Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, over the last year, there has been a lively debate on the future of NASA's manned spaceflight program. The debate has largely focused on the role of commercial space and what direction the government programs should take. Those advising the Obama administration chose an approach with deep practical and technical flaws which has embarrassed the administration and brought resounding rebuke from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

To quote Scott Pace speaking at a recent event, ``The administration's radical course abandoned the most precious and rare commodities for the U.S. space community--a bipartisan consensus.''

This administration has directed NASA to ignore the spirit of last year's appropriations. Layoffs due to changes at NASA are taking place all over the country. These incredibly intelligent individuals represent a culture, not just a profession. They are literally rocket scientists, and they will disappear if we don't give them direction and firm funding.

For this reason, it is absolutely imperative that we pass a new NASA authorization bill, providing NASA and the Obama administration with firmer guidance.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to revisit the subject of health care reform. The bill was passed behind closed doors using bribery, deceit, and arm twisting. It is not popular with the American people, and the majority of them want it repealed.

The promises made to the American people were false. You will not be able to keep your doctor. You will not be able to keep your insurance. There will be rationing of health care, even to the seniors.

The acute physician shortage means the poor, near poor, and middle class Americans will find the quality of their health care diminished and their access limited. Emergency rooms will be busier than ever, and it will be increasingly difficult for Medicare and Medicaid patients to be seen.

The unfunded medical mandates forced onto the weakened financial systems of the States are designed to collapse and fail. The administration had no intention of keeping any of the promises it made. Their only concern was furthering their own agendas, even at the expense of the taxpayer and the American health care system.

The American people stand ready to support those of us who seek to repeal this disastrous health care bill, and I stand resolute with my colleagues to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the ongoing destruction of the American Dream.

As the dense fog of increasing debt suffocates our economy, joblessness creates the uncertainty in which small businesses cannot survive. Credit is not available. Increasing taxes are creeping in at every level. We now know that we cannot keep our doctors or our insurance. We, the people, see no leadership.

As the President treads water, as America looks for leadership, as small business is paralyzed with uncertainty, as our elderly watch their health care rationed and as they are fearful for their future, as our families lose their confidence in leadership, all of this poses the virtual collapse of the American Dream.

The denial on the part of the administration is pathologic. The refusal to acknowledge reality is causing undue human suffering, prolonging the agony of massive unemployment, creating confusion and doubt in our military, and sending international messages of U.S. indecision and weakness.

It is time for action. It is time for us, the American people, to restore the American Dream.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall Nos. 371, 372, and 373, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great business in my District, Nesin Therapy Services. In 1987, Janet Nesin founded Nesin Therapy Services from her home in Madison, Alabama.

The initial practice focused on providing contract physical therapy services for home health agencies and nursing homes. Janet's primary goals included controlling the quality of physical therapy services and providing flexible work schedules for her employees. She began the practice with one employee, who remains with the company today.

Despite the turbulence that often accompanies the initial years of small business, the company enjoyed relative success and by 1994 the company had over 15 employees and gross sales were growing. Both of Mrs. Nesin's daughters worked with the business from the beginning and as each completed their respective physical therapy degrees, began to treat patients.

In 1999, gross sales continued to rise. However, with the inherent instability of contracting in the health care industry, the company downsized to 7 employees and began transitioning from contract services to an independent outpatient clinic. This decision by the Nesins, spurred from the loss of a major contract, proved to be the pivotal point for the ultimate success of the company.

Nesin Therapy focused on providing exceptional care, marketed avidly, and capitalized on changes in the local health care market. By 2001, the outpatient division had rapidly expanded and the clinic was moved to Nesin Therapy's current Madison location. In 2002, the business shifted exclusively to outpatient physical therapy services and gross sales once again began to climb.

In 2003, with 13 employees, the decision was made to expand into Huntsville. During this time, increased profitability allowed for the expansion to be funded in cash and, in addition to providing more competitive salaries, bonuses were given to employees. The second clinic was opened June 2004 in Southeast Huntsville. Nesin Therapy Services has grown into a thriving family-owned business with 35 employees and a newly opened third clinic in January of 2011.

Nesin Therapy Services has been the recipient of a number of awards over the years. The past several years have included the 2008 Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award; a 2008, 2009 Best Places to Work Award Winner; a 2009, 2010 United States Chamber Blue Ribbon Small Business Winner; and a 2010 United States Small Business Administration Family Owned Small Business State and Regional Winner.

So, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to highlight this great corporate citizen of North Alabama.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 243 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Ms. Pam McCue. Ms. McCue is the Director of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), which is headquartered at Redstone Arsenal in my district.

Ms. McCue has spent her entire career in the field of intelligence analysis of foreign missile and air defense systems. She assumed her current position upon her appointment to the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service in May of 2007. She is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing an organization of 400 people in analyzing intelligence information on foreign missile and space systems and related technology.

The work done at MSIC under Ms. McCue's direction delivers integrated, timely, and high confidence intelligence assessments to our warfighters, weapons system developers, and policy makers.

Madam Speaker, I wish to congratulate Ms. Pam McCue on a spectacular career and wish her continued success.

Mr. Speaker, it is no coincidence that we have the most advanced manned space flight program on earth, attracting and inspiring the world's greatest minds. Our space program is a matter of great national pride and of great national security importance.

We are profoundly disappointed in the lack of vision coming from the administration, sending a message to our scientific community that indicates a lack of understanding and commitment. This matter goes to the very essence of what makes America the greatest country on earth.

Lowering expectations for manned space flight is not compatible with the culture of America. Dr. Holdren's recent statement that we can't expect to be number one in everything indefinitely is shockingly, shockingly uninspiring. However, if we do not strive to maintain our primacy in manned space flight, we will be well on our way to mediocrity.

I and the entire NASA Caucus will do everything in our power to fund Constellation with a budget that is respectful of the investments we have made in our space program.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 200, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to three brave Boy Scouts. These young men--two brothers, Victor and Carlos Rosado of Madison, Alabama, and their cousin, Quinton Gundolf of Camden, Arkansas--were on a family vacation in Puerto Rico. They were enjoying themselves on the beach when they noticed a man struggling amid the waves. Without regard for their own safety, these young men bravely swam out to help the man to shore. It was clear that, without their intervention, this man would not have survived this harrowing experience. These young men acted bravely and decisively to save a life. Entering the water to help a man who is struggling for his life is a very dangerous undertaking indeed. However, the American Spirit is epitomized by such selfless acts. For that, I commend them and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay tribute to a fine American, Drew Linn, on an occasion when he and his business have received a prestigious honor: the International Circle of Excellence Award for 2009.

The Circle of Excellence, which is awarded by the International dealer organization of Navistar, Inc., honors International truck dealerships that achieve the highest level of dealer performance with respect to operating and financial standards, market representation, and most importantly, customer satisfaction. It is the highest honor a dealer principal can receive from the company.

Drew's business, Southland International Trucks, is headquartered in Homewood, Alabama, where it was founded more than 30 years ago, and includes two dealerships in my district, in Huntsville and Decatur. Under his leadership, it has grown into one of the preeminent truck dealerships in the Southeast and the entire nation, with 171 employees and five dealer locations throughout Alabama. It was recently named the International Dealer of the Year, an honor awarded to the one International dealer who exhibits the highest commitment to best-in- class customer service. Last year, Southland delivered more trucks than any other International dealer in the global network. With this most recent award, Southland International has now received the Circle of Excellence Award, under Drew's leadership, a total of 10 times.

Drew has achieved this level of accomplishment and recognition through many years of hard work and service to his industry and community. He has also built a successful truck leasing business, Southland Idealease of Alabama, which is a multi-year winner of the IdealGold Award for Excellence. He is a past president or chairman of the Alabama Trucking Association, its Workers Compensation Fund, and the Shelton State Foundation. He is an active member of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the West Alabama Regional Commission, the West Alabama Bank Board of Directors and the University Transportation Center for Alabama.

Through his commitment to hard work and outstanding customer service, he has built an economically vital business of which he can be justly proud. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Drew Linn for his record of accomplishment and for his many contributions to his community, state and nation.

Madam Speaker, the long-term care physicians of America are unsung heroes. Many of you have never seen them, many of you have never met one, but yet they work with some of the most difficult patients in the world.

Imagine, if you will, walking into a room of 20 or 30 Alzheimer's patients, walking into a room of 20 to 30 young men or women with closed-head injuries who will live in a vegetative state for 20 to 30 years. Imagine, if you will, a physician who has three to four nursing homes to take care of, patients on five and six medications. Very, very difficult medicine and very, very hard to find these individuals. Less than 2 percent of our medical school classes are going into primary care; 35 percent of our physicians are trained overseas.

The health care bill that is being proposed for America today is going to accentuate the physician shortage. We will have a very difficult time finding long-term care physicians. We have a hard time even today having people be seen who have Medicare coverage but still no access, Medicaid coverage but still no access. And our long-term physicians, long-term care physicians who are unsung and our heroes in medicine will become a fewer and fewer number under this present bill. We are very concerned about that. Because of that, we have voiced our opposition, but we are proud to sponsor this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to encourage the rejection of this health care bill. The American people have spoken out time after time, and I'm puzzled why Congress is still considering it. Done in secrecy, this bill will cost jobs, raise taxes, and slash Medicare benefits. And as a physician, I know this bill will be bad for patients. It's terrible for our economy, and it's damaging to the very people we are trying to help.

Although the past is no guarantee of the future, it is, however, instructive. This administration has a failed stimulus package, a failed banking system, a failed cap-and-trade, and numerous questionable interventions into General Motors, AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and others. This kind of track record gives the American public no reason to trust this administration with its health care. I urge my colleagues to listen to the will of the American people and vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 117 and 118, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''