Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, let me state that there is much in this bill that concerns me.

Specifically at a time when our budget deficits and national debt continue to hold back our economic growth, we should not be passing bonus tax breaks for the wealthiest few in this country and handing the bill to our children and our grandchildren. I also strongly prefer the House-passed language that provides estate tax relief in a responsible manner. Additionally, I worry that the payroll tax provisions, while good for working families in the short run, could undermine the finances of Social Security over the long run.

But, at a time when so many people face uncertainty in a fragile economy, doing nothing is not a very good option.

For far too long in this town, shortsighted partisanship has prevailed against the long-term best interests of our country. We need more bipartisanship in Washington, D.C., to tackle our Nation's most pressing problems.

I commend the President for getting us beyond the partisan stalemate and for laying the groundwork for economic progress for the American people.

There are many provisions in this bill that are going to help working families. I strongly support the middle class tax cuts, or at least to keep them going, in this bill. Child tax credits, marriage penalty relief, and education incentives will help middle class families make ends meet and invest for a brighter, more secure economic future.

Most urgently, Congress needs to pass the extension of unemployment benefits contained in this legislation. In my home State of North Carolina, thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the recession caused by the misguided policies of the previous administration. I have met with many, many of these people and have looked them in the eyes as they have told me their stories. These are good people who have worked hard and who have played by the rules. They are depending on these unemployment benefits to get them through these tough times until the economy picks back up and creates good jobs. We are here the week before Christmas, and the last thing we should do is cut off their lifeline.

I will vote to pass this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast recorded votes on Tuesday, December 14, on rollcall votes 628, 629, and

630. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three of these measures:

S. 1405, which designates the Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; S. 3167, the Census Oversight Efficiency and Management Reform Act of 2010; and H.R. 6510, which allows the Military Museum of Texas to purchase the property on which it operates.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the committee for their work and the committee's work in bringing the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation. It really is about jobs, as you have already heard. At a time when the unemployment rate remains unacceptably high and is really stubborn in a lot of places across this country, this bill will help create jobs and retrain workers for new careers. We tend to forget that sometimes when we think of people losing jobs, of the long-term unemployed and the issues surrounding training for new opportunities.

In my home State of North Carolina, the manufacturers and, really, the manufacturers across the country are the ones which are going to really deliver our economic growth and our national recovery. This bill, as you have already heard, will really help in that regard.

First, it will help lower production costs by leveling the playing field with our international competitors, which is an important piece. You have heard how we do it. It is for those items they purchase that we don't have in this country. When we keep them from paying tariffs, it means that they are more competitive. It means we have more workers working, and people can substitute unemployment checks for paychecks.

As the former State Superintendent of Public Schools in North Carolina, I have always said that education is the key to the future. There is no better way to create jobs than to have a well-educated citizenry and educated workforce. I am pleased that this bill strongly supports job training and that it supports our community colleges to expand access to education for more trade-impacted workers.

While I strongly support this bill, I wish it had included a reauthorization of the cotton trust fund, which would have helped hundreds of workers in North Carolina, and I call on the House

and the Senate to reauthorize the cotton trust fund as soon as possible. Despite this omission, though, the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 is a good, job-creating bill that will keep American workers competitive in this tough economy we find ourselves in.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is about jobs: good jobs in American manufacturing, good jobs for workers in export industries, and job training for those negatively impacted by trade. It adjusts tariffs to ensure our manufacturing businesses can compete in the world markets, and supports fair trade for American companies. At a time when the unemployment rate remains unacceptably high, this bill creates jobs and retrains workers for new careers.

Manufacturing is a leading sector of the economy in my State of North Carolina and will be important to the Nation's economy as a whole as we continue the recovery. Throughout this Congress I have been proud to support measures that strengthen our manufacturing industry. In order to grow our economy, we must have manufacturing jobs that allow many Americans the chance to earn good wages. By suspending or reducing duties on over 290 products that are used as inputs or components in domestically manufactured goods, this bill lowers production costs for our manufacturers and helps to level the playing field with our international competitors.

I am pleased that this bill provides assistance and training to workers adversely affected by trade. Trade Adjustment Assistance provides training and associated income support to individuals in need of new skills, modernizing our work force and helping workers find a place in today's economy. Recognizing the critical role that community colleges play, the 2009 TAA reforms provided grants to educational institutions to develop, offer and improve education and career training for workers eligible for TAA. H.R. 6517 expands this critical initiative and makes more workers eligible to participate. I have always believed education is the key to economic prosperity. My home State of North Carolina has seen many economic challenges over the years, but it is our solid commitment to education that has allowed our economy to adapt and attract new industries. As the former Superintendent of Public Schools, I've always said that education is the key to the future. There is no better way to create jobs than education.

While I strongly support this bill, I am disappointed that it reauthorizes the Wool Trust Fund, but not the Cotton Trust Fund. A reauthorization of the Cotton Trust Fund is important to hundreds of workers in North Carolina, and would have enhanced the positive jobs impact of the bill. I hope that Congress will continue to work to make this important grant and tariff relief program to strengthen the U.S. cotton industry.

Despite this omission, the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 is a good, job- creating bill that extends expiring trade provisions, helps displaced workers acquire new skills in order to compete in our global economy, and supports U.S. manufacturing. I would like to thank Chairman Levin for all of his hard work to bring this bill to the floor. This legislation puts Americans to work, and I hope that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the House. I will be leaving Congress at the conclusion of this term, and I want to take a few minutes to speak to my colleagues and the people of North Carolina's Second

District, the people whose hopes and dreams, whose fears and apprehensions, whose challenges and opportunities have been my first and only priority every day for the past 14 years.

We are joined here today in the gallery by my wife, Faye, who has been the foundation of my world for 45 years. No man has ever been blessed with a finer family, and Faye has been the light of my life for each of those days.

I want to thank Faye. It's not easy being a Congressman's wife. The schedule is never your own; it's constantly shifting. Folks call your house or knock on your door--they have ours--at all hours of the day and night. And unfortunately, this past year brought us ugliness on a scale never seen before. Faye has endured it all and has been for me a constant source of strength, a sounding board of unfailing common sense, and a partner in every sense of the word. Thank you, Faye.

And I want to thank my staff. As Members, we get all the credit and the glory, but it is the folks behind the scenes who do the grunt work that make it all possible. I have always said I have the best staff on Capitol Hill and also the best staff back in my home district, and I believe that's true.

We are joined today--I hope by watching--by Russ Swindell, my chief of staff; Pat Devlin, my D.C. chief; Dr. David Weinreich, Ph.D, my legislative director; senior legislative assistant Chris Medley; legislative assistants La'Tanta McCrimmon and Andrew Dugan; legislative correspondent Mim Williams; press secretary Austin Vevurka; executive assistant Julia Cava; and staff assistant Mollie Jones.

In my Lillington office, district representatives William Munn and Mercedes Restucha. And our Raleigh district staff, representatives Carolyn Smith, Sonia Barnes, and Mike Little; Amy Hornbuckle, who is our district scheduler, a very difficult job; Christy Sandy, our grants coordinator; and Debbie Privette, caseworker and projects coordinator.

We call ourselves ``Team Etheridge,'' and for 14 great years we've been an incredible, effective team. I am proud of each and every member of Team Etheridge, and prouder still of what together we have accomplished for the people of North Carolina and this great country.

As I look back on my service in this body--a body which I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve in--I am reminded of the many great men and women I have had the honor to serve with here in the people's House, folks like David Price of North Carolina, and really the entire North Carolina delegation, leaders like Steny Hoyer and the entire Democratic leadership who made this session one of historic significance on behalf of the American people.

On the other side of the aisle, I've been proud to have worked with people like my friend Jerry Moran of Kansas, Ray LaHood, and our former colleague, Bob Riley, now the Governor of Alabama. This body needs more people willing to put partisan differences aside in order to get work done for the greater good of our country.

I have been honored to serve with so many individuals I admire, like John Spratt of South Carolina, Collin Peterson, Ike Skelton, John Lewis, and others far too numerous to mention. Congress may be an imperfect institution, but our Nation is fortunate to have had the benefit of statesmen and patriots serving in this body.

My life has truly been the American Dream. I was raised on a Johnston County tenant farm where neither my mother nor my father owned their home nor the land they farmed. Neither had a high school education, but valued education. Yet, I have been able to serve my country in the United States Army, graduate from college, play basketball, have a successful career in business, be elected to leadership positions at the county, State and Federal levels.

All that was possible by education. Public education is the key to the future because it provides for everyone who is willing to work hard the opportunity to make the most of his or her God-given ability. That is why, for me, all of my years in public life have been about creating a brighter future for our children.

As we look to the future, we can take great pride in the many accomplishments and countless lives that have been touched. Every single day since we opened our doors in 1997, my staff and I have worked hard to provide outstanding constituent services to anyone and everyone who needed our help in the Second District. These are real lives we have changed, from disabled veterans who needed benefits, to senior citizens who needed assistance with Medicare, or a nonprofit requiring a grant to keep serving people in our community; and I am truly proud of my staff for the constituent services they provided in our district.

I know I am biased, and I admit that, but I think we have the staff that is second to none. We have achieved significant policy changes and accomplishments that really are making a difference in people's lives. Our Hometown Heroes Act gives widows and orphans of first responders-- and those first responders include rescue squad, firemen, and sworn police officers--who were killed in the line of duty--or lose their life, I should say, in the line of duty--the peace of mind that comes with receiving survivor benefits. Because of this law, those who die of a heart attack or stroke as they protect our communities are recognized in the same way as others who make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.

The other day, a friend of mine sent me a clipping from the Boston Globe about a local firefighter who died on Thanksgiving Day after suffering a heart attack, responding to an emergency call. Now, I've never lived in Boston. I've lived my whole life in North Carolina, except for the time I was away on military service. But because of the work we did on the Hometown Heroes Act, the widow and two young children of that brave firefighter will have the security of the Federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits fund that they would not otherwise have had. That is a story that is replicated across this country thousands of times. That fact gives me a sense of pride and makes my heart glow.

The HIRE Act that was passed into law last year provided tax credits to small businesses that add workers to their payroll. That new law is helping turn the recession into a recovery, and it's replacing unemployment checks with paychecks for the middle class and workers struggling to get into the middle class.

For the first time in history, we had the opportunity to write a farm bill that is about nutrition and energy and provides hope for the future of family farmers and rural communities. And the Etheridge School Construction bonds that I spent more than 12 years working to get passed into law are being put to work now in North Carolina and all across America. All across this country, the Etheridge bonds are creating jobs, building schools, and improving education for our children.

Those are just a few of the examples of a record of accomplishments that I will always be proud of and a legacy of leadership that I hope others will look to follow.

I have approached my role as a Member of this body as representing all the people of the Second District in North Carolina, listening to all sides of an issue and doing right by the people. Sometimes you don't always make everyone happy, but I can rest my head on a pillow at night knowing that I always did what I thought was right for the people that I represent in the Second District of North Carolina.

I have always believed that public office is a public trust. I've worked every day in the people's House, the U.S. House of Representatives, to honor that trust and to earn the faith of the people that I was elected to serve.

As I prepare to leave this office, I do so with my head held high, with my heart filled with gratitude for all the people who have helped me along life's journey. Many of us are disappointed by the outcome of the previous election, none more than I am. But we move forward, knowing that God still has work for us to do. There are many ways to serve the people, and other opportunities to serve will come. And at the end of the day, I will always be a proud North Carolinian, a patriotic American, and a humble public servant.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 55 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Monday, December 13, 2010, at 10 a.m.

Madam Speaker, on H. Res. 1217, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of fair trade and making sure other countries play by the rules and in support of H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act.

Just this week, China announced tariffs as high as 105.4 percent on

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true hero from my district, Chief Duncan Edward ``Eddie'' Jaggers of Coats, North Carolina. Chief Jaggers has shown outstanding courage, selflessness and bravery by risking his life to protect the citizens of Coats and get lawbreakers off the street.

Although Chief Jaggers is a hero every day, one particular incident stands out. On November 17, 2009, Chief Jaggers went to work at a routine license checkpoint on North Carolina Highway 27 in Coats that turned out to be anything but routine. While checking the licenses of other drivers, a vehicle sped past the officers and through the checkpoint, leading Chief Jaggers on a high-speed car chase at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. The suspect eventually stopped, grabbed an unknown object from his vehicle, and headed deep into the woods, leading Chief Jaggers on a foot race to detain the suspect. Chief Jaggers did not hesitate to follow the suspect, but a tussle ensued and Chief Jaggers was knocked unconscious. Lieutenant Kelly Fields found Chief Jaggers in the woods more than twenty minutes later, and he was immediately rushed to the hospital. The suspect was later apprehended by the Harnett County Sherriff's Office, none which would have been possible without the tireless pursuit and valiant actions of Chief Eddie Jaggers.

I had the honor of presenting Chief Jaggers with the Law Enforcement Purple Heart award earlier this month for his actions on that fateful day. A combination of Chief Jagger's exceptional courage and lifelong experience in law enforcement made it possible for him to react with lightning speed to protect the citizens of the Coats community.

Chief Jaggers has been employed with North Carolina law enforcement for more than 20 years, including tenures at the North Carolina DMV, North Carolina Secretary of State, and currently as the Police Chief of the Town of Coats. He serves as an example for his fellow law enforcement officers and shows us all the meaning of true courage and bravery. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the heroism of Chief Edward ``Eddie'' Jaggers. We in North Carolina are proud to call him our hometown hero.

I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and the Small Business Jobs and Credit bill. As a former small businessman, I know that small businesses are the engine of our economy. Credit is the lifeblood of these businesses. By expanding credit and providing small businesses tax cuts, this bill will help get credit flowing so small businesses can grow, hire workers, and fuel our economy.

As I travel across the Second District of North Carolina talking to business owners and workers, I hear that while the economy may be improving for some, many of these folks on Main Street are still struggling. This bill is what they need to get going again.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting to send this bill to the President of the United States for his signature to put it into law, help our small businesses create jobs and grow our economy.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESPA).

As a part-time farmer and a representative of a rural district, I know how crippling the cost of energy can be to farms, families and our rural citizens. As our nation moves towards finding cleaner and more efficient ways of generating energy, many people in small communities are finding that the costs of energy efficiency improvements are simply too high. The farmers I talk to know that the savings from these improvements are real, but the up-front costs are too often out of reach. That is what it so important about this bill: through the use of interest-free loans distributed by the Department of Agriculture, it will allow farmers and rural citizens to implement critical energy- efficient technology that will bring their energy costs down.

This bill authorizes USDA's Rural Utilities Service to make interest- free loans to individual or state-based groups of co-ops. These loans will then be used by the co-op to fund energy-efficient improvements for farms or residences. These projects are projected to have a 10 year or less payback period, meaning the customer will realize savings in a relatively quick time frame. The loan will be repaid on the customer's utility bill over a 10 year window.

While this is a great bill for rural America, it is also an important bill for the rest of the country. The energy upgrades mean jobs in America for Americans, in construction, installation, and manufacturing. These are good jobs that cannot be outsourced, the kind of jobs we need to put North Carolinians back to work. At the same time, Americans know that many providers of our imported energy sources like oil are unstable and a potential threat to our national security. This bill moves us forward with a policy that reduces our dependence on these risky sources of energy.

As a Representative who is committed to budget discipline, I am pleased that this bill advances these priorities at absolutely no cost to taxpayers. The co-ops will assume all risks for consumer repayments of their efficiency investments. This means that the Federal Government bears no risk in these transactions and must be repaid by the co-op. This bill moves us a step closer to energy independence without increasing our Federal deficit, and I applaud the bill's sponsor for that.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this bill. It is good for our farmers, our rural citizens and for our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my son David and his wife Casey on the birth of their second child, Adera Nichole Etheridge. Adera was born this morning, September 15, 2010 and weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces. My wife Faye and I are excited about the birth of our seventh grandchild, and she joins me in wishing David and Casey and their son, Walker, great happiness upon this new addition to our family.

Faye and I are truly blessed by the arrival of Adera Nichole Etheridge. The birth of a new child is a joyous occasion that reminds us of the promise of a new life. And I know that Walker is excited to have a sister with whom he can play. Children remind us of the incredible miracle of life, and they keep us young-at-heart. Every day they show us a new way to view the world. I had the pleasure of hearing one of Adera's first cries this morning, and I can assure you she is going to be one strong, vivacious little girl.

God has truly blessed my family with this new addition. My family and I are looking forward to spending a lot time with Ms. Adera and introducing her to our friends and neighbors in North Carolina's Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill to invest in American jobs and close tax loopholes.

This bill is about one thing, and one thing only: jobs. It extends initiatives that are making a difference creating jobs and rebuilding our communities, and it closes tax loopholes that are helping big businesses ship jobs overseas.

North Carolina is creating jobs and saving money using Build America Bonds to improve communities across the Second District. This bill will expand these bonds to put more people to work, on projects like expanding sewers in Youngsville, Fayetteville, and Pittsboro, building schools in Lee County and Franklin County, and expanding hospitals and roads where they are most needed. The bill also extends and expands job subsidies that are helping struggling workers and small businesses at the same time. The other side has repeatedly said that we must help private companies expand; this funding makes sure that businesses can grow and workers whose jobs are at risk can keep their skills up-to- date.

This bill is an important step in our effort to promote an American Manufacturing Jobs agenda that will close loopholes that help companies move jobs overseas, support American jobs at home, and enable U.S. companies to bring back ``Made in the U.S.A.''

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010.

This Supplemental Appropriations Act provides funds to meet the needs of our troops abroad and our families at home. It provides emergency flood relief for those recently washed out of their homes, improves Federal mine safety for those risking their lives to get energy from American soil, and supports disabled veterans who have given so much to our nation.

This funding will reduce injuries and increase recovery in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will reduce injuries by replacing vulnerable military transports with mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, and provide ballistic protection for helicopters that are in the line of fire. Even with this additional protection, injury is inevitable, but this bill enhances the healing mission. It funds field medical equipment to help heal those who are injured in battle and it funds health care for soldiers when they come home. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and their survivors, will finally receive the disability payments they deserve. The promises kept in this bill fulfill our commitments to soldiers today and our veterans from past conflicts.

Unfortunately, this version of the bill leaves out necessary funding for priorities here at home. Our children need teachers. Our neighborhoods need first responders. I agree that ignoring the needs of our states and local communities is wrong. However, we cannot make that right by ignoring the needs of our troops, our citizens in the Gulf, and by leaving our citizens to face hurricane season with no possibility of help from FEMA. Without this funding, the President can still declare disaster areas. But those declarations need to be backed up with the people, the expertise, and the funds provided in this bill. The need to support our troops and keep them safe will not go away either.

The funding in this bill will assist America in our shared, but fragile recovery. Forest lands damaged by natural disaster can be restored. Coast Guard helicopters damaged in the line of duty can be replaced. Fisheries in the Gulf Coast can be helped towards recovery and restoration.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this bill.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Manufacturing Enhancement Act. My top priority, and the priority of this Congress ought to be three things: jobs, jobs, jobs when people are hurting. I know too many North Carolinians who are out of work. Families are hurting. They are being squeezed. And this helps small businesses. It will support tens of thousands of jobs in my State and across America. It will strengthen our manufacturing sector. And it is a time when we really need that kind of support. Fixing these tariffs is a boon to U.S. manufacturing, it lowers costs for consumers, and makes sure that U.S. jobs stay in the United States of America.

My colleagues on the other side remind me of the story of the young man who came before this aged gentleman, and he had a bird in his hand. And he

said, ``Old man,'' he said, ``is this bird alive or is he dead?'' Knowing that if he said he was alive, he would crush him, and if he said he was dead, he would release him. And the old gentleman said to him, ``Young man, it is up to you.'' When you say whether this bill will pass or die, to my colleagues on this side of the aisle, it's up to you. But the American people are watching, and they will suffer.

I urge you to reconsider and vote ``yes'' on this legislation not just to make a point, but to make a difference for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on Congress to defend Social Security.

For many years, I've had the privilege of working to bring commonsense policies that benefit middle class families in North Carolina and across America. I was proud to help lead the fight against President Bush's misguided effort to privatize Social Security and to cut benefits. We won that

fight, but now some Washington politicians are threatening Social Security again with risky Wall Street schemes.

During this current economic crisis, more than 50 million Americans depend on Social Security to make ends meet. Without Social Security, one out of every two American seniors would fall into poverty. Dismantling Social Security would eliminate the safety net for millions of disabled Americans and survivors and many of their children.

No politician in Washington, D.C., has the right to threaten the American institution of Social Security. As we approach the 75th anniversary of the Social Security Act, I call on this Congress to defeat the proposals to cut Social Security benefits.