Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,711,870,126,618.47.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,073,444,380,324.67 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice and laid down his life for our freedom, United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter.

Chief Warrant Officer Carter dedicated himself to over 24 years of military service. As a member of the Colorado Army National Guard, he deployed to Afghanistan last summer. On August 6, 2011, he was piloting a CH-47 helicopter on a mission to reinforce a unit under attack in Wardak Province. On that tragic day, he was one of 30 Americans lost when their helicopter was brought down by enemy fire.

Dave Carter was regarded as one of the most highly trained aviators in Colorado, with multiple combat deployments and over 4,000 flight hours.

He is also remembered for the tremendous impact he had on his family, friends, and community. Friends recall that he was never too busy to help out with a problem.

Chief Warrant Officer David Carter personifies the honor and selflessness of service as a citizen soldier. His bravery and dedication to duty will not be forgotten.

As a Marine Corps combat veteran, my deepest sympathies go out to his family, his fellow soldiers, and all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,729,488,947,751.89.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,091,063,201,458.09 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,683,910,471,705.99.

On January 6, 2009 the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,045,484,725,412.19 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today I am 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 the 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 this is a good start.

The defined benefit retirement plan gives Members of Congress an averaged percentage of their annual salary (currently $174,000) for every year they serve in Congress. To be eligible for the retirement plan they must first serve at least five years. They will then receive 1.7% for every year up to 20 that they serve in Congress, and 1% for every year after 20. For example, if a Member of Congress served for 20 years, and they were at least 62, he or she would receive 34% of their salary, or $59,160 per year, based on the current salary. Members of Congress pay 1.3% of their salary into the pension plan and are required to pay into Social Security at the same rate as everyone else. They may contribute to a Thrift Savings Plan that has a match similar to many private sector 401(k) plans.

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

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, today our national debt is $14,717,868,058,346.24.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,079,442,312,052.44 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice and laid down his life for our freedom: U.S. Army Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter.

Chief Warrant Officer Carter dedicated himself to over 24 years of military service. As a member of the Colorado Army National Guard, he deployed to Afghanistan this summer. On August 6, 2011, he was piloting a CH-47 helicopter on a mission to reinforce a unit under attack in Wardak province. On that tragic day, he was one of 30 Americans who lost their lives when their helicopter was brought down by enemy fire.

David Carter was regarded as one of the most highly trained aviators in Colorado, with multiple combat deployments and over 4,000 flight hours. He is also remembered for the tremendous impact he had on his family, friends, and community. Friends recall that he was never too busy to help out with a problem.

Chief Warrant Officer David Carter personified the honor and selflessness of service as a citizen soldier. His bravery and dedication to duty will not be forgotten.

As a Marine Corps combat veteran, my deepest sympathies go out to his family, fellow soldiers, and all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,688,259,374,281.24.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,049,833,627,987.44 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,711,737,198,477.91.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,073,311,452,184.11 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,685,550,385,913.19.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $4,047,124,639,619.39 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise today to recognize the Piney Creek Colorado chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR, for its commitment to preserving American history and fostering patriotism across the country.

The parent society's history dates back to 1890, a time marked by a revival in patriotism and an intense interest in the beginnings of the United States. While the Piney Creek chapter was only chartered in 2004, the energy and dedication directed towards the local community has enhanced the lives of many Coloradans.

The founders of DAR sought to create an organization which would commemorate the patriots of the American Revolution, cultivating national pride in its members and in local communities. The Piney Creek DAR superbly embodies these tenants, and tirelessly works to forward the organization's mission of perpetuating the memory of those who contributed to American Independence, promoting educational endeavors as instructed by President George Washington, and cherishing American institutions of freedom.

National events organized by DAR, such as Constitution Week, celebrate the foundations of democracy and contribute to the education of communities. Started in 1955, Constitution Week seeks to honor and reaffirm the ideals outlined by our Founding Fathers in 1787. The Piney Creek chapter of the DAR has truly taken heart in this annual event and has gone above and beyond to thoughtfully promote the importance of the Constitution. From sponsoring and performing education programs about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights at local elementary schools, to disseminating pocket Constitutions to students and patrons, the Piney Creek DAR has captured the spirit of this important week. Moreover, their work promoting the ideals of the Constitution continues throughout the year by sponsoring high school Advance Placement U.S. American History Classrooms and partnering with local libraries to publicly display copies of our founding documents.

These efforts and others demonstrate the Piney Creek DAR's exceptional dedication to country and community. I'm incredibly proud to have such dedicated volunteers residing in the 6th district of Colorado, and I am certain that the Piney Creek DAR will continue to serve as an example of American spirit both past and future.

Madam Speaker, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, has said to the Congress that we need to put America first and get this debt limit done. I agree with that. I agree that we need to put America first and put politics aside.

Last weekend, a bipartisan proposal emerged with Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Reid, Senator Reid, coming to an agreement, but the President of the United States got ahold of Senator Reid and said, Absolutely not.

The reason he rejected the agreement was because it didn't have enough money to get him through the election of November 2012. The President's campaign consideration is not putting America first. We need to put America first and vote down the Reid proposal.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,342,830,116,551.28.

On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $3,704,404,370,257.48 since then.

This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,342,887,364,361.82.

On January 6th, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80.

This means the national debt has increased by $3,704,461,618,068.02 since then.

This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice and laid down his life for our freedoms, United States Army Sergeant Nathan Ryan Beyers.

Sergeant Beyers, a 2006 graduate of Thunder Ridge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, volunteered to serve in the Idaho Army National Guard. In the Army, he served with the 145th Brigade Support Battalion of the 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

He deployed with his unit in support of Operation New Dawn in Iraq. On July 7, 2011, he gave his life in the line of duty on a convoy security mission.

Nathan is remembered not only for his heroics on the battlefield, but for the tremendous impact he had on his family, friends, and community.

He was absolutely devoted to his family and his fellow soldiers. As his wife recalls, Nathan was proud of his job and serving our country. He died doing something he loved and was such a brave person.

Sergeant Nathan Ryan Beyers personifies the honor and selflessness of service as a citizen soldier. His bravery and dedication to duty will not be forgotten. As a Marine Corps combat veteran, my deepest sympathies go out to his family, his fellow soldiers, and all who knew him.