Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.

America is at war. We have to do all we can to protect our Nation from those who seek to harm this country, our communities and our families.

After nearly a year of delays, we finally have before us a bill that will institute a long-term fix to our Nation's foreign intelligence surveillance laws and provide the intelligence community with the tools it needs to protect this country.

I rise in particular appreciation of Republican Whip Roy Blunt, Ranking Member Smith and Mr. Hoekstra. These Republicans stood firm and have succeeded in negotiating a strong 4-year extension to our surveillance laws.

While this bill is tough on terrorists, it includes strong protections for civil liberties and Americans that have also been put in place by extensive measures of oversight and review in the Department of Justice, and it protects those patriotic telecommunications companies who assisted the Federal Government in the wake of 9/11.

While I endorse these reforms and safeguards, let me say, Madam Speaker, Congress and future administrations must be vigilant to ensure that the exigent circumstances exceptions are practiced in a way that preserves Presidential discretion when conducting real-time foreign intelligence. Speaking less as a Congressman and more as a father, and as an American who was here on September 11, I am grateful to my colleagues in both parties for bringing this important compromise to the floor and making sure that our intelligence community, those who work tirelessly every day to protect us, have the tools they need to prevent the horrors of that day from ever being visited on our soil again.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of a brave young Hoosier who served his country honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Lance Corporal Layton Bradly Crass of Richmond, Indiana, one of four Marines who perished in the wake of a roadside bombing in southwestern Afghanistan's Farah Province on Saturday, June 14, 2008.

Lance Cpl. Crass served in G Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Twentynine Palms, California. He was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, where his unit was helping to train and mentor the Afghan national police.

The three Marine Corps values are honor, courage and commitment. They make up the bedrock of the character of each individual Marine. These values, handed down from generation to generation, have made the U.S. Marine Corps the most respected and revered fighting force on Earth. Lance Cpl. Crass personified these values and continued that proud tradition as a Rifleman who served his country bravely in combat.

In addition to the posthumous awards that he will receive because he died in the line of duty, Lance Cpl. Crass was the recipient of seven awards since he enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2005. He earned ribbons for combat action and two sea service deployments, as well as campaign medals for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Madam Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lance Cpl. Crass, and I wish to express my profound sadness to the community of Richmond, which is struggling to cope with the loss of a second young man in only a few short months. Just as Lance Cpl. Crass embodied the Marine motto--Semper Fidelis, ``Always Faithful''-- let us also be faithful to extend a helping hand to his family, friends and community, and remember them in our thoughts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, Hoosiers are struggling in the aftermath of some of the worst storms in our Nation's history. But even amidst the cleanup of last weekend, I was still hearing about gasoline prices.

At more than $4 a gallon in Indiana, working families, small businesses and family farms are hurting. Everywhere I went I heard the same thing, and it wasn't nationalize our refineries--as the Democrats are apparently planning to do--but the American people I heard from Indiana said drill for more oil on American soil. Hoosiers know the only way to lessen our dependence on foreign oil is to give the American people more access to American oil.

I say to my countrymen, call your Congressman right now and tell this Congress, drill more, drill now, and we will pay less.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and in support of most of this bill, and certainly appreciate the spirit with which it has come together.

I certainly strongly support the military funding portion of the Iraq/Afghanistan supplemental appropriations bill. It will speed roughly $165 billion in emergency funds to our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it will do so without imposing artificial timelines and timetables for withdrawal.

Far away from Washington D.C., our brave troops are focused on doing the job we've asked them to do, continuing our progress in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, the headline of the Indianapolis Star, the leading newspaper in my home State, simply read, ``Iraq May Have Reached Turning Point.'' In a national Associated Press story the following words were written, ``Signs are emerging that Iraq has reached a turning point. Violence is down, armed extremists are in disarray, government confidence is rising, and sectarian communities are gearing up for a battle at the polls rather than slaughter in the streets.''

Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve to know that these headlines would not be possible if most Democrats in Congress had had their way, if they had passed any of the measures over the last year and a half that are brought to this floor again and again which would have cut off funding to our troops and facilitated a retreat and defeat from Iraq. And these headlines would not be possible if Republicans in Congress had not stood with our soldiers in the field, stood with our Commander in Chief, supported the new strategy and the new tactics that have brought about what the Associated Press describes as ``a turning point in Iraq.''

And so I strongly support the military supplemental funding in this bill. And I commend the leadership, most especially my colleagues who have stood with our soldiers and our Commander in Chief, for bringing this clean bill to the floor.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I was heartened, as the gentleman from California just alluded, the ranking member, that after weeks of some of the most devastating weather in Indiana history, that this legislation will include $2.65 billion in disaster relief funding to ensure that critical resources are available to respond to the tornados and flooding across the Midwest.

I've spent a great deal of my time with Hoosiers that are hurting. And my heart goes out to families across the Midwest and to those government agencies that are responding with such effectiveness. But I must say that in this emergency military spending bill, when we fund these emergencies, be they at home or abroad, we still need to do so in a fiscally responsible manner.

I've said before and will say again that we must ensure that a catastrophe of nature does not become a catastrophe of debt for our children and grandchildren. I support this funding for true emergencies. But I still believe, as others have said before, that it should be offset by reductions in other government spending.

And let me say emphatically, military emergency funding bills ought to be about military funding and emergencies. Our war funding is emergency military spending. The GI Bill improvements in this bill are meritorious and military. Flooding in the Midwest is an emergency. But I say with respect, what does $178 million for the Bureau of Prisons have to do with military or emergencies? What is $210 million for the Census or $400 million for scientific research doing in an emergency military funding bill?

I support this expansion of the GI Bill. I support funding FEMA during a

time of crisis. And I certainly support our troops.

I believe, as we go forward with the spending bill, the American people deserve to know where credit is deserved, to those who have stood in this body for a clean war funding bill, stood by our troops, stood by the surge, and they also deserve to know that despite all the promises to the contrary about putting our fiscal house in order that here we are again with a massive amount of increased domestic spending, with nary a thought of how we're going to pay for it, passing the burden along to future generations of Americans.

So I will not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I will support this bill, because on balance I believe it funds urgent national needs in various respects. But I rise, as others have before, to say that emergency funding bills for the military ought to be about military funding and emergencies. And supporting those aspects of this bill will bring me to the floor and to an ``aye'' vote today.

Mr. Speaker, the American people cherish freedom. That's why President Reagan repealed the so-called Fairness Doctrine back in 1987 that actually regulated the content of radio airwaves for more than four decades.

Today, while some of the most powerful Democrats in Congress make plans to restore this Depression-era regulation, Republicans have taken action. We introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act that would take the power to restore the Fairness Doctrine away from this or any future President, and we filed a discharge petition to force an up or down vote. But in 245 days, not one single House Democrat has signed the discharge petition for broadcast freedom.

I offer my Democrat colleagues this respectful challenge. If you cherish freedom, you cherish the freedom of the press. If you cherish the airwaves of America, left, right and center, let's make this Fourth of July Radio Independence Day.

Sign the discharge petition for broadcast freedom by Independence Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and recognize the extraordinary contributions of emergency management, disaster response, and recovery personnel as well as elected officials and community leaders in my district devastated by the recent severe weather in Indiana.

I wish particularly to honor these outstanding individuals in Rush County: 1. Mike Ooley, Director, Emergency Management Agency; 2. Jeff Sherwood, Sheriff; 3. Brad Smith, CEO, Rush Memorial Hospital; 4. Merv Bostic, Mayor, Rushville.

These areas suffered greatly from tornadoes, heavy rains and flooding, creating a catastrophe that awaits a presidential response. But the catastrophe did not await the efforts of these individuals. And in response, they went above and beyond the call of duty, showing great poise while saving many lives and serving the people of their communities.

I also commend Governor Mitch Daniels and the many State government authorities who have been so instrumental in leading the State through this crisis. I strongly support Indiana's three requests for Federal aid and renew my request to the President of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to act promptly, make assessments, and declare an expedited major disaster for all 44 counties in the State of Indiana affected by the severe weather.

We need to speed the necessary relief to the families who have fallen victim to Mother Nature's fury and extend full Federal assistance to Hoosier families, businesses and farms to include direct assistance to individuals, Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and emergency assistance loans from the Farm Service Agency.

Madam Speaker, Hoosier families and communities are hurting and need to know that help is on the way. I urge this Administration and my colleagues to focus their attention on this urgent Midwestern need for emergency relief.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and recognize the extraordinary contributions of emergency management, disaster response, and recovery personnel as well as elected officials and community leaders in my district devastated by the recent severe weather in Indiana.

I wish particularly to honor these outstanding individuals in Shelby County: Mike Schantz, Director, Emergency Management Agency; Mike Bowlby, Sheriff; Tony Lennen, President and CEO, Major Hospital; Scott Furgeson, Mayor, Shelbyville.

These areas suffered greatly from tornadoes, heavy rains and flooding, creating a catastrophe that awaits a presidential response. But the catastrophe did not await the efforts of these individuals. And in response, they went above and beyond the call of duty, showing great poise while saving many lives and serving the people of their communities.

I also commend Governor Mitch Daniels and the many State government authorities who have been so instrumental in leading the State through this crisis. I strongly support Indiana's three requests for Federal aid and renew my request to the President of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to act promptly, make assessments, and declare an expedited major disaster for all 44 counties in the State of Indiana affected by the severe weather.

We need to speed the necessary relief to the families who have fallen victim to Mother Nature's fury and extend full Federal assistance to Hoosier families, businesses and farms to include direct assistance to individuals, Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and emergency assistance loans from the Farm Service Agency.

Madam Speaker, Hoosier families and communities are hurting and need to know that help is on the way. I urge this administration and my colleagues to focus their attention on this urgent Midwestern need for emergency relief.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and recognize the extraordinary contributions of emergency management, disaster response, and recovery personnel as well as elected officials and community leaders in my district devastated by the recent severe weather in Indiana.

I wish particularly to honor these outstanding individuals in Bartholomew County: 1. Dennis Moats, Director, Emergency Management Agency; 2. Mark Gorbett, Sheriff; 3. Jim Bickel, CEO, Columbus Regional Hospital; and 4. Fred Armstrong, Mayor, City of Columbus.

These areas suffered greatly from tornadoes, heavy rains and flooding, creating a catastrophe that awaits a presidential response. But the catastrophe did not await the efforts of these individuals. And in response, they went above and beyond the call of duty, showing great poise while saving many lives and serving the people of their communities.

I also commend Governor Mitch Daniels and the many state government authorities who have been so instrumental in leading the state through this crisis. I strongly support Indiana's three requests for federal aid and renew my request to the President of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to act promptly, make assessments, and declare an expedited major disaster for all 44 counties in the State of Indiana affected by the severe weather.

We need to speed the necessary relief to the families who have fallen victim to Mother Nature's fury and extend full federal assistance to Hoosier families, businesses and farms to include direct assistance to individuals, Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and emergency assistance loans from the Farm Service Agency.

Madam Speaker, Hoosier families and communities are hurting and need to know that help is on the way. I urge this Administration and my colleagues to focus their attention on this urgent Midwestern need for emergency relief.

Mr. Speaker, it is said that if a picture is worth 1,000 words, this picture tells the tale of the worst series of storms to strike southern Indiana in 100 years.

I rise today to commend and recognize the extraordinary contributions, though, of emergency management, disaster response, elected officials, community leaders and everyday Hoosiers in my district during this last week of devastating weather. I particularly want to honor EMA directors, sheriffs, mayors and county officials in Rush, Johnson and Bartholomew counties, Indiana.

They suffered greatly from tornados, heavy rains, flooding, creating a catastrophe that awaits additional presidential response, but this catastrophe did not await the response by these public servants. They went above and beyond the call of duty, showing great poise, saving lives and serving the people of their communities.

Hoosier communities and families are hurting and need to know that more help is on the way. As I rise to commend these government officials and everyday Hoosiers for their response, I urge this administration again to declare an expedited major disaster for all 44 counties of Indiana affected by these historic storms.

Madam Speaker, across Indiana, Hoosiers are picking up the pieces from a week of extraordinary weather. My own hometown of Columbus is in the midst of a cleanup of the worst flooding since the Great Flood of 1913, and I come to the floor today to urge the President of the United States to take immediate action and declare an expedited major disaster area in the State of Indiana as a result of these severe storms, tornadoes and torrential downpour.

Following the harsh impact of tornadoes 1 week ago today, on Saturday parts of my district experienced approximately 10 inches of rain in a matter of hours. This is more rainfall than Hoosiers typically see in 2 months during this time of year, and the results have been catastrophic.

I commend the President for his action on Sunday evening speeding relief to community governments, but this government must act and act now to bring relief to Hoosier families, small businesses and family farms. We need additional declarations like those requested by Governor Mitch Daniels of the President, support from FEMA and the Department of Agriculture, and we need it now.

Hoosier families and communities are hurting, and they deserve to know that help is on the way. I urge this administration and all of my colleagues to focus their attention on this urgent Midwestern need for emergency relief.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank Mr. Hensarling and the ranking member of the Budget Committee for their yeoman's work on the Republican alternative. I also want to express my admiration for the chairman of the Budget Committee, who I believe to be a sincere man and effective legislator.

I must say that I do love following the distinguished majority leader to the floor. He is, as has been said, an eloquent and effective champion for the Democrat agenda in Congress. But the American people deserve to know this budget puts that agenda in high relief. It is more taxes, more spending, no entitlement reform, and pork barrel spending as usual.

Now let me say Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we were beset by terrible tornadoes. I will be heading back home tomorrow after we finish up business. A military base in my district, 40 buildings compromised, some destroyed; dozens of homes destroyed and compromised through Rush County and Shelby County.

But you know what? I know what Hoosiers are doing today. I know what they are doing. They are grabbing a shovel, they are rolling their sleeves up. Some have been out all night long sacrificially coming alongside their neighbors in a community in crisis and they are cleaning up the mess.

I want to suggest, Mr. Speaker, that we are facing a fiscal crisis in this Nation, and it is a mess of extraordinary proportions: $9.3 billion in national debt, $43 trillion in unfunded obligation in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Let me say to the distinguished chairman of this committee: There is plenty of blame to go around. I do not take issue with the gentleman's characterization that the national debt grew precipitously under Republican control. Pork barrel spending grew precipitously under Republican control. But that is no excuse. Continuing the argument and the blame game is no excuse for not dealing with the problem in the way that the American people sit down and solve problems, and that is by confronting them head-on and coming together with solutions.

The Democrat budget here is not the solution. More spending, more taxes, pork barrel spending as usual, and not one penny of entitlement reform ignores the problem. It doesn't deal with the problem.

Mr. Speaker, the Republicans in Congress offered an alternative this year that would face this fiscal crisis head on. The American people deserve to know the Democrat budget is not the answer.

The national average cost of gasoline at the pump today is $3.98 a gallon. When I was home over the Memorial Day break, one Hoosier after another stopped and asked me the same question. They said, Mike, what is it going to take? What is it going to take for Congress to take action to give the American people more access to American oil?

The reality is today that the Democrat majority thinks that we can tax our way to lower gasoline prices. A few weeks ago, they actually passed legislation suggesting we could actually sue our way to lower gasoline prices. But the American people know the only way to lessen our dependence on foreign oil is to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

We must take action now to allow additional drilling in environmentally responsible ways on American soil off American shores so the American people can increase global supply, reduce the price of oil, and bring real relief to families and businesses and farmers at the pump.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay a debt to those we could never repay . . . the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, both past and present. It was their duty to serve, and with Memorial Day 2008 on the horizon, it is our duty to remember.

In a tradition that began just 3 years after the end of the Civil War, Americans set aside the 30th day of May each year to remember the sacrifice made by our service men and women who died while defending freedom.

On May 30, 1868, flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. That practice has continued for over 130 years as millions of Americans have laid flowers on the graves of soldiers from World War II, Vietnam and as recently as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Madam Speaker, I would like to pay special remembrance today to the soldiers, marines and guardsmen from the Sixth Congressional District of Indiana who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Service Members Killed in Iraq

Matthew R. Smith: Smith died May 10, 2003, in a vehicle accident in Kuwait. Age: 20. Hometown: Anderson, Ind. Died: 05/10/2003. Service: Marine Corps. Rank: Lance Corporal (E-3). Unit: reservist, assigned to Detachment 1, Communications Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Peru, Ind.

Shawn D. Pahnke: Pahnke was killed June 16, 2003, by a sniper while on patrol. Age: 25. Hometown: Shelbyville, Ind. Died: 06/16/2003. Service: Army. Rank: Private (E-2). Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.

Chad L. Keith: Keith was killed July 7, 2003, when a roadside bomb exploded as his unit patrolled the streets of Baghdad. Age: 21. Hometown: Batesville, Ind. Died: 07/07/2003. Service: Army. Rank: Specialist (E-4). Unit: 2-325th Infantry, Company D, Fort Bragg, NC.

Frederick L. Miller Jr.: Miller was killed Sept. 20, 2003, when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. Age: 27. Hometown: Hagerstown, Ind. Died: 09/20/2003. Service: Army. Rank: Staff Sergeant (E-6). Unit: Troop K, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

Robert E. Colvill, Jr.: Colvill was among five soldiers killed July 8, 2004, in Baghdad. All were in the Iraqi National Guard Headquarters when it came under a mortar attack. Age: 31. Hometown: Anderson, Ind. Died: 07/08/2004. Service: Army. Rank: Sergeant (E-5). Unit: 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Raymond L. White: White died Nov. 12, 2004, in Baghdad when his patrol was attacked with small arms fire. Age: 22. Hometown: Elwood, Ind. Died: 11/12/2004. Service: Army. Rank: Specialist (E-4). Unit: 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Armor), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Scott Zubowski: Zubowski died when a roadside bomb exploded during combat operations near Fallujah in Iraq's Al Anbar province on Nov. 12, 2005. Age: 20. Hometown: Manchester, Ind. Boyhood Hometown: New Castle, Ind. Died: 11/12/2005. Service: Marine Corps. Rank: Lance Corporal (E- 3). Unit: 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Michael A. Bechert: Bechert was mortally wounded when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq on May 30, 2007. He was transferred to Fort Sam Houston Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, where he died on June 14, 2007. Age: 24. Hometown: Schweinfurt, Germany. Boyhood Hometown: New Castle, Ind. Died: 06/14/2007. Service: Army. Rank: Staff Sergeant (E-6). Unit: 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Johnathan A. Lahmann: Lahmann was mortally wounded when a vehicle- borne lED detonated near his vehicle in Bayji, Iraq on December 10, 2007. He was transferred to Tikrit, Iraq, where he died later that day. Age: 21. Hometown: Richmond, Ind. Boyhood Hometown: Richmond, Ind. Died: 12/10/2007. Service: Army. Rank: Specialist (E-4). Unit: 59th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

u.s service members killed in afghanistan

Jeremy Wright: Wright died when an improvised explosive device struck his military vehicle. Age: 31. Hometown: Shelbyville, Ind. Died: 01/03/ 2005. Service: Army. Rank: Sergeant (E-5). Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Michael Hiester: Hiester died when his military vehicle struck a land mine 30 miles west of Kabul, Afghanistan. Age: 33. Hometown: Bluffton, Ind. Died: 03/26/2005. Service: Indiana Army National Guard. Rank: Master Sergeant (E-8). Unit: 76th Infantry Brigade, Army National Guard, Indianapolis.

Mr. Speaker, these brave men, like those who went before them, made the ultimate sacrifice so that Americans can enjoy the freedoms we treasure.

It was their duty to serve; it is our duty to remember.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Congressional Club on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding.

The Congressional Club was founded to promote friendship and cordiality amongst those in public life regardless of their political affiliation. It was also founded to bring together the wives of Members of Congress in a social setting.

The Congressional Club is the only club in the world to be founded by an Act of Congress, a high honor to the club and evidence of its important place in Washington, DC political life. While founded by an Act of Congress, the Club does not receive Federal funding and subsists solely by membership dues and the sale of cookbooks.

The Congressional Club Cookbook was first published in 1928, and is a popular item in the gift stores on Capitol Hill. There have been 14 editions of the Cookbook that contains recipes and signatures of Members of Congress and their spouses, First Ladies, Ambassadors and members of the Club.

The Club has played a significant role in the community and each year donates tens of thousands of dollars to charities in the name of the First Lady. Among the recipients of the charitable donations are the United National Indian Tribal Youth, literacy programs, the White House Library, youth dance troupes, domestic shelters, and child care centers.

The Congressional Club is an organization that leads by example. It promotes friendship, civility, community service, and generosity despite a difference of opinion with your neighbor, and it is truly an example that we should all work diligently to follow.

I want to take this opportunity to wish the Congressional Club a happy 100th anniversary and look forward to the many good works that will be done by the Congressional Club in its next 100 years.

Mr. Speaker, this morning in my hometown of Columbus, Indiana, gasoline hit $3.99 a gallon, one-tenth of 1 cent just shy of $4 a gallon.

So I rise this morning to ask my colleagues, what's it going to take? What's it going to take to get this Congress to take action to lessen our dependence on foreign oil?

Now Democrats think we can tax our way to lower gas prices or, this week, sue our way to lower gas prices. But the American people know the only way to lessen our dependence on foreign oil is to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Only by drilling in an environmentally responsible way on American soil and off American shores can the American people increase global supply and reduce the price of oil.

As Memorial Day weekend approaches and Hoosiers headed to the lake see gasoline prices blow past $4 a gallon, I urge my fellow Americans, after $4 a gallon, after years of inaction, ask this Congress, what's it going to take to give the American people more access to American oil?