Floor Statements

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 253: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 367: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following new section:

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 368: Page 197, line 17, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $34,023,000)''.

Page 359, line 5, after the dollar amount, inserte

``(increase by $34,023,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 369: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 370: Page 9, line 15, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $18,750,000)''.

Page 359, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $18,750,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 371: Page 294, line 1, insert ``reduced by

$100,000,000)'' after the dollar amount.

Page 359, line 15, insert ``(increased by $100,000,000)''

before the period at the end.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 372: Page 326, line 21 after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $47,115,000)''.

Page 326, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $23,310,000)''.

Page 359, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $47,115,000)''.

Page 359, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $23,310,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 373: Page 326, line 2, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $100,500,000)''.

Page 359, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $100,500,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 374: Page 195, line 6, strike ``in excess of

$112,000,000''.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 375: Page 181, line 16, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $18,867,000)''.

Page 181, line 21, after the first dollar amount, insert

``(reduced by $18,867,000)''.

Page 359, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $18,867,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 376: Page 273, line 3, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $64,100,000)''.

Page 359, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $64,100,000)''.

Offered By Mr. Flake

Amendment No. 377: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the committee for bringing this resolution forward. I rise in support of it.

Madam Speaker, as Judge John Roll pored over the plans and designs for a new courthouse to be built in Yuma, Arizona, I am sure his intentions were not to cement a legacy in brick and mortar. To those who knew him, maintaining a reputation as a fair, ethical and intelligent jurist was legacy enough.

One Tucson attorney said, ``One of the finest compliments you could give him was that you got a fair day in court.''

In fact, when the ability of the Arizona Federal court system to ensure such timely care and attention in all of its proceedings came into question by what he called a ``tsunami of felony cases,'' Judge Roll declared a judicial emergency for the District of Arizona.

An Arizonan since childhood, a two-time graduate of the University of Arizona and a public servant within the State for nearly 40 years, Judge Roll was a tireless advocate. His mission would bring him to seek the assistance of his Representative, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Eventually, their efforts helped to secure approval of the funding for the Yuma courthouse.

With the construction of this building set to begin this July, Judge Roll labored over the finishing touches. To him, the building represented a means to an end to better serve the people of Arizona. The Judge John M. Roll United States Courthouse will now represent and commemorate Judge Roll's legacy as a selfless public servant.

Let me just say that I, along with some of my colleagues here, had the honor to attend his funeral. I heard stories of selfless service, of care and of what an incredible, wonderful jurist he was to represent the United States Government--to ensure that justice was served and for his service to the people of Arizona. There was such an outpouring of love and support for the family and, basically, just an honoring of the legacy of this great man. So I am glad we can do this small part to ensure that people remember what he has done for the State and for his country.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 2, legislation repealing the massive health care law passed last year.

Obamacare creates an unfunded mandate for states that took federal stimulus funds for Medicaid.

This unfunded mandate will cost states like Arizona hundreds of millions of dollars.

It also ties their hands from changing their Medicaid programs to prevent them from becoming unaffordable.

States must be allowed to tailor their programs as they see fit in order to ensure their long-term sustainability.

There are claims that repealing Obamacare would lead to massive deficits because it is supposedly paid for, but I would like to point out one item that was intended to raise revenues in order to help pay for the health care law that is already facing repeal.

The healthcare bill includes a requirement that small businesses file a report every time they spend more than $600.

This filing requirement went into effect at the end of last year and I am among a considerable bipartisan effort seeking to repeal it.

Time and time again, we pass a law that is supposedly paid for . . . only to find out that the supposed pay-fors aren't worth the paper n which they were written.

Sadly, when all of the budget gimmicks and fiscal hijinx are accounted for;provisions like these in Obamacare aren't paid for at all.

In fact, the House Budget Committee Chairman recently noted that the true cost of Obamacare to taxpayers is more than $700 billion.

Mr. Speaker, I agree that something must be done about the rising costs of health care, but Obamacare is not the answer.

This is a bad law: we need to just start over and enact healthcare reforms that improve quality and control costs.

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

I want to thank Speaker Boehner and the leadership on both sides of the aisle for bringing this resolution to the floor. This is indeed Congress at its best.

None of us will ever forget the feeling we had when we heard the news of the shooting last Saturday--one of the victims which was our dear friend and colleague, Gabby Giffords. A few hours

after the first news broke, I was in attendance at the press conference in Tucson at the medical center. Amid the turmoil and the anguish of the occasion, there were audible expressions of joy and relief around that room and around the country when Dr. Rhee announced that Gabby could listen and respond. Gabby's progress over the past few days has been measured in much the same manner--the squeeze of a hand, the raising of two fingers, a thumbs-up sign, each gesture letting us know that she hears, that she is listening and responding. These traits, listening and responding, have defined Gabby Giffords' career as a legislator.

Let me give but one example borne of another tragedy just 10 months ago. Longtime Arizonan Bob Krentz, known to provide assistance to those he found in need, was murdered on his ranch near Arizona's southern border. Farmers and ranchers in Arizona were understandably alarmed. Gabby listened and responded. Over and over she contacted and visited those affected, reassuring them that help was on its way. She convened monthly conference calls for the farming and ranching communities involving the Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Justice Department and other Federal agencies, each month broadening the circle to include more stakeholders.

We learned of her efforts in delegation meetings here in Washington, where she enlisted additional support. Last August, much as a result of Gabby's persistent efforts, the Congress acted, providing unprecedented resources to improve security in the area. Gabby listened, she responded, and, in the end, Congress responded as well.

We are responding here today by giving thanks for the service of Federal Judge John Roll and Gabe Zimmerman for the public service they have rendered. We are responding today by recognizing the heroic lifesaving efforts of people like Daniel Hernandez, who delivered aid to Congresswoman Giffords; to those who tackled the gunman; to Dorwan Stoddard, who shielded his wife from the gunfire, selflessly giving his own life that she might live. We are responding today by joining John and Roxanna Green in mourning the loss of their 9-year-old daughter, Christina, as well as the friends and families of Dorothy Morris and Phyllis Schneck.

We in the Arizona delegation are proud of the wonderful State that we, together with more than 6 million of our friends and neighbors, call home. Arizona is defined not by the actions of a lone crazed gunman, but by the heroism and bravery of those who left us on Saturday and those, like our friend and colleague, Gabby Giffords, who will continue to lead us in the future.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Franks).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Quayle).

Mr. Speaker, let me just say how nice it is to have you presiding and another Arizonan controlling time on that side and so many in the delegation here today. We are a close delegation.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis).