Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly also want to thank Chairman Mica, as well as Chairman Petri and also Ranking Member Costello, for all of their hard work and for putting out a bill I think will help us move the Nation forward and improve the quality of aviation in America.

My amendment is designed to help expedite and to improve the process by which FAA works with government agencies to incorporate unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs as they're commonly called, into the National Airspace System. Currently, Mr. Chairman, law enforcement agencies across the country, from Customs and Border Protection to local police departments, et cetera, are ready to embrace the new technology and to start utilizing UAVs in the pursuit of enforcing the law and protecting our border as well.

However, the FAA has been very hesitant to give authorization to these UAVs due to limited air space and restrictions that they have. I certainly can appreciate those concerns; but when we're talking about Customs and Border Protection or the FBI, what have you, we are talking about missions of national security. And certainly there's nothing more important than that. It was a very, very lengthy exercise to get the FAA to authorize the use of UAVs on the southern border. While they're finally being utilized down there, we are certainly a long way from fully utilizing these technologies.

So my amendment does three things. First, it makes sure those stakeholders currently using UAVs have a seat at the table during the integration process. Second, my amendment would clear up a source of confusion in this process and direct the FAA to define exactly what it means by ``sense and avoid technology.'' We think this would provide very clear-cut criteria in order to ensure compliance.

Finally, my amendment directs the FAA to conduct the safety studies that it is requiring. Currently, the FAA would direct various agencies to conduct these studies themselves. However, there is no agency in the Federal Government that has the expertise and the competency that FAA has when it comes to studying safety in the air. So I think this would guarantee that the safety studies that the FAA requires for this process are as comprehensive as possible.

As I said before, we do have some domestic UAV missions in effect. There's three in Arizona, there's two in North Dakota, and maritime guardians as well in both Florida and Texas. We've made some progress, but when we have a situation in this Nation where we don't have operational control of either of our borders, either the southern border or the northern border, I think that the taxpayers are well- suited to be able to utilize current DOD technology, off-the-shelf hardware that has already been extremely effectively in theatre with these UAVs to help us with our border protection.

UAVs are ready. They work. I think it's past time we utilize them. We need to have the FAA help us with this kind of thing as well.

I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

I certainly appreciate Chairman Petri's comments on that.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to pay tribute to Firefighter Jim Ritchie of the Harbor Beach Area Fire Department located in beautiful Huron County, Michigan. This year marks the 50th year of service for Mr. Ritchie who began his career with the Department in 1960 at 22 years old.

Mr. Ritchie has consistently set high standards during his outstanding career in the fire services. The State of Michigan, the 10th Congressional District and the City of Harbor Beach have benefited greatly from his devotion, sacrifice and strong leadership skills. He was among some of the first individuals in the surrounding Thumb Area to become a state certified fire instructor--demonstrating his commitment to be a great mentor and teacher to younger volunteer firefighters joining the profession.

Mr. Speaker, firefighters are the backbone of our communities. They are often the first to respond to an emergency. Whether it is a fire, car accident, natural disaster, an act of terrorism, medical emergency, or hazardous spill, extraordinary men and women stand ready to serve. They have an unwavering dedication to protect those who are in distress.

But sometimes, first responders are taken for granted. That is until a crisis strikes and the public reaches out for help. Against their better judgment, firefighters rush to the scene of an emergency and into harm's way. When our natural instincts tell us to flee, firefighters rush in. And without the promise of fame, fortune, or as much as a simple ``thank you,'' firefighters remain constantly vigilant.

Despite this, Firefighter Ritchie continues to show true bravery and courage in times of panic and crisis. He has served a key role with the Harbor Beach Area Fire Department. He is a great American and I salute him.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of all the men and women who risk their lives to protect our safety and well-being, so it is my honor to offer my sincere gratitude to Mr. Jim Ritchie for his 50 years of service. His leadership, integrity, and dedication are greatly appreciated. I wish him all the best as he continues to serve the citizens of the City of Harbor Beach.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to honor and recognize an exceptional organization located in Michigan's 10th Congressional District--the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry. On Friday, April 1, 2011, the Sterling Heights Chamber will mark a special day in its history with a very momentous 50th Anniversary Celebration. This ``Golden Occasion'' will be an opportunity to reflect upon the excellent work performed since the Chamber's inception in 1961 when it was first known as the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce.

Over the past 50 years, the Chamber has adapted and transformed in order to maintain its business edge, and is known as one of the premier chambers in the State of Michigan. While over the years their name has changed to accommodate their growing membership in Macomb County and throughout the region, their mission and goals have always remained the same--``to bring features, benefits and value to their members, and each and every day strive to bring a return on that investment.''

The Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been a true ambassador of economic liberty and an admirable advocate for small businesses. It has always taken a proactive approach to highlight the wonderful resources and services available to potential customers and clients. With business workshops, educational seminars and various community outreach events covering a wide range of topics and issues, the entrepreneurial spirit has been the driving force behind their initiatives to improve our economy, create a better business climate, increase the number of jobs, and enhance the quality of life for all who call this area home.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the chamber's leadership, both past and present, for their tireless work, innovative thinking and exemplary vision. The effectiveness and strength of this Chamber is displayed by the fact it has expanded its designated coverage base of the original communities of Sterling Heights, Utica and Shelby Township to also include communities in the adjoining Oakland and Wayne Counties. It captured the essence of this region by focusing on the industrial, manufacturing and engineering businesses that are unique to Southeast Michigan, and provided opportunities for their collaboration.

During these years of severe economic challenges, especially in Macomb County and in the State of Michigan, one thing has become crystal clear: We cannot afford to isolate ourselves from our neighbors based on parochial interests. The 5 million people living and working in the Metro Detroit Region need to work together to find solutions to our economic woes. This includes all stakeholders, private and public, communicating with one another and using all the tools and resources at their disposal. The Sterling Heights Chamber has always fostered this type of cooperation among its members.

I personally can attest to the positive impact the Chamber has had in Macomb County. Beginning with my years working for my family's marina business, and extending throughout my career in public service at the township, county, state and federal level, the efforts of the Chamber have been nothing short of extraordinary. The executive team, support staff and Board of Directors have always set a robust agenda to improve our economic well-being and I salute each and every one of them for their dedicated efforts and hard work.

In closing, Mr Speaker, I want to offer my personal congratulations to the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry as they celebrate this milestone event. I wish them nothing but the best and another 50 years of successful service to the businesses in our community.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor notable women in America's history, like Alice Paul and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who fought to extend American rights and freedoms to every American citizen. These women, who played an integral role in extending the right for women to vote, held American ideals and standards in the highest regard. One of the principles that they considered to be sacred is the sanctity of life. Not only did America's founding women fight to ensure each and every citizen was vested with the unalienable rights granted by our Constitution, they also fought to preserve the life of every American, including the unborn.

Today, I firmly believe that the right to life needs to continue to be protected. As a pro life Member of Congress, I have made it a priority of mine to fight for the most vulnerable members of our society. I have been proud to uphold the sanctity of life by supporting legislation that affirms that life begins at the moment of conception, defunds Planned Parenthood and prohibits any federal funding from ever being used for abortions. I joined with my colleagues to repeal the government takeover of healthcare, which would overturn a 30 year bipartisan effort banning all federal dollars from being used for abortions.

I will continue to fight to preserve the America that these women fought for so hard, and this includes protecting the right to life for the unborn.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of this House Resolution that is going to help put a statue of President Gerald R. Ford in the United States Capitol Rotunda.

Mr. Speaker, before I came to the Congress, I had the great honor and privilege of serving as Michigan's secretary of State. And sort of an odd appendage of that job was serving as our State's official historian, so we did all the historic markers. I tried to get around the State of Michigan to go to some of the dedications, particularly the ones that I thought were so outstanding. I recall with such a great amount of pride having the historic marker dedicated for Gerald Ford's boyhood home. A couple of young people had bought the home and completely refurbished it to the period when Gerald Ford was there. And so we are standing there on the porch of his boyhood home in Grand Rapids, and there was a very large crowd assembled of family, friends, neighbors, and others that were there to see the President, who came, both the President and Mrs. Ford came that day.

I had just gotten elected as the secretary of State, and here I was introducing him to this crowd of people there. He couldn't have been more humble and more enjoyable to listen to because he was talking about playing football out in the streets there, and how much he enjoyed that and the rough and tumble of playing football then. And of course then he went on to a couple of national championships at the University of Michigan. Go Blue!

But from there, you think about where he came from and what he achieved in his life, and really I think the humility and the honor that he had that took him from playing football, from those streets to a couple of national championships, and then to a historic and very remarkable and impactful legislative career, serving here in this House, in this Chamber, and then on to be the Vice President of the United States, and then the President of the United States. It is really an American story. It's just an American story, a true American success story.

President Ford took over the presidency at a time when our Nation was reeling from the nightmare of Watergate, looking for somebody to give us some stability, some normalcy during those terrible times when the honor and the dignity of the Office of the President had been so severely damaged. And he managed to repair America's faith, I think, in our leaders because he was so clearly an honest man, a true American patriot, an honorable man. He was the right leader at a very difficult time in our Nation's history. He reflected so well the humble and the patriotic, honest people of the great State of Michigan.

So, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. I think this statue of President Gerald Ford joining the other statues in Statuary Hall is certainly a fitting and appropriate thing. It reflects the will of the people of Michigan and I think is an honor that is long overdue to President Gerald R. Ford.

Mr. Speaker, I was absolutely dumbfounded recently when I heard the Senate majority leader slamming the long-term continuing resolution passed by this House, which cut government spending by more than $100 billion below the President's FY 2011 budget request.

He particularly lamented the elimination of funding for an annual cowboy poetry festival in Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Senate majority leader that the rugged individualism of the American cowboy will not be snuffed out due to the lack of a Federal subsidy. In fact, I believe that the American cowboy supports our efforts to get this out-of-control Federal spending under control.

Let me quote, Mr. Speaker, from a poem written by Yvonne Hollenbeck, who has been featured at the National Cowboy Poetry Gatherings in Elko, Nevada. The title of her poem is ``How to Cut Taxes'':

So, I think if I was the President of this home of the free and the brave,

I'd close up all those departments and think of the money I'd save.

Mr. Speaker, this is the poet that I would give a personal subsidy to, and I would hope that our colleagues in the other body would take that good old American cowboy common sense and help us start saving the American people's money.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 570, the Dental Emergency Responder Act. This important legislation would recognize dentists as emergency response providers who are capable of giving medical assistance in the event of a public health emergency.

This bill is an efficient way to improve America's emergency response system. Not only does it ensure that we are fully prepared on all fronts in the event of a crisis or natural disaster, but it does not add any new Federal spending or increase our ever-growing deficit.

Dentists have strong general medical training that I firmly believe should be utilized during a public health emergency. In the wake of September 11, 2001, the worst attack on civilians in the history of our country, we must ensure that America's emergency response system is prepared, and this includes having a strong medical response system in place.

In a time of crisis, it is crucial that vie have all hands on deck to issue medical assistance to the public. For this reason I am proud to support H.R. 570 and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 662--The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011. This bill provides much needed funding to keep the transportation projects in our nation going and provides assurance to State Departments of Transportation that vital infrastructure projects can continue without delay. Additionally, this bill buys the House time to put together a comprehensive, longer term surface transportation bill that can adequately address the needs and challenges facing this nation.

I look forward to working on a new surface transportation bill with Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Duncan and with Chairman Mica's leadership along with our colleagues on the full Committee.

I am confident that our Committee will put together a bill that will meet the serious challenges we face in maintaining and improving our infrastructure. I am also confident that we will have the appropriate focus on what we must do to help move our economy forward and the elimination of earmarks will allow us to develop strong legislation that focuses more on need instead of narrow interests.

Throughout history economic growth has followed our transportation grid. Whether it was sea routes, canals, wagon trains, rail, roads and airlinks, growth in our economy has always been dependent on our transportation infrastructure.

I believe this will help to ensure that the most needed projects get funding and help to eliminate any unnecessary projects.

Madam Speaker, it is critical that we make sure that spending stays in line with revenues, and one way in which to do this is to prevent the use of ``donor states,'' or states that give more to the Highway Trust Fund than they receive. My home state of Michigan is such a donor state, and we and other donor states have for too long been at the short end of funding for projects.

My state of Michigan has been ground zero for this difficult economy. We have had among the highest unemployment rates for many years and it is simply unacceptable that hard-working Michigan taxpayers are asked to subsidize transportation funding for states that have not been nearly as hard hit.

This extension is our first step in the process and I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation so that we can continue our important work to develop the best transportation network in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express our deepest sorrow about a terrible attack against two agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while they were driving between Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico.

Special Agent Jaime Zapata tragically lost his life in his service to our country. Special Agent Zapata joined ICE in 2006, and he was most recently detailed to ICE's attach office in Mexico City.

We also send our thoughts and prayers to the second agent, Victor Avila, who was injured in the attack and who remains in stable condition. We pray for him to have a speedy recovery.

Honorable agents like these two men have our Nation at the forefront of their minds each and every day. They work day in and day out on our borders, protecting our Nation's citizens, and we take pride in the dedication that they have.

We are blessed to have brave men and women who work in the service of our Nation every day. Their work can never be underestimated. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of these brave men, of these great American patriots.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, in advance of last fall, the election last fall, the Republican Conference presented a governing document called the Pledge to America, which put forward our ideas on how we intended to deal with the unsustainable level of deficit spending that has created a crippling debt being forced upon our children, our grandchildren and future generations.

The American people agreed with us and entrusted the Republican Party with a new majority here in the House in order to carry out what we put forward. In that pledge we promised that we would cut $100 billion from the fiscal year 2011 budget, and with the passage of this legislation, the underlying legislation, which I support, we will have kept that promise.

Unfortunately, President Obama did not seem to get that message, as he has threatened to veto this legislation.

The President remains committed to an agenda that calls for ever- higher spending, higher taxes, trillion-dollar deficits, huge debt, and a government that is out of control. The President presented his budget to the Congress this past Monday and patted himself on the back by saying that his budget, Mr. Chairman, reduces the deficit over the next 10 years by about a trillion dollars. But he said little of the fact that, according to his own math, more than $7 trillion would be added to our national debt. Today, our national debt is in excess of $14 trillion. At the end of the President's 10-year budget window, it will be nearly $23 trillion. It's clear that the President's budget was not a governing document like the Pledge to America was. It was a political document in which he refused to take on the tough challenges that we face in our Nation.

In the Illinois State Senate, President Obama, then-State Senator Obama, voted ``present'' 130 times, refusing to take a position on the various issues facing his State. In his irresponsible budget on Monday, President Obama once again voted ``present.''

Mr. Chairman, President Obama needs to know with the many challenges facing our Nation, now is not the time to vote ``present.'' Now is the time to provide leadership.

You don't have to believe me that the President's budget doesn't provide the serious leadership that our Nation needs now. Just read The Washington Post. One of the President's strongest supporters in the media said this about the Obama budget: ``The President punted. Having been given the chance, the cover, and the push by the fiscal commission that he created to take the bold steps to raise revenue and curb entitlement spending, President Obama in his fiscal 2012 budget proposal chose instead to duck. To duck and to mask some of the ducking with the sort of budgetary gimmicks that he once derided.''

Well, Mr. Chairman, punting in football is the equivalent of voting ``present'' in politics. By once again voting ``present,'' the President refused the mantle of leadership at a time of fiscal crisis in our Nation.

Mr. Chairman, we in the Republican Party will take that mantle and continue to put forward an agenda for America that gets our fiscal house in order and empowers the private sector to create new jobs. We listened to the American people, and they concede today our seriousness in dealing with the out-of-control spending problem that we have. In our budget we will show once again that we are serious about reducing these unsustainable deficits.

We understand, Mr. Chairman, that out-of-control government spending, borrowing, and debt limits the opportunities available to our children and to our grandchildren to help them achieve the American Dream. We will continue to tackle these tough issues head on. If President Obama believes that his political supporters simply will attack all of our efforts to return this Nation to fiscal sanity, if he believes that by voting ``present'' and by taking a pass on the tough decisions that somehow he will gain political advantage, Mr. Chairman, I believe that the President has seriously underestimated the political will of the American people and seriously misread the message from the last election.

The American people, Mr. Chairman, understand that the status quo is not sustainable. They understand that we cannot build our economy on top of a mountain of debt. And the American people understand that it is simply unacceptable for the leader of our Nation at this time in our history to be voting ``present.''

This week, the Members of the House are making the difficult choices on this continuing resolution which we have been debating this week. The Republican majority will be presenting our budget in the near future--and we will not be voting ``present.''

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, during the Super Bowl, Chrysler aired an ad promoting the new Chrysler 200 that touched the hearts of America with its focus on redemption and the enduring spirit of a great American city--Detroit, Michigan.

The redemption of a city and a region that has made some mistakes but is also home to some of our Nation's greatest innovators, most skilled craftsman and best workforce.

The redemption of an industry that has also made some mistakes but is still the backbone of American manufacturing.

Redemption epitomized by the workers at Chrysler's Sterling Heights assembly plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, which was slated to close during bankruptcy. But the workers fought and sacrificed and made the business case that they were the right people to build the Chrysler 200 featured in the ad.

In Detroit, we build things. That is what we do. And we do it better than anybody else in the world. We still have a long way to go, but the Detroit region is coming back and our story of redemption is distinctly American.

Mr. Speaker, to all Americans who are looking to buy a new car and who are considering imports, I have a simple message. If you want the best, you should buy it, imported from Detroit.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, this past election was certainly a historic pivot for our Nation. The American people demanded that both the President of the United States, as well as the Congress, chart a new course because they understand that the growth of Federal spending that we have seen for the last several years is completely unsustainable. They understand that this crushing burden of debt that we are selfishly placing on our children and our grandchildren is limiting their opportunities. And they also understand very clearly that this irresponsible, out-of- control Federal spending is limiting our ability for job creation and economic growth.

Today, this resolution clearly speaks to the House Republicans' Pledge to America by demonstrating our commitment to reduce spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, to a level of spending of 2008.

Many would say, Madam Speaker, that this doesn't even go far enough, and that debate will continue this year as we debate the CR, the budget resolution, and the vote for raising the debt ceiling. Today, Madam Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution and let the American people know that we heard them loud and clear in November.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we began a very important new chapter in the history of this great Nation as we began the 112th Congress. I was so proud to join so many of our new Members in taking the oath of office. The enthusiasm and the commitment that was shown by our new colleagues, as well as those of us who were honored enough to be reelected, to take on the great challenges facing our Nation, I think, will be remembered as a historic pivot for our country.

The Constitution, which we will soon read here on the floor of the House, states that one of the primary purposes of the Federal Government is to ``preserve the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.'' For far too long, the Federal Government has been mortgaging those blessings for our prosperity by burying them under a mountain of debt. And that must end.

We have a responsibility, Mr. Speaker, to make the tough decisions to cut spending, to eliminate the Federal deficit and begin to pay down the immense debt that threatens the opportunities that will be available for our children and our grandchildren. Our work will be difficult but it must be done. Let us all face up to these challenges and get to work.

``Neither House during the session of Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than 3 days nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.''