Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, longtime South Carolina resident Ms. Elise Jones Martin is a leader throughout the communities in our State, particularly in the capital of Columbia. It was on Washington Street that she opened a thriving beauty salon. It was at South Carolina State University that she furthered her education by taking teacher training courses. This eventually led to her teaching position at Booker T. Washington High School, where she enriched the lives of many young students.

Ms. Elise Jones Martin has many passions: teaching, politics, and philanthropy. Her contributions in each of these areas are extensive. But it was Ms. Martin's lifetime dedication of fighting for viable neighborhoods that recently culminated in the launch of the Elise Jones Martin Place. This housing community carries Ms. Elise Jones Martin's name because of her work to improve neighborhoods by establishing solid foundations for America's young citizens.

It is my honor to celebrate the contributions of Elise Jones Martin today and thank her for making Columbia a stronger city and inspiring people of all ages to give back to their communities.

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

God bless Duane Jackson for stopping the terrorist attack on New York City.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2927.

Mr. Speaker, as a trusted ally, Israel and the United States have enjoyed a strategic partnership based on shared mutual values and respect. This relationship has continued to strengthen over the last 62 years, and it's critical that America continues to promote this friendship.

Fostering this important relationship means beginning the process of relocating the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and celebrating reunification. That is why I am introducing legislation today with over 20 cosponsors that commemorates the 43rd anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem and supports locating the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

In my visits to Israel, I have been impressed by its dynamic multicultural citizens, inspired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. America must ensure that Jerusalem, led by Mayor Nir Barkat, continues to be a shrine open for all cultures.

Also, congratulations to Patricia Lobb of Aiken as she becomes a U.S. citizen this morning.

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

Mr. Speaker, Americans living abroad continue to face unnecessary roadblocks not only to U.S. banks, but increasingly at foreign banks as well. The requests from expats continue to come in at a startling rate.

I want to thank Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney for helping to bring these banking roadblocks to the attention of the Treasury Department. We are hoping that the Financial Services Committee will soon hold hearings to review current U.S. banking laws and regulations that may prevent Americans living overseas from accessing U.S. banking services.

International Herald Tribune reporter Brian Knowlton recently highlighted that ``amid mounting frustration over taxation and banking problems, small but growing numbers of overseas Americans are taking the weighty step of renouncing their citizenship.'' I encourage the Financial Services Committee to read Knowlton's article and schedule a hearing in the very near future.

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

Mr. Speaker, last week, the administration's own report released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed that the government health care takeover will increase costs, will hurt seniors, and will put employers in a position to drop employee coverage. This is not what the American people wanted when it came to health care reform.

According to the CMS report, national health care costs will increase by $311 billion over the next 10 years, and this increase will force millions of seniors off of their current Medicare coverage. This information was released over a month after the health care takeover was rushed through Congress. Clearly, Congress needed to wait to vote on this legislation after the report was released.

It is time for us to come together to repeal the government health care takeover and to swap it for patient-centered, affordable health insurance reform that expands access and that continues to cover preexisting conditions.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Department of Defense released the Military Power Report on Iran. The report is designed to provide Congress and the White House with an assessment of Iran's current military capabilities and the regime's future military strategy.

The report served as a stark reminder of the military and nuclear realities in the region. Sadly, it is incomplete because it lacked information about funding provided by Iran's military branches and also information about military doctrine. The information that the report does include confirms Iran's efforts to hide its nuclear infrastructure, their support of nuclear terrorist surrogates, and the terrifying investment in a missile that could hit America in less than 5 years.

Now is the time for the administration and Congress to put forward an effective strategy to deal with Iran. It is imperative that both parties work vigilantly with our allies around the world to ensure Iran does not continue down this dangerous road.

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

Congratulations Columbia Mayor-Elect Steve Benjamin and Councilwoman Leona Plaugh, joining Tameika Isaac Devine and Sam Davis.

Mr. Speaker, Bernard Baruch was born near Columbia in historic Camden, South Carolina. The world-acclaimed financier and benefactor was an adviser to Presidents since the days of Woodrow Wilson, who also was raised in Columbia.

Last week, April 16, marked the day in 1947 that Bernard Baruch made history when he coined the term ``Cold War'' to describe the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.

As the Politico newspaper highlighted, Baruch first used the phrase in a speech to the South Carolina House of Representatives as a portrait was dedicated in his honor. In his speech, Baruch said, ``Let us not be deceived. We today are in the midst of a cold war. Our enemies are to be found abroad and at home. Let us never forget this: our unrest is the heart of their success. The peace of the world is the hope and goal of our political system; it is the despair and defeat of those who stand against us. We can depend only on ourselves.''

Today we remember the South Carolina statesman who so aptly described the chilly relations between America and the Soviet Union, which led ultimately to the victory of democracy over Communism.

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

Congratulations, Jim Furyk on your Heritage Golf Classic victory at Hilton Head Island.

Mr. Speaker, a grassroots group in Aiken, South Carolina, is holding meetings to educate the residents about the Constitution and the principles of our Founding Fathers. Coordinated by Debbie Nix, the group is called ``We the People, Aiken.'' I am pleased to have attended one of their weekly Constitution classes recently at the H. Odell Weeks Activity Center.

During my recent visit to the group meeting, I highlighted my concerns about the government health care takeover and discussed how simply repealing it is not sufficient. We believe we must swap it with a more affordable solution that is centered around the patient and not the government. That is why I introduced H.R. 4944, the Siding With America's Patients (SWAP) Act, to continue to cover preexisting conditions, but will repeal the tax hikes and the unaffordable mandates on individuals and small business owners.

I want to thank the members of ``We the People, Aiken'' for their warm welcome and for their efforts to promote America's founding principles.

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

Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 weeks I have heard about the job-killing effect the recently passed government health care takeover will have from concerned citizens across South Carolina. I've heard from small business owners, the primary providers of jobs in America, how they will face a $2,000 fine for each employee without insurance. I've heard from seniors who are afraid that their former employers will drop their drug benefits. I've heard from people currently looking for work that the creation of 16,500 new IRS agents isn't what they had in mind when it came to job creation. And I've heard from just about everyone about the concern that their insurance premiums will rise dramatically.

The message I bring back from South Carolinians is clear: repeal the job-killing takeover and replace it with an affordable solution that is centered around the patient and not the government, the SWAP bill.

In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism. Best wishes for the success of the Heritage Golf Classic at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, repealing the government takeover of health care is the first step, with an immediate replacement for insurance reform. It is important that we offer our patient-centered plan, H.R. 3400, to cover preexisting conditions, to help small businesses with association health plans, and to allow consumers to shop across State lines to lower costs.

Let's continue to cover preexisting conditions but repeal the tax hikes and the unaffordable mandates on individuals and small business owners.

The American patient cannot afford higher premiums. CBO says that the health care premiums will rise up to 13 percent.

The American family cannot afford more tax hikes and fewer jobs; $569.2 billion in tax hikes on small businesses and other employers.

American children cannot afford the massive deficits; a $622 billion addition to our already massive debt burden.

And the American health care system cannot afford fewer doctors. Fewer physicians will accept Medicaid patients.

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

Welcome, students, to the Capitol of McCracken Middle School from Bluffton, South Carolina.

Madam Speaker, 219 liberals on the other side of the aisle may have passed a government health care takeover, but the American people still have a voice to tell their lawmakers to repeal these job-killing mandates and finally focus on job creation proposals.

Congress spent the better part of an entire year obsessed with cutting deals for a health care takeover full of tax increases and mandates while unemployment increased by over 3 million people. Let me repeat. For months, 219 lawmakers ignored the clear message that the American people sent about this job-killing takeover--that they didn't want it--and after arm twisting, proceeded to ram it through anyway.

When is Congress going to get it right? The American people want us to be debating job creation policies. They want to know when private sector jobs will be created, instead of 16,500 more IRS government jobs that this health care takeover will create. It's high time we give the people some answers for jobs.

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

Madam Speaker, the health care takeover vote last night was a battle in the ongoing war between supporters of limited government and the forces of big government. The fight will continue as we promote limited government and expanded freedom.

I was very encouraged in the last year by the activation of concerned citizens who fought hard to protect the doctor-patient relationship and prevent a Federal Government takeover of health care. Yesterday's outcome is sad for America, but don't think for one second citizens didn't make a difference.

After making voices heard loud and clear at town halls and tea party rallies across the country, voters moved on to the ballot boxes in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Washington liberals may have chosen to ignore the message, but citizens can remind them again soon that they are a force which has awakened to support change in the future.

Please know that while these efforts to protect the doctor-patient relationship and prevent a Federal Government takeover of health care were overlooked by a majority of lawmakers, they are certainly appreciated by the majority of freedom-loving Americans across the country.

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

Mr. Speaker, as we vote on health care takeover, I urge Members of both parties to pay attention to the counsel of the National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB, the Nation's leading small business association.

``Small business has been struggling with health care costs for decades, and our members need help now.'' These bills ``are not the answer--they compound current problems and make health care even more expensive for small businesses. Costing nearly $1 trillion, these bills will send health insurance costs soaring, increase the cost of doing business and set our economic recovery backward with destructive policies,'' including a tax on small business health plans, targeting small construction firms with destructive new mandates, an unprecedented increase in the Medicare payroll tax.

In July, NFIB warned a similar bill would kill 1.6 million jobs.

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

As we vote today, I share the concern of former DSS Director Bill Walker that the bill will be a free ticket, no show.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health bill.

Mr. Speaker, I support the principles of Thomas Jefferson who stated ``I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.''

I rise today to express my disappointment not only with the provisions in the irresponsible health care takeover, but with the process that was used to secure votes. Speaker Pelosi promised the most ethical and honest Congress in history and the President said eight times on the campaign trail that health care negotiations would be televised and transparent. Unfortunately we haven't seen anything that even remotely resembles this rhetoric.

It is outrageous that in 2010, with all the new media tools of Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, blogging, and Skype that Congress, lawmakers and the Administration have at their disposal that the American people are

still shut out of this debate. This is a bill that impacts the health and safety of every American and makes up one sixth of our economy--the American people certainly deserve a seat at the table.

But the American people are being ignored. You would think after record-breaking town hall meetings, an unprecedented House Call on Washington, and the election outcomes in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey, that congressional leaders and the administration would wake up and tune in.

I was grateful to host in South Carolina the largest Congressional town halls in history of 1700 in Columbia, 1500 in Lexington, 1500 in Beaufort and 1200 at Hilton Head Island along with the first Congressional town halls ever for Barnwell, North in Orangeburg, and Varnville in Hampton County. 98 percent of attendees opposed government takeover.

The majority of Americans have made it perfectly clear that they do not want a health care bill that: Mandates private citizens purchase health care, whether they need it or want it; causes millions of employers to cancel the health insurance they currently offer; and creates a health care czar to impose price controls on private health insurance.

What is even more disconcerting about this bill is that Congress and the Administration has decided to plow ahead with this before addressing the tragic employment rate that continues to cripple many communities across the Nation. Where are the jobs? That is what we should be talking about each and every day. Instead of standing down here debating a bill full of job-killing taxes and mandates, we should be debating ideas that will give employers job creation incentives and offer tax relief to hardworking families. The National Federation of Independent Business, the voice of America's small business, has revealed the takeover will kill 1.6 million jobs.

As I conclude, I'd like to take this opportunity to speak directly to the concerned citizens who fought so hard over the last year to protect the doctor-patient relationship and prevent a Federal Government takeover of health care. The provisions in the bill and the process used to secure passage were both designed to enhanced the power of politicians; you should be proud of your efforts to limit such power by town halls and tea parties.

Madam Speaker, Ronald Reagan once said the most terrifying words in the English language are, ``I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'' This is exactly what Washington liberals are trying to tell the American people.

The scheme that the government can give everyone free health care is a fairy tale which defies history and reality. The reality is there are real and affordable ways to improve the health care financing system, and Republicans presented 70 such proposals. Proposals like H.R. 3400 will make health care accessible and affordable, covering preexisting conditions, promoting employer-sponsored insurance, and offers insurance across State lines.

The Pelosi bill will kill 1.6 million jobs according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

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

Citizens can make a difference, like Chuck Stauck of Hilton Head Island, with Ann Bull, Brenda Maxwell, and Lynn Dempsey of Lexington, South Carolina.