future.

Now, two things: That is the second big lie, the check is in the mail. The other thing is I hope the majority understands that a letter from Senator Reid just didn't fill us on this side of the aisle with warmth and fuzzy feelings. If you want to fix the problem, fix the problem. And the problem is not fixed.

This is not a jobs bill. I also admire the Speaker of the House, but I admire her more today because she did not break into laughter when calling this a jobs bill. This is no jobs bill. This is a faux jobs bill. This is a snow jobs bill. And I look forward to the unemployment statistics tomorrow, because I believe that we are going to look at about 100,000 Americans will have lost their jobs in the last month, despite all these great successes.

Continuing with my admiration for Chairman Oberstar, my favorite part of the speech that he gives on the stimulus package is all of those jobs which he created through the infrastructure spending in the stimulus are 8 percent of the funding. So that means, I have to figure out the math, Mr. Oberstar, but that means in an $800 billion bill, half the jobs were created by 8 percent of the funding, and that is thanks to you and the work that you and your colleagues do on the committee. So I guess the other half were created by about $750 billion. That is a strange, strange, strange investment.

I would be happy to yield.

Oh, my pleasure, and my appreciation of you grows every day. But I will tell you what; if you can crack the code of the Senate, Republican or Democrat, then you deserve much more money than you are making as the chairman of the full committee, because they are a strange bunch. It doesn't matter who is in charge; they don't seem to do anything.

Now, I want to get to the process now, because the President down at this health care summit down at Blair House said nobody cares about process.

But I have got to tell you, I have never seen this. This is my 16th year in the United States Congress. When Mr. Etheridge made his motion, it says, ``Mr. Etheridge moves that the House concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment.''

I appreciate it.

I said, boy, that is really a procedural mouthful. And you know what it means? It is a procedural way to screw the minority, the Republican Party in this House. Not only can't we amend your bill, not only did we get it at 9:30 this morning, we can't offer a motion to recommit. You know what the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer, would be saying if we pulled that on him when we take the majority back next year? He would be screaming bloody murder, and he would be right.

Madam Speaker, as a result of that, I would like to offer an amendment to this bill.

Then I will ask the gentleman from North Carolina to yield to me to offer an amendment to the bill. And so that the gentleman doesn't think that I am sandbagging him, let me tell you what it is going to be.

I would move to amend this bill to transfer the $13 billion in this sham tax credit, that is not going to create one job and is really the dumbest idea I ever heard, to infrastructure spending.

I would further have it in that amendment that the infrastructure spending, now at $14 billion, be distributed pursuant to the House proposal that Mr. Oberstar has proposed, which means every State in the Union benefits, not just California, not just States that are walking away with a bunch of money.

Will the gentleman from North Carolina yield to me for the purpose of offering an amendment?

I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. Etheridge, we are going to give it another shot, because we are not going to be able to hide behind ``the rule doesn't offer it.'' I said that. The rule doesn't provide for an amendment. The rule doesn't even provide for a motion to recommit, the only tool in the minority's toolbox.

Mr. Etheridge, I ask unanimous consent--well, first of all, I guess you need to yield to me for a unanimous consent request. Would you yield to me for a unanimous consent request?

Do I have to ask him to yield to me, or do I yield to him to yield to me?

Mr. Etheridge, I am asking you to yield to me so I can make a unanimous consent request that you can deny.

No, I am asking you, sir, to yield to me.

Well, that is nonsense, first of all, because the Speaker has just indicated that if you would yield to me, I could make my unanimous consent request.

Well, I am going to tell you what, Mr. Etheridge. If you would yield to me, which apparently you can under the rules but don't want to because you think the rule says so, which it clearly doesn't, here is the deal. I want to make a unanimous consent request that the $13 billion in this worthless tax credit be transferred to infrastructure spending; further, that that additional $13 billion be distributed pursuant to the House plan, as opposed to the Senate plan, the Senate plan rewarding only four States with 58 percent of money, 22 States getting zero.

Now, Mr. Etheridge, I am asking you to yield to me for that purpose.

I am asking you to yield to me for the aforementioned unanimous consent request.

So that is a no. Is that a no? I still have the time, Mr. Etheridge. Is that a no?

Do you know what that is? That is a soup sandwich answer, because the Speaker has just said you could do it.

Will the gentleman yield?

I promise not to try to amend the bill or anything else. It's just sad that the distinguished chairman of the Surface Transportation Committee wouldn't yield to me, but it doesn't surprise me. He likes this bill. Oregon gets $40 million under the bill, of the $1 billion, and only $11 million under Mr. Oberstar's proposal.

Are you going to give me a 7 percent thing or are you going to say that's not true? I'll yield to you if you don't think it's true.

That's what I'm talking about.

Well, here's the skinny: That depends upon Harry Reid's putting a letter in the mail, sending it over to the chairman and the Speaker, and having another bill. Now, no disrespect to your majority, but you haven't done such a great job in passing bills since you guys took over 4 years ago. So waiting for another bill to come-- and, quite frankly, trying not to be partisan about this, but this mess was created by George Bush and it is perpetuated by President Obama because his Transportation Secretary says they don't want to deal with the 6-year bill until March of 2011. Thirty percent of the construction trade in this country is out of work. Why wouldn't you do this?

To my distinguished friend from Oregon, all I was asking was for his State to do better. Transfer the $13 billion from this worthless tax credit and put it into infrastructure. Put these guys to work. Actually build something. Again, going back to Mr. Oberstar's wonderful speech that he always gives: a million jobs with only 8 percent of that $800 billion. Wouldn't it be great if we could give Jim Oberstar $14 billion to create jobs for America rather than coming up with this goofy tax credit that says if you hire somebody for $30,000, we're going to waive the payroll tax for November and December. Guess what? You can save $1,500 if you just give somebody a $30,000 job. It's nuts. This bill is wrong. That's what I was talking about.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Cao, my colleague from New Orleans, for bringing the resolution. It's really a special time. If you have been in and around the city of New Orleans--and of course so many people have been focused on New Orleans in looking at the bad things that happened to our city after Hurricane Katrina. But we've had such an outpouring over the years of people who have been rooting for and pulling for the city to come back. I think what's been the most special thing about this past year with the Saints in their success that they've had on the football field is that it's really galvanized the city, but it's also galvanized the rest of the country.

I brought a football here, it has the Super Bowl logo, and it represents the fact that the Saints won the Super Bowl. And of course here we're today congratulating the Saints on winning the Super Bowl. But this victory was much more than a football game. Not only do I remember back during the years that my dad took me to Tulane Stadium when I was a little kid, and as my colleague, Congressman Cassidy, talked about some of those leaner years, I think it's the resilience of the team, but it really starts at the top.

We would be remiss if we didn't emphasize the importance to our community that the owner, Tom Benson, has meant. The fact that he bought the team back in the 1980s, but then the fact that even through some of those tough years, he made a dedication to excellence, that he was going to build a team--and he said it many times--that would win a Super Bowl. And there were a lot of people that wondered if that would ever happen. There were a lot of people that were crying in the city of New Orleans not only when the Saints won the NFC championship game, but when the Saints went to the Super Bowl and won the Super Bowl, because there were so many who just thought it never would happen. But it did happen.

I think the Times-Picayune, our local paper, said it best the morning after the Super Bowl victory. The headline was ``Amen'' because many people's prayers were answered. Of course, the Saints are named after the

saints. I think we had a lot of prayers from above, but those prayers were answered.

In a lot of ways, those prayers were answered by the organization that Tom Benson and his wife Gayle and his granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc and Dennis Lauscha and so many others with the Saints organization who made that commitment to build a world-class football team. And if you just go through and you look at some of the great talent that's been amassed now, you start with the coach, Sean Payton. He did one of the more unselfish acts of actually giving up some of his own salary to bring in a defensive coordinator who truly helped transform that defense into what so many people saw and admired on the field.

But I think that as I talk about a few of the players that I really want to feature and commend, it's not so much the acts that they did on the field because we saw what they did on the field, and it inspired people in the city of New Orleans. It inspired people all across the Nation. And Drew Brees winning the MVP and putting up record numbers and 32 completions, a Super Bowl record. And Garrett Hartley with three-for-three field goal attempts and three over 40 yards, setting a Super Bowl record.

And who can forget Tracy Porter's interception return for a touchdown? And of course the gutsy call that Sean Payton made to start the second half to do an onsides kick. All of those were great plays. But it's what the Saints have done off the field that has really formed a unique bond between the Saints and their fans, and it's something that we've seen after Katrina.

You know, for those of us who were in the Super Bowl that night in 2006 for the Atlanta Falcons game when they reopened the dome, when people said the Superdome would never open again; when many people said New Orleans would never have an NFL team again, in fact, when many people said that New Orleans wasn't going to come back, that really was one of those watershed moments that galvanized the city, and it told so many other people that they could come back, they could rebuild because the Saints came back. Since then, they've served as great role models off the field, and that's something important because we don't see that enough in sports.

But Sean Payton's got a Payton's Pay It Forward Foundation, and he has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to do great things in the community, giving money to other organizations that do great things in the community. We've seen Drew Brees. And of course Drew Brees, he has gotten so many accolades on the field. But off the field, he has gotten accolades as well. His Brees Dream Foundation has donated $4.5 million to various causes throughout the city, done wonderful things, helped young kids. He was the 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year, just an incredibly high-quality person who has gotten involved in the community.

I want to talk about Reggie Bush finally. Today, by the way, is Reggie Bush's birthday. Reggie Bush wears number 25 on the field, and today is his 25th birthday. So we want to say happy birthday to Reggie Bush. But through Reggie Bush's 619 Foundation, he has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the community. And in fact, Tad Gormley Field, which is a field where many of the high schools in New Orleans play their football games, he donated $86,000 to rebuild that field after Katrina so that so many young people not only can look up to athletes as role models but also can have the opportunity to go and participate and learn about sports.

So it's been an incredible opportunity. We appreciate what the Saints have done on the field, but we also appreciate what Tom Benson and his leadership and the team have done off the field too.