Floor Statements

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

S. 692 is identical to House Resolution 1506, which passed the House on November 16. Therefore, I want to reiterate the points made previously during debate on the House bill. This bill will waive certain claims of the United States to specific documents, known as the Tully Collection, relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Grace Tully served in Franklin Roosevelt's secretarial staff for several decades, and in 1941, became his personal secretary. After her death, her collection of papers passed through a number of hands and finally to the current owners, Sun Times Media, who bought the collection for $8 million in 2001.

In 2004, the National Archives asserted a claim to a portion of the documents. Sun Times Media wishes to donate the collection to President Roosevelt's Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York, and take a tax deduction. Due to the Archives claim, Sun Times Media is prevented from receiving a tax deduction on the donation. This bill waives the legal claims of the United States and the Archives, thereby clearing the way for the tax deduction and the donation.

I understand the Archives has offered to support this legislation in a letter to the committee. Nevertheless, I want to again highlight two points: The majority moved this bill without a hearing. We should have had a better understanding of legislation relinquishing the Federal Government's claims while benefiting certain private entities through tax breaks. Given the multiple, ongoing instances of mismanagement of the Archives, we should have the opportunity on the committee to review all legislation relating to this agency.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Members to support the passage of S. 692, and I yield back the balance of my time.

No, I am not.

As noted all year, oversight and accountability are critically important. This bill provides GAO additional process authorities regarding access to information and enhances GAO's ability to carry out its mission. The GAO has done a long-standing right-of- access to agency records. On occasion, its efforts have been frustrated and delayed by agencies refusing to provide GAO with copies of necessary records or by a lack of willingness on the part of agency officers and employees to discuss the content of records or provide background information relevant to programs under review.

This bill augments the GAO's existing access authority by confirming GAO's right to make and retain copies of records and by providing GAO with the right to interview agency officers and employees. In addition, the bill requires agencies to interpret statutes as requiring disclosure of information to GAO unless the statute expressly prohibits disclosure to GAO. Finally, the bill makes some commonsense changes to the Comptroller General's ability to administer oaths as well as agency reporting requirements.

Madam Speaker, Congress looks to the GAO to assist with the investigative and oversight functions vested in the legislative branch. This bill is intended to increase the effectiveness of GAO by ensuring that the agency is not unnecessarily restricted in its efforts to secure necessary information when performing these necessary and important functions.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding his time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Village of Argyle,

located in Maries and Osage counties, in Missouri.

I would like to acknowledge the Village of Argyle as its residents prepare to celebrate the milestone of their centennial this upcoming June.

In the beginning of the 20th century, a group of Scottish-Irish surveyors made their way to the Midwest and were preparing to build a rail bed for the St. Louis, Kansas City and Colorado railroad to run between Kansas City and St. Louis. This spurred the formation of a town.

The area, once known as Sanbonfass, after St. Boniface, was named Argyle after a shire in the Isles of Scotland called Argyll. The Village was incorporated in 1908, and the rock island line brought prosperity to the village shortly thereafter. Today the Village is home to about 170 of my constituents, all of whom I know are proud to call Argyle home.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing the residents of the Village of Argyle congratulations on reaching this important milestone.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the request to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1834, a bill to provide additional small business development center resources focused on Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

I'd like to thank Chairwoman Velazquez for working in a cooperative and bipartisan manner to bring this bill to the House floor.

The majority of Indian tribe members and Alaska Natives live on or in the immediate vicinity of Indian lands. These lands are generally in remote locations far from access to resources that most Americans take for granted. Due to the remoteness and lack of economic development, it is not surprising that Native Americans suffer from unemployment averages in excess of twice that faced by the rest of the American population.

Enactment of H.R. 1834 is not designed to immediately relieve the harsh circumstances facing many Native Americans. Instead, it is an effort

to bring greater technical assistance to Native Americans so they can create new businesses that will spur economic development.

The committee has heard testimony from Native Americans about the value of the technical assistance provided by SBA's entrepreneurial outreach programs. These programs enable them to navigate the complexities of starting a business. H.R. 1834 recognizes the value of this assistance by codifying the Small Business Administration's Tribal Business Center program. In addition, the bill improves access to Small Business Development Centers by providing the grantees with increased incentives to perform outreach to Native Americans without undermining the core funding provided to Small Business Development Centers.

Finally, the bill requires better coordination between the SBA and tribal organizations in providing technical programs. By providing the technical resources needed to start and manage businesses, H.R. 1834 will challenge the entrepreneurial spirit of Native Americans, increase economic development on Indian lands, reduce poverty, and create a healthier living environment for future generations of the first Americans.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to recognize Chairman Velazquez for her great leadership and bipartisan fashion on this committee which has a myriad of issues that we address on a daily basis, and I want to thank her for her excellent leadership and providing us a forum to debate these ideas in a fair fashion.

I am proud to support H.R. 1842, the Expanding Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, to assist many fellow small business owners and employees throughout my district in Missouri and throughout the country. Small businesses have generated up to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade and continue to contribute 38 percent to the gross domestic product. As we try to jumpstart the slumping economy and put people back to work, it only makes sense to provide relief and not more onerous tax hikes to our Nation's most productive job creators.

While this logic has underpinned alternative plans supported by myself and many of my colleagues to boost the economy and ensure growth in the future, it has been all but ignored by the administration and the majority in Congress. At a time when small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we must remain ever vigilant in improving the efficacy of entrepreneurial and technical assistance programs. We also need to ensure our small businesses are able to adequately utilize all available resources.

My bill beefs up support services in key entrepreneurial development programs, making these programs more effective and responsive to the needs of small businesses and ensuring that existing programs are being used effectively and duplicative government programs are done away with.

To make these widely used programs more responsive to the needs of small businesses and at no cost to the taxpayers, H.R. 1842 establishes planning standards within these programs, requires maintenance of an entrepreneurial development database, and ensures that someone is available to assist small businesses at all SBA district offices. The bill also requires the SBA to develop a job-creation strategy for 2009- 2010.

The bill also expands specific programs, such as small business development centers, women's business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired Executive, or SCORE. These widely used programs are intended to assist entrepreneurs with practical and technical skills needed to help start and sustain a business.

In addition, the bill creates new support programs for veteran-owned and Native American-owned small businesses, improves cross-program coordination to maximize use of program resources, and creates 21st- century online learning initiatives for entrepreneurs.

An investment in entrepreneurial development programs yields strong returns. In 2008, the SBA entrepreneurial development programs helped to generate 73,000 new jobs and bring $7.2 billion into the economy. Some economists have estimated that every dollar invested in these initiatives returns $2.87 to our economy and helps these small businesses thrive.

Since the onset of the credit crisis over 2 years ago, available credit to small businesses and consumers has contracted by trillions of dollars. Without access to credit, small businesses can't grow, can't hire, and too often end up going out of business. That is why I am particularly pleased to support a bill that strengthens small business development centers, one-stop assistance centers for current and prospective small business owners designed to assist small firms in securing capital and credit.

As Louis Celli, CEO of the Northeast Veterans Business Resource Center in Boston, put it at a recent hearing on this same subject, we have the right focus by wanting ``to interweave these programs together and really force everybody to play in the same sandbox.''

And by making entrepreneurial development programs more effective, we can be not only more responsive to small businesses but also be better stewards of taxpayers' dollars.

I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have criticized many of the provisions of this bill and rightfully so.

However, one bi-partisan area that strikes the appropriate balance in providing lower-cost options to consumers without destroying a healthy and functioning industry in this country that is included in both the underlying bill, which I strongly oppose, and the Republican substitute, which I intend to support, are the sections relating to the creation of a market for biosimilar products. These provisions were one of the few areas in the bill adopted on an overwhelming bipartisan vote for the Eshoo-Inslee-Barton (EIB) amendment in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Creating a pathway for new products that doesn't destroy the ability or the incentives for innovator companies to develop breakthrough technologies and, at the same time, providing a safe and effective way to bring competition to benefit patients is a laudable achievement. I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

However, these provisions are only the first step in a long path to the marketing of these new products. New research and clinical testing will have to occur, and the FDA will write rules that will ensure this research is done safely and effectively. One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country. Unfortunately, many of the largest companies that would seek to enter the biosimilar market have made their money by outsourcing their research to foreign countries like India. With this week's devastating news that unemployment has reached 10.2%, it is critical that we preserve jobs in the United States. While the innovators have created jobs here, these generic companies have shipped them overseas, so they can turn around and sell cheap knockoffs of innovative American products.

As this new market launches in the U.S., we need to ensure that we foster innovative products in this country for the creation of jobs and research that will go into proving whether these products are interchangeable with the innovators products. I have my doubts that these companies can create such interchangeable products, but I am certain that the research and testing of whether or not they can should occur in this country and not somewhere across the globe. Testing and research on these interchangeable biosimilars should be occurring in this country to ensure that it is done properly and safely and to benefit our economy.

Mr. Speaker, the American people have spoken. Poll after poll now shows by overwhelming majorities that this health care proposal is being rejected by them.

What are their concerns? Seniors are concerned about their Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and their care in general, as this bill makes a $500 billion cut in the Medicare program, which will lead to rationed care.

Small business owners are concerned about their businesses, as this bill will enact billions of new taxes, surcharges, and places new mandates on them that may cause them to lose their businesses.

Young people are concerned about their futures. Will the $1 trillion price tag of this bill indebt them and their children for the rest of their lives?

This bill does not lower the cost of health care. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it raises the cost of health care.

The American people don't see this bill as a solution to the health care problem. They see it as adding to the problem. They have spoken. We need to listen.

Mr. Speaker, as we continue to discuss the health care bill, this monstrous health care bill, one thing is clear: American families simply cannot afford this attempt at a government takeover of health care.

The proposed plan is the wrong prescription for our country. This monstrous piece of legislation is a prescription for tax increases and for job loss, but most importantly and unfortunately, with the government's dictating health care terms and choices, we're going to see a lower standard of care for our families.

By forcing this mammoth overhaul on hardworking Americans, this majority is hoping to create a health care system that increases taxes on small businesses, that reduces benefits for

seniors, and that piles insurmountable debt upon our children.

Republicans have offered a more responsible, incremental approach to improve our health care system in a way that controls costs and that provides the quality of care that Americans deserve.

Despite months of town hall meetings at which millions of Americans voiced their opposition to a government takeover of health care, the majority still doesn't get it. The American people deserve more. They want more.

Again, I would like to echo the sentiments of Ranking Member Graves with regards to the fine bipartisanship and the good, hard work of everybody on the committee to come up with, I think, an outstanding bill to help our small business folks in this country.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3854 and am pleased to see that this bill includes my legislation, H.R. 3740, the Small Business Investment Company Modernization and Improvement Act of 2009.

As a small businessman, I am proud to support a bill that would assist many fellow small business owners and employees throughout my district and Missouri and all throughout the country. Small businesses have generated up to 80 percent of new net jobs annually over the last decade and contribute 38 percent of the GDP. Like every recession before, small business will lead us back to economic prosperity.

Most small business owners remain cautious in their economic outlook, with more than two-thirds in recent polls saying the recession is not over for them. Many people want to signal that their economy is on the mend, but American small businesses and small business owners aren't able to send that message yet.

Small businesses have never had a harder time getting a loan, as access to credit is being denied at an increasing pace. Since the onset of the credit crisis over 2 years ago, available credit to small business consumers has contracted by billions of dollars. Without access to credit, small businesses can't grow, can't hire, and too often end up going out of business.

In recent hearings on the Small Business Administration's capital access programs, we heard from two SBIC witnesses from my home State of Missouri, Capital For Business and C3 Capital. Both testified that despite having a 50-year record of growing American small businesses and providing over $55 billion in financing to over 100,000 U.S.-based businesses, the SBIC is being dramatically underutilized. When both credit and investment have evaporated, it does not make sense to leave an effective small business tool unused.

Additionally, this bill will halt the continued flight of SBICs that participate in the program by establishing an expedited licensing process. A broken licensing system for far too long has been cutting off capital to good small businesses. I know of a successful SBIC in Missouri that applied for a second license and it took over 1 year, countless hours of paperwork and expensive legal bills.

This legislation would provide a transparent process with clear standards and a reasonable timeline for applicants. This bill also includes strong taxpayer protections. New background checks and proof of raised capital would be required.

Funds that have major regulatory problems or are unable to raise private funds would not be able to get an expedited repeat license. Further, the administrator should have the authority to put the brakes on any application that she thinks may pose a risk to the taxpayer.

At a time when small businesses are still struggling to keep their doors open, I am pleased to see a bill working its way through the legislative process that would improve initiatives already available to small businesses. Perhaps more important, the bill we consider today recognizes the ability here to create good private sector jobs in Missouri and across the country.

Mr. Chairman, this bill is not an answer to what ails our economy. It is a good start to help small business, the economic engine of our economy, get back into the business of doing business.

I urge my colleagues to adopt the legislation.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Clopton High School Lady Hawks Softball team for winning the Class 1A Missouri State Championship on October 24th.

The young women and their coaches should be commended for all their hard work throughout the regular season and bringing home the 1A Softball Championship to their school and community.

I ask that you join me in recognizing the Clopton Lady Hawks for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, this morning I had the opportunity to meet with a group of Honor Flight veterans at the World War II veterans memorial. These ladies and gentlemen are our heroes. One of them came up to me and said, Congressman, please don't let them take my Medicare away. That is a solemn promise.

They are concerned about the quality of care, about the costs they are going to incur. This is something that is extremely important to our seniors.

Over the weekend, I had an opportunity to talk to a businessman. He came up and said, Congressman, please don't let them implement these mandates and these excessive taxes on me. I can't survive as a business.

The American people are looking over these proposals and they are saying ``no.'' A while ago we heard that it is not leadership unless you vote ``yes.'' I say it is time we start listening to the people and doing what they want. They have looked at these issues, they have looked at these proposals, and they have said ``no.'' I think we need to listen to them, because they are the ones who are going to pay the bills, they are the ones that are going to be impacted by it, and they say ``no.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary L. Nirmaier and Rose Ross, two members of the only 300 remaining survivors of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots. I am proud to see these two remarkable women honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Women Airforce Service Pilots were the first women in history to fly America's military aircraft. Between the years 1942-1944, women were recruited to fly non-combat missions, so that male pilots could be deployed in combat. Through their actions, Women Airforce Service Pilots were a catalyst for revolutionary reform in the integration of women pilots into the U.S. Armed Services.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest and most distinguished award that the U.S. Congress can award to a civilian. Just as the Navajo Code Talkers and Tuskegee Airmen served with distinction and were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, it is also appropriate for Congress to recognize and honor the service of the WASP with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Our soldiers, sailors, and pilots sacrifice everything they have in service to America and will serve as a permanent reminder of the bravery, loyal patriotism, and love of country.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing Ms. Nirmaier and Ms. Ross our sincerest thanks and appreciation for their commitment, dedication, and service to our nation. It is an honor to represent them in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, as the American people struggle to make ends meet, too many also live with the challenge of affording basic health care for themselves and for their families.

When I was home this past weekend, I heard from my constituents on a number of issues, but health care was prime on their minds. They were concerned about the plan on the table. They have great concern with regard to the provisions in there and with regard to the rationing of care. They're very concerned about the possible loss of the doctor- patient relationship. Small businesses are concerned about the tax provisions in the bill that may cost them not only the employees they have but their businesses on the whole.

At a time when we need to be helping small business, we're adding another burden onto them. Our side, that of the Republicans, has a plan to address each of these concerns in a way that solves problems rather than creates a lot of government bureaucracy, which actually takes over 18 percent of our economy. My constituents believe that the administration's plan on the table is the wrong plan at the wrong time and that it will have the wrong outcome.

Mr. Speaker, if we're all real quiet and if we turn down the rhetoric and if we listen very attentively, I think we can hear the voices of our constituents back home--the people who pay the taxes of this country. What are they saying? What question are they asking? Where are the jobs? Where are the jobs, Mr. President? Well, we're not hearing them, are we?

They've seen the $800 billion stimulus package that was passed through this House, that was rammed down our throats and that had no effect. In fact, we've gone the other direction. Instead of increasing employment, we've gone the other way. We're now at 9.5 percent, headed towards double digits. What is the solution? A second stimulus is being talked about. Is that really what we need to do? In this last stimulus, there was a little bitty piece for small businesses. They're the ones that generate the jobs. They're the ones that can turn this economy around. They're the ones that can hire the people. Yet we ignore them. We turn our backs on them.

Oh, there are those voices again. I think I can hear them. Yes, they're louder this time. They say, Where are the jobs, Mr. President? Where are the jobs?

Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following vote I missed while attending a funeral in Missouri:

On Friday, June 12, 2009, I missed rollcall Vote No. 335. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall Vote No. 335.