Floor Statements

I am proud to rise today in support of House Resolution 390, a resolution recognizing the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library in Fulton, Missouri, as ``America's National Churchill Museum.''

Before I discuss the details of the bill, I would like to thank the many folks who helped make this possible. First, I want to thank my predecessor in Congress, Kenny Hulshof, who first introduced this resolution in the 110th Congress. Kenny laid the groundwork for the passage of this bill, and I am honored to finish the work that he began.

Also, from the moment I first introduced the resolution, the Missouri delegation was at my side. To be sure, I am extremely pleased that every member of the Missouri delegation signed on as an original cosponsor of my resolution, and I want to thank them for all their continued support.

I also want to thank the many other Members of this body who supported me in this endeavor, many of whom are Churchill enthusiasts themselves. I am truly honored to be in such good company. I look forward to welcoming all of them to my district when they bring their families to visit America's National Churchill Museum.

Most of all, I want to thank President Forsythe, president of Westminster College, at whose campus the museum is located, and his dedicated staff, Angie Robinson, Rob Crouse, and countless others.

I also want to recognize the museum's executive director, Dr. Rod Havers, for his daily devotion, expertise, and passion to the upkeep and expansion of this remarkable museum.

Much has been written about one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill, a man with a literary bent and a deep devotion to public affairs. He was a Nobel Prize winner, an artist, a keen strategist, and a brilliant politician. He was also instrumental in bringing an end to World War II.

On March 5, 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his historic ``Iron Curtain'' speech on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. With a current population of close to 13,000 and a then- population of 7,000, Fulton was and still is the perfect stopover in the rolling green hills of central Missouri. There, the man Harry Truman called ``that great world citizen,'' Winston Churchill, marked the beginning of the Cold War with the words that were heard around the globe. Today, the speech is regarded as perhaps one of the most important that Churchill ever delivered.

The speech contained certain phrases, ``the special relationship,'' ``the sinews of peace''--which at once entered into general use and which have since survived. However, it's Churchill's mention of the Iron Curtain that attracted immediate international attention and shaped public opinion in the United States and Western Europe. He said, ``From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.''

Russian historians date the beginning of the Cold War from this speech. And in its drawing together of several themes to a climax, Churchill's speech may be regarded as one of the finest in the 20th century. It certainly changed the way the democratic West viewed the communist East.

The astounding achievements of Winston Churchill's life are a testament to his dedication to protecting liberty for all people. Churchill did not merely hate tyranny; he despised it, and he reviled communism.

The contempt he breathed for dictators renewed his Iron Curtain speech in Fulton, Missouri, and strengthened the West's faith in the superiority of democracy and the inevitability of its success.

The Winston Churchill Memorial and Library was founded in 1969. The museum is a 16th-century church designed by Christopher Wren that was painstakingly relocated, brick by brick, from London, England, to Fulton, Missouri, and is the only museum in the Nation that exists for the sole purpose of honoring the life and extraordinary legacy of Winston Churchill. I might mention that it underwent a multimillion dollar renovation just a couple years ago.

The bill we consider today recognizes this museum as the world-class facility that it is and the historical significance of the site.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in passing this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following vote I missed due to being delayed at a committee hearing.

On Thursday, June 11, 2009, I missed rollcall vote No. 332. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 332.

I thank the gentlelady from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis). It's a great evening that you've put together for us here.

You know, we've been here a little over a 100 days, about 120 days now, and we've all got some first impressions of what this body is all about, what our work is all about, and it's been kind of an eye-opening experience for me coming from the Midwest.

My little community in my district I think is a true slice of Americana, in that it's full of small towns and it's where you know your neighbors and where you wave at them as they go by. You know, we still have gun racks in the back of pickups where I come up. But we also have some great people, and that's the reason that I was excited to be able to represent those folks.

You know, where I come from people still believe in limited government, lower taxes, self-reliance on the individual, common sense, and balanced budgets, whether they're their own or the local political entity.

It's kind of ironic, though. When you get here, things seem to change. In my mind, what a difference 2,000 miles make in the way governance takes place. Coming from the statehouse in Missouri, I know it's completely different, but yet it's the same type of process; although that kind of seems to be completely different.

You know, here, instead of limited government, we seem to be content and intent on expanding government by leaps and bounds into every aspect of people's lives, into the businesses.

Instead of lower taxes, we're about to consider the largest tax increase in the history of this country, which I think will push us off an economic cliff. I have some grave concerns about it. As I go home and talk to my constituents about the carbon tax, the cap-and-trade bill that's coming up shortly, they're alarmed and they're very concerned.

Another one that I mentioned was self-reliance. It's interesting that today we passed another bill which adds to the government payroll, the government bailout, the government, people on our payroll, instead of allowing people to be able to take care of themselves.

And if you'd mind, I've got a little story to tell about some good folks at home that are just like everybody else's, but it's interesting to see and to note we had a terrible tragedy that ran through my district a few weeks ago. We had a tornado that went through and actually killed three folks, very

tragic, did thousands of dollars worth of damage. It happened during the week when I was here in DC. So I called up my folks at home and asked a couple of my guys to be sure and go out and talk to those folks and give them some help, whatever help they needed, and assure them we'd be there to help them in whatever way we could.

I went there the next day when I did get home and met with the local leaders and it was amazing. All the emergency folks, the community leaders had everything under control, and it was amazing how ordered and how orderly they were. There was no Federal Government running in there to tell them what to do. They were all doing it themselves with their own plans.

Then I went out and talked to the local folks who had sustained the damage, who had endured this tragedy. And while they were upset and distraught and certainly you know, not in the best frame of mind, they still were very thankful because they had a community of folks that was around them, that was giving them the support that they needed to be able to withstand this ordeal and get through it.

And the strength of the community is a thing that really was impactful to me, from the standpoint that that community came together, and there was such an outpouring that there was probably more help than they actually needed to help with the cleanup and to give them the support they needed to get back on their feet.

And that's the kind of people that we have in this country, all over this country. Given the chance, they can be that self-reliant people that can bring this country back to what it is.

With regards to the common sense I mentioned a minute ago, it's one of the most often heard comments I hear when I go back home, What in the world are you guys doing in DC? And of course, my response is, well, common sense is something a little in short supply here in DC sometimes. Just, it's kind of a foreign concept.

Yes. The process in my home State where I served in the House both in the minority and in the majority, and in the leadership and as a committee chairman--so I have a pretty wide background there in the house. It's not unlike Missouri, but yet it's different. Here we don't necessarily run everything through committee. Another thing, it has to be germane. Not always are you allowed to offer amendments. It's an amazing process where I thought that it would be more open, more transparent. That was the promise from the administration, yet we see little of that. During the discussion here, it's been interesting to listen to all my colleagues and yourselves. They've got some great stories to tell and great perspectives on how we should be governing ourselves, how we, as a people, should be governing ourselves. And it's interesting to me that if you look at our Constitution, it says, ``We, the people.'' It doesn't say ``We, the government;'' and to me, I think that is very important. We stop and think about our framers. When they put this very special document together, this American experiment that they were trying, they said, ``We, the people.'' They wanted the people to be where the power was, to be where the ability to control their lives was, not the government. It seems as though very quickly when you get here, the perspectives are clearly different. Here the government is where the power always emanates from, and they want everybody to be subservient to. It's that sort of mindset. It's that sort of situation that we find ourselves in here that I think is very frustrating to our constituents. They see this as well; and over the last several weeks as I've gone home, this concern continues to well up with regards to where we're going as a country, where we're going as a government. They don't see themselves as being a part of it anymore, and they want us to be their voice.

It's an honor to serve them, and it's an honor to be here. But I think the perspective of this body needs to be that of serving people, rather than to be served. I sometimes think we get that switched around.

Mr. Speaker, the cap-and-trade bill currently working its way through the House is nothing more than a national energy tax. The right to emit carbon would essentially be auctioned off to generate revenue for more government spending programs, amounting to a major tax increase for all American consumers.

This proposed cap-and-trade is actually a cap-and-tax system that will increase taxes, eliminate jobs, or drive them offshore, and raise the cost of energy and the price of purchasing any product or service dependent upon energy. Many sources have looked at this and said that it will cost about $4,000 per household, if not more. Even the President expects energy prices to rise, and describes them as skyrocketing. This national energy tax will be disastrous, particularly in light of our Nation's current economic circumstances.

As an alternative, I support an ``all of the above'' energy policy to end our dependence on foreign oil. I support increasing domestic exploration for oil, investing in biofuels, alternative fuels, clean coal and nuclear technology.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler) for his hard work in crafting this much needed small business legislation, and I would like to thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Graves for their hard work and for allowing this thing to expeditiously go through the full committee.

Small business accounts for 70 percent of our Nation's jobs, and it provides an invaluable source of innovation to our economy. As we try to revive the slumping economy and put people back to work, wouldn't it only make sense to provide relief to our Nation's most productive job creators?

As a small business man myself, I am pleased to sponsor a bill that will assist the many small owners and employees throughout my district and the country. Two out of every three jobs are created by a small business, and like every recession before, small business will lead the way out of this recession into economic growth again. Rather than relying so heavily on the government to spend our way out of this recession, we need to focus on ensuring that our small businesses are able to utilize all of the resources already available.

This 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 that duplicative government programs are done away with.

To be sure, an investment in entrepreneurial development programs yields strong returns. In 2008, the SBA entrepreneurial development programs helped to generate 73,000 new jobs and to bring in $7.2 billion to 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.

Given that the biggest challenge facing small businesses right now is their ability to access credit, 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.

This bill moved promptly through the full committee and to the House floor. I am pleased with the bipartisan support this bill has received in the committee. I want to thank my colleagues for their careful and timely attention to the legislation that will give our small business owners the opportunity to grow and expand.

Madam Speaker, in a vast sweep of mountains, steppe, and desert in the heart of northern Asia, one of the most remarkable political transformations of the decade is unfolding. I rise today to commend democracy in Mongolia. The collapse of communism and totalitarianism has provided Mongolia with a historical opportunity of introducing simultaneous political and economic changes by dismantling the communist regime and central planning economy to build democracy and market capitalism.

Mongolia's democratic transition explicitly indicates that Mongolia has reached remarkable achievements in building democracy and market capitalism.

Mongolia's parliamentary democracy has been playing a meaningful role in building democracy and market capitalism, and civil society has emerged and developed. Mongolia's democratic reforms have been radical and irreversible. Now, Mongolia is committed to successful completion of the final phase of its transition to market capitalism to deepen and strengthen democracy.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting Mongolia's continued transition to democracy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 43 years of military service of Robert Wayne Wilcox, a farmer from Moberly and Randolph County Eastern District Commissioner. I want to commend Mr. Wilcox for his two combat tours in Vietnam and two tours in Iraq, and I would also like to draw special attention to the fact that Mr. Wilcox volunteered for multiple tours of duty in both Vietnam and Iraq.

Mr. Wilcox began his military career by entering active duty on March 21, 1966 and served proudly until this past March 23, 2009. Mr. Wilcox accumulated more than 4,000 hours of flight time as a military pilot and during his last tour of duty in Iraq, he flew Black Hawk helicopters in over 400 hours of combat.

Mr. Wilcox has attained numerous awards, including: three Bronze Stars for meritorious service, one Meritorious Service Medal, one Army Commendation Medal, 18 Air Medals, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ``M'' device, one Army Service Ribbon, an Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze star attachment.

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 Robert Wayne Wilcox our sincerest thanks and appreciation for his commitment, dedication, and service to our nation. It is an honor to represent him in the United States Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the brave acts of heroism and military achievement by the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the June 6, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France.

I want to commend them for their leadership and valor in an operation that helped to bring an end to Word War II.

I would like to draw special attention to the 201 Missouri men who died aboard LST 496 during the Battle of Exercise Tiger, a 1944 naval battle that had been originally planned as a practice mission for the D-Day Invasion of Normandy.

Nearly 750 United States soldiers and sailors, a large number of whom were from Missouri's 3206th Quarter Master Service Company, died in the exercise on April 28, 1944, after a number of their ships were sunk by German forces.

These soldiers and sailors sacrificed everything they had in service to America and will serve as a permanent reminder of bravery, loyal patriotism, and love of country.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in a wishing all the members of the Armed Forces our sincerest thanks and appreciation for their heroic mission.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Kirksville High School wrestling team for winning the Class 2 A Missouri State Championship in February.

Not only did the Kirksville High Tigers cap off an impressive season with a state championship, but they dominated in winning their conference and district titles.

The city of Kirksville should take pride in their high school wrestling team, who won the school's third state sports championship.

I ask that you join me in recognizing the Kirksville High Tigers for an outstanding season and a job well done!

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the St. Francis Borgia Boys Basketball team for winning the Class 4 A Missouri State Championship on March 14th.

The Knights were hungry for a win and that hunger showed.

Armed with a tenacious defense that forced 17 turnovers and fueled by their high-powered offense, the Knights walked away with a convincing 59-41 victory over the Kearney Bulldogs.

The young men and their coaches should be commended for all their hard work throughout the regular season and the playoffs.

And it just goes to show that a strong defense is the foundation for a winning offense.

I ask that you join me in recognizing the St. Francis Borgia Knights for a job well done!

Mr. Speaker, the President's budget as recently unveiled spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much. We need to stop talking about reducing our deficit and actually go to work and do it.

We cannot continue to put off the tough economic decisions that must be made. In the words of Missouri's Harry Truman, the buck stops here.

It is just plain wrong to pass off more and more debt to our children and grandchildren. Folks back home in Missouri have made it clear to me if they have to balance their checkbooks, then so does Washington.

Unfortunately, the President's budget doesn't do that. Instead, it continues to mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren. I support reducing our Nation's deficit, which is precisely why one of the first bills I filed and sponsored was a constitutional amendment to balance the budget.

Now, let's be clear. Raising taxes is not the way to do that. Putting Washington's fiscal house in order is.

I am urging all of us to remember the buck stops here, not with future generations.

Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed on March 16, 2009 due to the delay of my flight from Missouri.

On Monday, March 16, 2009 I missed Rollcall votes 125, 126, and 127. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 125, 126, and 127.

Mr. Speaker, if you listen very closely, very closely, you can hear it. It's the sound of Tigers roaring from their den at the University of Missouri-Columbia, deep in the heart of the Ninth Congressional District.

For those of you who haven't heard, the Fighting Tigers of Mizzou were unleashed upon their unsuspecting Big 12 prey and earned MU's first league championship in 16 years and first Big 12 Basketball Championship this past weekend.

I want to congratulate Coach Anderson and the 2009 Missouri Tigers for a regular season to remember. I also want to recognize the best defense in the country for offering their opponents ``40 Minutes of Hell.''

But these Tigers are still hungry. And as the No. 3 seed in the West Regional, they are seeking new prey, beginning with Cornell this Friday. Mr. Speaker, I'm not a betting man, but something tells me that the Tigers will roar when they hit the floor, knocking down that national championship door. Go Tigers.

Mr. Speaker, families and small businesses all across our country are making sacrifices, yet our government continues to spend like a drunken sailor. And how does Washington propose paying for all this spending? With more tax increases on hardworking families and small businesses, the very businesses that are crucial generators of job creation and economic growth.

The President's budget includes the largest tax increase in history, shouldering our families and small businesses with the cost of an ever- expanding government. Tax increases on small businesses will stifle job creation and economic growth at the very moment our country needs a strong and robust small-business sector to help us get back on solid ground.

The President's cap-and-trade program will increase the cost of energy for all Americans and place a tax of about $3,000 per household in my district for this very program. Hardworking families and businesses all across my district and America are asking: What is going on in Washington? Does it have a clue how we work hard and how we earn our money and what we are doing with it?

This out-of-control spending must stop.

Madam Speaker, I'm acutely aware that many folks in the Ninth Congressional District of Missouri are hurting. They're contacting me every day about the challenges they're facing. They're worried about keeping their jobs and providing for their families. But those same people are telling me that this so-called ``stimulus package'' is not the answer. I'm hearing from 49 percent of my people that are saying ``no'' to this massive spending bill. And the other 51 percent are saying ``heck no.''

It is time to cut up our Nation's taxpayer-funded credit card and get our fiscal house in order. The Republican alternative plan creates twice as many jobs at half the cost. There is a better plan. The people of the Ninth Congressional District of Missouri sent me here to make tough decisions on their behalf. They also sent me here to make good decisions. That is why I simply refuse to spend taxpayer money irresponsibly. And I refuse to saddle our citizens and families with more debt.