Floor Statements

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

I want to thank my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for his great work on this bill and for trying to put the focus on creating jobs. It's not often so many times what we do but what we can undo up here in Washington that will let the private sector get back in the business of creating jobs.

Madam Chairman, the amendment I am offering with my colleague from California (Mr. Sherman) would simply adjust for inflation the $1 million and $2 million caps in the underlying bill. This will ensure investment opportunities today are just as strong tomorrow.

As the real value of money decreases over time, small-contribution investors may be discouraged from supporting start-up companies in the future due to the diminishing buying power of their original investments. By indexing the caps in the bill to reflect the annual change in the consumer price index, we will continue to allow investment opportunities for Main Street Americans, like our teachers, police officers and farmers, to pool their money and support entrepreneurs in their communities.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield to my colleague from North Carolina.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss job creation and a solution that can create thousands of new jobs that will cost the American taxpayer nothing. Unemployed Americans are crying out for more jobs and urging Congress to review those rules and regulations which stifle innovation and job creation.

Today, I am proud to introduce the Small Company Job Growth and Regulatory Relief Act of 2011. This legislation will amend Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires a duplicative audit of companies with a public float of $75 million or more. I am introducing this bill for one reason: to increase job creation on Main Street.

Mr. Speaker, current law basically requires an ``audit of an audit'' that costs small companies more than $1 million each year. These burdensome costs are also discouraging companies from going public, which deprives firms of the capital needed to expand their business, create jobs, and hire more American workers. My bill will simply raise the current $75 million threshold exemption in Section 404(b) to $350 million, to exclude more companies from the ``audit of an audit.''

We must do all that we can to turn our economy around and get back on the path of creating jobs. It's these types of laws and regulations that are impeding economic growth. If we get Washington out of the way and allow companies to expand and create jobs, we will bring back opportunity to the United States and get folks back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the gross misuse of taxpayer money by continuing to provide benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to recipients who test positive for illegal drug use or are convicted of drug related crimes.

At a time when Congress is focused on trimming budgets, it is imperative we focus on eliminating irresponsible funding. That is why I

am introducing the Welfare Integrity Act of 2011. This legislation is a step toward eliminating abuse of taxpayer money by requiring all state receiving funds from the TANF program to certify they are testing applicants and current recipients for illegal drug use.

Americans are generous in providing assistance to those in need, but they also expect their tax dollars to be used in a responsible manner. Welfare assistance is meant to help those going through hard financial times to buy food and basic living expenses for their families. It's not too much to ask folks to keep clean in order to receive federal assistance.

Mr Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to support me in passing the Welfare Integrity Act of 2011 to eliminate abuse and take a step toward commonsense.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ben and Jennifer Moore from the city of Dresden in Weakley County on winning the Tennessee Farm Bureau's Outstanding Young Farmer and Achievement Award this past July 23, 2011. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were selected over 20 excellent county contestants to win the state competition and have a chance to win national honors at the American Farm Bureau's convention early next year.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore farm over 3,400 acres including corn and soybeans and a number of specialty crops. Additionally, they pasture about 80 head cow/calf livestock, and manage a 4,000 sow operation.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore are also active in The Young Farmers & Ranchers program which promotes leadership skills for farmers ages 18-35. As members of the Program they share a common bond for the agricultural lifestyle, leadership development, and are dedicated to meeting the challenges of farming and ranching. Ben served as the YF&R state committee chairman, was a member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation's Board of Directors, and has held numerous county and leadership positions. Jennifer is a member of the Tennessee Pork Producers Association, and is active on YF&R committees and other community organizations. The Moore's dedication, service, and significant contributions to their community and agriculture should make all Tennesseans proud. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have three sons, Miller, Tate, and Tyler. I congratulate them all.

Mr. Chair, I come to the floor this morning to discuss an issue important to all American families living on a budget.

This Administration's overreaching regulations placed on energy are causing increases to American families' utility bills.

Families need certainty that their energy needs will be met and their energy costs will remain low.

Which is why, I have introduced America's Energy Independence Act, which prevents the EPA from enforcing the Cross-State Air Pollution rule for 10 years to keep the cost of utilities low for families.

As we all know, the Cross-State Air Pollution rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on July 6, 2011, and will lead to negative increases in energy prices for families, job loss, with what benefit.

This country needs to create a stable regulatory environment, where the energy costs to families is balanced with the benefit of the regulation, allowing families to have certainty that any new rules and regulations will have their best interests in mind.

Mr. Speaker, this rule was just recently updated in 2005.

Simply put, this regulation will have a significant negative economic impact of $2.4 billion dollars a year, a cost that will be passed to families across the country, including the Eighth District of Tennessee.

The bottom line is that the EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution rule will contribute to a reduction in energy outputs, and an increase to families' utility bills.

At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, the last action the Obama Administration should take is another multi-billion dollar regulation that kills jobs and increase costs.

That is why I would like to thank the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for including the language of H.R. 2891.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this morning to discuss the need to create jobs, my priority since I arrived here in January.

Last Thursday, the President addressed Congress about his proposal to create jobs and move this country forward. We must do better.

Recently, I introduced two bills that are my proposals to help spur job creation:

I introduced the America's Energy Independence Act, which would prevent the EPA from enforcing its cross-State pollution rule for 10 years to keep the flow of electricity high and the cost of electricity for America's families low. The President recognized that the EPA's new smog standards would lead to job losses, but he played politics and only rescinded the standards until right after the election.

I also introduced the Invest in America Act, which would suspend the capital gains tax for 10 years, providing more certainty to families who are being penalized for selling their homes, their investments and farms.

Instead of spending money we don't have on initiatives that don't work, these bills provide actual help to Americans so they can get back to the business of making America great.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill of great importance to families living on a budget. The recent overreaching regulations placed on energy and utility companies hinder America's economy while causing increases to families' utility bills. Families need certainty that their energy needs will be met and their energy costs will remain low. The Cross-State Air Pollution rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, on July 6, 2011, will lead to increases in energy prices for families and prohibit jobs. Also, these regulations and rules were just recently updated in 2005.

America leads the world in providing safe, reliable energy to families. In order for America to continue to prosper, the regulatory process must follow common sense and not be unduly burdensome.

That is why I am pleased to introduce the America's Energy Independence Act, which prevents the EPA from implementing the Cross- State Air Pollution Rule for ten years. Simply put, this regulation will have a significant negative economic impact of $2.4 billion dollars a year which will lead to job loss, a reduction in energy outputs, and an increase to family's utility bills.

At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, the last action the Obama Administration should take is another multi-billion dollar regulation that will kill jobs and increase costs. It is imperative that we keep the flow of energy high and the cost of utilities low.

Creating a stable regulatory environment, where the balance between the costs to families is balanced with the benefit of the regulation, allows families to have certainty that any new rules and regulations that are finalized will have their best interests in mind.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House (and Senate) to support me in passing the America's Energy Independence Act and bring stability and balance to the regulatory process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue of great importance to individuals as they save for retirement and to assist companies to have the capacity to create jobs. The tax burdens placed on families and businesses hinders job creation, job retention, and innovative breakthroughs in technology.

The capital gains tax placed on families and family businesses creates less employment, produces less investment. Thus, making America less competitive in the global economy, and is just another example of how our tax code unfairly punishes innovation and wealth creation.

That is why I am pleased to introduce the Invest in America Act, which reduces the capital gains tax rate to zero for ten years for families, investors, and collectors. Simply put, my bill will create stability in the economy by allowing families and businesses to plan for the future. Lower taxes create a stable economic environment will encourage innovations, breakthroughs, and job creation by providing much needed capital to businesses and entrepreneurs. Lowering the cost of future consumption encourages more Americans to invest and create wealth.

Many countries, such as Germany, have no capital gains tax at all. At a time when the burdensome tax code and regulations are driving American businesses to be less competitive globally reducing the capital gains rate here at home would spark American investment and increase our competiveness globally. Bottom line, we need a streamlined tax code that is fairer, flatter, and simpler that encourages investment and wealth creation in order to get this country moving and working again.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House (and Senate) to support me in passing the Invest In America Act and bring stability to the American economy.

Madam Chairman, I stand before you today because my district recently suffered severe flooding this spring and summer which we are now just beginning to recover from. The flooding of the Mississippi River, caused by an unusual amount of rain from back-to- back storms, left thousands of Tennesseans with flood damage. In my district alone, over 3,000 homes were damaged by storms and floods, and over 4,000 registered for disaster assistance.

Because the Mississippi River borders 110 miles of Tennessee's Eighth Congressional District, many small towns and farms are subject to unpredictable flooding each year. With this in mind, I am pleased to support H.R. 1309 today.

H.R. 1309 reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program for 5 years, which would provide some certainty for the economy and to the national housing market. During a period of 9.2 percent unemployment, we need this certainty to boost the housing construction industry and to help create badly needed jobs.

Another reason I am supporting H.R. 1309 today is this legislation encourages greater private sector participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. Madam Chairman, if we are to reduce Federal spending and the size of government in our lives, we need to put every program on the table and analyze ways we can encourage the private sector to shoulder more government risk.

I am pleased to support H.R. 1309 and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chairman, the American taxpayers are crying out for commonsense spending of Federal tax dollars and urging Congress to review those rules and regulations which may stifle innovation and job creation.

I introduced House Resolution 98, along with my colleagues from North Carolina and Tennessee, to send a bipartisan, commonsense message to the Food and Drug Administration to rely on scientific facts in its development of rules and regulations.

We are supporting this resolution now because we understand that the FDA may be contemplating some regulations in the future that may ignore hard science when creating rules regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics, among other products. These regulations may harm industry and hinder job creation in the future.

The FDA was set up to be a science-based agency; but American farmers, people I represent in Tennessee's Eighth Congressional District, are crying out for commonsense regulations and urging Congress to review those rules and regulations which may hamper innovation and American business.

I know that the FDA is well-intentioned in their efforts. However, today's FDA is not putting science first. Instead, they are picking and choosing which scientific studies they want to use to support their original theory.

The FDA has been slowly expanding their efforts to regulate, regardless if the science is there to back up their efforts. Therefore, I also would hope that this body would be willing to investigate all efforts, guidelines, and rules by the FDA, and review whether they followed the science to get to their decisions.

The FDA is a needed agency, but Congress also needs to do its proper due diligence of oversight to ensure American industries prosper and the American population is safe.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today to honor and thank Mr. Lloyd Ramer for an outstanding 42-year career of serving in public education as Superintendent of the Dyersburg City Schools. Mr. Ramer will retire from service as Superintendent on June 7, 2011. We celebrate his accomplishments and wish him well in his future endeavors.

As an exceptional leader and education advocate, Mr. Ramer began with the Dyersburg School System in 1969. He has functioned in numerous roles ranging from a contemporary studies teacher, acting director, basketball coach, curriculum coordinator, and assistant superintendent. In 1994, Mr. Ramer accepted the responsibility of Superintendent, demonstrating what a colleague calls his ``driving commitment to excellence and his continued quest for quality educational opportunities for our students.'' His commitment has been proven by spending all 42 years of his career working for the Dyersburg City Schools. His years of working with the city schools prove his tremendous commitment to public education.

On behalf of the House of Representatives, I want to thank Mr. Ramer for encouraging thousands of young Americans to achieve their fullest potential.

Please join me in honoring Mr. Lloyd Ramer upon his retirement from public education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue of great importance to family farmers and agricultural businesses. The regulatory burdens placed on family farmers and the agriculture business hinder job creation, job retention, and innovative breakthroughs in technology and crop production. Family farmers across the country lead the world in the production of a safe, secure food supply and provide a multi-billion dollar economic impact. In order for family farmers and the agriculture community to continue to prosper, the regulatory process must follow common sense and not be unduly burdensome.

That is why I am pleased to introduce the Regulatory Balance Act, which codifies into federal statute the cost benefit analysis required by Executive Order 12866. Simply put, any regulation with a significant economic impact of $100 million or more proposed by the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, must perform a cost- benefit analysis and report the same to Congress before the regulation takes effect A cost-benefit analysis would determine whether a proposed regulation would have a negative economic impact on our Nation's economy.

As a farmer, I understand the costs associated with many of the regulations placed upon the agriculture community. By guaranteeing a more transparent, efficient regulatory process that works for family farmers instead of against them, the rural areas of my district and this country will thrive. Family farmers and the agriculture community will continue to be the best in the world as long as federal agriculture regulations are evenly balanced between cost and benefit.

Creating a stable regulatory environment, where balance between the cost to family farmers and the agriculture community is balanced with the benefit of the regulation, allows family farms and the agriculture community to invest and grow their business without added costs due to regulations that fly in the face of common sense.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House (and Senate) to support me in passing the Regulatory Balance Act and bring stability and balance to the regulatory process.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today in memory of Mr. Richard Gilford who was killed tragically while serving his community in the aftermath of the 2011 spring storms and flooding that impacted west Tennessee.

Since 1991 Richard worked for the Crockett County, Tennessee Highway Department. On May 4th, while clearing debris from rain swollen roads, Richard along with his father, Butch, and brother, Frank were trying to cut a

fallen tree when it snapped and hit Mr. Gilford. A fellow colleague said of Richard, ``He loved his job and always gave 110 percent at everything he did, including putting in 16 hours of overtime during the week of the storms.''

Mr. Gilford leaves behind his wife of 13 years, Elisha, and two sons, parents, brother and sisters. He was a Tennessee Titan fan that could often be seen playing in the yard with his children. Richard Gilford, like many unheralded public servants, spent his working life helping the people of Crockett County by making sure their travel back home was always safe. We are forever thankful. The Gilford family can rest assured that the thoughts and prayers of a grateful community are with them during this time.

Please join me in honoring the life, sacrifice, and commitment of Mr. Richard Gilford.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today to pay tribute to the life of Tennessee State Trooper Andy Wall. Trooper Wall was killed tragically in service to the state of Tennessee while escorting the United States Air Force Thunderbirds to the Great Tennessee Air Show.

At the age of 36, he had already served the community and our state for many years. He began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with the city of Dickson Police Department. After graduating from the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Academy in 2004, he eagerly began his job as a Tennessee State Patrolman. His father, former sheriff for Dickson County Tom Wall, said ``his son always aspired to be a trooper so that he could serve all the citizens of Tennessee.'' His friends frequently remember his laugh and smile as one that would brighten an entire room.

It is with great honor and respect that I salute Tennessee State Trooper Andy Wall. Emergency personnel are asked all the time to place their lives on the line. Trooper Wall made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the state he loved. The life of Andy Wall will always be remembered by the love of his family, friends, and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Please join me in saluting the life and service of Tennessee State Trooper Andy Wall.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue of great importance to family farmers and agricultural businesses. The world's population is predicted to be 9.1 billion by 2050, greatly straining the world's food supply. Family Farmers across this country will lead the world in the production of a safe, secure food supply. In order for tomorrow's agriculture community to meet the need of an ever growing population, we must have a clearly defined timetable for agriculture's biotechnology approval process, while ensuring the safety of our environment. This reason for this is simple; it is the law of supply and demand. As demand for food rises, more efficient, higher yielding crops, which are more resistant to weeds and pests will be needed to feed 9.1 billion people. Providing a defined timetable for the approval process of agriculture biotechnology will provide certainty to make decisions and encourage companies to make investments in biotechnology products, which in turn will create jobs and provide the United States with the ability to meet the world's food needs.

The Plant Protection Act of 2000 (7 USC Sec. 7701 et seq.) as amended, directs the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to regulate biotech organisms and plants in order to ensure no biotech product poses a risk to the environment. However, the regulatory uncertainty created by APHIS not following their own timetable hinders job creation and stifles innovative agriculture breakthroughs that will lead to a safer, more secure food supply. That is why I am proud to introduce the Expediting Agriculture Through Science Act, otherwise known as the EATS Act, which clearly defines the amount of time to approve or deny a petition for non-regulated status for biotech crops. Countries throughout the world are developing and implementing biotech crops that produce more and cost less. In today's global economy, Congress must act quickly to ensure family farmers in the United States maintain their superiority in the biotech field and continue to compete globally.

A clearly defined timetable to approve a petition for biotech crops allows businesses to plan and invest in the biotech field while maintaining the protections needed to ensure any biotech product introduced into the environment poses no threat to the environment. The EATS Act will simply codify the current time limit in Sec. 340.6 of the Federal Code of Regulations, which is currently 180 days. Under current agency practice, APHIS is not following the 180 day time limit for approval or denial of the petition. The EATS Act gives APHIS 180 days to approve or deny a petition for non-regulated status with an additional 60 days if needed to ensure the safety of our environment and compliance is met before deeming the petition approved.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House (and Senate) to support me in passing the EATS Act in order to ensure the agricultural community can compete globally and meet the food supply needs of the world.