Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marjorie P. ``Maggie'' Silver Smith, a female pioneer, entrepreneur and a legend in the American Rail Industry who passed away on March 9, 2014. I was privileged to work with Maggie and was honored to know her both as a good friend and strong advocate for our Nation's railroads.

Maggie was a leader in the American rail business and a most respected member of various railroad infrastructure panels. She came from a railroad family, working with her father at Pinsly Railroad in 1965, and succeeded him as President in 1977 becoming Chairman of the Board in 2000. After her father's death, she was advised to sell the company. However Maggie was determined to run Pinsly holdings because she understood and embraced the changes that were occurring in the railroad industry, especially under the Staggers Act.

Under her leadership, she grew the Pinsly Railroad companies to eight short line railroads and railroad distribution companies serving 200 customers. She was a member and officer on the Board of the American Short Line Railroad Association and also played a leadership role at the Massachusetts Railroad Association and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

Maggie was recognized by all as a knowledgeable, vocal and effective spokesman for the rail industry. Her innovation and good business sense made her one of the most important and significant leaders in the short line industry. She was renowned for being tough but fair, thoughtful and forward thinking, continually encouraging women to enter and succeed in the railroad industry. Her wonderful wit, enthusiasm, energy and presence always had a positive impact, and she will be truly missed.

My deepest sympathy is extended to her husband, Robert; daughters, Anne, Leslie and Lindsey; and sons, John, Marc and James.

I ask all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the distinguished life and service of Marjorie P. ``Maggie'' Silver Smith.

Madam Speaker, I come before my colleagues today as someone who comes from a family that at times did not have health care. I think we can do a much better job, and we should do a much better job, helping people get health care.

Like some predicted on both sides of the aisle, they said that the way ObamaCare was crafted it could result in a train wreck. We didn't really know, but now we do know. The facts are out. Everyone has seen the rollout, which was a disaster.

Every American should be stunned to see the Congressional Budget Office report today. You should read that: 2.5 million people will lose their jobs. That doesn't even consider the ones who have already been put to part-time status when they are trying to feed their families, make a living, and put gas in the car.

Here we have more people losing jobs because of this. Look at this, how many people will see a smaller amount in their paycheck thanks to ObamaCare.

This isn't a partisan document. This is something that is put out that has analyzed the impact, and it could be devastating.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues a eulogy Jim Martin, a good friend and former Chief of Staff to the late Senator Edward Gurney (R-FL), wrote recalling the great and influential life in public service of former Florida Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr. As all remember, our friend Clay passed away on September 10, 2013. His legacy will transcend generations, as you can see in the words shared by Jim, the founder and chairman of the 60 Plus Association.

E. Clay Shaw: A Congressman Who Mattered

(By Jim Martin)

The barber nearly lopped off the congressman's ear, but it

wouldn't have been his fault if he had. For years, the tacit

agreement that exists between every barber and customer to

sit still as a statue when the clippers are humming was

fiercely observed. But the barber said something that

startled the normally reserved lawmaker to suddenly spin his

head around mid-snip.

``Congressman,'' the barber offered, ``I've been voting for

you a long time, but this year I'm making a donation to your

campaign.'' In a world of big campaign contributions, a

modest offering of a few dollars is hardly noteworthy, unless

you consider the source. Rep. Eugene Clay Shaw, Jr.'s

hometown barber in Fort Lauderdale, FL was 68 years old and

closed his shop the last few months of the year. Far from

rich and not particularly political, his pronouncement all

but floored his long-time customer.

But this was a special occasion. Under Shaw's leadership,

Congress had just passed historic legislation, signed into

law by President Bill Clinton in 2000, that removed a

Depression-era law that cut Social Security benefits for

seniors who earned more than $17,000 per year. Though little-

regarded by some, this legislation had a huge impact on

working seniors, and further struck a blow for American

productivity and common-sense, bipartisan solutions to

intractable government inertia.

With Shaw's passing this month at the age of 74, the

tributes honoring his 26-year career in Congress invariably

focus on his welfare reform legislation, implementing a

federal missing-child registry and various environmental

protections, all of which were monumental in their own right.

But seniors are forever grateful for the dogged determination

Shaw displayed as chairman of the House Social Security

Subcommittee when he took on a law long past its expiration

date.

As chairman of a national seniors organization, and having

grown up in the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood part of Rep. Shaw's

district, and having testified on his legislation, I was at

the front lines cheering when this law passed, and recall

that Shaw shared with me many of the reactions from working

seniors. ``People would think I was rich and off fishing

somewhere,'' Shaw's barber told him at the time, ``because my

shop was closed the last months of the year. It just made no

sense to stay open, as I was essentially working for free.

This way, thanks to your legislation, I can continue to earn

money which I can then happily spend at Christmas on gifts

for our grandkids.''

Upon his return to Washington after a routine recess, Clay

related to me not only his barber's reaction, but also the

response he received from a 66-year-old waitress who served

him breakfast one morning. ``Mr. Shaw, I had to tell my

manager I couldn't work the last months of the year, as I

made no money. Fixing this law is a huge relief to me, my

boss and my regular customers who often ask for me during my

absence.''

While Congress is always an easy target at which to aim our

nation's considerable political frustrations, it's important

to remember and honor dedicated public servants like Clay

Shaw who got up every day intending to use their clout to

bridge the aisle to make life better for the people back

home. Shaw was also congressman to my favorite senior, my

mother.

His career harkens back to a day--just a few decades ago

though it seems like ages--when institutional knowledge meant

something, and political clout was more frequently a tool of

bipartisan cooperation. Shaw is in the company of congressmen

such as Republican Henry Hyde of Illinois and Democrat Dante

Fascell of Miami, and many others now long gone who didn't

mind a good fight, but would never let their differences

prevent them from banding together to do the right thing on

behalf of the people back home.

America has 60 million senior citizens with more than

10,000 joining our ranks every day. All of them, as well as

those soon to join our ranks, owe a debt of gratitude and

thanks to the gentleman from Broward County. He and his kind

are sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor and congratulate an outstanding constituent of my district, Jacob Curtis Johnson of Scout Troop 100 in Oviedo, Florida, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in scouting. To attain this rank, he has demonstrated the qualities of leadership, self-discipline and perseverance while serving his family, friends and community. Only about five percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The awarding of the Rank of Eagle Scout is a performance-based achievement with high standards that have been well maintained over the past century.

Jacob Johnson has met every test and challenge to pass through the ranks of the Boy Scouts. Those aspiring to be Eagle Scouts must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. To demonstrate proficiency as a scout, each Boy Scout must achieve merit badges in the areas of First Aid, Citizenship, Environment, Fitness, Family Life and much more.

The work ethic Jacob has shown in his Eagle Scout projects, and every other project leading up to his Eagle Scout rank, speaks volumes about his commitment to assisting his community and serving a cause greater than himself. It is my honor to commend Daniel Moon for his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Jacob will join the ranks of fellow Eagle Scouts like President Gerald R. Ford, Neil Armstrong and Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Mr. Speaker, the example set by this young man and his supportive family demonstrates the rewards of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Jacob's devotion to the Boy Scouts over the past decade is laudable, and I congratulate him on his achievement. I thank him for his dedication to service and know we can expect great things from him in the future. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating Jacob Curtis Johnson on obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor and congratulate an outstanding constituent of my district, James

Cleveland Hughes III of Scout Troop 100 in Oviedo, Florida, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in scouting. To attain this rank, he has demonstrated the qualities of leadership, self-discipline and perseverance while serving his family, friends and community. Only about five percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The awarding of the rank of Eagle Scout is a performance-based achievement with high standards that have been well maintained over the past century.

James Hughes has met every test and challenge to pass through the ranks of the Boy Scouts. Those aspiring to be Eagle Scouts must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. To demonstrate proficiency as a scout, each Boy Scout must achieve merit badges in the areas of First Aid, Citizenship, Environment, Fitness, Family Life and much more.

The work ethic James has shown in his Eagle Scout projects, and every other project leading up to his Eagle Scout rank, speaks volumes about his commitment to assisting his community and serving a cause greater than himself. It is my honor to commend James Hughes for his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. James will join the ranks of fellow Eagle Scouts like President Gerald R. Ford, Neil Armstrong and Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Mr. Speaker, the example set by this young man and his supportive family demonstrates the rewards of hard work, dedication and perseverance. James's devotion to the Boy Scouts over the past decade is laudable, and I congratulate him on his achievement. I thank him for his dedication to service and know we can expect great things from him in the future. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating James Cleveland Hughes III on obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor and congratulate an outstanding constituent of my district, Jordan Marcus Pate of Scout Troop 100 in Oviedo, Florida, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in scouting. To attain this rank, he has demonstrated the qualities of leadership, self-discipline and perseverance while serving his family, friends and community. Only about five percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The awarding of the Rank of Eagle Scout is a performance-based achievement with high standards that have been well maintained over the past century.

Jordan Pate has met every test and challenge to pass through the ranks of the Boy Scouts. Those aspiring to be Eagle Scouts must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. To demonstrate proficiency as a scout, each Boy Scout must achieve merit badges in the areas of First Aid, Citizenship, Environment, Fitness, Family Life and much more.

The work ethic Jordan has shown in his Eagle Scout projects, and every other project leading up to his Eagle Scout rank, speaks volumes about his commitment to assisting his community and serving a cause greater than himself. It is my honor to commend Daniel Moon for his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Jordan will join the ranks of fellow Eagle Scouts like President Gerald R. Ford, Neil Armstrong and Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Mr. Speaker, the example set by this young man and his supportive family demonstrates the rewards of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Jordan's devotion to the Boy Scouts over the past decade is laudable, and I congratulate him on his achievement. I thank him for his dedication to service and know we can expect great things from him in the future. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating Jordan Marcus Pate on obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor and congratulate an outstanding constituent of my district, John Robinson Royero of Scout Troop 100 in Oviedo, Florida, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in scouting. To attain this rank, he has demonstrated the qualities of leadership, self-discipline and perseverance while serving his family, friends and community. Only about five percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The awarding of the Rank of Eagle Scout is a performance-based achievement with high standards that have been well maintained over the past century.

John Royero has met every test and challenge to pass through the ranks of the Boy Scouts. Those aspiring to be Eagle Scouts must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. To demonstrate proficiency as a scout, each Boy Scout must achieve merit badges in the areas of First Aid, Citizenship, Environment, Fitness, Family Life and much more.

The work ethic John has shown in his Eagle Scout projects, and every other project leading up to his Eagle Scout rank, speaks volumes about his commitment to assisting his community and serving a cause greater than himself. It is my honor to commend John Royero for his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. John will join the ranks of fellow Eagle Scouts like President Gerald R. Ford, Neil Armstrong and Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Mr. Speaker, the example set by this young man and his supportive family demonstrates the rewards of hard work, dedication and perseverance. John's devotion to the Boy Scouts over the past decade is laudable, and I congratulate him on his achievement. I thank him for his dedication to service and know we can expect great things from him in the future. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating John Robinson Royero on obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor and congratulate an outstanding constituent of my district, Daniel R. Moon of Scout Troop 931 in Oviedo, Florida, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in scouting. To attain this rank, he has demonstrated the qualities of leadership, self-discipline and perseverance while serving his family, friends and community. Only about five percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The awarding of the Rank of Eagle Scout is a performance-based achievement with high standards that have been well maintained over the past century.

Daniel Moon has met every test and challenge to pass through the ranks of the Boy Scouts. Those aspiring to be Eagle Scouts must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. To demonstrate proficiency as a scout, each Boy Scout must achieve merit badges in the areas of First Aid, Citizenship, Environment, Fitness, Family Life and much more.

The work ethic Daniel has shown in his Eagle Scout projects, and every other project leading up to his Eagle Scout rank, speaks volumes about his commitment to assisting his community and serving a cause greater than himself. It is my honor to commend Daniel Moon for his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Daniel will join the ranks of fellow Eagle Scouts like President Gerald R. Ford, Neil Armstrong and Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Mr. Speaker, the example set by this young man and his supportive family demonstrates the rewards of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Daniel's devotion to the Boy Scouts over the past decade is laudable, and I congratulate him on his achievement. I thank him for his dedication to service and know we can expect great things from him in the future. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating Daniel Moon on obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased tonight to lead a Special Order in memory of the life and service of our dear friend, our colleague from Florida, Mr. Bill Young. We will hear from members of the Florida delegation and also from leaders from the committee on which he was a leader, himself.

To lead off tonight in our Special Order in that vein, I am very pleased to yield first to the chair of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, on which Mr. Young served so distinguishably, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).

I thank the gentleman.

We are also pleased to have with us tonight a distinguished leader of the Florida delegation and now the dean of the Florida delegation--our senior member--to pay tribute to Bill Young. I yield to the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

I thank the gentlelady.

Mr. Young was respected not only by his Republican peers and colleagues but by peers on both sides of the aisle. So I am pleased now to yield to a senior member of the Florida delegation on the other side of the aisle, the cochair, Mr. Hastings.

Thank you.

Now, in continuing hearing from the leadership of our delegation, I am pleased to yield to the chairman of the Florida delegation, the gentleman whose district is adjacent to Mr. Young's, to the south, Mr. Vern Buchanan.

I am pleased now to recognize another colleague across the aisle. Again, Bill Young's friendships and his service included everyone in the House of Representatives and in the Congress, so I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from Ohio, Marcy Kaptur.

I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Miami, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart, another Florida colleague, who is also a gentleman who served with Mr. Young distinguishably on the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), again, reaching across the aisle with the respect and esteem in which Mr. Young was held.

I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, the Honorable Gus Bilirakis, another Florida colleague, and he also has a district that is adjacent to Mr. Young's.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, at this time I will yield back my time with the intent of relinquishing the balance of the time to one of the leaders from Florida and also a member of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Crenshaw.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in paying tribute to my good friend and fellow Member of Congress, C.W. Bill Young.

More than four decades ago, I first met Bill when I served as a campaign aide to the late Congressman Bill Cramer. Bill Young was a Florida State Senator at the time who was seeking the St. Petersburg, West Florida Coast Congressional seat being vacated by my boss who was running in 1970 for the U.S. Senate.

Bill Young had already served as a Congressional aide to Bill Cramer and then was elected as Florida's first Republican State Senator since the Civil War. Bill Cramer when elected was the first GOP U.S. House Member since that era.

As fate would unfold, Bill Cramer lost and Bill Young took his seat in Congress.

I had aligned myself with Florida's West Coast GOP political operatives called the ICY Machine. Those were initials for Jack Insco, a top Cramer aide and political strategist, Bill Cramer and Bill Young, a Florida political powerhouse at that time.

While my boss lost his election, I gained great experience and wonderful friends. Among them, Bill Young, rising GOP star, and his two young aides, George Cretekos and Doug Gregory. Both George and Doug served with Bill Young for over three decades, during which I was privileged to count all among my friends and political allies.

As an aide to U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins from 1980 to 1985, I had the honor of working with two GOP leaders who worked tirelessly for Florida and our Nation.

I must say, two legends with two very different styles. Paula had a flair for the media and attention and Bill quietly pursued his legislative agenda. Both were highly effective in their own way. Paula championed missing children and Bill rose as a champion of our military. Now both have joined the ages and are part of the history of Congress and the State of Florida.

Having worked with Bill Young on military issues important to our State and Nation as recently as the past few weeks, I can tell you no one could be more effective. No one could be more respected or trusted.

While fond memories of Bill Young continue, his real legacy will transcend generations for our military and long benefit our national defense.

For his tireless work on behalf of all Americans and all citizens of the Sunshine State, I join my colleagues in this special tribute to C.W. Bill Young.

What a great privilege it has been to share part of my life and grow memories with Bill Young. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Beverly, to the Young family and to his devoted staff and constituents.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, it is absolutely fitting that we take this step and name our veterans hospital on the west coast of Florida after a great American, a patriot, a hero for our veterans-- Bill Young.

Probably more than anyone in the House of Representatives or Congress, I have known Bill Young, I think, longer. He and I were both aides to the first Republican Congressman since the Civil War, Bill Kramer. He was an aide before I was, but we met and worked together more than 40 years ago.

So I rise tonight not only as a colleague, but as a personal friend and political ally of a great human being, someone who put his heart and soul into his position, who loved our servicemen and -women, and his great legacy will be all he has done to honor their memory.

Tonight, we honor his memory with renaming Bay Pines veterans hospital for Bill Young, my friend.

Here we are, folks, my colleagues, fellow Americans. In just a few days, the United States may not be able to pay its debts. That would be horrible for the country and for leadership as we know it.

Mr. Speaker, how did we get here? The other side--and you are hearing from them--took control of the place. In 4 years, the spending went unchecked. The debt rose from $9 billion to now $17 trillion. They are asking for another trillion dollars to continue the spending unchecked to continue the indebtedness.

We can and we should come together to resolve this; but at some point, you have to be responsible as a parent, as a Member of Congress, as citizens to hold the line, to stop the spending, and to put a check on indebtedness to the future.

Barack Obama voted against raising the debt limit when he was a Senator and said that not addressing the debt was a lack of leadership.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a while. I know the American people are frustrated with the shutdown, and a week from now, the country will default if action is not taken.

How we got into this situation is not that complicated. You can only continue to spend so much of the public's money, and then you run out of the public's money.

After years, 4 years of unchecked spending, when the Democrats controlled the House, the Senate and the White House, it has caught up with us. We put the brakes on 2 years ago, and this is a difficult way to put the brakes on now.

No one likes it. The American people don't like it. But we have got to get our spending and we have got to get our debt under control. You continue to spend, you incur debt.

Next week we'll go from $17 trillion to probably a request for another $1 trillion. That's not sustainable. We must work together to resolve this in the long-term interest and national economic and financial security of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, as the clock ticks, the country gets closer to a time when it will run out of money.

People probably couldn't understand all of the debate leading up to the implementation of ObamaCare just a few days ago, and some of the questions and debate became blurred. That was one of the biggest government programs--largest spending programs--probably in the history of our Nation; but it did have consequences, because you are spending more trillions of dollars, and if we are going to provide health care, we want it right. There are many Americans who don't have health care, and we should assist them in a responsible fashion. The roll-out has been a disaster. We are holding a hearing on that in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

All that being said, it's about time to pay the piper here. I think the American people will understand, and can understand, that the country is close to default. The country is close to default because we have incurred an indebtedness that will soon exceed $17 trillion, an indebtedness which, again, will reach the current limit next week. They are asking for another $1 trillion or $900 billion to get us one more year. We are going to have to pay the piper.

When you spend $1.5 trillion more a year in the first year with the Obama administration and, in each succeeding year, over $1 trillion more than you took in, you acquire an indebtedness. It was $9 trillion when President Bush left office, and it will soon be $18 trillion in some 6 years, the most indebtedness of any nation. We can't become a Greece. This is not that difficult to understand.

When the government can't pay its bills, if folks think there is a temporary shutdown now, think of a permanent shutdown. Think of going to the bank and not being able to withdraw money or, as you've heard, not being able to obtain a mortgage. The full faith and credit of the United States of America will collapse. Just like when an individual spends more than he earns, he must pay the piper.

Hopefully now, everyone can understand we are in that situation and that we must act responsibly.

Republicans are not standing in the way. Republicans are trying to save the day because this is coming due. The bill is due. We must find a way to cut spending, reduce the amount of Federal spending and keep the debt down. It's that simple. If the President of the United States will not negotiate and if the Senate will not negotiate, you cannot achieve what we need to do to be responsible as stewards of the American people. We are one half of one-third of the government, so this isn't all our responsibility.

We are trying to act responsibly, and we are asking people to come together and find a way to reduce spending in a responsible manner. If we have got problems with some programs like ObamaCare, let's fix them. Let's get this spending down. Again, this is the time we are going to have to pay for all of these government programs, for the spending that has gone on unchecked and for the indebtedness the United States has incurred.

Just a final lesson: the Constitution and the Founders put all spending--the appropriations, the funding of programs--and also the responsibility for raising taxes with this body, the House of Representatives. They did so because we are closest to the people. We get elected every 2 years. They chose to have the Republicans in the majority in order to control the spending that went out of control and the government programs that went out of control.

So that is what we are doing, what they sent us here to do; and we must do it in a responsible fashion. We are here. We were here before the shutdown. We have asked to negotiate. We will continue to do that. Our leaders are committed to doing that, to working in a responsible fashion. We have to get this right. We must pay the piper. The piper is calling our bills and our credit due, so let's join together and act responsibly.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, why are we here?

We are here because of a failure of leadership. The fact is the President of the United States has failed to negotiate. The fact is the Majority Leader of the Senate, the head of the Senate, has failed and refuses to negotiate.

It's interesting how time changes one's perspective. Let me quote Barack Obama before he became President. These are the words of Barack Obama. He said:

Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and

internationally. Leadership means ``the buck stops here.''

Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices

today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.

America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.

Americans deserve better.

Barack Obama said it very well before he became President. Now he needs to serve and act as President and provide the leadership.

The fact is October 1 is the beginning of the financial year, and we should responsibly fund the government. The fact is, in just a few more days, we will reach $17 trillion in indebtedness--nearly half of that incurred since Barack Obama has become President. Think about that. They're going to come and ask for another $1.9 trillion to keep us going for 1 more year. That means in 6 years we will double the debt that's racking up the greatest debt in the history of mankind for any government.

Republicans might like to think that we won the House of Representatives back in 2010 and '95, but it was the same issues: spending, taxes, and health care. Remember HillaryCare and the taxes and other things imposed by President Clinton. The difference is President Clinton negotiated with us. We balanced the budget within 2 years. We can do that if good people of good faith will come together and negotiate, but we can't negotiate by ourselves.

The Constitution empowered the House of Representatives to be in charge of and responsible for levying taxes--because we're closest to the people--and spending. We have that responsibility. They sent us here. They elected us, rejecting the spending that went on. They saw what went on--$1 trillion more than you took in, spending, the first year of this Presidency, and $1 trillion since. So we must act responsibly, but we must have leadership starting from the White House, starting from the Senate.

Republicans in the House are ready to negotiate. We were here when the Senate didn't show up on Sunday. They didn't show up to work the day before the 1st of October to fund this current year. We must be here to meet, responsibly, our debt. We can't put that debt, as the President has said before he was President, on the backs of our children and grandchildren; but we can't do that without the system working. We need leadership--leadership from the President to negotiate, leadership from the Senate to negotiate.

Our leadership has said they will negotiate. We've been here--we'll stay here--but we need to responsibly fund all the activities of government even if it's piece by piece, as we have responsibly done, and sent them over to the other body, and they sit there.

But again, I urge all of the leaders to come together, and my colleagues, particularly the Senate and the President of the United States. We can do responsibly what we need to do, as designated by the Constitution of the United States, and provide that leadership.

Mr. Speaker, just a quick minute to reflect on the previous speaker.

First of all, as a former chairman of Transportation, chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, if the FAA Administrator is not ensuring that safety positions, including inspectors that are key to safety, that those positions are filled and manned during this shutdown, he should turn in his resignation immediately. I can tell you he has the discretion to make certain that safety and our Essential Air Service inspections are conducted. So this is a game that's being played by the other side.

Secondly, the gentleman spoke to a non-Federal program. There is no reason that any program that's supported with private money can't continue. We've seen this game played this week, poking veterans in the eye, poking even minorities in the eye.

If you have been to Washington and seen the World War II Memorial, it's an open space. And to put up barriers, and to put Park Service personnel out there to put fences up to prohibit the public and our veterans from walking into that open memorial, is an offense. To do the same thing to the Martin Luther King memorial is an offense to our minorities and all Americans.

So this is a game that's being played. I have seen it played, you know, just a short time ago. And it's good to have some institutional memory on FAA. The other side controlled this body. Now, they controlled the House, the Senate and the White House in huge majorities, they could not pass an FAA reauthorization. They did 20 extensions. During those 20 extensions, you know what happened? They left all of our safety policy, they left our advancements in technology, our Next Generation air traffic control programs, all in the lurch. And here they are talking about a 4-day disruption. And they did the same thing to me.

I sent over to Mr. Reid, after the 20-some extensions, I sent to him a clean extension with one caveat: you couldn't have Essential Air Service, a Federal program in which you gave more than a thousand dollars per ticket subsidy. That was offensive to him because he was giving $3,720 per airline ticket subsidy. And he held up the legislation for 2 weeks. We had a partial shutdown of FAA for 2 weeks.

They called me every name in the book. I was a one-man Tea Party terrorist cell. The President, I heard him talking about holding a gun to the head of the Senate. That's what they used against me. They've used this before, they are using it again. They had an opportunity to do some of these things, they didn't.

They couldn't even pass a budget. The only reason they passed a budget this year was we put No Pay, No Budget. All of their 4 years. So let's look at the record. How did we get ourselves into this situation? They spent that 4 years passing a health care bill that they told us we would know what was in it after we passed it, and we found out.

The President 17 times has changed provisions in it that were in law. He gave an exemption to business people. He gave exemptions to his friends. He changed the law. Many of us wanted to do away with the law. We know that has gone into effect. We have asked for a reasonable approach to negotiate and change some things that need to be changed.

Let Members of Congress and the White House staff and others be subject to ObamaCare. Let's have some relief for individuals for some time. But you can't do that if you won't negotiate. If you are golfing on Saturday, as the President was doing, if you don't show up for work on Sunday, like the Senate didn't do, if you come to work on Monday at 2 o'clock, you don't get the job done. And then if you go to the White House and you don't sit down and talk or negotiate, you won't get it done.

We're here, we're going to be here 24-7, our leadership is committed to stay over the weekend, next week until we get it done, until we open the government, until we get the finances of this country as it careens down the path to possible default. Seventeen trillion, asking for another trillion of indebtedness. From $9 trillion to 17 going to 18, double it in what--5, 6 years of this administration? Spending out of control, large government programs that do need our attention. We need to be responsible. We need to be accountable. We need to take any law, whether it's ObamaCare or others, and make certain that our people do have health care and do the best job possible working together and compromising.