Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, a Gallup poll was released which sadly stated that 85 percent of small business owners surveyed were not looking for new employees; 66 percent cite the economic recession, 48 percent blame rising health care costs due to the government health care takeover bill, and 46 percent are worried about new government regulations.

These statistics show that the President's policies are failing America's small business owners. The President continues to support policies that are destroying jobs. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, ObamaCare, alone, will destroy 1.6 million jobs.

Over the past year, House Republicans have passed dozens of pieces of legislation that promote job creation and allow small business owners to gain the confidence to begin hiring again. I urge my colleagues in the liberal-controlled Senate and the President to support these initiatives and help put American families back to work.

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

Mr. Speaker, for 3 years, Americans have watched the President as he has tried to borrow and spend his way out of an economic recession. His failed policies have failed this Nation with unemployment still over 8 percent.

The Washington Examiner stated:

What this country needs is an honest leader who will tell

the truth about our entitlement spending crisis and identify

real reforms. But Obama's latest budget does none of that.

Instead, he offers double doses of deficits, tax hikes, and

crony capitalism. America deserves better.

Over the past year, House Republicans have passed dozens of pieces of legislation that decrease spending, provide tax cuts, and encourage job creation through private sector job growth. I urge the President and the liberal Senate to work with House Republicans to support legislation that promotes jobs.

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

Madam Speaker, National Review Editor Rich Lowry stated that the President's budget ``is built on gimmicks and cheery assumptions that support a massive superstructure of new taxes and new debt. It is a blueprint for national decline.''

The President's budget request called for the biggest tax increases and accumulates the largest debt in our Nation's history. Over the past 3 years, this administration has spent more money than ever before and increased our national debt by almost $5 trillion. Our unemployment rate has consistently remained above 8 percent for 36 months. It is clear that borrowing and spending more money will not create jobs. It is past time for the President and the liberal-controlled Senate to come together and support House Republicans' efforts to put American families back to work. Dozens of job-promoting bills that have passed the House are sadly held up in the Senate graveyard.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President released his budget for 2013, which calls for a cut in defense spending, for the first time since 1998, by almost $500 billion. It is clear the President is simply taking resources away from our military capabilities and using the funds to grow the size of government to promote more unsustainable domestic programs, putting senior citizens at risk of a devalued dollar and burdening young people and college students with crushing debt.

Instead of focusing on stopping defense cut sequestration, the President is putting our national security at risk and our allies in jeopardy during a time of international instability.

Cutting our defense budget with record-breaking tax increases destroying jobs will not reduce the national deficit, but only represents a diversion of funds. I urge the President to recognize the primary function of the national government is national defense, to provide peace through strength.

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

Mr. Speaker, this Nation currently faces a clear and present danger to our national security that this body has the ability to defeat: Defense Sequestration. This is an issue that we must address sooner rather than later. Senator John McCain recently stated, ``I believe the cuts that would be required by sequestration aimed at the Department of Defense are a threat to our Nation's security. We still live in a very dangerous world and everyone agrees that this kind of sequestration cannot take place.''

House and Senate Republicans are determined to prevent sequestration from occurring. Slashing the Army by 80,000 troops, cutting 20,000 Marines, and reducing 10,000 Air Force personnel is risky. The United States does not have the luxury of choosing our enemies or deciding if we will be attacked. Our military must be properly funded, equipped and prepared to protect our families from extremists who carry signs calling for ``Death to America.''

In conclusion, God Bless our troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Madam Chair, yesterday I voted in support of H.R. 3581, the ``Budget and Accounting Transparency Act of 2011,'' which passed through the House of Representatives by a vote of 245-180 and now awaits further consideration in the Senate. H.R. 3581 is a quality piece of legislation which requires the Federal Government to revise its policy of accounting for direct loans and loan guarantees by scoring these loans utilizing the market-based fair value method.

As further consideration is given to this bill, I urge my fellow colleagues to ensure that programs, such as the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service loans, are not adversely affected by the legislation.

Madam Speaker, last Wednesday, the House passed the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011, a bill which repeals a new program in the government health care takeover bill. During the health care debate, the President and congressional liberals said that this program would save taxpayers $80 billion. However, now internal evidence reveals that the administration was aware that the program was a ``recipe for disaster.''

The 2,700-page ObamaCare bill was rammed through Congress, just like Cash for Clunkers. The President and his liberal colleagues included unworkable programs into an unpopular bill to gain enough votes for passage. The CLASS program is yet another example of how this administration supports programs that are political gimmicks, identified by Bill Walker as being a free ticket but no show.

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

Mr. Speaker, on January 4, the President abused executive authority and appointed three new members to the National Labor Relations Board claiming a recess appointment, but the Senate was not in recess. By making this decision, the President ignored the Senate's confirmation and vetting practice which is outlined in article I, section 5 of the United States Constitution. Earlier today, the House Education and Workforce Committee, ably led by Chairman John Kline, held a hearing on this unconstitutional conduct.

The President has used the National Labor Relations Board as a big labor bully to advance his political agenda and threaten the jobs of America's small businesses. Due to the legal uncertainty of the President's appointments, each decision reached by the board could allow for legal challenges, costing job creators and taxpayers more money. House Republicans will work to protect hardworking taxpayers from the administration's failed policies which are destroying jobs.

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

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the National Bureau of Labor Statistics released its jobs report for the month of January and revealed that our Nation's unemployment rate continues to be above 8 percent, marking the 36th consecutive month of record high unemployment.

Dr. Peter Morici, a business school professor at the University of Maryland, recently stated on Fox News that, if you factor in part-time workers who would prefer full-time positions, that unemployment rate becomes 15.6 percent. Factoring in college graduates in low skill positions, like counter work at Starbucks, the unemployment rate is, sadly, closer to 20 percent.

These statistics provide further evidence that the President's policies are failing to provide job creation. I hope the President and the liberal-controlled Senate will work with the House Republicans on the 30 bills that we've already passed for job creation through private sector growth which are currently held in the Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, throughout his campaign for the White House, the President made an empty promise to cut our deficit in half by the end of his first term. Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office announced its projection that the President's failed policies, sadly, have more than doubled the annual debt. Our debt has increased by almost $5 trillion over the last 3 years. This statistic shows that throughout the Presidency of the current President, the President has recklessly spent the tax dollars of hardworking American families.

The Wall Street Journal stated: ``To sum it all up, the CBO's facts plainly show that Mr. Obama has the worst fiscal record of any President in modern times. No one else even comes close.'' At a time when Americans are searching for jobs, the President must follow through with this promise to the American people and work with both Houses of Congress to stop Washington's out-of-control borrowing and spending.

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

Mr. Speaker, the President's Blue Ribbon Commission, which was tasked with making recommendations for dealing with our country's nuclear waste, recently issued their findings. After conducting a 2-year study, the commission discovered that measures must be taken to deal with nuclear waste currently and interim storage at 121 sites across the country. The editorial response by the Aiken Standard to this anemic obvious conclusion is summarized by one word: ``Duh.''

We have known for decades that this waste must be properly dealt with and discarded in the proper setting. The scientific community has determined that Yucca Mountain is the ideal location for a safe national repository.

The President and the liberal-controlled Senate must quit playing political games and allow the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to finish analyzing the license permit. It's time to let science dictate policy, not politics.

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

Mr. Speaker, Baker Spring of the prestigious Heritage Foundation recently warned:

``It is clear that the fiscal year 2013 defense budget will not provide the U.S. military with the resources it needs. Even more problematic is that all reductions to the defense budget are front- loaded, and, therefore will have significant and immediate implication for readiness, modernization programs, and research and development.''

Our servicemembers, their families, and veterans have dedicated their lives to this country. House Republicans understand that in order to keep American families safe, we must fight to stop these reductions. I look forward to working with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon to find ways to promote the proven path of peace through strength.

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

Welcome Episcopal Father Carroll McGee of West Columbia to Washington for the National Prayer Breakfast.

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the President's plans were revealed to cut almost 80,000 army troops and 20,000 marines. This action will weaken our military's ability to protect us from increasing global threats.

This decision is another prime example of how the President and his administration continue to put American families at risk. Throughout our history, we have learned the consequences of downsizing our military, leading to surprise attacks.

I look forward to working with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon to stop the execution of these drastic cuts which will decimate our military capabilities and threaten the security of America's servicemembers.

I would also like to offer my sympathy to the family of Aiken Public Safety Master Corporal Sandra Rogers, who sacrificed her life while on duty Saturday.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Constitution gives Congress the responsibility of providing for a common defense. The defense cuts that occur in 2013 as a result of sequestration undermines this constitutional duty. General Ray Odierno, the Army Chief of Staff, has stated, ``Cuts of this magnitude would be catastrophic for the military.''

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said that under sequestration, ``We would have to reduce the size of the military sharply. Rough estimates indicate after 10 years of these cuts, we would have the smallest ground forces since 1940, the smallest number of ships since 1915, and the smallest Air Force in our history.''

With growing worldwide threats, the President last night praised our troops but actually is slashing the Army by 80,000 troops and cuts to Marines by 20,000.

I urge my colleagues to support Chairman Bud McKeon and vote in favor of the Down Payment on National Security Act. This bill provides certainty for the military to promote peace through strength.

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

Mr. Speaker, last Friday retired Army Master Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr., a recipient of the Medal of Honor, died at the age of 66.

Master Sergeant Baker was a native of Davenport, Iowa, before relocating to South Carolina. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Donnell, and the Baker family. Master Sergeant Baker served in Vietnam and received the Medal of Honor after braving intense Communist fire to safe the lives of eight American soldiers on November 5, 1966.

Master Sergeant Baker was one of 239 servicemembers to receive our Nation's highest honor for conspicuous gallantry and courage during their service in the Vietnam War. He was also the last Army soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor and have residency in South Carolina.

Our country is very grateful for the service of Master Sergeant John Baker. He went well beyond the call of duty, sacrificing so much for this great Nation, and will be remembered as a true

American hero, along with the late Colonel Chuck Murray of Columbia.

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