Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to recognize Bill Barrs as this year's 2013 Dodge County Rotary Farmer of the Year. It is certainly an honor that he richly deserves for his role in Georgia's agricultural community.

A native of Laurens County, Bill attended Abraham Baldwin College where he majored in plant science. After graduation, he worked with the Griffin Warehouse until he began his farming operation in 2003. Since then, his farming operation has grown to 800 acres with cotton and peanuts as his primary row crops--two vital products of Georgia agriculture industry. He also cuts and sells quality hay from more than 150 acres of grassland. Married with two children, Bill and his family are active members of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

Mr. Speaker, please join me, on behalf of the great people of Georgia's Eighth Congressional District, in recognizing Bill for his service to our community and our State.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing the city of Warner Robins, Georgia a very happy 70th birthday. It is appropriate at this milestone to reflect and celebrate their rich history and heritage.

From the days when the community was known as York. Growing to the tiny hamlet of Wellston, Warner Robins was born in 1943 with a population of no more than 75 residents. Little more than a train stop, the city became a boom town. From those early slow growing days, none foresaw nor heard the echoes of winged giants which would reverberate through their skies with the birth of Robins Air Force Base. Together the city and military community formed a renowned partnership unlike any in our great country.

From World War II to today's global conflicts, the men and women of robins AFB have been an essential ingredient in our U.S. Air Force's ability to provide airpower for freedom around the world. That spirit of patriotism is reflected in the Warner Robins city motto ``Every day in middle Georgia is Armed Forces Appreciation Day''--not just words, but a creed spoken and lived every day in Warner Robins by its government and citizens.

That constant theme throughout the years has been a mainstay of Team Robins. Staying ready when our nation was least ready has been the challenge of Robins to play a critical role in repair and supply, and the city to be work force ready. Warner Robins is proud to be home to a world class U.S. air force installation like Robins Air Force Base.

Likewise, the city's award winning education system and college presence, outstanding athletics and sports facility, renowned museum of aviation, and unique southern hospitality make Warner Robins--known as Georgia's international city--a great place to live, work, play and retire. We extend wishes to all the citizens of Warner Robins for seventy more years of excellence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring note to the fact that for the fourth time in 5 years, President Obama is, once again, late in delivering his budget to Congress and the citizens of America.

Americans throughout this country tell me over and over again that our national debt is unacceptable. They tell me it is holding America back from achieving economic prosperity and robbing their children of the American Dream. They tell me it's time for Washington to pass a budget.

The President has turned a deaf ear to the pleas of these Americans. He has been asked to take this country's economy seriously. He chooses instead to spend his time in other countries, taking family vacations, and playing countless games of golf.

Hardworking taxpayers know that work must come before play, Mr. President. That is the practice of millions of taxpaying Americans who must foot the bill for Presidential vacations while they forfeit their own vacations due to the uncertainty in the economy.

While the President crisscrosses the world avoiding Americans' top priorities, back at home Americans are nervous. Every year that our country goes without a budget, the national debt skyrockets, the uncertainty for American businesses grows and, with that, unemployment goes up. Without a Federal budget, businessowners cannot plan. They cannot plan for the President's new regulations or his unforeseen tax increases; and, therefore, it is all the more difficult for them to expand their businesses and create jobs in America.

To add to the uncertainty, the President's proposed sequestration is set to take effect this March. Despite his promise--his promise--to the American people that it would never actually happen, the President has yet to take any steps to undo this harmful measure. He has shown absolute indifference to the millions of Americans whose livelihoods would be severely impacted by his sequestration.

House Republicans have twice passed legislation to replace the President's sequester with commonsense reforms that would reduce spending and preserve and strengthen our safety net for future generations and ensure our national defense.

This week, the House will not only renew our commitment to the American people to pass a budget, but it will be a responsible budget that will balance. It will be one that will aim to grow the economy, drive down unemployment, expand opportunity and prosperity for the private sector, and ensure that America maintains its leading role in the world as a strong national defender.

Americans can do this. We just need a President to put work before play.

Article VI:

``All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

``This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

``The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.''

Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of America, every day that I'm on the floor, I can't help but be reminded that facts are a stubborn thing, and I simply want to talk to you about the facts today. You see, the President and the Democratic leadership spent the last 4 years blaming George Bush for driving our economy into the ditch. Now, as President Obama drives our economy towards the fiscal cliff, I'd like to share with you some remarks, remind you, remarks that he made during his Fiscal Responsibility Summit held on February 23, 2009, at the White House.

The President said:

We cannot and will not sustain deficits like these without

end. Contrary to the prevailing wisdom in Washington these

past few years, we cannot simply spend as we please and defer

the consequences to the next budget, the next administration,

or the next generation. We're paying the price for this

budget right now.

He continued:

In 2008 alone, we paid $250 billion in interest on our

debt--1 in every 10 taxpayer dollars. That is more than three

times what we spent on education that year, more than seven

times what we spent on VA health care. So if we confront this

crisis without also confronting the deficits that helped

cause it, we risk sinking into another crisis down the road

as our interest payments rise and our obligations come due.

Confidence in our economy erodes, and our children and

grandchildren are unable to pursue their dreams because

they're saddled with our debts.

That's why today, I'm pledging to cut the deficit we

inherited by half by the end of my first term in office. Now,

this will not be easy. It will require us to make difficult

decisions and face challenges we've long neglected. But I

refuse to leave our children with a debt they cannot repay.

That means taking responsibility for it right now, in this

administration, for getting our spending under control.

Now, let's do the math, Mr. Speaker. The deficit that the President is talking about is this 1.4, the $1.4 trillion deficit that he's talking about. Now, according to his own proposal, if he gets all of the tax increases that he has asked for, and I want to make this clear, his revenue estimate right here assumes that he gets the tax increases that they're asking for.

You still have a $900 billion deficit, ladies and gentlemen. He promised it wouldn't be any bigger than $700 billion. That means that the President owes the American taxpayer $200 billion in cuts, not over the course of 10 years, but over this year right now, the fiscal year 2013 that we're in.

Mr. Speaker, the President made a pledge to cut spending not to the Republican Members of Congress. He doesn't even speak to us, if you want to know the truth of the matter. He made a pledge to cut spending to the citizens of the United States of America so that our children and grandchildren would be able to pursue their dreams instead of being saddled with our debts.

Mr. Speaker, a pledge from the President of the United States to the citizens of this country should mean something. Instead, his plan in his budget, assuming his tax increases, leaves our children and grandchildren with a debt of more than $21 trillion. That, ladies and gentlemen, is something that we simply cannot allow him to do to our country and to our children.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Iris M. Archer of Macon, GA, as a 2012 Angels in Adoption Honoree for her outstanding advocacy of adoption in the State of Georgia.

Mrs. Archer is the founding director of Covenant Care Services, a statewide adoption agency based in Macon and serving all of Georgia. Mrs. Archer founded the organization and served as Executive Director from 1989 until her retirement in May 2011.

Adoptive parents often endure a long journey that requires them to endure a great deal of sacrifice. Their journey begins long before they ever meet their bundle of joy and to prepare for this momentous occasion they often secure an advocate to help them navigate the arduous process. However, in the late 1980s, during a time when unplanned pregnancy was still very much considered shameful, one woman noticed that a very important player in this process often did not have a voice in the world of adoption. While adoptive parents were cooing over the new addition to their family with their advocates by their sides, the baby's birthmother was left by herself to overcome the sadness that often accompanies the difficult decision she made.

Mrs. Archer felt that she could be that voice for the birthmother. Utilizing her degree in counseling and previous work experience for a national adoption agency, she set out on a mission to offer counseling and education to mothers of unplanned pregnancy and offered herself as an advocate for them all around the state. By 1989, her one-woman mission had grown into a full-time cause and Covenant Care Services was established. In that time, she worked to change general adoption practices to identify a triad that included separate advocates for the family, baby and birthmother. The triad's purpose was to alleviate conflict of interest and ensure that all parties are fully served.

As the demand for their services increased around the state, Mrs. Archer began to expand the organization. By the mid-1990s Covenant Care had staff in five communities around the state and employed seventeen full-time staff members. At the insistence of Mrs. Archer, Covenant Care was built as an organization that depends on fundraising for two- thirds of its annual budget. This means that the agency is not dependent on adoption revenue to operate. Not only does it allow the agency to offer some of the lowest adoption fees in the state but more importantly the ability to emphasize education and counseling for the mother without the pressure of being forced to choose adoption. Covenant Care's work has resulted in an average of 25 adoptions each year, nearly 600 adoptions since 1989.

Iris Archer is a woman who simply saw a problem and dared to believe that she could do something about it, and something she did. Mr. Speaker, for her tireless devotion to the entire adoptive family, please join me in honoring Mrs. Iris M. Archer as a true ``Angel in Adoption.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 537, I was unavoidably absent due to my flight being canceled. Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 538, I was unavoidably absent due to my flight being canceled. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 539, I was unavoidably absent due to my flight being canceled. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to recognize Lieutenant General Charles E. Stenner, Jr., upon his retirement after 39 years of distinguished military service to our Great nation in the United States Air Force and the United States Air Force Reserve.

General Stenner was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1973 and went on to fly the F-4, A-10, and F-16 aircraft. General Stenner's last military assignment was as both Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. As Chief of the Air Force Reserve, he served as principal adviser on reserve matters to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, he had full responsibility for the supervision of all U.S. Air Force Reserve units around the world.

General Stenner led a modernization effort of the Air Force Reserve which increased combat effectiveness and improved response capabilities to humanitarian crises and disaster relief operations in the United States as well as operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Libya, Japan, Haiti, and numerous other locations around the globe. General Stenner moved the Air Force Reserve from a Cold-War-model, or ``Strategic Reserve,'' to a full partner major command through his Air Force Reserve 2012 initiative. Creating a cultural shift in both Active and Reserve Components, he was able to rebuild the Air Force Reserve's infrastructure to support its newly evolved twin missions of being first and foremost a ``Strategic Reserve'' that can be leveraged to support daily operations as an ``Operational Reserve.''

After conducting more than 20 years of continual combat operations, the Air Force Reserve's success is evident today. General Stenner's efforts were critical to implementing new policies supporting Air Force Reservists, their civilian employers, and their families who were impacted by increased Reserve operations. thanks to his continuous dialogue with Congress, reservists now get improved health care, new credits toward retirement, inactive duty training travel pay, and post- 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits.

Because of General Stenner's visionary leadership, planning, and foresight, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the United States will long reap the benefits of his many years of service. I thank General Stenner for his many years of dedicated service I wish him and his wife Dee the very best as they enter retirement.

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force, I rise to recognize Colonel Joe N. Wilburn for his twenty-six years of commissioned service to our country. In his most recent assignment, he was the Commander, Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service, Robins AFB, Georgia. In this role, he served as advisor to the Air Force Reserve Command Commander, Vice Commander, senior staff and field numbered Air Force and wing commanders on all matters relating to recruiting for the Air Force Reserve. He commanded and exercised oversight for more than 450 military and civilian personnel worldwide at forty-five main operating locations and numerous satellite offices.

Colonel Wilburn joined the Air Force on June 27, 1982 when he reported in as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 28, 1986, with an undergraduate degree in International Affairs. While stationed at MacDill AFB, he deployed to the Middle East in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon returning from deployment, he was selected to be the Chief of Operations at the 369th Recruiting Squadron in Los Angeles, California. Colonel Wilburn later joined the Air National Guard where he performed duties with the 148th Combat Communications Squadron in Ontario, California. In April 2000, he was asked to lead a Recruiting Flight at March Air Reserve Base, California. Because of his success at March Air Reserve Base, Colonel Wilburn was chosen to be a Program Manager on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii.

Due to his achievements and unwavering dedication to his country, it was no surprise he was chosen to be the Commander of Air Force Reserve Recruiting. During his almost four years as Commander, Colonel Wilburn was responsible for accessing 39,268 new citizen airmen. His innovative ideas and exemplary leadership skills allowed his team of recruiters to focus their accession practices on targeting prior service candidates, which saved the Air Force Reserve Command over $600 million dollars in training costs.

Colonel Wilburn could not have been such a tremendous leader without the support of his wife of thirteen years, Monica, his daughter Maya, and his son Jason. Colonel Wilburn also owes much of his success to his parents Joe Wilburn, Senior, and his mother Merrie as well as his in- laws, Dudley and JoAnne Latham. We thank them for helping to develop and mold such an outstanding leader for our military.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in expressing our sincere appreciation to Colonel Joe N. Wilburn for his outstanding service to both the United States Air Force and our great nation. We wish him and his family the best of luck as he transitions into retirement. Colonel Wilburn is a true professional and a credit to himself, his family, and the United States Air Force.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 467 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, with the discussion of a new farm bill heating up, I would like to pay special recognition to the Georgia Peanut Commission. In August, the Commission will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. Since 1961, they have successfully improved the profitability of peanuts and peanut products through research, promotion, and education, creating a better market for Georgia peanut farmers.

When the Georgia Peanut Commission began, farmers who harvested 475,000 acres of peanuts averaged yields of 1,200 pounds per acre. Last year, farmers who harvested the same 475,000 acres averaged over 3,500 pounds per acre, an increase of 350 percent. Due to their efforts, Georgia peanut yields are consistently higher than other states; possess superior quality, and contribute an estimated 2 billion dollars to the Georgia economy.

In fact, Georgia is number 1 in the national production of peanuts with nearly 50 percent of the annual crop.

And no one can miss those small red packs of peanuts. The Georgia Peanut Commission is recognized throughout the world by their red packages of Georgia peanuts. Annually, the Commission distributes 2 million of those little red packs, demonstrating their commitment to the peanut industry.

In addition, with farmers and ranchers being the true conservationists of America, the Commission, on August 1st, will open a net-zero energy building, which will serve as their new headquarters. During the construction of this new building, only local contractors and businesses were used and no government funding was provided, further showing their commitment to Georgia's agricultural future.

Mr. Speaker, with agriculture being one of the economic pillars of this great country, it is with pride that I congratulate the Georgia Peanut Commission on its 50th anniversary, and I look forward to working with the Commission for another 50 years.

My father, as you, is a health care professional, an orthopedic surgeon who came out of med school when I was just a child. I spent a lot of time in a physician's office and in a not-for-profit hospital watching my dad take care of patients and helping them. And certainly that doctor-patient relationship is something that has been stripped away in this bill.

But I want to talk about the numbers, not just the relationships right now, because I think it's important to reflect on what happened 833 days ago

when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the American public that Congress must pass the bill so they could find out what was in it.

Now, I have no doubt that the President, in his endorsement of the bill, surely he read it and knew exactly what was in it. And the Speaker of the House of Representatives, it would have been irresponsible for her to endorse a bill without knowing what was in it. They had to understand it would negatively affect our economy.

The gentleman who was just in the well talking about Americans wanting to going to work, he's absolutely right. The Republicans in this House have passed a tremendous number of jobs bills that would help put Americans back to work, help reduce the cost of petroleum in this country; and yet they sit over in the Senate idle, along with a bill that would actually repeal this national health care law that has kept us in a recession.

Now, they forged ahead with this legislation instead of working on the economic issues that so many Americans needed them to work on and, quite honestly, despite the protest of the American public. They simply thumbed their nose at the American citizens. That's why, when it came time to go to the polls, 87 new freshman Republicans came to Washington. Districts where the President had gotten almost 60 percent of the vote, those people, who Americans who understood that their rights had been stripped from them, absolutely rejected the President's health care bill.

Now, 822 days since the Democratic-controlled House passed the President's health care bill. I would remind you it was just a few days before that when, in order to get the votes to pass it, he met with pro-life Democrats and assured them that in no way, shape or form would abortions be funded in the bill. That was his commitment to pro-life Democrats to get them to vote for the bill. Obviously, we now know that that wasn't necessarily true. We all know where the mandate has come out that he has told people that he really doesn't care if it violates their faith or their religious principles, they're going to do what he says, not what their faith tells them to do--certainly a direct violation of people's constitutional rights.

Now, it's 820 days since the President signed it into law. There's been no recovery, and there could have been. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it: more Americans would be at work today right now if that bill had not been passed. And the sooner it is undone, the sooner Americans will be able to get back to work.

Eighty-nine days since the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments about the constitutionality of the law, 89 days. Now, Mr. Speaker, the American people began feeling the negative impact of this bill, quite honestly, as soon as it was passed on day one. Unfortunately, they will continue to feel the impact of this legislation until Congress fully repeals and replaces it.

Some more numbers for you. In the past year, the average cost of health care per active worker rose to $11,176. The increase was $800, almost $1,000 a month per worker. The employee share of premium contributions increased by 63 percent, and there was a 62 percent increase for dependent coverage. Yes, all of this, all of this because of the increasing cost and the mandates in the health care bill.

Eighty-one percent of companies said the health care law had increased administrative burdens on their human resources department; and they are not, in many cases, hiring people because of the unknown cost of the legislation. One in six firms said the cost of complying with the law is one of their top challenges in maintaining affordable coverage.

Mr. Speaker, while it's my firm hope that the Supreme Court will find this law unconstitutional--which I believe it is--we must continue the effort to repeal and replace this bill.

We can't wait for the November election, Mr. Speaker. The American people need this bill repealed right now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the thirty-four year career of Major General Robert H. McMahon, who will retire this month after a distinguished and remarkable career in the Air Force. I commend Major General McMahon's career and offer my sincerest appreciation for his service in defense of our nation.

Major General McMahon led the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center since 2010, where he was responsible for worldwide logistics support for the C 130 and C 5 transport aircraft, the F 15 and other aircraft critical to our nation's defense. The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center is the largest industrial complex in the state of Georgia and is a critical component to the sustainment of our nation's Air Force.

Major General McMahon began his Air Force career in 1978 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was recognized with numerous awards throughout his Air Force career, including the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Defense Superior Service Medal.

Over the past several years, Major General McMahon applied tremendous skill and leadership to transform the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center into a world class sustainment and logistics center. As a result, he has distinguished himself as one of the nation's most innovative and effective Air Force commanders. During his tenure, the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center achieved tremendous improvement in its sustainment mission, resulting in a ninety-eight percent on-time delivery rate of aircraft to the warfighter. Major General McMahon consistently demonstrated one of the key tenets of leadership, the ability to inspire and motivate the airmen and workers under his command.

Currently Major General McMahon and his wife Hope reside in the 8th Congressional District which I represent, where they will no doubt remain a pillar of the Middle Georgia community. I extend my warm congratulations and appreciation to Major General McMahon for his tireless service to our nation and wish him well in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, with the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture upon us, I feel it important to pay tribute to the American farmers, ranchers, and producers who remain a cornerstone in the foundation of our country. Since the settlement of American colonies, agriculture has played a paramount role in the lives of American citizens.

Growing up in South Georgia, I witnessed the impact agriculture plays in our Nation's economy and national security. In Georgia, agriculture is directly related to one out of every seven jobs. It contributes billions of dollars to the State's economy and provides a safe and reliable source of food for American citizens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has played and continues to play an important role in each of these aspects.

With the long-standing relationship between Georgia and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the State of Georgia has become synonymous with agriculture. Georgia leads the Nation in broilers and value of egg production with $4 billion dollars and $570 million dollars, respectfully. It produces the second highest amount of cotton in the United States, and it produces almost half of the peanuts grown in the U.S. with a farm gate value of over $401 million dollars. Altogether, agriculture contributes about 12 percent annually to Georgia's $787 billion dollar economic output.

With the success of our Nation's agriculture sector, it is vital that the U.S. government create an optimal environment where farmers and ranchers can continue to provide our country with a consistent and safe supply of agriculture products. We can achieve this through appropriate policies that provide support for our Nation's agricultural producers.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, during this time of honoring the 150th anniversary of the Department of Agriculture, it is with great esteem and pride that I honor our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and producers. I ask my fellow colleagues to provide continued support for our country's agriculture industry. With continued support, we can carry on our America's role as a world leader in reliable material and safe foods.