Floor Statements

Offered By: Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 56: Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 16, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 57: Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 16, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Page 17, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''

Offered By: Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 58: Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 7, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Page 12, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 53: Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $50,000,000)''.

Page 7, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $50,000,000)''.

Page 7, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $50,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 54: Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 45, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Page 47, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 55: Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 16, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Page 18, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably delayed and was unable to vote on H.R. 1473, rollcall vote No. 268. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 92 I mistakenly voted ``no.'' Please let the Record reflect that I intended to vote ``aye.''

Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Pence

Offered By Mr. McCaul

Amendment No. 26: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, we gather here today in this House and as a Nation to mourn the tragic events in Tucson, Arizona; to honor those who lost their lives and those still fighting for them; to honor the heroic acts on that dark day; and to condemn the perpetrator for this senseless act of violence.

The last few days have been surreal. When I first heard the news, I was shocked and disturbed that one of our own had been shot--someone I am privileged to call a friend and a colleague. As the Speaker said, when one of us is attacked, all of us are attacked. This experience has been painful to all of us and hits too close to home.

Professionally, I was fortunate to have worked with Gabrielle Giffords, or Gabby, as she is affectionately called. We both serve on the Science and Technology and Foreign Affairs Committees. She is passionate, bright, and a delight to be around. Gabby is a talented lawmaker who always works effectively across the aisle to get things done for the American people. I am honored to have been one of those she chose to work with.

She always told me Arizona and Texas are sunshine States and we need to harness that energy. I agreed with her, and together we introduced and passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. She often talked about being from border States and that we needed security to protect our way of life. We passed a $600 million appropriation for more resources on the border.

As everybody knows, she is a staunch advocate for NASA, and she is married to an astronaut. She passionately defended the space program; and we worked together, with many others, to save the Human Spaceflight Program. In fact, the last time I saw Gabby, a week ago, we were getting off the elevator over there to vote on the floor here, and we talked about NASA.

She said in her classic way, Yeah, but we can always do better. That was her spirit--we can always do better.

We often talked about putting together a delegation of Members to witness the last shuttle flight, the one that her husband, Mark, is commanding. I hope we will still have that opportunity.

So when I received the news that she had been shot, it had a profound and personal impact upon me--for, above all, she is my friend. She is a bright ray of sunshine in what is too often a dark world.

Coming out of a tough election, she often talked about moderation and of toning down the partisan rhetoric to get things done for the American people. I know that it is her sincere hope that, as her wounds heal, so, too, will the wound inflicted upon this Nation and that the political discourse in this country will be restored to one of civility.

I pray for her and all those affected by this horrible tragedy. I pray that one day she will return to this floor and join her colleagues, and I am confident that she will. For above all, she is a passionate fighter and an eternal optimist.

So keep fighting, Gabby, for we need you and more people like you in this world. May God bless you, and may He hold you in the palm of His hand.

Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Alabama for his leadership on this solemn occasion. This is an important day for Mr. Rangel, for the Congress, but most importantly, for the American people. As the ranking member during the Rangel adjudicatory proceedings and as a former Federal prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice, I take this responsibility very seriously.

And let me be clear, no Member asked for this assignment. But we accept our responsibility here today for no other reason than to protect the honor, integrity, and credibility of this great institution.

The America's people confidence in us is at historic lows. They want their elected representatives held accountable for their actions, just as they are held accountable as private citizens. And today, we have an opportunity to begin a new era restoring the trust of the American people.

The committee agreed on 12 of the 13 counts, finding that he violated multiple rules of the House and Federal statutes, including the most fundamental code of conduct, which states ``a Member . . . of the House shall conduct himself at all times in a manner that shall reflect credibility on the House.'' And credibility is exactly what is at stake here; the very credibility of the House of Representatives itself before the American people.

Most egregiously, the committee found that Mr. Rangel failed to pay his income taxes for 17 years. And this, while serving as chairman of the committee that writes the tax laws for the Nation. What kind of message does this send to the average working man or woman who plays by the rules and struggles every day to pay their own taxes?

Mr. Rangel also solicited contributions from corporations, foundations, and lobbyists who had business before his committee to build a school bearing his name. I have consistently opposed Members of Congress naming monuments after themselves.

The committee recommended the most severe punishment available based upon the facts and the precedents. This sanction is both rare and historic.

Founding Father John Adams said that ``moral authority and character increases as the importance of the position increases.'' In his letter to the Speaker, Mr. Rangel stated that as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he is to be held to a higher standard of propriety. I agree. Mr. Rangel failed to hold himself to this higher standard. And the American people deserve better.

And I sincerely feel for Mr. Rangel as a human being.

And while I sincerely feel for Mr. Rangel as a human being, I feel more strongly that a public office is a public trust. And Mr. Rangel violated that trust.

The Speaker challenged us to enter into a new era of transparency and accountability. Let us begin today. Let justice be served. Let us begin to enter into a new era of ethics to restore the credibility and integrity of this House, the people's House.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to take this opportunity to discuss a recent event in DC on an issue that has always been of particular significance to me. On September 16, 2010, I hosted a Childhood Cancer Summit with Congressman Joe Sestak on behalf of the Pediatric Cancer Caucus. We held the Summit in September to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Our goal was to raise awareness among Members of Congress and to advance policies to better treat and prevent this disease.

Pediatric cancer is the leading killer by disease of our nation's children. Thirty-five children, or the equivalent of an entire school classroom, are diagnosed every day.

However, pediatric cancer research remains woefully underfunded. To compound this problem, the small patient population creates no market incentive for pharmaceutical companies to develop pediatric cancer drugs. Therefore, there exists a lack of available treatments and drugs tailored specifically to childhood cancer. Only one drug has been manufactured particularly for pediatric cancer since the 1980s. In addition, three out of every five survivors face devastating long-term effects from their disease or their treatments. Pediatric cancer is a chronic disease, and we have much to learn before diagnosed children are guaranteed to lead full and normal lives.

It is the goal of the Pediatric Cancer Caucus to raise awareness for these issues, as well as to advocate in support of measure which will improve the lives of patients, and work toward eliminating this disease as a threat to all children. The Caucus now has about 80 members, and is steadily growing.

The Childhood Cancer Summit included a panel discussion between childhood cancer experts from around the nation. Participants came from many of the premier pediatric cancer centers, including MD Anders Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The panelists discussed the unique challenges facing childhood cancer patients and their families compared with adult cancers, including the development of better treatments for kids with cancer and initiatives to improve the quality of survivorship.

It is my goal to use the recommendations from these panelists to shape an effective legislative agenda, and gamer the support of my fellow policymakers. As policymakers, we have a responsibility to the many children and families suffering from this devastating disease.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res.1588, concerning the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan during and after the upcoming referenda. We are now less than 100 days away from one of the most crucial dates in Sudan's recent history. On January 9th, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will expire and the citizens of Sudan will have the opportunity to vote both on the referendum on self-determination for Southern Sudan and the referendum on whether Abyei will remain in the north or join the south. This resolution highlights the importance of these votes and the many challenges currently facing Sudan, from continued violence in Darfur to questions about resource allocation.

We are concerned about the repeated lack of attention and focus placed on Sudan in the months leading up to the referenda. The Administration must engage further with the local groups and governments to ensure these votes are fair and free and that all citizens have the ability to determine their future. Many issues including borders, oil and revenue sharing, and right of return for refugees still need to be discussed in advance of the votes and resolved in a manner that satisfies the concerns of all of the groups involved. Even as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement expires, we must work to facilitate continued dialogue on these important issues.

This is a critical time for the future of Sudan, and we must not put ourselves in a position where we look back in January and regret not taking action sooner. No matter the outcome of the referenda, we need to encourage the people of Sudan to continue to take positive steps towards a peaceful future. This resolution lays out our specific recommendations for how the Administration can encourage this outcome, and I hope you all will support it.

Mr. Speaker, as we go back home to our districts to honor the veterans on Memorial Day, today I rise to honor a true American hero, Corporal Jeffrey Johnson, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

Born January 27, 1989, in Charleston, South Carolina, Jeffrey joined the Marines in July of 2007. He was killed on May 11, 2010, in the Helmand province in Afghanistan, where we have seen some of the fiercest fighting in the war as the surge moves forward to victory. He was 3 weeks into his second deployment when he was killed by an IED while on patrol.

Corporal Johnson is a graduate of Waller High School and is now being touted in the media as a son of Tomball, Texas. Jeffrey loved Ford trucks and he loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Corporal Johnson joined the military to provide education and other options. He wanted to attend the University of Texas and become either a game warden or a State trooper.

Katy Anguish, his wife, wanted people to know that Jeffrey was a creative person. He loved to have fun. I spoke to the family the day Jeffrey was brought home to his final homecoming to offer my condolences on behalf of a grateful Nation and to give them flags flown over the United States Capitol in his honor.

To his wife, Katy Anguish; his father and stepmother, Jerry and Kelly Johnson; his mother, Dawn Hardwick; sisters Ashtian Bennett and Kassidy Johnson; his brother, Jason Martin; his grandparents, Delores Campbell, Glenda Schneider, John Farmer, and Jerry Tyner, it's hard to put in words how you must feel, but know that the United States Congress and the American people are so grateful for your son's service.

Unfortunately, I have attended too many military funerals, as many Members of Congress have, but I have never seen such an overwhelming support and love in the welcoming home of this fallen hero.

He arrived by airplane from Afghanistan in Tomball, Texas. He was greeted by the marines, who carried his casket to the hearse. It reminded me of the greatness of this country. It was so inspiring to me that at a time of great tragedy and sorrow that over 30,000 people in a small town showed up to pay their respects, to show their appreciation for a man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, to signal to the rest of the Nation that patriotism and love of country are still alive and well in America, and it restored my faith in America.

The Tomball Fire Department hung a large U.S. flag from two extended ladder trucks as Corporal Johnson's body traveled by motorcade to the funeral home. Thousands of friends, veterans, school children, and ordinary citizens, showed their support and lined the streets waving American flags. This is what it's all about.

As a Member of Congress, the hardest thing we have to do is to comfort families when they have lost a loved one in a time of war. My heart goes out to the family.

But Jeffrey did not die in vain. He was part of something greater than himself. He was on a mission for freedom and liberty, on a mission to liberate the world from the scourge of terrorism.

My father, a World War II veteran, was part of what we now call the Greatest Generation. Jeffrey is now part of a new great generation of heroes.

His life embodies what we see in the Gospel of John, Chapter 15:13, ``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''

Jeffrey, you are home now with God. Well done, good and faithful servant. May God bless you and may he hold you in the palm of his hand.

I would like to close with a quote from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address, which I read to the family the day of the homecoming. His words are as timeless today and relevant as they were so many years ago, when he said, ``The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.''

God bless you, Jeffrey.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to recognize Sam Houston's contributions to Texas and our Nation. Sam Houston was a statesman, military leader, and politician who made remarkable contributions to Texas and our Nation. His achievements include representing both Tennessee and Texas in the U.S. Congress; defeating Mexican President Santa Anna to secure Texas' long sought independence; and being named the first President of the Republic of Texas for two terms. Additionally, he was the only person in U.S. History to have been the governor of two different states, Texas and Tennessee.

The State of Texas has recognized Sam Houston's achievements with the naming of the City of Houston. His is also remembered by a memorial museum, a U.S. Army Base, a national forest, a historical park, a university and the largest free-standing statue of an American figure.

The patriotic spirit of Sam Houston is carried by every Texan, and is especially seen in his great grandson, Sam Houston the 4th. I am proud to say this gentleman is my constituent. I have seen Sam Houston 4th every year at Texas Day of Independence celebration and feel that his vote is the best endorsement I have ever had.

Please join me in acknowledging Sam Houston's accomplishments with this resolution.