Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, my concern with this rule is it allows us to debate and vote on four bills. Each of these bills picks and chooses what government program should be open, what is most important.

I guess of all these four bills, the one I find the most cynical is the one that didn't pass last night under suspension, H.J. Res. 72, the partisan resolution that will cut $6 billion from our Nation's veterans from what passed the House this last June.

There are many issues that divide our parties. One of the issues that has always received bipartisan support is supporting our Nation's heroes and their families.

Unfortunately, due to the extreme views of some in the majority, this Chamber is now considering a resolution that will cut $6.2 billion from the VA and excludes funding for several VA programs which are vital to the thousands of veterans in my district, including national veterans cemeteries, VA construction, and grants for State veterans homes and State cemeteries.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation's veterans deserve better. I call on this Chamber to demand a vote on the full VA for the entire year. Every day that goes by without full appropriations for the VA is another day that our veterans are being harmed and denied the support and services they paid for with blood, sweat, and sacrifice.

Let me explain it again. This House on a very bipartisan vote in June voted for a VA appropriations bill that was $6.6 billion more than what we are considering today. So this would be a cut in what we need. In fact, even the one in June is not enough. But this makes it even worse. That is why this is the most cynical of all these bills.

What we need to do is come here on the floor and pass a clean CR and get the government back to work. Don't pick and choose here, don't waste the time of the American people. Let's have a clean CR today and vote and get the government back to work today.

Will the gentleman yield?

I support our veterans. I voted for the one in June, like a majority of both our conferences and caucuses. You and I can't control the Senate, but we can control what is on the floor today. This bill cuts $6 billion, which you and I supported in June. That is the issue we have on the floor today.

I want a clean CR and I would like to have regular order for our appropriations. We will deal with the Senate, but we need to get our act together here in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, here we are, within hours of shutting down most of the programs that this Congress has approved or funded.

Do my Republican friends know how silly it sounds to threaten shutting down the government just to ensure that Members of Congress, our staff and White House staff don't receive the same health care benefits as other federal employees do?

To gamble with valuable federal programs should be embarrassing.

Here are just a few examples of programs that will be affected if the GOP pursues this strategy that I doubt they'd want to see happen.

The GOP shutdown would mean that the Centers for Disease Control would be unable to support annual seasonal influenza program.

Also, in the event of H7N9 influenza or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome related incident, preparation and response could be delayed.

The GOP shutdown means we rely more on foreign energy as the issuance of permits for energy production on federal lands stop. I certainly know that my Republican colleagues wouldn't want to see that happen.

Head Start centers around the country will close. During FY12, an estimated 1,600 Head Start agencies served over 950,000 children, including 71,963 children in Texas. Apparently, our children are okay to target in this political debate.

Under the GOP shutdown, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will be affected and gun permits will not be processed.

And very importantly, veterans' educational, compensation, and pension benefits processing would likely be delayed, as happened in the 1995-96, shutdowns. Texas has the second highest number of veterans in the country at nearly 1.7 million.

To make this even more unreasonable, the Affordable Care Act, which you hate, will continue to go forward even if you shut down the United States Government since it's mandatory spending.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to be reasonable and pass a clean CR.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Drug Quality and Security Act. This important bill is the result of weeks of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations.

I want to thank my colleagues, Representatives Morgan Griffith and Diana DeGette, for joining me in our efforts over many months. I also want to thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Waxman, Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Emeritus Dingell, and my good friend Congressman Matheson for all their leadership through this process and their commitment to getting this final product to the floor. It was a group effort, which is how this body should function all the time.

This bill is not perfect. We heard those concerns, and we have tried to address them, but the nature of compromise is not getting everything. The Energy and Commerce Committee investigated last year's outbreak and found there were breakdowns in the regulations at the State and, most concerning, at the Federal level.

Large operators were able to sell products interstate in an unregulated gray area. In the case of the NECC, their sterile facilities were far from sterile. They operated without fear of penalties for far too long, and people died because of that.

I'm proud to say that this bill fixes the problems that led to the fungal meningitis outbreak, and it requires the FDA to succeed where it failed in the past. Bad actors concerned more with profit than with public health ought not to be able to operate with impunity again.

I hope that the FDA uses their enforcement discretion to maintain patient access to important drugs from nuclear pharmacies, certain repackaged drugs, and drugs for ``office use.''

While I acknowledge there are problems, it is most important that we act to protect the public health. Our constituents, when they seek care, will now have the confidence that a sterile compounded product really is sterile.

We must make sure another fungal meningitis outbreak is never allowed to occur again. This bill succeeds in that goal, and I am proud to support it.

Mr. Speaker, it is time we end these games and pass a clean continuing resolution. The American people and our economy deserve the certainty of knowing that our government will remain open for business.

I am disappointed that a topic of such importance: the medical device tax repeal, is being reduced to the level of political squabbling over the CR. I fully support repealing this tax. I didn't support it being included in the ACA and do believe it is bad policy.

But, to repeal this tax should be part of a larger effort to improve the ACA, not a half baked political stunt. This topic deserves thoughtful and careful debate. It should not be paired with delaying the individual mandate, which is a provision, upheld by the Supreme Court and critical to the success of the ACA, and used to take hostage funding for our government.

I am voting no on the tax repeal, not because I oppose the policy, but because I do not support this type of political stunt when we have a job to do.

We must avoid a government shutdown. Our constituents expect for us to act responsibly and rationally. Vote no on the amendment and let's move a clean CR and show the American people that we can work together.

Then, we can reconvene next week and debate the merits of the device tax repeal.

Instead, I fear, we will never see the Protect Medical Innovation Act, H.R. 523, again, because this is not a serious attempt at fixing a real problem. H.R. 523 has 263 cosponsors, including me. It is clearly enough to pass this chamber. Mr. Speaker, bring that bill to the floor, and I will strongly support it.

Prove to the American people and to the medical device manufacturers, who drive innovation, that this is an important issue that you are committed to.

Bring H.R. 523 to the floor and let's pass that as soon as we pass a clean CR.

Madam Speaker, I oppose defunding the Affordable

Care Act. This is just another attempt by the majority to thwart a law, one that was upheld by the Supreme Court, that they just don't like. They didn't vote for it. There are a lot of laws I didn't vote for, but I move on and help my constituents navigate the new system.

But, two weeks from the roll out of the health insurance marketplaces, Republicans are focused on how to dismantle the law instead of how to help their constituents access the help this law provides.

Defunding the law doesn't make it go away, it just means the government becomes less efficient.

People will be required to buy health insurance, but the marketplaces won't be available to offer them the low-cost high quality options they need.

Madam Speaker, we need to work together to improve this bill. But holding the country and the federal government hostage in a half-baked attempt to do something that hasn't worked for 41 consecutive attempts is misguided.

Let's work to improve the bill and let's all go home and help our constituents understand the complexities of the health insurance marketplaces and assist them in purchasing the health insurance that will improve their lives and increase their economic security.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Alzheimer's Association and their efforts to end Alzheimer's disease.

My mother-in-law battled this illness, so my wife and I can speak from experience, and tell you first-hand, the devastating stages of the disease and its effects on family and friends.

This progressive, dementia disorder affects more than 4 million people nationwide and will affect as many as 14 million individuals by 2050.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's but researchers and organizations like the Alzheimer's Association are working together on treatments and hopefully, one day a cure.

I encourage you all to ``GO Purple'' to raise awareness and show your support to end Alzheimer's.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to oppose the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act (H.R. 3102) to cut SNAP funding by $40 billion over the next ten years.

H.R. 3102 denies SNAP to millions of poor, jobless adults without children whose incomes average only about one-fifth of the poverty line--and ends benefits for entire families if a parent is not working at least 20 hours per week. States will cut off families without considering high unemployment or care for small children to receive rewards promised in the bill.

The need for food assistance has increased dramatically during our nation's economic slump. Texas's rate for food insecurity is 27.6%-- more than one in four Texas children is food insecure. As of the 2011 Census, over 42,000 residents of the 29th District receive SNAP benefits.

The impacts to Texas would be devastating, including 171,000 people immediately off of SNAP and the elimination of almost 500 million meals from hungry Texans.

Meeting the need for food assistance is especially critical for our most vulnerable citizens--pregnant and nursing women, infants, children, and seniors for whom the consequences of hunger and poor nutrition are the most severe. It is critical that we maintain support for the charitable food system and funding for SNAP.

I have been a strong supporter of SNAP in Congress to help those who are food insecure during their time of need. Our office works closely with the Houston Food Bank, the largest in the Country, and the Texas Food Bank Network to help end hunger in America.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this unnecessary piece of legislation.

Thank you for the time to speak. The bill before us is unnecessary. It is burdensome and serves as a barrier for those who are qualified to receive the core they need. Health and Human Services (HHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the marketplaces are equipped to handle income verification. If people lie on their tax forms, that is a federal crime.

This is nothing more than one more attempt to block implementation of this law. The Republicans know that as implementation moves ahead their exaggerations and their fear mongering will be exposed. This is a desperate, last ditch effort to stop millions of qualified individuals and families from being able to access care by holding back any subsidies until unreasonable requirements are met by HHS. We have controls in place. The marketplaces and the IRS are tasked with reconciling the data they receive. Americans who are eligible for subsidies should receive them and this bill prevents it from happening.

The Affordable Care Act is a critical law but it's not a perfect law. However, we are spending time with 11th hour attempts at thwarting the law of the land, upheld by the Supreme Court, rather than spending time helping our constituents navigate the new health landscape.

I oppose this bill and urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the Scalise amendment to H.R. 367, the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. While Mr. Scalise may have the best intentions in trying to prevent the Administration from regulating carbon, the amendment actually subjects any regulation that places a fee, price or levy on pollution to the Congressional approval procedure mandated under the bill.

While some of my colleagues would still definitely support that, there are some unintended consequences to this approach. Take Houston, for example.

Houston has two programs that put a price on nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions. These market-based programs have been successful in lowering smog levels. Houston has had to have its programs approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the state implementation plan (SIPs) under the Clean Air Act.

Under the Scalise amendment, the EPA cannot approve state programs in SIPS that would put a fee on emissions without an act of Congress. Houston's program could remain in place, but if they ever wanted to strengthen, relax or otherwise modify the program, it appears that the Scalise amendment would prevent that from happening. That would require Houston to find another way to comply with the Clean Air Act, which would likely be less flexible and more burdensome.

I want to be clear that I do not support the Administration devising a carbon control program; that is the job of the Congress. That said, this Congress must get to work and pass a bill that deals with carbon with input from Members that represent diverse constituencies nationwide. Cap and Trade legislation will not pass this Congress, but I believe a solution can be found for controlling carbon emissions by using nuclear and natural gas to generate electricity.

I encourage my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Madam Chair, I rise today in opposition to

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act.

This legislation will significantly strengthen the impact of existing sanctions on Iran in the hopes of convincing the regime's leaders to stop their nuclear weapons program.

The message to Iran must be crystal clear: stop your nuclear program or face intensifying international isolation and crippling economic pressure until your program stops.

I stand with over 350 over my colleagues who have co-sponsored this legislation in strong opposition to Iran's nuclear weapons program.

Allowing Iran to achieve nuclear weapons capability would start a very dangerous nuclear arms race in a region that is already unstable-- endangering our Nation's security and the security of our friends and allies in the Middle East.

Iran continues to increase its stockpiles of twenty-percent enriched uranium, approaching a level where they can very quickly breakout whenever they want. They are also installing advanced centrifuges that would allow them to substantially increase their uranium enrichment at a rapid pace.

This legislation will eliminate sources of foreign funding, reduce oil exports by an additional million barrels per day and apply harsh penalties to human rights violators.

By passing this legislation and ensuring its enforcement, we can continue to enforce the strongest possible amount of financial pressure against Iran.

The window for a peaceful resolution is quickly closing. Through tightening sanctions, pursuing the diplomatic track, and keeping all options on the table, I believe we can persuade the Iranian regime to stop their quest for nuclear weapons before it is too late.

As co-chair of the Democratic Israel Working Group, I urge my colleagues to stand for peace and a nuclear-free Middle East and vote in support of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Elvin Hayes, ``The Big E'', on his induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and numerous accomplishments as a professional athlete. Mr. Hayes, a fellow University of Houston Cougar, is today considered one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

In 1966, Elvin Hayes, along with Don Chaney, became the first African American basketball players for the University of Houston. During his sophomore year, Hayes led the Cougars to victory in the ``Game of the Century''; an upset win, played in the Houston Astrodome, against the UCLA Bruins. While at U of H, Hayes was a 2-time NCAA First Team All- American, leading the Cougars to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances. In 1968, Hayes was the UPI, Sporting News, and the Associated Press' College Player of the Year. To this day, Elvin Hayes holds the University of Houston's single-game, single-season, and career records in scoring and rebounding.

With his early departure from college, Mr. Hayes was the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets, who later became the Houston Rockets. During his illustrious NBA career Mr. Hayes played 1,303 games over 16 seasons accruing a number of accomplishments: 12 NBA All Star (1969-1980), NBA Scoring Champion (1969), and finally NBA Champion (1978). He is 8th all time in NBA scoring and 4th all time in NBA rebounding.

After his retirement from the NBA, Mr. Hayes returned to the University of Houston to finish up his Bachelors degree, an example for all athletes who are called into professional sports before graduating. In 2010, Mr. Hayes again returned to the University of Houston where he now serves as an analyst for radio broadcasts of the Cougars' games.

It is with great pleasure that I recognize Mr. Elvin Hayes, for his service to the city of Houston, and I congratulate him on his induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to the Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1911, the Smarter Solutions for Students Act.

This bill returns federal student loans to a system of market-based variable rates, an imprudent policy that seeks profits for deficit reduction at the expense of students struggling with the substantial and climbing cost of post-secondary education.

While the bill may appear to reverse the interest rate hike that occurred on July 1, setting rates at 3.8 percent for this year and 4.6 percent for next year for undergraduate Stafford student loan borrowers, it is essentially a bait and switch that will pile extra debt onto students when the current record-low rates inevitably rise.

This is unacceptable. Student loan debt is a major drag on the American economy, reaching $1 trillion and climbing, and recently surpassing credit card debt as the largest form of consumer debt. Approximately 60 percent of students take out loans to attend college, and increasing the costs of borrowing will prevent millions from being able to pursue higher education.

While the interest rate caps are a step in the right direction, they are too high to meaningfully protect students when the temporarily low rates give way to rates that are even higher than the 6.8 percent rate this bill attempts to fix.

College educated students are the future engine of our country, and anyone who wants to pursue a post-secondary education should have the opportunity to do so without going into crushing debt. I urge my colleagues to vote against this legislation and instead, extend the current interest rate of 3.4 percent until Congress enacts a true long- term solution to the cost of college that is worthy of our Nation's young people.

I would like to thank the ranking member for allowing me time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my strong support for H.R. 2218, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act.

Last Congress, this Chamber twice passed legislation on a bipartisan basis that was weaker than the bill before us today. Last Congress, the effort resulted in legislation that would create a State-run waste disposal program with minimal Federal requirements while assuring that coal ash can continue to be reused and recycled in everyday products.

The legislation before the House today continues that model but with even greater environmental protections, including: accelerated requirements for groundwater monitoring; fixed deadlines for when problems at an impoundment must be cured; and periodic inspections for the structural integrity of impoundments.

Currently, there is a patchwork of State programs to regulate the disposal of coal combustion waste with no Federal oversight.

H.R. 2218 would for the first time establish comprehensive, minimum Federal standards for coal ash management and disposal and give EPA the authority to enforce compliance if a State does not establish a coal residuals permit program or if a State's program does not conform to Federal requirements.

This legislation would assure that coal ash can continue to be reused beneficially, which puts billions of dollars in our economy annually and protects tens of thousands of jobs in the beneficial reuse industry. Encouraging the beneficial reuse of coal ash ensures that less of it ends up in landfills, which is good for the environment and good for our economy.

I know some Members have concerns about the legislation, but we have worked diligently with the majority and stakeholders to make improvements in the bill. The assertions by some of my colleagues that this legislation does nothing to protect the environment are making the perfect the enemy of the good. Part of legislating is moving the ball forward, and we cannot continue to work on legislation that simply will die in the Senate. This bill is a reasonable compromise and a win-win for the American people, as it will help protect the environment and create jobs. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. This bill undermines the fundamental purpose of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was created to ensure that disadvantaged children are provided a high-quality education that allows them to compete on a level playing field with their more-advantaged peers.

Among its many problematic provisions, this bill locks in devastating sequestration-level education funding, fails to hold States and districts accountable for supporting and improving the achievement of all students, eliminates and weakens protections for disadvantaged students, and lacks critical support systems for our Nation's educators.

I believe No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is flawed and must be reformed, and reauthorization presents a tremendous opportunity to make much- needed improvements and bring our education system into the 21st century. However, instead of fixing the problems of NCLB, the Student Success Act does not reflect best practices and fails to strike the appropriate balance between flexibility and accountability.

Reauthorization should support college and career-ready standards, address the overuse of testing in teacher and school evaluations that currently forces educators to substitute test preparation for instruction, and feature an accountability system that includes meaningful targets for improving student attainment that gives schools and districts flexibility in how they achieve those goals.

I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 5 and instead support reauthorization that restores our Nation's commitment to providing equal opportunity for all students regardless of background.