Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, 41, 19, 5, and zero. Madam Speaker, the House has voted 41 times to defund, dismantle, and repeal the President's disastrous health care law. Nineteen provisions of ObamaCare have been repealed or delayed. The Obama administration has delayed five significant provisions of the law. And Harry Reid and the Senate have not once brought a vote to the Senate floor.

Madam Speaker, as a business owner, I know that businesses don't want ObamaCare. They are being forced to cut employees and hours. Labor unions don't want the law. They've unsuccessfully lobbied the White House to be exempt. Families don't want it. They're seeing their premiums skyrocket and their current health care plans disappear. Even IRS agents, tasked with implementing and enforcing the law, don't want it. IRS Acting Commissioner Daniel Werfel said IRS employees don't want changes to their health care. And the majority of Americans don't want it. Everybody is seeking exemptions.

Madam Speaker, today the House will vote for the 42nd time to defund ObamaCare and keep the government running while the Senate has yet to act. Now is the time for our Senators to stand up and demand Harry Reid bring this vote to the floor. America is waiting on them to join us in our fight to get rid of ObamaCare, the worst legislation in our lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, in the President's pivot back to jobs last

week, he told a crowd that America has fought its way back 5 years after the start of the Great Recession.

Five years ago, unemployment was at 5 percent; today it's as 6\1/2\. Five years ago, the national poverty rate was at 12\1/2\ percent; today it exceeds 15 percent. Five years ago, 30 million Americans received food stamps; today 47.8 million are enrolled.

We are no way back to where we were before the 2008 collapse, and it's the President's economic agenda that is pushing us further into danger.

As a business owner for 42 years, I've been on the receiving end of these job-killing policies, and I know what it will take to get the economy back on track. We need true tax reform, we need to get the government out of health care, we need to energize the energy business, and we need to make sure our military remains fully funded, well equipped, and the best in the world.

We should never accept 7.6 percent as the normal level for unemployment or a 15 percent poverty rate; and we should never accept an economy that creates more food stamps than jobs.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, the general aviation industry is a vital part of the economy in Texas' 25th District. Between the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom Airport, there are dozens of smaller regional airports.

Passing H.R. 1848 is not only important to those in general aviation, it is vital. As my colleagues have mentioned, this industry includes nearly 600,000 pilots, employs 1.3 million people, and contributes approximately $150 billion annually to the U.S. economy. But because the current regulations are overly strict and dated, our economy and workforce is struggling.

General aviation fosters a robust workforce of engineers, manufacturers, maintenance professionals, and pilots, and it is within the FAA's power to ensure the success and sustainability of this important industry. They can do this by modernizing the regulatory requirements to improve safety, decrease cost, and set new standards for compliance in testing, just as H.R. 1848 requires.

Mr. Speaker, I'm a small businessman. I can tell you this is good for jobs, it's good for the economy, and, most importantly, it's good for America.

Nervous, concerned, complex, train wreck, Third World experience. These are the words used by the Democratic authors of ObamaCare to describe their very own creation.

Mr. Speaker, these aren't new concerns. These are concerns shared by families and businesses across the Nation ever since then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi rushed the bill through Congress so we could ``see what's in it.''

Now that the Democrats and the President can see what's in it, they don't like it either.

As a business owner and job creator of over 42 years, I know businesses can no longer hire or take risks that would grow the economy.

The President's 1-year delay of the employer mandate isn't what businesses or the economy needs. This only delays the meltdown that this complex government overhaul will cause. Business owners, parents, young professionals, senior citizens--all Americans deserve protection from this law and its mandates, its skyrocketing premiums, and its rapidly shrinking selection of coverage plans, not for 1 year, but permanently.

Let's fully repeal the nightmare of ObamaCare. It doesn't work, and it won't work.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when millions of Americans are out of work and the cost of living continues to rise, the President could not be more out of touch with reality.

For example, President Obama has continued pushing for car manufacturers to produce vehicles that get 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 through the EPA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy program. What he doesn't understand is that CAFE standards are expensive for manufacturers, increase the cost for consumers, and have caused a significant decrease in vehicle safety by forcing manufacturers to downsize and to use lighter materials in production.

Fuel efficiency has been and always will be important to consumers. Consumer demand is incentive enough for producers to make fuel- efficient vehicles. Some families might trade off miles per gallon for greater safety or more leg room.

The bottom line is that the people should make these decisions, not the Federal Government. The President needs to understand that Americans can make informed purchases without restricting our freedom to choose. That's why I've introduced H.R. 2445, a bill to repeal the CAFE standards.

I hope my colleagues will join me in standing up for the free market by repealing these destructive government regulations.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, the military has taken $500 billion in budget cuts this year; Congress has slashed its budget by 11 percent in the last 3 years; and this year, at the President's command, several government agencies have cut vital programs and employees due to mandatory spending cuts.

Everyone across the country is being asked to do more with less-- families, businesses, the military, and government agencies--but the President is sending Americans another message: you pay while he plays.

That's right. The Obama family is taking an extravagant summer vacation to Africa, costing taxpayers an estimated $100 million. That is obscene, and Americans should be outraged. This money could keep the public White House tours funded--which the President canceled due to budget constraints--for 26 years. It could pay for an additional 22,000 college degrees for soldiers enrolled in the Army's Tuition Assistance program. It could reverse the potential $90 million in cuts for Border Patrol agents and border security. In fact, it could fund the entire Houston Astros' payroll times four.

Mr. Speaker, instead of asking everyone but himself to make enormous sacrifices, it's time for the President to make his and put the people first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act.

While our brave Armed Forces continue to fight for our national security, it is vitally important that Congress ensures their economic security.

Even during times of tight budgets and spending cuts, it is our responsibility to give adequate support all the way from the joint chiefs to the newest recruits. This also includes stricter penalties for personal misconduct and greater protection for victims of assault.

Texas' 25th District is home to Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the world. These soldiers, and all who wear the uniform, need to know their Congress is behind them, giving them the best armored trucks you can drive, the best planes you can fly, the best weapons you can fire, and the best ammunition you can use. We need to have an unbeatable military readiness and the highest quality of life possible for the greatest military in the history of the world.

Even with restrained resources, this bill will support and protect our troops and their families and provide the American people with the peace they deserve.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 4.5 million Americans have been without a job for 27 weeks or longer. This number is equal to the entire population of the greater Houston area. This should not happen in America. A job is fundamental. It gives individuals the chance to contribute both to their family and to the economy.

America has always been a land of opportunity, growth, and prosperity. Sadly, Washington's policies over the last 4 years are preventing job creators from growing their businesses and creating job opportunities for these 4.5 million Americans out of work.

The endless regulations, tax increases, and the burdens of complying with ObamaCare have made the Federal Government too big and out of control.

Instead of continuing with its flawed policies that are crippling America's future, I hope the President and his administration will work with the House Republicans as we continue with our plan for economic growth and jobs, that cuts spending, balances the budget, lowers health care costs, eliminates red tape, takes important steps towards energy independence, and encourages responsible oversight of out-of-control government agencies like the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, America is about the American Dream, not the American scheme.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work and admirable service of a very special military support non- profit in Texas--Support our Soldiers (SOS).

Led by Teresa Nelson, whose father served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division, SOS was founded to care for our troops at home and abroad with support they might otherwise not receive. SOS volunteers often create custom boxes to meet the unique needs of troops. Just this week, a Marine unit serving overseas received a shipment of pillows after SOS learned they had none. Since its establishment in June 2011, over 17,000 pounds of food and supplies have been sent overseas to benefit more than 500 soldiers.

Texans are always looking for ways to give back to the men and women of the United States armed forces, and SOS provides a wide range of opportunities for its surrounding communities to serve those who wear the uniform. Teresa and her team host monthly meetings with sell-out crowds and organize community events across 6 cities in Tarrant and Johnson County to raise awareness, funds, and support for our troops. Beyond collecting and distributing material goods, SOS also works with ROTC programs and students to teach them the importance of patriotism.

It's people like Teresa Nelson and organizations like Support our Soldiers who embody the American spirit of gratitude and generosity. Our nation is free today because of the selfless sacrifices of thousands of brave men and women who have answered the call of duty. We owe these troops and their families abundant support, whether it's food, shelter, clothing, or comfort. I commend SOS for their commitment to providing this much-needed support, and I am proud to know the wonderful leaders and volunteers of this great organization.

God bless our troops and God bless America.

Madam Speaker, it's a rare occasion when Democrats, Republicans, the President, his supporters, and the public all agree on something. What doesn't make sense is that, while we all agree it's time to build the Keystone pipeline, President Obama has blocked its construction for over 4 years.

The Keystone pipeline would create over 42,000 jobs. It will invest $7 billion into the U.S. economy, and it will increase U.S. energy security and independence by safely transporting 830,000 barrels of oil per day, which is nearly half of what the U.S. currently imports from unstable, hostile nations.

At a time when gas prices are on the rise and unemployment remains around 8 percent, we cannot afford to delay this project any longer. The President's own Web site says we need an all-out, all-of-the-above energy strategy that develops every available source of American energy.

I would say, Mr. President, you have a lot to worry about currently, so forget about this one, and let the oil flow.

The Keystone project is ready. Congress is ready. The public is ready. Madam Speaker, is the President ready?

Mr. Speaker, it has been 2 bad weeks for the White House: Benghazi coverups by the State Department officials, massive intrusion into phone records by the Justice Department, and the forced resignation of acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller and other top official, Joseph Grant, after one of the most unbelievable abuses of government power in recent years.

After the IRS admitted to targeting conservative groups with whose messages it disagrees, the American people were shocked by this politically motivated discrimination. No matter what party controls the White House, taxpayers deserve to be treated fairly.

President Obama promised an open and transparent government, yet these government lies show a complete disregard for the Constitution. In fact, the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause requires that the government treat all entities in a similar, fair, and equal manner.

Let me be clear: no administration should ever use the IRS to target its political opponent--no way, no how. I will demand the administration be held accountable for this outrage.

This is the United States of America, Mr. Obama, not one of your European buddies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of freedom and free enterprise, the hallmarks of our great American democracy. A government that places high value on these principles does not force its citizens to hand over their hard-earned money for a mandatory product, in this case health insurance. This is not how it's done in America.

Mr. Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues rushed this bill through Congress more than 3 years ago. Democrats and Republicans can agree on one thing, that this is very flawed and is not even what Americans asked for in the first place. Even President Obama has signed into law seven bills that dismantle provisions of his health care law.

Defying common sense, the President and Democrats and Congress continue pushing forward with implementation of this disastrous law. And who wants it? Members of Obama's own party are now doubting how the law will work. Some of the key players who wrote the bill don't even want it. Senator Max Baucus said the health care law is a train wreck, and Senator Jay Rockefeller said that it's overly complicated and beyond comprehension.

Architects of this law don't want it, insurance companies don't want it, the majority of the public doesn't want it, organized labor doesn't want it, and as a small business owner of nearly 42 years, I can tell you that small businesses don't want it.

No business owner would run their business like the President is running this government and this massive health care overhaul. I can say from firsthand experience that small businesses--the backbone of our economy--are literally hurting.

As a job creator, I know how businesses can no longer hire. They can't take risks that would grow the economy. I've heard from people all over my district who have work available and positions ready to fill, but they can't hire anyone or else they risk going over the number of 50 employees and being subject to the ObamaCare employee mandate. Everybody wants to be at 49.

How is this good for Americans and America?

The struggling economy has already forced families to cut back and tighten their budgets. How does the President expect these hardworking taxpayers to pay an additional $3,000 each year for ObamaCare?

I've had employees come to me in tears wondering how they're going to provide coverage for their families. And even the few Americans able to keep their current insurance will see their premiums rise by an average of 73 percent.

Again, I ask, how is that good for America?

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to quote Patrick Henry. He claimed:

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to

restrain the people. It is an instrument for the people to

restrain the government--lest it come to dominate our lives

and interest.

Let's put an end to the chaos and do what's right for our families, our businesses, and our tax dollars. Repeal ObamaCare today--the quicker the better.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, April 26, 2013, I was unable to be present for rollcall votes 128 and 125. Please let the record reflect that I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 527, the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act, which is consistent with my position on this legislation. Please let the record reflect that I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 1765, Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, which is consistent with my position on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing on Earth more precious than life. No matter where you stand on the abortion issue, most Americans find the practice and actions of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, an abortion provider, to be brutal, unconscionable, and barbaric.

The astounding reality is that Dr. Gosnell's methods of killing babies who survive abortions are commonly used by clinics across the Nation. Similar deadly actions take the lives of 1 million unborn children each year in the United States. This is a violent act that is entirely unjustifiable.

I am a firm believer that every human being is created in God's own image, every life is precious, and we have an obligation to protect life at every stage. It's time we get rid of this gruesome procedure once and for all, and I hope and pray that the President will consider it before more innocent lives are taken.

Mr. Chairman, we owe it to the American people to produce a smart, responsible budget; a budget that balances, that encourages job growth, and supports job creators; a budget that simplifies our overly complicated Tax Code and lowers tax rates for corporations and the middle class.

This budget just doesn't add up. In fact, it further complicates the Tax Code and will greatly hamper job creation. It would create five new tax brackets for upper-income individuals and small businesses, and would raise taxes on hardworking middle class Americans. It's not good policy to raise taxes ever, and especially not in a struggling economy.

I know what it takes to run a successful business. I have owned and operated my small business for 41 years, and it was said I walked the walk, I talked the talk.

This budget won't work in the real world, and it won't work in any world. This budget contains trillions in new taxes, trillions in new spending, and adds trillions more to the deficit. Pretty soon this budget would need its own bailout.

The American people deserve better. They beg for the Ryan budget. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this substitute.