Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, February 10, 2009, I was unable to cast my votes on the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1, H. Res. 114, H. Res. 60, H. Res. 143, H. Res. 128, and H. Res. 134 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 54, on the Motion to Instruct Conferees to H.R. 1, stating that the Economic Stimulus bill must be made available for 48 hours before a final vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' It is unbelievable to me that we are more than likely going to be asked to vote on an $800 billion piece of legislation, that will be drafted behind closed doors, after having less than 24 hours to review it. We owe it to our constituents to take our time with this bill, study it extensively and ensure that the stimulus will actually create jobs.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 55, on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 114, Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Girls and Women in Sports Day,'' I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 56, on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 60, Recognizing and commending University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for winning the 2008 Heisman Trophy and for his academic and athletic accomplishments, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 57, on a motion to table H. Res. 143, the personal resolution offered by Rep. John Carter to ensure that Chairman Charlie Rangel steps aside during his ethics investigation, I would have voted ``no.'' Over the past couple of years we have had an unbelievable number of ethics violations by Members of Congress that have deteriorated the trust that the American people had for its Representatives and it is about time we took a hard line on ethics violations. Rep. Rangel has admitted that he has made mistakes and the House ethics committee is currently investigating him on numerous separate cases. To make clear to the American people that this is a House of integrity, I must ask Chairman Rangel to step aside until the ethics committee can complete its work.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 58, on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 128, Honoring Miami University for its 200 years of commitment to extraordinary higher education, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 59, on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 134, Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s visit to India, and the positive influence that the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi had on Dr. King's work during the Civil Rights Moement, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on project funding, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding project funding I requested as part of Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Appropriations bill that was included in H.R. 2638:

(1) Requesting Member: Timothy V. Johnson.

Bill Number: Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Appropriations bill included in

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, September 22, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 6685, H.R. 1907, and H.R. 6853 and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 616, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6685, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide an annual grant to facilitate an iron working training program for Native Americans, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 617, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 1907, the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Act, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 618, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6853, the Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator Act of 2008, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately on September 16, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on the Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present for rollcall No. 592, on the Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Speaker unfortunately last night, September 15, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 1200, H. Con. Res. 390, and H.R. 6889, and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 589 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1200, honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 590 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 390, honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 591 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6889, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately Tuesday night, July 29, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 2490, H.R. 6113, and H.R. 2192, and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 534 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 2490, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a pilot program for the mobile biometric identification in the maritime environment of aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the United States, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 535 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6113, Paperwork Assistance Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 536 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 2192, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately Monday night, July 14, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 1067, H. Res. 1080, and H. Con. Res. 297, and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 486 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1067, Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the crossing of the North Pole by the USS Nautilus, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for Roll Call No. 487 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1080, Honoring the extraordinary service and exceptional sacrifice of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), known as the Screaming Eagles, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for Roll Call No. No. 488 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 297, Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the integration of the United States Armed Forces, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, July 8, 2008, due to my plane being delayed by over an hour and a half due to mechanical issues, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 3981, H.R. 1423, and H.R. 4199.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 471, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 3981, the Preserve America and Save America's Treasures Act, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 472, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 1423, the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Lease Act, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 473, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 4199, to amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to add sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. Due to a flight delay on June 24, 2008, I was unable to cast my vote in favor of this important piece of legislation.

The Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act is critical to my district as it stops the scheduled cut in physician payment rates under the Medicare program and provides for a 1.1 percent increase in 2009. If these cuts are not halted by Congressional action, under current law, physicians across the country are to receive a 10.6 percent cut in their Medicare payment rates. This will lead to a loss of health care access for Medicare beneficiaries in every Congressional district. Short of a permanent fix to the sustainable growth rate for doctors, it is imperative that Congress pass short-term extensions, such as this, to ensure that physicians around the country are reimbursed by Medicare for the care they are providing to our Nation's seniors. It is important to recognize that many of these doctors own small businesses and the services they provide to their communities are undeniable and necessary. We must ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to doctors, and passing this legislation will ensure access to care.

While I was disappointed that the bill included cutting Medicare Advantage payments in order to pay for the physician payment increase, I believe that the underlying issue of physician payments must take precedence in order to preserve access for Medicare beneficiaries with their local physicians.

As the President has given Congress until July 15 to act on this issue, I look forward to having an opportunity to pass legislation to fix this issue for our physicians and Medicare beneficiaries.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, June 24, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on the Motion to Adjourn, the Motion to Adjourn, and H.R. 6331. Had I been present for rollcall No. 441 on the Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``aye.'' Had I been present for rollcall No. 442 on the Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``aye.'' Had I been present for rollcall No. 443 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, June 23, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 1242, H. Con. Res. 372, and H. Res. 1051, and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 438 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1242, Honoring the life, musical accomplishments, and contributions of Louis Jordan on the 100th anniversary of his birth, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 439 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 372, Supporting the goals and ideals of Black Music Month, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 440 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1051, Congratulating James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, for 100 years of service and leadership to the United States, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on June 17, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 2964, H.R. 3702, and H. Res. 1275, and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 414 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 2964, the Captive Primate Safety Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 415 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 3702, the Montana Cemetery Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 416 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1275, Honoring the life of Timothy John Russert, Jr., public servant, political analyst, and author, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, June 3, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Con. Res. 138, H. Res. 923, and H. Res. 1114, and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 367 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 952, Supporting National Men's Health Week, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 368 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 923, Recognizing the State of Minnesota's 150th anniversary, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 369 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1114, Supporting the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, May 20, 2008, due to ground crew delays at Reagan National Airport and subsequent delays getting to the terminal, I was unable to cast my vote on H.R. 6081 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 331 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6081, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, May 5, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 952, the vote to table the motion to reconsider H. Res. 952, H.Res. 1011, the vote to table the motion to reconsider H. Res. 1011, and the motion to adjourn and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall #240 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 952, to establish a National Teacher's Day, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall #241 on tabling the motion to reconsider the vote on H. Res. 952, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall #242 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1011, Calling on the United States Government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in Chad, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall #243 on tabling the motion to reconsider the vote on H. Res. 1011, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall #244 on the motion to adjourn, I would have voted ``aye.''