Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08.

Today, it is $16,739,939,855,865.39. We've added $6,113,062,806,952.31 to our debt in 4 years. This is $6 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. Speaker, today is the 10th anniversary for the war in Iraq that began with the United States-led invasion on March 20, 2003.

In 2005, I resigned from public office in the State of Colorado to return to Active Duty in the United States Marine Corps for assignment in Iraq. I did this, not because I believed that the invasion of Iraq was the right decision for our country, but because I strongly believed that, once the decision had been made to go into Iraq, that we had a responsibility to bring this war to a just conclusion.

I can't say enough about the young men and women of our military whom I met in Iraq when I served there and observed their courage, their determination to succeed under very challenging conditions, and their extraordinary sacrifices.

However, now that I'm a member of the House Armed Services Committee,

I will do everything I can to make sure that our country never goes down this path again. Nation-building operations, where we invade, pacify and administer whole countries, is the wrong direction for America and must never be repeated again.

Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08.

Today, it is $16,736,188,026,047.86. We've added $6,109,310,977,134.78 to our debt in 3 years. This is $6 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,723,061,528,495.80. We've added $6,095,100,232,565.13 to our debt in 4 years. This is $6 trillion in debt our Nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08.

Today, it is $16,700,634,854,470.52. We've added $6,073,757,805,557.44 dollars to our debt in 4 years. This is $6 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

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

Mr. Speaker, in 1972, I volunteered to serve in the United States Army at a time when young men were still being drafted into our military. The last draftees were inducted into the United States Army in 1973, and 2 years later, given the success of the all- volunteer Army, the requirement for young men to register with Selective Service ended.

In a symbolic show of strength to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter asked Congress to reinstate the Selective Service System in 1980. Congress did so, and to this day all males are required by law to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday. However, despite the first gulf war, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, conscription has never been considered as a viable option by our military.

Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 978, will end the registration requirement and dismantle the outdated Selective Service bureaucracy--saving the taxpayers over $24 million a year--and I urge its adoption.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove as cosponsors from H.R. 423 the following representatives: Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Representative Janice Schakowsky, and Representative Steve Stivers.

On February 26, 2013, three names were added as cosponsors that were not intended to be included. They were meant to be added to another bill I introduced, H.R. 435.

Their removal is only necessary due to a clerical error on the part of my office, rather than a decision by the four offices.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,610,557,777,904.98. We've added $5,982,596,481,974.31 to our debt in 4 years. This is a $5.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Mr. Speaker, I had a career in the military with a combined 21 years between the United States Army, the Army Reserve, the United States Marine Corps, and the Marine Corps Reserve.

During the course of my military career, I met so many extraordinary young men and women who served our country in uniform and who made tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedom. I strongly believe that the highest expression of citizenship in America is exemplified by those who serve in our Armed Forces.

In my hometown of Aurora, Colorado, I've recently met young people who grew up in Aurora, went to school in our community, and know of no other country than America. Some of them want to join the military, but because of their immigration status, they cannot.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that they should be allowed to join and given an opportunity to earn their citizenship by serving our country, their country, in the military.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,498,229,961,731.67. We've added $5,970,268,665,801 to our debt in 4 years. This is a $5.9 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,480,910,656,603.96. We've added $5,852,949,360,673.29 to our debt in 4 years. This is a $5.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,475,048,398,165.79. We've added $5,847,087,102,235.12 to our debt in 4 years. This is a $5.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment.

We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,433,791,850,294.04. We've added $5,805,830,554,363.37 to our debt in 4 years. This is $5.8 trillion in debt our Nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2009, the day I took office, the national debt was $10,627,961,295,930.67.

Today, it is $16,432,619,424,703.06. We've added $5,804,658,128,772.39 to our debt in 4 years. This is a $5.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a Balanced Budget Amendment. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.