Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation. This bill places severe restrictions on a woman's ability to make personal health care decisions with her family and her doctor. Women and their families should be able to plan for their lives and their future free from the government's interference.

Instead of arguing over ideologically motivated bills, Congress should work to create jobs and support middle class families. Today's vote is a sad distraction from the work we should be doing together for the American people.

Instead of wasting taxpayers' dollars with a debate and vote on blatantly unconstitutional measures such as this, we should focus on bipartisan legislation to create jobs and restore our nation's fiscal health.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I'm very disappointed that the Rules Committee chose to disallow my amendment from being heard today. The amendment that I offered, in conjunction with Representative Benishek and Representative Gabbard, simply allowed for victims of sexual violence in the military to have an opportunity to seek justice in court, in the light of day, without fear of retribution or recrimination from their superiors.

This amendment, Mr. Speaker and Members, would have taken the policy outside of the chain of command so that victims of sexual assault would have the opportunity to seek justice, and that those perpetrators who have committed sexual assault against their fellow servicemembers would be held accountable, accountable for the acts which they have committed.

In this instance, Mr. Speaker and Members, this amendment would ensure that the victims could report the crimes, seek justice without fear of retribution or, even worse, having a superior who ignores or downplays the severity of the incident which has occurred.

Mr. Speaker, Brandie Reiner, Jack Welty, Andy Albright, Diego Soto, Anthony Carly, Ellen Hamilton, Ariel Carlos, Joe Slaven, Brandy Pantilione, Gary Brewer, Christopher Valles--these are the students and college graduates from Arizona State University, my alma mater, who shared their stories with me. Some of these young adults are my students at Arizona State University where I teach. Some are recent graduates. Some are thinking of starting a family, while others are working hard to care for the families they already have.

What do these graduates want? They just want a fair shot. They want to know that their hard work in college mattered, that it led to the promise that their parents made to them when they were little, the promise we all believe in: if you work hard and play by the rules, you will succeed. Essentially, they want what each of us wanted for ourselves, what we want for our own kids, what we're working for in our districts. They want a shot at the American Dream.

Instead, as Brandie Reiner begins her life and career as a social worker--having just graduated from ASU last month--she will face the biggest financial hurdle of her life. She doesn't face massive medical bills or an expensive car loan. It's not rent or a mortgage payment. It's a bill for over $100,000 in student loans. Eighteen days--18 days--that's all the time we have to stop student loan interest rates from doubling. Eighteen days makes a lot of difference to the young people who will have to pay thousands of additional dollars to the Federal Government at a time in their lives when those dollars matter the most.

Christopher Valles has $20,000 in debt, and he's just a freshman; Gary Brewer, $57,000 in debt; Kent Fogg, $70,000; Sara Cureton, $74,000.

The Federal Reserve has noted that the U.S.' $1 trillion in student debt is further constricting our economy. Young people are foregoing long-term job opportunities and homeownership in order to meet the urgent demands of their large student loan payments. And today, as they work hard to find jobs in this recession that they didn't cause, Congress debates whether to force students to pay more in order to pay down Congress' debt.

Brandie, Christopher, Gary, Kent, Sara--these graduates should not have to foot the bill for Congress' failure. In 18 days, I want to go back to Arizona and tell these students that I took their stories to Congress and that their stories mattered, that their experiences made a difference.

When these young adults tell me that they just want a shot at the American Dream, that they're working hard, playing by the rules, and doing everything they can to live that dream, then they've done their part. Now it's time for us to do ours.

I challenge us, all of us: Republicans, Democrats, Senators, Representatives. I challenge us to stand together and do the right thing. Stop the finger-pointing and the cynical posturing. Instead, we must act together to keep student loan interest rates affordable. The clock is ticking. There's no time to waste.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Corona del Sol High School's Competition Government Team, the 6th place winners of the ``We the People'' national tournament. Corona Del Sol has made all of Tempe, Arizona proud.

The aim of ``We the People'' is to foster civic engagement and responsibility among young people, and to enhance students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. ``We the People'' also strives to enrich students'' understanding of the Bill of Rights by emphasizing its contemporary relevance.

The contest is structured as a mock congressional hearing, wherein the entire team works together in preparing and presenting statements before a panel of judges who act as congressional committee members. After reading their statements, each member of the team is asked a series of questions by to test their knowledge of constitutional principles.

Under the guidance of Tim Smith, and assistant coaches Lisa Adams and Justine Centennial, 29 dedicated students from Corona del Sol, not only brought home their 12th state title in February, but were once again nationally ranked for the first time since 2001. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Corona del Sol's Competition Government students on this impressive achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the School of Social Work at Arizona State University.

Since 1963, the School of Social Work has prepared its students for careers that allow them to serve and provide assistance to individuals, families, and communities. With over 1,300 diverse students and 8,000 alumni, the ASU School of Social Work is one of the largest social work programs in the country. Through innovative research and service efforts, the school is actively developing social service systems that will greatly aid our society. As an alumna of the program, I served as a social worker at Sunnyslope Elementary School, and I realize the difference that graduates from the School of Social Work can make in the lives of Arizona families.

Finally, from my experience teaching at the ASU School of Social Work for over 10 years, I can confidently say that the school prepares its students to take on the challenges of tomorrow and give our country a bright future. It has been such a privilege to spend time with them, and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the ASU School of Social Work and its students for 50 years of passionate commitment to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Arizona State University students, Davier Rodriguez and Jesus Cisneros, winners of the Clinton Global Initiative University's 2013 Commitments Challenge.

Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Cisneros are the leaders of DREAMzone ASU, a professional development workshop aimed at bettering the ability of student leaders, staff, and faculty to meet the social, cultural and academic needs of undocumented students at Arizona State University.

DREAMzone ASU strives to establish a network of support as part of a national network of allies through a four-hour certification program. Those enrolled in the program expand their content knowledge regarding federal, state, local, and institutional policies that directly affect the undocumented college student experience. Participants also actively work to increase their knowledge of the challenges faced by undocumented students at ASU, and by challenging assumptions through meaningful dialogue and interaction.

The Clinton Global Initiative University's Commitments Challenge involved a rigorous application process and four rounds of intensive online voting, in which DREAMzone emerged victorious. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Cisneros on this accomplishment, and on their hard work to help make many DREAMs a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am.

Mr. Speaker, this is a final amendment to the bill and will not kill it or send it back to committee.

I oppose H.R. 1911. While it's bad enough that student loan interest rates

are set to double on July 1, this bill actually makes interest loan rates even worse for our students. By allowing interest rates to rise dramatically on their loans, this bill steals from students and forces them to pay for Congress' debt. That's absolutely unacceptable.

The higher interest rates in this bill will force graduates, who are just beginning to plan their lives, to pay an estimated added $1,200 each year to the government over 5 years. That's in addition to what they're already expecting to pay. And not only that, the interest rate is not guaranteed, so they can't even plan for this bad news.

When you buy a car, you know what your interest rate will be for the life of the loan. Future graduates who are starting a family, looking for work, and hoping to contribute to our communities should at least have the same reassurance about their investment in their hard work as they would have when buying a car.

It is Congress' duty to stop student loan interest rates from increasing by July 1, and it is outrageous that we would force students to pay for the debt that Congress has created. Hardworking students shouldn't have to pay for Congress' mistakes.

Two weeks ago I shared the story of one of my students at Arizona State University, Ariel Carlos. Ariel and his wife, May, worked their way through college to pay for school and put food on the table for their kids. Ariel also took out student loans in order to make it.

Ariel has debt that he and his wife will pay for decades to come. Students of mine, like Ariel, will make about $30,000 a year when entering the workforce. They can't afford to pay down Congress' debt in addition to taking care of their families. When Ariel asks me to tell Congress not to make matters worse for families like his and then Congress responds with this so-called solution, we have failed him and his family.

My motion to recommit would help students. My amendment includes a truth-in-lending requirement that stops teaser rates. Teaser rates start low, but then skyrocket without warning and cost thousands of dollars more for students in the future. This amendment also requires the government to tell students the true cost of their loans, including the amount of their interest payments. This amendment allows students to plan for their future.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California, Representative George Miller.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

I do not believe that the Affordable Care Act is perfect. I also do not believe that Congress serves the American people by engaging in a partisan fight on this floor for the 37th time.

Is the law perfect? No.

Can we--and should we--come together, stop fighting, and get back to the work of the people? Yes.

There is broad agreement in our country that the Affordable Care Act is not perfect. So let's start there. Instead of fighting, Congress should work together to fix this law and make it work for Americans.

Today, I believe our time is best served by working together to create that which our country so badly needs--jobs. Hardworking families are waiting for us to deliver on a promise that brought many of us to this Chamber--a jobs bill that puts Americans back to work.

My amendment, the Security in Energy and Manufacturing Act, creates high-paying clean-energy jobs. It supports American businesses that create innovative energy products and hire workers here in America. This is a jobs proposal to help American businesses grow and stay competitive in a global marketplace. I want businesses in my community to put their innovative energy products right into our economy.

Energy innovation is quickly becoming one of the world's largest industries. Countries all over the world purchase billions of dollars worth of innovative products. I want to see those products made in America, not China. I want Arizona and America to be globally competitive.

By defeating the previous question, we have the opportunity to restore U.S. manufacturing jobs. Our constituents sent us here-- Democrats and Republicans alike--to work together and get Americans back to work. My proposal does just that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud college instructor of over a decade and perhaps, most importantly, a proud Sun Devil from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, the largest and, yes, the brightest public university in our country.

May 9 is Graduation Day for many of my students, and while I cannot be with them on their special day, I introduce a bill today in their honor, in honor of their hard work and their future contributions to our community and our economy.

Today, I have introduced the Stability to Ensure the American Dream for Youth Act, the STEADY Act. The STEADY Act extends the 3.4 percent for Stafford student loans until June 30 of 2017.

As we all know, if Congress fails to act by June 30 of this year, the interest rate on student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. This will have an enormous impact on the cash flow and economic participation of students entering the workforce, starting a family, planing for the future.

In college communities like the one I have the pleasure of representing, the economics of higher education are directly linked to every part of our daily economic activity. Consumer spending, home ownership, and employment opportunity are inexorably tied to the cost of education.

My bill ensures that those who are in college or planning for college can continue to do so without worry of cutting their paychecks by an additional $1,000 of interest a year paid to the Federal Government.

The STEADY Act ensures that they can plan for their future, plan for their family's future, and continue to contribute to our local economy. It allows added stability to get the education they need and find the job they want.

Our communities sent us to Congress to fight for them and get things done. Today I'm thinking of my students who need a voice in this Congress. It's my hope that we will get this done for them.

I think about Ariel Carlos, my student in ASU's School of Social Work. Ariel hopes to give back to our community as a social worker for seniors. He wants to help seniors who have worked and contributed their entire lives, help them continue to do so with health and support.

Ariel and his wife, May, have kids, and they support each other by working hard. Ariel has had to work for a paycheck. He worked hard through his entire college career, taking out student loans along the way so that he and May could care for their family while he studied. At the end of his college career, Ariel found himself with a student loan debt of $45,000.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that a new social worker in Arizona is likely to start his career making about $30,000 a year or less. For Ariel and his family, an added expense of $1,000 a year means less money for child care, less money for school books, less money for groceries.

$1,000 a year from his family's budget--to pay to the Federal Government--means less spending in our local economy and less savings for the future.

The New York Federal Reserve recently noted that student loan debt is slowing our economy. Those with large student debt participate less in their local economies, delaying home ownership and family planning while forgoing long-term job opportunities. Students who should be planning their lives are instead nervous about their future and concerned about debt impeding their ability to get ahead.

We have the opportunity to set things right for Ariel and May, to maintain a steady road for our economic future, and to make certain that the hard work that goes into our community stays in our community and pays off in our community.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in support of the STEADY Act of 2013.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the India Plaza of Tempe, Arizona for its 10 years of dedicated service to the community.

Since 2003, India Plaza has served as a meeting place gateway for Arizonans into Indian culture, a center for education and celebrating diversity. They have also been actively engaged with the wider community, donating land and funds to various causes and working with both local government and Arizona State University to promote a more accessible city. India Plaza is a true community partner, receiving awards such as the ``Best of Phoenix'' and an Honorable Mention as ``Tempe's Good Neighbor of the Year''.

India Plaza serves as an excellent example to the rest of the Nation of what can be accomplished when people come together to promote diversity and understanding. It is my privilege to serve this great community. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating India Plaza on its 10 years of service and in wishing it many more.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

My amendment is simple and straightforward. Currently, this bill, H.R. 624, requires the inspectors general of the intelligence community, Departments of Justice and Defense, as well as the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board to submit a report to Congress every year regarding the use of the information shared with the Federal Government. This amendment adds the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security to the list of inspectors general that are required to submit the report.

It also adds the House and Senate Committees on Homeland Security to the list of committees that will receive the report. Currently, only the House and Senate Intelligence Committee will receive the report. Having the Department of Homeland Security, a civilian department, included in this reporting requirement adds one more layer of accountability to this review and report.

Allow me to briefly talk about the overall bill and why it has my support. I believe we need a 21st century solution for this 21st century problem. I've heard from businesses and constituents in Arizona who have firsthand knowledge of this issue. It's affecting both large corporations and small businesses alike. Our national security, our financial security, and our innovations are under very serious threat. This bill ensures that research and development, intellectual property, and software code is no longer being stolen by China, Iran, and Russia.

Countries and cyber hackers steal trade secrets and they steal innovation and research, but they also steal American jobs. Americans are known for their ingenuity and hard work, but we are losing that hard work to hackers. One of the biggest cyber threats is to an American's personal information--information like bank accounts, health records, and Social Security numbers.

This is very, very serious and a real threat to all Americans, and this threat is growing. Terrorist organizations have taken credit for taking down the online systems at Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America. Three weeks ago, American Express also admitted that they were hacked.

Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated. Instead of merely disrupting commerce and stealing information, the attacks are focused on destroying our Nation's digital systems, destroying our national security, our infrastructure and financial systems that Americans depend on every day. It is imperative that we partner with private companies to discover, and then prevent, more attacks such as these.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Maffei).

Mr. Chairman, I just want to emphasize again that this amendment helps add another layer of accountability. It includes the Homeland Security Department as a civilian interface for Congress in both the Homeland Security Committee and the Intelligence Committee.

I want to thank, in particular, the chair and the ranking member for their leadership on this issue over the course of several years. I know in my district it's important not just to consumers, but also to industry leaders who are leading the way forward on American innovation. I want to thank them for that.

I encourage Members to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Security in Energy and Manufacturing Act of 2013.

This bill will extend the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program. The program provides a 30 percent tax credit, or a grant in lieu of a tax credit, to companies that are constructing, expanding, or retrofitting their facilities that manufacture renewable energy.

We have seen our manufacturing base erode as a result of increased global competition. Not only will the SEAM Act help us rebuild our manufacturing industry; it will also provide an opportunity to do so while exploring responsible energy production. Energy innovation is quickly becoming one of the world's largest industries; and countries all over the world are purchasing billions of dollars' worth of wind turbines, solar panels and other green technologies. I want to see these products made in the United States and for our country to remain competitive.

We know this program works. The first allocation of funding was extremely successful in leveraging private capital, and that led to the investment of over 180 energy manufacturing facilities across 43 States in our country. The number of wind turbines and their workable components made in the U.S. has more than doubled since then, and that is just one aspect of the renewable energy field.

Expanding this program also means creating additional high-tech, high-wage manufacturing jobs in our own backyard. Companies like Tempe's Monarch Power could expand and increase the creation of innovative products, ranging from energy generation to energy storage, even a mobile renewable power system--all while remaining affordable. We must partner the power of American innovation with the potential of American production. My bill encourages just that.

In my home State of Arizona, renewable energy enjoys broad bipartisan support. Democrats and Republicans, including Barry Goldwater, Jr. and our own Governor, Jan Brewer, have advocated for solar and renewable energy because they know that the future of our State and the future of our country depend on it. I stand today with a broad coalition of leaders from my State who have a long history of supporting energy innovation as a smart investment for America.

We have the opportunity to restore U.S. manufacturing jobs, to help our country remain competitive in the manufacturing industry and to invest in a wide range of clean energy production. I ask that the body join me in supporting the SEAM Act of 2013.

Madam Speaker, my State, Arizona, has made tremendous sacrifices in the struggle to stand strong through our Nation's fiscal crisis. Today, Arizona is last in education funding, last in retail growth, and first in home foreclosures.

I'm proud to say, however, that Arizonans are resilient. We are tough. Our State was forged out of rugged frontierism--we're independent and we have deep respect for the traditions that make us Arizona. We've never shrunk from a tough fight and we've never been afraid to roll up our sleeves and work hard. Right now, we're working hard to climb out of the recession that we all face together. It hasn't been easy, but we're doing it.

Arizona is sixth in the Nation for defense sector jobs. Most of these are private sector jobs. Employers have come to Arizona because of our people and our work ethic. We innovate and compete alongside booming defense States like California, Texas, and Virginia. Employers are hiring thousands of skilled workers from our communities. Our State is a vital resource to our Nation's military readiness. We were able to get there through hard work, innovative thought, and intense collaboration between community and industry partners.

In the greater Phoenix area, our economy is currently growing steadily at the rate of 3 percent, but the deep cuts, known as the sequester, would cut our growth in half. In fact, Arizona's potential job losses caused by sequestration rank 13th among all U.S. States. These losses will be felt by families working in Arizona's defense sector and military base operations. These are skilled, middle class jobs.

Of the nearly 50,000 jobs that we expect to lose in Arizona from the sequester, approximately 35,000 are linked to military readiness and base operations. Furloughs will affect 10,000 civilian workers, and Arizonans will experience a devastating $52 million pay cut.

I come home each week and I talk about the work that we're doing in Congress, but most of the time I come home to listen. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to listen to plant engineers at General Dynamics in Scottsdale. They showed me the high-tech and innovative defense products that were coming right out of our own community, built and programmed by our friends and neighbors. This type of innovation in our own backyard is the future of our State, and that future is in danger.

Last week, a bipartisan group of city elected officials, business leaders, and community advocates gave me a message to bring back to Congress. I'm proud of their joint effort, and I'm proud of their service to our community. I consider it a privilege to deliver their message.

In our State, we are concerned that Congress will turn the clock back on Arizona's hard work and progress. We are worried about hardworking families losing their jobs.

As the granddaughter of a World War II veteran and a proud sister of a gunner's mate in the U.S. Navy today, I remember every day that it is our moral duty to do right by the men and women in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe.

Avoiding the sequestration should not be about partisanship or finger-pointing; it's about jobs. It's that simple. I stand with the dean of our State's delegation, Senator John McCain, when I say that this sequester will be devastating for Arizona. It's bad for hardworking Americans, and it turns a blind eye to my State's proud efforts and proven perseverance. I affirm my commitment to working with anybody who's willing to put our differences aside and put the people we serve first.

We still have time to stop this. Let's roll up our sleeves together and get the work done.