Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate a skilled engineer, devoted public servant and faithful patriot, on a distinguished 33-year career with the Army Corps of Engineers.

On March 31st, 2012, Curtis Meeder will retire from the Corps to begin a new chapter in his life. Since 1979, he has used his extensive knowledge of economics and water resources management to improve the navigability of our Nation's waterways, to aid in disaster relief efforts and to reduce the risk of flooding in our local communities.

Curt began his career with the Corps in the Detroit District as an economist and water resources planner. From there, he went on to work as a study coordinator and technical reviewer in the North Central Division for 5 years, and then as a supervisor in the St. Paul District for 6 years.

Since moving to Pennsylvania in 1988 to work out of the Pittsburgh District, Curt has taken leadership roles in a number of projects

aimed at improving existing water navigation systems, including the Upper Ohio Navigation Study, the Nation's largest such study on an inland river system. He has also demonstrated a clear commitment to helping communities in need. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he served two deployments in New Orleans, during which he coordinated requests for Federal debris removal assistance with parish and local municipal officials, monitored contractor curb-side collection from private properties, and worked with regulatory agencies to reduce the environmental impacts of disposal operations.

Currently, Curt serves as the Pittsburgh District's Chief of Planning and Environmental Branch. One of his most critical responsibilities in this capacity is to be a leader in the Corps' public outreach efforts. He has demonstrated a flair for concise and effective communication in his interactions with private citizens, regional organizations and government agencies. He consistently articulates esoteric engineering concepts and flood repair processes in easily understandable terms.

Curt's laudable service has earned him a number of well-deserved Army Civilian Service honors. These include the Superior Civilian Service Award; two Commander's Awards for Civilian Service; and three Achievement Medals for Civilian Service.

Mr. Speaker, I have worked closely with Curtis for over a decade. He's a first-class public servant whose experiences and expertise will surely be missed.

I wish Curt the best of luck as he transitions into retirement. I share in the pride that his devoted wife Cindy and two sons feel in his accomplishments, and have the utmost confidence that he will continue to be successful in whatever he chooses to do next.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Greene, an exceptional Army officer and true patriot, in honor of her upcoming retirement. For over twenty years, Lieutenant Colonel Greene has worn her nation's colors with grace and honor. Her career- long steadfast commitment to the defense of liberty is a testament to her inherent courage and selflessness.

Lieutenant Colonel Greene began her distinguished career in the Army at Fort Stewart in Georgia, where she served as the C Company Ambulance Platoon leader and Battalion S 1/Adjutant in the 24th Forward Support Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, and then as the Patient Administration Officer at Winn Army Community Hospital. From there, she went on to work at Walter Reed Medical Center as the A Company Commander of the Medical Center Brigade, before going to work within the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, first in the Office of Clinical Operations, and then as Secretary to the General Staff.

After earning a Master's of Science in Health Evaluation Sciences from the University of Virginia in 2001 through the Army's Long Term Health Education and Training program, Lieutenant Colonel Greene moved to Hawaii, where she served in the Patient Administration Division at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.

Lieutenant Colonel Greene's most recent assignments have been in Washington, DC. In 2004, she became the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Surgeon General. After two years in this capacity, she went to work as a Legislative Liaison in the Army Budget Congressional Liaison Office. It was here that then-Major Greene began working with my boss and predecessor, the late-Congressman John P. Murtha--and she soon became a capable and trusted liaison between the Chairman and the Army. Most recently, she has served as Chief of Congressional Affairs for the Office of the Army Surgeon General.

Lieutenant Colonel Greene moves on to the next chapter of her life bolstered by the abiding love and support of her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Craig Greene, her two sons, Jackson and Austen, and her parents, Ken and Linda Snow.

Mr. Speaker, the strength of Lieutenant Colonel Greene's character will ensure that she is successful in whatever she chooses to

do next. I congratulate her on a distinguished career, and I thank her for her many years of service.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Levin. As a cosponsor of this bill, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4105.

In 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Department of Commerce did not have the authority to impose countervailing duties on goods from nonmarket economies. Of the 24 countervailing duties currently in place against goods from nonmarket economies, 23 are for China. Without the legislative action we are proposing today to overturn this ruling, it is very likely that these current countervailing duties would be negated.

This is unacceptable, and we cannot stand by when over 80,000 American manufacturing jobs are at stake. Almost every State is impacted by this decision, and almost every congressional district in Pennsylvania has companies that would be affected if this legislation does not pass.

We must take action today and pass H.R. 4105 to overturn a flawed court ruling and to ensure that the Department of Commerce can continue to fight unfair subsidies that hurt American manufacturers and American workers. We must level the playing field, and I strongly urge my colleagues to stand with American workers and pass this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a military support group in my district that provides deployed members of our armed forces and their families with material support, emotional comfort and spiritual sustenance.

Founded in 2003, the Somerset County Military Family Support Group sends deployed service members monthly packages containing food, health products, books, letters and games. The group also counsels family members of deployed military personnel, takes part in festivals and parades in order to pay homage to the sacrifices of our soldiers, gathers and distributes information about pressing issues facing members of the military and their families and holds annual candlelight vigils to honor all those who have worn our nation's colors in battle.

Because the group is comprised largely of veterans and individuals from military families, its members understand the physical and psychological strain our troops experience each day they are separated from their families, and the emotional turmoil the family members of these service members are forced to endure as a result of knowing that someone they love is in harm's way. That they chose to use their first- hand knowledge of these struggles to craft a renowned military support program speaks to their capacity to turn hardship into an outstanding gift for others.

Mr. Speaker, while all of us appreciated the valor and sacrifices of our troops, only the most talented and proactive among us are able to act on this appreciation in a way that makes an impact on thousands of lives. The Somerset County Military Family Support Group has not only accomplished this, but has done so while spreading the spirit of service throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. All of us should seek to emulate the selfless efforts of its members in our own efforts to promote the greater good.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of a selfless community leader, accomplished lawmaker and skilled statesman. Former Pennsylvania state representative Terry Van Horne died on Monday, January 30, 2012, at the age of 65. Terry was a gentleman who used his talents as a legislator to enhance the lives of the people of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley. He was known as an independent-minded public servant who never allowed partisan politics to stand in the way of doing what was best for his constituents. Terry's unwillingness to compromise his core convictions for the sake of political expediency gained him the love of his constituents and the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Terry began his principled and distinguished career in public service on the Arnold City Council in the late 1970's. From there, he went on to represent Pennsylvania's 54th House District for nearly 20 years. By all accounts, he was a dynamic, yet congenial legislator who could defuse even the bitterest of political scuffles with his quick wit and radiant smile. After leaving office in 2000, he worked as a consultant and practiced law before returning to public service in 2007 to serve as municipal manager for Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a position he held until February of 2009. Just this past December, Terry was hired by the Arnold Council to be its new city clerk.

While tragedy cut his life short, Terry will be remembered not for how he died, but for how he lived--as a steadfast champion of the people.

Mr. Speaker, who can explain why great men like Terry are taken from us prematurely? The reality that Terry will no longer be able to pursue his life's passion of public service is truly a tragedy for everyone who calls the Alle-Kiski Valley home. I hope that his wife, Jacqueline, and all of his family and friends find comfort in knowing that Terry's legacy will continue to inspire generations of public servants to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize four intelligent and accomplished students from my district for receiving one of the world's most competitive, merit-based grants to perform research in a foreign country. Since 1946, the Fulbright program has been fostering cross- cultural understanding and scholarly excellence by sending some of the world's brightest minds abroad to undertake innovative research projects. Julia Bailey of Latrobe, PA, Gregory De St. Maurice, also of Latrobe, Jay Evick of Waynesburg, PA, and Seth Packrone of Uniontown, PA, each received a Fulbright grant for the 2011-2012 academic year. They were given this honor on account of their outstanding leadership skills, exceptional academic credentials and penetrating interest in foreign cultures.

Julia Bailey was awarded a Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistantship. She is currently a graduate student at George Mason University, where she studies international development in Africa, as well as social anthropology. She has a wealth of education policy and classroom teaching expertise, having performed a significant amount of research to promote education in the developing world, and taught English in the United States and Egypt. Her worldliness, intellect and wide-ranging experience make her well-suited to serve as an ambassador for American culture and scholarship abroad.

Gregory De St. Maurice was given a grant to study Anthropology in Japan. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh. At present, his research focuses on the food culture of the city of Kyoto. Gregory's in-depth understanding of the people and traditions of Japan is laudable and will serve him well in his future studies.

Jay Evick received a grant to serve as an English teaching assistant at the Tyumen State University of Oil and Gas in Tyumen, Russia. He has spent the last four years studying Russian and linguistics at the University of Pittsburgh. Jay's ability to grasp the intricacies of Eastern European culture and complexities of the Russian language is a testament to his tremendous scholarly abilities.

Seth Packrone was awarded a teaching assistantship at Inonu University in Malatya, Turkey. Seth's passion is education reform. In the summer of 2007, he interned with Advocates for Children, a nonprofit that works to promote access to quality education for low- income, minority and special needs students. Seth has also been the recipient of an Arthur Liman Public Interest Law Fellowship. As a Liman Fellow, he researched and developed education policy with the Center for Law and Education in Washington, DC. Seth's unwavering desire to unlock the potential of young students everywhere speaks to his inherent selflessness and kindness.

Mr. Speaker, these four individuals possess an exemplary work ethic, profound intelligence and a precociously broad worldview. I am overjoyed that they have been granted such a prestigious and coveted opportunity to study and work abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a skilled and selfless community leader for receiving an award for outstanding dedication to the greater good. Each year, the Clearview Federal Credit Union presents the Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award to an individual who works ardently and effectively to advance the foundational cause of a charity. This year's recipient is Mary Czemerda, Program Director for Lower Burrell Meals on Wheels. Thanks to Mary's exceptional managerial skills and kindhearted spirit, the Meals on Wheels program in Lower Burrell has grown from a small, church-based charity into a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. I am proud to represent a woman of such great character and ability in Congress.

Clearview's Award includes a $2,500 donation to a charity of the recipient's choice. Mary has already given this money to Meals on Wheels. It will be used to feed five meal recipients who cannot afford the $4 per day charge for an entire year.

Mary has been with Lower Burrell Meals on Wheels for the last seven years. She came to this organization desiring to be a driver, but due to her track record as a proven leader at the Alcoa Technical Center, she was almost immediately appointed to her current post. As program director, she records financial transactions, solicits donations and manages driver schedules. Her ability to adeptly juggle these multiple responsibilities is a testament to the wide range of her talents.

Mary began volunteering long before getting involved with Meals on Wheels. Over the years, she has done extensive work with scout troops, the United Way of Westmoreland County and a number of religious education programs. Devotion to others has been the abiding theme of Mary's life. In addition to being a model philanthropist, she is a loving and dedicated wife, mother of three and grandmother of two.

Mary has said that the driving force behind her community service is her faith in the inherent goodness of the people she works with and serves. I share this faith; the kindness and selflessness of those I represent hold the communities of western Pennsylvania together. Mary's own example serves as clear evidence for this.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mary for receiving such a well- deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Kevin Harriger, a native of southwestern Pennsylvania, for being named Executive Director for agriculture inspection programs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), Office of Field Operations.

In his new capacity, he is responsible for overseeing USCBP's efforts to protect America's agricultural resources against the threats posed by domestic and foreign plant pests and diseases. Mr. Harriger is uniquely qualified to take on this role, as ensuring the safety of naturally-cultivated consumer products has been the principal cause of his career.

Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Harriger was the Deputy Executive Director for CBP's office of Agriculture Operational Oversight. As such, he was responsible for ensuring that USCP's agricultural inspection policies were being implemented smoothly and consistently. The skillfulness with which he executed the duties of this job are in large part a product of the experience he gained while working for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), both as a Regional Director in Raleigh and as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator for APHIS-PPQ in Conyers, Ga.

While with APHIS, he honed his knowledge of both agricultural policy and plant pathology. His expertise in both of these areas is a testament to his intelligence and dedication to his craft. While I am deeply impressed by his ability to understand and analyze esoteric scientific subjects and public policy, I am even more impressed by the passion he has shown for using this ability to promote the greater good. All of us should use our talents for such selfless purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Kevin Harriger on this appointment and thank him for his many years of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the women of the Altar and Rosary Society of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Loretto, Pennsylvania for bringing comfort and solace to the members of our military stationed abroad during the holiday season over the last 25 years. In the spirit of giving that defines this magical time of year, these selfless women provide assistance to the Support Our Troops military mail campaign in the lead up to Christmas. This campaign sends letters of support and gratitude to our troops overseas in an attempt to bridge the oceans and continents that separate them from their loved ones.

Dolly Haird, Barb Bender, Maggie Biter, Mae Karabinos, Lucy Mock and the rest of the women of the of the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Michael the Archangel gather thousands of Christmas cards from individuals, families, schools and churches starting in October and send them to Fort Bragg in December, where they are sorted and sent to military bases overseas. This year alone, these women gathered over 21,000 holiday greetings. Their ability to motivate so many members of the various communities of southwestern Pennsylvania to express their support for our troops stationed abroad is a testament to the strength and infectiousness of their altruism.

The women of the Altar and Rosary society have received a number of awards for their service. They have also enlisted a number of local veterans' organizations in their efforts, illustrating the great appreciation retired servicemen and women have for their efforts.

The men and women of our armed forces who are stationed overseas spend the holidays away from their families so that we do not have to. No one appreciates this fact more than the women of the Altar and Rosary Society. The work that they do to support our troops clearly illustrates their abiding belief in the importance of sacrifice for the greater good.

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to begin the New Year, all of us should resolve to emulate the kindness and generosity these women have demonstrated in their efforts to bring smiles to the faces of our men and women in uniform. I want to congratulate them on 25 years of fruitful service.

Mr. Speaker, over the past several weeks, we have heard a lot of rhetoric about how this House has passed so many jobs bills that are sitting in the Senate waiting for action. But I want to talk about one bill that actually passed the Senate, and it is waiting in the House for action, and that is going after countries that manipulate their currency, of which China is the largest violator.

The bill has been sitting in committee since February with no Republican action. A discharge petition has sat at this desk for the last 5 months with no Republican action. It remains just 30 signatures shy of forcing action on Chinese currency manipulation, which estimates show could create 1.5 million jobs in this country.

So I want to urge the citizens of this country to call their Republican Congressmen to urge this Republican House that as they open their presents over this holiday season and they open those boxes and find those little tags that say ``made in China,'' call your Republican Congressman, call this Republican House, and say thank you, thank you for putting party before

country. Tell them, put country before party. Don't put China's economy before the United States'.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize two individuals, Craig J. Rolish and Thomas W. Haberkorn, who have devoted themselves to ensuring prosperous futures for the military veterans of southwestern Pennsylvania. Back in 1993, Mr. Rolish and Mr. Haberkorn helped to establish Veterans' Community Initiatives (VCI), an organization dedicated to finding employment for the men and women who have returned home from serving our nation in uniform. Since then, VCI has served nearly 5,500 clients and made approximately 4,000 job placements. The willingness of these men to devote the last 18 years of their lives to serving the needs of veterans is a testament to their appreciation for causes greater than themselves.

Mr. Rolish is currently the Vice President/Treasurer of VCI. Having served in the Air Force in Vietnam, Mr. Rolish was forced to personally confront the challenges a returning soldier must face in trying to reintegrate into society. While he could have easily devoted the years following his service to ensuring his own wellbeing, he instead chose to continue to work to improve the communities of southwestern Pennsylvania. Upon returning to

Johnstown, Mr. Rolish put his financial expertise to good use, collaborating with Fannie Mae to help a number of individuals and small businesses rebuild after the devastating Johnstown flood of 1977. He also served as the CEO of the non-profit NORCAM, helping that organization to become one of the preeminent drivers of economic development in the region.

For Mr. Rolish, public service is a passion He has served on a number of volnnteer boards-and commissions, including the Highland Sewer & Water Authority and the Johnstown Area Regional Industry, and has been an effective fundraiser for causes close to my own heart. He is personally responsible for accumulating over $100,000 for St. Jude's Hospital and over $180,000 in private donations for a memorial statue of my mentor in public service, the late Congressman John P. Murtha. In recognition of his beneficence and selflessness, Mr. Rolish was honored with the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor award in 2002. This honor is given by the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation to outstanding individuals who embody the spirit of giving.

Thomas Haberkorn, VCI's Vice President/Secretary, has also devoted his life to serving the people, businesses and non-profits of southwestern Pennsylvania. Like Mr. Rolish, Mr. Haberkorn served his country in the Air Force in Vietnam and continued to serve the public welfare upon returning home. He has served as an East Hills Kiwanis Board member, as well as a member of Johnstown Professional Networking. He has also been active with a number of charities, including the Special Olympics and the Salvation Army.

Mr. Haberkorn's true legacy is his commitment to veterans. He began providing support to those who have served us in combat long before helping to establish VCI. Mr. Haberkorn has been very active with Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) for many years. He is the founder and current president of VVA Chapter 364, as well as the District Director of the VVA Pennsylvania State Council. In addition to working with VVA, Mr. Haberkorn has also done a great deal to support the local VFW, American Legion, and Conemaugh Valley Veterans. Like Mr. Rolish, he has been honored with the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor award in recognition of his outstanding public service efforts over many years.

Mr. Speaker, in all of the time I have spent engaging with local community leaders, I have rarely, if ever, encountered two men with stronger character than Craig J. Rolish and Thomas W. Haberkorn. Their fortitude and unwavering commitment to public service--and in particular to serving the needs of combat veterans--deserve our gratitude and appreciation. I am proud to represent them in Congress.

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

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

Trade is critical to the growth of small business. A quarter of a million U.S. companies export to foreign markets, the large majority of them small and medium-sized enterprises that employ 500 or fewer workers. In fact, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than 230,000 small and medium enterprises now account for nearly 30 percent of U.S. merchandise exports. The number of such companies exporting has more than doubled since 1992 and, according to SBA, 96 percent of the world's customers live outside the U.S., representing two-thirds of the world's purchasing power.

Given this critical role, we need to make sure trade agreements assist small businesses. Trade agreements should help reduce redtape and increase transparency, but too often small businesses lack the resources and foreign business partners available to large companies to navigate through opaque customs and legal systems to reach their customers.

Numerous fees and other nontariff barriers that can be no more than a nuisance to large multinationals can be deal-breakers for small companies. Trade agreements must streamline rules, reduce nontariff barriers, and provide arbitration procedures so that even small U.S. exporters can successfully participate in foreign markets.

Trade agreements must also open up opportunities for small U.S. exporters to compete for foreign government contracts. U.S. companies should be given a fair shake at the important government procurement market in these foreign countries. Such agreements can help to lower the threshold at which contracts must be put out for competitive bid ensuring that even small U.S. companies can be part of the process. Some of those contracts for roads, schools, clinics, distance learning, and medical equipment, for example, can be ideally suited to smaller U.S. companies.

My amendment makes sure that small businesses are not forgotten when trade agreements are implemented. It requires that agencies' regulatory flexibility analyses assess the cumulative impact of any rule stemming from the implementation of a free trade agreement. Doing so will make certain that small firms' voices are part of the process in these important deliberations.

Being part of the process will enable small firms to benefit from trade agreements and use them as a means to access foreign markets and customers. I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished public service careers of six retiring officers within the Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development, RD. These individuals have worked diligently and effectively over many years to promote economic prosperity and safe living in the various rural communities throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Lambert Rosenbaum, Virginia Stump, Cindy Brandt, Barbara McMillen, Susan O'Donnell, and Mary Ellen Polosky have made clear through the quality of their work at RD that they see a place for rural areas in America's future. These individuals will leave a lasting legacy; their belief in the promise of rural America will surely live on in those who have had the privilege to work with them and manifest itself in all that RD does for the individuals, communities, and businesses of southwestern Pennsylvania for years to come.

Public service has been a calling for each of the six outgoing officials at USDA Rural Development. Lambert Rosenbaum, the outgoing Area Director for the Butler and Westmoreland Area Offices, boasts a 31 year career at USDA. In addition to his civil service, Mr. Rosenbaum served three years of active duty in the Army, during which he served a combat tour in Vietnam and earned the prestigious Bronze Star. He has also served in the Army Reserves for 42 years. Most recently, Mr. Rosenbaum's reserve service took him to Kuwait, where he earned the Meritorious Service Medal. His devotion to the public welfare has clearly made an impression on his children, as two of his sons have served in the Iraq War.

Virginia Stump, a Team Leader and Area Specialist, will leave RD after 30 years of civil service. She has worked extensively on the Water Waste Program, which furnishes rural communities with the means to install sanitary sewers. She has also helped to market several rural development programs, including the Value Added program and the Renewable Energy programs. Ms. Stump is married and has one daughter, as well as twin grandchildren.

Cindy Brant, a Loan Specialist, also has over thirty years of experience in civil service. She began her career with USDA in 1979 as a Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, CETA, Trainee. A year later, she became an Assistant County Supervisor, working out of the Somerset Office until its closure in 2007. While in the Somerset Office, she worked extensively on the Direct Housing Program, helping numerous low-income individuals to purchase homes in rural areas. Upon leaving Somerset, she moved on to the Greensburg Area Office and took on the additional roles of Guaranteed Housing Program Specialist and Multi-Family Housing Program Specialist. In recognition of her outstanding service, Cindy received USDA's Unsung Hero Award in 2009.

In her 28 years with USDA, Barbara McMillen, an Area Specialist, has worked on a

number of different projects, including those that provide housing loans and loans to farmers and ranchers who are having difficulty obtaining commercial credit. Over the last seventeen years, she has worked ardently to help 51,450 households and businesses to obtain $331 million dollars in loan and grant funds for public water and sewer service.

Susan O'Donnell, also an Area Specialist, has been with USDA since 1977 and has done extensive work in the business, multi-family housing and community facility programs across six counties. She is extremely passionate about public service, and plans to continue to working to promote the welfare of others through volunteer work upon retirement.

Having performed over 36 years of Federal service, Mary Ellen Polosky has set a laudable example for current and aspiring public servants. While with USDA, she has worked mainly in the Housing Division. She has served in her current capacity for the last 9 years, during which time she has helped numerous individuals living in rural areas to procure loans for home purchases and improvements.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of working closely with these individuals while serving as the District Director for the late Congressman John Murtha, and can attest that they embody the highest order of integrity and proficiency. We should all be grateful that such exemplary individuals chose to engage full-bore in the effort to secure a prosperous future for rural America. Their work has given hope to countless individuals and businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania. All of us in the Federal Government should attempt to emulate their commendable public service in our own careers.

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I had prepared remarks that I was going to talk about to defeat this previous question so that we could bring the Chinese currency manipulation bill to the floor. But we've been talking about this on a weekly basis. We've been talking about this on the floor of the House on a weekly basis. And I think back to 10 months ago when Speaker Boehner made the statement that the House works best when it's allowed to work its will.

This same bill passed the House last year overwhelmingly. A similar bill passed the Senate earlier this year overwhelmingly. This bill has broad bipartisan support. Sixty-two Republicans are cosponsors of this bill. Four months ago, I brought a discharge petition, which is now just 30 signatures shy of forcing this bill to the floor. It needs Republican help. I'm imploring the Speaker to bring this bill to the floor of the House.

This is so important. As Congressman Levin said earlier, we're talking about jobs. I did a telephone town hall last evening. The topic of discussion was jobs. Everyone wants to know when are we going to put our heads together and work to get this country back to work? Milling jobs. Manufacturing jobs. This is an issue that everyone knows about and everyone can agree on. We just want to level the playing field. This is giving this country the teeth it needs to go after countries such as China that manipulate their currency and hurt American manufacturing companies.

This is about locking arms with the American public and moving forward. So I urge those Republicans, those 62 that are on H.R. 639, anyone can see those names, anyone can call and say, you need to support this bill. You need to support the discharge petition, get on it, let's talk about this. You can't hide behind the Speaker any longer. We're going to continue this fight day in and day out, week in and week out. I urge defeat of the previous question so that we can talk about jobs for the American people.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I think the ranking member of Ways and Means really hit what the point of this is; that this is not against the two bills that are the underlying bills for this rule, but this is about jobs.

And you know, in this body, many times we think about, what does a poll say? What does this poll say?

Well, regardless of what the polls say, when I go home everyone in my congressional district is talking about jobs, is talking about the economy.

I was thrilled to hear that these two bills flew through the process, introduced in September and now we're debating them on the floor. What I can tell you, though, is that the Chinese currency bill, H.R. 639, the currency manipulation bill, was proposed in February of this year.

I've heard comments like ``bipartisan,'' and ``let the House work its will.'' Well, this bill enjoyed tremendous bipartisan support last year, 348-79, with 99 Republicans voting for it. Reintroduced this year. It's interesting; in this body many times we do things and then complain about things that go to the Senate, and it doesn't happen in the Senate.

Well, here's a bill, actually a stronger version of this bill, that passed the Senate 63-35. It's the House, it's the

House leadership, it's the Republican leadership in this House that is denying the Chinese manipulation bill coming to the floor. Let the House work its will. This is about jobs.

As the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) mentioned, estimates are 1 million to 1.5 million jobs, 1.5 percent of GDP. It's something that we should all be passionate about. This is about standing up for the American people. This is about standing up for the American manufacturers.

The Speaker said this could be dangerous. Well, let me tell you something. Ask folks in the tire industry, ask folks in the steel tubing industry who've watched Chinese unfair trade practices put them in jeopardy and put their people out of work. This is something about, you have to stand up, you have to take a stand.

Sixty-two Republicans are cosponsors of this bill. I urge defeat of the previous question. It does not defeat the underlying bill so that we can talk about jobs and this bill, H.R. 639.