Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,923,161,977,864.28.

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 $2,284,736,231,570.48 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,931,157,737,293.42.

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 $2,292,731,990,999.60 so far this Congress. The debt has increased $4,372,259,520.42 since just yesterday.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,926,785,477,772.98.

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 $2,288,359,731,479.18 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,943,495,066,136.13.

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 $2,305,069,319,842.33 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,940,953,934,792.90.

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 $2,302,528,188,499.10 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,876,734,073,745.72.

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 $2,288,594,800,033.30 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to make a correction of my vote on passage of H.R. 2499. On April 29, for rollcall vote 242, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, I was unintentionally recorded as voting ``yea.'' I oppose the legislation and it was my intention to vote ``nay.''

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,876,734,073,745.72.

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 $2,238,308,327,451.90 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,886,315,749,582.96.

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 $2,247,890,003,289.16 so far this Congress.

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

Mr. Chairman, I am proud to stand before you today in strong support of H.R. 5013, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010.

As a member of the House Armed Services Defense Acquisition Reform Panel, I commend Chairman Rob Andrews and Ranking Member Mike Conaway for their leadership over the past year as we delved into the complex world of defense acquisition.

Recently, based on our panel's detailed study, we released our final report containing recommendations for improvements to defense acquisition. Today's legislation implements our Defense Acquisition Reform Panel's recommendation, and I am proud to cosponsor this very important bill. As a result of the panel's efforts, this legislation reforms the remaining 80 percent of the defense acquisition system not addressed by last year's Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act. These measures will potentially save billions of taxpayer dollars.

The primary focus of the bill is to reform defense spending by identifying cost-saving techniques at the earliest stages of development. Our goal is to decrease cost overruns exponentially before they spiral out of control.

I am pleased that many of my acquisition reform priorities are included in H.R. 5013. There is no doubt that there is a great need for enhanced accountability within the defense acquisition system. Maintaining our Nation's defense industrial base is paramount. Recruiting, training, and retaining a professional and experienced acquisition workforce within the Department of Defense is crucial to ensuring the best use of taxpayer dollars in the most cost-effective way. We must also reemphasize the need for program stability beginning with realistic requirements and periodic reassessments.

The IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010 will cut down on waste, fraud, and abuse, potentially saving billions of tax dollars. It will also get the right equipment to our warfighters sooner.

If Representative Gerry Connolly's amendment regarding the establishment of an Industrial Base Council is adopted today, I strongly urge that the council consider the issue of supply chain vulnerability, especially with respect to rare earth metals.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,880,364,008,405.96

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 $2,241,938,262,112.10 so far this Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,877,195,922,374.91.

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 $2,238,770,176,081.11 so far this Congress.

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

Mr. Speaker, there are many heroes from Colorado who have fought and continue to fight in the global war on terror. Today I rise to pay tribute to one hero in particular, Army Sergeant Sean Durkin of Aurora, Colorado.

On March 27, 2010, Sergeant Sean Durkin and his fellow soldiers were on a mission near Forward Operating Base Wilson in Afghanistan when their convoy was struck by an explosive device. Sergeant Sean Durkin and two other brave soldiers exited the vehicle to respond to the blast but were all injured when a second improvised explosive device went off. Sergeant Sean Durkin was gravely wounded and ultimately succumbed to his injuries while at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

In 2004, Sergeant Sean Durkin graduated from Eaglecrest High School in Colorado. Sergeant Sean Durkin is a shining example of Army service and sacrifice. As a former member of the Army and as a retired Marine officer, my deepest sympathies go out to his family and to all who knew him.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I acknowledge the accomplishments of the 2010 Arapahoe County Ice Warrior Pee Wee Hockey Team. The Warriors fought to win the AA Colorado State championship and gallantly represented Colorado in the U-12 National Championships in Reston, Virginia. The high standards which the team met are, undoubtedly, representative of the passion and excellence found throughout my district.

The warriors withheld a Colorado Springs Jr. Tiger hockey team to win the State championship 3-2 thanks in large part to the offensive prowess of Josh Pusar, Zackary Dym, Jake Dosen, Brandon Yi, Patrick Wicker, Andrej Lysak, Jack Jordan, Josh Fiegl, Andrew McCulley, and Ian Aylmer.

Despite continually facing older, larger and more experienced teams, the boys outhustled

and outplayed opponents, demonstrating their tenacity and enthusiasm for the game. The defensive work of Charlie Kiefer, Jared Duncan, Jake Swenson, Pieter Gesink, Joel Walker, and Tanner Broschat cannot be understated and proved instrumental to the success of the team.

I must also acknowledge the indispensable role that goaltenders Jackson Schoech and Cameron Bukes played in netminding for the warriors: turning away a barrage of pucks and routinely securing victory for the Warriors.

I want to extend my congratulations to head Coach Ken Schoech and his assistants Patrick Sullivan, Matt McCarthy, and Charlie Kiefer, who helped mold these young athletes into the champions they are today. The elite status of the team could not have existed without the leadership of these mentors. They not only taught the skills of hockey, but more importantly, instilled a spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie in the boys that will last long after this season.

Madam Speaker, today our national debt is $12,871,255,665,556.84.

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 $2,232,829,919,263.00 so far this Congress. The debt has increased $8,206,250,340.50 since just yesterday.

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