Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6275, Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008.

H.R. 6275 is critical to easing the burden on middle-class taxpayers. The Alternative Minimum Tax, AMT, was originally intended to make sure that the Nation's wealthiest citizens did not avoid paying taxes altogether. However, it was not indexed for inflation and the AMT now affects millions of middle income tax payers across the country. H.R. 6275 would extend for 1 year AMT relief for nonrefundable personal credits and increases the AMT exemption amount to $69,950 for joint filers and $46,200 for individuals. At a time of economic uncertainty and rising gas and food prices, H.R. 6275 would provide over 25 million families with tax relief. In my district alone, over 33,000 families would be affected by the AMT this year.

As a member of the Budget Committee, I am also pleased that this bill includes offsets and is budget-neutral. Instead of adding to our national debt, H.R. 6275 responsibly pays for itself by closing a loophole that allows hedge fund managers to pay less taxes, encouraging tax compliance, repealing subsidies for the five biggest oil companies, and tightening tax laws on foreign-owned companies. I support H.R. 6275, Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6331, The ``Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.'' This bill fulfills America's promise to its seniors and disabled citizens, protecting access to high quality health care without unreasonable costs.

For more than 40 years, Medicare has helped meet the needs of many vulnerable Americans. It cannot continue to do so if providers are paid unreasonable reimbursements, if rules hinder quality patient care, or if the burden of paperwork and payment delays keeps small businesses out of the health care market. This bill ensures physicians, pharmacists, durable medical equipment suppliers, and other health care providers can continue to support the health and well being of Medicare beneficiaries in many ways.

H.R. 6331 will ensure health care is available in rural areas of this country, like those in the Second District of North Carolina. By replacing a 10 percent cut in pay with a slight increase, it ensures doctors can afford to stay in business wherever they choose to practice medicine. By improving payments to hospitals that provide care where no other provider is available, and by making sure rural hospitals are paid equally for clinical services, it ensures those services are available throughout the country. By increasing access to telehealth, it expands the reach of professional advice beyond the doctor's office.

H.R. 6331 is also a boon for small businesses. The vast majority of medical providers are small businesses, and by ensuring they can afford to provide care we support the engine of our economy. Especially in rural areas, our small community pharmacies and medical equipment suppliers are the face of medicine for many Medicare beneficiaries. Health care is improved when people know their providers, and this makes them more likely to comply with medical directives. I am pleased that H.R. 6331 includes several provisions for these small suppliers that I have advocated for some time, including prompt payment provisions and a delay in rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS. Before proceeding, we need to be sure that these initiatives, including competitive bidding for durable medical equipment and the implementation of the Average Manufacturing Price, AMP, system, help to preserve and improve patient care by allowing community suppliers to remain open so that they may continue to serve, and, more importantly, operate at a level that facilitates the provision of the best possible, safest medical care.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation improves the health and health care of Medicare beneficiaries, the ability of medical professionals to provide that care, and the quality of medical care throughout our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6331.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Act. This bipartisan bill takes steps to increase our Nation's security while also protecting Americans' civil liberties.

H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Act, provides the critical tools that our intelligence community needs to ensure the safety of our Nation. With many surveillance warrants set to expire in the coming weeks, the intelligence community needs a strong and dependable set of guidelines to follow while conducting surveillance. H.R. 6304 allows the Government to authorize surveillance in the case of an emergency situation, provided that they return to the FISA court within 7 days to apply for a warrant.

This bill also includes a number of provisions that significantly strengthen the protection of our civil rights. H.R. 6304 clarifies that FISA is the exclusive means for conducting surveillance in the United States, prohibiting any President from using executive power to conduct a warrantless wiretapping program. This bill also requires the Government to obtain an individual warrant from the FISA Court before conducting surveillance on a United States citizen. This warrant must be based on probable cause, and the provision now includes American citizens abroad as well. H.R. 6304 requires prior review and approval of the intelligence community's targeting and minimization procedures that ensure that any inadvertently intercepted communications by American citizens are destroyed. Finally, the FISA Amendments Act adds a strong layer of oversight to this process by directing the Inspectors General from Justice, State, Defense, the DNI, and NSA to review surveillance procedures and submit their findings to Congress.

H.R. 6304 rejects blanket immunity for telecommunications companies that may have participated in the administration's warrantless wiretapping program. Under this bill, lawsuits against these companies would be determined by Federal district courts. These telecommunications companies will have to prove that the Administration provided written assurance that their activities were legal. There is no immunity for any government official who may have violated the law included in this legislation.

This bill is much stronger than the Senate version, and will protect both our security and the civil liberties that we enjoy. I support the passage of H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bipartisan measure as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to provide emergency supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008. This legislation contains funding for our troops, expands education benefits for veterans, extends unemployment benefits for workers and provides assistance for the victims of the floods in the MidWest.

This bill contains $161.8 billion for DOD funding for our troops to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the representative of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, I'm pleased that this bill provides $2.2 billion over the President's request to fully fund military quality of life initiatives--including funding for military child care centers, military hospitals and VA hospitals. For our returning troops, it includes a new GI bill that restores full, 4-year college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to help make them part of an economic recovery like the veterans of World War II. This legislation also provides up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, and provides $2.65 billion for urgent disaster relief in response to Midwestern floods and tornadoes.

I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress as well as the President and the Administration, to provide a new direction in Iraq and to meet the critical needs of the people of North Carolina's Second Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for yielding.

I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for introducing this important piece of legislation.

As has been indicated, every day over 36 million people travel on forms of mass transit or public transportation in this country. More than 11 million commuters use rail and mass transit, while over twice this number, more than 25 million, use public or private school buses to travel to and from their schools.

As a former superintendent of schools of the State of North Carolina, I know how important these systems are to delivering our most precious cargo, our school children, to and from school safely and securely. Just as we have a responsibility to ensure the public can travel on rail and mass transit confident of their safety, we have an equal responsibility to make sure that our school bus routes are secure.

I thank Congresswoman Jackson-Lee for her hard work, Chairman Thompson for working with me to include this piece of legislation in this resolution, and I want to thank Ranking Member King for his help also.

School buses have been targets for terrorists not only in countries such as Israel, Thailand, Yemen and African countries, but also Canada and the United States. Last year, the FBI warned that members of extremist groups have purchased school buses and obtained licenses to operate them.

An attack on a school bus would be devastating, not only in lives harmed, but also the psychological and symbolic impact. We owe our children and their families no less than that we will be able to confidently say that their transportation is secure.

Earlier this year in a 9/11 bill, Congress required TSA to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment on school transportation. They are making progress on this goal. We need to make sure that this assessment is completed on time and that it is followed with efforts to keep our children safe as they travel to and from school activities.

The provisions of this resolution shows that Congress is serious about providing that confidence for rail, for mass transit, as well as for school transportation. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1150.

Mr. Speaker, we have been hearing a lot of talk this week about high energy prices. The Republican talking point for the week is that Democrats are causing high gas prices because we won't allow drilling. That is false rhetoric.

It is the oil companies that are choosing not to drill on 80 percent of the leases already available for drilling in Alaska. It is the oil companies that are choosing not to increase drilling in the Naval Petroleum Reserve, one of the largest petroleum reserves in the Nation and one that President Clinton made available for drilling.

Meanwhile, it is the Democrats who have put 70,000 more barrels of oil per day on to the market by halting shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It is the Democrats that have passed legislation that would allow OPEC to be investigated for price fixing, legislation that the President has threatened to veto.

It is time to stop the rhetoric, Mr. Speaker. I challenge the President to demand fair play from OPEC and the Republican Party to stand up for the American people and not Big Oil.

I thank my friend, Congressman Donnelly, for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Res. 1010, recognizing the importance of manufactured housing in the United States.

Unfortunately, far too many homeowners are facing difficulties during this current National Homeownership Month. Housing prices are dropping, home sales are stagnating, and thousands of families are facing the prospect of foreclosure.

Manufactured housing can provide a sustainable and affordable housing alternative. Instead of being trapped in exotic mortgages with high interest rates, many Americans can choose cost-effective manufactured housing. This sector of the housing market has also experienced an evolution in the types and quality of homes that they build, offering a wide array of designs that can fit the needs of more families.

In addition, Congress has passed legislation that provides tax credits for the builders of these homes to meet energy efficiency standards. These Energy Star labeled homes are more energy efficient and can provide savings in the face of rising energy costs.

Manufactured housing can be a critical component in achieving two of HUD's most important priorities, providing increased affordable housing, and reducing dependencies on subsidized housing.

In addition, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I also recognize the importance that manufactured housing can play in the wake of a natural disaster. Manufactured housing can provide a quick, safe, and efficient way to house these victims and provide families with shelters as they put their lives back together.

Owning a home is a large part of the American Dream. I support this resolution as well as the goals and ideals of Manufactured Housing Week. I urge my colleagues to vote for the passage of H.R. 1010.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Conference Report to accompany S. Con. Res. 70, Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2009. This Budget Resolution strengthens our economy, restores fiscal discipline, and makes America safer.

A budget is a statement of our priorities. As the only former State schools chief serving in Congress, I am particularly pleased about this measure's provisions for education and innovation. This resolution rejects the President's proposed education cuts and instead provides greater investment in our Nation's schools, including the school construction bonds Chairman Rangel and I have been working on for nearly a decade and increased Impact Aid for federally impacted local public schools.

As a Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am pleased that after 7 years of this administration failing to address fully some of our most pressing security needs, this budget provides the necessary resources to meet critical threats to the Nation. Specifically, this budget resolution rejects the President's proposed cuts to critical State and local law enforcement initiatives, including the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, Byrne Grants, and the COPS initiative. I strongly believe that homeland security starts with hometown security and I am pleased that this resolution rejects the President's misguided cuts.

I am also pleased to report that the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution also makes our Nation's veterans a top priority. This budget is strongly supported by all the major veterans organizations because it provides $3.3 billion more than the President's proposed budget for 2009 and $39 billion more over 5 years. This budget continues our commitment to fully fund veterans' health care by providing an 11 percent increase from last year. This resolution also rejects health care fees and TRICARE enrollment fee increases and includes additional funding to speed the veterans' disability claims process. I am proud to represent thousands of veterans in North Carolina's Second Congressional District, and they deserve a budget that reflects the importance of the sacrifice they have made in serving our country.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have become increasingly concerned about the legacy of debt this administration is passing on to future generations. The $5.6 trillion projected surplus that the administration inherited when it took office has been transformed into a $3.2 trillion deficit. More than 80 cents of every dollar of new debt since 2001 is owed to foreign investors, including foreign governments. The high level of indebtedness to foreign investors heightens the American economy's exposure to potential instability or even from financial threat from unfriendly foreign governments, and places additional burdens on our children and grandchildren. It is a massively irresponsibe tax on posterity.

However, this Budget Resolution is a positive step in restoring fiscal responsibility. Using realistic Congressional Budget Office estimates, this budget reaches balance in 2012, remains in balance in 2013, and posts smaller deficits than the President's proposed budget for the next 3 years. In addition, this budget continues the House of Representatives' emphasis on fiscal discipline by following the pay-as- you-go rule.

On behalf of North Carolina's children and working families, I support the Budget Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2009 and urge my colleagues to join me.

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act.

Madam Chairman, as the only former State schools chief serving in Congress, I have always worked to be a voice for children and their schools.

One of the biggest challenges we face in my home State of North Carolina--and really across this country--is a lack of adequate facilities for learning to take place. We simply must make a commitment to get our children out of trailers and into quality classrooms.

You just heard my colleague talk about what we're doing overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan building schools. If we can build them overseas, we certainly can build them here in the United States. This bill is an important first step toward improving our children's education.

We will need to follow the authorization of these grants with full funding in appropriations. And we need to ensure that local and State authorities can raise money in other ways, as would be provided by in the America's Better Classroom Act through interest-free bonds to build more schools. There really is no substitute for bricks and mortar when it comes to quality schools and meeting the educational goals of our community.

I applaud Chairman Miller and Congressman Chandler for their leadership on this issue, and urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 3021, to improve the quality of where our children go to school and help them to learn and to be able to compete in the 21st century.

Madam Speaker, as you know, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease, affecting as many as 30,000 Americans. What you may not know is that military veterans are at greater risk of ALS than those who have never served in the military.

A study by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Administration (VA) found that those who served in the 1991 Gulf War are approximately twice as likely to die from ALS as those who did not serve in the Gulf. Harvard University researchers found that, regardless of where or when they served, veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the general public. Current research shows that ALS is occurring at greater rates in those who are serving in the current conflict in Iraq.

The Department of Defense recognized this risk by establishing the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) last year and provided $5 million to conduct research into new treatments and a deeper understanding of the disease. The ALSRP will benefit those who served our country with better medical care, and will also give hope to all whose lives have been touched by the disease, regardless of military service.

Congress should send a clear message of support to our men and women serving in the military and continue funding for this important medical initiative. I urge my colleagues to provide funding in the 2009 Defense Appropriations Act to continue this innovative research partnership, which leverages DOD resources with scientific expertise in the private sector and at universities. This research will enable us to take action to protect our soldiers and veterans by determining why they are at greater risk, and will give us tools to treat all those who suffer from this disease.

We need to continue to wage a war against ALS, the disease that took the life of baseball greats Lou Gehrig and North Carolina's own Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter, as well as many other American heroes great and small. I knew ``Catfish'' and he was a good man, and he would be proud of the work that our local ALS

Association Chapter is doing in his name. The ALS Association is the world leader in ALS research and patient care services. The Carolinas' Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter Chapter of the ALS Association raises awareness and gives support to people with ALS and their families throughout North and South Carolina. For each of the past two years, it has been named as ``Chapter of the Year,'' and their work alerted me to this important veteran's issue.

Madam Speaker, with your leadership, the support of our colleagues in Congress, and the help of activists at the grass roots level, we have a real shot at conquering ALS for our military veterans and citizens alike.

Mr. Speaker, I rise again today, in strong support of the 2008 Farm Bill.

Mr. Speaker, because of a technical glitch, this Farm Bill will have a new number, but this is the same bill.

This is the same bill that was passed on a bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives, and an overwhelming vote in the other body, and it is still, as it was last week, one of the most important pieces of legislation this Congress has passed this year.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we have a stable farm policy in this Nation, for our farmers, and for every child who participates in a nutrition program. This is legislation that affects every citizen in this country.

Again, this is a bill we can all be proud of.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in strong support of H.R. 6074. Today gas prices are higher than they have ever been at any time in our Nation's history. These prices are causing a ripple effect that is causing the price to rise for even the basic necessities of life for Americans, such as food and electricity. And in States like my home State of North Carolina, where people must travel farther distances to go to work, church, and the grocery store, these prices are making it harder to make ends meet.

This legislation will end the practice of oil producing countries, most notably the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), from intentionally suppressing production capabilities to ensure higher profits. This legislation closes a loophole that prevents the U.S. Department of Justice from being able to sue these countries under anti-trust violations. H.R. 6074 will also establish a Justice Department task force that will carefully examine these countries for collusion, gouging, trade manipulation, and other unfair practices. This task force will be required to report their findings annually to the Congress.

Mr. Speaker, for too long these countries have come to rely on a strong U.S. market to sell their product. Today, we are sending the message that they will now have to play by the rules.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6074.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6049, Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. This bill provides tax relief for millions of Americans while spurring business investment and innovation in renewable energy.

I am pleased to note that H.R. 6049 will benefit the families of millions of children by expanding the child tax credit to those earning $8,500 a year. This bill will also provide tax relief by extending the State and local sales tax deduction, provide property tax relief for 30 million homeowners, and help families afford college with the tuition deduction. As the only former school superintendent serving in Congress, I am especially pleased to note that this bill is supported by the National Education Association because it includes an extension of the tax deduction for educators who help supply their classrooms, and an extension of the Quality Zone Academy Bonds school modernization program that helps school districts address renovation and repair needs.

H.R. 6049 includes important tax relief provisions for businesses as well as individuals

and families. This bill extends the Research and Development Tax Credit for over 27,000 businesses, the 15-year straight-line cost recovery for leasehold improvements and qualified restaurant improvements, and the tax credit for the environmental remediation of brownfields areas. We need to strengthen our economy by helping to spur American innovation with investment in American businesses.

Developing alternative energy sources and ending our dependence on foreign oil is one of the most critical challenges facing our nation. H.R. 6049 includes several provisions that will spur innovation in this area such as an extension of investment and production tax credits for solar energy, wind energy, and energy derived from biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and solid waste. In addition, H.R. 6049 includes incentives that promote the production of homegrown renewable fuels, like biodiesel, for the installation of more E-85 pumps, and a $3,000 tax credit for the purchase of fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid vehicles. These provisions will create and preserve thousands of ``green collar jobs'' as well as provide relief for Americans who continue to see gas prices rise to historic records across the country.

I support the passage of H.R. 6049, Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, and I urge my colleagues to join me.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Goodlatte for their hard work. They worked together in a bipartisan manner. I rise today in support of the veto override of H.R. 2419.

Last week, this legislation was passed on a bipartisan vote in this House and by an overwhelming vote in the other body, and I am saddened that this President, a man who represents himself as a friend of agriculture, would choose to turn his back on our Nation's farmers and rural America by vetoing one of the most important pieces of agricultural legislation that this Congress has passed this year.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we have a stable farm policy in this Nation, not just for farmers, but for every child that participates in a nutrition program, for every food bank, for every school lunch program. This legislation affects every citizen in this country.

This is a bill that we can be proud of, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to vote to override this veto. It is a vote for America.

Chairman Skelton, let me thank you for your friendship and for your extraordinary leadership on the Committee on Armed Services. I appreciate your willingness to engage me in the important topic of suicide prevention in our military forces.

As you know, earlier this year, my constituent, Master Sergeant (retired) Christopher Scheuerman, testified before the Subcommittee on Military Personnel about the tragic circumstances surrounding the suicide of his son, Private First Class Jason Drew Scheuerman. Jason was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division at Forward Operating Base Normandy in Iraq, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from his M16 rifle. Jason showed clear signs of mental distress, but the system failed Jason.

Recent reports indicate the Army suicide rate is the highest in 26 years of record keeping. While there are many outstanding mental health professionals in the Army system, the command structure creates an inherent conflict of interest and a lack of independent objectivity.

Servicemembers are currently allowed a second civilian opinion, but often find it nearly impossible to access an outside mental health provider. I appreciate the fact that this bill addresses the issue of suicide prevention by directing the Secretary to consider how the military can make a second opinion more accessible, including the possibility of providing a second medical evaluation in combat theater by

telephonic evaluation. I know that that is a somewhat controversial suggestion, but we must find a way to stop preventable suicides like Jason Scheuerman. We owe our servicemen and women no less.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to continue to work with you, Chairwoman Davis and Ranking Member McHugh on this important issue, and I hope that the Secretary will undertake this study immediately so that it is possible for our troubled servicemembers to obtain a second civilian health opinion.

I thank the gentleman for his time and help.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5658, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. This legislation authorizes $601.4 billion for defense programs in FY 2009, including $70 billion in emergency funds authorized specifically to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is funding that is critical to our nation's defense, as well as to the troops serving so valiantly in the wars being waged on two fronts.

Thanks in a large part to the leadership of Chairman Skelton, this legislation provides greater funding than had been requested by the President for equipment depleted by the war in Iraq, including new combat vehicles, new battle gear for the Army National Guard and reserves, military pay raises, and shipbuilding.

H.R. 5658 authorizes $25.4 billion for defense health-care programs, and blocks the president's plan to raise user fees for programs such as Tricare and deductibles for service members and military retirees. This legislation will also authorize an increase of 7,000 active-duty Army personnel, and provide for 5,000 more Marine Corps personnel than current levels.

This legislation also provides for a 3.5 percent pay raise for active duty military, rolls back proposed benefit reductions to spousal benefits, and increases funding for military housing upgraded for bases like Fort Bragg, North Carolina, located in my district.

Mr. Chairman this is a good bill for our troops. It is our duty, our charge as members of this body, to ensure that those who protect and defend our nation in this all-volunteer army receive the best health care, pay, and living conditions that we can provide for them. We owe this to them.

I support this legislation and I would urge my colleagues to do the same.