Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, sadly, unemployment in South Carolina has increased to 11 percent. Citizens rightfully want to know where are the jobs? Republicans have made positive proposals to help small businesses create jobs, but they are falling on deaf ears. Americans across the country are hurting and cannot wait another day, let alone another few months, to know whether or not Congress is going to offer job creation incentives and tax relief.

During these tough economic times, the last thing families need are more tax increases. The Heritage Foundation has some staggering numbers about how the incoming tax increases would kill jobs in South Carolina. The Heritage Foundation has found that the State of South Carolina would lose over 9,000 jobs a year, and South Carolina's families would loss $3,000 each in disposable income.

If these statistics become a reality on our families, the impact would be catastrophic. We need immediate tax relief, not job-killing tax increases.

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

Mr. Speaker, at the end of August the goal was achieved of a transition of security in Iraq from an active combat role of Americans to the security forces of the people of Iraq. All Americans should express gratitude for the courage and resolve of our military and military families.

Newsweek's cover page of March 8 declared: ``Victory at Last,'' with the emergence of a democratic Iraq. The Wall Street Journal editorialized ``Victory in Iraq'' on August 30, citing ``the courage of the Americans who will fight in our defense.'' On September 6 the Washington Times proclaimed ``Mission Accomplished'' in Iraq.

As the grateful father of two sons who served in Iraq and as cochairman of the Victory in Iraq Caucus established with our former colleague, Mark Green of Wisconsin, I know firsthand of the achievements of the American military personnel. I am confident with the leadership of General David Petraeus, based on the Bush success of Iraq, that the Obama surge in Afghanistan will promote liberty and peace.

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

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, September 17, is Constitution Day, a commemoration of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The role of the Federal Government, first debated by our Founding Fathers at the beginning of our new Nation, is still a topic of conversation over 200 years later.

Recently, we have seen an explosive expansion of the Federal Government, with a government takeover of health care, national interference in our schools, and government control of our auto industry. Power is being shifted from the people and the States to the Federal Government.

The Founders anticipated this dangerous growth of big government, so they drafted the 10th Amendment to the Constitution to ensure the Federal Government would only use powers granted specifically to them. As we take a moment today to remember the ratification, I hope we all remember that personal responsibility and less government intervention is a better way to promote liberty.

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

Mr. Speaker, in 108 days, liberals will impose the largest tax increase in U.S. history. This $3.9 trillion increase will impact every taxpayer, hurting small businesses and hardworking families by killing jobs, and a death tax devastating to family businesses such as auto dealers and farmers. I am offering an amendment to tomorrow's legislation that will prevent this job-killing tax increase by making the tax cuts permanent. I urge support for the amendment for an immediate up-or-down vote on tax cuts that are crucial to promoting jobs.

Freezing tax rates for 2 years is the first part of the two-part plan that Republicans have to create jobs in America. The second step is cutting spending by 20 percent to stop Washington's reckless spending. The time is now to act, and I urge the Rules Committee to allow an up- or-down vote on the amendment to offer tax relief to all hardworking Americans.

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

Madam Speaker, over the past month, I have visited dozens of small businesses across South Carolina, and I have met with concerned citizens, all of whom expressed the need for more tax relief, not tax increases.

For 16 straight months, America's unemployment rate has been above 9 percent with nearly 20 million people without jobs. This is clearly a time of urgency, and the last thing hardworking families and small business owners need are more crippling tax hikes. The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation confirms that the upcoming tax hike will raise taxes on 50 percent of small business income in America.

The math is simple: More taxes equal fewer jobs. Congress must act to prevent the job-killing taxes that are headed for American families and provide policies that give American families incentives to invest and create jobs.

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

Madam Speaker, instead of calling Congress back into session to protect special-interest unions and add more tax increases, we should be focusing on policies that give American families incentives to invest and create jobs.

Americans should be concerned now about the job-killing bill and the tax increase we are likely to see before the end of the year. Also, after the election in November, Washington liberals will try to ram through a national energy tax, remove the right to a secret workers' ballot, and continue to skyrocket America's deficits with reckless spending.

In an effort to prevent this job-killing, lame-duck tactic, I support Congressman Tom Price's resolution that eliminates a lame-duck session. This promise is critical in order to represent the will of the American majority, who have serious concerns about reckless spending and more taxes, as over 20 million citizens are out of work or have given up looking for work.

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

Madam Speaker, Lt. Col. Albert Barry, USMC, Retired (1936-2007) served his country honorably for almost a half-century before battling Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Al Barry's wish to make patients receiving medical treatment more comfortable during illness recovery is now being carried out by his wife, Liz Taylor-Barry, through the Al Barry Foundation.

The Al Barry Foundation created Barry Basics, a modular medical apparel line, to provide patients with a product that emphasizes convenience, range of motion, and comfort. The medical apparel offers upper and lower body garments that encourage movement with their flexible snap closures and various removable pieces. Barry Basics carries a women's line, men's line, children's line, and a breast cancer line. They also produce almost all apparel in the USA and work with Clemson Apparel Research, CAR.

I know firsthand of her extraordinary compassion because on Wednesday at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center, she visited with Marine Lance Corporal Bradley Christian Fite. Brad is a Wounded Warrior Hero of America and a former Washington staff member of the south congressional district of South Carolina.

Liz Taylor-Barry sends the proceeds from Barry Basics to Wounded Warriors, veterans, and cancer patients.

I want to thank the Barry family and all those involved in the Al Barry Foundation for their selfless contributions in South Carolina and across the globe.

Madam Speaker, during the Cold War, Iceland served as a listening station with four radar sites that were manned by America's brave men and women in uniform to deter a Soviet bomber nuclear attack on America. An organization in Chapin, South Carolina, called the Iceland Reunion at www.usradarsitesiceland.com, is dedicated to the memory of all of the men and women who served on these U.S. radar sites. The mission of this organization, chaired by Retired Air Force Master Sergeant William A. Chick, is to preserve and document the history of the air defense of Iceland and the North Atlantic passage to the United States and the Free World.

Mr. Chick encourages those interested in preserving Cold War history to visit their informational website and also read, ``The History of the radar sites of Iceland'' by Gerald H. Tonnell which is the unofficial history of fifty years of the strategic radar sites which successfully preserved peace and promoted freedom in the struggle between democracy and communism with the ultimate victory over communism.

I thank Mr. Chick and other members who are working hard to preserve the memory and the mission of those military surveillance operators who served our great nation. America will always cherish the service of these patriots and the hosting by the people of our longtime NATO ally Iceland.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday I highlighted the significant tax increases that are heading toward hardworking Americans at the beginning of next year. Families, married couples, and parents are going to be paying more taxes. Washington liberals are planning to reinstate the marriage penalties and cut the child tax credit in half.

Cutting the child tax credit in half from $1,000 to $500 per child will cost the average American family around $1,033 in higher taxes in 2011.

Reinstating the marriage penalty will cost an average of $595 for each family in 2011. In these tough economic times, raising taxes will eliminate jobs. It is time for Washington liberals to stop passing policies that penalize families and start passing incentives that promote job creation.

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

Mr. Speaker, it's time to give hardworking Americans incentives to invest in order to create jobs and grow the economy. We must also protect middle class Americans from significant tax hikes that are headed their way. Contrary to liberal claims, these are not tax hikes only on the wealthy.

The picture isn't pretty if these tax hikes go into effect. If you're a family of four and your income is $50,000 a year, you could pay $2,100 in additional taxes; if you're married as a senior citizen earning $40,000 a year, you could pay $1,400 in higher taxes; a single mom making $36,000 a year could end up paying $1,100 in new taxes.

Hardworking middle class Americans across the country cannot afford an attack on creating jobs. The Federal Government cannot pay off America's debt by higher taxes.

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

Madam Speaker, I am happy to congratulate Brian Donahue and his wife Julie on the birth of their new daughter Cameron Rose Donahue. Cameron was born on Monday, July 26, 2010, at 3:34 in the afternoon at Arlington, Virginia, with a full head of gorgeous red hair.

Cameron Rose Donahue is 6 pounds of pride and joy to her grandparents, R. Scott and Claudia Horner of New Jersey and Marilyn and Francis Donahue of Florida and New Jersey.

I am so excited for this new blessing to the Donahue family and wish them all the best.

Mr. Speaker, it's particularly fitting that I would be with you today in that my late father-in-law, State Representative Julian Dusenbury, who was a hero of the Battle of Okinawa, was shot by a sniper, but he continued his service from a wheelchair in the Statehouse of South Carolina. So I have always appreciated your courage, and I want to join with Congressman Kennedy to recognize your courage and your courage to serve. Thank you, and God bless you.

The Friday front page headlines of The Island Packet of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, highlight the legitimate concerns of the American people. ``Are we in for a tax hike?'' and is the U.S. facing a threat of a flat economy? Since the stimulus bill became law, 2.4 million Americans have lost their jobs. The promise of unemployment not to exceed 8 percent was broken, as unemployment soared to 8 percent.

The failed borrow, spend, and tax policies of this administration cry out

for ``Where are the jobs?'' We need both parties to work together to promote small business job creation.

President Kennedy cut taxes and jobs grew. President Reagan cut taxes and more jobs were created. Republicans have offered positive alternatives using the proven policies from both parties which actually promote jobs.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Senator Patty Murray of Washington State for bringing attention to the need to reinstate funding for Yucca Mountain. This critical issue involves a $10 billion investment and a 23 year bipartisan agreement. I applaud Senator Murray for introducing an amendment to protect taxpayers' investment by reinstating funding for Yucca Mountain.

America must remain committed to lessening our dependence on foreign oil. We should promote nuclear energy that is a clean and cost- effective energy source. However, in order to keep nuclear energy safe, we need a secure, permanent place to dispose of it. And that place should be Yucca Mountain.

I agree with the Charleston Post and Courier that closing Yucca Mountain is ``breathtakingly irresponsible.'' I also appreciate the Aiken Standard's Mike Gellatly for highlighting the bipartisan support of this issue and Senator Murray's amendment.

There is clear bipartisan support from the Aiken County Council, South Carolina's Attorney General Henry McMaster, the entire South Carolina delegation, and now Democrats questioning leadership of the Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, the new State job numbers confirm that 47 States are suffering since the so-called stimulus bill passed while D.C. bureaucrats are benefiting from increasing jobs. The Politico reported on such a discrepancy in an article titled, ``Reality gap: U.S. struggles, D.C. booms.''

The article says, ``America is struggling with a sputtering economy and high unemployment, but times are booming for Washington's governing class.

``The massive expansion of government under President Barack Obama has basically guaranteed a robust job market for policy professionals, regulators and contractors for years to come. The housing market, boosted by the large number of high-income earners in the area, many working in politics and government, is easily outpacing the markets in most of the country.''

The American people want Congress to focus on small business job growth instead of spending more of the people's money to create more government jobs. Americans understand TEA, Taxed Enough Already.

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

Mr. Speaker, in addition to being a legendary actor, writer, and singer, American actor Pat Boone serves as spokesman for 60 Plus, an advocacy group led by Jim Martin for senior citizens. Pat is an advocate for liberty and a defender of the Constitution. His contributions for our military servicemembers are inspiring. Pat developed the documentary ``For My Country'' to promote the significance of the National Guard.

Pat Boone is ahead of his times. Back in 2004, at a commencement speech at Pepperdine University, Boone stressed the need for citizen involvement and called for a new Boston Tea Party movement. Today, as the Tea Party is a household term, we should note Boston was not the only city with the tea rebellion during the Revolutionary War. Before the famous Boston Tea Party, patriots in Charleston, South Carolina, impounded tea in 1773 to protest taxes and in 1776 sold the tea to finance the Revolution.

Concerned citizens still feel T-E-A, Taxed Enough Already. It's time to give Americans tax relief and create jobs.

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