Floor Statements

It's very clear in these economic times that Americans need jobs and, more accurately, we need the investment that will create jobs. We've got the money to do it. In light of the fact that bin Laden is no longer a threat to Americans, we don't need to spend over $100 billion a year in Afghanistan.

So, again, let's take a share of the money that's gone to rebuild Afghanistan, have it sent back to the U.S. taxpayers right here in the United States to create jobs right here in the U.S. Let's help rebuild American cities like the city of Detroit. When you do that, you rebuild U.S. manufacturing capacity. That will create jobs for thousands and even millions of Americans right here at home. The best way to make it in America: redirect our tax dollars away from Afghanistan in part to create jobs right here for American people.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize that the gentleman from Louisiana had it partially right. You know, the way we create jobs, we do it the old-fashioned way. We import great cars from Detroit.

So I urge you to defeat the previous question, support the bill that we have been talking about that will create great fuel-efficient cars, that will create jobs, and also save our motorists a lot of money because they won't have to fill up their cars with this expensive gasoline. They will be able to power their vehicles through other alternative sources of energy.

It's good for our environment, it's great for our country, it will save the motorists money, but, most importantly, it will create jobs.

Let's import these good-paying jobs by importing fuel-efficient vehicles from the city of Detroit. That's how you make it in America.

Thank you, Representative Cicilline.

I represent the city of Detroit. In fact, the congressional district that I represent includes metropolitan Detroit. Over the last 10 years, metropolitan Detroit has lost more jobs than any other metropolitan area in this country, but it wasn't just Detroit and its metropolitan area that's lost jobs. Other areas, other cities, other metropolitan regions in the country have lost millions of jobs over the last 10 years.

Now, during this same timeframe, this country has been investing our tax dollars to build bridges, to repair roads, to build hospitals, sewer systems, schools, to build industrial parks that will promote more business, to actually develop businesses and free enterprise models that are successful. Now, many of the American people may not have seen the benefits of this type of investment because all of the work that I am talking about that was funded by tax dollars was done in Afghanistan, and the people who directly benefited from these projects were the people of Afghanistan.

My position is this: we need to create jobs in America. We need to keep the jobs that we have here so they don't go overseas like they have in the past. In order to do that, I'm proposing let's take a share of the money that's intended to go to Afghanistan, redirect it to the United States to create jobs right here, jobs for the American people, because we're the ones that actually need it, and it makes sense. The money that we are investing in Afghanistan comes from U.S. taxpayers. Let's spend it in a way that benefits the taxpayers and creates jobs right here in the United States.

Now, I do understand that we've got to stop terrorism from breeding in other countries, and we certainly don't want other safe havens for terrorism to develop overseas. But in light of the fact that bin Laden is now gone, I'm asking this Congress, this administration to reassess our mission in Afghanistan. Let's take a part of the over half a trillion dollars--and that's trillion with a ``t''--in military assistance that we've spent in Afghanistan over the last 10 years, let's take a share of that and return it home to protect our people right here in the United States.

Yes, we are at risk of a terrorist attack, but more than likely that risk is increasingly coming from within the U.S. So let's fully equip and fund the first line of defense against terrorism in this country, which is our first responders. It is our local police, our local firefighters, our local emergency

medical providers that we call on to help protect the American people. So I'm proposing let's take a share of that military assistance that's going to Afghanistan, and let's invest it in our local police, fire, and emergency medical providers to protect our citizens right here at home.

Then, finally, over the past 10 years, taxpayers have invested nearly $30 billion--and that's billion with a ``b'', so we get these figures clear and the magnitude of our investment--we invested nearly $30 billion in Afghanistan for non-defense spending, much of it going toward economic development and civilian assistance. Let's take a portion of that funding and redirect it to the United States to create jobs right here.

My point is this: it takes money to create jobs, and more accurately, it takes public funds that can be leveraged effectively to create the investment that yields jobs. We've been spending that money for over a decade in another country. Bin Laden is now gone. Let's reevaluate our role in Afghanistan, and while we're doing that, let's take a share of our precious tax dollars--people, this is your money and we need it right now--to create jobs, to fight foreclosures, to invest in manufacturing. It is our manufacturing capacity that made our country strong, that created the best products that were sold around the world. It's our manufacturing strategy and capacity that transformed the city that I represent, the city of Detroit, from the motor capital of the world to the arsenal of democracy back in World War II.

Metro Detroit and this country's ability to innovate and create and manufacture saved this country and saved this world from fascism. If we invest a portion of the money right now that we're spending overseas in Afghanistan and winding down in Iraq, and we invest it right here in cities like Detroit and Elkhart, Indiana, and Louisville, Tennessee-- these are other cities that also have lost a lot of jobs--we can make America stronger.

We want to fight terrorism. We need to be a strong country, but the strength of our country comes from within. It comes from protecting the American people, and the most effective way to do that: invest in homeland security, support our local police and fire, and invest in jobs in America so that U.S. citizens can be financially stable and hopefully prosperous. This is how we built this country in just a little over 200 years into one of the greatest countries human civilization has ever known. We've done it by investing the people's money into the innovation and capacity to create jobs. It's through investing in the U.S.

I know I've been going on a little bit longer, but my point is this: I'm asking the American people who are watching tonight, call your Member of Congress, ask--demand, if you wish--that a share of your money that's going overseas right now be returned back to you to create jobs here, to protect our homeland, and also, to reduce our overall debt and deficit.

We've been spending the money, over $500 billion alone in the last 10 years in Afghanistan. This administration is slated to wind down that expenditure. Let's take a portion of that back to help our people, to make America strong again.

And you know why it's so important for America to be strong and not some other country? Because we believe in democracy. We, the people, actually have a voice, through folks like me, who you hired. I have the constitutional duty to be your voice here, not just for metro Detroiters, but for all of you who understand the value in manufacturing. That's the reason why my dad risked everything 80 years ago in the midst of the Great Depression to leave his homeland in India, to come here as a dream so that he could live his life as fully as he chose it and to raise a family. I am his only son, and he was so honored to see, many decades ago, the first Indian American elected to Congress. And I am here too as a legacy of an immigrant's courage to make a difference for himself, his family, and his country.

My point is this, people: It's our money. And you work hard for that money. And yes, we invested it overseas because we were trying to stop the people that were determined to wipe us out. And we got the ringleader. We took him out. Let's take a share of our money back and return it to our people. Let's create jobs here. Call your Member of Congress. Do it tonight. Leave them a voicemail message. Tell them, We need you, as a Member of this body that's constitutionally committed to represent the people, we need you to use a share of our money to help American families become financially stable again and to help this country's economy really endure in a prosperous way to help bring democracy and freedom throughout the world. I really am just so committed that we take a share of our funds right now to create jobs here.

I was born and raised in the city of Detroit, and it's heartbreaking to see what's happened to Detroit. But also too, there is so much promise there in Detroit because we still have the greatest talent in manufacturing. We have great research universities there in Michigan, including Wayne State University that I'm proud to represent. And we have the plants and the land to actually build new manufacturing operations. This country has the superb ability to innovate and outwork and outhustle and outsmart any of the competition around the world. All we have to do is this: return some of our money, our tax dollars, back to the U.S. so that we can prosper again.

Some of us are doing well, but I know overall--and I will close--that many American families are not feeling that financially secure, and I understand that. Look, I have been through hard times myself as a young man. That's why I am stressing the fact, turn a share of our tax dollars back to our people so we can do what's best, innovate, invest, and create jobs.

Thank you so much. God bless America.

Thank you, Representative Garamendi.

I, too, want to commend the Obama administration, our military forces, the national security and intelligence team for mission accomplished by taking out America's public enemy number one, Osama bin Laden. And while I believe it's important that we continue to work to eliminate terrorist breeding grounds and safe havens for terrorism that exist in foreign countries, because bin Laden is now gone, this is the time to reassess our mission in Afghanistan.

For example, we've been spending in recent years in total military and civilian aid to Afghanistan approximately $100 billion. That's billion with a ``B.'' We could take a share of that money, a share of those billions, redirect it to the United States to better protect Americans right here at home, invest that money in homeland security, for sound intelligence, to better

protect our borders, and also to support our first responders. And what I'm talking about is our local police officers, our local firefighters, our emergency medical providers. They need resources now because State and local governments really don't have the money to properly fund those operations. They need money. They need our support because our local police and fire, that's our first line of defense against terrorism here in the United States. Let's return some of that money here to protect Americans in the homeland, because it's American tax dollars in the first place that we're spending in Afghanistan.

Similarly, we spend billions of dollars in economic assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan. I am not taking great issue with that, but we could take a portion of that money to help rebuild our cities, rebuild our manufacturing capacity, repair our roads and bridges, build industrial parks and new schools. We're doing all of this right now in Afghanistan. We can do more of that right here at home for Americans.

So I want to thank, again, the Obama administration for a job well done, taking out our number one public enemy. This now provides us an opportunity to reassess how we're spending our money overseas, especially in Afghanistan, to redirect more of those funds right here at home because Americans, we need it. It's our money in the first place.

We can create jobs if we invest some of that in manufacturing, invest some of that in cities like the city of Detroit which are the basis of our manufacturing capacity, those types of industrial cities all around the country. And we know we need the industrial parks and schools.

Afghanistan, yes, we're rebuilding that infrastructure there. Let's do the same thing. Let's do more of that right here in the United States. That's how we can help all of us make it in America, and that makes the world a better place to live.

Finally, the real homeland security comes from within. When you take care of Americans and you make America stronger, that's the best way to fight off terrorists. The best way to defend ourselves against a threat that comes from overseas is to make sure that we are as strong as possible right here at home. Let's return some of that money to help serve Americans because, again, it's American tax dollars in the first place. I appreciate you giving me this opportunity to speak on these issues.

Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday I participated in one of the largest sit-down dinners ever held. It was hosted by the Detroit branch of the NAACP, and there we heard from and we honored the conscience of this House, Representative John Lewis.

The event was titled ``The Fight for Freedom Dinner.'' And some of those freedoms worth fighting for are economic in nature: The freedom to own a home that won't be unfairly placed in foreclosure. The freedom to work a job and not be laid off because you're outsourced. The freedom to receive health care, especially health care guaranteed by Medicare, and not have to go broke or bankrupt paying for it.

These opportunities should be available under our legal system to all Americans equally.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to talk about the American Dream.

The American Dream, that's what motivated the Asian American hotel owners to come to this country. Many of those hotel owners came here under circumstances similar to that of my dad. They came here to live the American Dream, but not just for us. By providing over half a million jobs to Americans throughout this great country, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association helped to provide the American Dream to all of us.

Mr. Chairman, I want to talk on behalf of the people I represent in Michigan.

Many of them have lost their jobs, and when they become seniors, they're likely going to have to survive on fixed incomes. If they get Medicare on vouchers, which won't fully cover the costs of their health services, they're going to have to pay for that out-of-pocket. Do you know what? Folks on fixed incomes, they don't have the money to pay for these services out-of-pocket. They will likely end up bankrupt.

The other issue is that a lot of the folks I represent have got multiple health conditions: heart disease, diabetes, arthritis. They all go to different doctors, and very few of the providers actually talk to each other. They also don't coordinate with hospitals or with other long-term health care providers. All of these services by the Medicare providers will be coordinated under our new Affordable Care Act. That's why we need those provisions in place--to better coordinate health care.

I urge my colleagues to table putting Medicare on the voucher. Let's keep our Affordable Care Act. That's the best way our seniors on fixed incomes can get the best health care possible.

Madam Speaker, I ask this Congress to address a grave public health crisis facing not only my district but my country.

Too many of our young people are dying. Many high school students in metro Detroit, the area that I represent, many of whom are African American, are being hit by an epidemic of HIV/AIDS.

I urge this Congress to support a piece of legislation sponsored by the National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS to address this issue, save the lives of our young people, and provide them with hope for a promising future.

Thank you, the great gentleman from California, Congressman Garamendi.

You're right. I was born and raised in Detroit, and am very proud of it--imported from Detroit, as you say.

One reason why U.S. manufacturing has been so innovative is that we use the best research. As a matter of fact, U.S. manufacturing performs half of the research and development in the United States. It has been fantastic, and let me give you an example.

In Detroit, which is the district that I represent, General Motors Corporation is now manufacturing one of the best electric-powered vehicles around, the Chevy Volt. The cost of the Chevy Volt has dropped. It's very affordable now, which is, in large part, because of the Department of Energy's investment into research and development in the lithium-ion battery. The cost of that battery has now dropped down to just $8,000 apiece.

So this car is not only a great car, saving gas, it's a good riding vehicle, but also it will be affordable.

But here's the problem: The problem is that many in the majority right now want to cut back on research and development that's going to be so essential for us not only to build the best products to be sold here, but also so that we can compete overseas. What's very disturbing is that, for the first time since 2008, the U.S. level of investment in clean energy technology has now dropped from first place in the world. We used to be number one in the world in clean energy technology research until recently. We have fallen now to number three, number three behind China and Germany. That's not acceptable.

I will yield to the gentleman.

Well, you're right, this makes no sense at all. And I'll tell you what's disturbing is that the British National Science Academy predicted that if we go on this path that we're going on right now--which we're going to ask the American people to back us up because we've got to put more research and development dollars into building these great manufacturing products. But if we don't do that, if we don't change, China could overtake us in scientific output in just a couple of years. That's not acceptable. We want to make sure that the best products are imported from Detroit, not from China.

Mr. Speaker, I'm standing here opposing the action taken by this House today and urging the Senate to allow the valued listeners of Metro Detroit's WDET to hear the best quality national programing, and here's why. What happens around the world impacts the quality of life of people living in Metro Detroit. The valiant listeners of Detroit's WDET deserve to hear this news and this programing.

Mr. Speaker, our homeowners need help right now, and I'm asking this Congress to provide homeowners with something they don't have when they're facing foreclosure. It's time--time to find more income, time to find another buyer to pay off the mortgage, and most importantly, time and leverage to negotiate with their lender and mortgage holder, who typically keeps losing the paperwork until the homeowner runs out of time.

So I'm asking this Congress to freeze all foreclosures for homeowners who deserve it, for homeowners who can afford to maintain their property, because that's the best way to stabilize our economy and to save family homes.

You are right, it is all about debt. Debt. Our homeowners, they are very concerned about debt. It may not be the Federal debt that their grandchildren may have to pay decades from now, but it is definitely that mortgage payment that is due next month. That is the debt that our homeowners cannot afford to pay.

So here is what I am asking this Congress to do: hold off on cutting back on these foreclosure initiatives before we directly help our homeowners. And we can help them in a way that won't cost much more money.

As a matter of fact, let's give homeowners something that they typically don't have when they are facing foreclosure, and that is time. Time. Time to find a home buyer to pay off their mortgage; time to get more income to pay off their bills; and, most importantly, the time and the leverage to voluntarily negotiate with a mortgage servicer that typically will keep losing their loan modification papers until the homeowner runs out of time. Time.

I am asking this Congress to first do this: freeze all foreclosures to those homeowners who deserve the help and who can afford to stay in their homes and maintain their homes. That is the best way to stop our property values from dropping, from providing the revenue that our police officers and firefighters and emergency medical providers definitely need; and, finally, that is the best way to help save family homes, by providing time to our homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, while today we are debating how we can address public needs with fewer and fewer public dollars, I am here to bring good news on how this Congress, this past Congress, invested our tax dollars to help save jobs.

The new General Motors, which I proudly represent, recently announced a new financial milestone: four consecutive quarters of profitability. That's not only good for GM and its shareholders but also for its employees, the majority of whom will receive profit sharing of over $4,000 each.

What that shows is that when this Congress works with our President to invest in U.S. manufacturing, that helps all of us to ``make it in America.''

Absolutely not from Tokyo, definitely from Detroit. I want to thank you so much, Representative Garamendi, for making it a priority that we make it in America.

Yesterday I did talk about the great TV ad that was aired during the Super Bowl where the rapper Eminem highlighted the grittiness and ingenuity of Detroiters that have given us the ability to make some of the finest vehicles in the world. And I also mentioned how that spirit of Detroit is really rooted in American values, those values that cherish our God-given rights, to life, to liberty, to the pursuit of happiness.

I'm not just bringing these up as a constitutional exercise or as a discussion of American history. If you don't mind, I would like to share with you; this is really about my dad. My dad would be 100 years old if he were living today.

Back during the 1930s, during the Great Depression, he risked everything to emigrate to the U.S. from India. He risked everything to come over here, and he was attracted to Detroit so he could get a chance to build cars in the Ford foundry.

The heart that he brought to his job was the same heart that transformed the city of Detroit into the arsenal of democracy that helped save this country and save this world from fascism. And as I mentioned, it's that same heart that I believe will restore financial prosperity to our country and financial security to American families if we make it in America, because we've got the insight, we've got the hard work, we have the research and the capability to build those cars that are going to be powered by electricity, to help build those homes and those buildings that will be heated by the sun, and to manufacture the best products in the world that will provide economic stability to our country but also provide prosperity to the world.

There are many people here watching us whose family came here to this country because they had a dream. There are others, like my mother's people, who came to this country against their will. But either way, when you come to America, you have the right to have an opportunity to pursue happiness, whether it's happiness of having the peace of mind of being comfortable here or enjoying the excitement of pursuing your own personal ambition.

The pursuit of happiness in this country means that all of us have the opportunity to live our life as full as we choose it. And, you see, that opportunity to really use our intellect, our mind, our body and our spirit, that's what makes American manufacturing the most extraordinary achievement of modern civilization, because American manufacturing is not just about cheapening costs or taking someone's technology. It's about harnessing the genius that's within all of us. It's about unleashing the ingenuity that's inherent in humankind.

So that's why I urge this Congress, when we consider these policies right here on the board, whether it's who to trade with, who to train, how to tax, that we do all of this to focus on making it in America. Because when we do that, we can truly have enduring prosperity for all Americans and American families, and right now, our families are feeling so insecure. The answer is in our roots. It's in American manufacturing.

When we make it in Detroit, we make it in America.

Mr. Speaker, a couple of days ago, during the Super Bowl, a TV ad was aired that highlighted the grit and spirited ingenuity of Metro Detroiters, which gives us the ability to make some of the greatest cars in the world.

Well, that spirit of Detroit is rooted in our American values of life, of liberty, of the pursuit of happiness; and it is that spirit that transformed Detroit in World War II into the arsenal of democracy that saved this country--that saved this world--from the threat of fascism.

Mr. Speaker, I believe today that that same spirit of Detroit will help build the new cars that will be powered by electricity; will help build new homes and offices which will be heated by the Sun; and will help manufacture the best products in the world.

You see, when you make it in Detroit, you help make it in America.