Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the amazing accomplishments and life-long dedication of Dr. Sally Ride on the anniversary of the 1983 Challenger journey that established her as the first American woman to travel into space. Since that journey, Dr. Ride, a distinguished educator and scientist, has dedicated her life to improving science education.

Dr. Ride received her bachelor's degree, Master's and PhD in Physics from Stanford University. In the Stanford University paper, she saw an advertisement that NASA was seeking astronauts. Out of thousands of applicants, she was one of 35 candidates chosen for the space program. On June 18, 1983, Dr. Ride joined the crew aboard the space shuttle Challenger and, twenty-seven years ago on this date, became the first American woman to travel into space. After two journeys to space, she was preparing for her third mission when the Challenger exploded in 1986. Dr. Ride continued to work with NASA by serving as a member of the Presidential Committee investigating the Challenger accident, and went on to serve as Special Assistant to the Administrator for long- range planning at NASA headquarters.

Dr. Ride continued her life-long commitment to promoting the fields of science, math, and technology, especially among young women by founding the Sally Ride Science Company in 2001. Dr. Ride wanted to share her passion and encourage young women to pursue careers in these fields. The company creates school programs and educational materials aimed at engaging young people's interest in these fields and changing society's perceptions of women in the math, science, and technology workforce.

Madam Speaker, Central Florida is so proud of the space program and we recognize that its success would not be possible without the dedication of Dr. Ride. As a member of the Science and Technology committee, I have great respect and admiration for her contributions, not only to the space program, but also her work to motivate young people's interest in science. While Dr. Ride will always be known as the first American woman to travel into space, her commitment to advancing the education of future generations of young women ensure there will be many to follow.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. On June 25, 2006, exactly 4 years ago this Friday, Gilad was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists within Israeli territory, near the Karem Shalom crossing. This kidnapping was a part of an unprovoked and organized military operation by Hamas terrorists who continue to hold Gilad captive in Gaza.

Throughout Gilad's captivity, the International Red Cross has requested to send representatives to assess his conditions of detention and treatment, as well as to provide medical attention to Gilad. Just recently, Hamas once again refused to give the Red Cross access to check on Gilad's well being in accordance with international law. Pierre Dorbes, deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and the Territories stated that, `` . . . we have been able to visit nearly everyone detained in connection to this conflict, with the exception of Gilad Shalit.''

As negotiations for his release continue, it is important to recognize the efforts of Gilad Shalit's family and friends, particularly his mother Aviva and his father Noam to secure his release. I can only imagine the heartache and frustration that they feel as they work to help secure their son's freedom.

Madam Speaker, I along with my colleagues continue to call for the unconditional release of Gilad Shalit. I urge President Obama to continue to make Gilad's release a priority for his administration as he works with all parties to resolve the ongoing conflict in the region.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding public service of Mr. Michael Slaymaker, president of the Orlando Youth Alliance, in honor of Gay & Lesbian Pride Month. Under the direction of Mr. Slaymaker, the Orlando Youth Alliance serves to educate parents, academia, health care workers, and others about the development and diversity of sexual identity and make them more attention to the concerns and needs of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered youth.

Mr. Slaymaker moved to Central Florida in 1995 from Iowa. He graduated from Central College, Pella, Iowa, In 1983 with a bachelor of arts degree in Communications & Theatre and minor degrees in Business Management and German. In 1999, he earned his master of arts degree in Human Resources at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Mr. Slaymaker has worked with numerous non-profit organizations that have contributed greatly to the Central Florida community. From 1983 through 1993, he worked for the American Heart Association, first at a field representative, then as the Special Events Director, and finally as the Director of Field Services. He successfully designed a major gifts program and increased the annual revenue generation by $1 million and he was recognized nationally for his exceptional work. From 1995 to 1996, he served at the Executive Director for the Hope and Help Center in Central Florida, whose mission is to treat and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Mr. Slaymaker's outstanding service continued there as he initiated many programs to benefit the people of Florida and repaired the financially troubled state of the organization. In 1998, he joined the Orlando Gay Chorus as a volunteer singer and was quickly recruited to help with fundraising. For 10 years, he served as the Development Director for the Orlando Gay Chorus, increasing their budget by more than $150,000. In 2000, he founded the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee to fight local discrimination, and has been the driving force behind this highly successful volunteer group ever since. From 2001 to 2010, he was the Human Resources & Development Director of the La Amistad Foundation, Inc., where his innovations helped enhance the quality of life for adults with chronic mental illnesses.

Currently, Mr. Slaymaker is the President of the Orlando Youth Alliance, a non-profit organization which has the vital purpose in the Central Florida community to provide a safe and nurturing environment for LGBT youth between the ages of 13 and 20. The Orlando Youth Alliance was formed in 1990 under the name ``Delta Youth Alliance'' as a support group to help struggling LGBT youth. The group gathers every week to talk about their concerns and discuss issues that are important to them. Through the years, this organization has lent a hand to hundreds of Central Florida's youth and has expanded its outreach into the Orlando community. Mr. Slaymaker's exceptional efforts have helped make our Central Florida safer, our community more dynamic, and our people more conscientious. He has inspired our youth and empowered them to be proud of who they are.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Michael Slaymaker for his outstanding work and leadership both in the Gay & Lesbian community and in our Florida community as a whole. He is a fantastic community activist and a source of pride to Florida.

Thank you very much.

The question that has been raised by critics of Israel for the past week is why is Israel intercepting ships on the so-called high seas, 100 miles from its own shores, and the answer can be summed up in one simple phrase: self-defense. That simple phrase explains what we saw and explains Israel's continuing need to protect itself.

Over 1,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza into the territory of Israel, 1,000 rockets. Imagine what we would do if 1,000 rockets were fired into San Diego. Imagine what we would do if 1,000 rockets were fired into Seattle or into Detroit or any other border area.

In the case of Israel, 1 million people live within rocket range of Gaza, and those 1 million people have been living through hell for years with a 15-second warning to seek shelter when a rocket attacks. And as a result of that, 13 Israelis have died, but it's inflicted huge harm on the people who live within rocket range in south Israel. One- third of all the children in south Israel suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Again, imagine what we would do to stop such attacks if they were directed against us.

That's the fundamental reason why Israel feels obliged, the Israeli military feels obliged, to do what it needs to do to protect its citizens. These ships were not in any way interfered with because they were carrying humanitarian aid. The ships were interfered with for one reason and one reason only. That's because they could have been carrying missiles and rockets and things that could be made into missiles and rockets. It's a fundamental duty of the Israeli military to protect the people of Israel, just as it's a fundamental duty of our military to protect us. What they did was what they needed to do in order to ensure the safety of their own people, and honestly, in the same circumstances, we would have done the same thing.

Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the inspirational spirit of Dr. Nelson Ying in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Dr. Ying's life story is somewhat of a fairy tale demonstrating the passion and fortitude of the American dream. Dr. Ying and his parents fled from China at the height of the Communist takeover in 1955. The Ying family moved to New York City with only $600. Dr. Ying's father, James Ying, opened a chain of successful gift shops all over New York, from Chinatown into the New York suburbs. Dr. Ying learned at a young age from his father that in America hard work and perseverance can take you far.

Dr. Ying epitomizes the character and integrity that represent the Asian Pacific American community. Dr. Ying is the founding chairman of the Orange County Science Exposition. Through this annual exposition, Dr. Ying continues to promote direct involvement from students in science. Every year he selects five outstanding high school science scholars to compete in his science competition. The scholarship gives students an opportunity to explore state of the art facilities at places like Kennedy Space Center and Lockheed Martin. The ``Ying Prize'' has become a testament to science achievement in Central Florida, awarding a prestigious student up to $1,000 for the best physical science project. Dr. Ying's involvement in the fields of education and community service has greatly contributed to the Central Florida community. Dr. Ying's investment in our next generation of leaders in the field of scientific innovation is invaluable.

Madam Speaker, Central Florida is proud to have a strong community leader like Dr. Ying. Dr. Nelson Ying's priority to give back to the community by educating the next generation of leaders reflects not only core American values, but what should be the top policy priority for our Nation. Dr. Ying's service will compel young adults and be the catalyst for a better world of tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1391, congratulating Israel for its accession to membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

On May 10, 2010, 31 OECD member states unanimously agreed to invite Israel to become a member of that organization. The OECD noted in a statement that ``Israel's scientific and technological policies have produced outstanding outcomes on a world scale.'' Israel's finance minister, Yuval Steinitz, described Israel joining the OECD as ``a badge of honor'' for Israel, which was one of the few economies to show growth in 2009 during the world economic crisis.

It is critical to recognize the importance of Israel's involvement now and in the future in international organizations. I stand with my colleagues in commending President Obama and the administration for the integral role it played in Israel's successful bid for accession to membership in the OECD. This only furthers to strengthen the bonds between the United States and Israel.

Thank you. It would be easy to spend this time that I have, and in fact this entire hour, talking about the contributions that Jewish people have made to American history and to American science and culture. If you look at the back of a dollar bill, you will find the seal of the United States. And you will find that the 13 original States are depicted in the form of a Star of David on the back of every dollar bill. And that's to reflect the support that Jews provided during the Revolutionary War for our freedom as a country.

It also would be easy to spend this time, and in fact the whole hour, talking about people who we know who have lived upstanding lives as Jews and reflected our values in ways that have caused America to appreciate what they have given us. I am thinking, for instance, of my father's mother, who came to America fleeing oppression in Europe 110 years ago. I am thinking of both of my mother's parents. My mother's parents told me that their finest hour was when they got to visit Jerusalem. And yet they came from Europe to North America in the hope of achieving freedom, and they did.

But I would like to try to do something that's in some respects a little more difficult, if I may, which is try to explain in some general way what Jews have meant in this country for our intellectual and moral life as a country. And I think it begins with the fact that we all lived as slaves. And we not only remember that time and remember what it meant for us to achieve freedom ourselves as a people, but we also make sure that each year we come together during a time that's important to all of us, to come together as families and remember the importance of that part of the Jewish experience. And that helps us to relate to other people who are oppressed in all sorts of ways.

We also, I think, are moved by the central concept, in my mind, of tikkun olam, healing the world. Now, this is a concept that dates in Jewish law all the way back to the Mishnah. And originally it was basically an injunction that you should not take advantage of other people. One of the original examples of tikkun olam, the principle of healing the world, was that for instance when the captives were taken, when people were held hostage in military battles, the tradition at that time was that they could be freed by a payment of money. We don't do that anymore, nobody does that anymore, but that was typical and ordinary in Biblical times.

And the rule of tikkun olam was applied to place a limit on how much you could take in order to give someone back their freedom. Why? Because that person was a prisoner, he or she could not defend himself or herself, and he or she wanted and deserved the freedom that every human being deserves. So under the idea of the concept of tikkun olam, we placed a limit on the price that you could pay on somebody's freedom, even if they were captured in the field of battle or otherwise taken hostage. And that's a concept that's broadened over time. It's a concept that I think is suffused through our life as a country in America today because it appeals to our better nature.

I saw something recently that summarized this in a way that I thought was particularly vivid. This is Rabbi Michael Lerner talking about the concept of tikkun olam and how it applies to modern life: ``We in the Tikkun community,'' he said, ``use the word `spiritual' to include all those whose deepest values lead them to challenge the ethos of selfishness and materialism that has led people into a frantic search for money and power and away from a life that places love, kindness, generosity, peace, nonviolence, social justice, awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation, thanksgiving, humility and joy,'' especially joy I think, ``at the center of our lives.''

And what we strive for under Jewish law is a reflection of the future that we hope to bring about, the messianic age, the age when people live in peace, when their lives are filled with love and with joy. And our actions today are meant to point in that direction. I think that's a good summary of what we try to accomplish as legislators. I think it's a good summary of what America tries to accomplish when we appeal to our own better natures. And that's, I think, the greatest of all of our contributions to American life, the concept of tikkun olam, the concept that the way that we conduct ourselves is a way that can spread throughout the world. I appreciate the time.

Will the gentlelady yield?

I am sure, and I know for a fact, that your parents must be very proud of you. But I will tell you that when I was elected, my mother's reaction was, I really wish you would become a doctor instead. I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy that I stand here before you and my fellow colleagues today to offer House Resolution 1169, honoring Rollins College on its 125th anniversary.

125 years ago, the great State of Florida was largely a frontier. A daring group of New England Congregationalists, however, envisioned something more. They envisioned what Florida could be. So, in 1885 they established a small college, coeducational from the start, on the shores of Lake Virginia in Winter Park, Florida.

Over time, this humble school, nestled among the native pines and palmettos, would grow along with our great State. It has influenced the development of not only the central Florida region, through such alumni as Al Weiss, the former president of Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts, but also our whole Nation, through graduates such as Fred Rogers, better known to the country as Mr. Rogers. Rollins College has also contributed to a deeper understanding of our world through such graduates as Donald Cram, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987. Undoubtedly, Mr. Speaker, this tradition is sure to continue, as current students continually secure Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, and Pickering Scholarships.

Today, the college is situated on 70 beautiful acres in Winter Park, Florida, in my home district. It boasts more than 1,700 university undergraduate students, several master's degree programs, and the highly regarded Crummer School of Business. It offers a truly remarkable liberal arts education and produces notable graduates, a fact that has not gone unnoticed. This year, for the fifth year in a row, the U.S. News & World Report in its annual ranking of America's Best Colleges has ranked Rollins College number one among 117 Southern master's-level universities.

Further, the college is fortunate to count among its successes more than just academic achievements. Its well-rounded student body has amassed more than 20 national championships on the athletic field. Time can only tell what future accomplishments may await.

For these reasons and so many more, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand before you, and with you, in honoring Rollins College on its 125th anniversary. May they have as many more equally as fruitful as the first 125.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to address my comments not only to you tonight but also to the one-third of America that makes less than $35,000 a year. Some people call you lower middle class; some people call you poor. There are those among you who are retired. There are those among you who are working poor Americans. Some of you make the minimum wage. There are those among you who also are handicapped, people who have no ability to enter the workforce and have to rely upon charity in one form or another.

In any event, there is one-third of America, one-third, that makes less than $35,000 a year, and my comments are addressed to you tonight. You are the ones who Jesse Jackson used to refer to as ``dispossessed,'' ``the despised,'' and in our political system, the damned. And you are sometimes treated that way, but more commonly, you are treated by our political system as disregarded.

There are over 5,000 bills that have been introduced in the House of Representatives since I was sworn in last year. Only a tiny fraction of them offer you any relief. And tonight, I want to point out to you one that does. It's my bill, H.R. 5353, The War's Making You Poor Act. Now, I could talk to you a little bit tonight about various aspects of this bill, but there's one aspect in particular that I want to tell you about; the one that that relates to you directly.

What this bill does is, for you, it eliminates Federal income tax entirely. This bill makes the first $35,000

of every American's income tax-free, and in your case, since you make less than $35,000, it eliminates Federal taxation on you.

And to illustrate that, we have this chart here, and as the chart does indicate, as you can see for yourself, your taxes under H.R. 5353 are a big fat zero. Zilch. Nada. Gornish. Nothing. And I hope that that will become permanent.

This is the biggest tax cut bill that you are going to see this year. It would have been the biggest tax cut bill if we'd introduced it last year. And I could tell you this bill gives us a nudge towards peace. I could tell you that this bill helps us to eliminate wasteful defense spending. I could tell you also that this bill reduces the deficit by $16 billion and puts us back on the track to eliminate our deficit and our debt. I could tell you all of that, but what I am telling you now is this: It eliminates taxes on you.

Now, you may not participate very much in the political system. Certainly, the political system does very little for you, so I can understand that. You don't have the ability to contribute to candidates because you have no money. You don't have the ability to, in many cases, vote because voting takes place on Tuesdays, and you work on Tuesdays.

So you have to ask yourself, what do you have to do to get this bill, H.R. 5353, passed? And I'm going to give you some hints. I'm going to tell you what you might be able to do to get this bill passed to eliminate taxation on you.

Let's see. You can call the main number here at the House of Representatives. It's 202-224-3121, and you, as an American, can ask to speak to your Congressman. I suggest that you do that, and I suggest that you tell your Congressman that you want your Congressman to vote for H.R. 5353. Or, if you have an Internet connection, you can go to the Web site here at the House, www.house.gov. And at that Web site, you can find out how to get in touch with your Congressman and tell your Congressman that you want to support H.R. 5353 and you want him or her to do the same.

And maybe somehow, in some conceivable way, if all of America--or at least the one-third that this bill would eliminate taxation for--got together and demanded justice, demanded that this yoke be tossed off your back and that you be free of Federal taxation, and if this bill passed, then you can say at that point: Free at last; Free at last; Thank God Almighty, I am free at last.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to address my comments not only to you tonight but also to the one-third of America that makes less than $35,000 a year. Some people call you lower middle class; some people call you poor. There are those among you who are retired. There are those among you who are working poor Americans. Some of you make the minimum wage. There are those among you who also are handicapped, people who have no ability to enter the workforce and have to rely upon charity in one form or another.

In any event, there is one-third of America, one-third, that makes less than $35,000 a year, and my comments are addressed to you tonight. You are the ones who Jesse Jackson used to refer to as ``dispossessed,'' ``the despised,'' and in our political system, the damned. And you are sometimes treated that way, but more commonly, you are treated by our political system as disregarded.

There are over 5,000 bills that have been introduced in the House of Representatives since I was sworn in last year. Only a tiny fraction of them offer you any relief. And tonight, I want to point out to you one that does. It's my bill, H.R. 5353, The War's Making You Poor Act. Now, I could talk to you a little bit tonight about various aspects of this bill, but there's one aspect in particular that I want to tell you about; the one that that relates to you directly.

What this bill does is, for you, it eliminates Federal income tax entirely. This bill makes the first $35,000

of every American's income tax-free, and in your case, since you make less than $35,000, it eliminates Federal taxation on you.

And to illustrate that, we have this chart here, and as the chart does indicate, as you can see for yourself, your taxes under H.R. 5353 are a big fat zero. Zilch. Nada. Gornish. Nothing. And I hope that that will become permanent.

This is the biggest tax cut bill that you are going to see this year. It would have been the biggest tax cut bill if we'd introduced it last year. And I could tell you this bill gives us a nudge towards peace. I could tell you that this bill helps us to eliminate wasteful defense spending. I could tell you also that this bill reduces the deficit by $16 billion and puts us back on the track to eliminate our deficit and our debt. I could tell you all of that, but what I am telling you now is this: It eliminates taxes on you.

Now, you may not participate very much in the political system. Certainly, the political system does very little for you, so I can understand that. You don't have the ability to contribute to candidates because you have no money. You don't have the ability to, in many cases, vote because voting takes place on Tuesdays, and you work on Tuesdays.

So you have to ask yourself, what do you have to do to get this bill, H.R. 5353, passed? And I'm going to give you some hints. I'm going to tell you what you might be able to do to get this bill passed to eliminate taxation on you.

Let's see. You can call the main number here at the House of Representatives. It's 202-224-3121, and you, as an American, can ask to speak to your Congressman. I suggest that you do that, and I suggest that you tell your Congressman that you want your Congressman to vote for H.R. 5353. Or, if you have an Internet connection, you can go to the Web site here at the House, www.house.gov. And at that Web site, you can find out how to get in touch with your Congressman and tell your Congressman that you want to support H.R. 5353 and you want him or her to do the same.

And maybe somehow, in some conceivable way, if all of America--or at least the one-third that this bill would eliminate taxation for--got together and demanded justice, demanded that this yoke be tossed off your back and that you be free of Federal taxation, and if this bill passed, then you can say at that point: Free at last; Free at last; Thank God Almighty, I am free at last.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month and to recognize an extraordinary businessman and philanthropist from Central Florida who is making a distinguished contribution to the Jewish community in the 8th district of Florida, Alan Ginsburg.

For over 45 years, Mr. Alan Ginsburg has been involved in developing real estate projects such as, single family and multi-family housing projects with HUD, LIHTC, and FHA in several States including the great State of Florida. His career began years ago at a local sporting goods store in Grand Rapids, MI where he did not make enough money to pay for parking and lunch. Determined to be a self starter, Mr. Ginsburg, quit his job to become a self-employed entrepreneur. In 1981, he founded CED Construction Companies specializing in building multi-family communities.

Mr. Ginsburg is a role model for generosity and selflessness not only with his money, but with his time and dedication. He serves as the Director of Greater Orlando Jewish Welfare Federation and was an active member of National Young Leadership Cabinet for the United Jewish Appeal. Mr. Alan Ginsburg's community activism is not just within the Jewish Community, but throughout Central Florida. He has served as a trustee for Rollins College, where he gave $5 million for a scholarship endowment at Rollins College, and serves as a trustee for the Orlando Arts Foundation.

During the past few years, Mr. Ginsburg has donated millions of dollars to Central Florida organizations. In 2007, The Alan Ginsburg Family Foundation gave Florida Hospital $20 million, the largest donation in its history, for its new $255 million patient tower. The 15 story, 440 bed Ginsburg Tower opened in December 2008 and features one of the largest emergency departments and cardiac catheterization labs in the country. At his request, the tower's lobby was designed to be welcoming to people of all faiths and features a memorial to Ginsburg's late wife, Harriet, and son, Jeffrey.

Mr. Ginsburg's philanthropic values are a reflection of his philosophy in life, ``to never forget the importance of the community in which you are creating new development and to give back as much and as often as possible.'' This philosophy corresponds with the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Jews are not only responsible for helping to create a better world for themselves, but for the entire society as a whole. Mr. Ginsburg's community service has accomplished just that.

Madam Speaker, during Jewish American Heritage Month, it is my privilege to recognize this dedicated community member whose devotion to our community can be shown through his great contributions not only to the Jewish community, but the larger Florida community as well. Alan Ginsburg has given so much to the people of Florida and I applaud his accomplishments and service in our Central Florida community and our State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduced H.R. 5353, the War is Making You Poor Act. The War is Making You Poor Act does three things: First, it requires the administration to carry out the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with only--only--the $549 billion set forth in the President's budget for defense spending, without the additional $159 billion the President has asked for for the sake of the so-called emergency war, which now stretches on to 9 years in one case and 7 years in the other. My view is that $549 billion is enough for these wars or any other wars the President plans to engage in.

What this does, secondly, is that it takes the money that is saved from the war separate allocation and it uses that for a very important purpose with our economy the way it is and people in America suffering. It takes that money--or 90 percent of it--and it uses that to make $35,000 of everyone's income in America tax-free. And $70,000 for married couples. Let's be clear about that. Let's be clear about what I said. With the money that is being saved by the War is Making You Poor Act, we can make $35,000 of every American's income tax-free. And $70,000 for married couples. And in addition to that, it takes the remaining money and reduces the Federal deficit and the Federal debt. I think those are three things, all of which need to be done. This bill brings them all together.

Let's start with the fact that the administration has asked for $549 billion to basically keep the lights on at the Pentagon, and beyond that, asked for another $159 billion for the wars. Let's see exactly how much that means. On this chart here, you can see that U.S. military spending is as much as the entire rest of the world combined. As much as the entire rest of the world combined. And in fact, the ones who come in second are NATO allies in Europe, who I don't expect to be attacking us any time soon. Beyond that, you have to go all the way down to China to get to any country that is conceivably ever going to be a military enemy. And we outspend China by over five to one. Beyond that, we get into our allies in East Asia and Australia, and you have to go all the way down to Russia, whom we outspend by almost ten to one, before you get to any country that could conceivably be a military opponent.

Why is this necessary? If we're going to have military spending that amounts to this much--half of all the military spending the world--do we need to have on top of that--on top of that base budget--another $150 billion for the war? I think not, particularly when the people in America are suffering.

So I believe that the thing we need to do is to take that $159 billion that the President has set aside. We're not saying he has to stop the war. We're not giving a cutoff date for the war. We're simply saying you need to fund that out of the base budget of $549 billion. And we take 90 percent of that money and give it back to the American people.

I think most people would be surprised to learn that that is so much money that we have been spending on the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq that every single taxpayer in America will be able to get his first or her first $35,000 of income completely tax-free. You won't see dollar one in tax until you make more than that. In fact, almost a third of Americans don't make more than that so they will simply be excused from the Federal income tax system. And all we need to do is to stop separately funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now I've heard a lot of complaints from the other side and complaints from people on our side about the Federal debt and the Federal deficit. Here's something concrete that you can do. If this bill passes, we'll be able to reduce the Federal deficit by $16 billion. You don't have to take my word for it. It's already been scored by the Joint Committee on Taxation. The Joint Committee on Taxation staff has determined that the tax cut that's needed to get every single person in America $35,000 tax-free--their first $35,000--would cost less than the wars and would leave over after that another $16 billion.

Mr. Speaker, this is an idea whose time has come. It's time for the American people to see that there is no longer any need to go beyond the base, exorbitant defense budget that's presented to us by the President, notwithstanding the fact that there are wars in Afghanistan in Iraq. It's simply not necessary. You can see for yourself. Enough is enough. $549 billion is plenty, particularly when we're using a Chinese credit card to pay for it all.

So I ask for your support, Mr. Speaker, and I hope that the Chamber will consider H.R. 5353, the War is Making You Poor Act.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 273, 274 and 275, I would have voted ``yes'' if I had been present. I missed the votes because of a long flight delay caused by the weather. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Military Appreciation Month. This month, I would like to recognize a phenomenal service member from central Florida who is making a distinguished contribution to my district, the great State of Florida, and to our Nation as a whole. Today, I honor former Orlando City Council Commissioner Don Ammerman.

Mr. Ammerman graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Real Estate & Marketing and an MBA in Real Estate Marketing/Finance. He is a recipient of two Ford Foundation Grants for overseas study while in graduate school. He also completed the John F. Kennedy School of Government for senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University.

Mr. Don Ammerman began his military career in 1968 at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and from there served with the 83rd ARCOM in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his service in the reserves in Orlando in 1974. He was hand selected by the U.S. Navy Academy to serve as a Blue and Gold Admissions officer at Annapolis. His dedication to our country and our military is shown through his volunteering spirit. Mr. Ammerman continues to mentor hopeful academy members by offering young adults with aspirations of attending an academy his guidance and support. Currently, Mr. Ammerman serves as a board member for the 8th District Veterans Advisory Board and Military Academy Nominations Board.

Mr. Ammerman has contributed greatly to the central Florida community. He has served on the municipal Planning Board (1983-1989, 2 terms as Chairman), Chairman of the Orlando Growth Management/ Concurrency Implementation Committee and Chairman of the 1991 Orlando Redistricting Committee. Mr. Ammerman successfully ran for the office of District 1 City Commissioner. Mr. Ammerman also served as a Board Member of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and he is a past member and Chairman of the Sunshine State Governmental Finance Commission for 20 years. Nationally, he served on the Leadership Training Council for the National League of Cities. Mr. Ammerman finished his City Council service in June of 2002.

Mr. Ammerman's commitment to community service is unyielding. He served as Philanthropy Chair and active member of the Board of Directors for the Orlando Regional HealthCare Foundation. He is a trained volunteer with the Neo Natal Unit for 22 years at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children. He serves as a teacher at the First Presbyterian Church. Additionally, Mr. Ammerman is a member of the Florida Citrus Sports Association, the Greater Orlando Leadership Foundation, a graduate of Leadership Orlando and Leadership Florida, as well as the Dr. Phillips Foundation Grant Review committee. His other involvements include past National Admissions Chairman/Society of Industrial & Office Parks Realtors and past President of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Association of Industrial/Office Parks (NAIOP).

Madam Speaker, during Military Appreciation Month, it is my honor to recognize this remarkable public servant whose dedication to our country and community can be shown through his great achievements in the State of Florida. Commissioner Ammerman has been working for the people of Florida since 1972 and I applaud his civic and military accomplishments in our central Florida community, our great State and our Nation.

Would the gentleman be so kind as to yield the podium to me? I would like to speak from the lectern, if that's okay with you. Do you mind? Can we switch places for a few minutes?

I want to thank the gentleman for yielding his time temporarily and thank the gentleman for bringing up the important subject of the day, which is financial reform in America.

I want to thank the gentleman for this opportunity to talk about one of the key elements of financial reform in both the House bill and the now-debated Senate bill, which is auditing the Federal Reserve. And I want to congratulate the gentleman and, in fact, everyone in America because you now own a hotel chain. Congratulations. It's this one right here. You own the Red Roof Inn.

Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, That's funny. I don't remember buying the Red Roof Inn. But the Federal Reserve Bank, in its wisdom, has done it for you. The Federal Reserve Bank has seen to it that you have the pleasure of ownership of this delightful chain of hotels that extends from sea to shining sea. You, America, you are now the owners of the Red Roof Inn chain. Congratulations.

Let me explain to you how that happened. Deep in the midst of ancient history, going all the way back to 2007, a foreign company decided they wanted to do a leveraged buyout of the Red Roof Inn chain. So they turned to Wall Street, and Wall Street in its magical ability came up with the money, $500 million, to do that. And part of that money, $186 million, came from entities that were formed strictly for the purpose of providing money so that somebody could end up controlling the Red Roof Inn other than the people who originally owned it. These foreigners were able to prevail on Wall Street to come up with the financing to buy the Red Roof Inn.

Now, at that point, the question was who was actually going to come up with the money, $186 million. The answer was Wall Street was going to find some sucker, some fool that would be willing to take $186 million out of his or her pocket and put it into the pockets of this management company, foreign owners. The problem was an earthquake hit Wall Street in 2008 before they could execute on this deal and hand this liability off to John Q. Public, and this financial hurricane that hit Wall Street prevented them from executing on their plan. They had to find some way to come up with somebody, some sucker who would take over the liability for this $186 million loan, secured only by this modest hotel chain of limited profitability being sucked dry already by its foreign owners.

So they looked around, and at this point, Bear Stearns was responsible for this. So Bear Stearns looked and looked and looked, tried to find somebody silly enough, unwise enough to stick this $186 million liability to, and then Bear Stearns, itself, went kaput, taken over by JPMorgan. JPMorgan moved in with the help of the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve arranged so JPMorgan could take over Bear Stearns' liabilities in general, but there were some liabilities that were so odorous, so awful that JPMorgan just wouldn't take them over even though the Federal Reserve was stuck with the liability for the great majority of those assets, and those became the Maiden Lane assets. And among those assets, the absolute dead loser assets, the assets that nobody in their right mind would want, the assets that were so terrible that JPMorgan wouldn't take them from Bear Stearns' pocket, from Bear Stearns' dead pocket even if the Federal Reserve was willing to pay for it, among those assets was the Red Roof Inn. And who ended up with that?

That's right, the Federal Reserve Bank--you know, that organization that dictates the money supply in this country, the organization that has this magical ability to make money out of nothing--they simply make notations on their records, and magically, they have more money than they had the day before. The Federal Reserve Bank decided that they would assume responsibility for a $186 million loan to a hotel chain. The Federal Reserve became the sucker of last resort, and in doing so, the Federal Reserve made you--you, America--the sucker of last resort.

Let's move on.

After 2008, pretty much nothing happened, because nobody knew about it. Nobody even knew what was inside the Maiden Lane LLC pot. Nobody knew it was the Red Roof Inn or anything else. Nobody knew. Why is that? Because we don't audit the Federal Reserve Bank. All they had to do was come up with a line on their balance sheet that read ``Maiden Lane LLC,'' and for 2 years, nobody knew what the heck was in it.

Then after enormous political pressure from Congress and from this entire country, the Federal Reserve gave us a list of assets and what they called ``notional value'' for those assets. You know, when you can make money, when you can create it, when you can just make it appear, everything is notional. Everything is notional. That's all there is.

Among those things that the taxpayers now have responsibility for

through the Federal Reserve, as we found out at the beginning of this year, is this wonderful, enormously valuable--at least they want you to think this--chain of hotels called the Red Roof Inn. It stretches all the way from California to Maine. In fact, one of the properties happens to be the Red Roof Inn Convention Center property right in Orlando, right in my district. I am so proud. I think I'll stop by there and ask for a free room.

So what happened then?

Well, what do you think? It went bad--it went really sour--because, right now, it's not such a good time for the hotel industry. They leveraged the business to the hilt. They leveraged it up to here--a half a billion dollars--from a series of properties that barely made any money in great times, and now, as you may have noticed, it's not so great times.

So what happened is very simple. They are not paying on the debt. What was debt is now equity because when a company goes bankrupt and when it can't pay its creditors the creditors take over.

Interestingly enough, the Wall Street Journal reported just 2 weeks ago that the major creditors of the Red Roof Inn are moving in. They're saying they're not getting their money from this hotel chain. So the two other entities that put up the money to do this leveraged buyout to this foreign group are moving in. They're taking the hotels over.

They went to Citibank, and they asked, Citibank, what are you doing? They said, Well, we're working it out with them. We're moving in. We're taking over the hotels.

They went to the third entity, and they asked the third entity, What are you doing? Well, we're trying to work it out with them, but we're taking over the hotels. That's the collateral.

Not a single word from the Federal Reserve. Not one single word. Wouldn't it be nice to know what happened to the $186 million that they put up? We don't know because we don't audit the Federal Reserve, so we can't know. There is no way to know right now. The Federal Reserve may be, for all we know, letting these other sharks, these other Wall Street sharks--Citibank and the other entities--move in and take over all of these hotels. Maybe they're doing nothing to defend the right of the taxpayers to these assets. We don't know. We just don't know because we don't audit the Federal Reserve.

So, America, congratulations. You own a hotel chain. In fact, if you keep this up, America, you'll own a whole bunch of hotel chains because it turned out that of the Maiden Lane LLC pot of money that the Federal Reserve assumed liability for 86 percent of that is called the hospitality business. So, America, before long, take a look. You'll have enough to put a hotel on Marvin Gardens, on Park Place and probably on Boardwalk, too. You'll own all of the hotels in America. Isn't that something? Isn't that something? You didn't even know it.

But look. That's not all the Federal Reserve has put up. The Federal Reserve has put up a half a trillion dollars in mortgage-backed securities. What are ``mortgage-backed securities''? They are securities backed by mortgages. They are securities backed by homes.

So guess what, America? Before long, not only will you be owning hotel chains around this country, but you will be owning houses, too-- maybe your neighbors' houses, maybe your own houses. Though, not exactly, because, you see, when the Federal Reserve owns an asset, you don't exactly own it. In fact, since we don't audit the Federal Reserve, you don't own it at all. You have no control over it. Actually, what is happening is that when these mortgages go bad the Federal Reserve owns your home, and if you can't make the payments, the Federal Reserve becomes your landlord.

So isn't that interesting?

For all of this time, we've been hearing about socialism, communism, about the creeping government control of our economy, how we shouldn't have the government owning GM, how we shouldn't have the government owning major banks. It has been happening by stealth because we don't audit the Federal Reserve. How else could it possibly be that we could end up owning a hotel chain and not even know about it?

If you are concerned about socialism in this country, if you are concerned about communism, about government control, let's audit the Federal Reserve, and let's find out once and for all who owns the hotels, who owns the houses. This wild beast that creates money out of nothing and jams it into the pockets of special interests like Maiden Lane, like Bear Stearns, like JPMorgan, and like all of their friends, let's put them under some degree of restraint before it all comes crashing down--these hotels, these houses--before it all comes crashing down on us. Every time the Federal Reserve makes that money, every time they do that, every time they create that dollar by their magic, they are taking the dollar that is in your pocket, and they are making it cheaper--worthless.

If the gentleman would yield, let me say one last word: audit the Federal Reserve.

Thank you very much.