Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him more importantly for his leadership here in the Congress.

You said it right. You said it well. Whether you're for a fair tax or for a flat tax, one thing is certain: The American people have had it with the current Tax Code.

Think about it. Any Tax Code that allows 47 percent of the citizens not to pay, 47 percent of all the people that live in this country not to pay the main tax, the income tax that we have, you can't repair it; you can't fix it; it's completely broken, and you've got to throw it away and start over. Any Tax Code that now requires our companies headquartered in the United States of America to pay the highest corporate tax rate in the world is broken.

This is one thing that is amazing to me. We are talking about small business and we are talking about tax policy. What's amazing to me is, in spite of stupid policies from the Federal Government, how well our small business owners do. It's a testimony to what Mr. Woodall was talking about, the work ethic and the entrepreneurship of the American people and the American small business owner that, in spite of bad policies, they're still succeeding.

Imagine if we had a tax policy that actually made sense. Imagine if we had a regulatory environment that made sense. Imagine if we had an energy policy that made some sense and used the resources the good Lord has blessed us with in this country. Imagine if we had monetary and fiscal policy that made sense. We wouldn't be having 1.5 percent, 2 percent growth. We'd be having 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent growth in this economy. As you said, Mr. Chair, we would be creating an environment that is conducive to economic growth.

If we actually did that, get out of the way and let the American entrepreneur, let the American family, let

the American small business owner do what they've been doing for 200- plus years, they would be making good things happen: growing our economy, creating jobs, helping our communities, and making us the greatest Nation in the world. That's what's at stake here, and it does start with the policies that we have here at the Federal Government.

So we need to change this Tax Code, change the regulatory environment, and certainly change our energy policy and start getting spending under control. If we have a chance, we'll talk about that here in just a few minutes, but I know we've got another speaker who we want to get to.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I just want to respond to two arguments my friend from Maryland has made in his remarks and, frankly, made the last 2 days in this debate.

First, he says we need a balanced approach. Everyone understands when Democrats talk about a balanced approach, what they mean is raising taxes now and, oh, we promise--and you can count on this promise because it's coming from politicians--we promise we will cut spending later.

I would like to point out: If it's so important to raise taxes on the American people and on certain businesses, why in the world didn't the Democrats do this just 24 months ago when they controlled all of government? In fact, they had a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate just 24 months ago. If it was so critical, why didn't you do it then? So this balanced approach is not going to fly.

The other argument they make is somehow our proposal that Mr. Garrett and his team put together, which I strongly support, that somehow it's going to hurt economic growth. Someone's got to explain to me how getting to balance in 5 years and then beginning to pay off a $16 trillion debt, a debt that is now bigger than our entire economy, bigger than our entire GDP, someone's got to explain to me how that will hurt economic growth. I actually think it will probably prevent a downgrade, unlike last summer. If we'd have adopted this budget last summer, my guess is we wouldn't have gotten a downgrade from S&P.

So I just want to commend the gentleman from New Jersey and his team for his hard work and make this final point.

One of the things that makes our country special is this simple phenomena: parents make sacrifices for their kids so that when they grow up they have life better than they did. They, in turn, do it for their children. And each generation in this country has done it for the next--until today.

Today, for the first time in American history, we have a political class who's living for the moment, spending for the moment, and sending the bill to the next generation. It is wrong; it is unfair; it is immoral. The only budget that's going to get us to balance in a reasonable period of time, in a commonsense period of time that the American people understand, is the budget that Mr. Garrett and his team have put together.

So I strongly support it and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the House Floor during yesterday's roll call vote.

Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 3637.

Mr. Speaker, my scheduled flight into Washington was cancelled yesterday for mechanical reasons. As a result, I was absent from the House Floor during Tuesday's rollcall vote.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 49.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to recognize the accomplishments of former Congressman Edward J. Derwinski, who passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2012, after a long and distinguished career of service to our country.

Ed Derwinski led a fascinating and extraordinary life. An Army veteran, he served in the Pacific during World War II and the postwar occupation. He returned home following his Army service to earn a degree at Loyola University in 1951. After a single term in the Illinois House of Representatives, he was elected to Congress, where he represented Illinois's Fourth District for 24 years.

The congressman's fearlessness was a hallmark of his career, as was most clearly evident in his policy toward the USSR. He was of Polish descent and sympathized strongly with Poland's plight under Soviet rule. To this end, President Reagan appointed him to the State Department, ultimately tapping him as Under Secretary for Security Assistance in 1987. The capstone of his long career of public service was his appointment as the first Cabinet-level Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, I am proud to note that Ed Derwinski was one of our founding members. Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner has written that Congressman Derwinski was ``the only senior member who was willing to have the group meet in his office in those early days,'' as other members ``did not want to be viewed as party mavericks by the Republican leadership in the House.'' I am grateful for the solid foundation he and his colleagues built nearly four decades ago.

Mr. Speaker, Ed Derwinski is now fittingly buried in Arlington National Cemetery. On behalf of the Republican Study Committee, I offer his family my condolences as we all continue to celebrate the life of such a tireless defender of freedom both at home and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to commend to the House the outstanding contributions of Chief Master Sergeant David W. Parker who recently retired after thirty-two years of service with the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing.

Chief Parker enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard on December 31, 1979, and began basic training in February, 1980. He started as an Electronic Warfare Specialist in the Electronic Counter Measures Shop in the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. There he earned the rank of Technical Sergeant.

In 1994, Chief Parker was chosen as one of only three members of the 180th to be part of the Combined Task Force at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, where he was part of a team that provided electronic countermeasures maintenance support.

In 1995, he was promoted to Master Sergeant. In 1998, he was selected First Sergeant of the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. He was named the Enlisted Association's First Sergeant of the Year in 1998 and the 180th Fighter Wing First Sergeant of the Year in both 1998 and 2004.

He became Senior Master Sergeant in 2005 and Chief Master Sergeant in 2008. In 2010 he became the NCOIC of Student Flight, a position he held until retirement.

Throughout his career, Chief Parker was deployed numerous times, including such locations as Cold Lake, Canada; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Balad Air Base, Iraq; and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Chief Parker also received copious awards during his thirty-two years of service including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon, the Ohio Commendation Medal, and the Ohio Award of Merit.

Chief Master Sergeant David W. Parker's long and distinguished career with the Ohio Air National Guard is a shining example to all who volunteer and serve. I am proud to wish him and his family every success as they move on to a new chapter in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the House floor on Monday, December 12. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcalls 913, 914, and 915, and ``no'' on rollcall 916.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the achievements of 2012 National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees Al and Chris Bevilacqua--the first father and son to be so honored in the same year.

For nearly a half century, Al Bevilacqua has worked tirelessly to advance the sport of wrestling as a coach, organizer, mentor, and teacher. Named USA Wrestling's Coach of the Year in 1983, Al has managed successful programs at the high school and college levels, including two years at Division I Hofstra University. Al's greatest contribution to the sport, however, may be his role as co-founder of Beat the Streets, a New York City-based wrestling program that promotes the values of hard work, dedication, and self-discipline among the area's youths. He will receive the Hall of Fame's Order of Merit for his many contributions to the sport.

A two-time All-American at Pennsylvania State University, Chris Bevilacqua has continued his father's legacy of athletic excellence and community involvement. A fixture in the sports media industry, Chris helped found CSTV, the first 24-hour cable network dedicated to college and amateur athletics, which was sold to CBS in 2005. Chris currently serves as CEO of the Bevilacqua Media Company, a strategic advisor to media and entertainment interests. He will receive the Hall's Outstanding American Award.

Al, Chris, and their fellow honorees will be recognized in June during the Hall's induction ceremony in Stillwater, Oklahoma. I congratulate them and join their family and friends in celebrating their many contributions to the wrestling community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former Public Printer of the United States Robert W. Houk, who passed away unexpectedly on Sunday.

Mr. Houk, a Michigan native who later moved to Shelby, Ohio, was a graduate of Michigan State University and Wayne State University. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran, rising to the rank of first lieutenant after serving throughout Europe during World War II and serving stateside during the Korean Conflict.

The management and leadership skills he learned in the Army were put to good use during his long and impressive career in the business world. He worked for the Ford Motor Company and at Detroit's Rotary Manifold before cofounding UFORMA/Shelby Business Forms in 1966. For more than two decades, he served as UFORMA's president and chief executive officer.

Mr. Houk's leadership in the printing industry was widely recognized by his peers. He was tapped as chairman of the board of International Business Forms Industries in 1976 and as chairman of the Printing Industries of America in 1987. Business Forms and Systems magazine named him Man of the Year in 1980.

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Mr. Houk as the 22nd Public Printer of

the United States, a position he held until 1993. In that role, he oversaw the work of more than 3,000 Government Printing Office employees across the nation. He also earned a doctorate from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, during his term as public printer.

Mr. Houk was very active in the Shelby community, chairing the boards of the Rehabilitation Center of North Central Ohio, the Mansfield Symphony Society, and The Ohio State University's Mansfield Campus. He also enjoyed playing trumpet in many area bands and was a charter member of the Ashland Area Community Concert Band.

Mr. Speaker, Robert Houk is survived by his wife, Sally; his son, Raymond; his daughter, Lisa; and their families. On behalf of the people of Ohio's Fourth Congressional District, I offer them my condolences as they gather in Shelby on Saturday to celebrate his life and his many contributions to the community and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the House Floor on Friday, October 14.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcalls 792, 793, and 800, and ``no'' on rollcalls 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, and 799.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of an Allen County hero, Douglas Edward Dahill, who died while bravely serving our country in Vietnam, on or about April 17, 1969.

Doug joined the Army after graduating from Lima Senior High School, following in the military tradition of his grandfather, father, and uncle--all veterans.

Shortly after his twentieth birthday, Doug and two fellow soldiers were dropped behind enemy lines on a reconnaissance mission in a dense northwest jungle of South Vietnam. On the mission's third day, his team came under severe enemy attack.

For the next 10 years, Doug was listed as missing in action. Very recently, remains returned from Vietnam in 1991 were positively identified as Doug Dahill and his two colleagues from the recon team.

At long last, Douglas Dahill will be laid to rest today in Arlington National Cemetery, bringing his family closure after more than four decades.

On behalf of the United States Congress and the families of Ohio's Fourth District, I want to thank Specialist Doug Dahill and his family for the selfless service and sacrifice they gave to this, the greatest nation in history.

I was moved by Doug's words, found in a portion of a letter he wrote to his family from Vietnam:

I hope I haven't died in vain, but for a reason--the

American way of life. . . . A lot of young American boys,

rather men like myself, are dying in Vietnam now. Their

eulogy would be that they died for a reason and not in vain.

A job is being done and we're doing it. Sure, it's a dirty

job, but freedom doesn't come easily.

Douglas Edward Dahill is an American hero who will never be forgotten. He will live forever in the hearts of every American he gave his life defending.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join the people of the Republic of China in commemorating their 100th National Day this October 10.

Taiwan remains one of our closest allies and a vital partner in peace in the region. A guarantor of fundamental rights to its citizens

and committed to the rule of law, Taiwan is a model for emerging democracies in the region and throughout the world. It is a vibrant reminder that freedom is a universal ideal.

We rightly consider any effort to hinder Taiwan's self-determination as a threat to regional peace. The United States must continue to stand behind our commitment to Taiwan and the military and trading partnerships we enjoy with this major regional economy. We must also support Taiwan's strong desire for much-deserved membership in the United Nations.

Mr. Speaker, we are grateful for dependable allies like Taiwan. The relationship between our two nations has been to the cultural, economic, and political benefit of both. We send our greetings and best wishes to the people of Taiwan as they mark their centennial next week.

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend's shocking attack on Israel's embassy in Cairo reminded us of the ongoing challenges faced by Israel as it continues to take risk after risk in the name of establishing lasting peace in the Middle East.

Thousands of rioters knocked down a recently installed protective barrier, ransacked the embassy, burned Israeli flags, and held six

security guards hostage. These shameful acts had the potential to do great harm to the hard-won 1979 peace treaty--a treaty penned barely a generation after the Holocaust and in the wake of the blatant 1973 attacks by Egypt and Syria that opened the Yom Kippur War.

Yet even in the face of evidence that the rioters seek an end to the peace treaty, Israel remains dedicated to it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid rich tribute to the ultimate actions of Egyptian authorities to quell the riot and rescue the embassy guards. He pledged that the ambassador and the embassy's staff will return to Cairo when security can be better guaranteed. Israelis well know that peace with Egypt is in the best interest of both nations and the entire region.

As Prime Minister Netanyahu said in his May address to Congress, Israel is ``the one anchor of stability'' in the Middle East. Unwavering, self-sustaining, and yet faced with threats to its sovereignty from many sides, Israel has taken every chance to secure peace over its six-plus decades of existence. The prime minister has repeatedly said that Israel is willing to make ``painful compromises'' to achieve a two-state solution and quell violence in Gaza and the West Bank. In response, Israel is vilified in the United Nations, mocked for its attempts to survive, and met with open calls for its elimination.

Mr. Speaker, we must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel, a vanguard against the terror states of the Middle East. Our two nations share a strong, long-lasting partnership based on mutual democratic values and freedoms. We must remain united against all threats to Israel's peace, stability, and its very existence--which, as we were reminded just days ago, cannot be taken for granted.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Let's just cut to the numbers and what this bill does. We've got a $14 trillion debt. This is going to raise the debt ceiling $2.4 trillion. It's going to achieve a savings of $18 billion in the first year.

So just think of it the way the American people would see things. You've got a kid who has maxed out the credit card at $14,000. The kid goes to the bank, and the bank says, Okay. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to give you 2,400 more dollars on the credit card, but you have to promise us, over the next year, you're going to spend $18 less than you planned on spending.

That's what this bill does. This bill doesn't even come close to starting to solve the problem. That's why we're against it, and that's why it should be defeated.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Louisiana (Mr. Landry).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren).

Mr. Speaker, before yielding to the gentleman from Indiana, let me just say this: This idea that there's no chance this will pass the Senate, how do we know? We don't know until we send it over there. Maybe Harry Reid will have the courage to bring it up on the floor. We don't know.

You know what? Every Friday night when they get ready to play the game, there's always one team that's favored, maybe heavily favored. But they still kick the ball off, they still play the game, and sometimes the underdog wins.

In fact, anything of real magnitude that's ever happened, the conventional wisdom was, it can't happen. So how do we know?

I'm sick of this argument it can't happen in the Senate. We don't know that. If the conventional wisdom always won out, there wouldn't be a United States of America. This is one of those historic moments. And to say this thing can't pass the Senate is just plain wrong, just plain wrong.

I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

I think it's going to get 218, and we'll send it to the Senate. At some point we may be able to get two-thirds. That's our whole goal. This bill needs 218.

I know what the bill says.

Reclaiming my time, is the gentleman from Maryland suggesting that if there are some changes made to the balanced budget amendment in our legislation that there would be 50 votes in the House to support it on your side?

That's good to know.

Reclaiming my time, so what you're saying is you guys actually think the balanced budget amendment is a good idea and something we need.

Oh, that's really worked well over the last 40 years.

I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Will the gentleman yield for a question?

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Duffy).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Fleming.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Southerland).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

Mr. Speaker, you know why it was rejected? Because it is the same old game. It is exactly the same old game. The cuts come in the outyears; the tax increases come now. And, oh, here we go again. And, yes, there are no specifics to it. It is the same old game.

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam).

Mr. Speaker, what defies logic is a $14 trillion debt and the Democrats' unwillingness to say let's do what everyone else has to do. Let's put a balanced budget requirement in the Constitution so that politicians have to do what they have to do in their homes.

Obviously, the other route didn't work. So what part of $14 trillion don't you understand? What part of balancing the budget don't you understand?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the distinguished majority whip.

Mr. Speaker, I would just add, 38 of those 50 States would have to agree to this before the Constitution would be amended. The gentleman can say, oh, we're going to write this in. The States get to decide this. That's the other part of this equation.

I would yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy).

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) control the balance of my time, who will also take over the final 30 minutes.