Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Osama bin Laden is dead. Justice delayed became justice served. And I stand to pay a debt of honor and a debt of gratitude to all of those who brought us to this day.

The first time most Americans heard Osama bin Laden's name was perhaps from that podium. Just more than a

week after September 11, we gathered here. President George W. Bush spoke that name into history. And every day since, it has been clear to freedom-loving people across this planet that we had to reach this day to answer for the tragic and brutal events visited upon our country on September 11.

I rise to pay a debt of honor and a debt of gratitude. I commend President Barack Obama for his decisive leadership, making the tactical decisions that were made, as well as providing our troops with the resources they needed to get the job done and come home safely. I commend his predecessor, President George W. Bush, whose tenacity and commitment to the war on terror clearly brought us to this day. I also commend our intelligence community, who, year upon year, never lost sight of the demand for justice.

But I mostly rise today to pay a debt of honor and gratitude to the members of our U.S. Armed Forces, past and present. Those Sunday night who slid down the ropes and captured and killed Osama bin Laden are in our hearts, but also those over the last 10 years who have made the necessary sacrifices in the war on terror, and I rise today to particularly pay tribute to them.

I was here on 9/11. After we had the opportunity for the roads to open, I made my way back to our small home in Northern Virginia, and there, with my wife and our children, 6, 7 and 8, we gathered for a short family meeting and for prayer before I would come back in to the Capitol.

My little 6-year-old daughter stopped me in the kitchen as I was walking to the car and she said, ``Daddy, I have to talk to you.'' I said, ``I've got to go.'' She said, ``Daddy, I've got to talk to you.'' I said, ``What?'' She said, ``If we have to make a war, do you have to go?'' And I dropped down on one knee and I threw my arms around that 6- year-old and I said, ``Daddy's too old.'' But every day since I have thought of all the daddies and mommies who looked their little ones in the eye, looked their spouses and their parents in the eye, and they said, ``I have to go.'' And they went. And some of them didn't come home.

In the Sixth Congressional District, we have a roll of the fallen heroes of the war on terror. I recite them today with the deepest respect and gratitude.

Lance Corporal Matthew Smith of Anderson; Private Shawn Pahnke of Shelbyville; Specialist Chad Keith of Batesville; Staff Sergeant Frederick Miller, Jr., of Hagerstown; Sergeant Robert Colvill, Jr., of Anderson; Specialist Raymond White of Elwood; Lance Corporal Scott Zubowski of New Castle; Sergeant Jeremy Wright of Shelbyville; Master Sergeant Mike Heister of Bluffton; Staff Sergeant Michael Bechert of New Castle; Staff Sergeant Brian Keith Miller of Pendleton; Specialist Jonathan Lahmann of Richmond; Lance Corporal Layton Crass of Richmond; Lance Corporal Andrew Whitacre of Bryant; Specialist William Justin McClellan of New Castle; Private First Class Jaiciae Pauley of Muncie; Staff Sergeant Phillip Chad Jenkins of Decatur; and Sergeant Jeremy McQueary of my hometown of Columbus.

This was a victory for freedom. And as much as it belongs to those who made the decisions, developed the intelligence, who slid down the ropes and stepped into harm's way Sunday night, this victory belongs to those who lie in earthen graves in my district and all over this country who brought it about.

Winston Churchill said, We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would do us harm. Today, I pay a debt of gratitude to a Commander in Chief, present and past, but to all the members of the Armed Forces who allow us this day to say: Justice served. Osama bin Laden is dead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness to honor the passing of a dear friend, Bob Weller.

Bob was a retired certified public accountant who was a managing partner of the George S. Olive & Company's Richmond office in my district. Bob began his distinguished career with George S. Olive, now BKD LLC CPAs and Advisors, in Indianapolis in 1950, and he later moved to Richmond with his wife, Margie, and their young family to open a new office. He went on to serve as the managing partner there for thirty years.

But Bob was more than just a working man; he was a community man. He gave freely of his time and resources to benefit those around him. Bob served as President of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Boys Club, and President of Green Acres (now Achieva). During his time at the Chamber, he was instrumental in leading efforts to rebuild Richmond, Indiana, following a devastating double explosion in 1968.

Some of Bob's other involvements included the Forest Hills Country Club, Kiwanis International, Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, Central United Methodist Church, and the Indiana University Alumni Association. Like many Hoosiers, Bob was an avid Indiana University basketball and football fan, and he greatly enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, and spending time with his family.

I give my sincere condolences to Bob's loving wife of 62 years, Margie Walraven Weller; his sister Laverne; his three children Marcia Enslen, Robert Weller Jr., Mark Weller and their spouses; and his seven grandchildren. May I offer the Lord's comfort that we find in the Good Book that ``Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.''

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Republican Study Committee budget alternative. Today I want to commend the gentleman from New Jersey for his courageous leadership on this issue.

You know, they say that the first step in dealing with addiction is recognize that you have got a problem. After 10 years of fighting runaway Federal spending by both political parties here in Washington, DC, I am convinced Washington, DC is addicted to spending, and it's time that we got serious.

I am a strong supporter of the Republican budget authored by Paul Ryan, and I am a strong supporter of the Republican Study Committee alternative offered by Mr. Garrett.

The legislation before us today would actually put us on a pathway to achieve a balanced Federal budget by the year 2020. There are hard choices in this budget, but it's time the American people broke this addiction. It's a time that people in both political parties came together and played it straight with the American people and said there are tough choices ahead, we can do them in a way that's humane, we can do them in a way that represents fiscal discipline and reform.

But we have to act; we have to act now. I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a kind-hearted and generous woman who will forever be remembered by Hoosiers in my district. Bea Moten-Foster was the owner and publisher of the Muncie Times, and she will be greatly missed by those in the community.

Bea was born in Selma, Alabama. Her media career began soon after she graduated from high school when she took a position as a radio announcer in Birmingham, Alabama. She went on to work in television and radio in Miami, New York City and Indianapolis.

Bea moved to Muncie in the early 1980's and later married a professor at Ball State University, Robert O. Foster. Bea immediately began to impact the Muncie community. She organized Muncie's city-wide celebration of Black History Month, helped launch the Muncie coalition of 100 Black Women, and helped establish the Muncie Black Expo.

Some of Bea's other accomplishments include founding the Muncie Times, an African-American newspaper in 1991. The twice monthly publication now has a circulation of over 10,000 readers. She was also awarded the Indiana Black Expo 2010 Trail Blazer Award, the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Spirit of Chief Muncie Award, and the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Business Person of the Year for 1996.

Those who were closest to Bea will remember her commitment to faith and family. Bea's daughter, the Reverend Pamela Emmanuel, said the motto her mother passed on to her was ``Never accept `No,' from somebody who doesn't have the power to say ``Yes.' '' Bea's leadership in the Muncie community as well as her compassion for troubled youth will be sorely missed. I offer my sincere condolences to her beloved family, daughter Reverend Pamela Emmanuel, who will be continuing Bea's legacy and leading the Muncie Times, and her two grandchildren, Ebonye Endsley and Korey Van Horn. -

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I believe ending an innocent unborn human life is morally wrong. I also believe it's morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use them to subsidize the largest abortion provider in America. Today Congress will vote to do something about that.

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America. As this chart shows, in 2009 Planned Parenthood made 977 adoption referrals, had 7,021 prenatal care counseling sessions, and performed 332,278 abortions. During that time, Planned Parenthood received $363.2 million in taxpayer money. Planned Parenthood received $1 million a day and performed about a thousand abortions a day.

H. Con. Res. 36 will only put an end to taxpayer subsidy of Planned Parenthood. Despite the hyperbolic rhetoric of the left, this resolution will not cut one penny from Title X women's health services. It merely denies funds to the largest abortion provider in the land.

I want to thank the leadership of Speaker Boehner. I want to urge my colleagues to stand with all of us, to stand for life, to stand for taxpayers. Let's end public funding of the largest abortion provider in America once and for all.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

This country's in a lot of trouble. We're facing a fiscal crisis of unprecedented proportions. They say the first step toward ending an addiction is recognizing you're an addict. After spending 10 years here in Washington, D.C., after witnessing runaway Federal spending by both political parties, one thing is clear: Washington, D.C., is addicted to spending.

It's high time for Congress to own up to its spending addiction and institute long-term, sustainable budget and spending reforms that will permanently limit the size and scope of the Federal Government.

Happily, the budget resolution today offered by the distinguished Chairman Paul Ryan of the committee puts our Nation back on a pathway toward fiscal solvency and prosperity. This Republican budget represents a bold step toward fiscal responsibility and limited government. It cuts $6.2 trillion in spending over the next 10 years, reins in government spending below 20 percent, includes tax reforms to increase competitiveness for American companies, and ensures that Medicare will be solvent for future retirees.

It even ends the one-size-fits-all approach to Medicaid, giving States more flexibility.

It also stands in stark contrast to the President's budget, which includes a $1.6 trillion tax increase on families, small businesses, and family farms, and adds $13 trillion to the national debt. This budget resolution renews our commitment to finally forcing Congress to live within our means. We must succeed in this cause. Because if we fail, the American Dream will fail.

We will burden our children and our grandchildren with a mountain range of debt, robbing opportunities and prosperity, and leaving, for the first time in American history, the next American generation worse off than the generation that went before.

This we must not do. I urge my colleagues to offer strong support for the Ryan budget resolution. Let's put our Nation on a pathway toward fiscal solvency and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Matt Howard and the rest of the Butler University men's basketball team. America watched as the Bulldogs demonstrated hard work and personal sacrifice throughout the NCAA tournament and achieved what many said was impossible. The Dawgs epitomize what the word ``team'' is all about, and although they did not take home the trophy, they made their state and fellow Bulldogs across the nation proud. As Andrew Carnegie said, ``teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to obtain uncommon results.''

Matt is one of the Bulldogs I am proud to say is from my district. After leading the state in rebounding his senior year at Connersville high school, Matt chose to attend Butler University. Matt's work-ethic and tenacity on the hardwood translated into the classroom as well where he was named to the Capitol One Academic All-America Team for a school-record 3 years. He was also named NCAA 2010-2011 Division 1 Academic All-American of the year, and he recently received the prestigious Elite 88 Award for the second consecutive year. Matt is a three-time all Horizon League First-Team player, and in 2008-2009 was named Horizon League Player of the Year. He's been named to the Horizon League All-Tournament team for three consecutive years including the tournament's Most Valuable Player in 2010. There is no doubt Matt's talent helped advance the Dawgs to the final game of the NCAA tournament.

What many may not know is the incredible support that Matt Howard has received not

only from his family, but from his community. As one of ten children, Matt grew up in a strong and loving family. When word spread that the Howard family would not be able to attend the Final 4 in Houston, their friends and neighbors donated money to pay for the family's travel expenses. The town raised over $17,000 and the entire Howard family was able to watch Matt play in-person. Acts of kindness like this from a small East-Central Indiana town never cease to amaze me.

Today I echo the pride of Hoosiers across the state on Butler's strong performance. And I especially congratulate Matt for his leadership and strength of character throughout the tournament.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chase Stigall and the rest of the Butler University men's basketball team. America watched as the Bulldogs demonstrated hard work and personal sacrifice throughout the NCAA tournament and achieved what many said was impossible. The Dawgs epitomize what the word ``team'' is all about, and although they did not take home the trophy, they made their state and Bulldog fans across the nation extremely proud. As Andrew Carnegie said, ``teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to obtain uncommon results.''

I am proud to say that many of the Bulldog players hail from my district. One such young man is Chase Stegall. He was a star player at Chrysler High School in New Castle, and he helped lead his team to victory in the Indiana Class 3A state championship. There is no doubt that his talent also helped advance the Dawgs to the final game of the NCAA tournament. I echo the pride of Hoosiers across the state on Butler's strong performance. And I especially congratulate Chase for his leadership and strength of character throughout the tournament.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Emerson Kampen and the rest of the Butler University men's basketball team. America watched as the Bulldogs demonstrated hard work and personal sacrifice throughout the NCAA tournament and achieved what many said was impossible. The Dawgs epitomize what the word ``team'' is all about, and although they did not take home the trophy, they made their state and Bulldog fans across the nation proud. As Andrew Carnegie said, ``teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to obtain uncommon results.''

Emerson Kampen is one of the Bulldogs I am proud to say is from my district. Emerson starred at Yorktown High School where he was named Honorable-Mention to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association All- State team as a senior. There is no doubt Emerson's talent helped advance the Dawgs to the final game of the NCAA tournament. I echo the pride of Hoosiers across the state on Butler's strong performance. And I especially congratulate Emerson on his leadership and strength of character throughout the tournament.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Zachary Hahn and the rest of the Butler University men's basketball team. America watched as the Bulldogs demonstrated hard work and personal sacrifice throughout the NCAA tournament and achieved what many said was impossible. The Dawgs epitomize what the word ``team'' is all about, and although they did not take home the trophy, they made their state and Bulldog fans across the nation extremely proud. As Andrew Carnegie said, ``teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to obtain uncommon results.''

I am proud to say that many of the Bulldog players hail from my district. One such young man is Zachary Hahn. He was a star player at Chrysler High School in New Castle, and he helped lead his team to victory in the Indiana Class 3A state championship. There is no doubt that his talent also helped advance the Dawgs to the final game of the NCAA tournament. I echo the pride of Hoosiers across the state on Butler's strong performance. And I especially congratulate Zachary for his leadership and strength of character throughout the tournament.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in support of the Department of Defense and Further Continuing Appropriations Act. This 1-week continuing resolution will fully fund the Department of Defense for the remainder of this fiscal year and reduce government spending by $12 billion, and it is worthy of the support of every Member of Congress.

Look, no one wants a government shutdown. But if we don't take a stand for fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C., we're going to shut down the future for our children and grandchildren.

To be honest with you, I'm frustrated that we're here again with another stopgap measure. I'm frustrated that liberals in the Senate continue to resist efforts to accept even modest budget cuts in this year's budget. We're talking about a 2 percent reduction in this year's budget. That's unacceptable to the liberals down the hallway. It seems like liberals in the Senate would rather shut the government down than accept a 2 percent cut in the Federal budget. It seems like liberals in the Senate would rather shut the government down so they can continue to borrow money from China to fund the largest abortion provider in America.

But in this moment, I'm going to support this resolution because the troops come first. We cannot put fiscal battles ahead of support for those who are currently engaged in America's real battles. This CR reaffirms our commitment to our troops. It fully funds DOD for the balance of the year, and it reaffirms our commitment to our most cherished ally, Israel, during these uncertain days.

Now, earlier this week, Senator Harry Reid said the biggest gap in negotiations is between Republicans and Republicans. Nothing could be further from the truth. The biggest gap in these negotiations over a possible government shutdown are between liberals here in Washington, D.C., and the American people. That's where the gaps lie. The American people want to restore fiscal discipline and provide for the common defense, and they know we can do it.

Today, Senator Reid took to the floor of the Senate and called this very resolution ``a surefire way to shut down the government.'' And, astonishingly, the Commander in Chief has threatened to veto a bill that would fund our troops at a time of war. Astonishing.

Look, we are going to pass this continuing resolution. We are going to fund our troops in harm's way and stationed all across the world and all across this Nation. And if Democrats here in Washington would rather play political games and shut down the government than support our troops, defend our Treasury and respect our values, then I say shut it down. And I'm certain the American people are going to know who to blame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and storied career of Sam Hanna. Sam is not only a friend, but a man whom I greatly admire.

Sam has strength of character and a true servant's heart in his community. After graduating from Anderson High school, he went on to receive a degree in Administration of Criminal Justice from Anderson University and then graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He is a member of the Madison Park Church of God, and coached football in the Anderson community for thirty years. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Sam has boldly answered the call of duty even in the face of danger.

In 1978 Sam was shot six times in the line of duty--in the face, chest, and arm. Yet even after that tragedy, Sam remained dedicated to public service and only recently retired after 37 years of service with the Madison County Sheriff's Department.

Those who know Sam and worked with him on the sheriff's department recognize him for his dedication to helping others and willingness to do whatever it takes. He served selflessly day after day, and received the distinguished ``Law Enforcement Officer of the Year'' award five times. I know that his integrity and commitment to the cause will forever be an example to those who serve after him.

Though Sam has officially retired from the Madison County Sheriff's Department, he continues to serve as Investigator of Senior Protective Services for the Prosecutor of Madison County. He is a dedicated husband of more than thirty years to his bride Lori, and the father of three sons--Kris, Matt, and Andrew.

Today I honor Sam's legacy of service, and wish to express my sincere gratitude for his leadership. I am grateful for his friendship and look forward to his continued community impact. He is truly an inspiration.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, which would prohibit the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

With gas prices averaging $3.70 per gallon, up from $3.50 a month ago, up nearly a dollar from a year ago, and with unemployment rates continuing at heartbreaking levels, the last thing the American people need is a national energy tax.

Yet the Obama EPA seems intent on implementing policies that will not only drive up the price at the pump, but drive even more American jobs to places like India and China. According to a study conducted by the Heritage Foundation, annual job losses will exceed 800,000 should the Congress fail to act in preventing the EPA from moving ahead with their global warming agenda.

In this difficult economy, the federal government must make affordable, domestic energy production a top priority and House Republicans are doing just that.

I applaud the work of my colleagues in developing an all-of-the-above energy solution

that will create jobs and end our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

But Congress first must stop the EPA's assault on working families, small businesses and family farms by rejecting this backdoor national energy tax.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the House floor during rollcall votes 192 and 193. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 192 and ``no'' on rollcall 193.

Mr. Speaker, abortion on demand is an American tragedy, but public funding for abortion and abortion providers is an American disgrace. Fortunately, we have never been closer to denying public funding to abortion providers in America than we are today.

On February 18, 2011, with bipartisan support, the House of Representatives

passed H.R. 1, which included the Pence amendment ending taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in America. Despite efforts to suggest otherwise, the Pence amendment does not reduce funding for cancer screening or eliminate one dime of funding for other important health services to women. If the Pence amendment becomes law, thousands of women's health centers, clinics and hospitals would still provide assistance to low-income families and women. The Pence amendment would simply deny all Federal funding to Planned Parenthood of America.

Over the past several weeks, Planned Parenthood has used its vast resources to launch slick Madison Avenue television ads portraying the Nation's largest abortion provider as an altruistic organization that provides health care services to the poor with only an incidental interest in the abortion industry. The truth is far afield from the image. The truth is that a major source of Planned Parenthood's clinic income comes from the abortion business.

Despite attempts by advocates for the abortion industry and ideologues on the left to portray efforts to defund Planned Parenthood as some kind of a ``war on women,'' the issue here is big business, and that business is abortion. This legislative battle over the Pence amendment is about Big Abortion versus American taxpayers and American women specifically.

As Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director, recently said, ``Planned Parenthood's mission, on paper, is to give quality and affordable health care and to protect women's rights. But in reality,'' she said, ``their mission is to increase their abortion numbers and in turn increase their revenue.''

There is no doubt that Planned Parenthood's focus is on making Big Abortion even bigger. In 2009, the group made only 977 adoption referrals and cared for 7,021 prenatal clients, but performed an unprecedented 332,278 abortions. In fact, in 2009, a pregnant woman entering a Planned Parenthood clinic was 42 times more likely to have an abortion than to receive either prenatal care or to be referred to an adoption service.

According to their most recent annual report, the organization raked in $1.1 billion in total revenue. Of that amount, $363.2 million came from taxpayers in the form of government grants and contracts. This is about big business, and that business is abortion.

And for all the talk about how poor women would be harmed if taxpayers stopped subsidizing Big Abortion, it is telling to see how they have been spending their money. According to a June 2008 story in The Wall Street Journal, Planned Parenthood was flush with cash and using its profits to rebrand itself to appeal to more affluent American women. Their rebranding effort was designed to build their business by increasingly targeting wealthy consumers to complement their existing targeting of poor and minority women.

While taxpayers underwrite their operations, Planned Parenthood is building large luxury health centers in shopping centers and malls designed by marketing experts with touches like hardwood floors, muted lighting, large waiting rooms and the like.

And Big Abortion routinely puts profits over women's health and safety. When women testify on behalf of improved safety standards at abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood opposes it and fights them every step of the way. And despite the fact that 88 percent of Americans favor informed consent laws that provide information about the risks and alternatives to abortions for women, Planned Parenthood opposes these efforts and works to keep women in the dark in jurisdictions across the country.

The reality is abortion on demand is an American tragedy, but public funding of abortion providers is an American disgrace. The time has come to deny any and all funding to Planned Parenthood of America and this week, as House Republicans reaffirm our commitment to H.R. 1, to reaffirm our commitment to make a down payment on fiscal responsibility and reform. Let us also seize this moment to reaffirm our commitment to defend the broad mainstream values of the American people in the way we spend the people's money.

I urge continued support by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle of the Pence amendment denying public funding to Planned Parenthood of America.