Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, for the past 2\1/2\ years, our Nation's unemployment rate has risen over 8 percent. The President continually develops policies that discourage and prohibit small businesses from creating jobs.

Just last month, the administration announced the delay of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project estimated to create over 300,000 jobs without costing taxpayers a dime. I was fortunate enough to visit Alberta, Canada in October and witnessed firsthand the Canadian oil sands and the positive impact that exploration has for new American jobs.

At the end of this legislative week, House Republicans will have passed 25 job-creation bills. Sadly, they are stalled in the Senate. With a growing debt of over $15 trillion, it is absolutely necessary for Congress and the President to work together to promote job creation and ways to remove barriers to allow for small businesses to create jobs.

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 Lawrence Schwartz and his wife Allison on the birth of their new baby boy, Angelo Zoltan Schwartz, who was born on Monday, November 28, 2011, in Falls Church, Virginia.

I am so excited for this new blessing to the Schwartz family and wish them all the best. I want to also congratulate Angelo's grandparents Debra and Barry Shulman of Fayetteville, New York, and Joanne and Lawrence Schwartz, III of Anaheim Hills, California, on this wonderful new addition to their family.

Mr. Speaker, in June the National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, proposed a new rule that accelerates the election process for unionization. Union workers would be forced into memberships without having a reasonable time for managers to fully explain the advantages and disadvantages of membership.

This afternoon, under the leadership of Education and Workforce Chairman John Kline, Congress will vote on the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, legislation that limits the NLRB's ability to deny employers and workers the right to a free election, a right granted to every American by the laws of our country.

It is time for the President's National Labor Relations Board to stop focusing on policies that trample over the rights of American workers. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill today and reaffirm the protections workers and job creators have received for decades.

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank our Chairman and I am thankful for his leadership on this very important issue.

Once again, the President's National Labor Relations Board is trampling on the rights of American workers and employers by denying them the opportunity to participate in a free election. Current policies have been in place for decades to ensure each worker is given a fair amount of time to make a decision about joining a union. With the proposal set forth in June, the NLRB will decrease the amount of time given for a worker to consider joining a union from an average of thirty days to as little as ten days. This radical policy of rush elections will limit the amount of knowledge and information available to each union worker.

Moreover, this new proposal will give unions the capability to branch out and form smaller collective bargaining groups, creating a bigger burden on employers as costs will rise to manage multiple unions. Our Nation does not need more government involvement that negatively impacts the way employers operate their businesses.

The job killing influence of the NLRB such as the attack on Boeing workers in South Carolina must be stopped before it tramples the rights of American workers. Congress has a responsibility to ensure every American is given the right to a free election, an opportunity granted by the laws of our country.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this commonsense legislation and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act which protects our employers and union workers from the Big Labor policies of the President's National Labor Relations Board and promotes more freedom for job creation.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to congratulate Lawrence Schwartz and his wife Allison on the birth of their new baby girl, Cecilia Anne Schwartz, who was born on Monday, November 28, 2011, at 11:26 a.m. in Falls Church, Virginia. Cecilia Anne was 5 pounds, 6 ounces.

I am so excited for this new blessing to the Schwartz family and wish them all the best. I want to also congratulate Cecilia Anne's grandparents Debra and Barry Shulman of Fayetteville, New York, and Joanne and Lawrence Schwartz, III, of Anaheim Hills, California, on this wonderful new addition to their family.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following remarks regarding my absence from a vote which occurred on November 16, 2011. Listed below is how I would have voted if I had been present.

Roll Number 851--H.R. 822--Motion to Recommit, National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011--``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, last Monday, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction announced that the bipartisan group had failed to reach an agreement. In an op-ed to The Wall Street Journal, Congressman Jeb Hensarling, cochair of the supercommittee, stated that the group ``missed a historic opportunity to lift the burden of debt and help spur economic growth and job creation.''

Last week, I attended a town hall meeting in Forest Acres, South Carolina, hosted by Mayor Frank Brunson, where we discussed ways to promote small businesses and encourage job growth within the private sector. The message from the constituents is very clear: Congress must reduce Washington's out-of-control spending before it's too late.

As Congress returns from the Thanksgiving Day recess, I encourage our colleagues in the Senate to begin focusing on job creation by considering any of the 20 jobs bills the House has passed with bipartisan support this year.

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

Mr. Speaker, history was made last week in off-year elections with Republicans gaining a majority in the Mississippi House for the first time in years and Republicans gaining a majority in the Virginia Senate, along with the State House and the Governorship for the first time in 130 years.

With these gains, Republicans are now state legislative majorities in both houses in all states from Texas to Florida to Virginia and all states in between except narrowly in Arkansas.

I am grateful my home state of South Carolina is symbolic of change. Fifty years ago this

August, Charlie Boineau of Richland was elected the first Republican legislator of the Twentieth Century and the next year, State Rep. Floyd Spence was the first party switch ever leading in 1994 to David Wilkins elected the first Republican Speaker in the South. In 2010 all nine Republican statewide candidates were elected with the Governor being the first female in 341 years and only the second Indian American in national history. Seven out of eight federal officials are now Republicans.

Encouraging the extraordinary change are transplants from the Northeast and Midwest who have relocated for a milder climate and lower taxes.

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

Madam Speaker, according to the Department of the Treasury, as of November 14, 2011, the national debt had reached $14.973 trillion, and will reach $15 trillion in the coming days. This is an economic threat to American families.

Since the President took office in 2009, the deficit has increased by a record $4.3 trillion. In order to protect America's future, we must be serious about cutting runaway spending, and we must act now to promote small businesses to create jobs.

House Republicans have sent to the Senate for consideration nearly 90 bills to encourage jobs. This legislation dealt directly with limiting spending, terminating failing housing programs, and encouraging job growth and job creation. It's time for the liberals in the Senate and the President to do the same.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. Our sympathy to the family of Steve Kodman, assistant solicitor of Aiken, Barnwell, and Bamberg.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, Congress will have the opportunity to vote on the balanced budget amendment. This legislation will limit Congress from spending more than it receives in revenues unless both the House and Senate agree with a three-fifths vote.

Under the current President, the national debt has increased at 34 percent and grown to almost $15 trillion. With the Federal Government borrowing 42 cents for every dollar it spends, it is past time to take action fulfilling the first bill, introduced by my predecessor, the late Chairman Floyd Spence, for a balanced budget amendment.

The passage of the balanced budget amendment will help grow the economy and create jobs. I hope both parties will come together and pass the balanced budget amendment, which will put America back to work and promote small business job creation.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Neal Patel, a committed staff member in the office of the Second Congressional District of South Carolina. After little more than a year, Neal is departing the office to join Congressman Charles Boustany's staff and serve as his communications director to further the Republican plans to create jobs.

A native of Nichols, South Carolina, Neal is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Charleston School of Law. I have worked with his parents, Ashvin and Suwarna Patel in the motel industry for over 30 years, and I know they are proud of their son's achievements.

Neal has been a tremendous asset for the people of the Second Congressional District. From his early days as an intern to now communications director, Neal has represented our office with enthusiasm and professionalism. It is with sincere gratitude that I would like to thank Neal for his dedication.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to congratulate President-Elect Rosen Plevneliev who was declared the winner of Bulgaria's presidential election on Monday in an outcome that now gives his party control over all major government posts and will bolster its push for painful economic reforms, according to The Washington Examiner.

President-Elect Plevneliev won Sunday's contest with 52.56 percent of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission in its final tally. It said the turnout was 48 percent.

Most of the power in the Balkan country of 7.4 million people rests with Prime Minister Boiko Borisov and Parliament, but the president leads the armed forces and can veto legislation and sign international treaties. He also names ambassadors and the heads of the intelligence and security services.

The governing GERB party now controls Bulgaria's top two executive positions and Parliament.

President-Elect Plevneliev, 47, is a former entrepreneur who has been lauded for pushing through several large-scale infrastructure projects as regional development minister. He has been a member of the board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). He has pledged to reduce the budget deficit and pursue business-friendly policies. He also said he would do his best to unite Bulgarians in pursuit of reforms in the judicial and health care systems, while diversifying energy supplies and improving trade.

President-Elect Plevneliev will take office on January 23. He will replace President Georgi Parvanov, who was barred by law from seeking re-election because he had served two five-year terms.

The center-right GERB party also scored victories in the run-off elections for local mayors in most of Bulgaria's big cities, including in the capital, Sofia.

Congratulations President-Elect Plevneliev and best wishes for success in serving the people of Bulgaria which is a valued partner of America.

Mr. Speaker, November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month 2011 in the Second Congressional District of South Carolina. Pulmonary Hypertension, PH, is the condition of continuous high blood pressure in the arteries or veins of the lungs which can result in an enlarged heart, causing it to lose its ability to pump. PH symptoms are similar to common respiratory and cardiac ailments and is therefore difficult to properly diagnose. It often leads to life-threatening delays in treatment. Although there is no cure for the disease, there is hope. Unfortunately, the medications can be expensive and invasive, with some patients requiring continuous infusion pumps and oxygen.

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association, PHA, a patient support charity group, raises funds for research, promotes awareness, and proves educational and emotional support to the estimated 30,000 diagnosed patients in the United States. It has helped to establish 235 patient support groups throughout the nation, including four groups in South Carolina that serve over 150 patients, caregivers and family members across the state.

On behalf of the Pulmonary Hypertension patients in the Second Congressional District of South Carolina, I would like to bring awareness to their cause by citing November 2011 as Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month.

Two weeks ago, I traveled to Fort McMurray in the province of Alberta, in Canada, with subcommittee chairman John Shimkus of Illinois and Congressman Bob Latta of Ohio of the Energy and Commerce Committee. We were accompanied by the Honorable Cal Dallas, the Minister of Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations for Alberta. We were welcomed to Edmonton by the Honorable Alison Redford, the newly inaugurated Premier of Alberta.

The purpose of this visit was to see firsthand the development of Canadian oil sands and to fully understand the positive impact this exploration has for the American people. We were briefed on the Keystone pipeline and how this project creates jobs. We saw the environmental stewardship where development is subject to environmental standards that are among the most stringent in the world. The Government of Alberta requires that companies remediate and reclaim 100 percent of the land after the oil has been extracted.

This project will connect a growing supply of Canadian oil with the largest

refining markets in the United States and will significantly reduce America's reliance on oil from overseas as new jobs are created in Canada and America. As oil sands production grows in the next 4 years, the industry is expected to generate 340,000 new jobs. This is in addition to the 110,000 jobs currently provided. There are more than 900 American businesses that supply goods and services for the Canadian oil sands development.

In my home State of South Carolina, oil sands development will add up to $128 million per year to the State's economy, and it will support nearly 2,000 jobs per year. Companies in South Carolina supply equipment, parts and services used in the oil sands projects and pipelines.

In this picture, we are standing in front of a 12-foot-high tire made by Michelin in Lexington County, South Carolina. Each tire is valued at $60,000. The Michelin plants in Lexington currently employ over 500 people in the Earth-mover division. The tire manufacturer also has facilities in the upcountry of our State, with their North American headquarters in Greenville.

There are also over 100 large mine haul trucks operating in the oil sands, powered by MTU engines. The engines are produced in Aiken County, South Carolina. By next year, the plant in Graniteville will be producing MTU's largest engine for the haul truck market. When MTU announced last year that Aiken County was to be its home for its new manufacturing facility, the company pledged to invest $45 million and to create 250 new jobs over 4 years. However, last month, plant officials said MTU is already employing 250 people and will achieve its investment goal by the end of this year.

It's very simple. If Canadian families do well, American families do well. For every dollar the U.S. spends on imports from Canada, 90 cents is returned to the American economy, paying for equipment and services. Developing the oil sands is clearly more jobs for Canada and more jobs for America. We all know our country needs to be less dependent on oil from overseas. Canada's oil sands are clearly mutually beneficial to Canada and America and the security of North America.

Very significantly, Canada's enormous deposits of 175.2 billion barrels of proven reserves of oil place it third in the world, and 170 billion of these barrels are in the oil sands. These deposits place Canada as one of the central sources of production growth in the coming decades. It represents about 60 percent of the world's accessible oil, which is right here in our neighborhood. I am grateful that Canada is our largest trading partner and the largest supplier of oil to America. Canada contributes 22 percent of the total oil imports for America's daily use of 19.1 million barrels.

Congress has indicated its support for oil sands. In July, we passed the North American-Made Energy Security Act. This bill urges the President to approve the pipeline. I appreciate jobs for Alberta which produce jobs for America.

Mr. Speaker, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently warned Congress that if the deficit reduction process does not succeed, the Department of Defense could be cut by $1 trillion. These cuts will threaten the effectiveness of the world's greatest Armed Forces which provide peace through strength. According to Secretary Panetta, these cuts would increase America's unemployment rate by 1 percent, nearly 1.5 million workers. Drastic cuts will limit advanced equipment that is essential to protect our servicemembers who are defeating terrorists overseas.

For the United States to successfully continue to protect its families, Congress should not further cut the defense budget, which destroys jobs and undermines our manufacturing base. Yesterday in Roll Call, Army Secretary John McHugh, our former colleague, advised, ``We can't break faith with the men and women who fought for us during the past decade.''

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