Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Christopher McLain. Christopher is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 394, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Christopher has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Christopher has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Christopher has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Christopher McLain for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Nick van der Drift. Nick is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 235, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Nick has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Nick has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Nick has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Nick reached out to local businesses and citizens and successfully collected funds and supplies for the Community Service League of Blue Springs, Missouri, benefitting hundreds of those in need.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Nick van der Drift for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the amended version of H.R. 5297, the misleadingly named Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. We have

again missed an opportunity to help small businesses around the country that are in desperate need of less regulation and of more certainty about the future. This legislation has three basic parts:

It has a $30 billion government bailout provision with no guarantee that the funds are actually going to go to entrepreneurs;

Another part is it has a slew of major changes to the Small Business Administration programs that actually discourage job creation;

Third--and this is the one that amazes me the most--it has a tax component that combines some very limited small business benefits with even bigger penalties on the dreaded 1099 reporting mandate in the health care law.

To better explain that last part, during the month of August, when I went around and listened to small businesses and to some of the problems that they are having, one of the biggest complaints I heard about was this 1099 reporting for small business with any purchase of over $600 or more. In this bill, it increases the penalties on reporting for that. So it was just amazing to me that this was actually included in this.

As the ranking member of the Small Business Committee and as a small business owner myself, I have spent months talking to entrepreneurs and examining their ideas on what Washington can do to encourage a stable recovery. I can tell you right now that this legislation is not what they want. It is not what they need to create and grow their businesses.

Small business owners aren't looking for more government intervention and more wasteful spending. They are looking for some certainty. Small business owners are looking for a commitment from Washington leaders that their taxes are going to stay the same. They need a commitment that they won't be bombarded with more job-killing regulations. Most of all, they need to feel confident that they can hire new workers and can invest in their businesses without the fear that next week, next month or even next year, Washington is going to turn its back on them.

Instead of creating jobs like my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are promising, all this so-called ``small business bill'' will do is create disappointment. In fact, this bill actually removes a very critical job creation requirement from one of the SBA lending programs. The truth of the matter is that this is just another bailout bill that will generate billions of dollars for financiers and not one penny for workers.

If we are serious about creating jobs and about encouraging small business expansion, we must work together to develop fiscally responsible policies that work for small businesses and families. I urge my colleagues and other Members to vote against this legislation. Instead, join me in implementing a better solution that will help small businesses without imposing more debt and regulations.

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

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Tyler Sparks. Tyler is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 249, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Tyler has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Tyler has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Tyler has earned the rank of Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and is a member of the Order of the Arrow. Tyler has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Tyler designed and constructed 6 raised historical gardens at Watkins Mill State Park outside of Kearney, Missouri.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Tyler Sparks for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Harrison J. Shipman. Harrison is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 249, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Harrison has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Harrison has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Harrison has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Harrison designed and constructed a memory garden at Weston Christian Church in Weston, Missouri. Harrison honored the memory of 70 late members of the church with bricks with their names inscribed on them,

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Harrison J. Shipman for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Saint John's Lutheran Church of Corning, Missouri, as they celebrate their sesquicentennial anniversary.

Since being founded as the Deutsch Evangelish Lutheraner St. Johannes in 1860, the St. John's congregation has remained a pillar of the community. The efforts of the community to save the church during the historic floods of 1951 and 1993 highlight the importance of this church to the surrounding area. The historical nature of the church was recognized in 2008 when it was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in congratulating Saint John's Lutheran Church of Corning, Missouri for their 150 years of service to the Corning community.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Andrew Hutchinson. Andrew is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 332, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Andrew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Andrew has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Andrew achieved the rank of Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Andrew has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Andrew provided maintenance at St. Robert's Bellarmine Church in Blue Springs, Missouri, by replacing the outside steps and repainting a shed for the church.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Andrew Hutchinson for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, July 26, 2010 I was unavoidably delayed and thus missed rollcall votes No. 467, No. 468, and No. 469. Had I been present I would have voted ``nay'' on No. 467 and ``yea'' on No. 468 and No. 469.

On Tuesday, July 27, 2010 I was unavoidably delayed and thus missed rollcall votes No. 470 through No. 475. Had I been present I would have voted ``nay'' on No. 470 and No. 473 and ``yea'' on No. 471, No. 472, No. 474, and No. 475.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Graves-Boswell amendment. I would like to thank the gentleman from Iowa for offering this amendment with me and for his support.

Our amendment prohibits the FAA from using funds in this act to terminate an existing residential through-the-fence agreement at public-use general aviation airports. It also prevents the FAA from withholding funds from the sponsor of a GA airport, solely because that sponsor enters into a residential through-the-fence agreement.

To kind of explain this, the sponsor can be the airport authority, it might be the community, it might be the municipality, it might be the county in many cases. What a residential through-the-fence agreement is is an agreement between the airport sponsor and a person who might own residential property adjacent to that airport. These agreements simply provide the property owner and their aircraft access to the airport.

It is very important to note that this amendment does not require a GA airport to enter into one of these residential agreements. If an airport or that airport authority--city, county, municipality--if they feel that such an agreement is not beneficial to the airport or they simply don't like the idea, then they don't have to enter into an agreement. It's always been that way. It's up to those communities. Those communities, the municipalities, counties, they own the airport. The Federal Government doesn't. What this amendment simply does is keep that option out there on the table.

Most recently the FAA began targeting public-use airports that have residential through-the-fence agreements. In some cases, the FAA has withheld annual Airport Improvement Program funds from GA airports solely because the airport has a residential through-the-fence agreement. Airport Improvement Program funds are those funds that are deposited into the general aviation trust fund from taxes on aviation fuel. That's where it comes from. They go to these airports to make improvements, to expand airports, whatever the case may be; but the FAA has withheld those funds simply because an airport has entered into one of these agreements.

Residential through-the-fence agreements can safely coexist with GA airports. The FAA's policy banning all of these residential agreements remains, I think, misguided and unjustified. Rather than work through these on a case-by-case basis, the FAA finds it more convenient just to prohibit them altogether.

Our amendment will prohibit the FAA from enforcing this policy just in fiscal year 2011. What I am trying to do is hopefully give us some time so we can find a more permanent, long-term solution. This amendment does not prohibit the FAA from deeming an airport to be out of compliance. If an airport violates any of the criteria that are out there, they could still hold them accountable. They simply can't do it solely because the airport has entered into a residential through-the- fence agreement.

Again, Mr. Chairman, just to try to put it in basic terms, these airports belong to the cities and the counties. They don't belong to the Federal Government, and I think it's wrong that the Federal Government would withhold funds from them simply because they entered into one of these agreements. It should be up to the city; it should be up to the community or whoever the airport authority is and not up to the Federal Government.

I rise in support of the Graves-Boswell amendment. Again, I want to thank the gentleman from Iowa for helping out with this. He has been a strong general aviation advocate for many, many years and obviously very active in this issue.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I very much appreciate the chairman's willingness to work with me on

this and to move forward. This is going to be a process that is going to take some time. We need to come up with some thoughtful consideration.

What I'm trying to do today with this amendment, though, is just prevent us from doing some irreparable damage to these airports and to these agreements in the meantime, just this year. It's just for this fiscal year, just to slow this process down and to address some of the FAA's concerns.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I tell you what, I would rather not withdraw the amendment, but I would take just a voice vote. I would like to say if I can, I just appreciate the chairman's willingness to work with me on this, and I understand what he's saying, too, and I respect it. But thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Tyler Grosdeck. Tyler is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 447, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Tyler has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Tyler has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges and contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project, but also earned the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Tyler Grosdeck for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Dylan Cochran. Dylan is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1179, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Dylan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Dylan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Dylan has earned the rank of Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and the World Conservation Award. Dylan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Dylan constructed and installed a bench along the Maple Woods Conservation Area trail route.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Dylan Cochran for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jordan M. McCloud. Jordan is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1179, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jordan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jordan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Jordan has earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and the World Conservation Award. Jordan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Jordan constructed a fire ring and installed erosion prevention measures at New Hope Retreat Center outside of Holt, Missouri.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jordan M. McCloud for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Joseph Paul Homan. Joseph is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 312, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Joseph has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Joseph has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Joseph has earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and a four- year Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship to the University of Missouri-Columbia. Joseph has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Joseph planted landscaping, painted fire lanes and refurbished the flag pole at Lutheran High School of Kansas City, Missouri.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Joseph Paul Homan for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Kevin Hadley. Kevin is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 447, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Kevin has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Kevin has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges and contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project, but also earned the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Kevin Hadley for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brad Rowald. Brad is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 447, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Brad has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brad has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges and contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project, but also earned the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brad Rowald for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.