Floor Statements

You know, this bill started out as the cap-and-tax bill, then it became the clean energy bill because my colleagues on the other side of the aisle realized it wasn't selling anymore at home. It should really be called the Let's Send More Jobs to China Act.

This bill is going to cost people in the State of Florida an additional $500 on their utility bills, but let's look at the jobs that are going to be lost. In my district alone, we will lose 2,100 manufacturing jobs, 3,200 construction jobs, and 1,900 retail and wholesale jobs.

Personal income loss for Florida's Fifth District in 2012 will be over $508 million. America cannot afford this at a time when our economy is so fragile. Gasoline prices under this will rise substantially. Electricity prices will rise up to 90 percent.

This is a bad bill. This is a bill that is going to cost Americans not only more in their wallets but certainly jobs going elsewhere.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to the National Defense Authorization funding, which is included in en bloc 1. I thank Chairman Skelton and also Ranking Member McKeon for allowing this amendment to be included.

In 2005 the Department of Army authorized the creation of the Combat Action Badge to provide special recognition to soldiers who personally engage the enemy during combat operations. This is a very honorable distinction. However, the award limits eligibility for this badge to those soldiers

that served after September 18, 2001, overlooking the thousands of veterans who have made similar sacrifices in previous wars.

My amendment corrects this error by expanding eligibility to include those soldiers who have served since December 7, 1941. In accordance with the wishes of those veterans who may be eligible for this badge, the costs of it would be borne by the individuals, not the military. Therefore, not only does this award recognize veterans who engage the enemy in combat, but it does so at no additional cost to the Army.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996--Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

I requested one project in H.R. 2996.

$500,000 for The Conservation Fund located a 2507 Calloway Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303. This funding will go towards the purchase of environmentally sensitive land surrounding Three sisters Springs in Citrus County. This property abuts manatee protection areas and would place a large undeveloped tract of land in public ownership, allowing for the further protection of the spring as well as the endangered manatee species.

Madam Speaker, President Obama used his

weekly radio address last Saturday to outline new cuts to Medicare and Medicaid benefits, totaling over 300 billion dollars.

My continuous fear throughout the health care reform process has been that Democrats will opt to pay for changes to the system on the backs of seniors.

This is unfair to my district, where more Medicare beneficiaries reside than anywhere else in the country.

Among the cuts the President has proposed are reducing payments to hospitals that care for large numbers of the uninsured by $106 billion.

President Obama asserts that because so many people will have health insurance after his reforms, these hospitals will no longer need the money.

But that doesn't account for illegal immigrants, who use the emergency room since they cannot obtain care elsewhere.

Emergency rooms visits are a major driver of health care costs, and if hospitals cannot receive aid from the federal government, they may be forced to eliminate valuable resources you or I may desperately need in the future.

The President also proposed taking $75 billion from the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

As someone who worked diligently on the bill to provide prescription drug coverage for seniors for the first time in history, I am adamantly opposed to taking money from this program.

The logical assumption is that if the program is cut, Part D plans will be forced to raise seniors' premiums in order to cover their costs.

President Obama is also determined to cut $177 billion from Medicare Advantage plans, which I know my constituents value greatly.

Our nation's 44 million elderly who have worked hard all their lives cannot be ignored in favor of trying to provide coverage to a few million people.

I urge my Democrat colleagues in Congress to make more of an effort to address quality and reform payment systems, instead of taking benefits directly from seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 403, the Homes For Heroes Act of 2009.

For our Nation's veterans, the fight does not end when they return from battle. Readjusting to civilian life and coping with the physical and psychological effects of war can be a daunting task. Current reports estimate that about 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. This statistic is a tragedy. However, Congress is now taking a step in the right direction.

The Homes For Heroes Act creates a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD, provides at least 20,000 low-income veterans with rental vouchers, and aids veterans in applying for and obtaining assistance. Additionally, I'm proud that this bill includes help for veterans with mental health disorders and assists low-income veterans and their families with personal and financial planning, obtaining veterans benefits, and vocational training.

As a former member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, I am aware of the many unique issues that our veterans face. The Homes For Heroes Act will supply our veterans with the tools that they need to reintegrate into society, and I thank Representative Green for introducing this bill.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010.

I requested two projects in H.R. 2847. They include:

$800,000 for the Lake County Board of Commissioners located at 315 West Main St., P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778. This funding will help Lake County to fund an 800 Mhz radio system and go towards equipment and technology for the Emergency Operations Center of Lake County.

$200,000 for the Marion County Board of County Commissioners located at 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471. This funding will help to fund the purchase of technology that captures fingerprints required for FBI criminal background checks, through the rest of the patrol vehicles. The equipment and software will collect demographic data and fingerprint scans and submit both to the appropriate background check authority, which will, in turn, provide instant feedback. The request is in accordance with priorities established by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who has indicated a desire for all law enforcement agencies across the state to have consistency in the equipment used for fingerprinting.

Madam Speaker, an overhaul of our Nation's health care system is under way, and I am glad that people in my district are engaged in this critical issue. Unfortunately, the Democrats have shared very few details of the plan, except that there will be a public plan, which I have to tell you most people are frightened of.

While I realize that we are in the minority party, I still have nearly 1 million constituents to represent, including more Medicare beneficiaries than any other Member of Congress. My Republican colleagues and I have made numerous attempts to reach across the aisle to share our ideas on how to improve the health care system and make it more affordable. So we are drafting our own bill.

When President Obama invites Members of Congress to the White House to craft health care bills, he invites only Democrats. He has met with industry representatives but never with Republicans. Recently, the President sent a letter saying he expects a bureaucratic-run health system to be included in the final option, but again, he sent the letter only to Democrats. Hardly a gesture of bipartisanship.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, we have a problem. As every American in this Chamber knows, America is facing unprecedented trillion-dollar deficits, a ballooning national debt and steady-growing entitlement obligations. Yet, each and every time the House comes together to consider spending bills, evidence abounds that very few tough choices are being made.

As I'm sure my colleagues will readily agree, never in the history of Congress has there been a line item that at least one Member did not support. There has not been a single program that somebody didn't think was worthy of the taxpayer dollars. In a perfect world where the United States is flush with money, very few spending ideas don't hold some merit. But simply having merit does not mean the American people have enough money to pay for it, nor do they have enough money around to fund this.

It is not our job to come to Washington and put together a Middle East comprehensive and exhaustive list of worthy causes, Mr. Chairman. It is our job to make the tough choices. And that means denying resources to something that somebody somewhere thinks is a good idea.

Frankly, if, as a body, we are unable to recognize that spending taxpayer dollars for the domestic distribution of a documentary film in a foreign affairs bill is not what the taxpayers need most at this time, if this is truly a choice that's too hard for us to make, then I think we owe it to our constituents to take a good long look in the mirror and decide what we are here to do.

Some will probably point out that striking the authorization for this film is not important. Well, I would say to those colleagues it is important that we watch every single appropriation that comes before us. That is precisely what we are sent here to do.

And this amendment is not just about striking a provision to authorize funding for the distribution of a documentary film. If it were, I would take time to point out that this is a domestic distribution in a foreign affairs bill. I would also point out that laws have been on the books for 60 years that prohibit the executive branch from distributing government-sponsored information campaigns domestically.

I might even point out that the film is available already for every man, woman, and child in this country to see right now. I am not kidding. It is actually on YouTube, and yet we have this in the appropriations bill.

The point is, Mr. Chairman, that the American people, those who voted for us and those who voted against us, all of them expect more from this body. I offer this amendment to my colleagues not to point out an absurd provision in an irresponsible spending bill. I offer this amendment to make a point about all of the absurd provisions in all of the bloated bills that this House has recently considered. The American people deserve more than this.

I would point out to my colleagues they need to learn this is a voting card; it is not a credit card.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, just a few moments ago, I rose to point out what I believe is unnecessary spending. I suppose it is not a coincidence that I rise again to point out what I believe is another unnecessary spending item.

Section 303 of the Foreign Relations Act before us authorizes funding for the establishment of a Lessons Learned Center. If money were no object, I think it may be a fine thing to do. In fact, it is hard to imagine that anything produced by the center would not be used.

However, as you can imagine, many of my colleagues are wondering, why would anyone oppose this center? They might even point out that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Mr. Chairman, in some ways, my colleagues may be right. But what is essential is that we do learn from our mistakes, and that is precisely why the State Department's exam to become a Foreign Service officer is so rigorous. That is why the intelligence agencies seek the best and the brightest. And, frankly, Mr. Chairman, that is why the entire academic community going back thousands of years studies history.

Additionally, with 24-hour news events, we all become instantly knowledgeable. It is reviewed and reviewed.

Anything that happens, has happened, gets reviewed ad nauseam. Section 303 is unnecessary precisely because learning lessons from history is so important and so widely acknowledged as being important that we already have tens of thousands of academies that do that every single day.

The proposed Lessons Learned Center has a great name, yet I think it will be simply one more example of spending money on things that we want and not limiting ourselves to those things that we need. Listen. Just listen. You can hear the giant sucking sound of Washington finding new and different ways to spend dollars; spend, spend.

I don't want to belabor the point, but Congress has already approved a $700 billion bailout package and an $800 billion stimulus package in just the last year alone. Meanwhile, our Medicare and Social Security trust funds that our constituents rely on will be exhausted sooner than we thought. And let me point out we are also fighting tough wars in two countries. And while my colleagues believe that a Lessons Learned Center might prevent such costly wars in the future, I would appeal to your intellect and your sense of fiduciary responsibility.

With all the massive charges already on the people's tab, the American taxpayer tab, and with spending at government agencies going up dramatically this year across the board, I ask my colleagues to make tough choices that the American people expect us to make.

All this portion of the bill does is create more government jobs. I urge adoption of this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor all the families who have lost a loved one in defense of our great Nation and in particular, those gathered at Calvary Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida. For over 225 years, the United States has been a beacon of hope and freedom throughout the world. That freedom comes at a price, however. Whether it is the original fight for independence during the American Revolution, the drive to defeat communism during the cold war, or the current battle in the Middle East, soldiers throughout our history have fought and given their lives to keep us safe here at home. I salute their sacrifice, the sacrifice of their families, and dedication to their fellow man.

Our Nation has often had to defend itself from enemies, both foreign and domestic. Throughout these struggles, it has been our shared faith in our Lord that has given us the strength to soldier on during tough and trying times. America has seen both the good and the bad throughout our Nation's history, but in the end I firmly believe that each of us will heed the call to show our commitment to God when forced to make decisions that affect our fellow man.

To those who will gather at Calvary Baptist Church to honor our ``True American Heroes,'' know this Congress thanks you and honors you. As Ronnie and Aileen Payne wrote to me, ``Our sons and daughters were more than just a name and a casualty number. They were the best that America had to offer. They ran in when others ran out. They answered when America called.''

America is the greatest Nation in the world. We have a proud history of service, faith and community ties that bind us to the common belief in the goodness of mankind. Our collective faith in God surpasses the fear and uncertainty we may feel from time to time. By working and praying together we can ensure that future generations of Americans will share the morals and values that brought us here today. Thank you and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise because April 26 was Debt Day.

Debt Day is the day that the Federal Government runs out of revenue and starts paying for its reckless spending by borrowing more money. This means that all of the money spent by the Federal Government for the rest of the year will either be borrowed from other countries or, as the gentleman who preceded me here on this side of the aisle said, or borrowed from future generations.

Deficits are nothing new in Washington. And it is not a one-party disease. However, American families and small businesses across the country are tightening their belts, and certainly Congress needs to do the same.

Instead, the Obama administration offers a budget that doubles the national debt in 8 years, and by 2012, the American people will be paying $1 billion per day in net interest on that debt.

The American people know that we cannot borrow and spend our way back to economic health. The path to economic recovery starts with fiscal responsibility.

I believe that the Federal Government should follow the example set by our Nation's families and eliminate unneeded and excessive spending.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the supplemental funding bill that will provide the men and women of our Armed Forces with the resources that they need to do the job. Unfortunately this bill will not just fund operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It seems to me as if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle never miss an opportunity to use the military to pack a bill with pork.

Under the pretext of funding operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, this bill is loaded with billions of dollars worth of spending that simply does not belong there. It is obvious to me that these programs do not directly impact the ability of our servicemembers to do their job. They are priorities of the majority that should be voted on separately based on their own merits.

We have a lot of questions about the Guantanamo detainees. Will they end up in Leavenworth, as the gentleman from Kansas mentioned? Will they end up in the largest Federal prison in the United States, which happens to be in my district? Let me tell you, I think Americans need to know the answer to that.

Despite the political games that my colleagues are playing, I will support this legislation because I support our troops and believe it's our responsibility to give them the tools that they need.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, in the face of continuing economic uncertainty, I rise today in support of careful consideration, reasoned reluctance, and above all, the need for due diligence.

As we have seen over the last 18 months, rapid changes in the structure of mortgage lending can have a profound consequence for the broader economy. No matter how one feels about the underlying legislation or its implications, we can all agree that this bill is designed to change the structure of lending.

Among other things, H.R. 1728 will require lenders who make and sell nonqualified mortgages to retain a 5-percent stake in those mortgages if they choose to securitize or sell them. All other things being equal, that policy will increase banks' risk exposure. And given the close proximity between banks' risk exposure and the capital that they are required to hold in reserve, any significant change in one piece will clearly have an effect on the other. In other words, if mortgage risk increases, financial institutions will either have to hold more capital in reserve, or they will have to reduce their risk exposure elsewhere. That includes consumer loans and small business lending.

While the underlying bill addresses the impact on lenders' capital reserves, the study required under this bill stops a little bit short of directing GAO to monitor and report on any changes in other types of lending, such as consumer or small business loans.

Mr. Chairman, while it is not at all clear what the effects of this legislation will be, it is certainly reasonable to expect that there will be consequences--hopefully some good, and perhaps some not so good. The availability of small business loans may well increase as creditors shift away from nonqualified mortgage lending and into other forms of lending. Then again, it may not. The point is that we just don't know.

This amendment acknowledges that there are uncertainties inherent in any major reform, and that affects people's lives and businesses. And it makes certain then that if there are any unanticipated consequences, those consequences will be quantified and reported so that Congress can make any adjustments, as necessary.

In closing, I would like to ask my colleagues to remember that hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars have either been loaned or invested in banks precisely to ensure that those financial

institutions remain sound, that they meet their regulatory capital requirements, and that they regain their ability to loan to those who need it most.

I urge adoption of the amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina. I enjoyed serving with him while I was on the Financial Services Committee.

At this point I would urge the adoption of the amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment and the overall bill, the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act. As we all know, parts of the United States are currently in a drought situation. Even Florida, which many people think of as being water rich, is suffering from drought. Last year, for instance, the City of Tampa imposed a total restriction on lawn watering and other recreational uses for water. Our water resources are becoming scarce in various parts of our great country.

In the short-term we will have to find temporary solutions to navigate through these droughts. But in the long term we will need a plan to prevent such a crisis from happening again. My amendment to H.R. 1145 adds to the water research outcomes a study of water- intensive sectors of the economy and industrial needs for water.

Passage of my amendment will ensure that the interagency committee created under this bill will look at how water is used across the country, from golf courses and fast food restaurants to manufacturing plants and other industries. Understanding how such industries need and use water will be critical to meeting our future needs while stimulating economic growth. Without it, any water research plan would be incomplete.

I certainly encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).

Mr. Chairman, I would like to reserve my time.

Mr. Chairman, I certainly thank the gentleman, who is very knowledgeable in this area for supporting this amendment. Economic development does depend upon water resources in so many sectors of our economy. I am very enthusiastically supporting his bill, and I am delighted that he believes that this amendment helps to make the bill, which is already a good bill, a little bit better.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John T. Asdal of The Villages, Florida. Mr. Asdal later this week will reach a momentous milestone. He will celebrate his 90th birthday.

John is a decorated veteran of the United States Army, serving from the 25th of May 1942 to the 11th of October 1945. He served with Company B, 1st Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment 1st Infantry Division in North Africa and Sicily. He served with Company H, 36th (Texas) Infantry Division in Italy.

Mr. Asdal participated in four major battles with the 1st and 36th Divisions, Kasserine Pass, Mateur Tunisia, Rapido River Italy and Monte Cassino Italy. The professional skill and personal devotion displayed by Mr. Asdal was repeatedly recognized by the military and reflects his immense commitment and sacrifice.

A rarity to be so decorated, John was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, and three Service Stars. His unit received Presidential Citations for Mateur Tunisia & Sicily, French Croix de Guerre for Kasserine, and an Arrowhead for Algeria French Morocco. Because of his extensive time on the front lines and immense sacrifice, Mr. Asdal was among the earliest troops to be able to return to the U.S. in 1944.

I am honored to have such a decorated and respected citizen as a constituent. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring John T. Asdal for reaching his 90th birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as a life and with such distinction as Mr. Asdal.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 125th Anniversary of St. Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio, Florida. Founded on April 29, 1884 through the tireless efforts of Father E.J. Dunne, the school grew out of a class of 14 children taught in the home of Mrs. Ceclia E. Morse.

The first school house was a small 12 foot by 24 foot wooden structure. In 1892, the Benedictine Sisters, who remain involved with the school to this day, arrived from Pennsylvania and constructed two large wooden

school buildings. In 1922, Bishop Barry of St. Augustine dedicated a three story, red brick building which opened to 100 students. Today, St. Anthony's campus includes seven buildings and the enrollment has doubled in just the last 10 years.

As the oldest parochial school in Pasco County and in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, St. Anthony's strives to offer students the best educational start possible regardless of religion. In its 125th year, St. Anthony continues to welcome a new generation of young students with the goal of educating the total person: mind, body and spirit.

Madam Speaker, it is truly an honor to have such an exceptional and longstanding school in my district. St. Anthony Catholic School and all who have contributed to its success over the last 125 years should be commended for their commitment to education, child development and service to the community.