Floor Statements

I rise to oppose this rule.

Americans are feeling pain at the pump. Rising gasoline prices--and they're rising, folks--it's going to cost the average person another $800 per year at the rate of these increases. That wipes out the tax breaks that most Americans have just received, and it's going to hurt our economy, and it's hurting our national security. These oil companies are making increased profits as the money in our wallets flies right into the gas tanks.

Now is the time to consider a sensible energy policy and to strip subsidies from oil companies. It shocks every American taxpayer to know that they're required to fork over an additional $40 billion-plus over the next decade to give tax subsidies and giveaways to these enormously profitable companies. What are they doing with that money? They're taking up to 90 percent of that and buying their stocks back, increasing their own personal wealth.

So let's be clear. Oil companies don't need it. If you don't believe me, ask them. The former CEO of Shell oil says, ``With higher oil prices, the subsidies aren't necessary.''

I thank the gentleman.

My friends on the other side of the aisle say they're for the all-of- the-above strategy when it comes to oil. Let's be clear. They support oil above all--above Medicare, above putting police on the streets, above increasing reading teachers, and above protecting our coastal communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man of utmost integrity and resilience: Michael Kelley. Mike will be honored tomorrow at the Plymouth Public Library in Plymouth, Massachusetts for his steadfast dedication to the security of our Nation and his fellow veterans.

Following over twenty years in the Navy, Mike returned with a new perspective on the challenges that veterans face and the opportunities that our country can create for them. Mike quickly saw that unemployment and a lack of job training plagued his veteran community, and so he set to establish a multidisciplinary team that ultimately founded the VET NET Steering Committee and devoted his life to helping his fellow veterans seek employment opportunities through the Plymouth Career Center. Thousands of veterans from the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and the Air Force have found a collaborative way to train each other on necessary job skills, explore emerging employment opportunities, and secure careers for themselves. Meanwhile, Mike worked effortlessly to garner support for the Steering Committee and retain an active and outspoken membership.

I commend Mike for his drive and initiative, and I urge others to learn from his leadership and guidance. I look forward to working with Mike and our veterans' community to address these challenges and help veterans advance our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished and revered public servant of Quincy, Massachusetts, Mr. John M. Gillis. John has served as a Norfolk County commissioner since 1992, but has been an active member of the Massachusetts community for many decades.

A lifelong resident of the Quincy area, John attended Adams Elementary School, Quincy Point Junior High School, and Quincy High School. Motivated by service to his country, he enlisted in the Marines during World War II and fought bravely in the Battle of Saipan. John then enrolled at Northeastern University and received his accounting degree in 1953.

John's exemplary background in public service spans from his dedication as a Quincy firefighter stationed at Central Headquarters following World War II to his post as City Clerk in Quincy. Of his nearly four decades as clerk, John asserts they were his best in city government because he was able to champion the ``little guy.''

In recognition of his commitment to the common good, John will be the honored recipient of the Henry W. Bosworth Jr. Memorial Citizenship Award-- aptly named in memory of Quincy Sun founder Henry Bosworth, John's long-time friend--on March 27th. I extend to John my most heartfelt congratulations, and I urge my constituents and all Americans to follow his example of service and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the great holiday of St. Patrick's Day. My district is home to the largest population of Irish Americans in the Nation. Like many of my constituents, my paternal grandparents emigrated from Ireland at the turn of the 20th century. When they came to this country, they had all their worldly possessions in one trunk each. Thereafter, they had eight children, five of whom served in our Armed Forces, one of whom gave his life for this country.

So many of my friends and neighbors share similar stories of sacrifice and dedication to family and to their new country. It is no wonder that Irish Americans have come to embody the values of loyalty, community, and hard work in the fabric of our Nation.

As they say, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. So let us all embody those values as we tackle the challenges facing our Nation currently.

May the road rise up to you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the centennial of Elliot L. Luoni of Massachusetts. Elliot celebrates his 100th birthday today, March 14.

An avid musician and former professional drummer, Elliot has entertained young and old on cruise ships across the Atlantic. His sharp talent has given him a place in history; he has performed with the likes of Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra.

A hero of his community, he was present at the infamous Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts on November 28, 1942 when disaster struck. Tragically, 492 people lost their lives in a building fire that night--many of them young soldiers celebrating a night off duty. Without hesitation, Elliot organized transportation for the injured to the nearest hospital. The families of the Cocoanut Grove fire survivors have Elliot to thank for his selflessness.

No one appreciates Elliot more than his three children, nine grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren--sweet reminders of his fifty-five year marriage to the lovely Elsa Luoni.

I extend my happiest wishes to Elliot on his 100th birthday, and I wish him the best of health and happiness in many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, February 18, 2011, had I voted, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 93.

Additionally, on February 16, 2011, it was my intention to vote ``yes'' on rollcall No. 57.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of one hundred years of inspiration and joy that Anne Theroux of Massachusetts has given to those fortunate enough to know her well. A 35-year resident of Cape Cod, Anne turns 100 years old on March 4 and continues to thrive in her West Dennis home, as independent as ever before.

Mother to seven, grandmother to thirteen, and great-grandmother to fifteen children, Anne has maintained an energy and youthfulness beyond her 100 years. She has served her community with many years of teaching elementary school, and she is known to always have a book in hand or story to share. Anne continues to exercise her intellect as an ace crossword puzzle enthusiast, and has participated as a member of the woodcarving group at the Dennis Senior Center, where she brings the spirit of Cape Cod to each and every one of her bird carvings.

And so, surrounded by her loving children, extended family, and many friends, Anne will celebrate her centennial with a luncheon honoring her 100th birthday. I wish Anne and her whole family best wishes for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed in its current form.

Madam Speaker, I rise to offer this motion to recommit which I believe will greatly improve our fiscal health and ensure that we're responsible to all taxpayer dollars and the taxpayers of this great Nation.

We all agree--all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike--that cuts in wasteful spending are vital to our country's future. The decision that stands before us is whether we should adopt reckless cuts to some of our most important programs or not: education cuts, cuts to college scholarships, reading teachers, Head Start.

As a D.A. for the last decade, I know the effects of cuts to police officers and firefighters, and I know what they mean to our public safety. Reckless cuts: cuts to border protection, cuts to the hubs of cybersecurity research so that we can better protect ourselves in our infrastructure, cuts in cancer research and other life-saving ventures of the National Institute of Health.

It's worth repeating that Moody's chief economic expert, Mark Zandi, the former adviser to the McCain for President campaign, just this week estimated that the reckless Republican cuts will cost our country 700,000 jobs. Investment groups estimate that the reckless cuts will cut the economy by a growth this year of almost one-half.

Our alternative? Our alternative is an alternative of sensible spending cuts. In this motion, we're offering such a sensible spending cut.

Let's stop sending taxpayers' money to the most profitable companies in the world. The time is now to stop subsidizing the largest oil companies. I think it shocks every American taxpayer to know that they're required to fork out over $40 billion in subsidies over the next decade to the most economically profitable of companies-- especially as oil soars to a hundred dollars per barrel. My constituents in Plymouth, Massachusetts, are paying almost $3.50 per gallon and have had enough. Even ex-Shell CEO John Hofmeister says enough is enough. He said, ``With high oil prices, such subsidies are not necessary.''

So let's put a stop to this welfare program for Big Oil right now. Cuts to police, cuts to fire, cuts to cancer research, cuts to border security, cuts to reading teachers--or oil subsidies to the most profitable of companies.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to recommit.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address and celebrate the many moments of altruism that have emerged from the simple words, ``Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.'' It is this expression of love of country, this spirit that President Kennedy evoked in all of us that causes me to rise today for my maiden speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. Even 50 years later, we take from this speech the reminder that we still have work to do to improve our country, and that work is incumbent upon us to finish.

As a young child, I remember watching the ceremony on January 20, 1961. I remember the poet Robert Frost read a poem from the podium as his eyeglasses fogged up. I remember President Kennedy taking the stage, and I could have never imagined the impact he would have on my generation and the generations to come.

Here in Washington, President Kennedy is never far from my mind because I have the distinct honor of coming to work to the same office that President Kennedy had when he was a Member of Congress. Our space is a historic treasure. I am so fortunate to be entrusted with the safekeeping of this memorial and all that it represents to the people of Massachusetts and every American who has been inspired by President Kennedy.

My first days and weeks in Congress have been an incredible privilege, serving my community in Massachusetts and working to find solutions for the challenges that our country faces.

President Kennedy's words are timeless, and we can and should learn from them today. He called on our country to remember that ``civility is not a sign of weakness.'' His words should inform our national conversation as we hopefully renew our commitment to respect and graciousness, where politics means more than stark division and glaring partisanship.

Our country needs healing, and Kennedy would believe that it is up to all of us to participate in restoring this type of civility. Fifty years ago he said, ``Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.'' I welcome this challenge, and I will spend my time in Congress living up to those words.

Good ideas are not restricted to one political party or the other, so I look forward to hearing from my constituents of all political stripes. If my neighbor in Weymouth has an idea to create jobs, I want to hear it. If a resident of Plymouth has a proposal on how we can move our country forward, I want to help. If a fellow citizen in Barnstable has a plan to make our country safer and stronger, I look forward to working together.

In closing, let us remember that President Kennedy had a long-term vision for this country. He understood that a change in direction takes time, and we understand that a return to the values that he kept will not be immediate. As he said, ``All of this will not be finished in the first 100 days, nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.''

So as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration, let us begin anew.

Section 9: ``The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year 1808, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding 10 dollars for each person.''