December 11, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H15291 REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- central tenet of their Christian faith Christmas Eve Nation message to the VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF was the belief that all human beings Nation, December 24, 1941, ‘‘Our strong- CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. were given the right by God to embrace est weapon in this war is that convic- 1585, NATIONAL DEFENSE AU- whatever religious conviction they tion of the dignity and brotherhood of THORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL truly held in their hearts, and that man, which Christmas Day signifies YEAR 2008 human beings should protect that right more than any other day or any other Mr. CARDOZA (during the Special for each other. symbol. Against enemies who preach Order of Mr. ROSS), from the Com- Madam Speaker, today we considered the principles of hate and practice mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- and passed H. Res. 847, ‘‘recognizing the them, we set our faith in human love leged report (Rept. No. 110–488) on the importance of Christmas and the Chris- and in God’s care for us and all men ev- resolution (H. Res. 860) providing for tian faith.’’ Of course, Madam Speaker, erywhere.’’ consideration of the conference report there will be those who will criticize So, Madam Speaker, with those feel- to accompany the bill (H.R. 1585) to au- any effort to recognize a particular ings in mind and with love in my heart thorize appropriations for fiscal year faith or holiday. However, Madam for people of every faith, let me here on 2008 for military activities of the De- Speaker, aside from the debatable as- this floor exercise my own religious partment of Defense, for military con- pects of this resolution, or any other, freedom and wish you and everyone struction, and for defense activities of those who are even slightly acquainted else under the sound of my voice a the Department of Energy, to prescribe with history know that the Bible, the happy, holy, and merry Christmas. military personnel strengths for such founding document of the Christian f faith, was the essential rationale and fiscal year, and for other purposes, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY which was referred to the House Cal- substance that inspired our Declara- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under endar and ordered to be printed. tion of Independence and was, further, the bedrock foundational document of the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- f the Western world. uary 18, 2007, the gentleman from New REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- The objective of this resolution is to Jersey (Mr. GARRETT) is recognized for VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF honor those Judeo-Christian principles 60 minutes as the designee of the mi- H.R. 4351, AMT RELIEF ACT OF that have shaped American history and nority leader. 2007 policy since the founding of our Nation Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. As I Mr. CARDOZA (during the Special and that have informed and influenced come to the floor tonight, the first Order of Mr. ROSS), from the Com- our ideas of justice and equality 7 week of December, standing here in the mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- years into the 21st century. Indeed, Nation’s Capitol of the greatest Nation leged report (Rept. No. 110–489) on the Madam Speaker, it was the Christian on Earth, today, and has ever been, I resolution (H. Res. 861) providing for principles hailed in this resolution that think about our constituents back consideration of the bill (H.R. 4351) to led our country to be the very first home in the great State of New Jersey amend the Internal Revenue Code of beacon of religious freedom in the his- and across the country as well as they 1986 to provide individuals temporary tory of the world and, further, to fi- look to our Nation’s Capitol and expect relief from the alternative minimum nally reject the practice of human us to do the responsible things on their tax, and for other purposes, which was slavery that had plagued civilization behalf and on the behalf of freedom and referred to the House Calendar and or- across the world for nearly 7,000 years. liberty around the world as well. And a dered to be printed. Madam Speaker, I believe that it portion of that responsibility, of would be wrong for this body to ever course, is handling their hard-earned f pass any law that would compel or for- tax dollars as they send them to us REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- bid any person in this Nation or any here in Washington to administer this VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF other nation to accept or reject any ar- government and spending, some of H.R. 4299, TERRORISM RISK IN- ticle of faith, so long as they did not which was just addressed by the other SURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHOR- deprive their fellow Americans or side of the aisle. IZATION ACT OF 2007 human beings of those same constitu- For the next hour, I would like to en- Mr. CARDOZA (during the Special tional rights. However, in recognizing gage in a discussion of these issues and Order of Mr. ROSS), from the Com- the influence of Christianity upon shed some light on them, perhaps mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- Western civilization, we are also com- pointing out some of the fallacies in leged report (Rept. No. 110–490) on the mending the unshakable commitment some of the arguments that we just resolution (H. Res. 862) providing for of Christian principles, the very ones heard from the other side of the aisle consideration of the bill (H.R. 4299) to that compelled our Founding Fathers on these points. extend the Terrorism Insurance Pro- to resolutely declare that all men are As we begin there, I think there is no gram of the Department of the Treas- created equal by God himself, and that place better to begin as to try to ad- ury, and for other purposes, which was because they are created equal, they dress some of those points that have referred to the House Calendar and or- are also created free, Madam Speaker, been raised. So at this time I would be dered to be printed. and that includes being free to embrace honored to have a fellow colleague join us at the floor right now. I yield the f the religion of their own conviction. Religious freedom is a central com- floor to Ms. FOXX. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ponent of the Christian faith this reso- Ms. FOXX. Thank you so much, Con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a lution references. Indeed, the message gressman GARRETT. I appreciate your previous order of the House, the gen- of the one born on Christmas Day was putting together this Special Order to- tleman from Arizona (Mr. FRANKS) is from a savior who came to offer every night and focusing on spending and on recognized for 5 minutes. member of the human family ultimate where we are here, as you said, in the Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Madam and eternal freedom, even at the cost second week of December in the great- Speaker, I thank Congressman GAR- of his own life. est country in the world. RETT for this privilege of this time. Madam Speaker, as we enjoy our reli- I was listening for a few minutes to Madam Speaker, I believe the corner- gious freedom in this season of peace, our colleagues who preceded us, who stone of all human freedom is that of may we not forget that at this very called themselves the Blue Dog Demo- religious freedom. Indeed, a small sepa- moment American men and women in crats, and I was really fascinated to ratist church congregation in England uniform are fighting a battle across the hear them talk about how fiscally re- possessed a desire so strong to practice world so that all Americans might con- sponsible they have been, and I know their faith freely that it compelled tinue to freely exercise their faith, and that you’re going to talk a little bit them to cross the ocean in a little that that right might ultimately some later about the total tax increases that wooden ship called the Mayflower. day be extended to all of mankind. they have proposed, the total spending While theirs was a quest to be able to President Roosevelt probably said it that they have proposed. And I am fas- practice the faith of Christianity, a best, Madam Speaker. He said in his cinated that our colleagues can stand

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H15292 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 11, 2007 here and talk about being fiscally re- our responsibility. If we can just hone around it is, here we are again the mid- sponsible, I think, and assume that no- in on what our responsibility is and if dle of December, and they have not body is adding up what it is they are we can get doing those things well passed the appropriations bills that we doing. And they show their charts first, then everything else comes in should have passed. And I want to talk about the debt and how much each per- time. some about what they promised they son is responsible for that debt, and I I yield back. would do and what they have done. And am intrigued that if you look at the Ms. FOXX. Well, I hope you will re- we have compiled a list of promises. record, you would see that most of the peat that 22 more times tonight, and On November 8 of last year, Speaker- Blue Dogs vote every time for these fis- we need to be repeating that every sin- elect PELOSI said: Democrats are pre- cally irresponsible bills that are being gle day. It’s one of the issues I talk pared to govern and ready to lead. brought up. So I want to say to the about over and over again, what are Here we are, only one appropriations American people, if they believe that our priorities, what is the role of the bill that has passed, and that is the De- these folks have been fiscally respon- Federal Government. As you say, we fense bill. Thank goodness that has sible, then I have got some swampland could be seen as a 51st State and be happened. in Mexico that I’d like to sell them. trying to deal with every single issue, Another Democratic promise: open, I felt like, in listening to them, that but the Constitution is really clear honest, and ethical Congress. Speaker- I was like Alice in Wonderland, where about what our role is, I think. elect PELOSI: we will make this the the language means the opposite of As you point out, here we are in the most honest, ethical, and open Con- what it is, or 1984, particularly 1984, middle of December, and what has this gress in history. where white is black and black is Congress accomplished? So much was And what do we get? We get bills white. That is what it feels like when promised by the majority last year brought on the floor at the last you’re listening to them talk about when they were running for office and minute, thousand-page bills. We get no being fiscally responsible. It’s unbe- condemning Republicans for being time to read them, and we are asked to lievable. profligate spenders and being irrespon- vote on them. One thing I do agree with them, it is sible about the way we spent money. I We are also told by the Blue Dogs about priorities, and it’s obvious that will tell you that we can’t hold a can- and by others that they believe in their priorities and our priorities and dle to what it is they want to do. something called PAYGO. Now, the priorities of the American people PAYGO, they would have you believe, b 2100 are two different things. For one thing, is a way for us to get back fiscal re- our colleague used the example that we I think it was bad enough that Re- sponsibility. Well, I want to say that if could be building 12,000 new elementary publicans before I got here ballooned you look up PAYGO in the dictionary, schools. Well, the Federal Government the budget beyond where it should have it means new taxes. That is what has absolutely no business building ele- been. And I have to say that I under- PAYGO means to them, new taxes. It mentary schools. There is absolutely stand why the American people got doesn’t mean cutting spending. And it nothing in the Constitution which upset with us last year, why we lost only applies to a very small part of our gives us any right to be involved in our majority. They felt that we were budget, but they want to try to fool the education, and particularly in building profligate spenders, as I said. But the American people into thinking that it buildings at the local level. Democrats promised something dif- means something different than what I am astonished at some of the things ferent. We are standing on our prin- it means. that they say, again, and assume that ciples now, and they are stunned by They criticize the Senate for having nobody is going to question them. that. We are earning our way back into passed an AMT bill last week, which is Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Will the majority by living up to the image a clean bill. It simply delays the in- the gentlelady yield? and the reputation that Republicans crease in taxes that would go to about I think the gentlelady makes an in- have had over the years of being care- 23 million Americans, something they teresting but important point at the ful with the way money is spent. have never paid. And to the House, the same time, in that if we see our role And, of course, today I heard other fiscally responsible way to do this is to here in Congress as to satisfy every de- Democrats talking about the fact that add new taxes to other Americans to, sire, wish, whim, and I am not saying this was going to be a cut in the budg- quote, pay for, that is, offset, taxes education is a whim, but desires, wish, et. Well, only in Washington is a small- that have never been paid by another needs, as well of our constituency back er increase than what they want con- group of Americans. at home, in your State and mine, then sidered a cut or level funding consid- That is some of the most twisted of course that wish list or the desire ered a cut. The increase in what the logic that I have ever heard in my en- list or that need list would go on ad in- President asked for, and again I know tire life. I know that these people never finitum. Then we can become here, as you are going to go into much greater could have taken logic in high school one may say, as the 51st State, the 51st detail about this, a 3.1 percent increase or in college. State legislature, trying to solve every in spending overall was requested by They also promised no more bor- single issue, whether it’s building new the President; and yet, the majority rowing from Social Security. But what schools, filling in potholes back at party is saying that the fault is with that means is that the money that is home on the street in front of some- the White House and it refuses to nego- currently being spent from the Social one’s house, or any other minutia that tiate, that the President won’t nego- Security fund will not be spent from is back in the States. Obviously, some tiate with them. They say we are en- the Social Security fund. But that is of these things are quite vital to you gaged in political posturing. If that not what they are doing. They are and I and our constituents, but the isn’t the pot calling the kettle black, I spending that and a whole lot more. question is where do those dollars and certainly have never seen that. They And ROB ANDREWS last year, or this cents come from, where do the respon- are totally surprised by the fact that year, promised that we would not bor- sibilities lie? If we are going to assume the President and we are standing on row any more money from the Social at all, then I can tell you that this our principles. Security fund. Every one of their prom- budget is going to balloon even further They think they can get by with sim- ises has been broken, and they are tak- than where the Democrats already ply increasing spending. They asked for ing us down a very fiscally irrespon- want the budget to balloon. $22 billion plus a lot of money in emer- sible budget. But it is, just as you said before, an gency spending; so then they come The energy bill that was passed last issue of, and I will probably say it 22 back and say, well, we will just split week is a no-energy bill. It included more times before the night is over, an the difference. It will only be $11 bil- nothing to increase domestic energy issue of setting priorities, and part of lion and you should compromise with production. As Christmas approaches, setting priorities is setting what are us. And the fact that we don’t want to 5,000 troops are going to return from our responsibilities. So you hit the nail increase spending that much more over Iraq; but they are holding hostage the on the head when you begin to look at the 3.1 percent requested by the Presi- bipartisan legislation to fund key bene- that, how do you set priorities, what is dent stuns them. So the way they get fits for them and their families. It has

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE December 11, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H15293 been 6 months since the House over- Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gen- look over the last 10 years, for exam- whelmingly passed the veterans and tleman from New Jersey for leading ple, the international affairs budget troops funding bill and 3 months since this Special Order this evening. I thank has increased 130 percent; the energy the Senate did the same, but they have him for his leadership on behalf of the budget, 293 percent. Now, transpor- put that bipartisan bill into this omni- people of New Jersey and behalf of the tation, 71 percent; health, 79.4 percent. bus bill that we are going to be dealing people of New York. The gentleman And the list goes on and on. And in with, which will have billions in waste- from New Jersey (Mr. GARRETT) never that same 10-year period, the family ful, unrelated pork. loses an opportunity to fight for the budget has grown by about 34, 35 per- We are seeing a tremendous problem family budget. cent. And so you have government on here with only one of the 12 appropria- And we know that families are strug- average growing over twice the rate of tions bills passed, a year wasted while gling during this Christmas season; we the family budget, and inflation over they have brought before us unneces- know that their energy bills have in- that same period has been just a little sary bills to vote on and while they creased. We know the price at the over 2 percent. So if you wanted to have voted 41 times on measures to pump is high. Home heating oil for keep the same government that you withdraw from Iraq, and they have let those, particularly in the Northeast, had, you would have grown it at 2 per- the important work of this Congress go not in my part in the country in Texas, cent a year; and, instead, it is being by the by. they face challenges there. They face grown at closer to 6 to 7 percent. I hope again that the American peo- challenges in trying to deal with their Ultimately, American families will ple are paying close attention and health care costs. not be able to pay this bill. More and reading between the lines on the things And what is the answer of this new more taxes are being imposed on them. that they are saying, and I am going to Democrat majority? Well, it is the And so every time one of our Democrat yield back to my colleague from New same answer as all Democrat majori- colleagues comes to the floor to sug- Jersey (Mr. GARRETT). ties: tax more and spend more. Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I gest another great new government I am unacquainted with any society program to be added to the other 10,000 thank the gentlelady from North Caro- in the history of the world that some- lina, and I do believe that the Amer- programs, Federal programs that are how has taxed its way into prosperity. already on the books, it puts pressure ican public is paying attention; and And, ultimately, more spending leads they are doing better than that, they on the family budget. And, again, it is to more taxation; and this is a Con- are reading between the lines. And not fair to their dreams, their hopes, gress that continues to spend more and they know when they are being talked their aspirations for their families, on more and more. Already, the Federal to straight and honestly, just as you top of this $3,000 a year increase to the Government is spending on average have been for the last few moments average family of four that will be over $23,000 per family of four, Mr. now setting forth what the record is phased in over 5 years in their budget. Speaker. And this is the highest level, with regard to what the Republicans’ They have gone through and offered to the highest level since World War II on intentions have been and will be in the increase taxes at least half a dozen an inflation-adjusted basis. And yet future with regard to getting the fiscal times on American families and the this Democrat majority wants to spend house in order of this country, and American economy. what the actual record has been for the even more of the people’s money. Earlier in the year, in their budget b 2115 last 11-plus, almost 12, months now, as they had the single largest tax increase Mr. HENSARLING. We passed H.R. 6, we stand here under Democrat control. $7.7 billion over 10 years; H.R. 976, $1.3 Some of the numbers, I must say, in American history that, when fully billion over 10 years; H.R. 1562, $241 that we talk about when we discuss implemented over a 5-year period, is million over the next 10 years; H.R. this issue are quite large. It is really going to add $3,000 per year for an aver- 2419, $12.1 billion, and the list goes on hard to get your hands around them, to age family of four. get a handle on them. When you are Now, I wonder, Mr. Speaker, what and on and on. Again, as Americans are striving to talking about total spending in 2008 in will that extra $3,000 in taxes taken pay for their health care costs, their the fiscal budget of $2.9 trillion, who away from American families to be can imagine that size number? When given to the Federal Government, what transportation costs, their education you are talking even a smaller number is that going to do to the hopes and costs, why should they be giving more about an increase of $118 billion over dreams of the average American fam- money to Washington, D.C.? And at 2007, $118 billion? We just can’t relate ily? How is that going to help them fill this time when they are trying to to it. up their F–150 pickup trucks? How is make ends meet on top of the tax in- What we have to all bring it right that going to help them pay their home crease in their budget, on top of at down to is the fact that this is the heating oil bills? How is that going to least seven or eight tax increases pro- American public tax dollars at heart, help them send a child to college? Well, pose this year, you have the chairman and it does mean dollars and cents to the answer is that it is not. of the Ways and Means Committee, the people at home listening to us tonight, Often, when we are having spending gentleman from New York (Mr. RAN- working all week long, paying their debates in the Nation’s Capitol, Mr. GEL), propose what has now become bills. It does mean something to the Speaker, we are not really debating known in the press as the mother of all American family’s budget, how the tax how much we spend, but we are debat- tax increases. increases that have been proposed by ing who is going to do the spending. Is He will put a huge, almost 30 percent the other side of the aisle are going to it going to be American families? Are tax on millions of small businesses all impact upon them and their lack of re- they going to be allowed to keep what across this Nation. Ninety percent of sponsibility when it comes to the issue they have earned, what they have all Americans will pay more taxes that curbing spending will have an im- worked hard for? Are they going to be under this bill. It will bring in an esti- pact upon them as well. able to keep the bread on their table? mated $3 trillion taken away from I am very pleased that I have been Or are they going to have to give even American families and American small joined here tonight by another strong a larger share to Washington? Notwith- businesses. This threatens millions of stalwart leader on this entire issue of standing the fact, notwithstanding the jobs. fiscal responsibility. I have the pleas- fact that they are already paying on If we truly care about the American ure of serving with him on several com- average $23,000 per family of four. family and the economic perils and mittees, but most importantly right Now, when you come to the floor of struggles that they face, then we want now on the Budget Committee where the House, you often hear our Demo- to make sure, number one, they keep he has been an outspoken critic of wan- crat colleagues decry how we are not the job that they already have instead ton expenses and spending, both now investing in this budget function or we of sending jobs overseas through excess under Democratic control but also, too, are not investing in this budget func- taxation, regulation and litigation. when the Republicans controlled. So I tion enough. Well, people are entitled And again, all of this spending ulti- would like to yield such time as he to their own opinions; they are just not mately has to be paid for, and it has to needs to the gentleman from Texas. entitled to their own facts. And if you be paid for by a larger tax burden on

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H15294 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 11, 2007 the American family and a job-killing the ability of the family budget to pay horse in this institution, and I am hon- tax burden on American small busi- for it. ored to be on the House floor tonight. ness. Already the unfunded obligations of Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I again So here we are when most American the Federal Government are in excess thank the gentleman from Texas for families are trying to put together a of $144,000 per individual, and yet the your work and for coming to the floor budget so they can participate and Democrats keep on spending along. and for the points you make here. make sure that all of the children and There will be a day of reckoning. And You point out several significant grandchildren are taken care of at so I am sure that the Democrats will points. One is the dichotomy between Christmas, and here we have a Demo- come to this House floor and say we what has been said by the other side of crat majority in Congress who are try- are only debating $22 billion in this the aisle, both before the election and ing to pass an even larger budget, the omnibus spending bill. now during the course of the year, and largest budget in the history of the Number one, I hope I am never in literally just moments ago before I Federal Government, taking more Washington so long that I have con- came to the floor this hour as the Blue money away from their Christmases, cluded that $22 billion is not a lot of Dogs were on the floor speaking. taking away the goodies in their stock- money. $22 billion is more than we are Let me take a moment to remind ings to feed this ever-increasing, tax- spending on veterans health care in those here with us what was said by and-spend beast that they have cre- this Nation. It is a lot of money. And the other side when it comes to fiscal ated. due to this artifice called baseline responsibility and their ability to get Again, I am unfamiliar with any soci- budgeting, that is going to grow in 5 going rolling forward, because the gen- ety in history that somehow has taxed years to be a $200 billion figure, impos- tleman from Texas made reference to its way into prosperity, and that’s ing again thousands of dollars of taxes the point we are likely to see an omni- what all this spending is resulting in on the average American family when bus bill that none of us had an oppor- now. So I am happy to join the gen- they are struggling to make ends meet. tunity to consider, just as has been the tleman from New Jersey to come to the And so this debate is really about case with other bills that have come to floor now and make sure that the two different roads. One road leads us the floor. American people are seeing what is to the largest tax increase in American Back on November 8, 2006, a little happening. history to be followed by an even larg- over a year ago, Democrat Speaker There is a process, and process ulti- er tax increase in American history, PELOSI said Democrats are prepared to mately leads to policy. We had a proc- one that threatens our children and govern and ready to lead. ess in place that was supposed to pass grandchildren with a lower standard of Would that be true, whether she was separate spending bills so Members of living. And that is not my words. Those prepared to govern and lead a year ago, Congress could actually read the bills. are the words of the comptroller gen- here we are a year later, and we are Wouldn’t that be a novel idea, that you eral, the chief fiduciary officer of the still waiting for their appropriation actually have an opportunity to read Federal Government. He said right now bills to make the way through the the bill before you vote on it. And the government we have, and I para- process. Here we are in the second Democrats would absolutely come to phrase, the government we have, if left week in December, which means we are the House floor and criticize and exco- on automatic pilot, no new spending already, October, November, December, riate Republicans if they didn’t pass programs, no new benefit increases, all those months, a quarter into the these bills on time, and now they have threatens the next generation with ei- next fiscal year, and we are still wait- passed one out of a dozen. So they are ther, one, a doubling of their tax bur- ing for those appropriation bills to going to roll them all into this thing den or, two, a Federal Government make it through the House, Senate, called an omnibus, and the only bus that consists of little more than Medi- and onto the President’s desk. Were quality about it is it is a fiscal bus; it care, Medicaid and Social Security. they really ready to lead a year ago if is going to flatten the American tax- And yet the Democrats won’t reform they can’t get it done at this point in payer. these programs. They keep on taxing time? I guess not. So, soon we will be presented with a and they keep on spending. A year ago their Democrat caucus thousand-page bill that we have hours I don’t plan to be a party to that. chairman, Mr. CLYBURN, said Demo- to read that will be filled with pork- There is another path. It is a path to crats offer a new direction which in- laden special interest projects which fiscal responsibility. It is a path to cludes fiscal responsibility. If you just this Democrat majority claimed they make sure that the Federal budget put the period after ‘‘they offer a new were going to clean up. But instead, does not grow beyond the ability of the direction,’’ maybe that would be more they have made it worse with all of family budget to pay for it. That is telling. Their direction is deeper in their special earmarks, be it the trib- why Republicans will come to this debt for the country, and therefore for ute to the chairman of the Ways and House floor to make sure that this om- the American family’s budget as well, Means Committee who takes $2 million nibus doesn’t run over the American because their solution is always in- of American family money to create a taxpayer and to make sure that the crease taxes. museum to himself; be it the gen- American people can have greater free- You might find that odd to think tleman from Pennsylvania who set up dom and opportunity than we have had their solution is always to increase what the Wall Street Journal has re- before. But to do that, we have to put taxes if you simply listen to their rhet- ferred to as Murtha, Inc., where now America on the path of fiscal responsi- oric, because back in March of this companies go out and hire lobbyists, bility and to live within a budget. year their majority leader said there and if they locate in his district, all of Don’t let the Federal budget grow be- are no tax increases in this budget, re- a sudden earmarks appear. There is no yond the family’s budget to pay for it. ferring to the budget which came transparency there. There is no ac- You cannot grow government at 6 and through the Budget Committee and countability there. But all of this is 7 and 8 percent a year and have the eventually came to the floor of the going to get wrapped up into one great family budget grow at 3 percent a year. House. big omnibus bill. You can’t sit here and tax American If there are no tax increases, why do So when many of us would like to be families at 3 and 4 and $5,000 more per we know that the tax increases are with our families, and many of us have year and then somehow claim that you going up significantly, upwards to $400 our families back home in our dis- have the Nation’s priorities right. The billion on the American public because tricts, not in Washington, D.C., instead priority of this Nation ought to be pro- of the bills that the Democrat majority we are here doing what we have to do, tecting the pocketbooks and security has put through? and that is protect the American fami- and freedoms of the American family. I would point out to the gentleman lies out there from this tax-and-spend So again, I thank the gentleman from Texas that just prior to coming to machine that threatens their education from New Jersey. He is one of the stel- the floor, the other side was speaking. and housing dreams, threatens their lar leaders in this body in fiscal respon- It was the Blue Dog Democrats, and health care dreams, to ensure that the sibility. He is a man who is always their solution, and you don’t have to, Federal budget does not grow beyond committed to principle, a real work- as the gentlelady from North Carolina

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE December 11, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H15295 says, read between the lines. Their so- Blue Dogs were on that one when they taxes, because it’s their dreams once lution to this issue of fiscal responsi- had the opportunity to rein in spend- again. And so compassion, I believe bility is only one-sided, and that is rev- ing. that compassion ultimately shouldn’t enue, revenue enhancement, which is a You know, I think if I recall cor- be measured by the size of a govern- nice way of saying tax increases. rectly, and you can correct me if I’m ment check. It ought to be measured How do we know that? The RECORD wrong, the reason they said that they by the size of a paycheck. And all this proves the case. The chart to my left could not be supportive of being more Democrat spending is fueling more shows the Republican minority at- fiscally responsible and support any taxes, which will kill the jobs, kill jobs tempted during various appropriation measure was that we were not being in this American economy. We start re- bills that were coming down to say compassionate enough. But the ele- placing paychecks with welfare checks; that maybe the solution when your fis- ment of compassion in Washington, there’s no compassion in that. cal house is not in order is not always DC. apparently is measured by simply And I’ll yield back to the gentleman to raise taxes; maybe part of the solu- how much more money you throw at from New Jersey. tion is to rein in spending, something the problem. Whether or not that pro- Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Just a that every family has to do from time gram is efficient, whether that pro- quick two points, one on the compas- to time. When an American family has gram has been rated as being adequate sion issue is perhaps it is appropriate a problem with their budget and they and getting the job done, the measure when you’re dealing with money to say are not able to make ends meet at the of compassion in Washington is always that if I’m taking money out of my end of the month or week, what do whether or not you are throwing even own pocket and deciding that I will they do? They usually have to rein in more money than the party next to you spend this on a particular program, I spending and set priorities. We sug- is doing. can honestly say if I wish to be so gested that. I know that the gentleman I guess it comes down to a very sim- boastful that I am being compassionate from Texas was part of this process as ply thing like this: at the end of the for that individual. well to suggest perhaps what we should day they want to be able to go home to But we know that the Federal Gov- do is not make any draconian cuts, not their kids or grandkids and say, well, ernment is in debt right now. We are say we are going to eliminate this pro- we were more compassionate than involved in deficit spending, which gram or that program, although some those Republicans because we spent means that we are not only spending programs are certainly worthy of being more money than they did on a par- more money than we are currently tak- ticular problem. eliminated. We had a much more mod- ing in from the current taxpayers in Mr. HENSARLING. Would the gen- est proposal, and that was simply to this country, but also we are going into tleman yield on that point? debt borrowing as well. So where are say can we go for a 1-percent reduction Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I shall in spending. we borrowing from? yield, yeah. Well, we are borrowing from the next What was the Democrats’ response to Mr. HENSARLING. It is interesting. generation. So in that hypothetical that? Well, on bill after bill after bill Rarely do you come to the House floor conversation that a Member from the after bill, one, two, three, four, five, that somebody says, don’t you have other side of the aisle must have when six, seven of the House appropriation compassion? Don’t you want to take they go back to their children and say, bills proposed by the House Democrat money away from this American fam- well, I was compassionate today be- majority, on each case we suggested ily and hand it over to this program cause I decided to vote ‘‘no’’ on all can we afford a 1-percent across-the- over here? board reduction to try to bring our And, again, I want our society to these fiscally responsible measures House in fiscal responsibility. spend more money on education. I that the Republicans propose as far as Mr. HENSARLING. Would the gen- want them to spend more money on reining in the spending on this side. tleman yield on that one point? health care. I want them to spend more Well, the compassion that the father or Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I money on housing. I’m just not indif- mother Member would have to say to would definitely yield. ferent as to who does the spending. I his child, I am being compassionate be- Mr. HENSARLING. Correct me if I’m want American families to do the cause I am simply basically giving you wrong, but isn’t that really a 1-percent spending. They want the Federal Gov- an additional debt on my children, and reduction in the requested increase? ernment bureaucrats to do the spend- my children and your children will be And so, for example, the Democrats ing after taking a huge hair cut for all obligated for all of these expenses. may have suggested that some account the waste and fraud and abuse and du- Now, to the other point that you grow by 6.7 percent, and this amend- plication that takes place in the Na- were raising as far as the letters and ment said no, let’s let it grow at 5.7 tion’s Capitol. the phone calls that you get from your percent instead. So what we are calling What I hear from my constituents, members or from your constituents a reduction, was that not really a re- and I have the great honor of rep- who are concerned about what we are duction in the requested increase? Be- resenting the Fifth Congressional Dis- doing here and that they are on the cause at the end of the day, the Federal trict of Texas, which is Dallas and east brink of foreclosure, or brink of fiscal budget was still going to grow. Texas, and I hear from people like the solvency in their own right, well, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I ap- Kirkendahls in Garland who wrote me: that’s perfectly understandable, espe- preciate that point. The gentleman is ‘‘Congressman, at this point, between cially in light of all that has transpired absolutely correct. It is not a reduction taxes and utilities we are at the break- over the last 11 months with regard to in overall spending so we can say today ing point of being able to keep a home. new taxes that have been proposed by we are spending a dollar and tomorrow If we have an increase of over $2,000 per this Democrat majority. And I’ll just we would be spending 99 cents. In fact, year in taxes, it may well be the straw refer to the chart here for a moment. today we are spending a dollar and we that broke the camel’s back.’’ And if you care to speak on any of may be going up to $1.05, let’s bring it Well, where is the Democratic com- these, you’re welcome to. down to $1.04-something as far as the passion for the Kirkendahl family as These are new majority proposals, actual spending. So the actual spend- they try to keep their home? new taxes at every turn. I digress. ing would still be going up, but we were I heard from the Taylor family in What was Senator HILLARY CLINTON’s suggesting going up on a slightly lower Forney, Texas also in my district: statement with regard as running as a curve. ‘‘Dear Congressman, I’m on the verge Presidential candidate, which I believe of foreclosure after 15 years in my she said something to the effect of, I b 2130 house. I won’t be able to make it if have more ideas than this country can Democrats voting in favor of that taxes continue to rise.’’ afford to spend dollars on, or some- modicum of fiscal responsibility. Well, Well, where is this Democrat compas- thing to that effect. Well, apparently we could get into single digits several sion for the Taylor family in Forney? the other side of the aisle, the Demo- times, with 10, 7, 11, 13, 11, 11, 11; only I’m having trouble seeing it. crat side of the aisle, has the same 11 votes out of that entire side of the And so they forget about the people idea, that they have more proposals, aisle. I’m not sure where any of the who actually do the work and pay the more bright ideas to spend on than we

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H15296 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 11, 2007 have money in the bank nor does the you afford that, to send more money to setting those priorities. But we will be American family have in their bank as Washington, D.C. when they’re already willing, the Democrats will be willing well. But they’re going to still go and spending an average of $23,000 per fam- to reach out and take more money out try and spend them, and they’re going ily of four, the highest level since of the family’s pocket. So that really is to do it by raising taxes. World War II? the issue here at home. So what do we have here? One, two, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. And if And I always remember this expres- three, four, five, about seven different the gentleman will yield. sion from the gentleman from Texas: new tax proposals. Fiscal year 2008 Mr. HENSARLING. I’d be happy to the focus has got to be on the family budget $392.5 billion tax increase. Of yield to the gentleman. budget and not on the Washington course the gentleman from Texas re- Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. The budget. The other side of the aisle obvi- calls that we saw that at the very be- gentleman and I also, besides being on ously has misplaced that axiom and ginning of this year in about March or the Budget Committee, I also have the has put the focus entirely on the Wash- April of this year when we saw at that honor of serving with him on the Fi- ington budget, as opposed to the Fed- time that was the largest tax increase nancial Services Committee. And one eral, the individual budget. in U.S. history. The largest tax in- of the issues that we’re dealing with Again, if you were here earlier when crease. And where is that going to be right now of course is with the the other side of the aisle was saying on? It’s going to be on the backs of subprime situation, subprime situation that their solutions to the fiscal di- American families. as far as the tightening of the credit lemma that we’re in right now and the Secondly, $15 billion in new energy market of course and the decline of problems need to be addressed in a fis- taxes. Well, we just passed 2 weeks ago, home prices that is probably going to cally responsible manner, never once or last week I guess it was, we passed continue for some period of time, peak- during that entire hour discussion, and the energy bill, and that’s even in addi- ing with regard to the resets sometime never once during any of our hearings tion to that as far as the tax increases in February or March of next year. But that I can recall in the Budget Com- that will be on energy production in most experts would agree that the mittee, have we heard from them the this country. $5.8 billion in new to- price of homes in this country on aver- basic suggestion that the answer lies in bacco taxes, $7.5 billion, again these age will be going down 3, 4, 5 percent; the spending side of the equation as op- are all in billions. If you can’t get your and this will continue during the posed to revenue. hands around it, those large numbers, course of 2008. And it’s one of the rea- In Washington, we really do have a but that’s what we’re talking about. sons, as well, why we see consumer spending problem, not a revenue prob- $7.5 billion in new taxes in the farm confidence beginning to erode, after a lem. The revenue continues to come in bill. A nickel-per-gallon tax increase substantial period, a lengthy period of at unprecedented rates, and that de- on gas for infrastructure. So if we’re where consumer confidence was up. spite the fact that we had tax cuts not already paying enough at the pump So when you think about the eco- going back as far as 2003, despite the and, remember, that also was one of nomic situation of the American fam- fact that we lowered the tax rates for the promises that the gentlelady from ily right now, energy costs going Americans so that they can keep more North Carolina was referring to before, through the roof. I heard a figure the money in their pockets. The amount of a whole list, before you came in a other day, I think they said on average revenue coming into Washington con- whole list of promises made by the new American homeowners are going to tinues to go up, most times over the majority that they were going to do. spend around $2,000 more this year just last several years, actually in the dou- One of them was an energy policy to to heat their homes. There’s 2,000 ble-digit range year over year. reduce the price of gasoline. I can tell bucks more out of their wallets. That’s So it’s not a revenue problem that we you in my neck of the woods prices are in addition to more money out of their have experienced. It is a spending prob- higher now substantially than when pockets for gasoline, going to and from lem. I’m just waiting for the day that the majority came in. Now they want work. And that’s in addition to the fact the other side of the aisle begins to re- to add a nickel tax on top of that. A 50 that the values of the house in certain alize that and will begin to work with cent-per-gallon tax, increase on gas for pockets of this country will be going us on some of these issues that you and global warming. So now you’re up to 55 down. Their financial situation for the I and others in the RSC as well have cents on gas. American public is being constricted. decided is the appropriate approach, New taxes on homeownership by end- And what is the solution that we are reining in this budget as the family ing mortgage deductions and a new tax hearing from the other side of the aisle does. on every American with a private while the family budget is being tight- Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gen- health plan. And actually this list is an ened like that? tleman for yielding once again. And al- abbreviated list that can go even fur- Well, it’s Uncle Sam reaching out though I haven’t kept a running tally, ther than this as far as taxes on the and saying, can we have, Washington, to the best of my knowledge, I’m American public. have 2, $3,000 more so we can spend it unacquainted with any Federal pro- And with that I’ll yield to the gen- down here on who knows what. And gram that has met its demise in this tleman. some of those who-knows-whats, you Congress. Instead, when you think Mr. HENSARLING. Well, I thank the remember earlier on in this year, with about the 10,000 Federal programs that gentleman for yielding once again. And all the pork spending that was coming are already on the books, this Demo- it is sometimes difficult for people to from the other side of the aisle, you re- crat majority is adding to them, with understand billions and trillions of dol- call this discussion of some of the pork the exception of one agency in the De- lars. But they certainly understand that was thrown into legislation, $50 partment of Labor that’s supposed to hundreds and thousands of dollars com- million for wild blueberry subsidies, provide accountability to labor union ing out of their paycheck. And so to farm bill, $17 million for the National bosses to make sure that they don’t put this in some kind of context, this Sports program, $20 million for the Na- misuse labor union funds. That was the largest single tax increase in history tional Writing Project, $6 million for only single agency that I’m aware of that was part of the Democrat budget unused plane tickets, $36,000 for Ken- that has received a budget decrease of resolution earlier this year, that tucky to protect bingo halls and on and roughly 10,000 Federal programs, one to equates to roughly $3,000 per year per on infinitum. ensure the integrity of labor union family of four tax increase, $3,000. So I Anyone who listens to the gentleman funds to be protected from misuse and hope people all across America who are from Texas or the gentleman from Ari- fraudulent use and criminal use by listening to this debate will listen very zona talk about earmarks will know labor union bosses. closely and write their Members of about the wasteful spending that goes And so, again, the tax and spend ma- Congress, call their Members of Con- on here. But that’s what’s going to con- chine goes on. And American families gress, e-mail their Members of Con- tinue to go on so long as Washington is have to decide for themselves as they gress. controlled by the other side of the aisle watch this debate during the holiday Do you really want that $3,000-per- that says we can continue to spend season what’s going to be best for their year tax increase on your family? Can without limitation because we are not families. Do they want to have a tax

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE December 11, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H15297 increase in the neighborhood of $3,000 have put away during the course of competitive. And because they were per family of four? Is that going to help their life, their pensions and the like more competitive, and I want to say them? Will sending that money to which are invested, and now they’re they had about 20 workers, instead of Washington help them with their fuel taking those funds out as far as capital laying off two workers, they hired two bills? Will sending that money to gains. That’s what they’re living on on new workers, all because of tax relief. Washington better help them send a fixed income. What do we see there Tax relief allowed them to invest in their children to college? Will sending with capital gains, 15 percent to 20 per- the American free enterprise system. that money to Washington help them cent. That’s a 5 percent increase, or ac- And so instead of having four people meet their mortgage payments, par- tually a 30 percent increase over the 15 who could have been on unemployment ticularly if they have an adjustable percent. and four people who could have been on rate mortgage and it resets? Dividends, likewise, increase 15 per- welfare and four people who could have cent up to 39.6 percent, more than a been on food stamps, instead, you had b 2145 double increase there. four people who had jobs, who had a fu- We’re talking about the here and Estate taxes. Well, estate tax, of ture, who put a roof over their head, now, but we also have to look at the fu- course, is something we’ve debated on who put groceries on the table because ture. As the gentleman was talking this floor for a long time, for the small of a paycheck, and yet the Democrat about, we hear the word ‘‘compassion’’ farmer, for the small business person. tax increases threaten that very pay- thrown on this floor frequently. People Their taxes are going to go from 0 per- check. will quote scripture and talk about cent to 55 percent, basically making a Now, they offer compassion. Oh, we what have you done for the least of lot of small farmers and little families have this welfare check over here. these. I always thought the least of when they sit down at the end of the We’re going to increase the govern- these were those who do not vote and year saying we may actually have to ment budget over here. But you cannot those who have yet to be born. They’re sell our business to hold on, and this is increase the Federal budget without the ones who tend to get ignored in why. decreasing the family budget, and this process. Finally, for the lower income tax that’s what this debate is going to be So why now with all of this spending bracket, child tax credit from $1,000 to about this week. that the Democrat majority is doing, $500. Now, to people who actually real- Which path do you want to be on? Do where is it leading us? Well, let me ly need that money, that extra $500 can you want to be on the path of increas- quote from the Chairman of the Fed- be crucial. That could be a month’s ing the Federal budget, threatening fu- eral Reserve, Ben Bernanke: Without rent payment. That could be a food ture generations with bankruptcy, early and meaningful action to address bill. That could be a car payment. with this fiscal cancer that’s going to the growth of the Federal budget, par- They’re reducing it from $1,000 down to grow throughout our Nation, or do you ticularly entitlement spending, the $500. want to be on the path where the Fed- U.S. economy could be seriously weak- And finally, the lowest income earn- eral budget doesn’t grow beyond the ened with future generations bearing ers, the bottom income individuals and family budget ability to pay for it, a much of the cost. Again, where is the families in this country, they, too, will budget that doesn’t include tax in- compassion there? be bearing the brunt of the tax in- creases at a time when American fami- Let me quote from the Brookings In- creases and the prolific spending that lies are struggling to pay their health stitution, not exactly a bastion of con- we see down here by seeing the lowest care bills, their heating bills, their servative thought: The Nation’s fiscal tax bracket go from 10 percent to 15 housing bills? situation is out of control and could do percent. Percentage-wise, of course, That’s what it really is. It’s a debate serious damage to the economy in com- that’s a 50 percent tax increase when about two different paths. Now, they ing decades, sapping our national you think about it, from 10 percent up may look small to Democrats. They strength, making it more difficult to to 15 percent, as far as a percentage in- claim $22 billion isn’t a lot of money. respond to unforeseen contingencies crease. Maybe $22 billion today, and that is a and passing on an unfair burden to fu- So from the richest to the poorest lot of money, but that’s quickly going ture generations. Again, the least of will all be suffering, and the dollars to grow to $200 billion, and within a these. and cents, as you make out, the gen- generation that’s going to cause a dou- The General Accountability Office: tleman from Texas, very well, comes bling of taxes on the next generation. The rising costs of government are a out to how they pay their bills at the And children and grandchildren of fiscal cancer that threatens cata- end of the month. America, if we don’t stop this and stop strophic consequences for our country I yield back. it this week, will have a lower standard and could bankrupt America. Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gen- of living, less freedom and less oppor- And these aren’t my words. These tleman from New Jersey in talking tunity, and that’s why it so’s critical aren’t the words of the Republican mi- about how terrible these tax increases that we win this debate this week. nority. I mean, this is the Chairman of are going to be on the American fam- Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I the Federal Reserve, the head of the ily, but it will be not only in direct thank the gentleman again. General Accountability Office, the lib- terms to having a lesser paycheck, it You can see this sort of going on in a eral Brookings Institution. also threatens the very existence of microcosm from the State that I’m Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. And to their paycheck. from, the great State of New Jersey, get an idea, again, as to how that all I toured a small business in my dis- where a poll was done a month or so plays out or actually where that all trict about a year ago called Jackson- ago I understand that said if you had comes from, I gave you before a list, ville Industries. They’re kind of an alu- the opportunity, would you leave the just a partial list of the tax increases minum dye cast manufacturer, and be- State, and 50 percent of the respond- that would be coming down the pike fore we had passed tax relief, they were ents said, yes, they would. If you look under the new Democrat majority. on the verge of having to lay off two at the actual demographic numbers Let’s look at it as you would look at people. over the last year, between 72- or 76,000 your own income tax return in a way. And when I look at what’s happening New Jerseyans have left the State of Part of the tax increases that you will in capital gains and dividends, which New Jersey. One of the reasons why see will go from the top to the bottom. really help fuels job creation, you can’t they indicate they’ve left the State is So you can say compassion to either have capitalism without capital. because taxes are so high. They cannot the richest or the poorest. The ordi- Because of the tax relief the Repub- afford to live in that State. So the indi- nary income tax at the top rates will lican Congress has passed, they were viduals leave, the families leave, busi- be going up, 35 percent to 39.6 percent. able to go out and buy some new ma- nesses leave the State, which will Capital gains tax, which are not only chinery. I don’t recall what it’s called, cause obviously a death spiral, if you for the rich, it’s for our senior citizens and I don’t exactly know what it does, will, to the overall economy of the as well who are relying on their retire- but it was big and it was noisy, and State of New Jersey if it’s going to ment accounts, the annuities that they most importantly, it made them more continue.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~5\2007NE~2\H11DE7.REC H11DE7 mmaher on PRODPC24 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H15298 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 11, 2007 Mr. HENSARLING. Would you be or $40 a barrel during the start of the technology. That technology to get to happy to tell the citizens of New Jersey Bush administration to now approach- the Moon was hardly even on the back who are fleeing the high taxes that ing $100, $95, $100 a barrel. Again, fossil of an envelope at that time. You know, they can come to the Lone Star State fuel costs continue to go up. at that moment, our missiles were where we have low taxes and great eco- We’re engaged in a security threat blowing up on the launch pad. The Rus- nomic growth? We’d be happy to have from the Middle East where we are sians were way ahead of us in the space them. sending about a half a million dollars a race. We’d only put Spam in a can up Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I’m minute to the Middle East to the place, for 15 minutes. We hadn’t even in- sure the gentleman would like to have to the terrorists who come to attack vented Tang yet. them. I would like them to stay in the us, and sending money to the Middle We didn’t know how we were going to State of New Jersey and just see that East and have them turn around and get to the Moon, but John F. Kennedy our fiscal house is set in order in the attack us as the 22 generals who testi- knew that we could invent our way to State of New Jersey, where the Demo- fied in front of our global warming solve this technological challenge and crats just raised the sales tax by a committee told us is not a very pru- we did it. And we’re here tonight to say penny and corporate taxes as well, and dent security policy. that Americans have the same level of property taxes continue to go through We’re engaged in a war in the Middle can-do spirit, the same level of opti- the roof. East, the place that there is security mism, the same level of technological But that’s a microcosm of the United concerns because that’s where a signifi- prowess that we had in the 1960s, and States of America as well. People are cant part of the oil is in the world. that we can do for clean energy what doing what Ronald Reagan once said, So we know we have economic chal- John F. Kennedy did for space, which is and that is they’re voting with their lenges because of rising gas prices. It’s to create a whole new clean energy rev- feet and leaving the State. Businesses hitting us right in the pocketbook olution for the economy of America will be doing the exact same thing as every time we go to the pump. We and grow our economy at the same we begin to see taxes go up across the know we have security concerns be- time. board in the United States if those cause of our addiction to the Middle So I’ve introduced with some of my hard decisions are not being made of East, and now we know that global colleagues a bill called the New Apollo prioritization. warming is an additional threat that Energy Act. The New Apollo Energy I believe we’re getting near the end we simply have to respond to. Act basically uses the word ‘‘Apollo’’ of our time here. I will extend a hand Now that Americans have seen 1 mil- because it’s the inspiration for what we to the other side of the aisle, as we lion square miles of the Arctic melt, know we can do, which is to invent our continue this debate during the course the size of six Californias simply dis- way to a new clean energy future just of the week, to the Blue Dogs or any appeared, melted in the Arctic this like Kennedy in the original Apollo other Members who came down to the year, together with the melting of the project did for the Moon project. floor during this night or other nights tundra, the changing weather patterns. b 2200 as well who are looking for fiscal re- We’ve certainly seen it with our rain- Well, I have some really good news. sponsibility. If we can come to an storms we had in my State. I represent The House of Representatives last agreement that the answer is not rais- the State of Washington. We had 10 Thursday, with 235 votes, with some bi- ing taxes but, rather, reining in spend- inches of rain in 24 hours, an unprece- partisan support, essentially com- ing, I believe it was the RSC a year ago dented event. This type of heavy pre- mitted ourselves and accomplished five that came up with a list of, correct me cipitation events are consistent with steps towards this clean energy future, if I’m wrong, approximately a half a global warming. We know we have a and we are shortly going to take a fifth billion dollars in savings in overall global warming threat that we’ve got large leap for mankind in clean energy. spending by the Federal Government. to deal with. So stealing a little bit of the language We’d be glad to share that information So we know that we have some chal- from the original Apollo 11 project, we with the Democrat majority if they lenges when it comes to energy, and we now have had five small steps for en- would just take even just less than 5 know none of those challenges are ergy independence and clean energy, percent of that to rein in their spend- going to get better unless we do some- and we are now starting to work on one ing to keep it under the control of thing about it. This energy problem is giant leap for America’s clean energy where the American public would like not going to get solved by the tooth revolution. to have it. fairy or simply sort of pleasant wishes And I wanted to talk tonight about f for the market to solve the problem. those five steps that we have taken in We know we have to act. We know we the House, and the bill is now over the A NEW VISION FOR OUR ENERGY have to have a plan. We know we have Senate, and one of the reasons we are FUTURE to have a vision. And we know it has to here tonight is to encourage the Senate The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under rely on something that we’re rich in in to follow the House’s lead to the extent the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- America. we can and move forward on these uary 18, 2007, the gentleman from And there’s one thing I’ve got some clean energy steps. And before I yield Washington (Mr. INSLEE) is recognized good news tonight we’ll talk about at to my friend, RON KLEIN, who has been for 60 minutes. length. We are rich in intellectual tal- a great leader in the freshmen class on Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I come to ent in America. We are the best these issues, I want to start with just the floor this evening to talk about a innovators, best tinkerers, the best in- the first step that we took last Thurs- great vision for America’s clean energy ventors humans have ever seen. And day. future, and it’s very timely that Amer- there was a fellow back in May 25, 1961, Last Thursday the House of Rep- ica adopts a new vision for our energy who really understood that. He came to resentatives, in a history-making step future because we know Americans this Chamber on May 25, 1961, John F. forward, passed the first improvement have some challenges when it comes to Kennedy, and John F. Kennedy came in our fuel economy standards in 30 energy right now. and stood right behind me in here and years. For 30 years Americans’ effi- We’re going to, tonight, talk about a said that America was going to accept ciency standards have been frozen, vision for a way to revolutionize how the challenge of putting a man on the locked in stone and haven’t made 1- we use and how we generate our energy Moon in 10 years and bringing him mile-per-gallon improvement since that will solve some of the problems back safely. Now, that was a President 1983. In fact, and this blows my mind, that Americans are experiencing to- who understood the innate capability the cars we drive get less mileage night, and I think there shouldn’t be of the American people to invent their today than they did in 1983. We have any debate about what those chal- way to solve any challenge we set our mapped the human genome. We have lenges are. mind to. invented the Internet. But the cars we We are paying well over $3 a gallon And President Kennedy really, that drive get less mileage. for gasoline, with no relief in sight. was a gutsy thing to say again. He was Well, we’re doing something about We’ve seen it go from, I don’t know, $30 ahead of the curve. He was ahead of the that. After 30 years of Congress being

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