Floor Statements

I would like to thank the chairman for yielding. I am very grateful to Chairman John Kline and Subcommittee Chairman Todd Rokita for their leadership on this very important issue for our children.

Mr. Chairman, big government often creates big problems. Our education system needs limited government reform. Having access to the highest quality education paves the path for tremendous opportunity, success, and fulfillment. Locally elected school boards, hardworking teachers, school administrators, and active parents know what's best for our children's education needs, not Washington bureaucrats.

The passage of today's bill, the Student Success Act, will promote our education system by limiting Washington's influence so that our leaders on the local level and classroom teachers have the power to make decisions to help America's children succeed.

South Carolina's Second District has a wide range of diverse school districts. We have children from all backgrounds of life--wealthy, poor, rural, and urban communities. As an appreciative husband to a retired schoolteacher, I've seen firsthand what we need to do to help our children succeed. The best way to adequately prepare our children for the future is to empower our locally elected school boards, who are responsive to input from parents and teachers.

What works in suburban Lexington communities may not work in rural Barnwell County.

The President's pushing of government education neglects our young people and maintains ineffective, status quo education practices. We must change course.

It is time for a different, commonsense approach. We must reform our education system in order to provide a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this piece of legislation. By putting faith in our educators, school board members, parents and administrators, we can give every child what he or she deserves--quality education to fulfill their dreams.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, the President made inaccurate promises when he shoved a 2,000-page health care takeover bill through both Houses of a Democrat-controlled Congress. Now he is usurping power again by choosing to relieve employers from the higher taxes and increased government regulations mandated by the Unaffordable Care Act that still requires individuals to suffer. For a President who says he is for fairness, this decision protects Big Business and targets American families, taking more from their paychecks.

House Republicans are acting to protect every American from the unworkable provisions by voting to repeal both the employer and individual mandates. ObamaCare is an unworkable, unaffordable law that destroys jobs, disrupts the doctor-patient relationship, and promotes uncertainty for future generations. As a proponent of limited government, I fully remain committed to defunding, dismantling, or repealing ObamaCare to provide the fairness necessary to allow every American family to make their own health care decisions.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, according to Investor's Business Daily:

From the media to Wall Street, June's jobs report is being

spun as a major positive, a sign the economy is back on

track. Maybe the pundits should look at the actual numbers,

which are abysmal. At June's pace of 195,000 new jobs a

month, it will take 11 months to get back to where we were in

2007. It's even worse when you consider all of the net

addition to June jobs--repeat, all--were part time. The

underemployment rate shot up from 13.8 to 14.3 percent. This

isn't a solid jobs report. It's a crisis.

House Republicans have passed legislation to promote jobs. Building the Keystone pipeline alone can create nearly 200,000 jobs. In the Midlands of South Carolina, the earthmover tires made by Michelin Corporation are shipped to Alberta, Canada, for oil sand recovery. At 12 feet high and $60,000 for each tire, there are over 300 jobs in

Lexington, with another 300 persons building engines for Alberta at MTU in Graniteville of Aiken County.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Happy 40th birthday today, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recent editorial in the Washington Times:

The promise of ObamaCare was that it would make health

insurance both universal and affordable.

It was obvious from the beginning that President Obama's scheme, a fantasy of politics and palaver, wouldn't work. The folly of the health care takeover becomes ever more clear with the appearance of the markers for implementation. Robust economic growth is crucial, and ObamaCare threatens to make a bad economy much worse. Congress must listen to the whistle of that speeding train bearing down on us and step on the brakes and avoid the wreck while there's still time to come.

The wheeling and dealing of the dishonest ObamaCare campaign has finally caught up with the President. Delaying the employer mandate while still requiring individuals to comply with the government health care takeover bill is wrong and will place a burden on American families. We must repeal ObamaCare in its entirety and replace it with a plan to preserve the doctor-patient relationship before this unworkable law destroys more jobs.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, the President is playing politics with the American people's health care.

According to an editorial published in The Wall Street Journal:

The White House seems to regard laws as mere suggestions,

including the laws it helped to write. On the heels of last

week's 1-year suspension of the Affordable Care Act's

employer mandate to offer insurance to workers, the

administration is now waiving a new batch of its own

ObamaCare prescriptions. These disclosures arrived inside a

606-page catchall final rule that the Health and Human

Services Department published on Friday, July 5--a classic

Friday news dump, with extra credit for the holiday weekend.

HHS now says it will no longer attempt to verify individual

eligibility for insurance subsidies and instead will rely on

self-reporting, with minimal efforts to verify if the

information consumers provide is accurate.

House Republicans have warned for years of the failure of ObamaCare-- that it is too unworkable, too overreaching, and too destructive for American families. House Republicans have voted 37 times to repeal or to defund ObamaCare. The American people deserve a health care system based on the doctor-patient relationship, not on one mandated by a government.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, a week from today is the 50th anniversary of an historic event in Washington, which helped launch a successful political revolution resulting in the development of the two-party system in the South.

On July 4, 1963, I participated with a busload of Republican activists and Teen Age Republicans, TARS, for the National Draft Goldwater Rally at the DC Armory addressed by Senator John Tower of Texas, Congressman John Ashbrook of Ohio, and Governor Paul Fannin of Arizona. The bus was organized by the visionary J. Drake Edens, a key founder of the modern Republican Party.

This event galvanized a movement, which has transformed the South culminating in 2012 with Republican legislative majorities in all states from Virginia to Texas and Oklahoma. Under the current President, the Southern states evolved from 49 percent population with Republican majorities to 100 per cent, 51 per cent Democrat for a century to zero, completing a 50-year shift. In 1961, State Representative Charlie Boineau of Richland County was the first Republican elected to any State office in the 20th Century in the State of South Carolina. In 1962, State Representative Floyd Spence of Lexington County became the first elected official of the Century to courageously switch parties explaining he felt more comfortable with Northern Republican philosophy than Southern Democrats. In 1964, U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond of Aiken County switched parties to support Barry Goldwater for President and he hired Tom Moss of Orangeburg as the first African-American staff member of a deep south U.S. Senator. Aiken County was a pioneer promoting local Republican candidates because of a high percentage of transplants from the Northeast and Midwest who worked at the Savannah River Site. South Carolina led the way for the South's first Republican legislative Speaker electing David Wilkins in 1994.

On the national level, this movement fulfilled the dream of Senator Barry Goldwater in his 1962 book Why Not Victory? with the defeat of the world-wide communist threat and the liberation of dozens of nations inspired by Ronald Reagan's peace through strength.

On the state level, South Carolina is a symbol of Republican achievement with the first Republican Governor, James Edwards, recruiting Michelin Tire Corporation of France that has resulted in South Carolina being the nation's leading exporter of tires. Governor Carroll Campbell attracted BMW to build a German manufacturing facility in Greer, S.C., which led to South Carolina to becoming America's number one automobile exporter and Governor Nikki Haley promoted Boeing for South Carolina to be a major exporter of 787 jetliners worldwide.

In 2010, for the first time in 130 years, all statewide elected officials shifted to the Republican Party. The success was diverse with Governor Nikki Haley being the first female governor of South Carolina in 340 years and only the second Indian-American governor in American history. Tim Scott was elected to Congress as the second African- American in 100 years, and with Alan Wilson, age 37, being elected the youngest Attorney General in America. The Republican Party today is a broad coalition inclusive for limited government and expanded freedom.

I am grateful to have lived the Southern Republican Revolution, which has been so successful promoting a positive philosophy of limited government and expanded freedom abroad and at home. The future is bright for the principles of limited government as inspired by the Draft Goldwater Rally because it works. Equally we know that whenever big government is imposed, it fails and the freedoms of citizens are at risk.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, according to an editorial in this week's Wall Street Journal:

President Obama's climate speech on Tuesday was grandiose

even for him, but its surreal nature was its particular

hallmark. Mr. Obama's ``climate action plan'' adds up to one

of the most extensive reorganizations of the U.S. economy

imposed through administrative fiat and raw executive power.

But over his 6,500-word address, he articulated no such goal

for the unemployment rate or GDP.

An energy policy, including higher taxes, more out-of-control spending, and increased government control of our daily lives will not promote jobs. It is a war on jobs. American families need job creation, a clean environment, economic certainty, and hope for future generations.

Today, House Republicans will vote on an all-of-the-above energy bill that will create jobs, increase access to our own energy resources, and stimulate our weak economy. It is time for the Senate and the President to support our efforts for American families to reach their full potential.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to congratulate former Chief of Staff of the Second District of South Carolina Eric Dell and his wife Torry Lyons Dell, upon the birth of their son. Noah Isaac Dell was brought into the world at 7:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 20\1/2\ inches long. Noah is the first child for the happy couple and I look forward to watching him grow as he is raised by two tremendous parents who will be dedicated to his well-being and bright future.

I would also like to congratulate Noah's grandparents, Ouida Dell of Ridgeland, South Carolina, and Joseph and Mary Lyons, of Aiken, South Carolina. Congratulations to the entire Dell and Lyons families as they welcome their newest edition of pure pride and joy.

I am grateful for Eric Dell's service in the Washington office and also with my service in the State Senate of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are focused on solutions that will give our economy the boost it needs to fully recover and help put Americans back to work. Our Nation has an abundance of energy resources that, if accessed, would create jobs, promote our energy independence and lower prices at the pump.

Today, the President will once again abandon his claim to support an all-of-the-above energy stance and will unveil a new plan focused on waging a ``war on coal'' with Big Government regulations destroying jobs.

In contrast, this week, House Republicans will have the best interests of American families at heart when we vote on two key pieces of legislation included in our all-of-the-above energy plan. Increasing our offshore energy production, introduced by Congressman Doc Hastings of Washington, and lifting moratoriums on exploration and development, introduced by Congressman Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, are necessary to provide American families with a more secure future.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Congratulations, former Chief of Staff Eric Dell and his wife, Torry, on the birth of their son, Noah Isaac Dell, on Sunday, June 23.

Madam Speaker, sexual assault and misconduct within our military ranks occur far too often, and threaten the safety of both men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Our brave military personnel go well beyond the call of duty risking their lives to protect American families and the freedoms we hold dear. It is our obligation to crack down on these heinous crimes by strengthening the military justice system so that we can better protect those who protect us.

I am very grateful that last week Members from both sides of the aisle joined together in a bipartisan fashion to address this problem by passing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus leaders Mike Turner and Niki Tsongas, with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, worked together to make a difference.

Thankfully, we were successful in including 20 additional provisions that will address prevention, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of the crime of sexual assault.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, last Monday, I attended a briefing by the American Enterprise Institute concerning foreign policy issues. I particularly appreciated a presentation by Dr. Fred Kagan, an internationally recognized authority on terrorist threats to American families.

He provided a map, which I believe should be known by the American people, of the al Qaeda and associated movement areas of operation and safe havens. It is sad Somalia is ruled by warlords, Libya is controlled by militias, and in Mali, there are new reports of terrorists training with surface-to-air missiles. This war began with safe havens in Afghanistan on September 11, 2001.

I believe we should be proactive in working with our allies to stop terrorists overseas. We cannot wish the threat away because, in fact, threats are growing. We should support peace through strength by stopping terrorism overseas or face more attacks on the streets of America.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Chairman, the military personnel provisions of H.R. 1960 are the product of an open, bipartisan process.

H.R. 1960 provides our warfighters, veterans, and military families the care and support they need, deserve, and have earned. Specifically, this year's proposal reforms the way the Department of Defense must address sexual assault in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and provides significant additional support, especially in the form of dedicated legal assistance and whistleblower protection to victims of this terrible crime.

In addition, the mark would support the services' requested end strength while ensuring the Army and the Marine Corps adhere to the limitation on reductions mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.

It reaffirms the committee's commitment to the operational reserves by requiring minimum notification before deployment or cancellation of deployment and provides authority to improve the personnel readiness of the National Guard.

It also requires the Secretary of Defense to review and make improvements to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System for members of the Reserve components.

Further, it authorizes transitional compensation and other benefits for dependents of a servicemember who is separated from the Armed Forces because of a court-martial and forfeits all pay and benefits.

This bill does not include the request for military retirees to pay more for health care.

In conclusion, I want to thank Mrs. Davis and her staff for their contributions and support in this process. I particularly appreciate the active, informed, and dedicated subcommittee members, supported by the professional staff. Their recommendations and priorities are clearly reflected in the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.