Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, due to a scheduled meeting in my District to discuss immigration policies with constituents in Champaign County, Illinois. Had I been present to vote on H.R. 1308, S. 307, and Approving the Journal, I would have voted as follows:

On rollcall No. 254 on H.R. 1308, to amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act to extend the termination date for the Commission, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall No. 255 on S. 307, to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 217 West King Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia, as the ``W. Craig Broadwater Federal Building and United States Courthouse'', I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall No. 256 on Approving the Journal, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on Monday, April 4, 2011 due to a scheduled meeting in my District with constituents in St. Joseph and Ogden, Illinois and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been present to vote on H.R. 1246.

Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 225 on H.R. 1246, to reduce the amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for printing and reproduction, I would have voted in favor of this bill. It is imperative in these times of rising deficit and debt levels that we take a fine tooth comb to every budget and find wasteful spending. This bill, sponsored by an ex-member of our military, is a prime example of the types of bills we should continue to pursue as we tackle the overall levels of spending through the annual budget and appropriations process. Had I been present to vote on this bill, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, while being later to the effort than my good friend Congressman Ron Paul, many of you know that I have long expressed concerns about the sometimes overreaching actions of federal law enforcement, especially as they interact with American citizens.

Most law enforcement officials in this country are highly ethical with a strong desire to serve the effort to keep our country and our communities safe. Unfortunately, as in any profession, there are some people who do not uphold those standards.

Those concerns are a principal reason why the Bill of Rights was passed. Those concerns should also hold a primary place in our thinking as we vote on legislation.

This issue came closer to home for me as two constituents, one a U.S. citizen, were arrested by federal law enforcement officials this month, accused of violating a law that doesn't exist. My office attempted to get information about their arrest. We were denied information about which agency had arrested them, where they were being held, and the charges against them.

All of the charges against them were dropped just eight days later after a federal judge reviewed the evidence and determined that no crime had been committed. The cost to my constituents was in the tens of thousands of dollars. They are still being threatened with the forfeiture of property.

Now compare the plight of this American citizen with millions of people who have crossed into this country illegally. They proudly attend rallies and speak on television, openly proclaiming that they are in this country in defiance of our laws. Many do not pay taxes while many others are receiving monetary benefits from the government.

It is reprehensible that our federal law enforcement would falsely and recklessly arrest one of our own citizens who owns a small business, pays taxes, and employs other Americans, while allowing lawbreakers from other countries to openly flaunt their violation of our laws. American citizens are not being served when the priorities of the federal government are so twisted.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on Monday, March 14, 2011 due to a scheduled meeting in my District with constituents to discuss local transportation issues and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been present to vote on H.R. 793 and H. Con. Res. 27.

Had I been present to vote on H.R. 793, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office'', I would have reluctantly voted in favor of this bill. I do not believe that in this time of high unemployment and rising deficit and debt levels we should be wasting time naming post offices. However, since I have a high respect for our military members and their sacrifices, on this bill I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present to vote on H. Con. Res. 27, providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol, I would have again reluctantly voted in favor of this bill. Again, at this time of high unemployment and record deficits and debts, I do not believe that we should be spending our time on placing statues in the U.S. Capitol. However, since we have set up a program allowing states to place statues in the Capitol and the people of Michigan have selected to honor President Gerald Ford, on this bill I would have voted ``aye.''

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, with the comprehensive and detailed analysis that we've already received from our distinguished chairman and my colleagues, I'm not sure what I can add, but I will try.

Article I, section 1 of our Constitution provides that all legislative powers be granted to the Congress of the United States. I remember when I was in fifth grade, I had a teacher named Mrs. Arndt in a seminal moment in my education who taught us what was right at the time and what's been badly distorted since, and that is, that we have three branches of a government: an executive branch to apply the law; a judicial branch to interpret it; and a legislative branch to make the law.

Unfortunately, that has all been turned on its head. We used to have the conventional wisdom that as we left here, that the people's life, liberty, and property were safe. In fact, as my colleague and good friend Ron Paul said, When we leave here, we lose accountability, and we turn the process over to unelected bureaucrats.

The purpose of those constitutional provisions was to provide accountability through elections, the popular will; and yet this administration has consistently ignored separation of powers and legislative functions, blatantly and defiantly through unelected, often even unratified, unaccountable, nameless, faceless bureaucrats who continually thwart the popular will and sound public policy.

American agriculture, the worldwide leader in creativity and progress, the source of cheap food for a hungry world, is the prime target and victim. My colleagues have dealt very articulately with issues of price controls, GMO regulations, restrictive fees, and overly burdensome regulations.

In addition and specifically, Madam Speaker and Members of the House, we have dealt and continue to deal with an EPA, a USDA, and a U.S. Department of Transportation that have dealt in areas of dust, backdoor cap-and-trade enactments, the Clean Air Act, hours of service, GMO coexistence, and otherwise. The key is this: none of these actions by themselves could ever pass the House or the Senate. None of these usurpations of authority are authorized by the Congress, and all of these

serve to add dramatically to the cost of doing business and to reduce America's ability to feed our Nation and help feed the world.

Each one of us represents up to 800,000 people, and each one of us has to face the voters every 2 years. We have a sworn constitutional obligation to the American people which is being twisted and subverted daily by perhaps well meaning, but nonetheless unresponsive, people and agencies who have no practical scrutiny or control. And this bill, I contend, Madam Speaker, Mr. Chairman, and Members of the House, starts the process of restoration of legislative powers and upholding our fundamental, constitutional values, and the obligation to represent people rather than allowing people who were never elected or are unaccountable to run our public policy.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately due to massive flight delays, I was not able to be in Washington, DC on Tuesday January 18, 2011 to vote on H.R. 292 and wished to express my intentions had I been in Washington, DC.

Unfortunately, as American Airlines flight 3879 was boarding, the airline decided to hold the flight on the tarmac during a de-icing process of several other planes. My flight remained on the ground for well over two hours past its scheduled departure time of 3:10 CST. The plane eventually took off at 5:44 CST and did not arrive in Washington until 8:21 p.m. EST.

Had I been present to vote on Rollcall No. 12, to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 292, the Stop the OverPrinting (STOP) Act, I would have voted ``yes''.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to vote on H. Res. 9 and wished to express my intentions had I been able to vote.

I had been in the middle of an Agriculture Committee Public Forum with Secretary Vilsack when the first votes were called. I went down on the floor with my notes, as I was the next in line to ask the Secretary questions, and while I was reviewing my notes and questions mistakenly missed the second vote in the series.

Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 16, to pass H. Res. 9, Instructing certain committees to report legislation replacing the job- killing health care law, I would have voted ``yes.''

Stated against:

I find it appalling that a bill of this magnitude was amended in the Senate just hours before the House was asked to vote on it, with no Member having had the chance to review and deliberate on what we were voting on and enacting into law. When earlier versions of this bill were brought to the floor I had some major reservations and with no way to know if all of these were addressed I would not feel comfortable voting yes or no on this bill.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately I was not able to be in Washington, DC today to vote on the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 847.

Had I been in Washington for this vote, I would have voted ``present.''

Thank you, Congresswoman Foxx.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say that in my five terms here, this has to take the award for the most creatively misleading acronym that I have ever seen attached to a bill. This may constitute a ``dream'' for a small number of people who choose to disregard or disobey the law, but it is in fact a sobering reality for America. It is a stark reality for citizens all over the Nation who have obeyed the law and to whom this is an absolute affront.

It is an affront and a stark reality to middle American families who are struggling to pay their bills and send their children to college, only to find their own sons and daughters bumped aside by illegals in the process. It is an affront and a sobering reality to the American taxpayers and their children and grandchildren who are going to pay this bill to the tune of billions of dollars over the future. It is also a reality to the 10 percent of Americans who are unemployed who realize that the effect on the infrastructure of America in this bill is going to be absolutely negative with respect to Social Security benefits, jobs, loans, health care, education and otherwise. I would suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, that our national infrastructure simply can't afford this.

I respect the sponsors of this bill. In fact, my good friend and colleague from Illinois, Congressman Gutierrez, is one of the principal movers of this bill. I respect the sincerity of the sponsors. But this is very bad public policy for America, and I would suggest to you that the long-run benefits are far overwhelmed and overrun by what it is going to cost the American taxpayer and what it is going to cost us who believe in the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, as we stand here this evening and debate this terribly misnamed bill, the American people face not a dream but a host of unmistakable realities: double-digit unemployment; a social service delivery system--most particularly, Social Security--that is terribly broken; their children and their grandchildren who simply cannot afford to go to school; and a national debt of over $14 trillion and growing by the hour, which really jeopardizes our collective future; and a Nation, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, where too often the rule of law yields to self- term expediency.

I respectfully have to comment and respond to a number of the comments that were made on the other side of the aisle, not the least of which is the attempt to portray these individuals as somehow innocents and those who would be free of any lawbreaking. The fact is the law, the bill doesn't deal with that. It only deals with it indirectly.

Secondly, we have the clear reality that people can be 15, 15\1/2\ years old and break the law, come over here and then bootstrap their families into citizenship, which deals with all the realities that couple and aggravate on top of that.

The reality is this is a very bad piece of public policy. It's, I think, well-intended. I respect the sponsors, as I said in my comments on the rule. But at the end of the day, this is a bill that America cannot afford. And I strongly urge my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to vote ``no'' and to send a message to the American people that we still pay obeisance to and uphold the rule of law. And I urge a strong ``no'' vote.

Madam Speaker, Monday, November 29, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 5877 and H. Res. 771 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote. Last night I was conducting a meeting with local businesses in my district and was unable to travel to Washington, DC in time for the votes.

Had I been present on rollcall No. 581 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 5877, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building'', I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present on rollcall No. 582 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 771, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on Monday, November 15th, I was unable to cast my votes on S. 3689, H. Res. 1713, and H. Con. Res. 328 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote. Last night I was meeting with a constituent group in Savoy, Illinois and was unable to travel to Washington, DC in time for the votes.

Had I been present on Rollcall No. 566 on suspending the rules and passing S. 3689, To clarify, improve, and correct the laws relating to copyrights, I would have voted Aye.

Had I been present on Rollcall No. 567 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1713, Recognizing the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges desegregating a previously all-White public elementary school, I would have voted Aye.

Had I been present on Rollcall No. 568 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 328, Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the successful and substantial contributions of the amendments to the patent and trademark laws that were initially enacted in 1980 by Public Law 96-517 (commonly referred to as the Bayh-Dole Act) on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its enactment, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to comment on H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program. As marked up by the House Committee on Agriculture, this legislation would truly help rural America. Unfortunately, the bill considered on the House floor today, is an expensive, and unfortunate alternative that could result in $4.25 billion in extra spending that has nothing to do with rural America.

The Rural Energy Savings Program would allow electric cooperatives to borrow money for the purposes of funding local energy efficiency programs. Eligible co-ops would provide money for energy efficiency upgrades to farms and rural consumers in the form of low-interest loans. In many cases, the costs to consumers would be covered by the resulting savings in their respective energy bills.

I support H.R. 4785, as originally passed by the House Agriculture Committee. This voluntary program would help electric cooperatives provide potential energy solutions to their members. I voted against the rule for H.R. 4785, which had it failed would have paved the way for members to vote on a clean bill. However, the bill before us today adds a $4.25 billion authorization for a ``Home Star'' energy program that the House has already defeated once and therefore I voted no on the overall package.

I strongly support section two of H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program, and urge the House and Senate to work together to craft a bill that mirrors the work completed in the House Agriculture Committee. This Rural Energy Savings program is a sensible approach that could improve energy efficiency in rural America.

Madam Speaker, Monday July 26th, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 1320, H. Res. 1504, and H.R. 3101 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote. Last night I was conducting a town hall meeting at the Mahomet Village Hall in Mahomet, Illinois and was unable to travel to Washington, DC in time for the votes.

Had I been present on rollcall No. 467 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 1320, To amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present on rollcall No. 468 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1504, Recognizing and honoring the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present on rollcall No. 469 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 3101, Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, I would have voted ``aye.''