Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, our friends on the other side of the aisle have opened a Pandora's box by spending most of the 109th Congress focused on ethics matters. With all the righteous indignation they can muster, the minority has called for investigations of the majority leader's every move, even digging up stories as far back as 1997.

At the same time, the minority prohibited the Ethics Committee for 4 months from convening to hear the charges that they were leveling against a Member of Congress. It is obvious, Mr. Speaker, that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle simply did not want to give the majority leader a chance to make his case to the committee and to clear his name. They hoped to look like paragons of purity. Instead, we know now that they are just the purveyors of partisan politics. By grinding the Ethics Committee to a halt, they knew that every story about Tom DeLay would have the phrase ``under investigation.'' And why give him a chance to prove his innocence when you can trap your political nemesis in a cloud of suspicion and controversy? Why have a fair hearing when you can rig public opinion through implications and accusations in the news media?

The minority leadership has called for investigations of Mr. DeLay's travels. Mr. DeLay has welcomed the chance to present his case, and I have full faith that he will present his case vigorously. But I would caution and I would ask the minority leader to be more careful to consider the implications for her caucus the next time that they call for a congressional probe. The minority leader and the minority whip have now trapped some of their own Members with their own fiery rhetoric.

The Democratic leadership called for investigations of lobbyists paying for travel. What they did not count on was that several members of their caucus took trips paid for by registered lobbyists. Some have admitted that they missed filing deadlines for disclosures on numerous trips. To their credit, they apologized for their errors, but then went on to say, I can tell you one thing, Jack Abramoff was not on any one of the trips. But Abramoff was involved in travel for other Democratic Members. The Associated Press reported yesterday that two Democrats ``received travel expenses initially paid for by lobbyist Jack Abramoff on his credit card or by his firm.''

Now, Mr. Speaker, I do not want this body to denigrate itself. We do not serve the people who elected us and we do not serve our parties in the long term if we engage in an ethics war with charges and counter- charges. Let us be clear: there are no winners in an ethics war. Everyone loses. Instead of helping the American people, we disgust them. Instead of building up, we tear down the working relationship that we need across the aisle to do this Nation's business.

We need to concentrate on the good things that we have done so far in the 109th Congress, like abolishing the inheritance tax, the energy bill, the transportation bill, bankruptcy reform, class action lawsuit reform, winning the war on terror, protecting our borders; and there are many more good things that we need to do in this country, Mr. Speaker, for the American people. Let us work together.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my support for an important piece of legislation on which I was unable to vote due to the birth of my granddaughter.

During my absence, the House considered the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (H.R. 748) which I co-sponsored, and strongly support. There is no question that we must protect young women from being coerced into obtaining abortions. As the testimony and advertisements made available through the committee process have clearly demonstrated, many clinics deliberately target minors in order to avoid parental notification and consent laws in their home states.

In order to protect the enforcement power of each state's laws and these young women, I am thrilled the House is moving forward with this legislation and look forward to its passage. Isolating minors from their parents at a time when they need them most is the wrong thing to do, and this legislation prevents these out of state clinics from doing just that. I am grateful my colleagues supported this important bill and opposed all amendments. If I had been present, I would have voted against all amendments and in favor of final passage (Roll Call Vote #144).

I know this is an important vote, and I was unable to be present for the vote because I have welcomed a new life into the world.

My son and daughter-in-law have been through a very challenging pregnancy, with serious concern that they would lose Kate during the early months. We couldn't imagine how terrible that would be, and are so grateful that God has provided for the safe delivery of little Kate Summerlin Westmoreland. She was born Tuesday, April 26 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and weighs in at six pounds, four ounces, with a full head of hair!

I am so blessed to have the family I do, and to enjoy the time together with them was worth everything in the world, especially after how many challenges accompanied the initial stages of Kate's life.

I don't know what God has in store for this little one, but am excited about what lies ahead of her. I am returning to Washington as soon as practicable after her birth, and look forward to getting back home to spend time with Kate, her big brother Acton, and her proud parents, Trae and Kristy.

In today's world, so many people rush by without realizing the treasure they have in their families. Events like the birth of grandchildren help bring those special ones into focus, and remind you of the rich blessings God has given.

Mr. Chairman, it has been an exhausting, but thrilling past few days, and I am honored to announce to the House the birth of Kate Summerlin Westmoreland.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and H.R. 8. I applaud the efforts of the leadership and the gentleman from Missouri in bringing forward H.R. 8 to finally bury the death tax once and for all.

One thing I have learned in the short time I have sat here is that the Democrats really look at the person whom this bill would affect, and, by the way, I do not think any of them are watching this on TV right now because they are all probably at work, but they are

looking at the person whom this bill would affect as someone who got up early, worked hard all his life, looked after his family, built infrastructure, saved money, put capital back into this system, provided jobs, benefits, health care for people, and the Democrats look at this individual as a gift who keeps on giving.

One of the things our country needs is individuals who are willing to work hard and save their money. It is the basis of our economy and the American Dream. This country is a wonderful land of opportunity. Anyone can work hard and be whatever they want to be in this country. Yet our tax system directly discourages savings by limiting contributions to IRAs and taxing dividends. When one works hard and saves, they should be rewarded, not punished. The current death tax punishes people for saving their own money, for fulfilling the American Dream.

Tax cuts do not cost the U.S. Government money. This is something that I think is misunderstood up here. Cutting taxes does not cost the government money. It allows people who earn that money to keep more of it in their pocket. This Congress must recognize that tax cuts spur economic growth. We have seen this in the Reagan tax cuts that led to the boom of the 1990s and in this President's tax cuts that have brought us out of the recession that this country experienced after 9/ 11.

As a small business owner, I know firsthand how hard one has to work to build a business. And most times the assets of a family business are not in cash, or easily so. When a family business is hit with an estate tax, it often requires the selling of a large amount of inventory or other assets in order to pay the debt. That is not right. That hurts families who want to continue the legacy of their loved ones who have passed away. Why do we want to harm or punish or exploit those who work their hardest to create an inheritance for their loved ones?

The death tax has made crooks out of honest people because they have to search for all kinds of ways to avoid paying the tax. And the reason they do not want to pay this tax is because they hate to see everything that someone that they loved and deeply cared about who spent their whole life building is taken away by the government.

Small businesses should not be run while looking over one's shoulder to make sure the tax man is not about to get them. Small business owners must be able to focus on their business. More than 70 percent of small family businesses do not last beyond the second generation, and the estate tax plays a large part in that. Having someone pay half of their assets to the government is absolutely wrong no matter what is being paid. We all know that people can manage their own money much better than the government.

One of the things I hate more than anything is a double tax. When the government takes its bite out of the apple, it should not get a second bite. Yet the death tax takes an even bigger bite out of the money that has already been taxed. Economic studies have shown that the cost of trying to comply or avoid the death tax consumes as much out of the economy as is generated by the death tax itself.

The death tax also hits those who cannot afford a lawyer or a CPA to help them. If their assets are not in cash, as in most family businesses they are not, they have to make a huge burden and sacrifice that they are not ready for by having to get somebody else to advise them about how to take care of their families and their children. And in spite of all this, the death tax does not even generate that much revenue or ``windfall profit'' for the government, yes, a ``windfall profit'' for the government, while placing this huge burden on the families of this country. It is not right.

The idea of the tax coming back in 2011 is amazing. It just does not make sense, and people cannot make any long-term financial plans. Getting rid of the death tax will simplify our Nation's laws and ease the burden on our country. If it takes a CPA or a lawyer to figure out what one is trying to do and what burdens the government has put on them, then it is too much of a burden. We need to do everything we can to lessen that burden. Repealing the death tax is the right thing to do.

Although I was not in Congress when the phase-out of the death tax began, I am thrilled to be here today to cosponsor and vote for it to be completely eliminated. And I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the members of the greatest generation our nation has known. The Honorable John Yates, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives exemplifies a life of service to causes greater than himself, and his example should be known and followed across this nation.

During his youth in rural Spalding County, Georgia, Representative Yates grew up on a family farm, working in the cotton fields to help pay for his family's food.

Representative Yates' served in the military during one of the greatest struggles for human freedom our nation has known--WorId War II. He flew his plane, providing air cover for vulnerable ground troops, and destroying German targets. He was involved in key aspects of the Battle of the Bulge, and participated as a military observer during the liberation of the Dachau death camp.

After his service to our country, Representative Yates went on to work for the Ford Motor Company for many years, while raising his family. In that same Spalding County where he grew up, Representative Yates continued his service to the community.

In 1989, the citizens of his home county recognized his past service and committed to him yet another great trust--a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. When he took his position there, the Democratic Party was still the majority, and Republicans were very few. But Representative Yates did not give up. He stuck with it, and is today a member of the majority party, as Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in Georgia during the 2004 election cycle.

As a result of his commitment and dedication through the years, the new House leadership gave Representative Yates even more responsibility--the chairmanship of the Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee in the Georgia House. Representative Yates has continued his valiant service to his nation and state in that capacity during the course of this 2005 regular legislative session.

But there is more to Representative Yates, and this is revealed by his deep personal commitment to his wife, Annie. Although she has been afflicted with some health problems, Representative Yates has continued his valiant service by serving and caring for his wife, demonstrating his deep affection and the character that is the foundation of every area of his life.

Representative Yates has spent his life in service to his nation, his state, and his family, and is an example to all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I lay before you the life and work of Representative John Yates--a man that deserves the highest praise of our nation, a dear friend of mine, and a man that embodies the values that make America great. I am grateful to call Representative Yates my friend, and am grateful for this opportunity to bring the valiant service of John Yates to his country, his state, and his family to the attention of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the rule and the underlying legislation; and I want to thank my colleague from Georgia for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, we have all received the class action settlement notices in our mail boxes, I know I have, not even realizing we were part of a class action lawsuit nor ever asking to be part of the lawsuit. And not only that, but you never get to meet this attorney who will represent you.

As consumers, we need to know that we will eventually bear the cost of these companies that have to settle large class actions because it is easier to settle than to try to litigate against the trial lawyers.

Earlier this week, the Georgia General Assembly moved forward with major legislation to reform the legal system, something I fought for during my time there. This legislation continues that effort and takes a huge step forward to protect consumers by limiting these huge interstate class action lawsuits.

Mr. Speaker, Federal courts have had jurisdiction over substantial cases between citizens of different States since the founding of this Nation. But due to the interpretations of the laws, State courts have had to bear the brunt of class action lawsuits in this country.

This legislation is a fantastic bipartisan effort to reform the legal system and is a good first step toward addressing the costs of litigation on small businesses, large businesses, and all Americans. I encourage my colleagues to support this effort; and I appreciate the leadership shown by the Speaker, the majority leader, and the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary towards getting this legislation passed through the Senate and on the desk of the President.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure, the rule and the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 69) honoring the life and accomplishments of the late Ossie Davis.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, America was dealt an awful setback over the weekend in Miami, Florida. The distinguished actor, director, producer and advocate Ossie Davis passed away at the age of 87. He died doing what he loved most: he was shooting a movie.

Mr. Speaker, Ossie Davis stood out both in the fields of theater and human justice. We have enjoyed all of Davis's regal performances in recent movies like ``Grumpy Old Men,'' ``The Client,'' ``Do the Right Thing,'' and ``Jungle Fever,'' and in television programs like ``Evening Shade.''

Mr. Speaker, Ossie Davis was also a powerful social advocate. He was a tireless worker on behalf of the civil rights, and particularly voting rights, for all Americans.

It is remarkable to note that Ossie Davis was also half of one of the most revered couples of American stage and screen. Mr. Davis's wife, Ruby Dee Davis, appeared in more than 20 films and scores of theater productions herself. In December, the Kennedy Center here in Washington honored both Ossie and Dee Davis as part of the 27th Kennedy Center Honors for their extraordinary contributions to the arts. The two were married for 57 years. Ossie Davis is survived by his wife.

If my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), would indulge me, I would wish to offer the most sincere condolences of all Members of the House to Ruby Dee and the Davis family during these heartrending days.

Mr. Speaker, the president of the Screen Actors Guild, Melissa Gilbert, made this fitting statement last week following the death of Mr. Davis, who was a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award recipient: ``Along with his remarkable wife, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis's impact on America can be seen not only in his rich body of creative works, but equally so as a passionate advocate for social justice and human dignity.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for proposing this resolution to the House. I am proud to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 69 that honors the life of Ossie Davis. I urge adoption of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this moment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Yes, I yield.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to urge all Members to vote for House Resolution 69.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.