Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I stand regarding the qualified mortgage rule that will go into effect this Friday. This rule is going to have a devastating effect on the housing industry.

Once again, the long hand of the Federal Government goes out to dictate policy to the financial industry on whom they should make loans to. Once again, we face another crisis in the housing industry. The Federal Government, frankly, was one of the major culprits in the housing demise that we have just gone through, making easy credit for borrowers. Now they are telling financial institutions clearly the wrong direction in which to go. We need the markets to work. The Federal Government has proven also that they sure cannot handle health care through ObamaCare.

Why do we think that the government knows best when it comes to telling community banks and others who

they should make their loans to? Fifty percent of the loans made in 2013 will not be made for 2014 with these guidelines.

Mr. Speaker, we call for this rule to be delayed for a year to allow Congress to improve it.

Thank you, Mr. Collins.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of precious Kilah Davenport, a sweet little girl at the age of 3 years old, who was taken by her caregiver and bashed her head against the wall. As a result, Kilah has suffered irreparable damage to the extent that at this point she is immobile, she is paralyzed and has suffered severe brain damage.

You can see pictures right here of Kilah, a young girl, and then the next day the condition that she is in. She has made some progress. Her family is encouraged. They assist her 24/7. It has changed their lives.

But to the credit of the Davenport family, they wanted what occurred to their child to make sure that that never happened again. They focused their intention and their efforts, their commitment, to passing a law in North Carolina where I live. Now we have a statute that gives a minimum sentence of 10 years to anyone who is convicted of this type of egregious child abuse. Prior to this time, the minimum sentence for such an abuse was 4 years, maximum 6 years. This type of severe cruelty warrants a measure of sentencing commensurate with what has been enacted.

So I congratulate my colleagues, whom I served with at one time in the North Carolina Senate and the House--Senator Tarte, Senator Tucker, and Senator Curtis; and House members Horn and Arp--for the leadership that they gave in North Carolina and provided what will be, I truly believe, a role model for the rest of the country because, Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act is to give a basis for other States, appealing to them through their attorney generals, to issue these reports, the first one in 6 months, the next one 3 years following, of their current statutes on child abuse in their sentencing.

We have found in many States that there are very minimum and lax sentences. In the South, there is one State that a year and a day could be the maximum sentence; one State in the Northeast is 7 years; one State out west, 5 years is the max sentence. This shouldn't be. We feel like there are many States who once they understand how limited the scope is of their sentencing that they would want to change it.

And yes, Mr. Speaker, I do believe that these types of bills are better addressed in our States. I believe that other States will take the proper action as North Carolina did. As I consulted with law enforcement and with judges who handle child abuse daily, that is why I introduced H.R. 3627, which is bipartisan legislation that will address this severe need to make sure that children in the future are not harmed in the same way.

This bill will ensure that those who suffer serious bodily injury, mental and emotional disparity and function, would be addressed with the types of sentencing that would warrant the type of crime committed.

I believe, Mr. Speaker, as we enact this bill, that we will see a tremendous impact throughout the country to prevent this type of scourge from occurring again. So I commit it to our Congress--I thank the great support of the Members--to make sure that this bill is enacted, and I thank Senator Burr for his leadership in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at noon tomorrow for morning- hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 5 o'clock and 19 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at noon for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my fastest constituent, Jimmie Johnson, who recently won his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

In a remarkable display of teamwork, consistency, and a burning desire to always improve, Jimmie Johnson won six NASCAR championships in the last 8 years.

More importantly, Jimmie is a champion off the track. Since 2006, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has contributed more than $5 million to charity, with a special focus on improving K-12 education in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and California. In Charlotte, Jimmie is a supporter of Project LIFT, a private-public partnership working to improve the graduation rate in some of Charlotte's toughest neighborhoods.

Thank you, Jimmie, for using your on-track success to make a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 593, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Martha Staley, a constituent from Cornelius, North Carolina. Ms. Staley is a retired registered nurse and a retired insurance agent. She understands health insurance better than most.

Recently, she received this letter, explaining that her current insurance was canceled due to ObamaCare and

that her new plan would be twice as expensive. Quoting Ms. Staley:

There was nothing in the world wrong with my plan. What

they are giving me is worse. I was told by the President

that, if I liked my health care plan--which I do--I could

keep it. I was told by the President that the ACA would help

lower my costs.

President Obama made a simple direct promise to Ms. Staley. Tomorrow, I urge you to join me in voting for H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act. The American people don't need more apologies from the President. They need results.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote Nos. 571-572, I am not recorded because I was absent from the U.S House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner.

On rollcall No. 571, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''. On rollcall No. 572, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''.

Mr. Speaker, much attention has been focused recently on the flawed rollout of ObamaCare. Sadly, a potential bigger problem has now emerged.

Once consumers battle their way through the glitchy Web site, much of the highly sensitive personal information sent to the insurers is wrong. According to The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, the ObamaCare Web site is sending garbled data to insurers, claiming, for example, that some enrollees have three spouses or that someone has signed up for three separate insurance plans or has enrolled and then unenrolled and then reenrolled multiple times in one day. In short, you could fight your way through the Web site, fill out all the forms correctly, and end up with the wrong insurance, the wrong subsidy, and the wrong coverage.

Now is the time to end this madness. The individual mandate must be delayed by a year, and President Obama and Senator Reid must be willing to sit down with Republicans and discuss real reforms to what is quickly becoming a national disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a great concern over the lack of accountability and transparency we continue to see from the President and his administration as they scramble to fix the problems in the health care exchange and their Web site platform.

Mr. Speaker, we have walked through the tragedy of Benghazi, the abuse of the IRS, the lack of real commitment from the Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, this isn't right. We need a government that is transparent, that is willing to tell the truth to the American people.

Three weeks after the rollout of these exchanges, the administration finally has come to Capitol Hill, but they are coming, Mr. Speaker, only to speak to House Democrats. Now figure that out. Where is the transparency there?

The American people deserve to know the truth of what happened with the $400 million that was spent on a Web site to try to enlist people to join this health care exchange. The American people are being left on the hook for a Web site that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and they deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Throwback Thursday, I would like to read to my colleagues the words of then-Senator Barack Obama during the debate on March 16, 2006, about raising the debt limit:

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's

debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that

the U.S. Government can't pay its own bills. It is a sign

that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from

foreign countries to finance our government's reckless fiscal

policies.

Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and

internationally. Leadership means that the buck stops here.

Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices

today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.

America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.

Americans deserve better.

I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase

America's debt limit.

That was spoken by Senator Barack Obama on March 16, 2006.

Mr. Speaker, we have a $17 trillion debt today under the leadership of President Obama. I would say today is the day to come together as reasonable people to resolve this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask if we've entered the twilight zone.

Last Friday, a bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 75, which ensures the proper funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC. Senate Democrats have refused to take action on this legislation, choosing to play political games instead of providing nutritional assistance to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children.

Here's where it gets stranger. President Obama has actually threatened to veto the legislation. The President of the United States is threatening to veto nutritional assistance for little babies and preschoolers?

This isn't a game. Yesterday, North Carolina stopped using WIC benefits because of this unfortunate shutdown.

America elected a divided government, but they expect us to work together. Mr. Speaker, the President needs to convey to the Senate Democrats that they must come to the negotiating table. Senate Democrats must rejoin the normal legislative process. Let's talk.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall votes No. 517-526, I am not recorded because I was absent from the U.S. House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

On rollcall No. 517, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 518, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 519, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 520, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 521, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 522, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 523, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 524, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 525, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 526, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I was frankly disappointed and really perplexed yesterday when the President of the United States called a meeting in the White House and asked the Speaker of the House to come and meet. He asked the leader of the Democrats in the House to come and meet. He asked the majority leader in the Senate to meet. And at the same time, his pressman, Jay Carney, was on TV saying: We're not going to negotiate. When they ended the meeting, Senator Reid and Ms. Pelosi said: We're not going to negotiate.

Mr. Speaker, I'm aware that this bill has been 50 years in the making. The Democrats have wanted to nationalize health care for 50 years. They found their political timing to do it when they controlled the House and the Senate, when President Obama was President, and with a total partisan vote, they got what they wanted--even without even reading the bill. As Ms. Pelosi said: We're going to pass it and then we're going to read it. Yet Mr. Obama has said that House Republicans are on an ideological crusade, Mr. Speaker. His staff has referred to us as suicide bombers. Really?

You know, Mr. Speaker, we were all elected to serve our constituents. The President was, and so was I. So was the Speaker of the House. We don't have a monarch in this country, Mr. Speaker, we have a representative government, and our role is to listen and to respond to our constituents. They are writing us, they're emailing us constantly telling us their concerns. Let's hear about one from Cornelius, North Carolina:

Just received my new monthly premium from Blue Cross/Blue

Shield of North Carolina for 2014. With ObamaCare, my monthly

cost now has tripled with more limited coverage. But what the

heck, now I can get pregnant at 58 years old since I now have

my mandatory maternity coverage. Please continue to push to

stop this horrible mandate.

Here is another constituent from Huntersville, North Carolina:

We are currently paying $270 per month for our high

deductible health insurance policy through Blue Cross/Blue

Shield. Today, we received our new rate for our family for

2014. A comparable plan now with Blue Cross/Blue Shield is

$1,037.02.

Mr. Speaker, this is deplorable. She goes on to write:

It was my understanding that under ObamaCare, premiums

would go down. It was my understanding that this would be

good for everyone. If ObamaCare is not good enough for

government employees, like Members of Congress and the White

House, why is it being delayed for certain corporations and

labor unions who are asking for an exemption, and why can't I

get out of this program?

She goes on to write:

I'm asking you to stand up for freedom, for choice, for the

citizens of this country, to delay ObamaCare for at least a

year, at the very minimum, or even better, to repeal the law

in its entirety.

Mr. Speaker, this is not an ideological crusade; this is about meeting the needs of our constituents. There are other concerns out there with jobs. Companies aren't hiring full-time people. They are hiring part-time so they can stay under that threshold. The cost of this health care plan has gone up dramatically. The Congressional Budget Office says it is unsustainable. Why should we allow for corporations--there's 1,100 of them today, friends of the President--to receive a delay in ObamaCare, and yet ordinary Americans cannot do that?

That's why we proposed an amendment for an individual mandate deferment, that they would not be obligated at this time. We also said that Members of Congress should not receive the subsidy, nor should the White House staff, the President, and his Cabinet Secretaries. Why should we get something special that ordinary American people don't get? And yet these bills are lying on the desk of Harry Reid because he tabled them.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to bring sound reasoning to this process. Let's meet and negotiate, Mr. President and Senator Reid.

We were elected to be Representatives--to represent our districts, to represent our constituents, to listen, and to respond.

Mr. Speaker, I have been listening. I have been listening to phone calls. I have been reading emails. I have been hearing what my constituents have to say, and I can tell you that they are deeply concerned. They are concerned with the direction of our country. Yes, they are concerned with a body that can't seem to come together, that can't seem to listen to each other. One of them wrote me just today.

He said:

I have watched with great interest the ongoing debate

between the House and the Senate regarding the new Federal

health care law. Quite frankly, I was of the opinion that an

absolute stand by House Republicans to defund ObamaCare was

an inappropriate step as compared to less drastic measures .

. . However, in the mail today, we received a 92 percent

proposed increase from Blue Cross-Blue Shield for our current

plan in 2014. The explanation of the increase all boiled down

to the changes in the insurance market required as a result

of the full implementation of ObamaCare. You can easily

understand why we are astounded that this is the best health

care direction that our country can embark upon.

I encourage you to take whatever opportunities come your

way to stop this disaster that is looming. The financial

impact on people who are not a drain on the government will

be immense.

Here is another one, Mr. Speaker:

I just received a letter from Blue Cross informing me that

my current coverage has been outlawed by ObamaCare and that

the premium for my family will increase by 400 percent if I

switch to a legal coverage option. This increase is over

$9,000 a year . . . I don't care if you have to risk shutting

down the government or defaulting on the debt. It is just

postponing the inevitable default if ObamaCare is allowed to

exist.

Mr. Speaker, we are not here because we want to shut down the government. We have made every effort possible. We have gone to great lengths--the extra mile--to the other side to present to them alternatives, to present to them ways that we could come together and agree. We had three proposals there on the table. Now we have offered to go and sit down and talk. That's what our body does. When we have disagreements between the House and the Senate, our formal agreement is to meet and we confer. We bring in negotiators. We talk, and we try to reason this out. We do this in our families, don't we? That's what is done in this body in the normal course of business.

However, in our efforts of trying to bring resolution and sound reasoning to this process, we can't get a response. They say, No, we don't want to talk to you. We don't want to reason with you. We don't want to hear what your constituents are saying. We don't want to hear the problems. We just want to ram this through.

Where is that in a representative government? Where is that in being responsive to the American people?

Mr. Speaker, if we really want good policy--and I have to believe that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle truly want good policy--then we need to take politics out of this. We need to take self-service out of this. We need to come together like adults and sit down and talk this through and come up with a reasonable solution that would bring the best outcome for the American people. That's what our hope is.

We invite, still today, the leadership of the Senate to come and sit down and to conference with us--to negotiate with us, to lay out their concerns and their thoughts. Let's be adults. Let's do the right thing for the American people.