Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, over the past 3 years, President Obama has passed legislation, has introduced crucial programs, and has offered important tax incentives to restore economic security to middle class families across our Nation.

Immediately after assuming office, President Obama created a middle class task force that is targeted at raising middle class living standards and at giving the middle class a voice in the White House. President Obama also expanded small business loan programs in order to give small business owners access to credit and in order to boost job creation. He also extended the 2010 payroll tax cut through 2012 to give the average working family $1,000 a year and to give increased Federal student aid to low-income college students.

Mr. Speaker, I commend President Obama's bold leadership and vision, and I commend him for his commitment to restoring economic security for our middle class families across America.

Madam Speaker, rising gas prices are hitting families hard, adding to what is already a tough economic situation for our citizens across the Nation.

That is why I commend President Obama for his all-of-the-above energy strategy, which includes a strong commitment to domestic oil production. Oil and gas development has increased in every year of the Obama administration, and domestic oil production is now at an 8-year high. Furthermore, our foreign dependence on oil is at a 16-year low. Last year, we cut net oil and petroleum imports by 1 million barrels a day.

President Obama has also offered millions of acres of land for lease and has improved safety measures to prevent future spills. The President has also proposed opening up more undiscovered offshore oil and gas resources for development in the Gulf of Mexico.

I thank President Obama for his leadership in increasing oil production so that our Nation, our country, will depend less on imported foreign oil.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago, the American auto industry was on the verge of collapse, and millions of American jobs were in jeopardy.

When President Obama decided to rescue the American auto industry, many critics opposed him. But, today, the auto industry is resurging thanks to the tough decisions our President made in times of economic crisis.

President Obama stood by the American business community and our auto industry. As a result of his firm commitment and demonstration of leadership, jobs were saved. Some 1.4 million jobs were going to be lost up and down the supply chain of the auto industry if President Obama had not taken action to provide for the needs of millions of American families at a time of such great economic insecurity in our Nation. And now it's paying off. The auto industry has added more than 200,000 jobs in the last 2\1/2\ years.

Last but not least, General Motors Company is once again the world's top auto manufacturer. In 2011, profits were $7.6 billion, its largest ever.

Mr. Speaker, I commend President Obama for the bold decisions he made to rescue our Nation's auto industry, and I thank him for standing with our country's workers and for leading our Nation out of the most serious economic recession since the Great Depression of 1929.

Madam Speaker and to my colleagues here in the great Chamber of the people's House, the House of Representatives, I know of no other place in the world, only in America, that a man whose father was a devout Muslim from Kenya, Africa, who was married to a white woman from the great State of Kansas--and with all due respect to our birther friends, this man was born in the great State of Hawaii; this man is none other than Barrack Hussein Obama--could become our President, Madam Speaker, our President of all of the United States of America and its territories.

I want to share with my colleagues one of the most critical issues as advocated seriously by President Obama, and that is in the field of education.

I commend President Obama for his commitment to providing every child in America access to a complete and competitive education all the way from cradle to career.

In recent years, the United States has drastically fallen behind other countries when it comes to education. In the most recent Programme for International Student Assessment Report published in 2009, researchers ranked the performance of 15-year-olds internationally and found that the United States ranked 17th in reading, 24th in science, and 30th in math. To make America competitive once again, Madam Speaker, President Obama has introduced several key initiatives that focus on early childhood education, that reform and invest in K 12 education and restore America's leadership in higher education.

In his first major action of his Presidency, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which makes significant investments in education. The act included $5 billion for early learning programs as well as programs for children with special needs. The President has also introduced accountability standards for Head Start to ensure that early childhood programs are continuing to deliver quality services. In addition, nine States have also received approximately $500 million from the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge fund to create systems of high quality early learning and development programs.

The President has also set a goal for the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020. To reach this goal, the President focused on K 12 teaching and learning. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $77 billion to strengthen elementary and secondary education, including $48.6 billion to stabilize State education budgets and to encourage States to ensure that all schools have highly qualified teachers, improve achievement in low-performing schools, and ensure college and career readiness.

The President also has invested to make sure that teachers are supported as professionals in the classroom, while also holding them more accountable. Effective teachers will be rewarded, and States will be encouraged to remove ineffective teachers from the classroom.

The President has also supported innovation in the classroom, such as the expansion of high quality charter schools, investments in the Race to the Top competition between States, and also providing flexibility for States who are looking for greater relief under the No Child Left Behind Act. The President also introduced the ``Educate to Innovate'' campaign, which is aimed to improve the participation and performance of America's students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

President Obama has also introduced measures to make college more affordable. Under the President's leadership, the maximum Pell Grant amount has been raised to $5,500. The new ``Pay As You Earn'' proposal will also give about 1.5 million students the ability to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income and allow debt forgiveness balance after 20 years of payments. The President's plan will enable an estimated 6 million students and recent college graduates to consolidate their loans and reduce their interest rates. Colleges and universities will also be rewarded based on their ability to offer relatively lower tuition costs and provide value to especially low-income students.

Madam Speaker, if we prepare America's children with a high quality education, we enable them to succeed in today's global economy. Furthermore, our ability to educate America's children will determine the economic competitiveness of our great Nation. And as our President has recently stated, no issue will have a bigger impact on the future performance of our economy than education.

Once again, Madam Speaker, I commend President Obama for his commitment to helping our children succeed from cradle to career. I thank him for his bold leadership and vision for the future of our children and our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, in the 2 years since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, millions of Americans have already experienced firsthand its important benefits and the economic security it provides. Because of President Obama's bold reforms, Medicare is now stronger for seniors, and women can now get lifesaving mammograms at no extra cost. Children won't lose their coverage just because they were born with preconditions like asthma.

Altogether, families across the Nation are seeing how health reform is saving lives and saving money. For example, 86 million Americans have received free preventive health care, and 180 million are now protected from some of the worst health insurance abuses. An additional 2.5 million young adults now have health insurance, and 47 million Americans now benefit from a stronger Medicare program. Now prescription drug discounts have saved 3.6 million Medicare recipients an average of $600.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama's landmark health care reforms are already helping millions of Americans save lives and live healthier lives. I commend President Obama for making the tough decisions that have given more Americans access to an affordable quality health care program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with sadness to pay tribute to His Majesty King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga, who passed away yesterday. I was privileged to have known His Majesty King George Tupou for many years, and I will remember him as a noble leader who was passionate about serving his people.

King George Tupou V assumed the throne in 2006, and after the death of his father, His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, he led the Pacific's only remaining monarchy into a more democratic form of government, introducing Tonga's first popularly elected Parliament and Prime Minister 2 years ago. He was known as a progressive leader who promoted the private sector, technological advances, and many more as an open economy.

As fellow Polynesians, the people of American Samoa share many historical and cultural ties with the people of Tonga, and we join together in giving our deepest condolences to Her Majesty Queen Mata'aho, the royal family, and the good people of Tonga.

Madam Speaker, increasing American manufacturing is central to President Obama's vision for an economy built to last. The American manufacturing industry has expanded for 30 straight months. For the first time since the 1990s, we are creating manufacturing jobs again. The past 2 years, American manufacturers have created nearly 400,000 jobs across the country.

Because of President Obama's decisive actions, we've also experienced a revival in the automotive industry. In the last 2\1/2\ years, the auto industry alone has added more than 200,000 jobs. Furthermore, General Motors Company once again is the number one company in the world, and it recently announced its largest annual profits in history, thanks again to President Obama's determination to assist this important industry to get back on its feet.

Because of President Obama's leadership, the United States also is on track to meet his goal of doubling exports within 5 years. Now more and more consumers around the world are buying products stamped with the three magic words, ``Made in America.''

The vitality of the American manufacturing industry is crucial to the economic recovery of our Nation. I commend President Obama for his commitment to our manufacturing industry and, most of all, for his bold leadership and vision.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama recently announced $30 million in new funding as part of his energy research strategy to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and to provide Americans with new choices for vehicles that do not rely on gasoline. This crucial investment in advanced energy research will promote American innovation to diversify our Nation's energy resources and create new jobs.

Under President Obama's leadership, America is now producing more oil than at any time in the last 8 years, and our dependence on foreign oil is at a 16-year low. Over the last 3 years, the Obama administration has approved dozens of new pipelines and has opened millions of acres for oil and gas exploration. The Obama administration has also implemented the toughest fuel economy standards in history, which will cut oil consumption by 12 billion barrels and save American families $1.7 trillion over the next 10 years.

Mr. Speaker, I commend President Obama for taking these important steps to promote and to enhance our Nation's energy needs.

I do want to thank the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands for managing the time for our colleagues in this Special Order that has been taken to honor our good friend who has just passed away, Congressman Don Payne.

Congressman Don Payne was my classmate. We sat next to each other for the past 23 years as members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We were talking about the situation where it looked very interesting as proud Americans, and yet we knew something was missing here in terms of the activities of how our foreign policies have come about, in doing things about our relationship with other countries, so Don Payne was committed to looking after the needs of what are our foreign policies towards Africa. My commitment was to find out what are our foreign policies towards the Asia and the Pacific region.

I want to share this little interesting thought with my colleagues. When Don Payne and I first became members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, hardly any of the members wanted to be on the Asia and the Pacific or Africa subcommittees. The mentality here in Washington was entirely towards Europe and the Middle East. Being members of these two subcommittees was almost like the pits. They were not even on the radar screen, weren't even given any real sense of priority or interest.

I want to say to my colleagues that it has been truly an honor to be sitting next to my brother, Don Payne, and to commit to the idea that as a champion and advocate for the needs of the poor, the great champion of human rights throughout the world, not just towards Africa, but all other regions of the world, Don Payne and I worked on the plight, the needs of the people of West Papua, New Guinea.

I always have remembered Don Payne's admonition to me every time we discussed issues about fairness and equality. He said,

Eni, let me just remind you of what Martin Luther King,

Jr., once said: ``In the end, we will not remember the words

of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.''

I think it's so true in terms of what he instituted in my own heart and mind: you can't just sit back and just let things go by. We've got to be out there being proactive and expressing ideas that will solve the many issues and the problems that we are faced with, not only in our own country, but throughout the world.

I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of my brother, Congressman Don Payne. And I'm reminded of the saying, ``blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.'' This truly was a peacemaker, whom I've had the honor and privilege of witnessing his life as an example not only to our colleagues, but certainly to the Members of the American people. Both in deed and by his conduct, Don Payne was truly a statesman, and his voice will be surely missed in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to see that so many of our colleagues are here to pay special tribute to this great man, a gentle man, and yet by such great tremendous example showing us what we should be doing: going about and helping other people. I want to wish him well. We have a saying in my culture, ``Ia manuia lau faiga malaga''--``May you have a good voyage.''

Mr. Speaker, President Obama stated recently that ``no issue will have a bigger impact on the future performance of our economy than education.'' I commend President Obama for backing up this statement with key proposals that will make higher education more affordable for college students throughout our great Nation.

President Obama's proposal would increase Federal investment in the Perkins loan program from $1 billion to $8 billion, while rewarding colleges and universities that lower tuition costs and provide value to especially low-income students. President Obama also wants to increase the Pell Grant program for millions of college students.

President Obama has also proposed a ``Pay As You Earn'' plan to allow students to put a cap on their monthly payments and allow debt forgiveness balances after 20 years of payments.

Like the GI education bill that helped provide college education for millions of our veterans after World War II, these programs are critical to giving our young generation of college students a greater chance to complete their college education. As a Vietnam veteran, even I would not have completed my education if it had not been for the GI Bill.

Mr. Speaker, I commend President Obama for his leadership and initiative to provide good quality education for all our young generation of Americans.

Madam Speaker, Linsanity is here with us today. On behalf of over 18 million Asian Pacific Americans, and as a member of the Asian Pacific Congressional Caucus, I rise today to commend rising NBA star Jeremy Lin.

A son of immigrants from Taiwan and the first American NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese ancestry, Jeremy is the first, first Harvard-- economics major, 4.0 GPA--graduate to play for the league since the 1950s. Since playing as the Knicks' point guard, he has scored the highest point total in his first five games--136 points--for any player since the 1970s.

In the history of Asian Pacific American participation in the NBA, Japanese American Wataru Misaka broke the color barrier when he played for the Knicks in the 1940s. Following Misaka, we have Japanese American Rex Walters; Filipino American Raymond Townsend; Samoan American Wally Aliifua Rank; and, currently, Samoan American James Johnson, who plays for the Toronto Raptors; and Hawaiian American Jason Kapono, who now plays for the L.A. Lakers.

Along with these pioneers, Jeremy Lin's rise to international stardom has broken ethnic stereotypes in our society.

I commend Jeremy for this tremendous achievement and for his example to the world and what America is all about: You work hard, you be true to your principles of fairness and equity, things will come your way.

Mr. Speaker, the catchword is ``innovation.'' President Obama has made it clear that on the road to economic recovery we must also make long-term investments in American innovation.

In his FY 2013 budget proposal, President Obama reasserted his commitment to an agenda that supports startups and small businesses, where new jobs are created. President Obama proposed to expand tax relief while eliminating regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing that is needed to grow.

The President's budget also calls for a $2.2 billion investment to support advanced manufacturing research and development programs to assist our business community throughout the country. President Obama's budget also creates a manufacturing capacity for vital defense technologies and dramatically improves production and distribution of manufactured goods.

Mr. Speaker, I commend President Obama for his commitment to keeping

America the global frontrunner in innovation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of 20 years of U.S.-Uzbekistan diplomatic relations.

When the United States of America established diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan on February 19, 1992, we were dealing with a newly reborn country that had just gained back its independence from the Soviet Union. Although Uzbekistan has a history that is thousands of years old, it faced many difficulties during the first years of its independence.

Today, Uzbekistan has managed to make significant progress in every field including politics, economics, and international relations. Working to build a foundation based on established legislative, executive, and judicial branches of power, Uzbekistan is transitioning to democracy and, in so doing, is raising its unique historical heritage and national identity.

I am extremely pleased by the high level of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the U.S. in the areas of regional security, the fight against transnational threats, and the deepening of political and economic consultations. U.S. companies are also expanding their presence in Uzbekistan, including General Motors.

The U.S. is particularly appreciative of Uzbekistan's assistance in our efforts in Afghanistan. Uzbekistan is also building railroads and bridges and providing low price electricity and other bilateral assistance to Afghanistan, which is also critical to U.S. interests.

So, once more, I congratulate the government and people of Uzbekistan for all they are doing to support the U.S., and I applaud President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for strengthening U.S.-Uzbekistan relations.

Madam Speaker, this week President Obama revealed his FY 2013 proposed budget, which introduces important tax reforms to revitalize the economy by boosting job creation and encouraging businesses to bring overseas jobs back to America.

President Obama's proposed budget especially underscores his commitment to provide needed tax relief for America's small businesses. For example, the proposed budget offers a temporary 10 percent tax credit for small businesses that add new jobs and raise workers' salaries.

Madam Speaker, the proposed budget also offers tax incentives for locating jobs in the United States while eliminating tax deductions for shipping jobs overseas and closing tax loopholes that result in outsourcing U.S. jobs to foreign countries.

Madam Speaker, in line with the focus on American manufacturing, President Obama also introduced temporary tax credits to direct some $20 billion to domestic clean energy manufacturing.

Madam Speaker, I commend President Obama for introducing significant reforms that will put America back to work, return profits to America's private sector, and promote a stronger American economy.

Mr. Speaker, President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated President of the Republic of China, ROC, on May 20, 2008. He was elected on a platform which included a promise to revive Taiwan's economy and improve cross-Strait relations.

President Ma was re-elected on January 14, 2012. Upon President Ma's re-election, The White House issued a statement. ``Cross-Strait peace, stability, and improved relations in an environment free from intimidation are of profound importance to the United States. We hope the impressive efforts that both sides have undertaken in recent years to build cross-Strait ties continue.'' The U.S. State Department also congratulated President Ma and, added, ``Taiwan has once again held a free and fair election.''

President Ma's victory shows that the people of Taiwan agree with his efforts, and so do I. As the former Chairman and current Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I offer my congratulations to President Ma. I have known President Ma before he was first elected, back when he was one of many candidates. I knew then what I know now. President Ma is the right man for the right times.

Since his election in 2008, U.S.-Taiwan relations have been far better than any period in recent memory, and the Obama administration has shown clear support for the Ma administration by more than doubling the Bush's administration's arms sales to Taiwan. The Obama administration has also sent high-level officials from the U.S. to Taiwan and, most recently, the Obama administration nominated

Taiwan for inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, VWP.

The people of Taiwan have also shown strong support for President Ma and his policies. As a result of President Ma's policy to reduce tensions in cross-Strait relations, there are now 558 direct flights from cities in Taiwan to cities in China every week. China-bound investments have been relaxed, and business is good for both the Taiwanese and Chinese people.

President Ma's policy of rapprochement, which upholds our shared values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law, has advanced regional peace and stability, and the U.S. is appreciative and supportive of President Ma's initiatives because improved cross-Strait relations are in the best interest of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.

President Ma Ying-jeou graduated from National Taiwan University. After earning a Master of Laws degree from New York University, he received a Doctor of Juridical Sciences from Harvard Law School, specializing in the law of the sea and international economic law.

President Ma's father, Ma Ho-ling, and his mother, Chin Hou-hsiu, dedicated themselves to government and country. Following in his parents' footsteps, President Ma devoted his life to creating a government that upholds those ideals that embody Taiwan's core traditional values--benevolence, righteousness, diligence, honesty, generosity, and industriousness.

For historical purposes, I submit this statement to be made part of the Congressional Record in tribute to the service President Ma Ying- jeou has rendered for and on behalf of the people of Taiwan. President Ma is married to Chow Mei-ching and they have two daughters--Ma Wei- chung and Ma Yuan-chung--and a stray dog affectionately known as Ma Hsiao-jeou (Little Ma).