Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this measure which would reform and improve our security and intelligence structure.

The Houston area, of which I represent part of, meets every single criteria for critical infrastructure terrorist targets--14 of 14--we are a perfect storm of terrorist targets. Texas shares about half of its borders with International interests--Mexico and The Gulf of Mexico--leaving us even more vulnerable and facing some unique security needs.

Houston and surrounding areas are ripe for trade, are magnets for the petrochemical industry, have been thriving agriculture regions and remain the center of activities for the energy, banking and many other industries. We have ports and airports large and small, NASA, many tourist attractions, and an environment that invites businesses large and small. All these things make our area wonderful to live in but at the same time make it a higher potential target for terrorism and disasters. Greater risk area because of our size, population, not only in urban core but also in outlying areas geographically and population density.

H.R. 10 is about protecting our interests at home and abroad and protecting our way of life. It would be irresponsible to not act. I'd like to take a few minutes to talk about a few provisions in this bill which I think are particularly important:

Taking serious action to strengthen our borders--doubling border patrol agents--trippling immigration agents.

To seriously restructure our intelligence community and truly making the way we do business more intelligent.

Sending more targeted First Responder grants to where the real threats are and supporting the folks on the ground who are our own front line. Our colleges and community colleges and first responders throughout the state and their ability to quickly respond to local needs make our area an excellent model for delivery of training.

Treating terrorists like terrorists and not giving them free U.S. vacation visas and asylum.

Cracking down on terrorists--whether acting alone or state sponsored or some guerrilla regime--knocking the wind from their sails and taking our country--our way of life--back.

We stand for freedom and democracy and terrorism targets these values--the things this nation hold most dearly. We need to act now to protect our families and our way of life.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans do not ship jobs overseas and neither do Democrats. Our own Tax Code does, though, and it is the responsibility of both parties. It is time to stop pointing fingers and start working together to save American jobs.

That is what this bill does. It removes the job killers in our Tax Code. It is a common sense principle: Stop punishing those who build in America and lower the tax burden on those who manufacture and produce here, and have a higher rate if you build it overseas.

This bill also restores sales tax fairness to the Tax Code, easing the burden on American families and giving a direct economic boost to Main Street. To States like mine, it means delivering $1 billion of tax relief to Texas families each year. Best of all, every taxpayer in America will have the option of choosing to deduct either their State and local income taxes or their sales taxes, whichever is highest.

Thanks to the leadership of the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), and with the key support of the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), we have reopened the door to sales tax fairness that has been locked shut for 18 years. Every legislator from a sales tax State should support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, it is a wonderful honor to join with my Republican and Democrat friends, the Texas delegation of this Chamber, to honor our former colleague Congressman Jack Fields, by renaming the post office in Kingwood, Texas, where he and his family live, as the ``Congressman Jack Fields Post Office.''

He represented the 8th District of Texas from 1981 to 1997, 16 years. He retired really at the pinnacle of his career for a very powerful reason, to spend more time with his family, his wonderful wife, Lynn, and children, daughters Jordan and Lexi and stepson Josh Hughes. Jack left as chairman of the House Committee on Commerce's Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee, a very important post, and as vice chairman of the Committee's Commerce, Trade and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.

For those who know him, Jack was born in Humble, Texas, on February 3, 1952. His family had lived and has lived on the same plot of land since the 1860s. His family is remarkable. Those who know his dad and for all the contributions, the special place he played in the Humble community; his mom, who was beloved by all; his brother Jess, a distinguished community leader; his wife, Lynn, a top educator/school board member for many years. His whole family is just remarkable. So there is no exception; Jack was, as well.

Jack earned his Bachelor's degree from Baylor in Waco, Texas, in 1974. While attending Baylor, Jack served an unprecedented two terms as school body president and was twice named Outstanding Baylor Man. In 1977, Jack earned his law degree from Baylor Law School and for 9 years has served as a Baylor University trustee. As one would imagine, he is a little partial to the Baylor Bears.

Jack served as a member of the Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee from 1985 until his retirement. During his years of service he had maintained jurisdiction over international and interstate telecommunications. It oversaw the Federal Communications Commission, as well as the telephone, cellular, cable and broadcast industries, among others. It also worked on issues at the Security and Exchange Commission, as well as activities of investment bankers, stock brokers, investment advisers, stock exchanges, and the mutual fund industry.

As subcommittee chairman in 1995, Jack Fields led the effort in the House to enact the first comprehensive reform of the Communications Act of 1934 in more than 6 decades, the measure promoting greater competition in all telecommunications-related industries. Congress passed the legislation, and President Clinton signed it into law in February of 1996.

As subcommittee chairman, Jack's efforts led to passage of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which protects investors while also promoting greater efficiency and capital formation in the financial markets. Jack also played a critical role in passing the Securities Litigation Reform Act that reforms the Federal civil

justice system regarding private securities litigation.

He has been nothing close to retired since he left Congress. He has set up his own firm, has stayed involved in his ranching and timber interests. He opened the 21st Century Group, a Washington-based governmental affairs firm. He sits on the board of directors of AIM Mutual funds, the eighth largest mutual fund company in the United States; and Administaff, a premier professional employer organization with clients nationwide, based in Kingwood.

In addition, he sits on the board of the Discovery Channel Global Education Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education resources to people in need throughout the world through the use of technology.

Let me close with this: Jack Fields served for 16 years with distinction and integrity, with firm, conservative principles. He was a champion for veterans, a champion for small business, a champion for the second amendment and for family values, which he lived each day of his life. He reached across the aisle to work with Members and became close friends with former Congressman Mickey Leland. They worked together on issues related to poverty and hunger throughout the world.

I am so proud to serve in the seat that Jack Fields held for 16 years. The citizens of Humble and Kingwood in the Eighth Congressional District join me in honoring Jack Fields in naming the post office in Kingwood after him so that future generations within our community will know Jack Fields's service to Texas, service to Humble, Kingwood, and service to our great Nation. I am proud to be part of this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to serve with Irma in the Texas legislature. They broke the mold with Irma Rangel. She was so knowledgeable and so caring. I sat just a few seats away from her in my freshman year. She was and is in our memories a wonderful legislator.

I was a Republican, and there were times when she could certainly put me in my place. But the fact of the matter is, she had such a great heart for people. She had such a great heart for Texas. She was a tireless worker for people who had no voice and who needed someone to stand up in the halls of Austin and fight for their beliefs.

I am proud to be a supporter of this important bill. I appreciate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) and other members of the Texas delegation bringing this very important person to America's attention and naming this Post Office after someone who is so deserving of it. I am glad to be part of this effort.

Mr. Speaker, during the 2004 Fallen Fire Heroes Memorial Weekend, our nation will come together to honor the 107 firefighters who perished in the line of duty last year. Regretfully, eight Texas firefighters lost their lives, two of whom are from the 8th Congressional District.

We are not here to mourn the loss as much as we are here to celebrate the lives of these dedicated heroes that serve selflessly in the worst of conditions to keep us safe. We celebrate their commitment, their compassion and their courage. So many hours of training; days and nights of service; time away from their families and friends; comradery with their brothers; lives and homes saved . . . it is impossible to put into words our gratitude for these heroes in our lives and our communities.

Charles Flowers, Sr. of the New Caney Volunteer Fire Department will have his name added to the plaques surrounding the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park just outside of Washington, D.C. this weekend.

Charles Flowers, Sr., a veteran firefighter for over 25 years died while responding to a motor vehicle accident with a victim pinned in the vehicle. He collapsed from an apparent heart attack after actively attempting to free the victim from the vehicle. Flowers was well known and loved by this community. He served the New Caney Volunteer Fire Department as Chief, Captain, and finally as Assistant Chief. He was also a representative to the Montgomery County Fire Chiefs Association and a member of the Emergency Services Ministries.

Firefighters represent the best our community has to offer. We honor them today, not only for their final act of bravery but for the lives they led. A firefighter's work can some times be thankless, but of all the men and women I've met, meet challenge and the danger without complaints and without regret. Their lives provided hope and comfort to victims of horrible events that we pray never come to us or the ones we love.

This remembrance service is as much a celebration of their lives and their ideals as it

is a time to reflect on what we have lost. Firefighters remind us that heroes are every day people who decide to devote their lives and work to something greater than themselves.

Today we are here to honor Charlie Flowers and his brothers, the 106 nationwide who've sacrificed so much. With the start of a new day, we honor the families and friends they've left behind. Mr. Speaker, our prayers are always with them. Together as a community we say thank you to those who will stand in the place of those who have fallen and will continue to faithfully serve and protect.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show America's deep appreciation for Delores A. Maguire, M.S., R.D., C.S.P., L.D., who will be deployed to Iraq next May serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army in the war against terror in which we are fighting for a safer world, free from the threat of terror in our daily lives. Delores has served faithfully six years as a Registered Pediatric Dietician at Memorial Hermann Hospital and the Texas Children's Hospital in the renowned Texas Medical Center--Houston.

While overseeing the diets of patients in an Army hospital, Delores will undoubtedly apply her background as a Pediatric Dietician to ensure her patients a successful recovery. As a former member of the United States Navy and the United States Army Reserve, Delores will use her military training, coupled with her extensive medical knowledge to become a valuable asset to the Army in the form of a strong leader and a productive team player.

On a personal level, every one of her colleagues and co-workers tell me that Delores is sincere, honest, hardworking and is a great listener. She is down-to-earth, has a refreshing sense of humor and a way of making very difficult challenges seem easy and uncomplicated. She is committed to excellence and is always there to help others personally and professionally. What a wonderful role model.

Equally important, she never misses a Houston Texans football game and is one of the Texans' greatest fans. Mr. Speaker, many are honored to be her friend, family or colleague, and on behalf of the constituents of the 8th District of Texas we express our pride in her services and pray for a safe return.

Mr. Speaker, during the 2004 Fallen Fire Heroes Memorial Weekend, our nation will come together to honor the 107 firefighters who perished in the line of duty last year. Regretfully, eight Texas firefighters lost their lives, two of whom are from the 8th Congressional District.

We are not here to mourn the loss as much as we are here to celebrate the lives of these dedicated heroes that serve selflessly in the worst of conditions to keep us safe. We celebrate their commitment, their compassion and

their courage. So many hours of training; days and nights of service; time away from their families and friends; comradery with their brothers; lives and homes saved... it is impossible to put into words our gratitude for these heroes in our lives and our communities.

Gary Lee ``Deuce'' Staley of the Porter Volunteer Fire Department, will have his name added to the plaques surrounding the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park in Emmitsburg, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. this weekend.

As a member of the Porter Volunteer Fire Department, Deuce died serving the community that he loved and will always be remembered for his heroism and sacrifice.

In January 2003, Deuce was responding to a fire at an antique car showroom. While attempting to lead three stranded firefighters out of the blaze and to safety, a car filled with nitrous oxide exploded, killing Staley instantly.

Firefighters represent the best our community has to offer. We honor them today, not only for their final act of bravery but for the lives they led. A firefighter's work can some times be thankless, but of all the men and women I've met, meet challenge and the danger without complaints and without regret. Their lives provided hope and comfort to victims of horrible events that we pray never come to us or the ones we love.

This remembrance service is as much a celebration of their lives and their ideals as it is a time to reflect on what we have lost. Firefighters remind us that heroes are every day people who decide to devote their lives and work to something greater than themselves.

Today we are here to honor Gary Staley and his brothers, the 106 nationwide who've sacrificed so much. With the start of a new day, we honor the families and friends they've left behind. Mr. Speaker, our prayers are always with them. Together as a community and a nation, we say thank you to those who will stand in the place of those who have fallen and will continue to faithfully serve and protect.

Mr. Speaker, I am not embarrassed to say I stand here on behalf of tens of thousands of families in the Eighth Congressional District in strong support of the marriage protection amendment.

I believe the institution of marriage is a sacred union. It predates Congress and the constitution. Marriage is not simply a legal contract. For all its flaws, it is a covenant that truly binds individuals and families to each other and has, for centuries, provided social stability, not only for our country but for our culture.

Marriage matters. It matters to the American people. It matters to our children, and it matters to our Nation's future. Because strong families foster strong morals and a strong Nation to go with it.

As for those who say this is no business of Congress, I strongly disagree. Our Founding Fathers and mothers may never have imagined this debate today, but they created the thoughtful process for the American people to decide such matters of importance.

And make no mistake, the definition of marriage will be defined. The only question today we are debating is by whom, the unelected justices of the Federal courts or the American people? So you decide, who do you trust to decide this nation-changing decision? I have faith in the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear I think to the listeners today that we are nearing Election Day. This is one of those ``scare America'' type motions that is designed to appeal to voters in the hopes that perhaps they do not understand the issue and you can just scare them by yelling ``outsource, outsource, outsource.'' But I think American voters are smarter than that.

What we have done here in the House, our frustration is that we have one of the greatest and most productive work forces in the world. But our Tax Code works against our companies and our workers and really forces people to have to compete somewhere else in the world.

We are convinced that we can create jobs here in America. So the approach we have taken is pretty simple and direct: We lower the tax rate for companies and workers that manufacture in America, and we keep a higher tax rate for companies that manufacture overseas. Lower if you produce in America; higher if you do it overseas. That way we encourage American companies and workers to keep the jobs right here.

For farmers and our agriculture community, we lower the rate if they produce here in America; we have a higher rate to tax them if they go overseas. That way we keep agriculture-producing income here in America.

For small businesses, rather than take money away from them and bring it up here to Washington, we want them to keep dollars back at home so they can create jobs and buy that new computer and do the things to keep small businesses in business these days in a competitive workplace.

That is what the American jobs bill does, and that commonsense approach is what the Senate, including majority and minority Members, overwhelmingly supported. They united to lower taxes if you produce here in America and have higher taxes if you produce overseas, a commonsense approach to American jobs here.

Let me say this, too. Our problem with trade is not so much that we are buying from overseas, it is the fact we are not selling enough products overseas. What this does is make our products far more competitive.

What we do is we do not chase American companies overseas anymore, and we get a chance, a real direct chance, to take out the job killers in our Tax Code and create American jobs here.

That is what this bill does, and I think every American who really studies it, and I think American voters are smart, will see that we want to encourage jobs here with a lower tax rate and a higher tax rate for companies that try to move overseas. That is what this bill does.

A final point: If you really want to tackle outsourcing, one of our problems is that we have so many job killers in our business climate. For example, lawsuit abuse is a huge cost to American businesses. It is a bigger cost annually than the cost of Iraq.

Lawsuit frivolous abuse, because we are the lawsuit capital of the world, we outsource our jobs, we drive up health care beyond reach, we chase good doctors out of practice. If you really want to stop shipping jobs overseas, I would invite my Democratic colleagues to join me in ending frivolous lawsuits that drive our jobs overseas, and instead work with us to keep them here in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp) as a leader in the Committee on Ways and Means on encouraging adoption and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint), who has been a leader on this issue for many years since I have been a Member of Congress and have come to know him.

I am an adoptive father. My wife and I have two little baby boys, a 5-year-old son, a redhead, named Will; a 2-year-old named Sean. Whoever said that at my age having young kids keeps one young is absolutely wrong. They make us old fast. But they are an absolute joy to us. And it is only in Washington, unfortunately, that we have such a serious subject about trying to help families build their families with an adopted child, that we have an election-year smear campaign brought to the Chamber against one of our colleagues who is running for an office in South Carolina. I guess in Washington these days it is sort of the order of business that one takes the serious issue of children and adoption, who are looking for a home, and then they run these horrible attacks from here from this Chamber. As an adoptive father, I think it is sad and really disgusting.

Let me make this point on this bill, which is really the subject of today, which is adoptions build families. It provides love and hope where really none exists, both for the child and for the parent as well. It is just a joy. And we are so proud of birth moms and dads who choose that option.

This bill is so important because adoptions are so expensive. I do not

know how families afford them anymore. If they use an agency, it is easy to begin with a $25,000 fee. If they have a private adoption, like we did, our first one was very expensive because the adoption was a little more complicated. One can easily spend $10,000 without blinking an eye. And that puts it out of reach for a lot of middle-income families in America.

And these adoptions are expensive for a reason. One, legal expenses. Over the years at the State level and the Federal level, we have tried to make sure adoptions stick. Both for the birth parents who are giving that child up and for the parents like myself who are adopting them, our legal costs are high, higher these days because these are stronger foundations and more secure adoptions, and that is good. But also we use a lot of those moneys for medical expenses through the agencies, working with the mom on prenatal care, making sure she is getting the checkups for the baby, making sure that child has a chance to have a healthy start in life. So the medical expenses are high. As a result of both of those, adoptions can be so expensive.

And, again, without this tax credit, here each and every year we are going to prevent some loving families from occurring. We are going to keep children in foster care who really ought to be in a loving home at night with parents reading to them and providing them with a future. This adoption tax credit is just critical. It ought not to be something that is temporary but permanent that families in our country can count on and encourage.

With that I urge support and appreciate the leadership again of the gentlemen from Michigan and from South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the national debt is an important issue that needs to be taken seriously. I know for much of my lifetime, under Democratic control of Congress, America begged legislators to balance the budget, but they went deeper and deeper in debt each year. I am grateful that when Republicans took control of the House that they worked with President Clinton to balance the budget, indeed, not just to do that but to start paying off the national debt.

It is terribly frustrating to me when I see the triple hit that America took, the attacks on 9/11 that cost us almost 2 million American jobs, when I see the recession President Bush inherited from his predecessor and when I see the collapse of our technology companies and the horrible actions of Enron and WorldCom and others that have given us such a triple hit to our economy; that made it so difficult. It took away so much of our revenue that we have been unable to balance the budget.

But let us be real clear about what this instruction does. It requires that these extensions, the child tax credit and the 10 percent bracket for people who do not make much and the marriage penalty relief to make sure we do not penalize people simply because they are married, it requires these extensions be paid for. In other words, the motion to instruct requires more than $130 billion of tax hikes or spending cuts. I know the spending cuts will not be supported by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This motion does not make the tough choices regarding which taxes to increase or which programs to cut.

The extension of family tax relief is already provided for in the House-passed budget resolution. That resolution would cut the deficit in half without raising taxes, and if we follow the House-passed budget resolution, this motion is not necessary. In contrast, the Democratic motion we talk about tonight is a zero sum game. It provides tax relief, on one hand, and then takes it away, takes it from families' pockets, with the other.

The House has already voted to extend this tax relief without raising taxes to pay for it. And if Congress does not act, families will face a tax increase next year. For example, next year, the $1,000 child tax credit drops to $700, which is tough on a family raising children these days. The 10 percent tax bracket, which helps folks who do not make that much money, will apply to less of a person's income. And the marriage penalty relief will provide less relief for couples.

There is a right way to tackle our spending and our national debt, and

that is to abolish obsolete Federal agencies, to cut programs that duplicate themselves and to go after the fraud in Medicare and Social Security. And the wrong way to tackle our debt is to raise taxes on hardworking families and parents and small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the best thing we can do to pay down the debt is to make sure we are keeping revenues coming in to the Federal Government. We do that not by raising taxes on families and small businesses who can ill afford it. We do it by getting this economy growing, by reducing the amount of spending and, in fact, doing away with the obsolete Federal agencies and all the programs that duplicate each other where we waste so many of our hard-earned tax dollars in Washington and in Federal programs.

The fact of the matter is, the reason we went into deficit is that the economy took such a hard hit. And I think we fought back the right way. When you look at the attacks of 9/11, when we look at the recession President Bush inherited and when we look at the WorldComs and Enrons that hurt so many of us with jobs, what Republicans in Congress did to fight back was to provide tax relief for families and small businesses and people who live on a retirement income.

Our principle was simple: If we want to create jobs in Kansas, if we want to create jobs in Texas, if we want to create jobs in America, then leave the money in Kansas, in Texas, in America, so it can turn around in our economy and so it can be spent on Main Street and so we can help families balance their budget and get this economy growing. And it is working.

Despite the three hits that would have knocked most nations' economies to its knees, by fighting back with tax relief for families and small businesses, we have created over 1.5 million new jobs this past year, more than 100,000 in my State of Texas. We are fighting back. We are not where we would like to be yet in today's economy, but the worst thing we could do for America's families and for their children is to prolong a recession by raising taxes on families and small businesses today. And that is what this motion does.

Mr. Speaker, we know that we do not get support when we try to cut wasteful spending. And when we try to lower the cost of our appropriation bills, my Democratic colleagues, with some exceptions, rarely argue that we are spending too much. Their argument is that we need to spend more. They want higher spending, not less. So I know this motion to instruct is not about reducing the wasteful spending in Washington; it is about raising taxes on families and small businesses who can ill afford it.

In my opinion, and I would think the opinion of the American public, what we can do for tomorrow's children is to get their parents jobs today where they are paying both their income taxes and their payroll taxes into Medicare and into Social Security. Because without an economy that is strong and vibrant, we will not have a recovery. We will not balance the budget sooner rather than later, and we will not put money into Medicare and Social Security. That, ultimately, is what will cost our children a death tax, not getting this economy going and stopping wasteful Washington spending.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with the gentleman from Kansas that there is a shared desire to reduce this deficit, not only that but to balance the budget and start paying down the debt. The question is, how do we do it?

Do we raise taxes on small businesses and families or cut wasteful spending? My contention is, rather than raising taxes, we reduce the wasteful spending here. And I will gladly work with my colleague to do so, although there is a history against that, unfortunately, from his side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) who has been a strong advocate not only of cutting taxes for families but reducing the deficit and getting back to balancing the budget.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Two thoughts: one, I do not think it is responsible to try to scare our citizens with 9, 10, 14, 15 percent interest rate predictions when we know that is not what Alan Greenspan said. And I think even though it is election year and people take great pleasure in trying to doom and gloom the economy and scare average voters in America, I do not think it is the right thing to do.

Secondly, I do know that we can tell some things from the past. And while I believe my friend from Kansas is sincere about wanting to address spending as the right way to reduce the deficit, the fact of the matter is that earlier this year on three different occasions, his Democratic colleagues offered motions to pass tax relief for families and a child tax credit and all that, and in each case they did not offer any spending relief. What they offered were more tax increases.

So I say that this motion tonight, much like those other motions, its goal is not to pay down the debt by limiting and targeting abusive spending. What it desires to do is raise taxes. And I think the best way we pay down the debt and get back to a balanced budget to do the things that Alan Greenspan rightly said we should do, and I agree with my friend from Kansas, is not to increase taxes on families and small businesses.

We are recovering from a recession. We are trying to move dollars through that economy. It is working. I think the quickest way we can put a stop to this economy is to tax families and small businesses at this point when we are just coming out of it, doing a good job in doing that, fighting back the way we ought to with the principle of let us leave the money in the community, because at the end of the day, this philosophy really comes down to this: Is this your money or is this Washington's money?

I have more faith in people spending the money that is so hard earned. I believe we are an overtaxed Nation. I think getting this economy going, which Republicans and Democrats should share, election year aside, should share that dream. I think cutting wasteful spending, which Republicans and Democrats should share that dream, is the fastest way we can get back to a balanced budget and to pay down the deficit, which, again, I agree completely with my colleague. I believe he makes a great point on that issue and one that we can work together on.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let us make two quick points here. The interest rates did not go down because we were paying off the debt. The interest rates went down because our economy slowed after three huge hits: the attack of 9/11 that cost us almost 2 million jobs, the dot-com and the Enrons of the world that damaged our economy so much, and the recession that President Bush inherited. The interest rates came down at the behest of Alan Greenspan to spur this economy, the very same reason we traded tax relief so that we could put people back to work so that money would circulate within our economy.

And the interest rates will not go up because we are in these deficits, as hard as we are fighting to get back down to a balanced budget. They will go up because our economy is improving, and the Federal Reserve Board will seek to not overheat this economy so that we create inflationary pressures. That is the reason why interest rates change.

But I still think the gentleman from Kansas is right in raising the issue of the debt and getting back to a balanced budget. He is exactly right. The question is how we do it. And I believe that the reason we have PAYGO for spending is that if we cool this economy too

soon in its recovery with more tax increases, we have damaged our children's future. If we keep the economy going and focus on wasteful spending where in Washington on average every Federal program duplicates five others, every Federal program duplicates five others. At a time of war and a time of deficits, we cannot afford that type of waste. And rather than raising taxes on families and small businesses, I think the right way to do it for our children's future and their parents who desire good jobs today is to not raise those taxes.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed roll call votes 422 and 423 on September 7, 2004 and rollcall vote 424 on September 8, 2004. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three votes--rollcall vote 422, H.R. 4381, the Harvey and Bernice Jones Post Office Building Designation Act; roll call vote 423, H.R. 4556, the General William Carey Lee Post Office Building Designation Act; and roll call 424, on ordering the previous question for H. Res. 754, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5006) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.

Additionally, I would like to voice my support for H.R. 5005, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, for additional disaster assistance. The House of Representatives passed this important legislation last night. Without this action, FEMA would have run out of money and not been able to help those in need.

Mr. Speaker, all of our thoughts and prayers go out to the families in Florida and elsewhere along the East Coast as they recover from

Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Gaston and Tropical Storm Bonnie. H.R. 5005 will provide FEMA with an additional $2 billion to ensure that they can continue providing without interruption the much needed support and assistance to the victims of these storms.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time and for his leadership on this issue.

I hope the American public was listening carefully to our friend and colleague from Vermont. What he said was what tears apart the fabric of America is to allow our farmers to sell more of their corn to Morocco. He made the point that our farmers who are trying to sell more corn to Morocco, because they buy a lot of it, our farmers who grow wheat and sell more of it will sell more of it to Morocco, that that is bad for America, that companies in Texas, from workers, from petro chemical plants, our computer manufacturing plants, our chemical plants, hard- working workers who are trying to build more products to sell overseas to Morocco, that this will tear apart the fabric of America.

I think it is just the opposite. The problem we have is that there are too many American-need-not-apply signs around this world. We are not able to

sell our products and our goods and our services across the world. American workers are the most productive. Our products are great. We need a chance to sell them to customers throughout the world, and what this agreement does is make sure that we are given a fair chance to sell the great products that we build.

In Texas we are the fourth largest exporting State to Morocco, $23 million of goods and services: ag products, petroleum products, chemical products, processed foods, computers and electronics. All made by Texas workers who want to sell their products overseas, but we are blocked. This agreement opens those markets for all workers, because that is their future, to sell more products to whoever can afford to do that.

And as Americans, we know that unless we open these markets, if we just agree to sell to ourselves, to allow Europe to sell to these markets, Asia to sell to these markets, South America to sell to these markets, our prosperity is in danger. This is a great agreement for American workers, and I strongly support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and dedication of Colenia Canfield who has spent the last four years hand crocheting lap robes for veterans at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC).

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Center is one of the best veteran health centers in the nation. Last year alone they logged over 650,000 outpatient visits. Most of these dedicated veterans are from Houston and south-east Texas.

As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 305 of American Legion Post 305 in The Woodlands, TX. Ms. Canfield wanted to express her appreciation for the service these veterans have rendered to this country. She wanted them to know that she and thousands of the others in our community are grateful for their sacrifice that has kept our country free.

A good friend suggested Colenia should use her talent to crochet as a way to bless area veterans. In October 2000, she started to crochet lap robes for the veterans receiving care at the DeBakey Medical Center. Colenia hasn't stopped crocheting since.

Colenia Canfield completed her first robe on October 14, 2000 and has recently completed her 200th robe. Each robe consists of 81 squares that are eight inches by eight inches and takes 80 hours of hand crochet labor each to complete. She intends to make the lap robes as long as we have veterans. Colenia Canfield's dedication and love of this country and the brave veterans who have dedicated their lives to defending it should be an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Colenia Canfield. All of the residents of The Woodlands, Texas, and the 8th Congressional District are grateful for her dedication and service to our nation's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, listening to my colleague from Vermont, we have been neglected to be told that free trade is also responsible for obesity, male pattern baldness and the breakup of the Beatles.

The fact of the matter is that America needs new customers for our farm products, for things we are manufacturing. The principle involved here is, the principle is that if America builds a better product, we ought to be able to sell it without discrimination throughout the world. If someone else builds a better product, a better mousetrap, we ought to be able to buy it for our families and for our business.

America needs more customers like Australia. In Texas, this trade agreement means some 12,000 jobs for our State. It is good for our farmers. It is good for our manufacturers. On the day it goes into place, 99 percent of Australian penalties on products built in Texas and the U.S. will disappear. That is good for our workers. It is good for our farmers. It is great for our consumers.

This is a trade agreement that is excellent for U.S. manufacturers and the workers who work for them.