Floor Statements

This bill will ensure the much-needed long-term stability and development of our Nation's aviation infrastructure. However, I am incredibly concerned about the provision in this bill that would phase out Essential Air Service. EAS is critical to large States like my own. Rural regions rely on EAS for vital air transportation. In North Dakota, airports like Jamestown

and Devil's Lake would not be able to provide critical air service without this support.

I've spoken with Chairman Mica, and I understand the need for the process to keep moving forward with this bill. This bill contains many good provisions that I support. I also know how vital rural access to essential aviation is. So I would ask the gentlemen from Florida and Pennsylvania if they'd commit to working with me and other Members to support the EAS program.

I rise today to strongly urge my colleagues to pass this legislation to protect American farmers from overreaching EPA rules and unnecessary regulations. If this ruling were to stand, the EPA would have full discretion over controlling a buffer zone for chemicals on crops near water sources.

Now, I have talked with farmers in North Dakota who rely on herbicides like Roundup to produce a good crop and to prevent weeds from growing. Most of central North Dakota sits in a water-rich region called the Prairie Pot Hole, and many of these farmers plant on land that is well within the EPA's buffer zone. This ruling could prevent these farmers from raising a good crop in this land.

If this ruling goes into effect, it will require over 6 million pesticide applications will have to be issued each year to tens or even hundreds of thousands of farmers. If they don't comply, they will be forced with a fine of up to $37,000 per day per incident. We know overregulation hurts American business. Overregulation hurts family farms. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in firm support of eliminating the 1099 requirement that burdens so many of our small businesses and costs jobs.

Madam Speaker, if Congress is serious about getting Americans back to work and our economy back on track, the choice is clear. We need to repeal this mandate. This law forces American businesses deeper and deeper into the bureaucratic Washington nightmare for small business. And it takes away from their core mission, which is to grow their business and create jobs.

Small business is the core of North Dakota's economy. Farmers, ranchers and small businessmen, they're all burdened by this mandate. And another regulation is another expense that makes it even more difficult for them to do business.

This is commonsense legislation. With national unemployment still hovering around 9 percent, the decision to repeal this mandate should be easy. We desperately need economic renewal, we need private sector job growth, and we need to eliminate the small business paperwork that's in this mandate. It's time to eliminate this onerous mandate and allow business to get back to doing what they do best, and that's create American jobs.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 160 I was inadvertently detained.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in firm support of repealing this job-killing health care law.

This is a $500 billion tax that will hurt small businesses at a time when we need these job creators to help put our country back on track. America's small businesses cannot grow with the tax hikes and government mandates in this law. Medicare payroll taxes will increase. Costly penalties will be imposed on small businesses, and there will be increased health care costs.

Repealing this law and removing these barriers will provide businesses with the certainty they need to help get America back on track.

My wife is a family practice doctor, and when this law first passed, our first concern was this puts government between patients and their doctors. We need to repeal this law and put those health care decisions back between the patients directly and their doctors.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.