Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before you today in support of H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. It is essential that we ensure that all Americans are able to maintain a decent standard of living, guaranteed in part by real living wages that reflect today's economic realities.

With rising health care, energy, and education costs, America's hardworking families are being forced to do more with less. While Congress has failed to raise the minimum wage over the past 10 years, it hasn't failed to raise its own pay. Since 1997, congressional pay has increased $31,600. This is simply unjustifiable.

America is the most prosperous nation in the world. It is unconscionable that someone can work full-time and still live in poverty. Working full-time, a minimum wage earner will only bring home $10,712 this year. This is $6,000 below the poverty level for a family of three. More than 125,000 Wisconsin workers would directly benefit from this legislation.

While it is vital that we help the most vulnerable in our society, we must also ensure the livelihood of main street America's small businesses. These small businesses form the cornerstone of our economy and are essential to the well-being of our communities. That is why it is important that any increase in the minimum wage be implemented gradually.

I believe H.R. 2 accomplishes that by raising the minimum wage in a manner that will help the least fortunate while simultaneously protecting small business owners from sharp payroll increases. Sixty days after this legislation is enacted, the minimum wage would increase to $5.85 per hour. One year later, it would rise to $6.55 per hour and reach $7.25 a year after that.

The American public supports raising the minimum wage. In November, six States passed minimum wage ballot measures. Currently, 28 States, including Wisconsin, have minimum wages above the Federal level. The time has come for Congress to listen to the States and the public and pass this important and overdue legislation.

I thank you Mr. Speaker, and urge all of my colleagues to do the right thing and give America's minimum wage earners a well-deserved raise.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before you today to speak in support of the rules changes proposed by our new Speaker, Ms. Pelosi, that will bring enhanced ethics, transparency, and accountability to the House of Representatives. These measures are long overdue, and I applaud our leadership team for making this the first order of business in the 110th Congress.

It has become clear to all Americans that the ethical safeguards here in our Nation's Capital are broken. Rogue lobbyists such as Jack Abramoff were allowed to run amok for years, leaving behind a vast web of corruption in their wake. Wayward Members of Congress were swayed by the offers of expensive gifts, travel, and campaign contibutions that came their way. The maintenance of power became more important than responsible government, as we now see in the spiraling budget deficits, tax breaks for specific companies and industries, and legislation inserted into bills in the dark of night.

With our vote here today, we in the people's house say enough is enough. Today we begin to set our ship right and rebuild the trust of the American people.

Today we will prevent lobbyists from buying access and favor from lawmakers. While they will retain their constitutional right to petition government and share valuable information, they will no longer be allowed to buy meals, give gifts, or provide lavish trips. Corporate officials will no longer be able to buy exclusive access by offering the service of their private corporate jets. The powerful Washington elite will now be placed back on a more equal footing with other citizens who cannot afford such luxuries.

Additionally, all House employees will be required to attend annual ethics training to ensure that all members and staff know the rules and agree to follow them.

These changes, along with additional reporting requirements that will be enacted through subsequent legislation and more vigorous oversight by the Ethics Committee, will assure the American public that their elected officials are working for them and not for the special interests.

While some degree of corruption inevitably will always accompany power, these first steps are both valuable and necessary. I sincerely believe in the integrity of this great institution and its ability to live up to the highest expectations of its founding fathers. Those of us in this chamber have been given a tremendous opportunity to do good, and with that comes great responsibility.

It is my great hope that we all may move beyond the transgressions of the past with our sense of duty and our determination restored, and that the American people will once again believe in us. As a nation defined by its democracy, we must accept nothing less.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the measures before the House today that will restore civility and fiscal responsibility to our work. These changes to the existing House rules are essential if we are to carry out the American people's wish that we govern wisely, effectively, and in a bipartisan way.

With the votes before us today, Democrats who now find ourselves in the majority are reaching out to the other side of the aisle to assure them that we will not treat you as we were treated while we were in the minority. Through these changes we will make sure that 15-minute votes are not held open for three hours while votes are bought through arm twisting and legislative favors; that conference committees will be open to Republicans as well as Democrats; and that conference agreements cannot be circumvented through the addition of new language after they have been signed. Today we vote for the honesty and openness demanded of us by our constituents and expected in a civil, democratic society.

Today we also vote for fiscal responsibility. For five long years now, this Congress has approved, and the President has signed, budget, spending, and tax bills that have turned an enormous surplus into staggering deficit, adding tremendous burden to our children and grandchildren.

As a member of the budget committee for the last two congresses, I joined my Democratic colleagues in calling for a return to the days of paygo legislation so that all new spending is offset by corresponding reductions or new revenue. It is fitting that in our new majority we take this up as our second order of business. May hardworking families across this Nation understand that from this point forward, Congress will spend your money wisely, using the same budget discipline that you employ each and every day in your spending decisions. The days of deficit spending are coming to an end.

I thank Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and our entire leadership team for bringing these issues to the floor and moving the 110th Congress in a new direction. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to solve the challenges facing this country. The rules changes before us today will help us do that, and I urge everyone here today to vote in favor of titles 2 and 3 of H. Res. 6.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, legislation to fully implement the remaining recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. I am pleased the new House leadership has made this one of the first major pieces of legislation debated in the 110th Congress.

In the 5 years since the appalling acts of September 11, our country has been fighting terrorism to protect America and our friends and allies. On July 22, 2004, the independent and bipartisan 9/11 Commission provided to Congress and the American public 41 recommendations to improve homeland security.

At the end of the 108th Congress, legislation was passed and signed into law that implemented some of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. I was disappointed that the bill did not implement all of the Commission's recommendations. That is why I am pleased to support the bill before us today which includes all of the remaining recommendations.

One of the most important subjects the bill addresses is how the U.S. Government interacts with the Arab and Muslim world. The United States must extend our preemptive strategy to include winning the hearts and minds in the developing world; I believe this can be achieved through education reform. H.R. 1 would significantly enhance the International Arab and Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund, which is designed to improve educational opportunities for these youth, by calling for greater funding and outlining specific purposes for the fund.

Education reform in the Arab and Muslim world is of great importance to me. In fact during the 109th Congress I introduced the Universal Education Act to reform education in the developing world. Despite strong evidence that education can make nations more prosperous, healthy, stable, and democratic, the total amount spent each year on foreign aid directed at education could not even build 20 American high schools. If one of our strategic goals is to defeat terrorism around the world, we need to drastically increase our foreign aid spending, and to help developing nations improve their education systems.

Additionally, the bill before us improves the capabilities of the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center by authorizing additional funding and hiring intelligence analysts experienced in the fields of human trafficking and terrorist travel. Cutting off the ability for terrorist to leave their country of origin is a first good step to stopping another attack on U.S. soil.

Further, the legislation strengthens several Federal non- proliferation initiatives so that weapons of mass destruction, WMD, do not fall into the hands of terrorists. Moreover, H.R. 1 would enact the Nuclear Black Market Counter-Terrorism Act. This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who trades nuclear enrichment technology to a non-nuclear weapons state or provides items that contribute to the development of a nuclear weapon by a non-nuclear weapons state or any foreign person. This action sends a clear message to would be terrorists that if they do attempt to arm themselves there will be serious consequences.

I praise the Commission for its excellent work, leadership, patriotism, and service to our country. We owe it to the families of the victims of 9/11 and to the citizens of our country to use the report's recommendations to make certain such attacks never happen again.

Again, I would like to congratulate and thank the House leadership for making one of the first tasks of the 110th Congress implementing the wise reforms suggested by the 9/11 Commission. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Felix Family of Viroqua, Wisconsin. On December 16, 2006, after 100 years and three generations, Felix's Men's and Women's Clothing will be closing. This store has been a pillar of Viroqua's downtown business district and an integral part of the community. Thanks to Felix's and other small businesses, Viroqua continues to have a vibrant downtown.

Steve Felix has owned and operated Ted Felix's since the early 1970s. Steve is a good friend who is not shy in imparting his advice on me during my frequent visits to Felix's. Steve told me once that back when Senator Proxmire served the people of Wisconsin, he would often stop at Felix's and shake Steve's hand. On one of these occasions, Steve scolded the Senator and told him that he needed to start dressing better in order to look like a United States Senator. Senator Proxmire bought a suit from Steve that very day, and during every occasion when he saw Steve he would ask Steve how he looked to ensure his dress was appropriate. As my wife Tawni can attest, Steve has continued this tradition by selling me suits so I am more appropriately dressed.

Small businesses like Felix's are vital to the well-being of rural America because of the unique spirit, personal service, and character they impart on small towns. They are what make shopping on our main streets an enjoyable and personal experience.

Steve's leadership and dedication, along with his wife Betty and their two children Randy and Erica, has made Viroqua and Vernon County a better place to live, work, and raise a family. I commend Steve, the Felix

family, and all of the other small businesses that continue to serve America and drive our economy. I wish them well and Godspeed in their future ventures.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I am committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, receive an education that gives them the skills to achieve. Head Start, as developed in 1965, aims to address the educational, emotional, psychological, health, social, and nutritional needs of preschool-aged children from lower income families. Knowing how critical and beneficial this program is for so many families and their kids in western Wisconsin, I have consistently supported it.

Our local Head Start centers and leaders in western Wisconsin have served these students extremely well. One of the key components of the Head Start program is the quality of teaching it offers to its students. Without these teachers, the program could not succeed. Helen Dehnke of Mondovi, Wisconsin, embodies the devotion of many Head Start teachers. Helen has devoted 36 years of her life to Western Dairyland Head Start children and families.

Helen began her career as a Head Start parent volunteer in 1969 when her twins were in the program. The following year, her hard work earned her the position of teaching assistant in collaboration with Mondovi Day Care, Western Dairyland Head Start, and the Mondovi School District. Understanding how important teacher quality is, Helen participated in professional development sessions and she earned her Child Development Credential in order to serve her students to the best of her abilities.

Helen's hard work has not gone without recognition. Both her students and their families are extremely grateful for her 36 years of dedication, as am I. Helen is a loving and nurturing teacher, who has learned to know her student's exact needs. She has dedicated her life to ensure that young children are able to learn in a healthy, supportive environment.

I congratulate Helen on her retirement and thank her for her life's dedication to Wisconsin children and families. It is because of her work, and the work of her colleagues, that 13,000 Wisconsin preschool- aged children are enrolled in Head Start. As a result, these children will gain an excellent education and acquire the skills necessary to succeed in life. I wish Helen all the luck and well-being in the future, and it is my hope that her work will inspire others to continue to advance teacher qualifications and skills and strengthen the cognitive development and literacy of Head Start students.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this legislation. In fact, we support it. And I thank the chairman of our subcommittee of the Resources Committee for his support on this. I would encourage adoption and passage of this legislation.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I too support this very worthy legislation here tonight. I encourage its adoption.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, we have no objections in regards to this legislation. We encourage its adoption and passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to one of the chief sponsors and leaders of this important piece of legislation, my good friend and distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend my good friend from New York (Mr. Israel) for his leadership that he has shown on this piece of legislation. It has been many years that they have been working on this. But I also want to take a moment to commend my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York, Tim Bishop, for the leadership and the work that he has put into this legislation; along with the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Rosa DeLauro, who has also been very involved; as well as 15 original cosponsors, Democratic cosponsors, from the New York delegation.

I urge an ``aye'' vote on this important bill to restore and preserve the Long Island Sound and encourage its adoption this evening.

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

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

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

Madam Speaker, the chairman of the subcommittee has adequately explained the purpose of the legislation. I would just note, however, that the lands involved do lie within the Congressional district represented by my good friend and colleague, Jim Matheson from Utah. I commend his leadership and involvement in the passage of this legislation.

I would encourage its adoption this evening.

Madam Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of H.R. 2069. I would note that the lands involved lie within the Congressional District represented by my colleague, Jim Matheson. The gentleman from

Utah is to be commended for his advocacy of a land exchange that, as amended, is a win-win for all the involved parties.

Madam Speaker, we appreciate the cooperation shown by the majority, the State of Utah, the BLM, and others in addressing issues that originally existed with the legislation. We support H.R. 2069, as amended, and have no objection to the adoption of the legislation by the House today.

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

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

Madam Speaker, we have no objection in regards to this legislation. I will encourage its adoption this evening.

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

Madam Speaker, I too support this legislation. I encourage its

passage this evening and yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, we too support passage of this legislation, encourage its adoption, and yield back the reminder of our time.

Madam Speaker, we too support passage of this legislation, encourage its adoption and yield back the balance of our time.