Floor Statements

I rise in strong support of this piece of legislation. This is so commonsense. This is so basic. It is as basic as blood is to the body, the access to capital for small businesses, the ability to raise capital in hard times.

I will tell you right now the biggest inhibitor right now to us creating jobs is the uncertainty. And for anybody in small business to go to a bank right now and say, I need to borrow money, I want to buy equipment, I want to invest in inventory, you know what they're met with: we are not sure we can do that. With the new rules and regulations, we don't know them yet, so we have to kind of hold back on that.

But you know what, we need access to that capital if we are to succeed. If we are to move forward as a country, we need to unleash those bonds that are keeping us moored by them, and we can do it.

This legislation is commonsense. And as I said earlier, this is the same as blood is to the body. Access to capital for small business is absolutely critical. It has to be done now. There is great bipartisan support for it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1280, the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011.

S. 1280 honors the memory of Kate Puzey. Kate, a 24-year-old Peace Corps volunteer from the state of Georgia, was murdered in 2009 while serving as a teacher in a village in the West African country of Benin.

Shortly before her death, Kate had reported that a foreign national, working under contract for the Peace Corps, had allegedly molested some of the young girls.

Kate had requested anonymity and confidentiality because the man's brother worked at the Peace Corps office.

Unfortunately Kate is not the only Peace Corps volunteer who has been victimized while serving overseas.

During the last 10 years, Peace Corps volunteers have reported an average of 22 rapes and 267 assaults per year.

Not only are these statistics far higher than the national average, according to 2008 data from the Department of Justice, but Peace Corps data suggest twice as many assaults occur than are reported.

S. 1280 provides much-needed reform of the Peace Corps to protect volunteers against sexual assault and other violent crimes and to care for victims of such crimes.

Specifically the bill provides risk-reduction and response training, a new Office of Victims Advocacy, confidential reporting, and other measures.

For the sake of the 8,655 Peace Corps volunteers serving in 77 countries around the world, representing the best of our country's values, often at great personal risk, I urge the passage of this bill.

Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 806, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Grijalva

I rise in strong support of the bill.

I can speak very clearly about the relationship that we have with Korea because, in addition to being a General Motors dealer who sells Chevrolets and Cadillacs, I also sell Hyundais and Kias. I can tell you of the alliance that we have had, of the very strong partner we have had in Korea for so many

years. Since 1949, Korea has fought with us in every military skirmish--side by side, shoulder to shoulder with us. In the United States alone, Hyundai has invested over $3 billion in bricks and mortar in building two plants--one in Montgomery, Alabama, the other in West Point, Georgia. When we're worried about the number of cars being sold here, let's understand one thing, that over 60 percent of the Korean cars sold in the United States are made by Americans.

There are 60,000 jobs in the United States right now because of Hyundai and Kia's investment between our borders. And when we look at our market, our global opportunity, we have got to pass these trade agreements. We have got to pass the TAA. Why? Because it's good for America in addition to all these jobs and the possibility of 250,000 additional jobs in the country that's looking for a job almost every day.

These jobs are there. They're available to us. We have got to get on with these trade agreements. In addition, let me also state that Hyundai and Hyundai dealers have raised over $43 million in the fight against pediatric cancer, which is over 10 times what this Congress has invested in that fight against pediatric cancer.

The opportunities are outstanding right now. The opportunity is now, and what better time to pass these agreements than when we're hunting for the jobs that we need the most for our people and also with allies who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder and arm-in-arm with us in every single battle.

I would urge every single Member in this House to please pass the agreements. Let's move on. Let's get America back to work.

``I cannot believe you guys put yourselves behind the eight ball.'' Well, that's what my football coaches used to say whenever our team botched a play or missed an opportunity to win a game.

As we mark 888 days since the Senate has passed a budget, I'd like to say to our friends over in the Senate: I can't believe you folks have put the American people behind the eight ball.

Without a long-term budget, you can't run a business, you can't run family finances, and you sure as heck can't run a government. Passing a budget is one of the most basic legislative responsibilities Congress has, and the Senate leadership has not only punted on this, they've taken a knee.

Leadership isn't about sitting on the sidelines, it's about having the courage to run the play. My colleagues in the House and I are calling on Senator Reid to run the play. Pass a budget. Pass the pro- growth bills we've already gotten through the House and help get America out from behind the eight ball.

The American people have waited 888 days to see a budget come out of the Senate. And while the Senate is taking its good old time, the American people are taking it on the chin. With constant threats of shutdowns and slowdowns over continuing resolutions, we've had enough.

Mr. Reid, please do your job. Pass a budget.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Chair, during consideration of H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, I voted ``no'' on the Capito Amendment, rollcall No. 566, when it was my intent to vote ``yea.''

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Polis

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1380.

I appreciate that.

To my friend from Arkansas and the rest of my colleagues that are here tonight, I have to tell you, it's only been about 4 months since we all came here, and I think we all came for the right reason. We came for a cause and not a career.

I have got to tell you, the reason I am here tonight is because I had a telephone town hall today, and the folks that called me were seniors. The disturbing part about the conversations were that the most vulnerable folks out there, the people who lived within their means for the longest, made the most sacrifices, did the most to keep the promise that America holds for all of us, are the ones that are being attacked now. And they are not being attacked with facts; they are being attacked with fear.

I have friends who are Democrats, but I would ask them to please, if you can't confuse them, then try to convince them. If you don't have the right facts, then quit using fear. And if they're going to use fear to make these people not able to sleep at night, to make it uncomfortable for them to lay their head on the pillow at night, the same people that have done so much to make the country great, if you are going to continue to lie to them and tell them, Those Republicans are going to take away your health care; they're going to take away Medicare; they are going to take away Medicaid; they're going to ruin Social Security for you, please, please, play by the rules. Play by the rules. Do what's right. Do what's right for America.

This is not about Republicans. This is not about Democrats. This is about Americans. And this is especially about seniors. I am one right now. My birthday was just the other day. I am 63 years old. I don't think of myself as a senior. But you know what? The folks that I see after church on Sunday and who I have coffee with, they are seniors. They are in their seventies and they are in their eighties, and to have to sit there with them and tell them, We are not taking away your Medicare. We're the only ones that have a plan to save it.

We are not taking away your Social Security. We're the only ones that have a plan to make sure it's safe. If we can't be honest, if we can't look each other in the eye and say that we are here to fix it, that we are here to make America have the stability that it once had; if we can not tell our seniors, it's okay folks, we're not going to take anything from you, we're going to work together to get it fixed--and this is the thing that bothers me. After listening to those folks today on the phone, I am convinced that there is something seriously wrong within this House.

I will yield.

I appreciate that. If I may, and I'm going to wrap up. We came here for a cause. We did not come here for a career. And if you cannot win the debate by using facts, and if you have to use fear, then shame on you. Shame on you. Go home. Go home. If you don't want to fix it, if you don't want to play by the rules, if you don't want to make America sleep safely again and sleep soundly, then go home.

There is a level of fairness that needs to be played by. And I will tell you this, I have never in my life been subjected and have watched seniors been put through so much, and it's not necessary.

If it's about your party, and if it's about trying to convince them, then doggone it, you're using the wrong message. Let's make sure that we fix it for the future, because it's there for our seniors, and it's there for our children.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1308) to amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act to extend the termination date for the Commission, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1308 was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) and is a straightforward bill to amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act by extending the Commission's termination date, as well as the Commission's final report deadline.

In June 2009, President Obama signed Public Law 111-25 to establish the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission. The purpose of the Commission was, and is, to plan, develop, and carry out activities that are both fitting and proper to honor the memory of our late great President.

President Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, and 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. Furthermore, the Commission was also tasked with being a crucial resource to Federal, State, and local government agencies as well as private groups as they go about planning and conducting events to honor President Reagan.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1308 is a very simple bill that extends the life of the Reagan Commission, and, unlike many prior Presidential commissions, costs the American taxpayer absolutely nothing. Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear. The Reagan Commission does not receive a single penny of taxpayer dollars. The original bill and subsequent law prohibited the use of taxpayer money from going to the Commission, and this bill does not alter that provision in any way, shape, or form.

The Commission has and continues to operate solely on private donations--something I'm sure Mr. Reagan, as a careful steward of taxpayer money, would himself have been glad to hear.

The purpose of H.R. 1308 is to allow the hardworking staff and members of the Commission the opportunity to continue to provide their expertise and assistance as entities and groups all over the world continue to honor President Reagan.

The Commission has already played a major role in celebrations at the Reagan Library on the President's birthday and has worked to establish a yearlong exhibit at the National Archives. Even the floor statements given by Members in this Chamber back in February were organized by the Reagan Commission.

While the Commission has contributed much to events and ceremonies over the past few months, many more celebrations and events are planned throughout the rest of the year. In fact, multiple events to honor President Reagan's role in the fall of the Soviet Union are scheduled this summer in Europe. Here in the United States, a Joint Meeting of Congress may take place this fall, and numerous other events will take place at the State and local levels all over our country.

Mr. Speaker, the Commission is currently scheduled to terminate on May 30 of this year, and this bill simply moves that date to December 31. In addition, H.R. 1308 moves the Commission's final report deadline from the 30th of this month to November 30. Changing these dates would ensure that the Commission can help entities and groups all over the world deliver high-quality and fitting events to celebrate the life of a truly great leader and man.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank my colleague from Illinois. I appreciate that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from the great State of California, the sponsor of this bill and a member of this Reagan Commission, Mr. Gallegly.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to leave this body with a simple, eloquent quote from President Reagan. He once said: ``The problem is not that people are taxed too little. The problem is that government spends too much.'' This week, as we consider the 2011 spending bill and move towards funding the government for 2012, I want to urge all Members to keep that in mind on both sides of the aisle, because it is entirely fitting and proper that we honor his memory and his wishes as we go forward, and truly take this on, and do it in a bipartisan manner, and do it in a way that reflects the American people.

This is not about Republicans or Democrats. This is about America and America's financial health as we go forward. I am urging all Members to please back this and support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I'm here today because I represent those small businessmen that are trying to make a living in towns like Butler, Pennsylvania, and Erie, Pennsylvania, and Greenville, and I've got to tell you, the rhetoric is absolutely off the charts. What we really need to see now are some results. Until

we get government's boot off the throat of small business people and allow them to move forward, do we want to be in the game? Heavens yes, I want to be in the game. So does everybody else want to be in the game.

We need to realize that all these taxes that we create or that we're trying to take in come from businesses that are profitable and people who are working. So if we're talking about growing an economy and if we're talking about cutting spending--and I do agree that cutting spending is important--we better wake up and start to smell the coffee.

We have overregulated these people to the point that they don't want to be in this game anymore. We've got to wake up. I repeat that because we are missing the boat on a very vital thing that's happening right now in this country. We need to get onboard with this. And I've got to tell you, insiders in this Beltway talk about too big to fail. For small business people, you know what we are? We're too small to survive, because we can't get the help from the people we need. All we get is a lot of talk and a lot of overregulation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, last week Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the economy cannot begin to recover until small businesses prosper. Well, the overreaching and burdensome requirements of ObamaCare will hurt small businesses. And their benefits are not even certain. Small companies, which account for over half of the private sector economy, are more likely to struggle than survive under this law.

If I had followed the plan prescribed for my dealership after the government takeover of General Motors, I would have lost the business that my father started 57 years ago. We need to address the years of hard work and the spirit of entrepreneurship that will be destroyed under this law.

Small employers have limited autonomy under ObamaCare. The Federal Government is dictating what benefits they must offer and then punishing them for expanding their operations or paying their people more.

The choices for small business under ObamaCare are: provide government-mandated health care and face ruinous costs, or drop the coverage and pay fines just to keep those folks employed.

If we burden small businesses with the requirements set forth in this law, we hamper the recovery of the U.S. economy and damage the spirit of free enterprise that has made America great for over two centuries. ObamaCare should be replaced with a smaller, more commonsense program.