Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I'm introducing legislation to put an end to the defined benefit retirement plan currently available to Members of Congress.

These are extremely difficult economic times. We are in a debt crisis that will require sacrifices on the part of all Americans. I served in both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, and I was taught that leaders should never ask others to do anything that they themselves would be unwilling to do. Congress needs to set an example and lead the way for the country. I think ending the congressional pension system is a good start.

My legislation will honor any retirement benefits accrued prior to the passage of this bill and will keep Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan in place for Members of Congress.

I believe that Members of Congress should feel the same economic pressures the rest of society does, and I firmly believe that the current effort to reduce spending and constrain the size and scope of government requires that all possible solutions be taken, including cuts to the congressional budget.

I urge the passage of this bill.

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 $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 $16,432,643,996,680.64. We've added $5,804,682,700,749.97 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 $16,432,680,097,613.85. We've added $5,804,718,801,683.18 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. I have advocated for a Balanced Budget Amendment since I was sworn in for this very reason.

I will be once more forming the Balanced Budget Amendment Caucus to fight for a return to fiscal responsibility. We must stop this unconscionable accumulation of debt.

Madam Speaker, in 1969 I did volunteer work at an Army hospital located in Aurora, Colorado, with a Junior Red Cross. This was at the height of the war in Vietnam and wounded soldiers were arriving at the hospital daily. Most were amputees who had lost their legs to mines and booby traps.

Sadly, as America became increasingly divided over the war in Vietnam they also became divided over their support for those who fought in that war. As a result, these wounded soldiers were unappreciated, isolated, and largely forgotten. To make matters worse, after they were stabilized, they were sent for their rehabilitation to VA facilities that were often substandard.

I look forward to using my new leadership position as the chairman for the Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to help all veterans who have served our country and have earned our support.

I want to do everything in my power to make sure that our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are never treated like those who returned from Vietnam.

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 $16,359,758,742,907.76. We've added $5,132,881,693,994.68 to our debt in nearly 4 years. This is a $5 trillion in debt our Nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 633, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

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 $16,375, 1874,429,255.52. We've added $5,748,997,380,342.44 to our debt in nearly 4 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

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 $16,370,056,245,929.64. We've added $5,743,179,197,016.56 to our debt in nearly 4 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

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 $16,338,092,943,716.61. We've added $5,711,215,894,803.53 to our debt in nearly 4 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

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 $16,369,548,799,604.93. We've added $5,742,671,750,691.85 to our debt in nearly 4 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

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 $16,306,713,138,468.87. We've added $5,679,836,089,555.79 to our debt in 4 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our Nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

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 $16,323,083,449,604.98. We've added $5,696,206,400,691.90 to our debt in nearly 4 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. Speaker, this year I pushed for and received a congressional investigation into the Dawood National Military Hospital in Afghanistan based on allegations that senior Afghan medical personnel sold U.S. military medical supplies and that Afghan soldiers and police were dying in the facility from untreated wounds and malnutrition because their families couldn't come up with the necessary bribes to pay the hospital staff for their care.

The Afghan surgeon general, General Ahmad Zia Yaftali, was complicit in the corruption. U.S. Army Lieutenant General William Caldwell was instrumental in covering it up by not only delaying an investigation but by limiting the scope of it when it did occur. Neither General Caldwell nor General Yaftali have been disciplined for their conduct.

Last week I was in Afghanistan and I visited the hospital. I left Afghanistan confirming my belief that the greatest threat to the future of Afghanistan is not the Taliban but the pervasive corruption that permeates every level of Afghan governance and the lack of leadership by the United States in confronting it.

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 $16,317,681,766,441.44. We've added $5,690,804,717,528.36 to our debt in 3 years. This is $5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.