Floor Statements

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

On October 5, 2010, President Obama signed into law S. 1055, a bill granting the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service the Congressional Gold Medal. This concurrent resolution authorizes use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center to award the Congressional Gold Medal to these brave service men and women in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

The 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service were compromised predominately of Japanese Americans during World War II. At that time, many of the soldiers' families were subject to internment and discrimination, yet these courageous Americans fought with distinction and valor.

Collectively, the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team became the most highly decorated unit of its size and length in the history of the United States Army, receiving seven Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier's Medals and over 4,000 Purple Hearts.

The contributions of Japanese Americans were not limited to the front line. The Military Intelligence Service provided critical classified information that was vital to the success of the United States military in the Pacific theater.

The recognition of these Americans is overdue, and Emancipation Hall is a befitting place to bestow this award for the sacrifice and dedication that was shown in the face of discrimination.

Join with me today in supporting this concurrent resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

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

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano).

I yield the lady 1 additional minute.

I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).

Again, I urge all Members to support this resolution. I'm extremely proud myself to support it. My father was a member of the United States Marine Corps that served in the Pacific theater, and I'm sure he was very proud of the Japanese men and women that were out there supporting and helping him.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I've seen some bad Legislative branch bills reported from Appropriations in my years here, but this is by far the worst. In my judgment, the committee has failed to attend to the needs of this branch of government and done so for no apparent reason other than its adherence to an ideology exalting short-term political gain over long-term, careful stewardship of this first branch of government. There is no word to describe this bill other than ``reckless'' and I will not support it in its present form. Funding Capitol Hill's agencies at the levels contemplated in this bill will inflict real damage.

For example, this bill cuts the House itself by 7.9%, not the advertised 6.5%, when one factors in the cuts to the Architect's House Office Buildings account. Make no mistake: we Members will feel that cut. We will have fewer aides to help us answer our mail and help us with our committee work, so by definition there will be less of that work performed. Our standing committees are where oversight takes place, so federal agencies will have an easier time avoiding congressional scrutiny. Constituents who visit our congressional office buildings will find them in even more dilapidated shape than they already are because we are dramatically underfunding maintenance, something our property-owning constituents know costs only more money in the long run.

Other agencies covered in this bill received similarly short-sighted treatment. The Compliance Office, designed to ensure that Congress lives under the same employment and antidiscrimination laws as private employers, will suffer a 6.4% cut. A cynic might conclude such a cut is designed to cripple a tiny agency

inadequately staffed in the first place. The Library of Congress, our country's premier cultural institution, gets cut 8.5%, threatening a return to the days where books sit on the floor for want of staff to shelve them, copyright applications take months to process instead of days, and services decline to libraries nationwide as well as research support to Congress itself.

The bill will cut the Government Printing Office's account for congressional printing by a stunning 16.6%. This appropriation supports the printing and posting online of all our bills, resolutions, reports and the Congressional Record. This ill-conceived cut threatens timely and efficient operation of both houses of Congress, especially if paired with an amendment by the gentleman from Indiana to reduce it by $3.4 million more. Many at the GPO are already worried about potential lay-offs as a result. The Superintendent of Documents account, which enhances public transparency by distributing federal documents to depository libraries nationwide, faces a 12.1% cut in the bill and more if our Indiana colleague's amendment prevails. The Sunlight Foundation, a self-styled transparency advocate, believes GPO's been ``drastically cut'' even without further reductions.

The Congressional Budget Office and the General Accountability Office, which both help the Congress to assess budgetary accountability, receive 6.4% cuts, signaling the value the committee places on their very important work. To its credit, the bill holds the Architect of the Capitol's cuts for everything but the congressional office buildings to 1.5% below last year. The Architect operates many of our iconic facilities including the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. If we were serious about preserving these hallmarks of American democracy and in creating jobs to strengthen our struggling economy, we would spend more in this area, not less.

I urge my colleagues to reject this bill. We can do better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my dear friend Michael J. Stack, Jr. Mike left us yesterday. But, his spirit will live on forever.

Mike was deeply rooted in Philadelphia's civic and political life. His father served in this body from January 3, 1935-January 3, 1939. But, in many ways, the son eclipsed the father. Mike, Jr., was a quiet giant. He was an accomplished attorney and a forceful advocate for regular people. He was a loving husband and father. And, you can find his face next to the definition of the word friend in the dictionary.

But, Mike kept a special place in his heart for the people and the committee people of the 58th Ward. Mike never asked me for anything for himself. But, he was always fighting for the needs of the people he represented. The word ``no'' wasn't in his vocabulary when it came to them. And they loved him for it.

Mike Stack, Jr.'s, career spanned the great events of Philadelphia's history. He was active in the election of every Democrat mayor of Philadelphia in the 20th and 21st Centuries. He played a major role in the rise of our party in the city and in our state. And he was an important advisor to all of our elected officials, especially to me.

Mike was also a prolific writer, having penned four novels. More importantly, he leaves a living legacy behind him. The love of his life, Fay, served with distinction on the bench. And Michael, III serves in Pennsylvania's Senate. But, we are all a little poorer today for having loss this giant of a man.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and in expressing the condolences of this House to his family.

Mr. Speaker, we rise today to commend a loyal and valued House employee on the occasion of his departure.

Ali Qureshi joined the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer in February of 2003 in the House Information Resources Unit. His hard work and diligence were quickly acknowledged and he rapidly rose within the organization, finally achieving the position of Senior Deputy Chief Administrative Officer where he served as a senior advisor to the Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, he has overseen House operations and maintained direct oversight of House Information Resources; Administrative and Financial Services; Strategic Initiatives and Assets, Furnishings and Logistics.

Prior to joining the House, Mr. Qureshi served as a consultant in the private sector. He has a graduate degree from the Wharton School of Business and University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, every day we go about conducting the business of the American people. We are able to do this because of the tremendous men and women that support our efforts. Staffers in our personal offices, House Committees and the House Officers work tirelessly and with dedication. They perform a tremendous service for us and for the American people. Mr. Qureshi is an example of that commitment, dedication to excellence and loyal service that allows us to do what we do every day. I wish him all the best as he transitions to a new and exciting chapter in his life and sincerely thank him for his years of service to the House. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Israel on the celebration of its 63rd Independence Day. I am a strong supporter of the State of Israel and believe in its right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state with secure and recognized borders.

As our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel is a crucial friend of the United States, and its continued strength and stability are in our nation's best interest.

The past several years have been a challenging time for Israel. Israel continues to face danger on many fronts, from the ongoing threat of terrorism to the potential rise of a nuclear-armed Iran. Peace and stability in Israel and the Middle East at large are still a possibility. Despite recent events with Fatah and Hamas, I hope that Palestinian authorities will be willing to come to the table and negotiate peace with their Israeli neighbors. I trust that new commitments and agreements are reached that enable these two states to live peacefully with one another.

I will continue to advocate for policies that make Israel more secure and work to alleviate the tensions in the Middle East, and I urge my colleagues to join me. As a member of the Israel Allies Caucus, I have been an active advocate for Israel and its people. I know the people of Israel want to live in peace with their Palestinian neighbors, and I will push for continued American engagement in the peace process. Together, the United States and Israel will continue to work in partnership to bring peace and security to the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Israel on their 63rd Independence Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Israel on the celebration of its 63rd Independence Day. I am a strong supporter of the State of Israel and believe in its right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state with secure and recognized borders.

As our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel is a crucial friend of the United States, and its continued strength and stability are in our nation's best interest.

The past several years have been a challenging time for Israel. Israel continues to face danger on many fronts, from the ongoing threat of terrorism to the potential rise of a nuclear-armed Iran. Peace and stability in Israel and the Middle East at large are still a possibility. Despite recent events with Fatah and Hamas, I hope that Palestinian authorities will be willing to come to the table and negotiate peace with their Israeli neighbors. I trust that new commitments and agreements are reached that enable these two states to live peacefully with one another.

I will continue to advocate for policies that make Israel more secure and work to alleviate the tensions in the Middle East, and I urge my colleagues to join me. As a member of the Israel Allies Caucus, I have been an active advocate for Israel and its people. I know the people of Israel want to live in peace with their Palestinian neighbors, and I will push for continued American engagement in the peace process. Together, the United States and Israel will continue to work in partnership to bring peace and security to the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Israel on their 63rd Independence Day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of Senate Joint Resolution 8, to appoint Stephen M. Case to a six year term as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian. This action would fill an existing vacancy and bring the Board of Regents back up to full strength.

Mr. Case, a prominent philanthropist and entrepreneur in business, is exceptionally well-qualified for this position. He is a pioneer in innovative technology and communications and is probably best known as the founder of America Online, and later chairman AOL/Time Warner. The Smithsonian needs a continuing influx of innovative leaders to the Board to maintain its unique position as a leader in scientific research and educational endeavors.

The joint resolution was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 33, to allow the Capitol Rotunda to be used on May 17 for the purpose of the annual commemoration of the Holocaust.

This year's theme is ``Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have We Learned?'' It is important that as we reflect on one most notable tragedies in human history, we honor the memory of those who died so senselessly by not forgetting that there can be no tolerance for prejudice, oppression and hatred and pledge anew to stop those seeds of oppression from leading to atrocities like genocide.

The concurrent resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate the five newest members appointed to the Depository Library Council by Public Printer William Boarman. The Council is composed of 15 members, each of whom serves a 3-year term. Its purpose is to advise the Public Printer on policy matters relating to the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), which is administered by the Government Printing Office.

The FDLP provides public access across the United States to the published information of all three branches of the Federal Government through partnerships with more than 1,220 libraries nationwide--public libraries, university and college libraries, law libraries, research libraries, libraries of state appellate courts, Federal libraries, and others--about 3 per congressional district. Federal depository libraries serve as vital links between ``We the People'' and our Government. Anyone can visit Federal depository libraries and use the Federal documents collections, which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, health and nutrition, laws and regulations, statistical data, demographics, consumer information, and numerous other subjects. Today, this partnership is predominately electronic, but tangible formats are distributed where online equivalents are not available.

The five new DLC members for the June 1, 2011-June 1, 2014, term are:

Stephanie Braunstein, Assistant Librarian at the Troy H. Middleton Library at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, one of Louisiana's two regional depository libraries. Braunstein's outreach with the library community includes presenting at conferences, partnering with GPO to host an online list of Federal agency web sites, and contributing to Browse Topics, an online subject-based portal for government information. She currently serves as Coordinator of the Federal Documents Task Force (FDTF) of the American Library Association (ALA) and is the Louisiana Library Association Councilor to ALA.

Donna Lauffer, County Librarian for the Johnson County (KS) Library system's 13 branches. Lauffer has a strong track record in delivering government information to the public and in promoting civic engagement. Her leadership in support of government information and relevant programming in her library system led to the Johnson County Library being honored as the 2010 Federal Depository Library of the Year.

Susan Lyons, Reference and Government Documents Librarian at the Rutgers University Law School Library in Newark, New Jersey. Lyons' professional interests include digital preservation, authentication, and permanent public access to government information. She has served as Chair of the Government Documents Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Librarians (AALL), President of the New Jersey Law Librarians Association, and President of the Documents Association of New Jersey.

Mark Phillips, Assistant Dean for Digital Libraries at the University of North Texas in

Denton. Phillips specializes in digital collections, knowledge of infrastructure for digital collections, preservation techniques, and web harvesting. He currently serves on the Access Committee in the International Internet Preservation Consortium (IIPC) and the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative's, Dublin Core Library Profile Workgroup.

Arlene Weible, Government Documents and Technical Services Librarian at the Oregon State Library in Salem. Weible has a broad background in technical services and public services, and experience working in state and academic libraries. She currently serves on the National Digital Stewardship Alliance and as the regional coordinator for Oregon's intrastate shared regional, a successful shared housing arrangement that serves the depository libraries in Oregon.

In making these five appointments, Public Printer Boarman noted the talent and expertise these outstanding individuals bring to the Depository Library Council. Nearly all of us have depository libraries in our districts providing our constituents with public access to Government information. I trust all Members will join me in congratulating the appointees to the Council, and wishing them well as they embark upon their mission to strengthen and improve the Depository Library Program for the benefit of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, March 4, 2011, is the 150th anniversary of two important events in the history of our Nation. On this day in 1861, not far from this spot, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois took the oath of office as the 16th President of the United States. On that same day, the United States Government Printing Office opened for business, on the very site from which it operates today. From that day it has been the source of the legislative documents we need--the Congressional Record, hearing transcripts, committee reports, bills, calendars, and other congressional documents--in digital and printed form to carry out our work for the people we represent.

The GPO traces its roots to the very beginning of our Republic. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, held in my hometown, Delegate James Wilson of Pennsylvania declared, ``The people have a right to know what their agents are doing or have done, and it should not be in the option of the legislature to conceal their proceedings.'' Wilson's words helped lead to the adoption of the requirement in Article I, section 5 of the Constitution that ``Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same . . .''

Following the example of Philadelphia's greatest citizen, Benjamin Franklin--the patron saint of printing in America, who had been an early provider of ``publick printing,'' the documents needed by government--the first Congresses took steps to ensure that their proceedings, records, and legislative documents were printed and made available to the public. By the mid-19th century, however, the high costs, ineffective service, and scandals that came to be associated with this system prompted Congress to create its own printer, the GPO. This effort was rewarded almost immediately with a reduction in costs, vastly improved service, and the elimination of scandal. Put to the test early in meeting the emergency demands imposed by the Civil War, the new GPO carried out its work coolly and professionally, counting among its early jobs the printing of the Emancipation Proclamation. In the 150 years that followed, this pattern--economy, efficiency, and prompt and effective service--continued to repeat itself as GPO, quietly and expertly, has carried out its mission of keeping America informed.

As the new Public Printer, William J. Boarman, clearly points out, while GPO's past has been about printing, its present and future are being defined by digital information technologies. In fact, the GPO today is the product of more than a generation of investment in digital production and dissemination technologies, an investment that has yielded unprecedented improvements in productivity, capability, and savings for the taxpayers. Once an agency of more than 8,000 staff and employing just 2,200 today, fewer than at any time in the past century, the GPO now provides a range of products and activities that could only have been dreamed of 30 years ago: online databases of Federal documents with state-of-the-art search and retrieval capabilities available to the public without charge, Government publications available as e-Books, passports and smart cards with electronic chips carrying biometric data, print products on sustainable substrates using vegetable oil based inks, and a public presence not only on the Web but on Twitter, Facebook, and You Tube.

The work of the GPO is so fundamental to our work that we frequently lose sight of all the services they actually provide. We like to say that all congressional information is on the Internet, but many of us don't seem to know that it's the GPO that puts that information online on its site, GPO Access, and now on the successor site, FDsys. GPO's legislative information databases are shared with the Library of Congress for the operation of the THOMAS information system and for the legislative information systems provided by the Library to the House and Senate. The GPO makes Senate conference reports available online in advance of a vote, and the agency is developing a system for making the Constitutional Authority Statements required for House legislation available online. The GPO is currently working with the Library of Congress to digitize historical documents, including the Statutes at Large and the Congressional Record, and in collaboration with the Library GPO will provide updated digital access to the Constitution Annotated. Since GPO first began computerizing its prepress functions in the 1970s, the agency's use of digital information technology has generated productivity improvements that have reduced the cost of congressional information products by approximately 66% in real economic terms. Since GPO first began providing free online access to Government documents in the early 1990s, similar reductions have been achieved in the cost of disseminating information to the public.

And the GPO does more than just support Congress. Through GPO's efforts, the online Federal Register is being made available in XML to support bulk data downloads via data.gov and GPO developed the online Federal Register 2.0. GPO's advanced authentication systems, supported by Public Key Infrastructure, are an essential component for assuring the digital security of congressional and agency documents. GPO produces all U.S. passports for the State Department and secure credentials for a variety of agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. Passports contain advanced electronic and print security systems consistent with international standards and agreements. GPO is the only Federal agency certified to graphically personalize/print HSPD-12 secure identification cards on a government- to-government basis. In addition, GPO's partnership with the printing industry is responsible for producing 75% of the Government's needs and enormous savings to the taxpayer, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the small printing businesses throughout the Nation, and its partnership with more than 1,200 Federal depository libraries across the country regularly supplies the Federal information needs of millions of students, researchers, businesses, and others every year with both digital and print products.

In a day when we are working hard to cut costs and improve services, the GPO provides a model of how an agency with a history of taking advantage of technological change has used that capability to generate lasting savings while expanding services to Congress, Federal agencies, and the public. The dedicated men and women of GPO have resorted continually to technology improvements to perform their work more efficiently, at one time using ink on paper to set the text for The Emancipation Proclamation, and today--as another President from Illinois leads the Nation--using e-Books, digital databases, and other new and emerging applications to achieve its founding mission of Keeping America Informed.

Mr. Speaker, Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers would be surprised and pleased by what the GPO is and does today. On behalf of all us in this House who daily rely and depend on the products and services the GPO provides, I say congratulations and best wishes to Public Printer Bill Boarman and the men and women of the United States Government Printing Office, and convey our thanks and deepest appreciation for all their hard work.

Thank you for allowing me to speak on this.

Madam Chair, I am embarrassed to be here. I am embarrassed to be a Member of this House right now. I am embarrassed to have to stand up here and fight for the little people who can't fight for themselves.

I was here on 9/11. I was in my office, and the police officers came in to get me out of my office. I wanted to stay. They said, No, Congressman, we've got to get you out. As he's taking me out, he's going back in. He's putting his life in harm's way, and we're talking about taking money from him. It's totally ridiculous.

Madam Chair, we don't want to hurt our little guys and gals; we don't want to hurt our House staff members; we don't want to hurt our administrators, our Sergeant-at-Arms, our doorkeepers, the ladies in the cloakroom who take good care of us. All of these people and the administrators here don't make overtime. They put their time in like we do.

We're running 67 hours in this House today--67 hours. Do you know what it's costing us? $2 million to put this CR on a bridge to nowhere. That's where it's going. It's a disgrace that we've got to hurt the little people, and I'm not going to let that happen.

You hear about yield back. Well, we yield back. We want them to yield back their money. We want them to yield it back to us. They do an excellent job.

Madam Chair, I don't want them to yield back. I'm not going to let them yield back. I'm not even yielding back now. I'm just done.

Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren), a distinguished member of the Committee on House Administration.

Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

I now yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Mr. Chairman, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to our Democratic leader, the gentlelady from California (Ms. Pelosi).

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 359. Adopted in the shadow of the Watergate scandal, the public financing of Presidential elections eases the burden of fund-raising campaigns and lessens the impact of private donations by a small number of wealthy donors.

Since 1976, candidates from across the political spectrum have used the public financing program to run for President. Is the system perfect? Absolutely not. The system needs to be reformed, not repealed. I heard one of my colleagues on the floor mention that our President, President Obama, opted out of this program. That was his choice. I do not think we should be in a position to legislate the American people's choice. That's their choice, to opt out or to check that box. I don't think we have the right to do that, nor should we do that.

With the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United little over a year ago, we are already well on our way to elections brought to the American people by the highest corporate bidder. If this bill passes, there will be even more incentive for foreign controlled companies to secretly invest in political causes that could help move American jobs overseas. Companies that outsource jobs will have a very simple message to Presidential candidates--support our agenda, or face the consequences. This bill takes secret corporate dominance of our elections to the next level.

This bill is also being considered at the wrong time and under the wrong circumstances. Less than 3 weeks ago, the American people were promised an open Congress, a Congress that allowed for open debate, one that allows for open rules. The American people are still waiting. In consideration of this matter, the committee process was completely disregarded. There have been no hearings. No testimony from witnesses either for or against. No markup. No refining in the committee or input from experts. Zero. None. When we did the DISCLOSE Act, we had three hearings and 17 witnesses. We learned from our witnesses. They gave us their opinion and they gave us their education on what they thought, pro and con. To bypass that, which we have never done before in our committee, I think is wrong. We should have had our hearings and let it happen.

There's no reason why we have to rush this thing over to the Senate. I would doubt very much if they're sitting there waiting for it. And we could have taken our time, done our hearings, which we do in a complete and nonpartisan way; and we could have had this thing thrashed out, we could have aired it out, people could have put their amendments in, they could have offered amendments at our committee level, we could have aired it out perfectly and gotten much more education and maybe had a chance to reform it for the better.

While reforming the Presidential financing system is an important effort which I support, the next Presidential election is 2 years away. This bill does not create or save a single job. Zero. None.

There is a time and a place for campaign reform. While here might be the place, now is certainly not the time. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and to get back to the important task of putting the American people back to work.

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

Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to yield as much time as he may consume to, in my opinion, an expert on this matter, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this resolution recognizes the courage and sacrifices of Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta and other Medal of Honor recipients in defending their country in the line of duty. The Medal of Honor is the highest award of bravery that can be given to a member of the United States Armed Forces.

This resolution will acknowledge members of our Armed Forces that receive the Medal of Honor by providing them with a flag flown over the Capitol along with a certificate signed by the Speaker of the House. The flag would be provided at no cost to the recipient or family of the recipient.

May this small gesture serve as a constant reminder of our Medal of Honor recipients who act selflessly and heroically in defense of the freedoms that we, the American people, enjoy. I am pleased to support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to vote ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I now yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).

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

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my condolences regarding the terrible events that took place on Saturday, January 8, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona. The attempted assassination of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the killing of six people, including a 9-year-old child, a federal judge, and a congressional aide, is an unspeakable tragedy.

Congresswoman Giffords is not only an esteemed colleague of mine, she is my friend. It has been an honor to serve alongside of her on the Armed Services Committee, and I have witnessed first-hand her dedication. Gabrielle's passion for her job is evident to all those who know her, and it is no surprise to me that Gabrielle was doing what she loves most on that horrible Saturday. I look forward to her full and speedy recovery, and I anxiously await her return to Congress.

While I am hopeful about Gabrielle's recovery, I am heartbroken over the deaths of the six innocent people caught at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Christina Taylor Green, who was only 9 years old, was recently elected to her school's student council and hoped to speak with a government official that tragic day. Pennsylvania native and Federal judge, John Roll, was hoping to meet with his Congresswoman to discuss overcrowding of prisons. Gabriel Zimmerman was struck while carrying out his duties as the Congresswoman's Director of Community Outreach. Dorothy Morris, Dorwan Stoddard, and Phyllis Schneck were going about their regular Saturday activities and hoped they would get a chance to speak with their member of Congress.

Madam Speaker, I hope that all those touched by these tragic events find peace and comfort. Saturday, January 8, 2011 should be a reminder to all Americans that there is no place for violence in a free political process. I continue to pray for those that were lost and for the recovery of those who were wounded, and I hope we as a country can move forward and learn from this tragedy.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a staunch advocate for strong, accountable stewardship of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, I applaud any effort to responsibly address this concern. I travel back and forth to my district every day in the city of Philadelphia, and I spend a large portion of every day listening to constituents as they voice their concerns over our economy and the real impact it has on their day-to- day lives. Certainly this House must take steps to ensure that resources are effectively utilized, administered and accounted for. To that end, I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do so as well.

During the 111th Congress, significant steps were taken by the House leadership to expand transparency and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. At the direction of Speaker Pelosi, the Committee on House Administration under my chairmanship worked with the office of the CAO to introduce the House statement of disbursements in an online, electronic format. For the first time, constituents, the media and other concerned individuals could review every penny spent by Members, committees and leadership offices.

Through the Green the Capitol initiative and with the cooperation of the Architect of the Capitol, we rolled out enhancements designed to increase the energy efficiency of the Capitol Complex, resulting in cost savings.

Under the Democratic majority, we put in place requirements that only vehicles meeting lower greenhouse emissions standards were eligible for MRA-funded lease payments. Not only does this have a positive environmental impact, it also reduces fuel costs, since these vehicles are generally more fuel efficient.

The cost savings that were introduced were done so responsibly and with a constant eye on ensuring that Members have the resources they need also to be able to serve their constituency. That's ultimately the reason why we are here. I look forward to exploring additional, responsible cost savings opportunities with Chairman Lungren in the spirit of bipartisanship cooperation that we have enjoyed for many years, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

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

I also would like to thank Mr. Walden for allowing us to participate, myself and Mr. Andrews from New Jersey.

I certainly do not want to get you in any kind of trouble here today, but we did have some ideas that happened to fall into and come into implementation of your plan. I know that was just great minds thinking alike. It wasn't that it was our idea that did that. But I am talking especially toward the schedule. I do appreciate that. I appreciate you allowing us to participate in what you have done there and look forward again to working with you in the future.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I don't think so, no.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.