Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, House Report 113-646, the report to accompany H. Res. 770, the special rule that governed consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3979, as well as H.R. 5759 and H.R. 5781, contained an error in the description of the motion that was the subject of Rules Committee record vote No. 198.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our Armed Forces and their families, on this Christmas and holiday season of giving. Their gifts to our Nation are of the greatest. Let's keep them in our prayers this Christmas and holiday season. I submit this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

Hear What I Hear

Pray for peace, people everywhere

Listen to what I say I say

The child, the child, sleeping in the night

he will bring us goodness and light

he will bring us goodness and light

Do you hear what I hear,

I hear

This Christmas our troops are coming home,

to their loved ones where they belong

To be near.

To be near

Do you hear what I hear

I hear

All those most poignant tears,

of all those who've lost their loved ones so very dear

So dear

Who will be alone year after year

After year

Never again to be near

To be near

All of those little boys and girls,

who've lost all their best friends in the world

In the world

Do you see what I see

I see

All those amputees,

who gave all their strong arms and legs,

as for you and me what they gave

What they gave

And all those physical therapists who inspire these

To dig in deep

Dig in deep

Do you see what I see

All those selfless ones,

whose eyesight is now gone,

all for the price of freedom they paid

They paid

Do you know what I know

I know

How inside them all so grows,

the scars of war upon them so

PTS something on that outside which doesn't show

Do you know what I know

Our Armed Forces,

are our most brilliant of all souls

Whose hearts are made of gold,

and their families so

And their families so

Let us bring them silver and gold

Silver and gold

All in our hearts that we hold,

that we hold

Do you know what I know

All those doctors and nurses so,

who from death have so stole

So stole

Giving all those families hope

Giving them peace and such hope

As all across America in hospitals their dedication shows

Shows

Do you see what I see

I see

On this Christmas Eve,

how much we owe to all of these

How great they are so all indeed

With a voice as big as the sea

as big as the sea

Found in all their deeds

In this season,

of the birth of the Prince of Peace,

please please remember him and all of these

Because they too bring us goodness and light,

they bring us goodness and light

By: Albert Caswell.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 775 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), my dear friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives is considering a rule for consideration of a bill to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, or a program known as TRIA. Without this bill, TRIA is set to expire on December 31, meaning that the House and the Senate must now act or the program will end at the end of this year.

Since TRIA was signed into law in 2002, it has served as an effective means of dealing with the problem of availability of terrorism insurance. TRIA has enabled the private insurance market to provide an essential type of coverage that otherwise may not exist.

However, like many other government programs, TRIA needs to be looked at and reformed in order to serve its original purpose, and that is why we are here today, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Jeb Hensarling and Vice Chairman Randy Neugebauer of the Financial Services Committee, S. 2244 provides for many of those necessary reforms that will protect taxpayers, promote market stability, and provide for economic security for the American people, all in one, brand-new package.

What we are doing here today is important and essential for many people, but it is here to maintain the stability of a marketplace.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take us back to 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. None of us will ever forget where we were when we first heard and saw of the terrorist attacks that attacked our homeland in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania. The accompanying stories of heroism and the deeds by Americans and others were simply heroism at its finest at a time of attack on this country.

What some might not remember, though, is the remarkable amount of economic uncertainty and damage that was caused to America and in the following weeks and months after 9/11. While we mourned the loss of many loved ones, our economy was shaken to its core.

Those attacks created and caused $32.5 billion in losses, approximately $20 billion of which were incurred by insurance companies. A second similar attack would have left the U.S. insurance economy insolvent, which in turn, being insolvent, would have undermined our entire economic structure of the free enterprise system. That is why TRIA was pressed into law, to provide a Federal backstop to avoid an immediate terrorism risk insurance crisis.

Sadly, terrorism has continued to be an ongoing threat to our Nation and, for the foreseeable future, I think that we need to remain vigilant and prepared for those consequences. So the cost of terrorism still looms large, and acts of terrorism are uninsurable risks that could sink our insurance markets without this new, updated program.

In this way, TRIA is a vital economic piece of our Nation's comprehensive security strategy because it allows for the American economy to recover more quickly in the event of an attack. I believe it does more than that. I believe it puts in place building blocks for us to understand responsibility, economic security, and how we would build back based upon rule of law and understanding about what would happen at a time of chaos.

TRIA provides certainty, certainty to our marketplace, by giving policyholders and insurers the tools that they need to understand and to develop a market-based solution to the economic threat that could be posed by terrorism. It gives policyholders and insurance providers the opportunity to model risk and to diversify their exposure with an understanding of what the law would provide.

I am encouraged by the reforms championed by, yesterday, up in the Rules Committee, Chairman Jeb Hensarling from the Fifth Congressional District of Texas, who has placed many of these new items directly into the bill as a result of hard negotiation.

These are called reforms, Mr. Speaker, and three reforms stand out to me as being particularly important.

First, section 102. It would decrease the Federal share of losses under the program by 1 percentage point annually until it equals 80 percent. That means that the Federal taxpayers will be responsible for less of the initial costs incurred after a terrorist attack than under the current law.

Second, section 103. 103 would increase the program trigger to $200 million in $20 million increments over 5 years. This means that TRIA would not kick in, the government program would not kick in until there was $200 million in insurable losses following an attack, ensuring that the government would not only get involved if an attack had a massive impact, but we would know the rules ahead of time.

Third, section 104. Section 104 would increase the amount of Federal assistance that the Treasury Secretary must recoup from the insurance industry following a certified act of terrorism. This means that Federal taxpayers are getting, once again, a better and well-understood deal with insurers than they would have gotten before this important reform.

Finally, S. 2244 would provide a much-needed change to Dodd-Frank. It is a piece of legislation that was passed a few years ago that is causing chaos in the marketplace: higher cost, uncertainty, and overwhelming regulation by the Federal Government. Federal regulators have interpreted parts of Dodd-Frank to apply to nonfinancial companies who are called ``end users.''

These end users are people who were never expected to become subject to the requirements of Dodd-Frank, such as ranchers, farmers, and small business owners. This Dodd-Frank fix would clarify that true derivatives end users are exempt from the margin requirements applied by Dodd-Frank to derivatives contracts. With this reform, end users will be able to use derivatives to hedge risks, which allows them to maintain low and stable prices for consumers. That, in turn, frees up capital that can be used to create brand-new jobs, current jobs, and to grow our free enterprise system in America.

This fix is not particularly controversial. In fact, the current policy of requiring nonfinancial companies to adhere to the same margin requirements as financial companies was not intended when the original bill passed.

To fix this problem, earlier in this Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 634. Yes, I voted for it, along with 410 other Members of this body, in a bill presented by and authored by Congressman Michael Grimm of New York, 411-12, overwhelming, broad bipartisan consensus as we looked at the impact of that bill.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the young chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Jeb Hensarling, for his hard work. I also applaud the vice chairman of the committee, Randy Neugebauer from Lubbock, Texas, who has worked very hard on this reauthorization of TRIA. It is essentially his bill. It came out of his subcommittee, and he has done yeoman's work to make sure that we understand what the deal is through law, how to protect taxpayers, what the government role is, and it means that we can move forward from here with the certainty that American taxpayers and the industry have a well-understood deal.

I am also glad, though, that this is good for small business; it is good for farmers; it is good for ranchers; it is good for Members of Congress, 411 of us that had voted for pieces of this bill before today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I note that today we have a speaker for our friends, the Democrats, as well as the vice chairman of the Committee on Financial Services who are here, really, I believe, to give this body a real shot in the arm about how important this legislation is. I think about what a great job the process has gone through and achieved.

I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer). Then I want to bring him back as he wants to talk a little bit more, but we want to make sure that we get to our colleague from New York before it takes too much time.

I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Exactly what the gentlewoman speaks about was part of the long discussion that we had in the Rules Committee yesterday. The gentleman from Dallas, Texas, Chairman Hensarling, very clearly went through-- piece, by piece, by piece--the things which the Senate had added which were extraneous to TRIA and that were in their bill that they passed. Likewise, the chairman outlined what he was for. He described a bill that got 411 votes in this body.

One thing was a very pleasant surprise, and I thought it was very wisely done by the Secretary of the Treasury. I would like to read what Secretary Jacob Lew said in a letter that was addressed on December 7, just this week, to the Honorable Charles E. Schumer. Chuck Schumer is the leader of this TRIA bill in the Senate.

He said:

Dear Senator Schumer, I want to thank you for your

leadership on extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and

its program. As you know well, TRIA is critical to our

economic and national security. Terrorism insurance is

necessary for a broad range of economic activities in areas

across the country and would be prohibitively expensive or

unavailable in the absence of the program.

There is clear bipartisan support in both the Senate and

the House to enact a long-term extension while making reforms

to further reduce taxpayer exposure. Time is running short to

head off an unnecessary, unprecedented, and disruptive lapse

of the program, which is scheduled to expire in just a few

weeks.

Given the economic necessity and national security

implications of this legislation, TRIA's reauthorization

should not be delayed due to disagreements over entirely

unrelated financial regulatory issues. I appreciate the hard

work you and your bipartisan colleagues are doing to

reauthorize a long-term extension of the TRIA.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert this in the Record.

Department of the Treasury,

Washington, DC, December 7, 2014.

Hon. Charles E. Schumer,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Schumer: I write to thank you for your

leadership on extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act

(TRIA) and its Program. As you know well, TRIA is critical to

our economic and national security. Terrorism insurance is

necessary for a broad range of economic activities in areas

across the country, and would be prohibitively expensive or

unavailable in the absence of the Program.

There is clear bipartisan support in both the Senate and

the House to enact a long-term extension while making reforms

to further reduce taxpayer exposure. Time is running short to

head off an unnecessary, unprecedented, and disruptive lapse

of the Program, which is scheduled to expire in a few weeks.

Given the economic necessity and national security

implications of this legislation, TRIA's reauthorization

should not be delayed due to disagreements over entirely

unrelated financial regulatory issues. I appreciate the hard

work you and your bipartisan colleagues are doing to

reauthorize a long-term extension of the TRIA.

Sincerely,

Jacob J. Lew.

Mr. Speaker, this is from the Secretary of the Treasury, who is asking Mr. Schumer, please, let's work to get this done because it makes sense.

I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Lubbock, Texas (Mr. Neugebauer), the vice chairman of the committee, who can further delve into the issues about how important this measure is.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida not only for the effort that we have had today but also at the Rules Committee yesterday, where the committee heard really, really great points, perhaps on both sides, but great points about how important this legislation is not only to the country but to the stability of the marketplace and the ability to keep and grow jobs.

I also heard the gentleman very clearly talk about his displeasure of having a number of closed rules. And I would just thank the gentleman for reminding me, as chairman of the committee, and would respond back that almost every single week we were in session, we put into play more amendments for Democrats than Harry Reid did in 6 years for any Republican in the United States Senate. And I have tried to make sure that what I do is based upon some bit of fairness.

But the facts of the case are, the last time this TRIA bill was on the floor, then-Chairman Barney Frank asked for and received a closed rule, so he did the same thing in 2007. Republicans have also, under these processes, done the same thing, except that in 2005 and 2007, they were done on suspension, meaning that we had about 10 minutes to talk about the effort.

Today what we have tried to do is to have a full debate in the Rules Committee. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), among others, was allowed as much time as anybody wanted to discuss the ideas and fully vet the views of not only the ranking member and the gentlewoman from New York but also the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling) to explain to the Rules Committee that most Members are not aware of all the arguments, the real need to make sure that TRIA was done well, and it was better to do it well. And certainly putting a closed rule means we can get through things in these remaining days. Good legislation--this bill is a 411-vote piece of legislation.

You heard from Chairman Neugebauer from Lubbock, Texas--really, the architect of much of this legislation and the person who has the authority and the responsibility to the subcommittee--who worked with Chairman Hensarling to develop leading-edge ideas that they could feel free to bring to this body and support.

So I think it is just critical that we are here today. We are going to get our work done. It is really noncontroversial, except if we just want to roll over and second-guess what the Senate wants to do. They had their shot at it, and they added some ``extraneous measures,'' none that had been passed with 90-plus percent of their body. We are going to work through this, and it is going to be doing the right thing for the right reason.

As I have said, I think it is important that we know why we are here, what we are doing. We have talked about the Secretary of Treasury, Secretary Lew, writing a letter to Chuck Schumer, the lead in the Senate, saying, Hey, listen, let's get this thing done. It is so important.

Chairman Neugebauer, Chairman Hensarling, the just-in-time arrival of a bill, the Rules Committee, a long debate, a long discussion--there is plenty of time to debate on the floor today. Any Member that wanted to could show up here. There is just not a lot to be upset about. It is just really a good mark of the fine work that the gentlemen from Texas, Mr. Neugebauer and Mr. Hensarling, have done.

So it was really a pretty interesting meeting yesterday. I got to learn a lot. And the members of the Rules Committee said, this is the right thing to do. Let's not get in the way. It is important to the country.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to say that I think the Secretary is right. I think the chairman of the committee is right. I think the vice chairman of the committee is right. I think many of the people who came up to the Rules Committee yesterday were right.

This is a great piece of legislation. This package will provide a long-term extension to TRIA. It is going to make reforms to protect taxpayers. It is going to make sure the industry understands what it is. It is a bipartisan fix. It is going to include a bill with 411 votes out of this body. I think it is a darn good deal, and I am delighted to do that.

So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Vote ``yes'' on this rule and ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the preliminary estimate of the amendment in the nature of a substitute, which was available at the time Rules Committee Report 113-654 was prepared, estimated that the legislation would reduce the deficit by $457 million over 10 years. The final table provided by CBO estimates that the legislation would reduce the deficit by $456 million.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida--who, by the way, Mr. Speaker, has three sons who serve or who have served in the United States military--who yesterday so adequately expressed really the concerns of not only a Member of Congress, a father, a proud American, but of a man who wants and needs America to lead in this world rather than follow.

Yesterday--or it turned into last night--in the Rules Committee, we spent a good bit of time that I think, Mr. Speaker, was very thoughtful, and on a bipartisan basis Members of this body expressed deep and dear reservations about actually where we are as a country, where our men and women are in harm's way, the mission and the purpose of what we are attempting to accomplish overseas.

Mr. Speaker, America has adversaries and also enemies. We have people who would do terrible things not just to their own people in foreign countries, but who want to engage the

United States to draw us into further conflict. The United States is without, in my opinion, and I think others', a strategic and tactical plan that would effectively be understood by Congress and the American people.

Yesterday--that turned into last night--we had Members of this body on a bipartisan basis who showed up at the Rules Committee to politely and professionally express their reservations about our funding through the National Defense Authorization Act what is considered to be a year or 2-year long process of funding without a clear mark, a clear understanding, about what we are agreeing to.

Mr. Speaker, I found myself not just agreeing with the likes of Mr. McGovern and others who spoke about a need for us to know what we are doing, but I found great confidence when we had the gentleman from Colorado, Mike Coffman, who showed up and spoke about the unrelenting and unending fraud on behalf of other countries taking American tax dollars.

The problem is that we are debating this without any real discussion because our friends on the other side of this building are not willing to engage us on the issue. So we are viewing this in a difficult way today.

I thank the gentleman from Florida, a member of the Rules Committee.

I want to show up and to say to you, Mr. Speaker, the American people, and Members--as they are trying to prepare for what we are attempting to do today with this document--that in January there is going to be a reorganization and discussion around this exact same issue where we will have a partner in the United States Senate with thoughtful content.

Mr. Speaker, I will end here. If the Chinese, the Russians, and the Iranians can establish a policy of where they are in these dangerous areas, the United States should also. We need leadership, and it will happen starting January 5.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 766 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, as the calendar year comes to an end, America's small businesses and taxpayers are looking to Congress for certainty before they file their taxes in April of 2015. While far from perfect, the Tax Increase Prevention Act will provide certainty by extending for 1 more year a number of tax relief provisions that simply would have expired at the end of this year. Put simply, this bill will prevent tax increases on millions of families that would happen if we were not bringing it to the floor today.

And to Mr. Kingston, I thank you for your years of service to this body on behalf of the American people and the people of Georgia.

In an ideal world, Mr. Speaker, the House would be debating a more comprehensive approach to tax reform. We would be worried and focusing our activities on growing jobs in America and giving the American people more of their hard-earned money back so they could invest either in their family or in their business--an opportunity to grow our economy to keep America strong--but our Tax Code is holding back America from being competitive and from providing America with more jobs.

American taxpayers deserve what we are doing today, which is an opportunity to work incrementally on a better, simpler, easy-to- navigate Tax Code with certainty, but only for 1 more year. We should be making long-range plans by working with the United States Senate and the President to make sure the American people come up winners. The United States tax rate is currently the highest in the world, and I would prefer to be debating reform, but we are here today for 1 more year's worth of opportunity to keep America where she and her citizens are prepared for the future.

Thanks to the leadership of the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp from Michigan, we almost had a chance to fix these issues today, but he came to the rescue and said, ``I am going to work with Republicans and Democrats and anybody who will work with me''-- meaning the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee--``on helping American business be stronger.''

The bottom line is that I believe we are going to work together, and it starts in the House of Representatives to get that work done. So just like the deal that Dave Camp started, we are here for the process today of jump-starting American business for yet another year.

Sadly, reports tell us that the President's veto threat undermines these bipartisan negotiations. The things Chairman Dave Camp is working on to make American jobs stronger and a reality--and working on in a bipartisan effort--the President of the United States is threatening to veto that very legislation. So, today, despite the veto threat, we are here to do our work.

Today, you will see, Mr. Speaker, Republicans and Democrats certainly have things in the bill which are special and important to them but that, more importantly, are about the American people and opportunities to save and grow jobs.

Earlier this year, and certainly last year, the House passed a number of permanent extensions of these policies on a bipartisan basis. That means, Mr. Speaker, Republicans and Democrats tried to work together. But the failure of leadership on the Senate side meant those bills were not ever even brought before the Senate to debate them. Worse yet, the President of the United States opposes those efforts.

We are here for one simple reason today. By taking the leadership opportunity, we think we can gain the ability, on a bipartisan basis in the House of Representatives, to give the Senate and the President one more whack at it.

Let me be clear. Even if this legislation is not as ambitious as it could have been, it is still vitally important. I think what we are doing here, under the leadership of John Boehner, is to say to the American people that we know what our job is, even if we are not as wildly successful as we want to be. America's small businesses and families actually need, and rely upon, Congress to do its job.

Mr. Speaker, as the Representative of the 32nd Congressional District of Texas, which is essentially Dallas, Texas, and some suburbs, I regularly meet with small businesses--important businesses--that employ people. Earlier in the year, I met with Jamey Rentfrow of Ascend Custom Extrusions in Wylie, Texas. Jamey's company manufactures and designs custom aluminum extrusions for industry. It was a most interesting visit. They call this manufacturing in America.

On the same day, I also met with JoAnn Gardner, a young woman who owns Savage Precision Fabrication. They make parts for military aircraft. They count on us to be able to get our job done to buy the newest and best equipment. It goes to help not only aerospace and military but other civilian needs also. They know that if we do this, the option for them to expense 50 percent of the purchase price of their assets can be taken care of. They can write it off when they want to rather than when the Tax Code wants.

In March, I met with Frank Millsap. It was a most interesting visit. He runs a rod car store called Sachse Rod Shop. He explained to me how our onerous Tax Code prevented him from employing more people.

Mr. Speaker, that is why we are here today. We are here to make sure we take care of the people in our home districts, many of them companies that are small mom-and-pop shops, but others that employ hundreds of people.

The bill would also affect a minority-owned business called Aluma Graphics, which is located in Wylie, Texas, and owned by Randall Williams, a young man who played professional football. When he got out, he decided he was going to go into business. He is realizing how tough it is to manufacture labels and decals for industrial products. This bill would help him and his employees.

These businesses, not just in the 32nd Congressional District but all over our

country, are important, as they provide people the honesty of hard work and the return of continuing to come to work the next day because their company can make the money to get it done.

What we are doing today will extend for only 1 more year the tax provisions, but it will help millions and millions of people.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, this rule contains a great bill that's called the ABLE Act, which represents, I believe, what our country can do best when Republicans and Democrats and people who care in the United States Congress work together.

Almost every single person in America, I believe, knows someone with a disability: a family member, a best friend, perhaps a brother or sister, or maybe even an aunt or uncle. But we all know that it is only fair that we pay attention to the people we dearly love.

So, today is a game-changer. Today, we are removing what I think is a glass ceiling for disabled people who are held at a disadvantage in our Tax Code. The ABLE Act would make 529 tax-free savings accounts available so that families can cover important expenses such as postsecondary education, housing, career development, and medical expenses not covered by private insurance, Medicaid, or other benefits that might be available to them offered by government.

These tax-free savings accounts will empower families so that their loved ones can have opportunities they have not had in the past. It is personal to me because as my father looks at all of his grandchildren, he can have the opportunity of helping out in their education, but not for Alex Sessions, his grandson with Down syndrome. He can help all the grandkids, but not Alex.

This happens millions of times in our country. There are millions of people with disabilities who count on going into a program or being enrolled in something that the Federal Government pays for, but we discriminate against them. When this gets signed into law, my father, Judge Sessions, will be able to treat Alex as he does his other grandchildren. What is amazing is that Alex needs it more than all of them combined, but he is the one that we wanted to keep in his place because he has a disability called Down syndrome.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is important. It is important to the people whom it impacts. It is important to our families. But more importantly, it is important to our country. The gentleman, Ander Crenshaw from Jacksonville, has worked on this bill for 8 years. We are finding a way to put it into a piece of legislation. To help millions of people with their jobs, it needs to pass.

Mr. Speaker, that is why we are here today. We are here doing important work for millions of people. It does matter, and I think we make a huge difference.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Jackson County, North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to take the gentleman from Vermont up on, really, his issues. We are going to have a Republican House, a Republican Senate, that is able to effectively work with each other, look each other in the eye and find progress for the American people. So I promise the gentleman, he is going to get what he wants and more so that we can grow our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to have as our next speaker a gentleman who, for 8 years, has toiled on the ABLE Act. He is the chief sponsor. He is the young man who has made so many conversations and discussions, not just among our Members here, but also among people all around this country, disability groups.

I earlier accused him of being from Texas. He is actually from Jacksonville, Florida, so I am sure I will get lots of cards and letters about that. We wish he were a Texan, but he is from Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

A number of people who asked to speak today are on their way here, and we will do that.

I really want to stand up for just a few minutes, pending those several Members coming here, to say to you and to the American people, Mr. Speaker, that this country--America--is a great, great, great country. It is great because of its people. There is a lot that has been said today and on other days about some of our frailties, about some of our warts, about some of the problems that we have.

I think what Mr. Crenshaw said in his remarks is most appropriate because you have a man who has a number of very important issues that he carries on behalf of his congressional district in Jacksonville, Florida. He spoke about also taking the time to be a voice for millions of people across this country, not just for those whom he saw specifically in Jacksonville.

You heard the gentleman, Mr. Meadows, speak very plainly about two Down syndrome young women of our country who are key assets to our country. We weren't asking for anything else today through this ABLE Act that Mr. Crenshaw has so ably moved forward--it has taken 8 years-- than for people to have equity or fairness.

In the larger scheme of things, as a parent of a Down syndrome young man, I looked at where we stood, and said, ``Why wouldn't we allow the fairness?''

Really, let's look at it another way. Why would we want to keep these disabled individuals from having fairness? Why do we want to keep them poor and in the same circumstances they are in? Why would we want everyone else to be treated under one set of rules and, because they are disabled, they are treated another way?

These are questions and discussions that have been in my family now for 20 years. I don't know why Alex is my special gift. He is perfect. God made every child perfect in His image. We are the ones who struggle.

Today, we are working together as the House of Representatives for a bill that Mr. Crenshaw saw a need for, and he had the fortitude and the opportunity today because of John Boehner. Yes, Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat Member of this body; yes, some United States Senators, including Senator Harkin of Iowa and, yes, Senator Casey from Pennsylvania; yes, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a senior member of our Republican leadership team who, by the way, has a Down syndrome son, Cole--we all worked together. This is a special thing.

I think, today, it ought to be a pat on the back for us, an opportunity for us to say this is important and this is good. That is what we should remember from today, in that we may not go to sleep knowing our job is done, but that we did something right by coming together as a body.

My dear colleague Louise Slaughter, who is from New York, very clearly understood a long time ago, as she put her name on the bill, that this is a good bill. Members of the Rules Committee, who typically don't put their names on bills, put their names on this bill--380 Members of this body. See, there are good things that happen.

I do want to thank my colleague, Ms. Slaughter. I do want to thank people because this is a bipartisan effort. This is a chance for us to work together, and I think we did a good job today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in reply to the gentlewoman, I will let her make her closing arguments, and then I will do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

It has been mentioned a couple of times today, but I also want to thank you, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia, for your distinguished service, not only to the people of Georgia in your district, but also to the people--your friends--who are in this body, who have benefited from your service on the Appropriations Committee and who knew that you took time, just as we are doing here today, to deal with the intricacies of NIH, to deal with the intricacies of cancer, to deal with the intricacies of disabilities, to deal with the intricacies of our working together as a country and as a body and as Americans to make life better for people.

Mr. Speaker, your years of service here--some 20 years of service that you have given--have been of distinguished service. I have known you for a long time and have admired you.

I want to thank the gentleman, Jack Kingston, for his great service to America, which is exactly in line with what we are doing today.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate your hard work. Your being in the chair as we do this is not by accident. It is on purpose. With the distinguished opportunity that you have of serving as the Speaker pro tempore today, I appreciate your great service.

Mr. Speaker, we have made the case today of what we are trying to do. We are on the floor to bring certainty to the Tax Code for one more year. It is not perfect--the gentleman from Vermont noted that--but it is an opportunity as best as we can do in the environment that we are in, and that is what this is about. It is the knowledge that we are going to wake up and do the best that we can for the American people.

Today is about the American people and their Tax Code. Today is about the ABLE Act and about millions of people with disabilities who are attempting as best as they can to make due with what they have but who, tomorrow, can get fairness and equity in that process. It is about an opportunity for families not to question why but to dig in and help.

Today is yet another opportunity when not only the gentlewoman, Ms. Slaughter, and I may work together in our tutelage as chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee but when we can have a common sense of purpose. This is not perfect, but the world can be better today and tomorrow.

I would ask my fellow Members to understand that we are here asking for everybody to vote ``yes'' on the rule. They can do what they want to do on the underlying legislation, but today is an opportunity to give thanks for the opportunities that lie ahead of us that are about others instead of ourselves.

Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question on the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act. Over the past 10 years, the United States has seen an unprecedented expansion of electronic communication and commerce that boosts our economy and facilitates entrepreneurship. However, this technology is also susceptible to new types of potential threats, such as Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), that could dramatically disrupt electronic activity or severely damage our electrical grids.

Due to the potential of an EMP threat, I joined Congressman Trent Franks in introducing H.R. 3410--the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act. This legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security to enhance our nation's threat assessments of EMPs and to plan how to best protect and recover after an EMP occurs. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Act is the first step towards getting the U.S. closer to protecting ourselves from a potentially catastrophic nationwide blackout. It is my hope that this legislation will promote a national dialogue about the threat of EMPs and ensure that we are adequately prepared to protect our nation's critical infrastructure.

I want to thank Chairman McCaul for his important work on this legislation, as well as my dear friend, Congressman Trent Franks for his leadership. Additionally, I want to thank Frank Gaffney, the Founder and President of the Center for Security Policy, for his policy expertise and much needed efforts to educate and spread awareness regarding the potential threats posed by an Electromagnetic Pulse. I strongly support the passage of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give thanks to the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families on this upcoming Thanksgiving Day. Let us remember all of those who are now separated by death, distance, and in hospital beds across our Nation. Say a prayer of thanks for them all. I submit this poetic tribute to them, written by Albert Carey Caswell.

Be Thankful

Be

Be thankful

Be thankful on this Thanksgiving Day,

when with your families you sit down to pray

Please, please say a prayer for all those who gave

All so with your families you may break this bread

And what their selfless sacrifice has so said

Who for all our freedom paid

All throughout the generations the ones who gave

And be thankful

Be thankful for our freedom so very bright

Be thankful for all of these heroes who fought the fight

Who all so live and died in valor's light

All out across the deep blue seas

Who all gave so selflessly

And now lie all in deep dark quiet graves

Showing us all how to behave

Whose families still cry still this day

Who live all in the kind of pain only Heaven can allay

Until they are all reunited one fine day

So be thankful to all those who gave

All of their strong arms and legs

Who must now live without them each day

And gave their eyesight away

Who'll not see another beautiful sunrise today

And be thankful for all those who carry the scars of war

Who with PTS no longer sleep peacefully anymore

And as you look upon your children's faces

And see all of their warm smiles in place this

Remember, remember, remember to say in your grace this

A prayer for all those children with tears upon their faces

Because their mommies or daddies aren't coming home no more

As each new holiday this heartache they must endure

And all those families separated by distance and war

Who on this Thanksgiving Day each other so long for

And all they ask

Is for your thanks to stand by them all steadfast

Be thankful this Thanksgiving Day,

for all of their most precious gifts the Armed Forces and

families gave

And on this Thanksgiving sitting around the table

You, this Thanksgiving you for all our freedoms so bright

thankful for our freedom so bright,

be thankful for all of those heroes who fight the fight

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 748 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Polis, my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, for the past 6 years, President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State Kerry, and Senate Democrats have made sure that the American people would continue to wait for the Keystone pipeline.

The Keystone pipeline provides jobs, energy security, and perhaps most of all a closer and better relationship with our friends from Canada.

Mr. Speaker, quite honestly, the bottom line is we need to do business with our friends in Canada rather than friends in other places around the world who may be using that money that they receive for reasons that are not in America's best interest. We trust the Canadians.

Today we have a bill on the floor because we believe that House Republicans, being led by Dr. Bill Cassidy, can lead us to a way to construct the Keystone pipeline, provide us with a closer relationship with Canada, and make sure that the TransCanada application to construct the Keystone XL pipeline will be done. That is why we are here on the floor of the House of Representatives today.

With that said, I rise in support of not only this rule that will provide the context for the bill but also the legislation.

Let me be perfectly clear today: this bill to approve the Keystone pipeline is a jobs bill. Over the last few years, too many Americans have been out of work, not always in the right places where jobs were available, but too many Americans are out of work, and this is an area where people are out of work and need the work and can get it.

Wages have been stagnant, and median incomes for American families have fallen because this administration and the policies of the Democratic Party have led to a stagnation of the free enterprise system, and an opportunity in particular in the area of energy has been a political issue rather than a jobs issue for the American people.

The Keystone pipeline would support tens of thousands of great-paying jobs and help resolve some problems in this area and across a multistate area of the West. Yet President Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Senate Democrats have stood constantly and consistently in the way of job-creating, shovel-ready projects.

For 6 years we have known that the impact of the Keystone pipeline would be positive on the American economy, with positive benefits that it would provide for the American people. For 6 years, we have known that the pipeline would add over a billion dollars of revenue to a tepid economy, a billion dollars in places where people are out of work, need work. And it can be done through efficiency and effectiveness of this pipeline.

Americans have been looking for leadership to secure energy independence, energy independence to where we no longer have to go across the oceans to receive the energy that we need. With this pipeline, it is an important step, I believe, in the right direction.

When completed, the Keystone pipeline will transport over 800,000 barrels of oil every single day. That is equivalent to half of our daily oil imports from the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, that is competition with the current system. That is how you get prices lower at the gas pump, by having competition, competition with the Middle East for the oil that we will use in this country.

This will further help lower energy costs for American families while helping to bolster our national security by weaning us off oil from nations that sometimes do not have our best interests in their own mind.

Instead of partnering with countries in the Middle East, the Keystone pipeline lets us work together with our dear friends from Canada.

By approving the Keystone pipeline, the Federal Government will reduce our dependency overnight while creating much-needed jobs and providing billions of dollars in economic opportunity in the USA.

We all know that Keystone can accomplish what the American people want, and that is that we need to work together. Mr. Speaker, we need to work together.

Finally, what has happened is that the Senate Democrats are asking for this bill. Regardless of the reason, what we are doing here today is to work together on ideas that we have been trying to push for a long, long time.

In September of 2008, TransCanada submitted their application to the Department of State to construct the Keystone pipeline. Yet the Obama administration has blocked and delayed construction of the pipeline at every single turn. Excuse after excuse after excuse rather than getting it done.

The State Department, led by Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary Kerry, has stood firmly in the way of jobs created by this project. They have held dozens of meetings and issued study after study, each of which confirms what Republicans have said all along, and that is, the pipeline will create jobs and inject billions of dollars into the American economy while doing so in a safe and limited environmental impact way.

Beginning in 2011, with Republicans, as soon as they won this body and became the majority, we started passing laws to jump-start the pipeline. Time after time I have been on the floor of this body--and, Mr. Speaker, you have stood faithfully in your chair to listen to the debates. It is you, Mr. Speaker, who has been behind this idea to make sure that we would keep it as a part of our objective. An objective for the American people, opportunities for the American people, and a friendship with the Canadians. Sadly, Senate Democrats have refused to allow even a vote.

Yet just yesterday the Keystone pipeline suddenly became a hot topic on the Senate floor. A hot topic because they want to get it done now.

Well, so what has changed? Last week, after 6 long years, Members of the Senate finally decided to listen to the American people. The House has been listening and acting for 4 years now, but now that the Senate is prepared to join us, we are here to work together.

The House is prepared to pass this bill from Dr. Bill Cassidy, oh, yes, from an energy State called Louisiana. A dear friend of not only this body but a dear friend of consumers and families who understand that we need to reduce even further costs at the gas pump, that we need to be concerned about where we buy our oil and our energy and to make sure we are doing business with the friends and people we know.

So they can pass it and they can send it to the President's desk. We are going to send the same bill. Same bill they are doing in the Senate is the same one we are going to do here. We are going to get it to the President. No more delays, no more excuses. It is actually time to make the Keystone pipeline a reality.

Said another way, the election is over; let's get our work done.

I am proud that the House has led on this issue. I look forward to the Senate joining us. I hope the President will do the same thing. I hope we will sign another jobs bill that has been passed by the House of Representatives.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, just so we really are a little bit clear, the President indicated last week what he might do on this exact issue of Keystone pipeline. He said that he would consider signing the bill if it creates jobs.

So, Mr. President, the study from your own State Department said that construction on Keystone would create over 42,000 jobs, so there is one answer to our President.

Another one, the President said he would consider signing the bill if it was good for the American people, good for their pocketbooks, if it were to reduce gas prices. Now, that is what the President said.

Once again, I have good news. Good news. Keystone pipeline will move up to 830,000 barrels of oil a day through an efficient process. Instead of it coming from halfway around the world, which adds cost to the transportation, it will come through a pipeline and be here real efficiently, so I think we are in good stead there to meet the test for the President.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to let you know that I have got five or six speakers that are here who are excited about this opportunity for jobs, a jobs bill that is on the floor today and the creation of legislation to have the XL pipeline.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Raleigh, North Carolina, Congressman Holding.

Mr. Speaker, I think we are seeing the same heresy take place here on the floor, and that is trying to scare people. It is Republicans who are trying to move a job bill, and jobs, the American people understand. Let's keep this thing right in the center of the table.

It is about jobs. It is about energy independence. It is about a working relationship with our friends. It is about lessening our dependence upon giving people in other countries in foreign lands our money that they don't always use in our best interest. It is about national security, and it is about a lot of things that make common sense. What makes common sense is not to scare people, but give them the facts of the case.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota, Kevin Cramer. He served on the commission up in North Dakota before he came to Congress, and he is a great young man.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado, and I will tell you, we are trying to keep the stage set that we in the Republican majority are leading for jobs for America. We are leading to help gas at the pump be less than what it has been. It doubled under President Obama's watch because they have not done the things that would allow more energy to be gotten. Sure, it is being gotten now on private lands, but on Federal lands, we need to do the same.

Once again, the same old worn-out rhetoric standing in the way of jobs in this country. That is why Republicans are now here on the floor again today. Our last bill is about jobs, too, before we leave.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Gainesville, Georgia (Mr. Collins), a member on the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ennis, Texas (Mr. Barton). As the former chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he knows about as much as anybody in the United States Congress about not just the needs of jobs and energy in this country, but, as the distinguished former chairman of the committee, he led this fight for many, many years.

(Mr. BARTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I object.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask how much time I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, once again, we heard our friends on the Democrat side talk about special interest money. They were talking about green energy: $18 billion a year is spent, money that would be spent like what was spent on Solyndra, sole-source contracts to companies that have gone belly up. Those are the ideas of the Democrat Party and the ideas of this President. The ideas of this President are they have taken over 6 years--2,246 days--the President of the United States, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State Kerry, an administration that stands in the way of the operation of getting people jobs, of doing the things that the American people want and need. That is why what happened this first Tuesday in November, the American people said: We have had enough.

I, as a Republican, don't take it that we are just outstanding and they elected us. What they said is: We are sick and tired of the direction we're headed. We want serious things to happen.

We have a brand new Governor in Maryland and a brand new Governor in Illinois. There is a lot of information that is out there, ready for us. We Republicans came right back to work. The Senate is doing the same. They are trying to pass this. We are trying to take the exact same bill that we were asked to do, with the expectation and understanding it can pass this body.

It is a well-understood bill. It hasn't taken us 6 years--2,246 days--to figure it out. If this administration can't figure the dang thing out, they need to admit they do not know how to read or lead. And I don't know which one it is, but either they can't read or they cannot lead. They need to know that the American people expect us to go get the work done. That is what you heard Mr. Collins say. The Republican Party is up to the task. The Republican Party, through the leadership of John A. Boehner and the leadership of what will be Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, is going to do exactly that.

We are going to take all the issues, including the one the gentleman talks about all day and every day--and that is immigration--and we are going to have an immigration bill. And we are going to do the right thing.

But today we are talking about jobs: jobs and opportunities for people that need them. We need competition for the price of energy. We need to make sure we don't depend as much on the Middle East and that we work with our friends from Canada. And it does not take the Republican Party 6 years, or 2,246 days, to try and make a decision. The Republican Party is here today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a fallen American hero, United States Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy with a tribute to his most heroic life. On October 22, 2007 The Medal of Honor was presented to his family by President George W. Bush at The White House. This Veterans Day let us remember all of the Fallen like Lt. Murphy who have given That Last Full Measure to protect us. I submit this poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

But, Where Our Honor Lies

(By Albert Carey Caswell)

All . . .

All in our darkest days of night!

As all around us the most wicked of evil casts its light!

When before us death so lies!

While, all out there on that road of life!

When, all in the throes war realized!

All in those moments of truth comprised!

Are but all of those defining moments of light!

Which shine so very bright!

Are but a true reflection of one's soul and might!

Which shines like gold this sight!

Comes the most precious of all things!

Above all else which surely rings!

As lies the proof of ones most inner being!

Is But, Where Our Honor Lies!

When all between life and death comprised . . .

When one's courage comes to rise!

All in those moments when who lives or dies!

So all depends on you comprised!

But comes only America's Best!

Is But Where Our Honor Lies this test!

When, uncommon valor is extolled!

And with clenched fist we see the greatest of all virtues,

behold!

Coming from all within one's soul!

To our world as now exposed!

Is But Where Our Honor Lies!

As we lose so lose our breath!

As we so reflect upon all of this and those . . .

Most Christian acts as so!

Now carried deep in our souls!

All in hearts to have and hold!

Could we but live by such an honor code?

Would we ever see such light as have all of those?

With such Uncommon Valor who into that darkness did go!

What all their fine hearts emote!

To win that day and night!

All in those darkest of all fights!

All in this brilliance,

As when one's soul ignites!

Shinning All In The Brilliance of Honor's Light!

Now In Hearts To Hold!

Of which all our children must be told!

Will we so be the ones?

With such uncommon courage,

And grace as you Murph on earth as it is in heave they will

be done!

And shine as bright as the midday sun!

While all in the face of evil,

For your Brothers In Arms to death look upon . . .

To Follow!

To Lead!

To help them succeed!

But, Where Our Honor Lies!

To evil to erase!

As with your fine heart they could not keep pace!

Out On Point!

All In Your Strength In Honor!

No one could take your place!

As you heard death's haunting call!

And the face of death Michael you saw!

And yet you did not hesitate!

Standing Strong and Standing Tall!

As our Lord and his Angel's watched you fall . . .

With tears upon their face!

How proud of you they must have been that day!

Watching you all in Honor's way!

Standing back all in such awe . . .

As your fine soul up to Heaven would ascend . . .

With you new life as an Angel to begin . . .

In The Army of Our Lord,

to watch over us and defend!

This Congressional Man our Nation has so blessed!

For Heaven could not wait for one of its best!

As we lower you fine body down to rest!

With but tears upon our face,

as Michael you showed us how to behave!

As these word in our hearts At East we made!

But Michael,

we will hear you in the night!

Upon gentle breezes so slight . . .

And we see will see your face and realize . . .

You are an angel to watch over us both day and night . . .

In life,

moments are all that we so have!

As our time begins To Make A Difference to grab!

To Crush Hearts!

To But Find Where Our Honor Lies!

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time on the legislative day of November 13, 2014, or November 14, 2014, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule XV.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the recess be printed in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 727 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, today, the House is considering a rule for the consideration of two bills, a package to boost America's energy production and a package to jump-start our American economy. Combined, these bills will help get America back to work with an America that we can afford.

First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2, the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act.

This bill would accomplish three important goals for the American family: first, it would create up to 1.2 million good-paying jobs for Americans who are out of work or who are underemployed; second, it would lower--it would lower--energy prices in America; third, it would draw our country closer to an important goal that we should all share, and that is American energy independence.

Let's start by identifying the problem. The facts of the case are that the Federal Government is standing in the way of an American energy boom. That means they are standing in the way of American progress and progress for Americans to have jobs and a better life.

For over 6 years, the American people have waited for this administration to approve construction of the Keystone pipeline. Unfortunately, the approval process has been marred by indecision and unnecessary delays.

First, opponents of the pipeline argue that it would be an environmental disaster; since then, virtually all of the major environmental concerns surrounding the project have been not only addressed, but debugged.

Second, opponents of the pipeline argue that it was unsafe; yet study after study after study have shown the pipeline to be safe and an effective means to transport much-needed energies for America's resources.

The opponents of the Keystone pipeline have run out of excuses, but they continue to delay a decision.

Then there is the Department of Energy, which has been far too slow in approving applications to export liquefied natural gas. The Department has decided on only nine applications submitted to it for the last 4 years.

Twenty-six applications still await action--many, many of which have been delayed by this administration for purely political reasons-- another reason to say they are getting in the way of Americans having jobs today. They are getting in the way of American independence for energy.

As a result of these delays, America is squandering an energy boom that could make America, which is the largest producer of natural gas, even better and add to the American economy.

The Department's broken application process destroys good-paying jobs and hampers our economic growth. The energy revolution already supports 1.7 million high-paying, great jobs in America, and we could add an additional 1.3 million new American high-paying jobs by 2020, but only if the Federal Government will get out of the way of its development.

It also allows our international competitors, such as Russia and Iran, not to be dominant in the marketplace and not to use domination for political power and economic power over other countries in Europe.

The Federal Government has ruled 87 percent of our offshore acreage currently off-limits to energy production. Even worse, the administration doesn't have a plan to develop these resources. In fact, the administration's offshore leasing plan for the next 3 years offers no new areas for lease and includes the lowest number of lease sales in history.

This administration's no new drilling policies have cost Americans jobs. We have forfeited revenue that would help us pay down our national debt and denied access to American oil and natural gas that would lessen dependence on foreign sources. More importantly, the American consumer continues to pay higher prices at the pump, nearly

double from the time this administration took office a scant 5-plus years ago.

My friends in the minority might rightly point out that U.S. oil and natural gas production is growing; however, the growth is entirely due to increased output on State and private lands, not on Federal lands. Our growth in energy production is in spite of the Federal Government, not because of it.

Combined, these policies hurt the American people. They hurt men, women, and families who need to be able to have a stable price at the pump with energy that is available in a constant supply throughout the seasons.

High energy costs drive up prices, they limit what American families can do with their individual resources, and it is a problem in our economy. That means that the American people have less money in their pockets to buy groceries, to pay the mortgage, or to purchase school supplies for their kids.

What are the solutions to these problems? First, the energy package considered under this rule would speed up approval of the Keystone pipeline. When completed, the Keystone pipeline will transport over 800,000 barrels of oil every single day, adding to the supply.

That means that we can wean ourselves off Middle East oil. The equivalent of half of our daily imports comes from the Middle East.

Second, the bill would force the Department of Energy to issue a final decision on applications to export liquefied natural gas within 30 days of completing the environmental review process, an important step in increasing our exports of LNG and adding to the 1.3 million jobs that are awaiting filling as a result of this delay by this administration.

Third, H.R. 2 would expand oil and natural gas production in the United States by rolling back the administration's overzealous environmental policies that have slowed our economic progress and made energy too expensive.

At a time when so many Americans are unemployed and underemployed, this job-creating legislation would unleash our vast energy resources to create these 1.2 million jobs. We need them now. We need America to have stable energy prices.

In short, the bill would finally pave a way forward for energy policies that would lower energy prices, strengthen our economy, create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign energy sources, and give the American family and worker an opportunity to have gasoline at the pump at a lesser price.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Hood River, Oregon (Mr. Walden), from the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The gentleman from Massachusetts well understands that we handled a privileged resolution on the floor where there was a vote a little bit more than a month ago before the last break.

What the gentleman wants to do is bring Congress back to come and grandstand on the floor for a privileged resolution during the break. The gentleman well understands the rules of the House, the privileges that he is given as a Member, and he knows that he has approached me numerous times, as well as the Speaker of the House, who has offered the gentleman every opportunity, under the rules of the House, that any Member would have.

What this very clearly says is we will not start that clock while we are on recess. That is a normal and regular thing for the House to do, for the rules of this House to protect all the Members.

I see no reason to. The gentleman just had time and spoke his words. I thank the gentleman very much.

At this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Grandfather Community, North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), the vice chairman of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

With great respect to the gentleman from Massachusetts, I appreciate his insistence on the floor and respect that very much.

I think that this House is, respectfully, doing its obligations and duties. That is what we are doing here today, trying to work with the American people so that we can once again move a jobs package forward.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for asking and would respond back that I do not have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I do not.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today, we have heard a number of speakers not only on the Republican side, but also the Democrat side, talk about the issues that need to be addressed today.

The Republican Party--the Republican majority--under the leadership of our great Speaker, John Boehner, has gathered together today a group of bills that have passed the House of Representatives, many of them with overwhelming majorities.

We heard the gentleman from Oregon, Greg Walden, talking about the plight of the West--and not just in Oregon--where men and women who live in rural communities have found themselves losing their jobs as a result of the administration's policies of how they would treat their own natural resources.

Mr. Walden, an Eagle Scout, just as I am an Eagle Scout, has the forestry merit badge. We understand healthy forests and how they can provide a product, a service, and enjoyment to the American people if well-managed; instead, this administration, because of their unwise management techniques, have allowed the West to burn down over the last 5 years.

At record levels, these forests and resources are up in smoke, not allowing those communities the opportunity to properly replant and take care of their own resources.

What I would like to highlight, if I can, is the Tax Code of America and how America is increasingly becoming less competitive with the world as a result of President Obama's and the Democrats' insistence to continually raise taxes and stand in the way of allowing us to be competitive with the world.

I would like to highlight, if I can, a chart here that comes from the Tax Foundation. They say America currently ranks 32nd among 34 major international nations in international tax competitiveness. This competitiveness, as you see here, starting at the very top, would find America 32nd out of 34th.

What does this mean? This means that, at a time when economies around

the world are growing, we are finding that our country is stuck at an average rate of 2.2 percent.

We have other countries, for instance, like India, which has a 5 percent growth; Russia has surpassed ours over the last 4 years; and China finds their GDP growth at 7.7 percent over the last 2 years; and we are finding that, quarter after quarter, American is even or below, only to ``roar'' back at a 2 percent level.

Ladies and gentlemen, Members of the House, what the package on the floor today is about is to talk about our ability--America--to be competitive with the world so that America's businesses and America's employers find work not only in America but compete on a global basis.

What Republicans are talking about today is a chance to have America gain back its footing, not with supremacy, but with competitiveness on a world stage, in a world market, where American products made by Americans--not just manufacturing, but other important intellectual properties--are sold to the world.

When America is at its very best, we are leaders in not just freedom but also in economic opportunity, and it spurs competitors around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, what we are about today in our closing is that the Republican Party, through our great Speaker, John Boehner, is sending a strong message to the American people that we in the United States House of Representatives recognize that for America to be competitive, for America's greatest days to be in our future, we must have a comprehensive view of not just the world and our competitiveness, but an opportunity for its citizens--as Congressman Collins has said today--to find work, to be entrepreneurial, and to move our country and the world forward. I believe that what we are talking about today makes a difference.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution, ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the upcoming 103rd National Day of the Republic of China on October 10, 2014. On this special day each year, we commemorate the establishment of Taiwan.

Officially known as the Republic of China, Taiwan is not only an outstanding example of a free economy and vibrant representative democracy in the Asia-Pacific region, but also a long-term strategic ally and trading partner of the United States. I recently had the pleasure of meeting with many Taiwanese-American members of the World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, and was pleased to hear of their willingness to come forward and improve our mutual trading relationship. I am proud to once again express my support for strengthening the partnership between the United States and Taiwan.

On the eve of Taiwan's 103rd anniversary, I congratulate President Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan Representative to the United States Ambassador Lyushun Shen, and all of the Taiwanese people for their unwavering pursuit of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to take from the Speaker's table the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 76) making continuing appropriations for the National Nuclear Security Administration for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendments thereto, and to consider in the House, without intervention of any point of order, a single motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee that the House concur in the Senate amendments; the Senate amendments be considered as read; the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question; and the Chair may postpone the question of adoption of the motion as though under clause 8 of rule XX.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 710 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), my friend, the ranking member from the Rules Committee, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

The rule provides for expedited consideration of H.R. 5230 and H.R. 5272.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we are facing an unprecedented crisis on America's southern border. Nearly 60,000 unaccompanied alien children have entered the United States illegally this fiscal year, most of whom have come through the Texas-Mexico border, and today, our country faces a threat to our sovereignty and to our rule of law.

The time to act is now. It would be irresponsible for this body to go home for a month without doing our part to help work and solve this problem. I am glad that Members of the House recognize their duty to finish the job. I believe the House has put specific, concrete proposals to act in the best interest of the United States.

Let's take a look at what this crisis on our border is doing. First, the President's catch-and-release program is a big part of the problem. Under this program, nearly 90 percent of unaccompanied alien children have been placed with their families in the United States, many of whom are here illegally themselves.

Second, there is the President's DACA program. DACA is a major reason for the influx of illegal immigrants to the United States. The Director on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently testified to the Judiciary Committee that 700,000 undocumented immigrants have taken advantage of DACA.

Third, there is the 2008 trafficking law, which has allowed so many to effectively skip out on the judicial process and live in our country illegally. Catch and release under the President's proposal is wrong and bad for our country, and only encourages many, many more to continue the trek here.

Combined, these policies, plus signals from the administration, encouraged more illegal immigration and have led to the border crisis that we face today. To stop this crisis, our border must be secured and the tide of illegal immigration should be stemmed. I believe that this rule provides for legislation to accomplish that goal.

H.R. 5230 would provide $659 million for border security, the enforcement of existing laws, illegal immigration prevention, and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, $70 million would be provided for National Guard border efforts. This proposal is paid for, which means that it does not result in any new or additional Federal spending this fiscal year.

However, the House will not simply throw money at the problem. This package also makes specific, concrete policy changes to address the underlying problems that are fueling this crisis. Specifically, it prevents the administration from spending taxpayer dollars to adjudicate any new applications under DACA or any other similar policy. The package also amends the 2008 trafficking law so that all unaccompanied alien children are treated the same as, under the law today, Mexicans and Canadians, and this is for the purpose of removals.

It also provides additional temporary judges to help guarantee that these children get their day in court within 14 days from their initial screening. It also strengthens laws against criminals and those with serious drug-related convictions and those who have them from applying for asylum. It allows for customs and border protection activities on Federal land. Similarly, it authorizes the deployment of the National Guard to our southern border.

Finally, it prohibits the housing of unauthorized immigrants on military bases if housing them would displace members of the Armed Forces or any Active Duty or it interferes with military activity.

These steps come after a series of conversations with members of the majority. We have an obligation to get this bill done. As a Texan, I have pushed and pushed and pushed for us to make sure that we had a bill that could be supported by our Members. It is Texas and those living on the border that are seeing tremendous conditions that are placing our States and local people at a disadvantage.

Thus, I want to thank the Members for continuing to work together on a bill to get 218 votes. I applaud those who spent the time, including today, dedicating themselves to putting the package together. I thank the staff. And as always, I expect and want this body to support this good piece of legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just say one of the things I learned this week was that the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) presented not only her thoughts and ideas at our conference when we met about how we can make our borders stronger, but she was present the entire time at the Rules Committee, had a chance to forthrightly participate. We had hours and hours of discussion about not only the legislation and what we were doing, but we actually shared ideas among Members on a bipartisan basis today, and I felt like it was a pretty good exchange.

I am delighted, at this time, to yield 15 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Ennis, Texas (Mr. Barton), the dean of the Texas delegation.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Tyler, Texas, Judge Gohmert, a former State district judge, now Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman 15 seconds for a clarification of his remarks, if he would take me up on that time.

I would like to advise the gentleman that I do not believe it is a correct statement to say combat-ready troops. The National Guard that is in Texas is not all combat ready. If I could get the gentleman to correct that, I yield him 15 seconds.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to let the Record note that there is no specification for these men and women of the National Guard to be combat ready. In fact, I do not believe that that would be a true statement.

That is not a part of what we have specified in this plan, nor do I believe that it would be a requirement. So I have asked the gentleman, and he chose to answer the way he did, but I would like to state on the Record that there are no requirements, there is no precondition for that. In fact, I do not believe that that is a correct statement.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Jolly), one of our newest Members.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would notify the gentlewoman from New York that I have no further speakers, and I have been advised that perhaps she has no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I also appreciate the gentlewoman, her team, and all of our staffs who have worked overtime, including our Appropriations staff and our staff from Energy and Commerce who helped us with this, as well as the Judiciary staff.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I have a fundamental disagreement with the President on the question of the border, and that is why we are here today.

You have heard Republican speakers talking about how we believe that the rule of law is important. We believe that America is a great and awesome country and that we are very compassionate, but we take in millions of people each year through a legal process. America is a land of immigrants, but the rule of law is important also. We have problems with our borders. We have had problems with our borders for years, but in particular, after 9/11, the threats that are against this country have placed enormous pressure not only on our law enforcement but on air, land, sea, rail. We feel that the Federal Government should do a better job of not encouraging people to come to this country, bypassing the laws and laying down enforcement and making it easier for our country to be invaded.

That is what is happening right now.

Some 70,000 people have come to our border, and Republicans are standing up and are talking about this in a proper way. We believe that the people who have come here should be allowed to go back home. We should help them, and we should facilitate that. We believe that the rule of law--the processes that we have got to follow to do that--must be followed.

Yesterday, there was an amendment before the Rules Committee asking for almost $180 million to help pay for these children who, as the guests of the Democratic Party and the President, will stay in this country. We are going

to have to end up paying about--$180 million was the request, for 60 days for our local school districts.

There are enormous questions that abound about what will happen, who will pay, how this is supposed to happen when, in fact, America at this time has 25 million people unemployed and underemployed. It is a tremendous deficit that we face. Our social systems and networks are burdened already, and we have many people whom, ourselves, we cannot help--but what do we do? We take on more people.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is time that we listen to the American people and that we listen to what we are trying to do here, and that is to face up to what we were sent here to do, which is to make tough choices and tough decisions. I believe what we are doing is correct. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the resolution and ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.