Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today the Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments on the constitutionality of the President's health care overhaul, the so-called Affordable Care Act of 2010.

While the Court is still months away from this decision, in many ways the verdict has already been cast by countless American families and small businesses negatively impacted by the law.

In 2007, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested: ``We have to pass the bill so you can find out what's in it.''

Two years since passage, American families have found out the hard way with increased taxes, looming regulations, and a slew of broken promises from fictitious cost controls to limitations on consumer choice.

Most recently, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office served a devastating blow to President Obama's most frequently used tagline: ``If you like your present coverage, you can keep it.''

The CBO report suggested there will be a net loss of employer-based insurance coverage between 3 and 5 million people per year from 2019 to 2022. This has the potential for 20 million Americans to lose their insurance coverage over just a 4-year span.

On the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, I joined the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for a congressional field hearing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in order to review the law's impact throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During the hearing, Pennsylvania's acting insurance commissioner, Michael Consedine, testified that new mandates on insurance coverage had resulted in premium increases of up to 9 percent.

These figures mirror the national trend as outlined in a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The Kaiser report shows that the average annual premium for family coverage through an employer reached $15,073 in 2011, an increase of 9 percent over the previous year. This is a far cry from Barack Obama's 2008 proposition that his law would cut family premiums by $2,500 before the conclusion of his first term in office.

President Obama had also promised that he will not sign a health care plan that adds one dime toward deficits either now or in the future. However, an honest accounting of the health care law finds that it will increase the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars in the first 10 years alone.

Former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin has testified the law will increase the deficit by at least $500 billion in its first 10 years and more than $1.5 trillion over the decade thereafter.

At a time of severe budgetary constraints, there's only one place to turn in order to keep up with this spending: the wallets of Americans, in the form of tax increases.

Having spent almost 30 years in the nonprofit health care field, I am acutely aware of the challenges many face when it comes to obtaining reasonably priced health care.

While many of us agree there are portions of the law that are beneficial, such as the ability of adult dependent children up to age 26 to stay on their parents' insurance, the elimination of excluding those with preexisting conditions from the plan and the expansion of low-cost clinics into underserved areas, the approach of the Affordable Care Act is fundamentally flawed. The law places Uncle Sam between doctors and patients when it should be the American people, not Washington bureaucrats, determining the kind of health care coverage that best suits their needs.

Over the past 2 years, as the regulations have rolled out and the American people continue to learn what really is in the law, the broken promises have continued to pile up, weighing on the backs of small businesses and families. That's why we must repeal the law and toss out the negatives; move forward with reforms that actually lower costs without sacrificing quality and liberty.

This week, just blocks away from this Chamber, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of this law. While the Court's decision is months away, the verdict has already been cast by the countless American families and small businesses in congressional districts across this great country that simply cannot afford the so- called Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Speaker, everywhere I go, Americans are feeling the pinch of high gas prices. In response, the President has begun to claim he supports the Republicans' all-of-the-above energy policy. Although the words sound inclusive, a glance at the record suggests that President Obama really means none of the below.

The policy is none of the below on Federal lands. On average, the Bush and Clinton administrations leased more than 3 million acres for oil and gas development per year. The Obama administration has leased less than 2 million acres per year. On Federal lands, oil and gas production was down in the last year. There are now fewer offshore production facilities in Federal waters than have been for more than 50 years.

Do the President's policies matter for gas prices? The Washington Post argues that global oil prices are being driven up by a decline in global supply relative to the demand of about a million barrels of oil a day. That's a lot of oil. But let's keep that in perspective. It's less oil than the Keystone XL pipeline President Obama blocked could carry each day to U.S. refineries.

Mr. Speaker, as the 2-year anniversary of the President's so-called Affordable Care Act approaches, we're reminded of the unkept promises. It almost seems like yesterday when we heard the line, ``We have to pass the bill so we can find out what's in it.'' That prediction

today stands as one of the few justifications for passage of the law to still hold much truth or credibility.

Then supporters said it wouldn't cost a dime; yet last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office stated they now expect the law to cost $1.76 trillion over 10 years. That's nearly double the $940 billion originally claimed.

Supporters said it would bring down costs; yet these new mandates have helped result in premium increases of up to 9 percent in my home State of Pennsylvania.

Today we remain committed to repealing and replacing this costly and dangerous law, piece by piece, if necessary. We take a great step today by repealing a provision that would otherwise cede the responsibility of Congress to an unelected and unaccountable Medicare rationing board. This measure is yet another facet of that commitment.

Mr. Speaker, just last week the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office served a devastating blow to President Obama's most frequently uttered promise during debate over the Affordable Care Act: ``If you like your present coverage, you can keep it.''

The CBO predicted the law would lead to a net loss of employer-based insurance coverage for between three and five million people each year between the years of 2019 and 2022, with as many as 20 million Americans losing their current insurance plans.

Now, as we approach the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, the full impact of this law remains unknown. However, a few things are quite clear. Supporters said it would lower costs. It hasn't. They said it would improve quality. It hasn't. The President said you can keep your current plan if you like it. This clearly is not the case.

By the administration's own estimates, the new health care regulations will force most firms, and up to 80 percent of small businesses, to give up their current plans by 2013.

Mr. Speaker, the American people can't afford another year of the so- called Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, otherwise known affectionately as ``THON.''

THON's goal every year is to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. The fund was established to support children's cancer by assisting patients and their families through treatment. The fund has helped thousands of families by offsetting medical expenses incurred during cancer treatment. This year, THON broke the previous record and raised $10,698,924. They raised over $10.6 million. That's amazing work. Congratulations.

Penn State's THON has grown to become one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the world, and their efforts have helped improve the lives of so many.

As a proud Penn State alum and Member representing the university here in Washington, I want to congratulate Penn State, the students, the donors, and all of the organizations involved in the THON for another amazing year in support of a truly important cause.

Madam Speaker, today, right now in America, around the dining room tables at home, there are two topics of discussion that I have to think are most pressing during that dinner conversation, and that is unemployment and price at the pumps; and, frankly, they're both related, very closely.

Madam Speaker, before being appointed to office, President Obama's

Energy Secretary Steven Chu stated: ``Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.''

Well, Madam Speaker, at the time of that statement, gasoline prices in Europe were $8 to $10 a gallon. Last week, the Energy Secretary made headlines when he seemed to say the administration's goal was not to lower gas prices. Considering the goal is not to lower gas prices, this may be the first time that the administration's energy policies match its rhetoric.

Now, despite the President's rhetoric about the need for increased domestic production of fossil fuels, to date, this administration has seemingly done everything it can to block production. But the purpose of these remarks is to highlight not the administration's statements but, instead, their policies.

Let's look at the record, starting with some positive things that happened just before President Obama took office and continuing through 2012 to present day, as shown on this graph.

First of all, July of 2008, at the peak of the 2008 gas price spike, President George Bush removed 18 years of Presidential Executive Orders restricting offshore oil and gas energy development. Prices began to fall immediately, almost overnight. Given the fact that not one additional barrel of oil was drilled, it was a message to the market, a strong message to the market that America finally recognized that the American taxpayers owned assets in oil and were willing to use them. What a message to the market it would be today, a similar message. But back in 2008, that's where we saw this drop begin to start.

Now, in September of 2008, just a couple of months later, Congress finally followed, after its 26-year ban on offshore drilling, to allow that to expire. Prices at the pump, as you can see, Madam Speaker, dropped dramatically, even more.

Then President Obama took office. February 2009, soon after, not long after inauguration, the administration rescinded oil shale lease plans put in place during the Bush administration to aid the production of oil in U.S. Government lands. These are lands that are owned by Federal taxpayers. President Obama's actions reduced production of oil in the United States Government lands, and we see what continues to happen with prices.

In June of 2010, the House Democrats passed a cap-and-trade national energy tax, which would have dramatically increased gasoline prices.

In November of 2009, the administration unilaterally shortened lease terms on some Outer Continental Shelf leases. Well, this policy not only discouraged oil and natural gas production, but also decreased much needed government revenues.

In March of 2010, the administration canceled the remaining lease sales in seas off the Alaska coast, eliminating development of reserves that the government estimates could be as large as 65 billion barrels of oil.

In May of 2010, the administration canceled the Virginia offshore lease sale, which had bipartisan support from the Virginia Governor and the Virginia congressional delegation. The administration also canceled the remaining 2010 Gulf of Mexico lease sales.

In December of 2010, the administration extended the moratorium on leasing off the Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico through 2017.

In January 2012, President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline. Estimates show that the Keystone XL pipeline would add 1.1 million barrels a day of friendly Canadian oil to our Gulf of Mexico refineries.

Madam Speaker, moving forward with a credible energy policy can only be achieved if we all have a shared understanding of the facts. Global demand for oil is increasingly driven by developing economies such as China and India. In the U.S., our demand is down 6 percent year after year, and prices are still skyrocketing. And it's going to stay that way.

Eighty-five percent of the world's energy consumption comes from hydrocarbons--oil, coal, and natural gas. While renewable energy is needed and new consumption efficiencies should be encouraged to meet future energy demands, hydrocarbons will be the dominant source of fuel for the world's economy for many decades to come. No one can deny that before we can create an energy supply that is substantially more diversified, we are going to need more fossil fuels to get us there.

We're not running out of Natural Gas. In 2000, shale gas represented just 1 percent of American natural gas supplies. Today, it is 30 percent and rising.

We are not running out of oil. Former CEO of Shell, John Hoffmeister, stated last week on State of the Union, ``We use 20 million barrels a day every day in a full economy in this country. We only produce 7. We used to produce 10. Let's go back to 10. We know how to produce 10. We have the oil to produce 10 for decades to come.''

Unfortunately, this Administration is preventing the U.S. from developing additional energy supplies to meet our demand. As a result, families are struggling with rising energy costs and higher gas prices at the pump.

Madam Speaker, these are the facts and the solutions are within our reach.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Sherry Stinebiser for decades of service to the communities of northwestern Pennsylvania.

On June 25, 2011, Sherry was elected to a 1-year term as president of the ladies auxiliary to the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars, the VFW. Like every task Sherry has taken on in her long career of service, her primary goal as president has been serving others.

Joining the Ladies Auxiliary in 1996, Sherry is a life member of Cleo Bargerstock Auxiliary 1424 in Marienville, Pennsylvania, which is located within the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District.

Outside of the auxiliary, Sherry has worked for more than 30 years as a licensed practical nurse. She has volunteered her spare time as an emergency medical technician and serves as a board member of a group called Experience Incorporated, a local organization in Warren and Forest Counties dedicated to providing services to elderly citizens.

Albert Einstein once said: Only a life lived for others is worth living.

A model citizen who has committed her life to serving others, I believe Sherry would agree.

Thank you for your service, Sherry.

Mr. Speaker, recreational therapy embraces a definition of health which includes not only the absence of illness, but extends to enhancement of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and leisure development. This caring profession touches the lives of individuals all across the Nation.

I have personally witnessed how recreational therapy provides independence and dignity in the lives of those facing life-changing disease and disability.

These services are provided by professionals nationally certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. Every day, countless individuals face rebuilding lives. These individuals benefit from the compassionate and cost-effective care of a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist.

Recreational therapy ultimately aims to improve an individual's functioning and keep them as active, healthy, and independent as possible. In a time when we need access to cost-effective health care, I urge all my colleagues to support the recognition of recreational therapy services provided by a CTRS specifically in satisfying the inpatient rehab intensity of service requirement.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the caring professionals of the therapeutic recreational profession for the services they provide every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as cochair of the bipartisan House Career and Technical Education Caucus in order to recognize February as National Career and Technical Education Month.

Career and technical education programs continue to evolve in order to ensure that workers are prepared to hold jobs in high-wage, high- skill, and high-demand career fields like engineering, information technology, health care, and advanced manufacturing for the 21st century.

During this time of economic uncertainty and record high unemployment, career and technical education programs provide a lifeline for the underemployed who look to be in careers alongside young adults just starting out in the rapidly evolving job market.

Career and technical education, while historically undervalued, helps tackle critical workforce shortages and provides an opportunity for America to remain globally competitive while also engaging students in practical, real-world applications of academics, coupled with hands on work experiences.

Together, these programs provide for integrated learning experiences which assist students with skills that promote career readiness. Whether for high school students and adults retraining for a new field or further professional development, career and technical education programs are vital to our country's economic recovery. And while the limited Federal investment has been stagnant for almost a decade, these programs have proven effective to ensure that America can continue to be the world's leading innovator.

As we move toward fiscal year 2013, I join with a bipartisan group of my colleagues in not only recognizing the importance of maintaining these Federal investments for our country's future, but also in saying thank you to the countless men and women who make these programs possible. They share a bold vision for America's future, which

breaks from the cookie cutter, straight out of the box education of the past and recognizes that America can and must remain a global leader.

Mr. Speaker, career and technical education serves to ensure that we continue on that path.

Mr. Speaker, Kelsey Lomison, 77, of Orviston, Pennsylvania, from the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District, died on Monday, February 6, of this week.

Centre and Clinton Counties lost a great friend. Kelsey Lomison lived his 77 years serving and making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. He was an extraordinary caring leader in many facets of life, from singing for area churches, organizing benefits for persons and families in need, and serving Curtin Township and his home community of Orviston.

As a community leader, Kelsey demonstrated a deep commitment to serving his neighbors. His leadership within the Howard Area Lions Club and the Clinton County Fair represents just two of the countless efforts he performed.

He touched many lives and provided an excellent example to all who knew him. His determination, bright outlook on life, and phenomenal voice will be remembered.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Barb, sons Wes and Dave, and their entire family.

Kelsey Lomison's kindness, professionalism, talent and unselfish service will be missed. Rest with the Lord, my friend.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with colleagues from Pennsylvania to recognize the accomplishments of Joe Paterno, the longtime Penn State football coach who passed away last month.

Paterno's accomplishments as a teacher and a coach rank him among the very best in the history of the country. His accomplishments were both on the field and on the campus.

I'm pleased today to be joined by a number of my colleagues from Pennsylvania and pleased to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

I thank the gentleman for his comments, for joining us and honoring and remembering a great individual in Joe Paterno.

It's now my honor to recognize Mr. Gerlach, another colleague that I've had the privilege and honor to serve with since coming to Congress.

I yield to Congressman Gerlach.

I thank the gentleman for participating today and this remembering and celebrating.

Mr. Speaker, in the times of my life I have had opportunity to reflect back on and think of as special times, there is one time in particular when I was a senior in high school. I grew up in Center County. I went to Penn State, I'm a proud Penn State alumni. I grew up in the shadow of the Nittany Lion and Joe Paterno. One of my most meaningful memories having played high school football was the day I got word that Coach Joe Paterno had asked for game films to look at me as a prospect for that great team. That was going well until he saw that as an offensive guard I was less than 200 pounds.

But today, I still treasure that, that he looked at my performance and at least saw something there.

Joe Paterno grew up in Brooklyn, the descendant of Albanian and Italian immigrants. He derived a toughness from that heritage, describing his father and Albania as a land of quiet, hardheaded people. His toughness was seasoned by a deep appreciation of the classics.

Virgil, which he read in the original Latin, was a key source of inspiration for Paterno. He wrote, ``I'll never forget the majestic ring of the opening lines of `The Aeneid': `Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris,''' which he translated as ``Of arms and the man I sing.''

Paterno drew inspiration from Virgil's hero Aeneas. Of Aeneas he wrote, ``He yearns to be free of his tormenting duty, but he knows that his duty is to others, to his men.''

He attended Brown on a football scholarship, where he met and combated prejudice--prejudice from those who thought that football players lacked the intellectual firepower of other students, prejudice from those

who thought birth gave status instead of personal excellence and hard work, prejudice based on religion.

As a player and later as coach, Paterno gave everything to his men, his players, and his team.

I'm now very proud to yield to my good friend from Pennsylvania, also a Penn State alumni Nittany Lion, Mr. Dent.

I thank the gentleman.

Winning was important for Joe Paterno, and he won a lot. Last fall, he achieved a record, becoming with 409 wins and 136 losses the winningest coach in Division I college football. His wins record surpassed legendary coaches, including Bear Bryant in 2001, Bobby Bowden in 2008, and Eddie Robinson in 2011. Penn State is one of just seven teams with more than 800 wins in its history, and Joe Paterno was active with the program for 704 of those games, over 61 seasons, with an amazing record of 514, 183 losses, seven ties--or 73 percent.

It is my pleasure and privilege now to yield to another great Pennsylvania Congressman, Congressman Lou Barletta.

I thank my good friend for sharing his thoughts on Coach Joe Paterno.

You know, among Joe Paterno's accolades in 46 years as head coach were two national championships, seven undefeated seasons, 23 finishes in the Top 10 rankings, and three Big Ten Conference championships since joining the conference in 1993. Joe Paterno had 24 bowl wins and 37 bowl game appearances, both of which are the most of any coach in history.

In his many decades as a coach at Penn State, Paterno built a team dedicated to excellence on the field and off the field, as you heard many of my colleagues refer to today. He saw football as important, but he kept even football in perspective. In his view, the players who have been most important to the success of Penn State teams have just naturally kept their priorities straight--football, a high second, but academics, an undisputed first, in his words.

Paterno said that he hounded his players to get involved. Don't let the world pass you by. Go after life. Attack it. Ten years from now, I want you to look back on college as a wonderful time of expanding yourself, not just 4 years of playing football. The purpose of college football is to serve education, not the other way around.

He understood that education required an effort by both students and teachers. Another of his quotes:

Even the most talented teacher can try what he or she

thinks is teaching, but it won't really take unless the

student takes charge of the most important job, learning.

Thus began Joe Paterno's grand experiment at Penn State, where players would not just be model athletes but model students and model citizens. His players responded, consistently ranking at or near among the top of the leading football programs in graduation rates.

Under his tenure, the Penn State football team had 16 Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes, 49 Academic All-Americans, and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners. Penn State had more Academic All-Americans than all other Big Ten schools and ranked number three among all 120 football bowl division schools.

In 2009, the graduation rate of Joe Paterno's players was 89 percent, and the graduation success rate was 85 percent, both of which were the greatest among all football programs in the final 2009 Associated Press Top 25 poll.

I am now pleased to yield back to my good friend, Mr. Dent.

Howard.

Mr. Speaker, Joe Paterno claimed that the long run success of his teams was in the contributions his players made to society after graduation. Joe Paterno decided not to accept lucrative NFL coaching offers because he loved being an educator as a college coach. He also criticized NFL teams that took too much of his players' time during their senior years. Paterno pushed the NCAA to adopt rules requiring higher levels of academic performance from college athletes, pushing higher standards for both high school and college graduates. Paterno's dedication to education extended far beyond the players he coached.

In the early 1980s, he pushed Penn State leadership to expand fundraising from alumni in order to advance academic programs. Paterno and his wife donated several million dollars to Penn State University, and he helped them raise many millions more.

Coach Paterno once said: When I'm gone, I hope they write that I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.

Well, Coach, that is what they're writing today.

He envisioned that increasing the resources available to the university through fundraising would help its students attain academic excellence. And the great things that Penn State has attained over the years are in part a testament to his vision and his dedication to that cause. Often universities name athletic facilities after great coaches. Penn State named a new wing of its library after Paterno.

Paterno's contributions extend beyond Penn State. He was heavily involved, he and his wife, Sue, in the Special Olympics, and was also a national spokesperson for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.

Mr. Speaker, just yesterday I had the opportunity to visit with one of the Special Olympic athletes, an ambassador for that program from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chris Jagielski. And the first thing Chris did in coming to my office was to express his sorrow for the loss of Coach Joe Paterno.

Paterno wrote that he had been strongly influenced by this line from St. Ignatius: `` `Always work as though everything depended on you. Yet always pray knowing that everything depends on God.' Over the years, that dynamite thought has exploded to something larger and larger in my life. It means to me now, Never be afraid to accept your own limitations or the limitations of others. Accept that we're all pretty small potatoes. Yet always know how great each of us can be.''

So the winningest coach in college football history was, I think, among the most humble of men based on those remarks that he made. The enormous positive impact that Joe Paterno has made on thousands of players, hundreds of thousands of students and millions of fans and admirers across central Pennsylvania and around the world cannot be understated. He was a man but his legend continues. For combining humility with a dedication to greatness, Joe Paterno stands as a model for all of us. With the passing of Joe Paterno, we're all Penn State, and we mourn his loss. Thank you, Joe Paterno.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, last month we heard some productive talk from the President during his State of the Union Address. His acknowledgement that we need increased domestic production of oil and natural gas was quite promising. Or, maybe his commitment ``to fight obstruction with action.'' Those types of words are always welcome in this Chamber. Unfortunately, the President's action, or lack thereof, continues to fall short of the rhetoric.

Mr. Speaker, there continues to be a great divide between the words in the speech the President delivers and his actual actions or leadership. Despite a pledged commitment to energy security, this administration has worked to counter attempts at making America's energy future more secure.

The President's denial of the Keystone XL pipeline, which has the potential to create thousands of jobs and add to our energy security, is just the latest example. Between the energy resources that would be provided by a constructed, completed Keystone pipeline and the domestic natural gas fields in the United States that are in production right now, we could shut off the valve of dependency on Middle East oil.

In the House, we've advanced dozens of bills to expand domestic resource production and encourage new job creation, almost all of which have been denied consideration by the Senate.

With any hope, the President will meet his commitment to fight obstruction with action by calling on the Senate to work with the House on these important initiatives. With almost 2 million more Americans out of work since taking office, the American people are looking for more than just talk.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are looking for things that they've not seen in Washington: leadership by the President and action by the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Professor Louis Moore for his long and distinguished career in the field of agriculture. After more than half a century of service, Lew will be retiring this year from Penn State, where most recently he served as a professor of agricultural economics.

Lew has been at the forefront of promoting Pennsylvania agriculture. Most notably, Lew was instrumental in the implementation and expansion of the PSU Agriculture Cooperative Extension, which helps citizens learn and connect with the various agriculture research and services that Penn State's Department of Agriculture provides Commonwealth farmers.

In 1955, Lew began work as a marketing agent for Cooperative Extension in northwestern Pennsylvania and later for the entire Commonwealth. In 1973, he joined Penn State as a professor of agricultural economics, where he also helped expand the Extension beyond Pennsylvania, working with foreign ministries of agriculture, farmers, universities, agribusinesses in countries across the world.

From his research and writings to his marketing and advocacy, Lew's contributions to the field of agriculture stand as a beacon to our State and our Nation.

Congratulations, Professor Moore, and we thank you for your service.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commend the Girl Scouts of the USA on its 52nd annual convention and its 100th anniversary. Since 1912, America's Girl Scouts have contributed significantly to the advancement of women in our society. For generations, Girl Scouts of America have actively promoted initiatives to help young women develop positive values, a sense of service, and other virtues that turn girls into productive contributors to their community, the country, and the world. Not only that, they've advanced the Nation by instilling courage, confidence, and character that young girls draw on to become leaders and make the world a better place.

Today, there are 3.2 million Girl Scouts--2.3 million girl members and 800,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers--all dedicated to inspiring generations of girls to reach for their goals and discover their full potential.

I want to commend each Girl Scout of each generation for their hard work and inspiring accomplishments, and I wish them well as the organization embarks on the next 100 years of service. Congratulations, Girl Scouts.

I thank my good friend from New Jersey for yielding and for hosting this Special Order about moral truth, that the right to life is a fundamental right, and frankly a Nation that kills its next generation is not a moral Nation.

It's been 39 years since the infamous Roe v. Wade decision, and for the 39th time, the American people have marched in Washington, D.C., in the March for Life to show Congress that they remain opposed to this decision. This year, the cold and driving rain couldn't dampen the resolve of the hundreds of thousands that turned out again. Their message was simple: stop abortion.

The act of murdering an unborn child has no place in this country. For a judicial system that is taking great lengths to try and ensure justice and fairness in the court of law, where is the justice here? Mr. Speaker, I'll ask you again, where is the justice for the unborn? The answer is simple. There is none.

But still Roe v. Wade and the subsequent left-wing pro-choice groups have pushed the envelope so that now this legalized murder of the unborn is prevalent across the country, accessible, and sometimes even partially financed by your tax dollars.

Let us look no further than last year in my home State of Pennsylvania, in a neighborhood outside west Philadelphia, an abortion mill that was in operation for over four decades, 40 years, was illegally delivering and killing newborns in a so-called abortion procedure. For years, the procedures he performed on women who came into the clinic was responsible for several deaths and severely injuring scores more.

For political reasons, even outlined in the grand jury report, the Pennsylvania Department of Health refused to inspect the abortion facilities. These abortion mills ran rampant and unchecked.

So for those who argue that this legalized murder is for the woman's health, I ask you where is the justice for those women? Where is the justice for the unborn at that facility? There is no justice in abortion for anyone.

Yet you look to the White House, and we have a President who states, ``As we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.''

Mr. Speaker, surely the President recognized he's wrong. Abortion is not the way to allow our daughters to fulfill their dreams. In America, everyone, regardless of color or gender, has the same rights and freedoms and opportunities to fulfill their dreams. Everyone except the unborn.

Mr. Speaker, surely the President knows that we will never know the dreams of the countless unborn daughters that are not with us today because of the pro-abortion policies this administration enforces.

Mr. Speaker, I stand with my colleagues tonight to say that enough is enough. How many more Roe v. Wade anniversaries must we endure until justice is done and this decision is overturned?

I thank my good friend from New Jersey.