Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Jennifer Parsons of Ames Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Jennifer Parsons on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Jennifer in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, like many people, I have had a chance to at least look briefly at this bill. I have grave concerns about what it is going to do.

We are spending more than $1 trillion in a hurried-up fashion here with very little oversight and with no hearings. Everything is just rushing forward. Everyone understands that we have got a real problem-- an economic downturn in this country. We've got to do something, and we've got to act quickly to save those jobs, those opportunities for our families. We've got to get the country back on its feet again so it can prosper.

We had a proposal brought forth that was totally ignored--the idea of creating over 6 million new jobs at half the cost of what this bill costs--and it has been totally thrown aside. This would have put money immediately into people's pockets. It would have had them spending and getting this economy going and rolling again. That is exactly what we need to do, but we've never had an opportunity to put those into this bill.

It's not only what the bill does as far as spending over $1 trillion. Some provisions in here make dramatic changes in the way our government operates. When we look at reversing welfare reform, the one great thing back from the Clinton administration, this is going to turn that on its head and allow people to stay on welfare for as long as they would like.

I think it also is very, very serious when we talk about a major change in health care reform in that this is going to put the government in charge of rationing health care, standing between you and your doctor. This is something that at least there should be some debate about. Somebody should have a chance to offer amendments to change these bills, these ideas that make massive changes in the fundamental way that we have welfare reform and the way our health care is delivered in this country.

Madam Speaker, to me, this is outrageous. We have got to step back. We have got to think about these things before we just jump into these major changes that are going to do great harm to our economy and to the future of our children and grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Ann Swenson of Norwalk Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Ann Swenson on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Ann in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the retirement of Brigadier General Mark Zirkelbach, the Deputy Adjutant General of the Iowa Army National Guard, and to express my appreciation for his dedication and commitment to his state and country.

For the last 39 years, BG Zirkelbach has served faithfully and honorably. BG Zirkelbach enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in the Non-ROTC College Student State OCS Program at Iowa State University in 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University in 1970 and graduated from the United States Army War College in 1998.

In 1972, BG Zirkelbach was commissioned and qualified as Field Artillery and Signal Corps and commanded in both branches. He served as Commander, 67th Troop Command, Iowa Army National Guard and entered the Title 32 AGR Program in 1985. BG Zirkelbach also served as Chief of Staff, Iowa Army National Guard, where he directed and supervised the activities of the State Area Command, Iowa Army National Guard Staff.

BG Zirkelbach has a long list of military awards and decorations which include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon.

I commend Brigadier General Mark Zirkelbach for his many years of loyalty and service to our great nation. It is an immense honor to represent BG Zirkelbach, and it has been a pleasure working with him during my time in the United States Congress. I wish him a happy retirement from the Iowa Army National Guard and all the best in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Jennifer Axness of Southeast Webster--Grand Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Jennifer Axness on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Jennifer in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Gretchen Conway of Decorah Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Gretchen Conway on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Gretchen in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Shannon Dykstra of Nora Springs-Rock Falls Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Shannon Dykstra on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Shannon in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Julie Fitzgerald of West Des Moines Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Julie Fitzgerald on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Julie in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Lizabeth Fox of Decorah Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Lizabeth Fox on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Lizabeth in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Dr. Thomas Greenbowe of Iowa State University, who has been named the 2008 Iowa Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The U.S. Professors of the Year is a prestigious program that honors outstanding college and university instructors across the country. National and state U.S. Professors of the Year Awards are given each year to teachers across the country that have touched and elevated the lives and careers of their students. Dr. Greenbowe has an accomplished history as a Professor of Chemistry at Iowa State which began in 1990.

I congratulate Dr. Thomas Greenbowe on his well-deserved Iowa Professor of the Year Award, and I'm certain that he will continue to improve Chemistry and Science education for many years to come. It is a great honor to represent Dr. Greenbowe in the United States Congress, and I wish him continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Elizabeth Lorentzen of Decorah Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification--the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.

I congratulate Elizabeth Lorentzen on her well-deserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Elizabeth in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.

I thank the ranking member. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. This is an issue that we have dealt with in the full committee markup. I believe Chairman Olver, wisely, slightly extended the time by States to make these investments in transportation investment. And now we're debating an amendment to make that timeframe even shorter than before.

The CBO, Congressional Budget Office, has scored this amendment and said this amendment will not make a lick of difference as to how quickly these funds will spend out. Instead, we are asking our States to make hurried judgments. Haste sometimes make waste. We should expect our States to make wise decisions, and for that they could use a little more time.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

I thank the gentleman, and I rise in support of this amendment.

In the full committee, we offered an amendment to have this applied to all accounts, not just transportation accounts, in the bill, which unfortunately failed. But this is a very, very good start in this portion of the bill. I just wish it extended to the entire $825 billion being spent.

I thank the ranking member.

Mr. Chairman, we all know that we are in unprecedented economic times that call for unprecedented action. The bill we have under consideration is certainly unprecedented because of the size itself. $825 billion. That is just for now, without the add-ons we expect over in the Senate.

This measure will have an unprecedented impact on the deficit by increasing it by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next few years. In turn, this dramatic rise will trigger large-scale borrowing from the future incomes of our children and our grandchildren.

These add-on deficits will cause the Nation's debt to soar to a level at which we will owe interest payments of more than $750 billion per year by the year 2019, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Those numbers assume that the stimulus package actually works--and we don't know for certain that it will work.

I raise these points because with spending numbers this high, we need to get it right. While there are certainly some good qualities to this bill, there are also numerous elements thus far, including spendout rates noted by CBO, that raise questions about the stimulus impact of the bill. Currently, there are estimates on the job creation potential of the bill that show only about 10 percent of the funds creating jobs. If those estimates are accurate, the question arises as to where the other funds are going.

Some analyses show that the lion's share of the monies in this bill are destined for expansion of an assortment of government programs that have nothing to do with economic stimulus. Moreover, these programs are ones that are funded each year through the normal appropriations process, and will be funded again in 2010.

That tells me that we are using this bill to expand the funding scope of certain programs in order to make room for additional spending in the 2010 cycle. We are calling this extra spending ``emergency'' spending so we will not have to find a way to pay for it. Whether we call it emergency, or something else, the deficit effect is still the same, and our children will pay for it.

Many of these programs already have large, unexpended balances. For example, there's $5 billion for public housing. Yet, we have close to $7 billion in unexpended public housing balances.

Many of the proponents of this bill talk of the need to rebuild the Nation's highway and bridge infrastructure, and speak of the job creation potential of these activities. Yet, the highway portion of this bill contains less than 4 percent of the total funding.

I am very supportive of legitimate stimulus that results in net economic activity and job creation. For that reason, I offered an amendment in the full committee designed to ensure that all stimulus funds would produce net economic activity and not supplant existing funds. I also cosponsored an amendment with Mr. Frelinghuysen that would have moved some $60 billion to transportation, flood control, and environmental restoration projects.

Ladies and gentlemen, our children and grandchildren are going to pay for this debt.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, there is no question the State Children's Health Insurance Program needs to be reauthorized to provide the funds necessary to maintain current coverage and enroll currently eligible low-income children.

In the past I have supported bipartisan legislation that represented the

input of both parties to reauthorize the SCHIP program, H.R. 976 and H.R. 3963, including legislation that was vetoed by President Bush. However, I cannot support this partisan legislation before us today because Democrats have radically departed from the bipartisan agreement that had been reached.

First, they have removed the provision that would have capped eligibility for SCHIP for families making over 300 percent of the Federal poverty line, or roughly $63,000 per family of four, allowing unlimited expansion of the program in the future. Furthermore, there are no requirements that a certain level of coverage for low-income children be met before expanding eligibility to higher income groups.

Second, they have rescinded a requirement in current law that noncitizens who are here must legally wait 5 years to become eligible for the SCHIP program.

The bill also reduces citizenship verification requirements for the Medicaid program, potentially allowing illegal aliens to game the system to obtain taxpayer-funded welfare benefits.

At a time when nearly 70 percent of uninsured American children are already eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP, our economy is weak and the budget deficit is soaring, it makes no sense to put non-citizens or wealthier children ahead of poor American children from hard-working, tax paying families who desperately need access to these programs.''

I thank the ranking member, my good friend from California.

Ladies and gentlemen, last night Mr. LaTourette and myself went to the Rules Committee to ask that an amendment be made in order which would reduce the size of this bailout bill from $700 billion down to $250 billion, and then we would have the opportunity to come back to see if this thing is actually working and have a vote to actually affirm and spend more money if, in fact, this was working and this plan was right.

Now the Rules Committee denied that. And I think it's very unfortunate that the will of the House is not being heard today. We do not have the chance to vote on an amendment which I believe would pass overwhelmingly in this House of Representatives, because it will bring some accountability to the administration. It won't just write the check to the Secretary of the Treasury. And we can finally solve this problem and still have the accountability that people are looking for in Congress.

I would just encourage everyone to vote down this rule so that we can have a fair chance at an amendment that makes real sense to everyone.