Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, sometimes I think that too many of us are ignoring the big picture during this debate, and sometimes we lose sight of what this money will mean, not only to America but for the entire world.

I have got an article off of CNN.com that just came out that shows that Damascus even ended up voting for the Security Council resolution this morning. They want stability, they want security.

There is another part of this debate that we get caught up in. We all agree that the $66 billion portion of the supplemental is absolutely critical for our troops, for their well-being as they are defending freedom. The debate that we have set about today and through the past couple of weeks, not only as a legislative body but as a people, has really focused on the remaining $18.6 billion of the appropriation.

Let me put it this way: In my district, one of the things we have talked about is that the $66 billion is for the military, and that $18.6 billion that is for reconstruction, that is for you, Mr. Speaker, it is for me. That $18.6 billion is for every single American man, woman and child who never, ever, wants to see another September 11 take place. It is for every American who understands that we have an opportunity, a very unique opportunity, to help reshape a region of the world that has been a breeding ground for hatred and for terrorism.

I have visited with my constituents at Fort Campbell, people that have family members deployed over there. I have stood on the tarmac to shake the hands of the men and women that are returning from over there. These are people that are on the front lines and they understand what is at stake, and they have told me that they think it would be a mistake to withdraw now; if we choose to leave, we will have done a tremendous disservice to our children, to our country; that the work there that we are doing is an investment in making the world a safer place.

I am going to be going to Iraq this month because I want to see the progress that we have made there. I want to see it with my own eyes. I want to thank our men and women in uniform, and I want to let the Iraqi people know we understand that they will be an important and valuable ally in our war on terrorism, but only if we do what is right and necessary for the future and for our kids' futures by providing a critical investment in that country.

We can talk all day about domestic needs and different needs and all sorts of programs that are great programs, but there will never be an end to these, and it is necessary that we fight the war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to step back, take another look at the bigger picture, to support this.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our chairman for his excellent work on this issue, and I do rise today to support H.R. 3108, the Pension Funding Equity Act.

We have talked about all the reasons that have caused this, the stock market fluctuations, the growing retiree population, interest rates, and that the plan is underfunded. Over the past year, we have heard from so many of our constituents about the concern of the condition of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and concern with its weakening and with the deficit of $5.7 billion. What we have got, basically is $80 billion in unfunded pension benefits among financially weak companies that are looming on the horizon, those pension benefits that may eventually come to the PBGC and be their responsibility.

This Pension Funding Equity Act creates a short-term replacement for the 30-year Treasury bond interest rate and allows us to work out a long-term bipartisan solution. I join my colleagues in urging all of our Members to support H.R. 3108 and support our constituents who are indeed very concerned about this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference report on the partial-birth abortion ban. Every year thousands of women are subjected to this traumatic medical procedure. It is routinely used during the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy. I know it sounds horrendous, and it is horrendous because it kills the baby just seconds before he or she takes their first breath.

This congressional body must act now to preserve the future of the next generation and of their mothers, or this Nation will reap the horrible consequences of allowing partial-birth abortion to continue. Some opponents like to say that it is safe, that the procedure is safe, and they are wrong. They have not informed the public on the effects of this practice on women. Numerous medical practitioners and the AMA have testified in committee that partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary in any situation and is severely below the standard of good quality care. Partial-birth abortion seriously threatens a mother's health and her ability to carry her future children to term. I urge my colleagues to remember their duty and vote for the conference report.

Madam Speaker, in every one of our lives there are people and places that are really unique, and they are so special that they become an essential part of who we are and who our communities are and what they become over time.

Today, I want to recognize two people and one place that have not only helped shape who I am, but they have touched the lives of our entire community and thousands of people. Quite simply, they represent what is the very best about Tennessee.

This month Sherythia Scaife, a member of the board of directors for historic Belmont Mansion in Nashville, will receive the Helen Kennedy Award for volunteer service. The Belmont Mansion is truly one of those historical treasures in Tennessee; and Sherythia, the best way to sum it up is she is simply one of our treasures, such a wonderful woman.

As everyone involved in charity work can tell us, fund-raising is a tough job; but Sherythia committed her energies to preserving the Belmont Mansion, and she has helped lead the effort to raise funds for the Belmont Mansion. We are lucky to have this wonderful part of the past with us still, and we are even luckier to have someone like Sherythia Scaife here to help protect Belmont Mansion for the future.

In the city of Franklin, Tennessee, where I have one of my district offices, there was a man whom everyone knew. He was our friend, a leader, a small business owner. He was truly a pillar of the community. Ralph Duke started out as a grocery bag boy, and he ended up as our town's main street pharmacist and civic leader.

We lost Ralph just a few days ago; and in thinking about what he meant to all of us, I was amazed at just how much he had accomplished in his lifetime. He filled close to 1 million prescriptions over the years to keep us healthy. He served us as an alderman and worked to improve police and fire service to help keep us all safe; and Ralph, above all else, took the time to say hello and to care about people, making us all feel that part of the community was important.

Ralph will be missed, but he is with us in our memories, and his family is with us in our thoughts and prayers.

A church is not just a building. It is also a source of strength and solace for a community of people. It is a place to offer our thanks to the Lord and Johnson's Chapel United Methodist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, will be celebrating its 200th birthday on October 4, 2003. While the church structure has been destroyed by fire and renovated by man over those 200 years, the place has been one of God for all this time. It is a wonderful thing to think of the comfort and love that is so strong and true in this single location, a place that brings people together to worship our Lord, to honor our families, to celebrate some of life's most special occasions, like my niece's wedding, and sends them out into the world renewed, energized and excited about the word of God.

Madam Speaker, I imagine that all of my colleagues have stories like these of the wonderful places that exist in each of our districts, the things that make America and our communities so unique, a Nation where people like Sherythia Scaife and Ralph Duke can give of their time to others and a place where we can freely assemble in places of worship, such as Johnson's Chapel United Methodist Church.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 282) honoring the life of Johnny Cash, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 282.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 282, offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper). House Concurrent Resolution 282 honors the life and musical legacy of Johnny Cash, a man who was a poet, a scholar, and a world famous music icon, as well as a loving husband and father.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) for introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Senator Lamar Alexander for introducing the Senate version, which was passed by that body on September 18, 2003.

It was no wonder that September 12 was a dark and dreary day in Nashville. It was the day we lost the Man in Black. Johnny Cash died early that morning at Baptist Hospital in Nashville from diabetes complications. He was an outlaw, he was a songwriter, he was a born- again Christian; and for 5 decades Johnny Cash entertained millions, millions of people around the world with songs of love and death and good times and bad. All of his career, Johnny Cash wrote songs for the common man. From his upbringing in rural northeastern Arkansas to the height of his stardom in the 1960s, Johnny Cash always connected with the common man.

Johnny's career began in Memphis alongside Elvis Presley. There, with legendary recording great Sam Phillips of Sun Records, he recorded ``Cry! Cry! Cry!'' and that put him on the map. By 1956 he was recognized as one of country music's rising stars when he joined the Louisiana Hayride and the Grand Ole Opry. Although he struggled through drug abuse, Johnny Cash found a soul mate in June Carter Cash. It was with her loving support that he was able to make it through those tough times. In 1968 he married this daughter of acoustic guitar great Mother Maybelle Carter, a member of ``the first family of country music.''

Johnny Cash's deep sense of reality pours out in that gravelly voice that we all loved with songs like ``Folsom Prison Blues'' and the legendary ``Ring of Fire'' co-written with June Carter Cash. He garnered 11 Grammys and at age 71 was in no way slowing down creatively. Just a few weeks ago, he was posthumously named the top honoree at the Americana Music Awards in Nashville.

His legacy is his music, and it will surely go on with hits like ``I Walk the Line''; ``Big River''; and the hit he co-wrote with fellow outlaw Kris Kristofferson, ``Sunday Morning Coming Down.'' Kris Kristofferson was right when he said Johnny Cash represented what was great about America. His profound faith, resiliency, and unwillingness to be labeled by the music industry will certainly shape the legacy of one of the greatest American artists. This American icon will be missed, but he will be remembered through his music.

I commend the gentleman from Tennessee for his leadership in offering this concurrent resolution to honor the life of Johnny Cash, and encourage my colleagues to adopt the measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), a gentleman who has joined us on the Committee on the Judiciary in fighting for our songwriters and also a gentleman who several years ago I had the opportunity to have as my guest at the Grand Ole Opry and to celebrate some of this wonderful country music that we are speaking of today.

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

Again, I commend the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) for his efforts, and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) for his efforts in recognizing his constituent.

The gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) spoke a little bit about Johnny Cash's ambitions for his music, and I think that we can see that, because we have people all across the spectrum, those who are young and old, who appreciate his music, and who learned from what he does.

I think it is important to note, too, that it was very important to Johnny Cash that he mentor others; and that was not lost on his children and his grandchildren and the talents that they possess and the talents that they are bringing forward in the music industry today.

We appreciate so much this body joining together to honor not only Johnny Cash's life and the impact that he had on the music industry but the legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 235) celebrating the life and achievements of Lawrence Eugene ``Larry'' Doby.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 235.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 235, introduced by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), celebrates the life and achievements of Lawrence Eugene ``Larry'' Doby.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the House is considering this legislation that honors an American hero we just do not know as much as we should about. We all know the story of Jackie Robinson, who courageously abolished the color barrier in major league baseball by first playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. What many may not have learned is that 3 months later, in July of 1947, Larry Doby became the first black player in the American League when he suited up for the Cleveland Indians.

As the first black player in American League history, the pressures and prejudices Doby experienced were heartbreaking. His Hall of Fame Indians teammate, Bob Feller, described Doby as a sensitive man and added, the way many fans and other players treated him was very tough. Doby spoke with Jackie Robinson frequently during his early major league playing days. He recounted to the L.A. Times in 1974 that by talking about the issues he and Robinson faced, that ``Maybe we kept each other from giving up.'' Since Doby was a gentleman, he once said, ``I couldn't react to prejudicial situations from a physical standpoint. My reaction was to hit the ball as far as I could.'' And he did that, channeling that energy to greatness.

Indeed, not only did Doby bravely change minds with his mere presence on the field, he also turned heads with his outstanding play. He won a World Series title with the Cleveland Indians in his first full year in 1948. During the season, he hit an average 301 with 16 home runs, and he led the club with a .318 average during the 1948 World Series. He finished his historic career with 253 home runs and 970 runs batted in. In 1998, Larry Doby was deservedly inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, America sadly lost Larry Doby in June at the age of 79. On behalf of this entire House, I offer my sincere condolences of all Members to the friends and the family of Larry Doby.

America has long had a deep obsession with sports, and there is little doubt that the common goals of athletics have had a profound impact on race relations in this country.

In 1947, Larry Doby inducted himself to the all-white baseball world as a courageous man with an awe-inspiring lefthanded swing. His bravery unquestionably opened the door of opportunity to many players from so many backgrounds, all the way to this present day. But beyond the baseball field, Larry Doby helped to prove that a person's skin color has nothing to do with his or her abilities at a time when America needed to learn that lesson.

For all these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I hope this resolution is seen as a fitting tribute to a man that all of us still owe a debt of gratitude. I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 235, and I congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey for his work on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this point I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate so much the remarks that have been made about Larry Doby and his career. We recognize the importance of Larry Doby. As the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) was saying, Jackie Robinson and Shoeless Joe Jackson, and we talk about the importance of having heroes, and these were men who were heroes, and how important that we honor Larry Doby. So I commend my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) for introducing the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 352) remembering and honoring the march on Washington of August 28, 1963.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 352, the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 352 introduced by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the State of Georgia (Mr. Bishop), remembers and honors the march on Washington of August 28, 1963.

Mr. Speaker, 40 years ago this summer almost a quarter of a million people gathered here in Washington, D.C. to take a stand for freedom and for equality.

They came to our Nation's capital to tell America that civil rights could no longer be exclusive rights denied to millions of Americans based on nothing more than the color of their skin.

Known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the event was

originally planned to focus on economic concerns at a time when more than 1\1/2\ million black Americans were searching for work. The march expanded, becoming a massive rally in support of civil rights legislation that had been recently introduced by President Kennedy.

On the morning of August 28, 1963, supporters arrived at the Washington Monument. At about noon the marchers advanced as an incredible mass to the Lincoln Memorial, a memorial that honors the President who gave his presidency and his life in the name of liberty for all people.

At the memorial the marchers heard speeches from the most influential leader of the civil rights movement, including the NAACP's Roy Wilkins; Whitney Young of the Urban League; my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), then of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee; and it was here that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered a speech that has changed America, a speech that captured the idea that is America, asking why our country was failing to keep its promise to treat all men as equals.

The ``I Have A Dream'' speech, delivered at the Lincoln Memorial is passionate, it is reasoned, and it has made a difference.

Mr. Speaker, the march on Washington was the largest political demonstration in our Nation's history at the time. It was an awesome display by thousands of people who loved and craved freedom, and above all else, people who deserved freedom. The three major television networks aired the speeches at the memorial and the event captivated the world. Forty years later, it is appropriate that this House take time to remember what a powerful day that late summer afternoon in August 1963 was for Americans who wanted to end racism.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) for introducing such a worthwhile measure that remembers the march on Washington in 1963. I urge all Members to support its adoption.

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

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

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

Again, I congratulate the gentleman from Georgia for introducing this meaningful legislation, and I urge all Members to join us in adoption of House Resolution 352.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in passage of the Fair And Accurate Credit Transactions Act. H.R. 2622 makes permanent the national uniform standards for credit reporting that were established in 1996. This bill will do much to give consumers and small businesses protection from fraud and from identity theft.

National standards for the management of financial information have allowed more consumers to qualify for home loans, and we should not forget that home purchases and refinancing are keys to this economy's health. With 9.9 million victims of identity theft in 2002 alone, it is time for us to take action.

Now, I am one of those that prefers State control to Federal control, but Congress does have a responsibility under the Constitution for the oversight of interstate commerce, and credit is the key to the economic prosperity. Fifty different systems make credit less accessible, more expensive, and less reliable. This will help our lending institutions be better recordkeepers, it will give consumers more control over their credit files, and ensure that lenders notify consumers before submitting negative credit information.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak on the enormous waste that occurs every day as Federal agencies continually fail to use proper oversight of disbursements of taxpayer dollars, and I want to cite three specific examples.

Instead of using its Federal food stamp funds to provide food for poor children, California chose to waste these funds on microwave ovens, catering services, and even on fees for marriage licenses. Some agencies, like the Departments of Education and Commerce, have such inadequate computer systems that over $2 million of illegal meal reimbursements and payroll tax withholdings were not detected and escaped oversight. And these systems are inadequate, even though they continue to inappropriately spend millions of dollars trying to devise systems.

In the past few years, the Federal Department of the Interior was unable to account for $11 billion of its financial transactions until it checked with other Federal agencies for confirmation of payment.

Mr. Speaker, all of these examples stand as proof of why this Congress must continue to hold Federal agencies responsible and accountable for their accounting standards and move them toward compliance with the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act. Otherwise, Mr. Speaker, this government will not make any progress in reducing our bloated Federal bureaucracy; and billions of dollars in taxpayer money will continue to be wasted.

Mr. Speaker, in late July Congress recessed and the Republicans headed back to their districts amid a firestorm of criticism from the left for passing record levels of tax relief.

Democratic candidates for President issued blistering condemnations of tax

relief, vowing to repeal the Bush tax cuts. News coverage painted the picture of a Nation questioning the value of tax relief. In a July 28 Washington Post column entitled, ``Democrats Not Shying Away From Tax Talk: Candidates Discuss Raises, Not Cuts,'' of two of those candidates, both called for repeal of the cuts, a move The Washington Post notes would raise tax rates for all income taxpayers; reinstate the marriage penalty on joint filers, and shrivel the popular child tax credit for middle-income tax payers.

The article says that the Democratic tax increases would be used to provide universal health coverage and to rev up the economy. They actually believe raising taxes would rev up the economy.

Moving on down the line, two Senators, Senator Kerry and Senator Lieberman, are on record suggesting raising some income tax brackets to pre-Bush levels. Senator Edwards called for raising some income tax brackets, and once again treating dividends as taxable income. Under his leadership, he would not only increase the newly lowered 15 percent capital gains rate; he would increase it to a whopping 25 percent.

Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Democratic leadership's primary economic policy can be summed up in 2 words: tax increases.

Fortunately, August must have been a painful month for those who lept on the tax increase bandwagon because today economists are finally giving credit to the President and the Republicans in Congress for passing tax relief and fueling economic growth. Tax relief, not tax increases, have revved up the economy. Critics of the tax relief legislation must be shocked to see that lower taxes are providing stimulus.

Today we see a stock market on the rise. The NASDAQ closed at a 17- month high. The Dow and the S&P 500 ended today at 15-month highs.

The headlines are revealing: ``Manufacturing Index at an 8-Month High.''

``Chain Store Sales Rise.''

``Construction Spending Inches Up.''

``U.S. Growth Tops Forecasts.''

``Fed Says Economy Shows Gains.''

``Consumer Confidence Rises.''

Mr. Speaker, the GDP, the broadest measure of the Nation's economy, grew at 3.1 percent in the quarter. That is up 1.4 percent in previous quarters.

Clearly, the signs are good and clearly the tax cuts are working. Now, there are sure to be some bumps in the road, but the facts are that relief is doing exactly what we said it would.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak on one other subject, a subject that our majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), came to the floor and talked about earlier today. He reaffirmed our commitment to control government spending, and I want to thank him for doing that. He knows that we provided tax relief to stimulate the economy, that we have attacked terrorism at its root and taken steps to improve the quality of life for our troops.

Now is the time to direct attention to wasteful spending. Our freshman class has made its mission working on eliminating government waste, fraud and abuse. The momentum for true reform and reductions in spending are there. We have proved that tax cuts work, and we have the trust of the American People.

Mr. Chairman, a few weeks ago in my district we held a government reform subcommittee hearing on the effectiveness of faith- based organizations. And our chairman is exactly right. These are priceless national resources. There is an issue that I am familiar with and today I must rise in opposition to the Woolsey amendment to strike the faith-based provision from the School Readiness Act.

I have listened to the debate on this bill in subcommittee and here on the floor, and actually I have been surprised at the level of false information being used to defeat what is an excellent aspect of this legislation. This bill does not ignore or undermine civil rights laws. Instead, it brings the Head Start program up to date with them. The Civil Rights Act was amended in 1972 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act because Congress recognized that there needed to be a more defined relationship between church and State. Indeed, these changes were made in response to concerns that government might interfere with the affairs of religious organizations.

As the law is written now, a church or religious institution can set up a Head Start center, but they have to give up their right to hire based on a person's religion, something that most are not willing to do. And in many communities there is a great need to establish more Head Start centers. Think how many more children would be served if the restriction were removed.

One of the fundamental tenants of faith is that we must help people in need and work to better one's community. When religious organizations cannot participate in establishing and running Head Start centers, children lose out on an opportunity to learn, to prepare for school, and to be nurtured.

Mr. Speaker, the freshman class agrees that the waste has got to stop. The President agrees, the Congress agrees. Taxpayers must manage their own money, and so should the government. We are saddled with too many costly programs that are duplicated across too many agencies.

It is our goal to provide effective government efficiency by eliminating programs that do not use our resources wisely. By using outcome-based measures and full cost accounting, this scrutiny can provide a powerful motivation for agencies to improve the efficiency of the programs that they oversee.

Virtually every committee in Congress can make this effort a priority, reviewing the areas of jurisdiction for waste, fraud and abuse. At the Committee on Government Reform, we are particularly attuned to this effort and are well into reviews of agencies and programs that simply spend and spend without any results.

I would argue that any money wasted is too much, but we are talking millions and billions of dollars. I hope my colleagues will join my fellow freshmen and me as we are going after this abuse.

Mr. Speaker, now is the time for us to prioritize and reorganize government.

Mr. Chairman, I submit to the Record some information from the National Federation of Independent Business relating to a poll that they conducted and some thoughts and opinions from their members on this issue.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of what the Department of Labor is trying to do on Section 541 overtime regulations. There is a lot of confusion in the employer community right now on how to deal with employee overtime, in large part because these regulations were last revised in 1954.

I would like to share with my colleagues some very important survey data that makes the point that employers are confused with overtime regulations. Last month the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation released fresh data from their National Economic Poll in which they asked 750 small businesses:

``How do you determine if a specific employee who works

more than 40 hours per week should receive overtime pay? Do

you . . .

Follow common industry practice--19.3 percent.

Classify each job by occupation and earnings (the legally

correct way)--5.9 percent.

Make only hourly-wage employees eligible--18.9 percent.

Make only low-paid employees eligible--0.3 percent.

Make everyone but management employees eligible--8.1

percent.

No employees work overtime--33.5 percent.

Everyone who works overtime is eligible--11.2 percent.

Didn't know--2.9 percent.

Mr. Chairman, this survey sheds critical light on the views of small business owners--this proves that small business owners don't really know how to properly classify their employees for overtime purposes.

It's time to simplify the regulations. It's time to vote ``no'' on the amendment and let the rulemaking process move forward.

Mr. Speaker, in 1999 I began battling imposition of a State income tax in Tennessee. Our State spent 4 years debating the ability of government to levy new taxes and the meaning of tax fairness. The battle was long, and it engaged virtually every taxpayer in Tennessee. At the end of the day, those that supported the State income tax lost. Tennessee stood up and said enough is enough, and they rejected a massive tax increase.

Traveling through our beautiful State, I met people in city halls, people in coffee shops, and I gained tremendous appreciation for what those patriots must have felt when they dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party. I really continue to take heart in the way average citizens, people who have really never taken an interest in politics, the way they have become marching, sign-waving, horn-honking activists, and the way they have united against another tax increase.

With the defeat of a State income tax in Tennessee, I came to Washington prepared to work for legislation that would allow citizens of States without a State income tax the right to deduct the sales tax from their Federal income tax filings. Right now, if you pay State income taxes, you can deduct those payments on your Federal returns, but if you only pay sales tax, you cannot deduct it, and that is unfair.

The Nation's Tax Code effectively punishes States without an income tax, States like Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Washington, Wyoming and South Dakota.

Mr. Speaker, there are more than 53 million people that live in States that do not have a State income tax. That is nearly 20 percent of our entire population. I want to say that one more time. There are nearly 53 million people that live in States without a State income tax. That is nearly 20 percent of our entire population. And these people are being penalized every single year when they fill out their Federal income tax filing. All of these people have been or will be taxpayers, and they deserve tax fairness.

America's seniors would also be supportive of this effort. There are millions of seniors in this country. Many probably do not have a great deal of State income tax payments to deduct on their Federal returns, but they certainly have State sales tax payments. So the support is clear. There are millions of Americans in States across the Nation who want and deserve this deduction.

Mr. Speaker, I have made this a priority. I have worked very closely with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin), the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn), and our majority leader the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay). I have testified before the Committee on Ways and Means on this issue, and I have taken every opportunity to talk to Members and work with Members on both sides of the aisle on this most important issue.

The sweat is paying off. Today the New York Times drew attention to this issue and pointed to this House's engagement on the effort. There have been articles in papers across Tennessee, Florida, Washington, and the list goes on and on. The word is spreading. We are closer than ever before to winning passage of a sales tax deduction, but the time is not here for celebration. It is time to put our noses to the grindstone and work to find the right vehicle for the sales tax deduction.

The momentum is building, and it is time for fairness for the people who live in States without a State income tax. They deserve this deduction, and it is time for them to have it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 660, the Small Business Health Fairness Act. Small business owners know that it is far too important to their employees to let this issue slide off the table. Employees want to have health coverage and the increasing cost is making it ever more difficult. It is important to note also in my State of Tennessee, small business is the largest employer.

This bill works to alleviate the problems by establishing the association health plans that would allow small businesses to band together under an umbrella of a bona fide trade association to act as a large purchaser of health insurance, having that ability to buy health care coverage as a large group for their employees. All employees benefit by having better coverage, increased options and lower deductibles.

Madam Speaker, last weekend I had the opportunity to address a national convention of women. It was a national convention of women who own their own businesses. Their number one concern, their top priority is passing this legislation, seeing it passed. That is, millions of women who own and work for women-owned businesses and they are very concerned about this. It is at the top of their list.

Madam Speaker, it is unfortunately that there are so many myths surrounding the debate of this bill. I join my colleagues in helping to dispel these myths, that it would allow cherrypicking. In reality, this legislation has explicit language prohibiting such. This legislation also contains solvency provisions to protect employees against the risk of health plans that default or go bankrupt. These health plans must certify through a qualified actuary that an AHP is financially sound on a quarterly basis.

Madam Speaker, I agree with thousands of female business owners that it is time to pass this legislation now.