Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I'm pleased that we're having this debate today about the importance of trade for America's manufacturing sector. Given my extensive experience in manufacturing, I'm pleased to provide my firsthand familiarity with what makes business successful and what creates jobs.

My own experience tells me that international trade is vital to the success of America's manufacturing sector. In my home State of Kentucky, nearly 50,000 manufacturing jobs are dependent on exports. The simple fact is that 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States, and the fastest growing markets are outside our borders. So success in those markets is critical to growing our manufacturing sector and creating good paying jobs.

As the President has noted, America's exports of manufactured goods support one out of every five manufacturing jobs, and those jobs pay 15 percent more than average. We simply must increase exports, and that's the key to any debate about the trade deficit.

If we're going to be successful in growing U.S. exports and reducing the deficit, we need to identify the best practices for doing so. We have real world results that we can use to identify these best practices, and these facts show clearly that there has been no more effective way to reduce the trade deficit and create U.S. jobs than negotiating new trade agreements to open foreign markets to U.S. exports.

The benefits of CAFTA to the United States manufacturing sectors and workers are clear. Because of this agreement, we swung a negative trade balance, a trade deficit in manufactured goods of $1.1 billion, to a trade surplus of $1.9 billion, and we already have a surplus of $1.3 billion so far this year.

Madam Speaker, in the manufacturing world, we'd never base our best practices on just one successful outcome. Fortunately, the success of the Central America Free Trade Agreement is not the only example we have. The United States has implemented trade agreements with eight other countries under the Trade Promotion Authority. In 2009, the U.S. had an overall trade surplus of over $27 billion with these eight countries, and so far in 2010, we have a surplus of over $14 billion.

And the results for the American manufacturing sector are even stronger. In 2009, the United States had a trade surplus of over $29 billion with these countries, and in 2010, $16 billion. This is a track record that firmly establishes the aggressive pursuit of trade agreements as the best practice for increasing U.S. exports and lowering the trade deficit.

Given the ambitious track record of success of our trade agreements, I don't think we need another government commission. However, I understand that for some, the facts I've cited aren't enough and, therefore, I do rise in support of this bill.

I want to help those with doubts about the benefits of trade agreements to see how vital they are to the success of American manufacturing, so I'll support this legislation in an effort to educate others on these benefits, the benefits of well-executed, bilateral, and free trade agreements properly structured between the partners.

I fully expect the commission will reach the same conclusion that I and many others on both sides of the aisle have already reached. However, I'm concerned that we can't simply wait for the commission to do its analysis.

As the President has noted, other countries are racing ahead of us in negotiating agreements that benefit their workers while we sit on the sidelines. That's why I strongly support the President's call to resolve the outstanding issues around the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement.

My colleagues and I on this side of the aisle stand ready to work with the President to implement these best practices and prepare not only the South Korea agreement for congressional approval, but to prepare the agreements with Colombia and Panama as well. I'm confident these agreements will be just as successful for American workers in the U.S. manufacturing sector as our prior agreements.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Edward Klosterman, a dedicated community servant and a lifetime member of the Pewee Valley Fire Department from the Fourth District.

Ed Klosterman was born and raised in Crestwood, Kentucky along with his fourteen siblings. He attended Carroll County Vocational School and graduated from Oldham County High School in 1975.

Ed became a member of the Pewee Valley Fire Department before completing high school. As a dedicated community servant with the fire department, Ed served as a firefighter, instructor, lieutenant, training officer, fire inspector and engineer. When the Fire Department outgrew its old station Ed was pivotal in helping design the new fire station and oversaw its construction.

Ed has received numerous awards from the fire department and has been designated a lifetime member. His retirement on July 14, 2010 was also the 36th anniversary of his joining the Pewee Valley Fire Department.

Ed is the proud father of three children. His daughter Anastasia is a student at the University of Louisville Speed School. His twin sons, Alexander and Andrew followed in their father's footsteps as members of the Pewee Valley Fire Department. They have enlisted in the United States Air Force and begin their basic training this September.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Ed Klosterman and in offering him our sincerest thanks for his years of service to Pewee Valley, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Army Specialist Russell Madden from Bellevue, Kentucky, who lost his life on June 23, 2010, in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on an Army convoy in the Charkh district of Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Conn Barracks, Germany.

Specialist Madden joined the Army in 2008 and is a 2000 graduate of Bellevue High School.

In addition to being an outstanding father to his two sons, Parker and Jared, Russell was a model citizen. Not only did he serve our country abroad, he was also committed to his community as a local youth peewee football coach. He was also a dedicated husband to his wife, Michelle.

According to his troop commander, Captain Matt Booth, the officers and fellow soldiers could always rely on his courageous attitude to make things happen when times were tough and was known as someone who would never leave his buddies in a bad situation.

Today, as we celebrate the life and accomplishments of this exceptional Kentuckian, my thoughts and prayers are with Russell Madden's family and friends. We're deeply indebted to Specialist Madden and his family for their service and his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of H.R. 5611. This is a straightforward and noncontroversial bill to extend for 1 month, through August 1, the existing FAA authorization law, the excise taxes that support the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and the Trust Fund's expenditure authority. The current FAA authorization, as well as the excise taxes and spending authorities, are currently scheduled to expire on July 3.

This extension will give Congress additional time to consider longer- term FAA reauthorization legislation and to determine whether modifications to the financing structure of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund are appropriate.

I would note, Mr. Speaker, that on March 25, 2010, the House passed the Senate amendment to H.R. 1586, a 4-year FAA reauthorization with an additional amendment, and the two Chambers are continuing to work to resolve their differences.

While the House-passed version of that broader legislation remains controversial for reasons unrelated to the provision within the Ways and Means Committee's jurisdiction, I'm pleased to report that the short-term extension we are considering today is supported by the bipartisan leadership of both the Ways and Means and the Transportation and Infrastructure committees.

It's important that we take this step to extend the current FAA authorization and its related excise taxes and expenditure authorities on a temporary basis, and I'm pleased to join with my colleagues across the aisle in support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close.

Just to reiterate, this is very important to continue this extension. It's been achieved in a bipartisan manner and among the relevant committees of jurisdiction. I wholeheartedly support it and encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise today in support of H.R. 5552, the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010, a bill to modify the due date for the payment of certain manufacturers' excise taxes, including those imposed on firearms and ammunition.

The bill has the support of Members on both sides of the aisle, as well as the NRA and a number of wildlife conservation groups. This bill is a commonsense fix that will simplify the manner in which manufacturers make payments for excise taxes, which help to finance the Pittman-Robertson conservation fund.

The current schedule requires biweekly deposits owed on the excise taxes. That creates an undue burden on our many small sporting goods and sportsmen's outlets, small businesses like RLC Shooting, Garrett Guns, and Mark's Guns, just in my local community, that support the sportsmen community, hunters and shooters that give a lot back, particularly in the maintenance of the nature areas where they work.

These biweekly tax payments are expensive, they create additional overhead; and, frankly, this time-consuming process consumes dollars that in fact can be used for job creation on the outside.

We believe it could free up as much as $22 million for these businesses, especially with small businesses, to grow, to hire jobs, and to have a more positive effect on their community as well as expanding a base of additional customers for that excise tax in the long run. It is a great bill supported by all the associated parties.

I urge my colleagues to adopt this sensible measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I rise in support of H.R. 5623.

Last November, Congress extended the home buyer credit, Mr. Speaker, for buyers who entered into a binding contract by the end of April this year but only if they closed on their house by the end of June. I agree with my colleague from Michigan on the need for this extension, but only those who closed on their houses by the end of June would be eligible.

The slow grinding gears of bureaucracy have left many potential home buyers who could build equity and build for the future out in the cold on this, and by doing this extension, we buy an appropriate amount of time for those who have signed contracts by the April deadline but haven't closed yet to be able to close. In short, we just need a little more time.

This bill does not extend the deadline for signing a contract to buy a home. The contract still must have been signed before the deadline at the end of April, but it does provide relief for those home buyers who haven't yet been able to close but who might be depending on the tax credit for their down payment or closing costs. It seems unfair to leave those home buyers in limbo even though they tried to comply with the rules. Denying them the tax credit could cause the deal to collapse, which would put downward pressure on home prices and exacerbate the problems with the housing market.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to see that this bill responds to a recent report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, who found that almost 1,300 incarcerated prisoners claimed over $9 million in tax credits for homes they supposedly purchased while in prison.

The bill would improve information sharing between the IRS and State prison systems so that the IRS could obtain information on just who is claiming to have bought a home. Refundable tax credits always attract fraud, and we need to do better to prevent people from claiming benefits to which they are not entitled.

I think this legislation includes sensible changes to improve the administration of the home buyer tax credit, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5623 to continue and extend this program for those who signed up before the April 30 close.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, May 27, 2010, I was unable to participate in all of the day's votes due to a family emergency. Had I been present I would have voted: on rollcall No. 306-- No--H. Con. Res. 282, Providing for adjournment or recess of the two Houses; on rollcall No. 307--No--H. Res. 1404, Providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011; on rollcall No. 308--Yes--H. Res. 1161, Honoring the Centennial Celebration of Women at Marquette University, the first Catholic university in the world to offer coeducation as part of its regular undergraduate program; on rollcall No. 309--Yes--H. Res. 1372, Honoring the University of Georgia Graduate School on the occasion of its centennial; on rollcall No. 310--Yes--Skelton of Missouri Amendment No. 1; on rollcall No. 311--Yes--Marshall of Georgia Amendment No. 4; on rollcall No. 312--Yes--McGovern of Massachusetts Amendment No. 13; on rollcall No. 313--Yes--Inslee of Washington Amendment No. 82; on rollcall No. 314--Yes--Gutierrez of Illinois Amendment No. 21; on rollcall No. 315--No--Eshoo of California Amendment No. 42; on rollcall No. 316--No--Pingree of Maine Amendment No. 80; on rollcall No. 317--No--Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment No. 79; on rollcall No. 318--No--Sarbanes of Maryland Amendment No. 47.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 28, 2010, I was unable to participate in all of the day's votes due to a family emergency.

Had I been present I would have voted:

On rollcall No. 319--``no''--On Approving the Journal; on rollcall No. 320--``yes''--H. Res. 1391, Congratulating and commending Israel for its accession to membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; on rollcall No. 321--``no''--Previous Question on H. Res. 1403, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 4213) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes; on rollcall No. 322--``no''--Slaughter of New York Amendment to H. Res. 1403; on rollcall No. 323--``no''--H. Res. 1403, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 4213) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes; on rollcall No. 324--``no''--H.R. 4213, American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010--on concurring in Senate amendment with amendment (except portion comprising section 523); on rollcall No. 325--``no''--H.R. 4213, American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010--on concurring in Senate amendment with portion of amendment comprising section 523; on rollcall No. 326--``yes''--America COMPETES Act--First portion of the Divided Question, Proposing to Strike Section 228; on rollcall No. 327--``yes''--America COMPETES Act--Second portion of the Divided Question, Proposing to Strike Sections 406(b) and (c); on rollcall No. 328--``yes''--America COMPETES Act--Sixth Portion of the Divided Question, Proposing to Amend Section 702; on rollcall No. 329-- ``yes''--America COMPETES Act--Seventh Portion of the Divided Question, Proposing to Add a Section 704; on rollcall No. 330--``yes''--America COMPETES Act--Eighth Portion of the Divided Question,

Proposing to Add a Section 705; on rollcall No. 331--``yes''--America COMPETES Act--Ninth Portion of the Divided Question, Proposing to Add a Section 706; on rollcall No. 332--``no''--America COMPETES Act--Final Passage; on rollcall No. 333--``yes''--Skelton of Missouri En Bloc Amendments No. 9; on rollcall No. 334--``no''--To Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair--Republican Motion to Recommit #1, To eliminate the 1.4 percent non-military federal employee pay raise, saving taxpayers $30 billion over the next ten years; on rollcall No. 335-- ``yes''--Republican Motion to Recommit #2, to H.R. 5136, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year; on rollcall No. 336-- ``no''--H.R. 5136, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011--Final Passage.

Mr. Speaker, all throughout the Fourth District, Kentuckians are asking Congress to establish fiscal responsibility. Some Congressmen are fighting to establish a responsible budget, but the Democratic leaders are only offering more spending, more taxes, and more debt.

Washington doesn't have a revenue program or problem. It's got a spending problem. Just in the first 7 months of the current fiscal year, Congress has already run up an $800 billion deficit under the direction of Speaker Pelosi. If the House doesn't pass a budget, it will be the first time it has failed to do so since 1974.

Congress is missing a critical opportunity to provide a responsible blueprint for the Nation's fiscal future and serve as a check and balance to an administration intoxicated by excessive spending. Congress must restore the ownership of the American Government back to its rightful owners, the American people.

That's why House Republicans are creating major initiatives like YouCut and America Speaking Out. Both programs allow the American people to change the culture of spending in Washington and make the Federal budget the same as our families' budgets: Balanced.

Stop the spending madness, and give our children back a real future.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, May 20, 2010, I was unable to participate in all of the day's votes due to a family emergency.

Had I been present I would have voted: on rollcall No. 289, ``yes'', H. Res. 1363, Granting the authority provided under clause 4(c)(3) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the Committee on Education and Labor for purposes of its investigation into underground coal mining safety; on rollcall No. 290, ``yes'', H.R. 5128, To designate the Department of the Interior Building in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Electricians Mate 1st Class Robert Lawrence Mudd, a sailor from Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Petty Officer Mudd tragically lost his life while stationed in Hawaii, assigned to submarine USS Olympia at Pearl Harbor.

Robert Mudd was a model citizen and patriot. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1998, he joined the U.S. Navy. Robert served at the Trident Training Facility in Kings Bay, Georgia, and aboard USS Nebraska before joining the crew of USS Olympia in May 2007.

Today, as we honor the service of this exceptional Kentuckian, my heartfelt prayers are with Robert's loving parents, Lawrence and Barbara, and the rest of his family and friends. We are all indebted to Robert for his bravery and willingness to answer the Nation's call to defend freedom.

Madam Speaker, last week in Washington D.C., members of the American Bar Association (ABA)--including State, local and specialty bar leaders from throughout the USA--gathered to meet with Members of Congress and Administration officials about issues of importance to the legal profession and to the administration of justice.

Among the participants was one of my constituents, William T. (Bill) Robinson III from Kenton County, Kentucky, who recently became the ABA President-Elect Nominee.

Bill Robinson is the Member-in-Charge of the Northern Kentucky offices of Frost Brown Todd OD LLC, a regional law firm with almost 500 lawyers in nine offices located in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Indiana. Throughout his career, Bill has served as a leader in his profession and his community. Bill successfully completed his three year term as ABA Treasurer in August 2008 and currently serves as Chairman of the ABA Governmental Affairs Committee.

As an active member of the American Bar Association for over 25 years, Bill has served in various leadership roles, including 7 years on the ABA Board of Governors. Bill is a Past Board Chairman of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, a Past President of the Kentucky Bar Association and a Past Chairman of the Kentucky and the Northern Kentucky Chambers of Commerce.

Bill is a graduate of Thomas More College and the College of Law at the University of Kentucky, where in 2004, he was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame.

I ask the House to join me in congratulating Bill on his election as ABA President-Elect Nominee and his distinguished career and service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, last week U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that the National Day of Prayer violates the first amendment to the Constitution despite decades of statute and tradition. This is another disappointing example of activist judges making decisions that fly in the face of the Constitution, violating congressional intent, and the values of our Founders. John Adams declared, ``Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.''

Every year on the first Thursday of May we gather as a people to pray and acknowledge our Nation's need and place before eternity. George Washington said, ``Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness.''

This ruling is not what our Founders intended and does a disservice to our history as a religious Nation. I call on Attorney General Eric Holder to appeal this ruling.

Mr. Speaker, as Kentuckians file their taxes today, sending their hard-earned dollars to the Federal Treasury, Americans want to know exactly what they are getting in return. Like jobs maybe? Over the last 2 years, Congress has given America three things: a series of bailouts, a failed stimulus package, and a government takeover of health care, each costing around a trillion dollars or more. In return, there are over 225,000 Kentuckians and 15 million Americans out of work. Everyone agrees that the economy and job creation have been at the top of the list of what Americans are saying is the most important things to be done.

Rightfully, in my mind, we hear over and over again, ``Where are the jobs?'' Well, we are going to focus on climate change or we are going to focus on other things that Americans don't care about when in fact we need a sound energy policy, a sound manufacturing policy, and a sound trade policy. Instead of focusing on the economy and job creation, the agenda in Congress has left Americans with uncertainty.

When Americans feel their tax dollars aren't being used right, the Democrats in Congress say, ``Just send more.'' Well, Americans expect our focus to be on policies that create jobs, building a future for our children. And business can't thrive on an economy falsely buoyed.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the gentleman's words be taken down for the false statements that he made about this conference to me as an Army veteran among others in the Chamber.

I accept the gentleman's apology.

My heart is heavy with grief tonight at this turning point for our Nation, Mr. Speaker. This vote will define the America we will have in the future: massive tax burdens, rationed care, and intrusive bureaucracy.

Democrats are thwarting the will of the American people, taking them on a headlong rush toward socialism. This is

based on a false premise that every need a person could have on Earth can be met by government. Almost like worshipers, they carry the heart of our Constitution, bought in blood, and sacrifice it on the altar of political expediency. It raises taxes, violates your privacy, is policed by the IRS, intrudes on free choice, and hurts seniors.

I stand firm in my opposition to this exercise in idolatrous statism, a true tyranny that is the largest legislative transfer of power to the executive branch in the history of this Republic.

Vote ``no'' on this bill. Start over with real reforms that Americans want.