Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a solemn heart to honor a hero. On April 21, 2006 Cpl. Scott Severns of the South Bend Police Department was shot during an attempted robbery. He succumbed to his wounds and passed early the next morning.

I have heard it said that at times like these, we should not focus on how someone dies, but on how they lived, but how Cpl. Severns died was a testament to how he lived. When two would-be robbers approached Cpl. Severns and a female companion, brandished a gun, and threatened them, Cpl. Severns instinctively stepped in between the gunman and his friend. Character like this cannot be taught through a police academy course, and it is not issued to every officer after their swearing in. This type of valor can only corne from an individual with the heart of a hero.

We oftentimes do not take enough time to appreciate the sacrifice that law enforcement officers make every single day so that we can live in safety. It is easy for us to go about our daily lives without a thought about those that stand in between us and those that would try to hurt us.

Cpl. Severns's sacrifices from the moment he first put on his uniform, until his tragic, premature end, exemplify the best of American law enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, we would be remiss if we did not take this time to honor his service, remember his sacrifice, and mourn his passing.

Mr. Speaker, today I have the privilege of honoring an academic institution that should stand as an example of what is good and right about our education system in America. All too often we rush to give a speech about what we feel is wrong in this country, but I believe that it is much more admirable to have that same intensity with what is right about our great country.

Notre Dame School has provided an excellent education for preschoolers all the way through 8th graders for 50 years. They have built and strengthened the characters of thousands of students instilling in them an appreciation of service and the discipline of excellence.

Notre Dame School students have consistently scored in the 95th percentile on Indiana's statewide standardized tests, and have continually produced leaders for this country, most notably our current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts.

Mr. Speaker, words cannot convey how privileged I feel to have such a school within the 2nd Congressional District. I congratulate Principal Karen Breen, all of the teachers, administrators, staff and students of Notre Dame School on 50 years of excellence, and I look forward to 50 more years of great achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding and thank him for his leadership on budget process reform, spending and many other very important issues. I appreciate you bringing us to the floor tonight to talk about what I think is the most important challenge we face as a Nation, because if we don't solve our fiscal challenges, really nothing else matters.

Since I was elected a few years ago, one of the probably most knowledgeable, honest, straightforward people I have talked to about fiscal issues in Congress is a guy named David Walker. He is the head of the GAO, the Comptroller General of the United States. What I would like to do is just share with you part of an op-ed that he put in an Atlanta newspaper recently. I will share here.

``News flash: The largest, most complex and arguably the most important entity on the face of the Earth recently failed an external audit for the ninth straight year.'' Let me repeat that, Mr. Speaker. Entity failed an audit for 9 straight years in a row. ``It also received an adverse opinion on its system of internal control over financial management and reporting.

``If that is not bad enough, this entity overspent by $319 billion on a cash basis,'' that is billion dollars, on a cash basis, and on an accrual basis, it was $760 billion in fiscal 2005. ``Worse yet, the accumulated liabilities and unfunded commitments for this entity have risen from about 20 trillion,'' that is with a T, ``at the end of fiscal year 2000 to more than 46 trillion,'' with a T, ``at the end of fiscal year 2005.

``If this news flash were related to any multinational corporation, it would have been on the front page of every newspaper in the world and at the top of every news broadcast in the world. However, this news flash doesn't relate to a company, it relates to a country, the United States of America.

``As Washington embarks on its budget cycle, the facts are clear and compelling that the Federal government is on an imprudent and unsustainable fiscal path that, if not effectively addressed, could serve to swamp our ship of state. Our current course doesn't just threaten our future economy and quality of life, but also our long-term national security.''

Mr. Speaker, I think we could talk about a lot of things tonight. We could talk about immigration. We could talk about just about anything, and it really doesn't matter as much as what I just read from David Walker. Because, by 2040, we will spend on entitlement spending, including Social Security and Medicare and interest, more than we have in revenue coming in. So that means by 2040, not that long from now, we will not have any money for education, we will not have any money for defense, we will not have any money for agriculture, we will not have any money for anything.

I think it is important. To solve a problem, we have to define a problem. Unfortunately, the American people and many Members of Congress don't appreciate the situation we are in fully.

So I have introduced a piece of legislation. I think it has been cosponsored by the gentleman from Texas. It is called the Truth in Accounting Act. All that that does is require the Federal government to share with the American people and all Members of Congress fully the extent of our unfunded liabilities.

Today, our unfunded liabilities stand at $46 trillion. Just a few years ago, in 2000, they were at $20 trillion. So just over 5 years they have more than doubled.

When I go around my district and talk about fiscal issues and people say how big is the national debt, I say $8.3 trillion. People are appalled. But to put this in perspective, we could fully pay off our national debt today and we wouldn't even come close to meeting our financial obligations. The $46 trillion is money we know we owe. If the United States Government was a public company, it would have to disclose those unfunded liabilities.

I am the only Member of Congress that I am aware of that ever served as CEO of a publicly traded company. Because of that, I understand that if any public company in America accounted for its business the way the Federal government accounts for its business, the management team would be in jail.

Public companies are required to account a certain way to result in transparency and accountability. I think we should expect no less from the Federal government. So, again, the Truth in Accounting Act simply requires the Federal government in the annual financial reports to disclose the unfunded liabilities that this Nation faces.

Why I think it is so important is because the better understanding there is of our financial challenges, the better policy we can enact. Because until we can define the problem, we won't have serious efforts to solve the problem, and I think it is so critical that we don't pass along a debt to our children that they simply can't afford.

The analogy I use is Congress is kind of like the Levee Commission. If recent history has taught us anything, when a storm is coming, you must strengthen the levee. We know that the storm is coming. In fact, it is a Category 5 hurricane. By publishing our unfunded liabilities clearly and accurately, I think that we will see that the sirens will go off, that the American people will demand that we address this responsibly, and they will not reelect Members to this body that don't stand up and do the right thing and not pass it along to future generations or future Congresses.

I appreciate the gentleman bringing us down here tonight. I appreciate his leadership on these issues. Certainly as responsible Members of this body, we must address this sooner, rather than later.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding again. And, you know, the story you just told I think can be told millions of times around the United States. Certainly

small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Something like, you know, well over half of the employees in this country work for small businesses, and something like 90 percent of the employers are small businesses in this country.

We were home a couple of weeks ago. I have a small business advisory council, and one of the members of that council was talking about the 179 expensing that you were referring to, that allows small businesses to go out and buy capital goods, and they can expense it so they can invest in their business, grow their business, create jobs, provide benefits, contribute to the local economy and the national economy all at the same time, which is kind of a neat thing.

The good news is that there is a bill that is offered by Mr. Herger, a member of Ways and Means, that would expand 179 expensing and make it permanent, which I think is good pro-growth tax policy.

I also heard a quick story that I got from my small business advisory council. A small businessman that has a business in LaPorte, Indiana, used to have to go borrow money to pay for his taxes, which is kind of crazy.

Because then he would restrict his flow of capital, was limited in being able to make the investments in his company, because he had to go out and borrow money to pay his taxes. But once we passed, in 2003, the 179 small business expensing provision, he did not have to do that any more. And he has been able to invest that money in his business and grow his business.

Just going back to the tax chart you had up a second ago, you know, it is kind of funny that opponents of tax relief, mainly our friends on the other side of the aisle, say we cannot afford to have tax relief. But your chart shows clearly, and the statistics that you talked about, tax receipts up 15 percent in 2005, the deficit is actually down in 2005 by about $100 billion, I think clearly shows that we cannot afford not to have tax relief to continue to have our economy grow.

Now, we can cite economic statistics all night long, and they are true, and they are relevant and they matter. But they probably do not matter to the guy without a job. But what does help the guy without a job is a growing economy, because when the economy grows, everybody has more opportunity; and what is important to do is to focus on the pro- growth policy that has resulted in those economic statistics.

And the pro-growth policies that have resulted in those economic statistics, I would say in large part, is the tax relief that was passed in 2001 and 2003, just like the section 179 expensing.

Now, when we talk about the deficit, there are only two ways to get a deficit. One is we tax too little. The other is we spend too much. And I do not know about the rest of the congressional districts around this country, I do not think they are a whole lot different than the Second District of Indiana. The people in the Second District of Indiana do not feel like they are taxed too little. They think we probably spend too much.

And so we have to move from using our measurement of success, how much we spend, to how well we spend. We spend enough here in Washington. We do not prioritize enough.

And just going back for a second to the Truth in Accounting Bill, we see that our spending is getting more challenging as we go forward. Just recently, yesterday I think, there was a report issued that showed that the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted by 2040. That is 1 year earlier than was projected last year, and Medicare by 2018. And I think last year it was projected by 2020.

So every day we wait to start using the measurement of success, how well we spend, rather than how much we spend, the situation gets worse. And, again, the best way that we can solve problems is to define problems and making sure that the Federal Government shares a clear picture of our financial challenges with the American people. I think that will result in the American people demanding that their elected representatives quit playing the politics of no, quit saying what they are against and start saying what they are for.

We are not elected to be against stuff. We are elected to be for bipartisan practical solutions, and the Truth in Accounting Bill is a bipartisan bill. It is co-authored by Jim Cooper of Tennessee, a conservative Democrat, and Mark Kirk from Illinois, a moderate Republican.

I consider myself a conservative Republican. We may not agree on all of the answers, but we certainly agree on the problem. And we have to get to a bipartisan solution, and I certainly hope the American people send people to this body that will not avoid this problem and be part of the ostrich generation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, well, the gentleman brings up a great point.

The gentleman asked the question earlier, what kind of country do we want, what kind of America do we want? I think we also have to ask the question, what kind of government do we want?

When we talk about raising taxes, talk about raising revenue, which we have already learned that good pro-growth tax policy at lower rates actually increases Federal revenue, but you ask why would we raise taxes and what do we need to spend money on. I think it is important to recognize that we can actually have better government at a lower cost.

Every business in America and every family in America has to find a way to do more with less, find a way to be more efficient. For some reason, we do not think government can achieve the same standards. For some reason, we think the government does not have waste, fraud, and abuse.

Let me just share a couple of things with you. Recently, the Inspector General found that Social Security sent $31 million worth of Social Security checks to dead people. That is money that did not go to help anyone.

They found in 2003 that the food stamp program spent $1.1 billion in overpayments. That is with a B.

In 2001, the GAO reported and said about Medicare, there are no reliable estimates to the extent of improper payments throughout the Medicare program because they cannot audit their books, they cannot even tell the kind of financial controls they have.

In 2002, the Inspector General found that Medicare had $12.3 billion in overpayments and in 2001 found they had $12.1 billion. That is $24.4 billion in Medicare payments that were improper, did not go to help anybody, did not go to help any seniors that needed Medicare, did not go to help any low-income Americans, simply was money wasted. I always ask, what is compassionate about wasting $24 billion on mismanagement when the money does not go to help anyone, when there are certainly people in this country that need government help, and why is it compassionate to ignore that, not address it and get better government at lower cost by simply applying the same management tools and techniques that every business in America has to follow?

Certainly, I hope the American people are more demanding upon us to give them a good return on their taxpayer dollar and not stand for $24.4 billion being wasted in Medicare over a 2-year period of time.

I could go on for a long time. In 2001, HUD had overpayments of 10 percent of their budget alone. It is kind of depressing to keep going down this road. It is time that we find ways to have better government at lower cost, better management, better oversight; and I certainly appreciate, again, the gentleman bringing us here to highlight these issues because the more people understand, the more demanding they will be that we fix things and only elect people that will address these issues, not avoid these issues.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine that said when you are talking about tax policy, he said, well, maybe it would be a prudent thing to raise taxes. This person was in the financial services industry, and I said, let me ask you a question: you do research on businesses and you do research on a business where every year the company has increasing losses and increasing debt. The company has not passed an audit in 9 years. The management is ineffective at combating waste, fraud and abuse; and the only strategy the management team can come up with to turn the tide is to raise prices on their customers. Do you think that is a business you would invest in? He said, you know, you have got a point; I do not think that that would be a good investment.

So it is interesting when our colleagues on the other side of the aisle say, well, gee whiz, we have got to raise prices on our customers to pay for our lack of proper management. I do not think that that is respectful to the American people, the American taxpayer, and certainly not a winning strategy.

I think the gentleman from Texas can wrap us up here; and, again, I thank him for bringing this very important subject to the floor tonight.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and thank him for his leadership and service here in Congress in bringing this budget to the floor.

I rise in support of the budget. I would like to point out, really, a historic aspect to this budget. For the first time I am aware of, we are actually budgeting for emergencies.

Most families understand that it is important and prudent to set aside money for a rainy day. Even some States budget for emergencies in their annual budgets. Congress, however, rarely if ever budgets for emergencies, despite the fact that we spend taxpayer dollars on emergencies every single year.

I am afraid this is not just an oversight; it is a back door means to exceed our resolution every year because after allocating all of the available resources, somehow Members can find unforeseen emergency needs that require us to break the budget many times without justification. But in this year's resolution, we are actually starting to clean up that process by bringing transparency and accountability to the process.

We are setting aside an emergency reserve fund for natural disasters and budgeting money we know we are going to spend. Any emergency spending that exceeds the reserve would have to be brought back to the Budget Committee for clearance. It ensures that the committees work the way they are supposed to work. The Appropriations Committee can allocate the resources against competing priorities, and the Budget Committee can set limits on spending and ensure that those limits are enforced.

Mr. Chairman, budgeting for emergencies will help expedite the delivery of funds for those people in need, it will deter breaking the limits of the budget with routine spending, and provides a more honest presentation of the Federal budget to the American people.

I support this budget, I support this provision, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2005 Penn High School Spell Bowl Team on winning its seventh consecutive Indiana State Championship on November 12, 2005.

This incredible team won all six of its invitational competitions in 2005, as well as eight consecutive regional championships.

The Penn High School Spell Bowl Team has been unbeaten since the beginning of the 1999 season, winning a State-best 44 consecutive competition championships.

The 2005 Penn High School Spell Bowl team members are Carolyn Chang, Jenny DeVito, Linda Huang, Josh Kelver, Kelsey McClure, Calvin Molnar, Jasmyn Russell, Kurt Vanlandingham, Yeona Chun, Sarah Han, Eunice Jeong, Sarah Kiefer, Adam McGinn, Vik Rao, Courtney Stuck, Justin Villa, Ashika David, Alvin Hu, Virginian Johnson, Alissa Kish, Laura McGinn, Brendan Roberts, Naoko Sugama, and Abby Walton.

The team is coached by Pete De Kever.

Mr. Speaker, this amazing team deserves our admiration, but without the support and help of their parents, these young men and women would not have been able to accomplish these great things, so I stand here to congratulate them as well.

On behalf of the citizens of the Second Congressional District of Indiana, I congratulate the Penn High School Spell Bowl Team on winning the 2005 Indiana State Spell Bowl Championships.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Jimtown Jimmies on winning the Indiana Class 2A Football Championship.

The Jimmies scored 31.1 points per game, allowing their opponents only 6.7. They averaged 12.7 first downs per game, and 293.7 yards. Their strong showing on both sides of the ball led them to a 14-1 season record.

It was truly a remarkable season for Jimtown. Their 14-win season included six shutouts, and in 11 of those victories, they held their opponent to 10 points or less.

Their season culminated in the Class 2A state championship game on November 26, 2005, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Deadlocked at seven points with the North Posey Vikings at halftime, the Jimtown Jimmies went on to score 28 second-half points, while holding their opponents to zero, and won the game 35-7.

I'd like to congratulate everyone involved in making this season successful: Their school Superintendent Jerry Cook, Principal Nathan Dean; Assistant Principal Mitch Mawhorter; Athletic Director Bill Sharpe; Head Coach Bill Sharpe; Assistant Coaches: Ned Cook, Gene Johnson, Mark Ward, Mark Kerrn, Scott Bovenkerk, David Sharpe, Matt LaFree, Mike Hosinski, David Pontius, Travis Daniels, Athletic Trainer Rick Yurko; Student Managers: Julia Politowics, Nicole Hayes, and Ricky Hayes.

The Indiana Class 2A Football Champs are: Caleb Pettis, Matthew Yurko, Zachary Fisher, Zachary DuBois, Colton Vincent, Adam Sharpe, Mark Svetanoff, John Soli, Tyler Nine, Mike Meyer, Joshua Ruben, Tony Byers, Brandon Kozelka, Brian DeShone, Joshua Deak, Tyler Forgey, Garrett Kavas, Mark Clere, Tyler Spurgeon, Ryan Konrath, David Schenk, Nate Klosinski, Lantz Kulp, Zach Spurgeon, Ross Bauman, Allen Konrath, Nick Maygar, Braxton Metcalf, Jason Sharp, Owen Peterkin, Jared Ward, Chris Vogel, Logan Frye, Josh Polston, Brett Horien, Scott Kindig, Travis Barber, J.J. Short, Seth Anglemeyer, Brad McClellan, Robert Morris, Josh Slocum, Anthony Lowe, Steve Thayer, Brandtley Miller, Kyle Clodfelter, Adam Zimmer, Nick Pooler, Jordan Pirtle, Ty Thomsen, Shazzar Mack, Chris Gregory, Rob George, Jesse Bowen, Andrew Allman, Leon Myrick, James Byers, Chris Reid, Eric Vance, Adrian Worsham, Seth Kindig, Ryan Johnson, Graig Armstrong, Tristin Funnell, Justin Nowak, Ron Shekell, Brandon Riffle, Robert Reid, Rich Hahn, Brandon Bridwell, Ethan Legg, Matt Peters, Zach Stone, Kevin Kelley, Jon Shafer, John Dickson, Derek Willard, Anthony Edwards, Dalton Swann, Austin Pirtle, Elijah Tucker, Matt Pepple, Trevor Herrli, David Johnson, Kyle Moyer, and Derek Watts.

Mr. Speaker, as a parent myself, I would be remiss if I did not congratulate the parents of these young men as well. Their support was vital to the victory of this team and they deserve our gratitude as well.

Again, on behalf of their parents, fans, and classmates as well as the very proud citizens of the Second Congressional District of Indiana, I would like to congratulate the Jimtown Jimmies on winning the Indiana Class 2A Football Championship.

Mr. Speaker, in light of Women's History Month, today I rise in honor of Laverne Dunlap. Laverne Dunlap retired earlier this month after 35 years of service with the Michigan City, Indiana, Police Department. Her story is much more than just a story about a public servant. It is a story about a pioneer.

The story actually begins in Greenwood, Mississippi, where Laverne was born. At the age of 5, she moved to Kingston Heights, Indiana, with her family. In 1963, she moved to Michigan City, but she never forgot where she came from, and at the age of 21, she traveled back to Greenwood, Mississippi, with a traveling band to perform in her hometown.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the true test of greatness is not how someone responds to success, but how they respond to adversity. The choices we make when we are in the midst of trials and tribulations are the true reflection of our character. Well, Mr. Speaker, one night in Greenwood, Mississippi, Laverne Dunlap's character was tested, and like many before her and many after her, she turned her trials into her triumph.

While swimming in a pool in the hotel where she was staying, Laverne and her sister were roughed up and arrested by police. Their crime, swimming in a pool only meant for white people. This was the moment when Laverne Dunlap knew her destiny was to become a police officer, not to exact revenge, but to make sure that those wearing the uniform of trust could truly be trusted.

In 1971, she joined the Michigan City Police Department with one other woman named Sue Bitter. They were the first women on the Michigan City Police Force, and throughout her 35 years, she worked in vice, juvenile crimes, uniform division, undercover, and she even spent some time driving the scuba team's boat.

She has earned the respect and admiration of her peers, her family, her community and certainly her Congressman. I congratulate her on her retirement and wish her the best of luck as she plans to spend time in her retirement with her 96-year-old mother.

Thank you, Laverne. You are a public servant and an inspiration.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of voices in the debate about our success in Iraq, but I think the two most relevant voices in this debate are the Iraqi people themselves and the troops that have served and are serving in Iraq.

The Iraqi people spoke loud and clear yesterday when over 70 percent of them turned out at the polls to put in place the only constitutional democracy in the Arab world.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the voice and perspective of a young soldier that just returned home to Indiana. Staff Sergeant Ben Joy with the Gary, Indiana, based 113th Engineering Battalion returned just last Tuesday after a year in Iraq just in time for the holidays. Obviously, his family is overjoyed to have him home.

Staff Sergeant Joy set up security for elections earlier this year, and he explains, ``Election time is very busy. It was probably working 16 or 18 hours a day. The polls were peaceful then and now,'' he says, ``and the U.S. effort is working.'' He went on to say that ``you can tell that the people, they want to be free. They didn't really know how in the beginning. They're starting to show it more and more now.'' He adds, ``The build-up that is going on there, the Iraqis taking over, they clearly want us there. And I mean, if we stay the course, I think everything will work out just fine.''

Mr. Speaker, I think we should heed the actions of the Iraqi people and the words of Staff Sergeant Joy and support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

As we have heard the budget chairman explain, our friends on the other side of the aisle only use as a measurement of success how much we spend, not how well we spend.

Mr. Speaker, every business in America has to use a model of better products at a lower cost. I ask: Which model would we be better off using? Would we be better off if every business in America used as a model of success that if we spend more, we do better? Well, if every business did that, then every business would be in the same financial condition as the Federal Government, and I would argue they could not provide one job to one American in this country.

Or would we be better served if government used the model of better government at a lower cost?

Mr. Speaker, I think it is a little bit ironic that the debate we are having today, those who say we do not spend enough also say the deficit is too big. Mr. Speaker, we can achieve better government at a lower cost, and the first step to achieving that is voting ``no'' on this motion to instruct.

Mr. Speaker, it is because of today's outdated pension rules, workers, retirees and taxpayers all stand to lose unless we act now to reform our pension system. Under current law, employers have been allowed to underestimate their future pension liabilities and to make promises they simply cannot keep. The recent example of United Airlines underscores the need for reform. United Pilots Plan was severely underfunded, yet the company was not required to make cash contributions to that plan in 8 years prior to its termination.

The legislation before us today strikes a careful balance between preserving the defined benefit pension system for workers and ensuring that employers properly fund their plans. This bill provides workers with meaningful disclosure about the status of their pensions, and it protects taxpayers from a possible multibillion dollar bail-out of the PBGC, which insures the pensions of some 44 million workers.

But H.R. 2830 contains other important provisions aimed at improving the economic security of retired Americans. For example, it provides retired firefighters and police officers, who often retire early without Medicare coverage, with a tax break on pension withdrawals to pay for health insurance premiums. This provision enjoys strong bipartisan support and offers a small measure to protect against exorbitant health care costs that follow a career spent responding to emergencies.

All together, Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a balanced approach to protecting the interest of workers, retirees and taxpayers, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, imagine if we could bring a piece of legislation to the floor of this House that would, over the next 30- month period of time, result in benefits that every American could share in. Things like increasing business investments by 25 percent, growing the value of the stock market by over $4 trillion. Creating 4.4 million new jobs. Reducing the unemployment

from 6.3 to 5 percent. Having quarterly GDP grow at an average of 4.1 percent. Increase tax receipts by $274 billion over a 12-month period of time, a 15 percent increase, the largest in 25 years. And decrease the deficit over that same 12-month period of time by over $100 billion.

Mr. Speaker, it would be hard to imagine that we would not all support that, but I guess it is not hard to imagine, given the conversation here today, but that is exactly what this body did when we passed tax relief in 2003. And today we are simply extending these pro- growth tax policies that have led to this historic economic growth.

I think, Mr. Speaker, we all understand the benefit of hindsight and history is full of valuable lessons. I encourage my colleagues to use the benefits of hindsight and the facts of history to support this tax relief extension today and the policies that led undeniably to opportunities of growth and prosperity for every single American. Because not to do so, Mr. Speaker, is the thing that would be truly hard to imagine.

Mr. Speaker, when we think of sports dynasties, we often think of the Chicago Bulls, the New York Yankees, or the New England Patriots. But in my District, in Michigan City, Indiana, we think of Marquette High School and the girls volleyball team.

Over the past 7 years, they have won five Indiana High School Athletic Association Class A State Girls Volleyball Championships. From 1999 to 2001, they won back-to-back-to-back titles. This year makes another series of back-to-back titles, having also won the State crown in 2004. And the 2 years they were not State champs, they were State runner-up.

Needless to say, the past 7 years at Marquette High School have been amazing for the girls volleyball team.

Amazing, too, for third-year coach Troy Campbell. His 34-win season was capped off with his team not only winning the title match, but it also earned him his 100th career coaching victory at Marquette.

This year's championship squad includes seniors Sarah Denny, Kalan Sebert, Danielle Barnett, Colleen Trainor, and Michelle Fletcher, juniors Rachel Konrady, Kara Kmiecik, and Tiffany Cerrillos, sophomores Emily Komasinski, Katie Krueger, Alison Griffin, Ashley Pinkney, Mary Catherine Mengel, and Kim Ziarko, and freshmen Danielle Easton, Jenna Furno, Janie Welsh, and Marissa Disbrow.

Assistant coaches Larry Sheagley and Kylee Osborne also deserve a note of congratulations.

Congratulations to all of you, and to the seniors, best of luck on your future endeavors. You have proven you have what it takes to be a champion.

Mr. Speaker, I usually am not one to experience deja vu, but today I find myself in a familiar situation.

Two years ago, I rose to congratulate the Concord Marching Minutemen on their 2003 Class B Indiana State School Music Association Championship.

Today, I rise again to congratulate them on winning their second ISSMA championship in the past three years. On October 22, 2005, these young men and women won the 2005 Class B state marching band championship, edging out nine other competitors.

This is the band's third championship, and in 2002 and 2004, they were state runner-up.

The ``All Aboard,'' train-themed program included ``Tempered Steel'' by composer Charles Young, and classic jazz hits ``Take the `A' Train'' and ``Happy Go Lucky Local'' from Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

I'd like to congratulate drum majors Ashley Hardy, Jeremy Parker, and Laura Pauwels for leading their band to victory.

The 2005 Class B champs include: Flutes: Kelly Aaron, Kelsey Beabout, Kylie Bontrager, Jessica Cuzzocrea, Stephanie Czarnecki, Kari Dehart, Ashlee Field, Addie Hall, Anita Kaoma, Amanda King, Courtney Laughman, Jaymi Lechlitner, Krista Mevis, Erica Moskowitz, Colleen Nissley, Luke Overton, Caitlin Parker, Audrie Pressler, Rachel Pressler, Joseph Reed, Julie Richards, Elizabeth Robbins, Maria Rodriguez, Megan Rump, Allison Smart, Megan Vail, Brittany Victor, Kim Yoder; Piccolos: Cassie Rhude, Libby Watson; Clarinets: Audrey Acosta, Marisa Amos, Katy Bail, Dani Baugher, Maria Bernal, Lacey Conwell, Adilene Corona, Rachel Davis, Julie Elmore, Conor Gavin, Megan Gunn, Jenni Hillyer, Kylie Kern, Kayla Killian, Amber King, Tim Koscielny, Meredith Loucks, Catie Lynch, Nici Lynch, Holly Meyers, Jessica Miller, Krysta Miller, Molly Miller, Halie Murray, Jessica Partin, Brittany Price, Stephanie Quick, Jordan Reyes, Alison Roberts, Brooklyn Rogers, Nicole Smith, Tony Templeton, Chelsey VanAcker, Brooke Victor, Kayla Yoder, Sean Zimmerle; Bass Clarinets: Iris Bock, Craig Bone, Logan Bourdon, Mandy Himes, Jon Rhoades, Ana Rodriguez, Brian Zimmerle, Nathan Nelson; Alto Saxophone: Brent Boehner, Paige Conwell, Deb Elliott, Lizzie Fish, Ben Gooding, Lon Hambrice, Manuel Herrera-Inchima, Becca Hinson, Dustin Knight, Mike Koscielny, Alex Lung, Krystal McKenzie, Brandon Miller, Brandon Pollock, Matt Schmucker, Jared Schooley, Courtney Wallis, Chad Wegrecki; Tenor Saxophone: Tyler Bourdon, Andrew Fischer, Shane Collins, Keith Doyle, Rachelle Fox, Courtney Hemminger, Abigail Miller, Kayleigh Shurtz; Trumpets: Blake Baker, Donielle Bibby, Peter Bone, Mark Brown, David Campbell, Andrew Christophel, Benjamin Clark, Ryan Detwiler, Rayna Dimitroff, Colin Doherty, Jarod Eastham, Daniel Fischer, Tanner Free, Veronica Hill, Amanda Himes, Phil Jones, Bradley Kime, Matt Kinsman, Crystal Martinez, Kenny Mashala, Carl McAfoos, Jason Miller, DJ Mumaw, Kelly Schaffer, Laurie Schalliol, Jim Schoeffler, Steve Trout, Renee Wagner, Ryan Weaver; Flugelhorns: Thomas Davidhizar, Andrew Davis, Caine Espinoza, Mike Lakner, Julie McCarty, Andrew Smole; Mellophones: Kylie Eckmyre, Melanie Gingerich, Genni Housman, Stephen Kauffman, Kathy Lambright, Samantha Nagy; Trombones: Robyn Bortner, Mike Campbell, Sean Emmons, Chad Hoien, Matt Izak, Brandy Jackson, Steven Karanja, Jordan King, Kevin Lipp, Veronica Meade, Torey Miller, Jordan Parker, Brandon Schenk, Dustin Simmons, Tyler Stevens, Andrew Stout, Eric Wilsey, Teneen Zimmer; Baritones: Justin Alwine, Kris Baker, Chris Dean, Bryan Eichorst, Andy Ha, John Kauffman, Matt Lanouette, Robert Stout; Tubas: Travis Cox, Chris Crawford, Chris Holcomb, Suzanne Holcomb, Matthew Miller, Jeremy Rowe, Morgen Smith; Percussion: Cory Allison, Darlene Bennett, Matthew Bennett, Jen Bollero, Bryce Canen, Sarah-Jane Cikara, Amy Clark, Emma Cooper, Dylan Dufour, Giovanni Echeverria, Michael Johnson, April Mascola, Dustin McLain, Justin Miracle, Kelsey Prieshoff, Bryant Quist, Sarah Runswick, Allie Sawyer, Matt

Schnaars, Andrew Stevens, Kurt Tahara, Amber VanderReyden, Blake Varab, Mark Wyrick; Bass: Ben Jarvis; Sound Tech: Dawn Supper; Color Guard: Elise Arvidson, Marlene Arvidson, Tiffany Baker, Karen Berndt, Veronica Boggs, Heather Dean, Mikala Ellsworth, Ashley Elsasser, Laken Fordyce, DeAnna Jackson, Danielle Johnson, Leanne Johnson, Brittany Kauffman, Yolo Lopez-Perez, Alyssa Lung, Anne Lypka, Emily Mathieu, Jessica Meade, Alisa Peffley, Julie Reusser, Evanna Rodriguez, Brittany Rushing, Jessica Scott, Rachel Sirinek, Madeline Valle, Kristen Weaver, Megan Whitacre, Chellie Zou, Sara Zou.

The people behind the performers also deserve a note of congratulations. They include Director of Music Gay Burton, Assistant Band Directors Scott Spradling, Bryan Golden, April Oppenheim, and Steve Peterson, Dance & Color Guard instructor Colleen Molnar, Sound Technician Scott Preheim, and Percussion Specialist Derek Felix. Your hard work leading up to and throughout the season, planning the program, scheduling practices, and leading the band at competitions have been rewarded through their accomplishment. Shirley Dyer also deserves a note of thanks for helping make things run smoothly.

Mr. Speaker, as the parent of two teenagers myself, I would be remiss if I didn't also acknowledge the parents that help the band run efficiently. Your dedication to your children shows through on the field of competition in their award-winning performance.

Again, on behalf of very proud parents and the citizens of the Second Congressional District, I would like to congratulate the Concord Marching Minutemen on their Class B State championship.

Mr. Speaker, it should come as no surprise to anyone who has recently visited LaPorte, Indiana that the Indiana Chamber of Commerce named the city its ``2005 Community of the Year.'' .

The honor was bestowed on LaPorte at the Chamber's 16th Annual Awards Dinner, held in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 10, 2005.

More than 1,400 members of the Hoosier state business community gathered for the annual awards banquet, including a delegation of over 50 LaPorte Chamber of Commerce members, which, I am told, is the largest group ever from a community receiving the award during its 16- year existence.

The state Chamber noted that LaPorte received this distinction largely because it has ``enjoyed an economic revival under [LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris] and the businesslike approach he implemented at City Hall.''

Mr. Speaker, I would have to agree with the Chamber's conclusion.

In the past year, LaPorte has seen their business environment thrive. Three businesses have started new operations in the area, and 4 existing businesses continued their growth, adding over 100 new jobs between them.

Mayor Morris has had help in his efforts to bring new and grow existing businesses in LaPorte County. He formed a cooperative, bipartisan effort between himself, Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie, the LaPorte County commissioners, and Purdue-North Central University. This coalition is committed to seeing continued economic growth in LaPorte County.

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of LaPorte Chamber of Commerce President Mike Seitz and the Greater LaPorte Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Owen Rock. They have worked together with Mayor Morris to help move LaPorte forward.

Mr. Speaker, LaPorte is clearly a community on the rise, and I congratulate Mayor Morris and the entire community on being named the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's ``2005 Community of the Year.''

Mr. Speaker, I think there is one thing we can all agree on tonight, and that is the deficit is too big. But the question is what are we going to do about it. There are only two ways we have a deficit, Mr. Speaker. Either we spend too much, or we tax too little.

I know that the people of the Second District of Indiana do not feel like they are taxed too little, and I do not think that they are a whole lot different from the rest of Americans. The fact is we spend enough money around here. What we do not do is prioritize.

We have heard and will continue to hear a whole lot of rhetoric that we are slashing spending.

Mr. Speaker, the truth is we are not cutting spending at all. Today we are simply slowing the future growth of government. The truth is that Medicare spending will grow next year. Food stamp spending will grow next year. Student financial aid will grow next year. Now, I understand that only in Washington smaller increases are considered cuts; but even by Washington standards, our efforts today are modest.

When you cut through all of the rhetoric, what we are doing tonight is slowing the growth of government over the next 5 years from 6.4 percent to 6.3 percent. That is one-tenth of one percent. That is equivalent to a family making $50,000 a year finding savings of $50 a year. Anyone who says we cannot find savings of one-tenth of 1 percent has no serious interest in making government more efficient, has no ideas other than to raise taxes on the economy and American families, and they only want to use how much we spend rather than how well we spend as a measurement of success.

Mr. Speaker, the American people understand that spending money is easy and managing money is hard. Anyone serious about reducing the deficit by returning to fiscal sanity and starting to make government more self-sufficient will support this rule and support this bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to do so.