Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 539, on the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803), I am not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a group of colleagues of mine to speak in contrast to what we just heard. It is shocking to me, not only the news of today and the continuation of the overreach of the Federal Government, but to hear colleagues on the other side of the aisle who are advocating for the Progressive Caucus, the progressive movement in this Nation celebrating, truly celebrating the Supreme Court ruling of today which allows the Federal Government to continue reaching into the homes of American families all across this country in a way that has never been done before, and granted so much more taxing power that has never been granted before, and yet they celebrate.

And they used a lot of different terms, like ``charting the new course.'' That was a phrase that was used by the Progressive Caucus here just a moment ago--charting the new course. One has to wonder: What is this new course? It has been a course that the progressive movement has been on now for nearly a century; and today they are celebrating that course continuing to be charted, and that is a course of more government and less liberty. And that is what this decision was all about today. It was about empowering government and not empowering the American people. It is about creating more government and less liberty. That's what the decision reflected today.

I am joined today by many good friends here in the House of Representatives who are on the side of liberty. They're on the side of the American taxpayers, and they're on the side of the private sector. They believe in free markets and capitalism and profits and success and dreaming, and they don't think that the Federal Government has to get in the way of any of that.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) to get his insights on today's decisions.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for your inspirational remarks reflecting back on the history of this country and the great leaders and the Founders and the principles which this Nation was based upon. While the erosion continues--and we've seen more of it even today with the ruling--the resolve is even stronger.

So to those that may be listening or watching, you can know that there is a group of Members in the House of Representatives that are not going to let up, that are going to be fully resolved to repealing ObamaCare in its entirety, pulling it out, each and every root of this legislation, and empowering the people and not empowering government. Because, why? Because this is not a government of the Court, by the Court, or for the Court. This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and I am convinced that the people will have their voice heard in the next few months.

So as we heard from the progressives earlier in their continued march down this new chartered course of more government and less liberty, we are thankfully joined tonight by a great friend of liberty and a great advocate of liberty, and that is Louis Gohmert from Texas.

I'd like to yield to the gentleman from Texas.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for walking us through the opinion.

I hope all those who are viewing this understand that this is about a tax now. This is a new taxing authority, in essence, a broadening of the taxing authority. As Mr. Gohmert brought up, this is unheard of. We will now have a Federal Government that can do whatever it wants to do through taxation.

In just thinking about the difference between ``tax'' and ``penalty,'' I guess one way to find out is, who do you send the check to, right? I mean, where is the bill coming from? I imagine it's going to be from the Internal Revenue Service. I remember being on the Appropriations Committee and having the IRS before us. It was wanting hundreds of millions of more dollars to hire more people for the implementation of ObamaCare, and now we all know why, and we know what that agency or that department collects.

So here is the crux of the decision today:

While the Court might have said, well, the Federal Government can't tell you what to do, they can sure as heck punish you through taxes if you don't do what they want you to do, which is to be followed up here by my friend from Kansas (Mr. Huelskamp) who has got some great insight.

Thank you for joining us.

I thank the gentleman from Kansas for your words.

Regarding unintended consequences, I can tell you there are going to be an amazing amount of unintended consequences with the Affordable Care Act, which I'm not sure that we can call it that anymore. I think it's more like the Limited Care Act. It's the Very Expensive Care Act.

For the Progressives that were here earlier--and I know many folks listened to them--they were celebrating. They were excited. They were happy, gleeful; whereas, we're lamenting but resolved to do away with this once and for all.

Why would they be gleeful? Because it's their movement. That's what they've been trying to do now for almost 100 years, and that is increase the size of government, get it into the lives of the American people, dictate their behavior, and limit freedom.

I read recently that part of their agenda is to divorce the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. But to use one and to prop up on that one so they can almost sort of claim that they are for the founding of this Nation--and we heard earlier when they used the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They were celebrating that this was the right bill to be in law because of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If you can claim that with this legislation, there are no bounds in which you can go with this Federal Government, there are no limits.

As the gentleman from Kansas just raised, this is clearly not about health care. This is about freedom, and this is about liberty and preserving it for future generations.

I would like to yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Landry).

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana.

You brought up one major component of all this legislation. I remember in one of the State of the Unions, the President said, We need tax reform. Tax reform.

I think he got tax reform in this law. What did you say? Twenty-one new taxes are being implemented because of ObamaCare? There are 21 new taxes, and yet the Progressives earlier said, No, this is great for America. Free health care. Affordable health care. No one has to pay. They'll actually get credits back.

Somebody's got to pay. That's the way this place works. Whenever they're promising you something, they're taking from someone else. And you just laid out 21 different areas that impact every American that the President promised he wouldn't raise taxes on. So I appreciate you doing that.

And next, the other component of it is, what's left? What really was in this health care law, this Big Government expansion, this overreach into the homes of American families? A tremendous amount is left.

I know Dr. Price from Georgia has been leading the fight not only against this measure, but for positive patient-centered and patient- driven measures as well. And I want to thank you for joining us and sharing with us.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia.

Not only are you a physician--you are not here speaking on behalf of physicians. You are here speaking on behalf of patients all across this country and defending them. And I appreciate the great fight that you are putting on and the resolve that you have for each of us, as you are leading us here as Republicans here in the House.

As we go into the last 5 minutes here with the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), he brought up the government right now taxes us on what we do or consume, but this is a first in which the government can now tax you on what you don't do. That's an amazing concept. I hadn't really thought of it that way until Mr. Price brought it up.

So now the Federal Government has moved into a realm which has never been here before, saying, Hey, because you're not doing something, I'm going to tax you. So I'm going to determine what it is that you should be doing that you are not doing so, therefore, I can collect a little revenue. And here we are today with something such as this.

As we are just wrapping up this spirited discussion here, earlier, Mr. Bishop, you heard the Progressives celebrating this decision today.

What were they celebrating? The Federal Government can tax you if you do something. But today's celebration was the fact that the Federal Government can tax you when you don't do something.

I appreciate you joining us tonight and giving your thoughts from the great State of Utah.

Thank you for your comments tonight and your great insight and reflecting back on early documents and early words that have been shared.

Mr. Speaker, as we conclude tonight, I want the American people to know that we are resolved to restore the liberty that was lost today through the full repeal of ObamaCare. That will be our focus as Republicans in the House.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in 2009, the Obama administration said that unemployment would never reach 8 percent if the stimulus was approved. Well, it was. And 3 years later and $1.2 trillion in spending, unemployment has remained above 8 percent for 40 consecutive months, the longest span since the Great Depression. Even more alarming is that the 8 percent doesn't illustrate how grim the situation really is.

More than 500,000 more Americans are out of work today than they were when President Obama took office in 2009, and the percentage of Americans working is at a 30-year low. Unemployment would be even higher if it were not for the grit and the resolve of the American people themselves. With these numbers, it's clear that President Obama's agenda has failed, and it's making the economy worse.

House Republicans have a plan. They have a plan for America's job creators to help turn this economy around. It's time for the President and it's time for the Senate Democrats to stop blocking jobs for Americans and to join us in helping get Americans back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob William Ward. Jacob 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 412, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jacob has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jacob 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, Jacob has earned distinction of becoming a Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O- Say. He is a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow and has served his troop as Senior Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scout Master and Troop Guide. Jacob has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Jacob constructed, built and placed benches along the walking trails at Smithville Lake so that his community can enjoy Smithville Lake and the surrounding wildlife.

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

Mr. Speaker, tonight we're going to have a conversation that I think impacts Americans all across this country, and it's about small businesses, and what has this Congress been doing, what has the President been doing or promoting, and how is it impacting small businesses.

I am going to be joined tonight by some great, great colleagues and champions of small business to talk about what are some of the solutions, what can we be doing here in Washington, not creating more government, not spending more money, but what can we be doing to create an environment that is conducive for business development and for our small business owners.

When I think about the greatness of America, we can list so many items and characteristics of this great Nation, and one of those would have to be small businesses--taking a simple idea in a free market system and taking it to the consumer and growing a business.

And we hear a lot from the administration. They say, businesses are too big. Yet, they need to be smaller. For small businesses, you guys are going too fast, too far. You need to slow down. When, in fact, it should be just the opposite. We should be encouraging small businesses to do more, to grow faster, to invest in their employees.

There is no big business in this Nation that did not first start out as a small business. And I would contend that tonight, Mr. Speaker, that there are small business owners all across this Nation, here even in the eastern time zone, that have yet to have gone home because they're still working. They get up each and every day, putting on their boots, chasing that dream, that idea that they have, and turning it into a business or a concept and chasing that American Dream, to realize that American Dream.

So, to all those small business owners across this great Nation, I want to say thank you. I want to say thank you for your hard work, for pushing against the burdens that come from the Federal Government, the high gas prices, the regulatory environment, this crazy Tax Code that we have, and say don't give up. We are here with you tonight, and we're going to be speaking on your behalf tonight.

I have been joined by some Members from all across this country who are going to talk about small business and concepts that we can be promoting here in Washington to help the small business owner to promote an environment in which small businesses can flourish, not creating more government.

Before I do that, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to read a letter. I think it's important to share correspondence from our constituents. This comes from Mark, who is in Cumming, Georgia. He says:

Congressman Graves, I just wanted to let you know that I am

a business owner in Cumming, and I'm tired of all my hard

work going to pay taxes which the Federal Government

squanders--Federal income tax, State income tax, property

tax, sales tax. We are all taxed to death, and apparently,

the tax system we have in place now is not working or we

wouldn't be so far in debt. So I am strongly in favor of

passing the Fair Tax. I believe this system is not only much

more equitable, but it eliminates loopholes. It is a much

simpler and fairer way to raise revenue. That won't solve the

mismanagement of our taxes by government, but at least it

will allow us to keep more of the money that we earn. Please

vote for it. Thank you.

Mark, I'm happy to tell you, not only will I vote for it, but I'm a cosponsor of it.

Next up to speak on the Fair Tax is the sponsor of the Fair Tax himself, and that's Congressman Woodall from the great State of Georgia.

Congressman Woodall, share with us a little bit about the Fair Tax, about how it impacts small businesses and how it would help them.

I thank you for your leadership on that.

I see we've been joined here by the chairman of Rules, the gentleman from California.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for joining us.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for sharing that with us.

You're right, you talk about small business owners. They're going to work extremely hard. They get up early every day. They work late every night. They're going to pay their fair share. They just want to know it's being handled properly and that it's being fairly collected.

Mr. Woodall, I hear criticisms every now and then about the Fair Tax. I'm a cosponsor of it. I hear criticisms here and there. They say, Well, this will impact one group more than another. How can something called the ``Fair Tax'' not be fair to everyone?

How do you refute that when they come up with the criticisms to the Fair Tax? Actually, I guess, when they're criticizing the Fair Tax, they're defending the current Tax Code and the 60,000 pages of mess that we currently have and the loopholes and the corporate welfare. They must be defending that. So how do you respond to the criticisms that you hear?

Thank you. I hope you'll stick around. In a minute, I'm going to yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Just to make clear, I mean, the Fair Tax is not an additional tax; it's not something that is added on, a layer. It's actually eliminating income tax, eliminating corporate income tax, eliminating capital gains tax, dividend tax, death tax. It's eliminating all of that. It's throwing it all out. I guess it's eliminating the Internal Revenue Service for some part and in a great way, and I think there would be a lot of Americans across the country applauding on that day if that were to ever occur.

Also with us tonight is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Congressman Jim Jordan from Ohio, a great leader on conservative principles, a great mind when it comes to policy, and I know a great advocate for tax reform. Regardless of fair or flat or whatever it is, it's about empowering the taxpayer and not empowering the government.

Thank you, Chairman Jordan.

You're absolutely right about small business owners. They don't want equal outcomes; they just want equal opportunity. That's what it's all about. That is the American Dream. That's American exceptionalism. Just give me a chance and I will beat the next guy, the next Nation. We are more competitive. And when we have that more competitive advantage and it's a level playing field, we will win every time. That is the spirit of the small business owner.

Speaking of spirit and small business owner, we have joining us also tonight, Jeff Landry from Louisiana. I thank you for joining us, and I look forward to hearing your insight.

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for sharing his insight tonight, and you're absolutely right. You brought us some great points about small business owners. They do all the things they do that the government never does: They get up every day early; they work hard and long; they know how to balance budgets; they pay paychecks; they pay their taxes. They have to every day be held accountable by the consumer with their goods.

Is it meeting the demands of the consumer? Is the customer service there? Every day they're held accountable, and every day they get up with that desire and that drive to produce a better product, a better good and provide a better service. What a great tribute to the small business owners across America.

With that, I'd like to shift over to Mr. Hanna from New York, who is going to share with us about small businesses in his region. I want to thank you for joining us and appreciate your leadership on this issue.

I thank the gentleman from New York.

I appreciate your plea there. Let's get government out of the way. Let's let small business owners do what they do best, and that is dream big and work hard.

Next to share with us is Mr. Bartlett from Maryland. Thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate your words there.

As I wrap up this segment that we have here this evening, I just want to say thank you to the small business owners across America. You have heard great reports from Members of Congress who are with you, who are fighting with you and fighting for you. We just want to thank you, because every day you're getting up and you're going against some of the greatest pressures and the greatest burdens that a government could ever place on you, but you don't give up.

You get up each day. You put the boots on. You go out and you work hard. You take that dream, that idea, that concept, and you build it into reality, and you are building jobs and you are providing for other families. We want to thank you for that.

While the optimism index is getting lower, the misery index is getting higher. I'm here to tell you Americans have not given up. Small business owners have not given up. In fact, statistics show that if just one out of two businesses across this Nation hire one person in the next 12 months, unemployment would be near zero. That's how close we are, because small business owners haven't given up. I want to thank you for that. I want to applaud you for that. Keep up the great fight.

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

Madam Chair, these are serious times. We're hearing a lot of rhetoric here today. We've got some revisionist history. There's a lack of recollection that in 2006 and 2007 this body was in control by the Democrats, the Senate was controlled by the Democrats, and then the President inherited a mess from the Democrats that were in control of these bodies, of which he was a part. A little bit of revisionist history going on here today.

But the fact that the Members on the other side can stand here and look into these cameras, into the faces of the children all across this Nation and not provide them a solution is appalling. Every time it is: let's push it off, let's push it off further. We have no plan to balance the budget, we have no plan to pay off the debt, but we have a balanced approach to continue down the same path. Now, a balanced approach, that's like straddling the fence: it gets you nowhere, and at some point you're going to fall off this fence, and it's going to hurt.

Today, we have the opportunity to reverse this trend of trillion- dollar deficits and balance the budget in 5 years. Today, we will decide whether to stop borrowing from the future to pay for the present. This budget presents a path to the balanced budget without raising taxes. It eliminates the death tax; it unlocks America's energy sources. This budget unleashes the power and ingenuity of America's job creators and addresses the entitlement elephant that is this impending path of insolvency that lays before us. In 6 years, Madam Chair, we will begin paying down the debt with this budget that's before us.

So we should no longer accept the Democrats' and President Obama's decision to take us down this road to ruin, because we have a choice. It's a choice between two destinies: it's a destiny of debt and dependency--the wrong path--or it's the choice of a different path. Maybe it's one of opportunity and prosperity, Madam Chair. I say we choose the path of opportunity and prosperity. This budget--the budget I refer to not as the RSC budget, but as America's budget--will put us on that path to prosperity and opportunity.

Madam Chair, I encourage every Member of this body, regardless of party, to support this budget because it is the children who are looking out on us today, looking for that solution, looking for a positive answer, and looking for us to work together. This is that opportunity.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the Budget Committee. He's done a fantastic job.

And to the gentleman from Maryland, I know it's been difficult this week, you've stood in a difficult position, and now you're presenting your budget, and you've been in opposition to many of the budgets put forward, including the President's last night, and I know it's tough.

What we're addressing here right now, Mr. Chairman, I think, is a lot of numbers, a lot of charts and a lot of rhetoric. We hear that. But what we know is that Washington has not been forthright with the American people. For far too long, the top has been getting the bailout, the bottom has been getting a handout, and now who's going to get stuck with the bill? It's our kids. That's who's going to get stuck with the bill.

So why can't we, for once, instead of looking at the charts and numbers and throwing it all out there, just look through the lens of how will this budget impact our children and their future, their opportunity and their prosperity? Is this a budget that presents equal outcomes? Or is it going to be one that presents equal opportunities? Can we not look through that lens, for once, Mr. Chairman?

I would say that the budget that the gentleman has put forward is one more about equal outcomes. It's more taxes, it's more government, and it's more government solutions. Do you know what? Why don't we provide more opportunities and more prosperity for the children of the next generation? That's the lens that I believe we should be looking through.

And this is why: because whether we believe it or not, whether we're willing to recognize it, we are scribes of time right now. History is being written based on the discussions, the outcome and the debate that we have. We are the ones who are determining what history will reflect back on and say we did at this time and what the future exists like later. What will we choose? What will we write? Will this be the chapter that concludes with the words ``the end,'' or will we write a chapter that we can turn the page and hand the pens off to the next generation?

Mr. Chairman, it is my hope that we take our pen and that we pass it to the next generation, that we can turn the page, that we can move forward, and that we can provide a new chapter and a new beginning, one that is a beginning that leads to another future of opportunity and prosperity. I believe that only happens if we pass the Republican budget that we have before us today.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 61, the Bishop Amendment to H.R. 3408, I inadvertently voted ``aye,'' when in fact I intended to vote ``no.''

Madam Speaker, we're hearing a lot about transportation this week in the form of the transportation reauthorization bill. That causes us to maybe reflect back. Why are we reauthorizing something, and where did it originate, and what is our plan forward?

In fact, this comes from decades and decades and decades ago, and it's a chance when we can say to ourselves: Are we on the right path? Is this the right path for this Congress and the future of our Nation?

I think back to the last election cycle when the American people said we want to see things done just a little bit different, and I want to talk about that just a little bit this morning because today, when it comes to transportation, all States pay 18.4 cents per gallon for every gallon of gas they purchase. They send that to the Federal Government, and the Federal Government is distributing that out across the country.

Now, a lot of people would say that comes back to our States, doesn't it? Well, in fact, it does not. There are 28 States in this Nation that send money to the Federal Government and don't get it all back, Georgia being one of them, along with many others throughout the country. We're referred to as the donor States.

So, in addition to these 28 States not getting back all of their money, there are all of these mandates that occur to each and every one of these States. So as we can imagine, these 28 States, they want to get back all of their money. In fact, Georgia sent a resolution to Congress, and I want to read a section of it here and then submit it for the Record, because the Georgia General Assembly said that this body, meaning the Georgia General Assembly, urges the Federal Government to cease the collection of motor fuel taxes in Georgia so that the State can collect and distribute the taxes without the delay caused by the Federal collection and disbursement.

So Georgia and many other States are asking for changes. They're asking for the Federal Government to do something just a little different, but yet we're entering into this debate about reauthorization when maybe we just need to rethink the program altogether.

In Georgia, $800 million was not received by the State of Georgia. It was

submitted by the taxpayers of Georgia, the hardworking Georgians sending money to the Federal Government, and $800 million of it was sent somewhere else across the country in the last reauthorization. $15 billion from other States was sent to States outside of their boundaries to be spent on other projects.

Now this program started in 1956. In 1956, when Congress was debating the interstate system, it was a great debate. As they debated it, they said, This will be a short-term tax that we're going to implement. It will be a tax that will be starting at 3 percent, will last for 15 years, build an interstate system, and had a great plan to do it. There was a debate about it. Well, what happens when we come to the end of that 15-year period? Well, here is part of an exchange that occurred in the Ways and Means Committee when they were debating this tax. It was in 1956, when Congressman Boggs of Louisiana and Congressman Fallon of Maryland, they were discussing what would happen during this expiration period. In that exchange, both Congressmen agreed that at the end of the 15-year authorization period, ``The interstate system is built and paid for, and there is no obligation beyond the period of construction.''

Yet here we are, 2012, so far removed from that debate, and not only are we at 3 cents per gallon, we are at 18.4 cents per gallon. At the end of that 15 years, it was actually supposed to go to 1.5 cents, but ever since it has always gone up. Yet here we debate about spending more and more and more money, and we've just learned from previous speakers that this isn't even going all to roads and bridges and highways; in fact, it's going to bike paths, planting flowers and bushes, walking trails, and other things. Shouldn't it be about moving people and freight? That's what it was always about.

So, as we consider the reauthorization, I hope we'll consider maybe a reflection of a new program, a new path forward. So I'm offering an amendment that changes all this, that says, You know what? It's complete. The interstate system has reached that point of completion, maybe let's devolve this back to the States. Let's empower the States to collect their taxes, as Georgia is asking to do, spend it on their priorities, not deal with the red tape of Washington or the exchange fee that's occurring, but in fact empower the States to collect their taxes at the rates that they choose and spend it on the priorities that are most important to them. Keep it back in the home States where they know where the needs are.

Instead, we're up here debating how they should spend their money and mandating all these hundreds of various program lines that they've got to spend it on.

So we'll be offering an amendment that just changes the debate a little bit and causes us to reflect and refocus on where transportation should be as we are in the 21st century.

So, Madam Speaker, as I close and as we move into this debate on reauthorization, I hope there'll be a time when this Congress remembers what the American people said in 2010: Let's eliminate some of this government and devolve it back to the States.

Senate Resolution 750

By: Senators Pearson of the 51st, Mullis of the 53rd, Rogers

of the 21st, Hill of the 32nd, Seay of the 34th and others

As passed:

Mr. Speaker, I'll try not to follow up too much on the flip-flop comments, but I do prefer Crocs if anybody cares.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to President Obama's latest request to raise the debt limit. Mr. Obama's spending spree in just 3 short years accounts for almost one-third of our national debt, the most rapid increase in the debt of any U.S. President and more debt than the first 41 Presidents combined.

And the Nation's debt level has recently reached a disturbing milestone. The U.S. debt is now as big as the entire U.S. economy. That's the value of

all goods and services produced here in the United States. It's another stark warning that America cannot continue spending at the current pace. And alarm bells should be going off all throughout the Halls of Congress because this problem is not going away. Yet, here we are again poised to go down and continue down this Road to Ruin.

The will to see the error of our ways and make significant spending cuts still doesn't exist here in Washington. Unless we start making the tough choices now, this Nation will reach a point where we have no choice at all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to give thanks today to my House colleagues, who yesterday, in bipartisan fashion, moved to start construction on the Keystone XL pipeline, because this is truly a shovel-ready project that will provide good jobs and secure energy for Americans.

The Keystone pipeline will create nearly 100,000 private sector jobs once completed--20,000 of those jobs generated just to construct the pipeline, with 50 companies in Georgia benefiting from this. And once it's finished, this pipeline will pump 700,000 gallons of crude oil a day from our friend and neighbor, Canada, a good, reliable, and secure supply of oil.

The environmental impact statements have been completed and the path for the pipeline has been determined. The only thing standing in the way is politics. President Obama has postponed his decision on whether the private sector can build this pipeline until after the next election. If it's good enough after the election, surely it's good enough today.

Good jobs. Secure energy. No cost to the taxpayers. It's a no- brainer.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Here we are. We are at the moment of choosing, and we just heard from the former leader of the former majority party that we need to oppose this.

But to those in the gallery here today, to those watching on camera, just in a few hours you will get the opportunity to see behind me on this board every name of every Member of Congress and how they vote. They will make a choice. They will take their voting card, of which you've entrusted us with, and they will make a decision: this Nation should balance its budget or not.

This isn't so much about cut, cap, balance. This is about prosperity or continued high unemployment. That would be green for prosperity, red for high unemployment. This is about accountability and constraints, green, or Washington run wild. Again, that would be the red button and the status quo.

This is about sustainability of our future or continued uncertainty as we've seen thus far. Or, better yet, this is about standing on our own. The green button, independence of this great Nation. Or, continued and increasing bondage of foreign nations and our indebtedness. Again, the red button.

Members of Congress, this is your time of choosing. We've heard so many names invoked here today. Former Presidents, Members of Congress, other Congresses. But, guess what? This is your time. This is your choice. This is your voting card. What will you choose: A prosperous future for this Nation or continue the status quo?

I urge Members, let's choose a great, prosperous future for this Nation. America deserves it.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Madam Speaker, I rise today to let the American people know that the city of Ringgold, Georgia, is open for business. I know that we all remember the tornadoes that ravaged much of the country in April. Over 180 of these destructive storms were confirmed in just one day, and the Ninth Congressional District of Georgia was not spared. Some of the worst storm damage in north Georgia occurred in the small town of Ringgold. Over 100 businesses and 500 homes were damaged or destroyed on April 27. This was a devastating moment to the local community and the local economy, which relies heavily on travelers passing through on Interstate 75.

However, Ringgold is on the mend and ready to share some of that southern hospitality it is known so well for. Nearly half of the damaged businesses have reopened, homes are being rebuilt, and the jobs are returning. While there is still much to be done, if you find yourself passing through Ringgold on I-75, I encourage you to take exit 348 for gas, a bite to eat, or an overnight stay in Ringgold, enjoy the shops and sights in the historic downtown, and know that you are playing a part in helping this great and resilient community rebuild.

I thank the gentleman from Arizona and my friend from Indiana. This, to me, tomorrow, where we are today, is a monumental time in the history of this Nation. When we think about the decisions and the debate, the discussions, the rhetoric of tomorrow, it will be amazing to see who falls on which side. Because it's truly a choice. It is a decision. And we've heard that this is going to be a time of choosing. Tomorrow is the day.

We've had reckless debt and deficit for years now. It's not a necessarily Democrat problem because Republicans have also been a part of the

problem. We've seen both parties guilty in this time of fiscal nonsense, the recklessness of Washington spending. But it's come to an end. And we have an opportunity before us that I think is going to be incredible.

So, tomorrow, as the debate begins, I hope the Nation is watching. I hope the Nation is listening. I hope the Nation is witnessing their Members of Congress, whom they voted for, sent to office to represent them, watching to see how they will cast their vote. Of course, the President has already shown his cards. We know how he's going to cast his vote. I'd love to see us as a House pass it to the Senate, and the Senate move it to the President, and him look the American people square in the eye and say he is not for balancing the budget. He is not for cutting spending. He is not for capping the Federal Government. How defiant would that be to the American people?

His quote today was, We don't need a constitutional amendment to do our jobs. Mr. President, the Constitution is there to protect the American people from their government. What better opportunity to protect them from the reckless spending of Washington than a balanced budget amendment sent to the States? We do need the Constitution to tell us how to balance the budget because apparently this place can't do it on its own. Year after year after year it's been out of balance, debt limits increased, spending out of control. And yet we have a President who now, without a plan, but a framework, we hear--only through press conference, press releases, and spokespersons--a framework. Is that a plan? No, it's not a plan. We hear the Senate has a plan. It's plan B, though. Why? Because plan A comes before the House tomorrow. Plan A is to cut the Federal Government spending now. It is to cap the Federal Government's size in the future. And it is to balance the budget forevermore. That is what America is seeking right now.

So, the time truly is for choosing. And the question before us tomorrow as we all will watch the board light up, everyone will put in their voting card--they're really casting a couple of different decisions tomorrow. It's not just cut, cap, and balance, but it is: What is our vision for America. What will it be? What will America be in the future? That is the other question. I believe that those who cast that ``aye'' button tomorrow, the green button, they are casting their decision for a prosperous future for this country--a future in which we do live within our means, a future that ensures prosperity for the next generation. But then there are those, they'll cast a ``no'' vote. They'll cast the red vote. They will say, No, the status quo is acceptable. Out-of-control spending, yeah, we'll get it through it. The time will come, we will get by. Compromise is necessary. That will be the ``no'' vote tomorrow.

Tomorrow's vote is so big. It is big. And I thank the gentleman from Arizona for leading this hour tonight because it's a precursor to the debate tomorrow--a debate that will be grand. I believe out of all the votes I've cast in my short time just over a year here, tomorrow's might be one of the most important votes I cast. And I stand before this House tonight, Madam Speaker, before you to say you I'll be casting that green vote for that prosperous future of this great Nation we have, to restore it, reclaim that liberty that we all know is so great and grand. And I look forward to joining many of my colleagues such as the gentleman from Arizona.

Thank you.

I thank the gentlelady.

I want to thank you for your amendment, because you bring forth such an incredible issue that we can't just stop with what was passed out of the Appropriations Committee. There are Members all across this body that had the opportunity to scour the legislation--and I'm on the committee--and to improve upon the legislation. That's exactly what she's doing here by offering additional cuts.

Mr. Chairman, I want to bring out the fact that in the House over the last five appropriations bills, there have been 250 amendments offered. Only 11 cutting amendments have been passed, and eight of these were by voice vote. So here on the floor of the House, and I guess I'm speaking to my colleagues in the Republican Party, we are not cutting any more than what comes out of the committee. So far, out of these five appropriations bills, there's been $691 billion spent, and yet we've only cut $304 million in addition to that.

Mr. Chairman, as I think about where we are, I brought the analogy and trying to put this in context of where we are as a Nation, that's 2 cents, just two pennies out of a gallon of gas. Just two pennies.

I leave you that--my 2 cents' worth on this appropriations bill.