October 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H11279 So there are still a lot of good things that responsibility here to enable all that sit in these court cases, we spend being worked on. This bill gets better families in this country to have access our time making sure people’s rights and better by the day, and I believe we, and to be able to afford quality health are protected. And we have a whole se- again, are at a historic point here and care. ries of cases that establish rights of we are going to be able to just provide Thank you so much for bringing us criminal cases. Enough of you have stability and security to this country together, Representative PINGREE. watched television to know a lot in terms of our health care. And, to Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Well, thank about—we’re some of the most edu- me, we have to continue to sharpen our you to all my colleagues for being here cated, nonlawyers in the country, the pencils, as Representative TONKO says, tonight. You’re absolutely right. We’ve folks who watch television in the and continue to find ways to save with talked about a variety of issues, and I United States, because we know about this bill and also to provide even better want to just end on the same note that Miranda rights. So we know about care for citizens of all ages. you did. This is what is right about other rights. In other countries maybe Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Absolutely. being an American and what we’re all they don’t know about them. Now, why Representative KILROY, were you proud to be working on, even if it takes wouldn’t they know about them? Be- hoping to squeeze in a few last words? a few long hours and a lot of tussling cause they don’t have them, okay. Ms. KILROY. Well, I think this bill is back and forth, but we’re all grateful That’s it. They don’t have them. an opportunity for us to make health to be here and actually to have this op- And there are places on this Earth, care affordable for all Americans, in- portunity. and most of them are in Third World cluding seniors who’ve been made to countries, where the rule of law does f fear this bill. As Representative TONKO not prevail, where the average citizen said earlier, helping them by closing b 2115 doesn’t have a place to go get recourse, recourse for injury that’s happened to the Medicare doughnut hole, helping RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW them by eliminating copays for pre- them in some form or fashion, a way to ventative services and testing and The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. enforce a contract. helping to make sure that there are MAFFEI). Under the Speaker’s an- There are countries full of good peo- lots of Medicare providers out there, nounced policy of January 6, 2009, the ple, but they haven’t established the because we are stabilizing the payment gentleman from Texas (Mr. CARTER) is rule of law to the extent that the aver- schedule for those providers. recognized for 60 minutes as the des- age citizen can protect their little plot This bill will help us by shifting the ignee of the minority leader. of land or protect their little business emphasis more onto prevention and Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, it’s the or make a deal with somebody, a con- wellness, the way Representative first day of a new work week here, and tract, and then when the other side DAHLKEMPER talked about putting we’re going to talk about restoring the doesn’t do it, enforce that contract more emphasis on primary care and rule of law. against them because the rule of law doing that by shifting the way some of You know, we’ve talked about this does not prevail. For whatever reason, the payments are set up so that pri- now for about 14 weeks. It’s so impor- whether it be history or culture, what- mary care doctors are paid for what tant that we talk about the rule of law ever it is, it doesn’t prevail. And so if a rich person or a wealthy they do so well, for counseling, for lis- because, quite frankly, it’s what keeps group of people who wanted to go in- tening, for taking that history and our society together. It’s what makes vest in that place or maybe they have helping keeping us well and treating us different from anybody else and a dictatorial system or they have a so- those concerns that we all have from what makes America different from ev- cialist, communist system that hasn’t time to time. erybody else. And, you know, it’s so established a rule of law, so you can’t This bill will help us contain costs, simple that we take it for granted. Every American that—I’ll bet you go enforce it. help small and large business, help peo- You know, when Russia first opened ple who are without insurance and help can stop anybody on the street and ask them about their rights and they all up and started working on capitalism, people with insurance. And as Ameri- I had a friend who went over there and cans, this is an American plan. It’s know what their rights are because they’re Americans and they know they opened a clothing store. And if he’s lis- very important. It will continue to give tening, he knows who I am talking us a choice of doctors and plans. So have rights. But what does it mean to have rights? Well, what it means is you about. And he said the problem was the this is a huge achievement if we can clothing store was as popular as it have a place, you have a set of rules get this bill passed. It is a great time could be and everybody wanted to buy that establishes your rights. to be in Congress, be a part of this won- American-cut suits, they wanted to Now, our Constitution says certain derful discussion and deliberations and, look like Americans, prosperous Amer- rights are inalienable and given by I hope, eventually final passage of a icans, and he had a booming business; your Creator. That means that all men bill that will do so much for so many but unfortunately he had to pay cash are born with those rights. These are people in our country. for everything. Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Representa- rights of liberty and freedom. When we He couldn’t make a contract with tive TONKO, any last words? had the Declaration of Independence somebody based on a bill of lading or Mr. TONKO. Just a quick statement. from Great Britain, that’s what we anything like that at the time because I know we’re running to the end of our were talking about. You’re born with he wasn’t sure he’d be able to enforce it hour. these rights. These are the rights of if he had to take it to court. He was Representative DAHLKEMPER talked free men everywhere. They are inalien- afraid he would be out on a limb. And, about the concern at her local hospital. able. They are given by the great Cre- quite honestly, he pointed out the Rus- Across the board, hospitals are con- ator of the universe. sians were doing the very best to cor- cerned, and uncompensated care is at But everybody also knows I’ve got a rect that, and maybe they have. I somewhere between $57 and $58 billion right to free speech, I’ve got a right to haven’t kept up with it. But it was put- a year. There’s a savings immediately assembly, I’ve got a right to a lawyer. ting a real strain on his national cloth- when we put together quality health And at all ages you can say, That’s my ing chain that he tried to take to Rus- care programs that are affordable, ac- right. That’s my right. It is your right, sia. cessible, where we’re providing uni- but it becomes your right because it is I hope he fixed it. I don’t know. I versal health care. It’s just a reason- enforceable, and that means that we haven’t talked to him in years able thing to do, and most impor- have established a set of rules that our But the point is at the beginning of tantly, it’s the compassionate thing to society operates under. And under the establishment of capitalism in the do. Sometimes that gets lost in the dis- those rules, there’s a set of rules that’s former Soviet Union, in Russia, the cussion. usually in the courts that enforce your rule of law had not come down to There’s this moral compass for Amer- rights, protect your rights. where you could feel comfortable with ica that we need to engage and we obvi- You know, for 20 years I tried crimi- making contracts with people and be- ously are very proud to support what is nal cases and other cases, and we spend lieve they could be enforced. And hope- the correct thing to do, and we have most of our time, at least the judges fully that’s been fixed. I would assume

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:55 Oct 14, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13OC7.087 H13OCPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H11280 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 13, 2009 it has because I had the good pleasure cern to the American people today, and BOEHNER to defund ACORN. And what to go to Russia with the Homeland Se- we’ve been talking about one pretty he’s basically saying in this is the curity Department and, quite frankly, consistently, talking about Chairman American people have looked at this, they’re doing pretty well over there. RANGEL’s issues. I am going to move they’ve listened to this stuff that’s Looked like to me, anyway. Lots of past those for today. They may get going on, they’ve watched these videos stores and lots of prosperous-looking mentioned a bit. We’re going to talk of these people advising folks about people. about some things we talked about in child prostitution and prostitution and But the glue that holds society to- the past, but I think there’s a passion so forth, and they’ve said we’ve had gether that allows you to trade both for these issues among the American enough of these people and we darn inside and outside your country is the people. sure don’t want to pay for them. We rule of law; there are rules and regula- Part of that passion is the man we don’t want to pay them to go out and tions that everybody is a part of, ev- elected President because he told us, ‘‘I break the law. erybody is protected by and required to am campaigning on changing Wash- And so the fact that they received abide by. That’s a basic premise in ington and bottom-up politics. I don’t millions of dollars in Federal funding American society. want to send the message to the Amer- offends people because they’re not fol- Now, we went through a time when ican people that there are two sets of lowing the law. there was sort of a 60s rebellion against standards: one for the powerful people So JOHN BOEHNER has proposed that the establishment, and people would and one for the ordinary folks who are no Federal contract, grant, cooperative say things like, It’s okay to rob from working every day and paying their agreement or any other form of agree- ‘‘the man,’’ but you can’t rob from the taxes.’’ ment will be awarded or entered into little guy. And ‘‘the man’’ was the big So the President set the standard with the organization known as guy. Now, nobody really defined who back in February, on February 3 on ACORN. No Federal funds will be given the big guy was. Of course, everybody CNN, 2009. That standard is going to be to ACORN; no Federal employees may knew that Coca-Cola was the big guy out there right now. And that’s just promote ACORN; and that ACORN in- and Exxon was the big guy and U.S. right. I don’t think there’s any Amer- cludes State chapters, organizations Steel was the big guy. But was it the ican that’s going to argue with that. with financial stakes in ACORN, and neighborhood grocery? Was he the big That’s right, nobody is above the law. organizations that share directors and Nobody gets to not abide by the rule of guy? Well, yeah, maybe if he was big employees with ACORN. enough, if he had more than two gro- law, because the rule of law governs And I think this bill is designed to do our society; and that’s basically what cery stores. what the American public is asking for. In other words, somebody was saying the President is saying. Nobody be- They’re saying it’s bad enough these it was okay to break the law if some- cause of who they are, what office they crooks are out there; it’s bad enough body was really a lot better off than hold, how much money they’ve got in that they’ve got these cases pending you were. That was insanity. That was the bank should get any other privi- against them. Of course, they’re inno- when I was in law school. And we de- leges above and beyond what ordinary cent until proven guilty. But they’ve bated all of this in law school. And it people get. was insanity. Because if you’ve got Now, we’ve got some issues tonight. been proven guilty here, and here, and rules, you’ve got to abide by the rules; Let me say we’re going to talk about a here, and here, and here, and here, and and if you’re going to decide you don’t lot of stuff. But several people last here. like a rule, you’re not going to abide week thought we were going to talk b 2130 by the rule, then you don’t get the rule about some of that stuff, and one of the They have been found guilty. That’s of law. You get anarchy. things that they wanted to talk about what ‘‘conviction’’ means. Well, the United States Congress has was the czars. Let me be real clear up Now why in the world would the Fed- rules. We write those rules down. The front. We’re going to get to the czars in eral Government want to fund people first set of rules was written by Thom- just a minute. So if anybody’s listening who are out committing voter fraud? as Jefferson; and to a great extent, we that wanted to talk about the czars but And that’s not just it. Why would we still follow those rules of decorum and thought we weren’t talking about it, want to fund somebody that would ad- procedure in this House of Representa- come on down. We’re looking for you. vise people on how to open a house of tives by using Thomas Jefferson’s man- Just briefly, I’m going to tell you in prostitution using underage girls? Why ual on this place. Now some of it’s been my opinion one of the things that most would we want to fund those people changed and altered. I think most of people are most upset about is this out- with my taxpayer and your taxpayer them are basic fairness, basic honesty, fit called ACORN. This outfit was sup- dollars? I don’t know. I think that fair treatment for all concerned; and posed to be a do-good public service, Members of this House have a real you’re supposed to abide by those the group that was out there orga- question about that. rules. nizing communities and organizing We have rules that we run our gov- groups so that we could have a better I think this is a good idea and a good ernment by, and those rules, they bind country. bill that has been offered by JOHN all of us. We have certain forms that So they got really involved in work- BOEHNER. And I think that our leader- we have to file; we have to tell people ing on elections last time, and here’s ship of this House, the Democrat lead- what our income is. You know, it’s a some of the results: in Colorado they ership, should go forward on this bill. funny world we live in because the were charged with voter fraud, mul- No matter how much these people American people are generally private tiple counts, with convictions; in Flor- worked to help their candidates in the about what they make, and it’s kind of ida, vote fraud, cases are pending; in last election, now they should say, ‘‘none of your business’’ in most fami- Michigan, voter fraud, multiple counts whoa, wait a minute. And I presume lies to ask somebody what’s your with convictions; Minnesota vote that there was no knowledge that all daddy—what kind of salary does your fraud, multiple counts with convic- this was going on. So they should be daddy make? What’s your husband tions; Missouri, vote and mail fraud, out front to stop this stuff because it’s make? It’s kind of a none-of-your-busi- identity theft, multiple counts with just not right. It’s just not right. ness question. convictions; Nevada, vote fraud, mul- We talked before, and we are going to Unless you’re in the public eye. If tiple counts pending; Ohio, vote fraud, keep talking, about the fact that you’re in public life, it’s everybody’s multiple counts with convictions; ACORN needs to be taken off the Fed- business what you make. And you’re Pennsylvania, vote fraud, multiple eral Government’s money list. required to report what you make. And counts with convictions; and the same Would the gentlelady from Wyoming if you don’t report it, there are pen- thing in Washington State. like to join us? alties for that. So this good group has not been Mrs. LUMMIS. I thank the gen- All of these things are some of the doing good things, nor have they been tleman from Texas for a few moments stuff we’ve been talking about. abiding by the rule of law. in this discussion. But I would argue that we have some Now, we have a bill that’s been intro- We have a great country in that even certain subjects that are really of con- duced by Minority Leader JOHN when the law is absurd, we still obey

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:18 Oct 14, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13OC7.088 H13OCPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE October 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H11281 the rule of law and spend our time fruit. And the happiest days I ever had seems that my Democratic colleagues working to change the law. A perfect was right after the harvest, when all are more comfortable with government example of that is a law, the Endan- the workers got together and cele- solutions and that my Republican col- gered Species Act, and its current ap- brated the harvest. And if I get out of leagues are more comfortable with, by plication to a water situation in Cali- here, what I want to do is get me an or- and large, private-sector solutions. fornia where a small fish that is a chard with my money.’’ I might comment specifically, if I nongame fish is preventing water from It struck me, because he was talking could, on a couple of things that were being used to irrigate and grow crops. about the fact that in 1948 that was a brought up tonight. The gentleman Consequently, unemployment in the major production region. Now the only from New York (Mr. TONKO) said that area where these crops are usually way that region could produce any- he wanted stability for Medicare. And I grown is dramatically higher than the thing is with water. It is the desert. I want to say that I too want stability rest of the Nation, dramatically high- live in the desert. If you look at an 1845 for Medicare. But we have not seen any er. And people who normally are work- map of the United States, starting just bills yet that provide that stability. ing there are in bread lines, the very west of Kansas, you will see a sign that The only bills we’ve seen are bills that same people who grow food in Cali- says ‘‘Great American Desert.’’ It goes would create a new health care system fornia for the rest of this Nation. Con- all the way across the Rocky Moun- run by the government on the backs of sequently, this winter, a lot of fruits tains to California. And Texas is within health care that would cost health care and vegetables will be more expensive the Great American Desert. We used to through Medicare dollars that are sup- for those of us all over the United joke about it when I was in school, posedly being wasted or abused. States because we have instead de- let’s drive across the Great American Well I can tell you that one of my ferred to the rule of law in allowing Desert to Dallas. But the truth is, hospitals in Wyoming has told me they this water to flow by these fields that those of us who live in a water short- are only reimbursed 37 cents on the are laying fallow and not producing age State, and Wyoming has to have dollar of their actual costs for all of food and not allowing workers to work. underground water or it wouldn’t be their Medicare-provided health care. This situation gives us an oppor- able to exist, we know the value of So in other words, government is being tunity to point out the absurd applica- water. That’s why a vast majority of subsidized right now for the health tions of certain laws and the need for our laws have something to do as far as care it provides to seniors. And it is there to be exceptions for certain laws. our land with water. not meeting its obligations to provide At the same time, we obey those laws Taking away the water in the San the actual costs of Medicare and reim- regardless of the absurdity. So I com- Joaquin Valley is taking away a grow- bursing them to doctors and hospitals, pliment the gentleman for pointing out ing region, which I have evidence from especially in rural areas around this the importance and the history in this the movie, that was prospering in 1948. country. And I would love to work with country of obeying the rule of law. Now how long ago was that? Sixty the gentleman from New York to solve When Russia became post-Soviet years ago. Now it’s a shame that like that. Russia and was trying to establish in- you say, some laws that ought to have I want my colleague from Colorado stitutions, as Iraq is trying to do some exceptions don’t. And we have (Mr. POLIS) to know that I, too, want today—among the most important in- unemployed people in literally entire lower costs. But all of the bills we’ve stitutions that they are trying to es- counties. seen carry costs. And they range from tablish are courts with honest judges, It’s a great thing to talk about when $800 billion and more, which is what we which is something that is very rare you talk about the rule of law. That’s are hearing is the cost of the Senate around the world, especially in Second the responsibility of legislators. That’s Finance Committee bill, to the $1 tril- and Third World countries. How blessed the responsibility of Congress people. lion-plus range for earlier bills that we are in America to have an honest When you have a rule of law that has were introduced in this House. So these judiciary and the rule of law. That is to to be changed, you shouldn’t take to bills that would lower costs come at a the compliment of many fine Members the streets with guns unless you have cost. It’s just that those costs are of this body, but also to the gentleman got a tyrannical society, which is what going to come through surcharges, pen- who is leading this conversation to- we had when we had our revolution. alties and taxes that do not exist now. night, also a former judge. And I am You should take it to the legislature So those costs are just being shifted to grateful for the time you have given with votes and change the laws that someone else. me to discuss this. need to be changed. Make the excep- To the Member from Ohio, Rep- Mr. CARTER. Reclaiming some of tions to make things work. And this resentative KILROY, who brought up a my time, I’m glad you brought up the body would decide what is best for ev- very powerful personal story, and to smelt in the San Joaquin Valley, be- eryone involved. That’s what ought to Mr. KAGEN of Wisconsin, the physician, cause it’s kind of interesting. Until be happening. who both addressed preexisting condi- this came up, most people in America Mrs. LUMMIS. Will the gentleman tions, Members of the Republican probably didn’t even know that the yield? I wonder if you might indulge a Party also know that preexisting con- San Joaquin Valley is considered the departure into health care for just one ditions are a huge problem in this breadbasket of this country. Now here moment. country. That is why we supported is something interesting. It rained cats Mr. CARTER. Certainly. high-risk pools. And the creation of a and dogs in Texas this week. We were Mrs. LUMMIS. Thank you. I want to high-risk pool passed this Congress be- real happy for that rain. But it meant compliment my fellow freshman mem- fore I was here. It was while you were my wife and I stayed indoors one Sun- bers of the Democratic party who had here. The proposal that I am cospon- day afternoon because there wasn’t an hour preceding this hour to discuss soring, House bill 3400, would add addi- anything else to do. And the movie health care from a freshman perspec- tional moneys to those high-risk pools ‘‘Treasure of the Sierra Madre’’ with tive. A couple of issues came up. I was that come from cutting off the stim- Humphrey Bogart was on television. watching them from my office so I ulus funds that have not yet been spent That movie was made in 1948. came over here to the floor to com- and using them to create additional One of the characters in the movie ment on some of the things that they funding for these high-risk pools to was reminiscing about what they were had raised and to compliment them on support funding for those with pre- going to do with their share of the their statements about health care. existing conditions. gold. And he said, and it struck me be- I want my Democratic colleagues to A wonderful idea was discussed dur- cause I have been talking to DEVIN know that Republicans support health ing their debate. It was raised by Rep- NUNES so much about this tragedy that reform. We recognize that there are resentative DAHLKEMPER of Pennsyl- is going on in the San Joaquin Valley problems in our health care system, vania. It was something new that I and that whole valley region of Cali- and that it needs reform. What we dis- heard for the first time today. After 4 fornia, and this character says, ‘‘I grew agree about, and what we are here to months of constant debate, this was up in the San Joaquin Valley, an agri- debate and discuss, is how those something absolutely brand new, the cultural region in California, growing changes should be implemented. It notion of young people, through age 26,

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:55 Oct 14, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13OC7.090 H13OCPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H11282 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 13, 2009 being able to stay on their parents’ which just basically they want to put But that kind of reminds me of ‘‘Ani- coverage, which is a particularly great in writing and have this body adopt as mal Farm,’’ you know. They would say idea during this economy where young a—agreed by both sides voting on, leg- the rule is this, and the next day they people are leaving college and taking islation must be available to Members would say, Oh, that’s not what the rule jobs if they can find them in this tough and the public for 72 business hours be- is. The rule is this. Finally, they said, economy, that frequently don’t have fore taking action, requires the full We’re going to write them on the wall health insurance or do not have as text of the legislation and each com- of the barn. So every night they wrote good a health insurance as the policies mittee report to be posted continu- the rules on the wall, and then when that their parents had them on when ously on the Internet. And by the way, they woke up the next morning, some- they were minors. What a great idea. this is what one of our Founding Fa- body had gone and erased the rules and New things come up here every day. thers, Thomas Jefferson, thought was a added new rules. See, there is a reason In other words, Republicans are will- good idea, and we’re just basically re- why this body has the rules that it has, ing to work with Democrats. We want defining his rules and modernizing it a so that we and the American people health care reform. We would love to little bit with the Internet. can be educated about what we’re work with Democrats on these ideas. But an interesting thing you said— doing. And concepts, that just doesn’t The problem is the leadership of the we keep talking about this health care get it done. Republican Party has been asking plan and I want to get on to other I yield whatever time Mr. GOHMERT since April for a meeting with the things, but it’s an important thing, but would like to have. President and has not received a re- there will be another health care de- Mr. GOHMERT. Thank you for yield- sponse. The problem is that we want bate later—and that is, it’s important, ing. commitments. When the President but you need to look at history. I just Let me just tell you about some of says, If you like your current health saw on television the oldest health care the problems with the rules that we in care plan you can keep it, we try plan in the world was created by Otto the minority have encountered here amendments that say exactly that, and Von Bismarck in Germany when he this year. It is amazing just how gross- those amendments are killed. We want united Germany, so it’s the oldest one ly unfair and closed and partisan the 72 hours to read the bills. And when they’ve got. They tried all ways of rule usage has been in this body. those amendments are killed, we have funding it, but it comes down to com- Now, for example, CBO, the Congres- no assurance that we will have 72 hours ing out of your paycheck. And today, sional Budget Office, has been hailed to read the bill. in Germany, 42 cents out of every dol- for years and years as one of the most I want to compliment a television lar is taken out by the government to fair and suprapartisan—they’re above program called ‘‘On the Record’’ with pay for the health care program, and being partisan—entities that there is Greta Van Susteren. She has been a they’re having real problems with it in in Washington, D.C. And many people tireless advocate for Members of Con- the modern world. will recall, I’m sure, that after a tough gress reading the bills. And among the So, there’s lots to be talked about, thumping that H.R. 3200 got as just things she asked the President is, and what you said is right; let’s talk. how costly it was going to be, as CBO would you sit down with Members of And by the way, something else. The had estimated, the head of CBO was Congress and go line by line through Senate supposedly passed something called over to the White House, to the the bill? And the President said yes. today, but they haven’t got it in writ- White House woodshed, apparently. Be- So, members of the Republican Party ing. In fact, they passed something hind closed doors and lots of guards, in Congress have written to the Presi- which is a concept. I think this is a there was a discussion we weren’t privy dent and said, please, we would love to new thing. I have never quite heard to. But lo and behold, CBO seems to be take you up on this. Let’s go through anything like this. They passed a con- much more lenient now in looking the this line by line so if you really believe cept, which none of it has been reduced other way on some things and coming we Republicans are misrepresenting to writing the way I understand it. So out with scoring that we wouldn’t have the ideas that are embodied in House it’s just we’ve got a bunch of ideas and thought was possible. bill 3200, we can see where we disagree, here’s what they are, and we’re not But if you go back to early in the and maybe we can find an agreement. going to write them down because summer, as my friends here know, I And yet, those requests to go through somebody might hold us to them. So have had a health care plan that is an the bill with the President line by line we’re just going to say we’ve got some alternative. It’s a solution. It came have not been responded to by the great ideas and we pass it. What is from listening, you know, hundreds White House. that? and hundreds of hours to people that Mrs. LUMMIS. And will the gen- knew exactly what they were talking b 2145 tleman yield? about and putting it together in a plan. So, in other words, I want to share Mr. CARTER. Yes, I will yield. Then we were trying to get the plan the frustrations that we in the minor- Mrs. LUMMIS. And even those con- into bill form. We were told that I was ity party have, and particularly that I, cepts should be at least posted for a 3- not on the committee of jurisdiction, as a freshman member of the minority day reading now that they’ve been ac- and therefore there just wasn’t much party, have. And I want to commu- tually voted on. But as the gentleman chance of getting that done. nicate with my majority party col- has pointed out, who now is going to But we were also told you cannot get leagues, my Democratic colleagues, take those concepts and draft them a bill scored unless it has been put in that we want to reach out and have into a bill? And will the bill be the bill form by Legislative Counsel’s of- been reaching out to the Democratic exact embodiment of what the Senate fice. And the Legislative Counsel’s of- Party, the majority party, trying to passed in concept or will additional fice is the one that said, Look, we’ve find a bipartisan bill, and yet I believe concepts be added? We won’t know un- got so many submittals, there is no our overtures have not been recip- less the 3-day reading rule and the way we’re going to get to that any rocated. And I want to once again ex- posting rule on the Internet is imple- time soon. tend my desire to do so. I would par- mented. Only if 72 hours are given to So we kept pushing and pushing be- ticularly like to work with my fresh- those people who can compare those cause we had to get it in bill form be- man colleagues who I respect and ad- concepts that were voted on to the ac- cause we were told that unless you get mire very much and rely on the exper- tual legislative language that comes your plan in bill form—not a concept tise that we have come to gather as out of a drafting group will we know like the Senate has done. How ridicu- fledgling Members of this Congress. that the legislation reads the way that lous is that? A concept. You vote on a I note that the gentleman from Texas the concepts were designed to imple- concept? Excuse me. There needs to be has now a chart on the board. ment. language that you fight over. You can’t Mr. CARTER. That’s right. Reclaim- And I yield back. Thank you. have a staffer come in at the last ing a portion of my time, GREG WAL- Mr. CARTER. I see my friend LOUIS minute or some—maybe ACORN is DEN, CULBERSON and BRIAN BAIRD have GOHMERT from Texas is here, and I’m going to help them with that, too, but H. Res. 554, the 3-day reading rule, going to yield to him in just a moment. you can’t do that.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:18 Oct 14, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13OC7.091 H13OCPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE October 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H11283 So, anyway, we fought for a couple of In any event, when we hear all of this him. He seemed to be very active in the months. We finally, with the help of stuff about the fairness and reaching streets, a self-avowed Communist. And Ranking Member JOE BARTON and oth- out, it was my understanding that the of all of the things that he did and said, ers in our party saying please get this President has not invited a Republican he despised Republicans terribly to the into a bill form, the last week of July since March to come to the White extent that I can’t quote him here on the Legislative Counsel’s office was House and talk about health care. If the floor or my words would be taken able to get it in bill form. We were able that’s different, I would love to know down. But he is no longer the green to get it worked on and then get it the facts. jobs czar, Van Jones. It was mysterious filed on July 31st. I know the President stood right up that he disappeared from the scene Well, in August, we started request- here and said, you know, If you have about 12:01 a.m. on a Saturday morn- ing that, now that it was in bill form, solutions, my door is open. And appar- ing. please, CBO, would you score our bill ently, you know, I don’t have any way b 2200 because we were told you couldn’t get to dispel that. I’m sure he was being it scored until it was a bill, so we got honest, if that is true, his door is open, It’s also mysterious that the Presi- dent could bring his focus on a small it into bill form. And then we were but the problem is they have so many little law enforcement altercation that told, Well, you know what? You’re not massive gates and so many heavily took place up near Harvard University, on the committee of jurisdiction, so we armed guards between us and that open and we all know the name of Officer may not be able to get to that. So door at the Oval Office that we can’t Crowley because of that, the Beer Sum- again Ranking Member JOE BARTON get to the open door, and so that mit. The President had a beer summit made a request, and we were told it makes it problematic. to deal with that, the Presidential illu- was in the queue back in August. But anyway, these are some of the mination of a minor, a very, very Then in September I was told, Well, frustrations we’ve been dealing with minor, law enforcement issue; but he you don’t have a request from the lately. And I’m hoping maybe CBO will didn’t have, couldn’t take the trouble Joint Tax Committee. Our ranking end up being able to score my bill member on that is DAVE CAMP, so I to say a few kind words on the depar- sometime before the end of the session, talked to DAVE. Wonderful guy. Dave ture of Van Jones, self-avowed com- a year and a half from now. It’s just made the request as the ranking mem- munist, former czar for green jobs czar. hard to know. But it is amazing how ber of the Joint Tax Committee, so Now we have another czar that comes they were able to find time to score then we got that request in in Sep- into this same category, in fact a cat- something that wasn’t even a bill after tember. egory that is more objectionable, I be- So imagine my surprise when Sen- I was told we can’t score it unless it is. lieve, and that’s Kevin Jennings. Kevin But anyway, apparently there’s a lot of ator BAUCUS comes up with a concept— Jennings is the President’s appoint- not a bill, a concept—and lo and behold flexibility there after you go to the ment to be the safe schools and drug they’re able to score his concept even woodshed at the White House. free schools czar. though there is no language there, and And with that, I will yield back to Now, as I noticed how President they go through these mock hearings my friend. Obama dealt with Van Jones, and it Mr. CARTER. I thank my friend for over a concept without having the ac- was ignore him, and he went away in yielding. tual language and vote on a concept. the middle of the night—I mean, lit- My good friend from Iowa is here, It’s my understanding that the defini- erally in the middle of the night, Mr. which brings up another rule of law tive language is still not there yet. Speaker, I am calling upon the Presi- So, anyway, we know that CBO, the issue that we’ve been discussing. I dent to simply fire Kevin Jennings. way they’ve been able to phrase it, the know he wants to talk about it, so I’m Kevin Jennings, the totality of his life media has been able to come out and going to shift gears here. has been the advocacy for his homo- say, Wow, this is going to cost hun- I am first going to talk about MAR- sexual agenda. dreds of billions of dollars, but it’s SHA BLACKBURN’s H. Con. Res. 185, rein- He has written a number of books. I really not going to hurt us financially. ing in the czars. And she is proposing have a list of them here, four or five. Man, that woodshedding at the White that the President will report on the He has been fairly notorious for writ- House must have really done a lot of responsibilities, qualifications, and au- ing the foreword in the book titled good for the White House. That’s all I thorities of his special assistants, ‘‘Querying Elementary Education.’’ can figure. known as czars. She is saying the Now, a statement that I put out here, But let me also say this to anyone President will certify that czars will as we all know, that what is really pro- who has ears. Anyone who comes to not assert powers beyond those granted moted in our schools—this is a state- this House floor and says, The Repub- by law to a commissioned officer on ment from Van Jones, We all know licans, we’ve reached out to them, but the President’s staff, and that Congress what is really promoted in our schools. they have no solutions, they have no will hold hearings on the President’s Heterosexuality is primarily promoted proposal, is either a very, very igno- report and certification within 30 days, in our schools. Every time kids read rant person who will not avail them- I assume, after the receipt of those re- ‘‘Romeo and Juliet,’’ kids are aggres- selves of the vast amount of informa- ports. All of this is a part of multiple sively recruited to be heterosexual in tion around on our proposals and our pieces of legislation that are out there this country. solutions or they are misrepresenting now talking about czars. That’s Kevin Jennings. I mean, he the truth. That’s just the way it is. I’m going to yield to my friend, Con- takes offense at ‘‘Romeo and Juliet’’ And we hear that over and over. Gee, gressman KING from Iowa, as much and claims that it is an aggressive re- we have reached out to the Repub- time as he needs to consume. And I’ve cruitment to heterosexuality. But 20 licans. They’ve got no solutions. got some kind of interesting stuff he years, seeking the affirmation of ho- They’ve got no proposals. might want to use here. mosexuality, four or five books, the The President himself said that on Mr. KING of Iowa. Oh, yes. I hadn’t foreword in the book, ‘‘Querying Ele- Monday before he came in here to this actually forgotten about that. I thank mentary Education,’’ the way he has joint session. He said, You’ve heard all the gentleman from Texas for yielding. written in his book titled ‘‘Momma’s the lies, and what are their proposals, When we look at the list of czars that Boy, Preacher’s Son’’ about his drug what are their plans? I’ll tell you, they started out with none and quickly be- abuse, his cavalier use of drugs, the don’t have any. Well, he was either came 32, and some say grew to 47 czars, message that kids would get on the being very ignorant or he was mis- Mr. Speaker, a number of these czars drug-free school component would be representing the facts. And it may be have gotten fairly notorious in the that, well, I guess, drugs aren’t so bad, that he really didn’t know, that who- public eye. And this particular czar I you can become the drug-free school ever put that information in the tele- will go to in a moment, but one that czar even though you have abused prompter, he was just dutifully reading comes to mind is the green jobs czar, drugs and written about it in your it and he really didn’t know one way or Van Jones—the former green jobs czar, book—not taking the responsibility, the other. So I want to be fair about Van Jones. We can’t forget about him. not advocating to avoid drugs but sim- that. He had a lot of things going against ply writing about it in a way that it is

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:55 Oct 14, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13OC7.092 H13OCPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H11284 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 13, 2009 fascinating to be off the end of the run- 3569, the primary sponsor, Representa- Now that will tell you, at least in my way watching the planes come in and tive SCALISE, in addition to the experience, in an active trial court, out. Blackburn bill, which I also support. where I was—in fact, the one adult I This is what we get with Kevin Jen- Before we adjourn this evening, I was sitting as a visiting judge in Travis nings. Kevin Jennings has said, of the would like to bring up one more bill, County, it wasn’t even my county. As individual whose name is Harry Hay, and that is the audit of the Federal Re- far as I know, over all my side, where one of the strong advocates for the serve. It is the subject that also, I I was trying my cases, we had three North American Man Boy Love Asso- think, is consistent with our desire as courts. I only saw aggravated sexual ciation, Kevin Jennings said of him, he a Congress to fulfill our obligations assault of the child cases and that always inspires me, always inspired by under the Constitution. means it’s just rampant because the the person who was on the cover of the The reason that this bill is so impor- victim is unable to be a very good wit- magazine for NAMBLA, the North tant to the people in the United ness sometimes because they are so American Man Boy Love Association. States—and I preface my remarks by young. Now, I have just gone through some saying I supported Mr. Greenspan and I b 2210 of these things that we know about support Mr. Bernanke. I applaud them Kevin Jennings, certainly not all of for all the efforts that they make on It is a very tragic situation. It just them. But we can see that the totality behalf of the Federal Reserve. shocks me that somebody that would of his professional life as advocated, I, nevertheless, support a bill to be advocating those things would be has advocated nationally against reli- audit the Federal Reserve. It is based put by a responsible administration in gion, again heterosexuality, at least re- on personal experience. I was my charge of safety in our schools. It is sentful towards it, and in the discus- State’s treasurer. I was audited annu- shocking. sion and promotion of homosexuality ally. The auditors came into my office I yield to Mr. KING from Iowa. in our schools. in August, and they didn’t leave until Mr. KING of Iowa. I thank the gen- Now, whatever a person’s particular after Christmas. One-third of the year, tleman from Texas. inclination may be, our preschool kids, every year, for the 8 years that I was Mr. Speaker, I can only reflect back our kindergartners, our first, second, State treasurer, I was being audited. It upon the experience that Judge CARTER third, fourth and fifth graders don’t was for good reason; it was because I has talked about. It would be inter- need to have that discussion. They managed all of the money in the State esting to see the actual numbers and don’t understand it. They don’t need of Wyoming. data from across this country. This that pressure on them. They need to be The auditor and the treasurer were right now is the best cross-section I left alone to focus on their academics the two people with whom the auditors know of. I have not heard of another. and their social adjustment. But this who are contracted to audit the State In some jurisdictions it is called statu- man is engaged in the single pro- spent the most time. It was appro- tory rape. motion, the promotion and the advo- priate. It was a pain in the neck to Mr. CARTER. That is right. cacy, I will say of—well, by the way, have the auditors in my office for 4 Mr. KING of Iowa. The record that that is the record of Kevin Jennings. months every year taking time away Kevin Jennings has put out is that as a So I will ask the question. If he is from our regular duties. teacher he counseled a young boy, going to be the safe schools czar, the But, in fact, it protected me, as the whom he said was 15 years old, who had safe schools and drug free schools czar, State treasurer. Had any of the em- been having sexual relations with one then he has to have something more to ployees in the office been able to mis- or more men at the bathroom in the offer than simply, I will say, the pro- direct monies, it protected me. It pro- bus stop, and that makes him a manda- motion of safety for some kids that tected their coworkers. It protected tory reporter as a teacher. He didn’t re- might be self-alleged homosexuals in the taxpayers of the State knowing port until he wrote his book and talked our schools. That would be the only that their money was being appro- about it in his speeches. narrow part that you could say he has priately audited, that there was some- So, that is a violation of the law and to offer. The balance of it across the one looking over my shoulder, our it is a responsibility that he shirked. spectrum of his job is simply non- shoulder, in the office of the State And, yes, he said he could have handled existent from his professional career. treasurer. It was good for me, it was it differently. Well, anybody could If he were teaching in elementary good for my office, it was good for the have handled anything differently. But schools, and he had a record like he has State. It was good for the taxpayers he didn’t. with these books that he has written, whose money I was managing. I can only question, if he hadn’t fo- the foreword that he has written in The same is true with the Federal cused his mind so much and his profes- ‘‘Querying Elementary Education,’’ he Reserve. This is not an attack on Ben sional career so much on the homo- has the endorsement of Harry Hay, one Bernanke or his predecessors. This is sexual side of this, wouldn’t he have of the lead North American Man Boy good, sound money management. been appalled by the statutory rape of Love Association people in the coun- Mr. CARTER. I, too, and I think a young boy if it had been a young girl try, who is also a self-professed com- Brother King also supports the audit- perhaps? Would he have then been the munist, by the way, this man would ing of the Federal Reserve. It’s our actual mandatory reporter and fol- not be working in many of the elemen- money. We want to know what’s going lowed the law, if it didn’t fit within his tary schools in America as a teacher. on. We want to make sure we know bias? I suspect he would have, if it had Yet he has been elevated to be the that things are right. We are not ques- been a girl and a man rather and boy safe schools and drug-free schools czar tioning anybody’s honesty; we just and a man. for America. I call upon President want to know what’s going on. We are But this is intergenerational sex, and Obama to simply dismiss Kevin Jen- at a point in our society right now it is advocating for safe sex, not safe nings. Go find somebody that stood up where it’s pretty desperately needed to from sexual predators. So the school for kids and families and education, know. situation with the czar, the responsi- drug-free and safe schools all together. I want to say one more thing: Mr. bility is to provide safe and drug-free Surely there’s somebody out there KING’s comment on the safe schools schools. There is not very much at all that’s lived an example. czar, what he is proposing is against in his history that would advocate for I urge the President to remove Kevin the law, this man boy sex thing. Aggra- that. It is not very broad. It is very Jennings. Put somebody in who can do vated sexual assault of a child is the narrow. the job. number one sexual offense in America Many of these things that come out Mr. CARTER. I yield to the gentle- today, at least by my experience. In 20, in his record are anathema to the lady from Wyoming again. almost 21, years on bench, I tried—that mainstream of the American people, Mrs. LUMMIS. Because of the con- used to be called rape. I tried lots of and the President should have had bet- versation we have just had, I want to aggravated sexual assault cases. One ter advice when he made this appoint- further remind people that there is a out of probably a thousand was two ment. Now he needs to take responsi- bill entitled Sunset All Czars, H.R. adults and all the rest were children. bility for his appointment, and that is

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:55 Oct 14, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13OC7.094 H13OCPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE October 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H11285 why I have called for the President to Mr. Speaker, we thank you for the Regardless of one’s personal opinions fire Kevin Jennings, and let’s find hour, and we will yield back the bal- about whether abstinence-only is the somebody that actually maybe is a par- ance of our time. best way to have sex education in this ent and a teacher and somebody who f country, or abstinence-plus, which has a life career advocating for the would encourage abstinence but also WHY HEALTH CARE IS NEEDED IN safety of all children and the drug-free give young people the knowledge they COLORADO nature of all children. need to prevent diseases and unwanted If I could roll this back to a brief The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under pregnancies, the advice that was prof- comment in the little bit of time that the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- fered by Mr. Jennings was well within we have, about 5 minutes I see, there is uary 6, 2009, the gentleman from Colo- the bounds of encouraging safe behav- another piece. Since we have that rado (Mr. POLIS) is recognized for half ior, and in fact might indeed have gone much time, I want to also point out the remaining time left until midnight. some distance to saving the life of this that because of Kevin Jennings saying Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I took to young individual. that he is always inspired by Harry the floor and will shortly share with Having gay and lesbian role models Hay, let me say the icon of the North you stories of real people from my dis- in our schools, and indeed in providing American Man-Boy Love Association, trict and from Colorado with regard to safe schools and drug-free schools, is that doesn’t necessarily mean he as- why we need health care reform so ur- critical in helping to reduce the suicide pires to all the things that NAMBLA gently in this country. But before I rate among LGBT youth. The highest aspires to. begin, I would like to address some of suicide rate among all youth occurs But this icon also is a self-alleged the comments of my colleagues from among LGBT youth. Communist. So it doesn’t mean also Iowa and Texas with regard to Mr. The agenda that Kevin Jennings that he is a Communist, but it means Kevin Jennings and some of the other brings to our schools and brings to pro- as a fellow traveler, as a consistent issues that they raised which cannot go viding safe schools is no more a homo- commentator, as a writer and author unanswered, lest the American people sexual agenda than it would be a het- be misled. and an individual who has written a erosexual agenda if Kevin Jennings Mr. Kevin Jennings is an appoint- forward on the queering of elementary happened to be heterosexual. Any ap- ment by President Obama to the Safe education, he has traveled on that path and Drug-Free Schools Initiative. pointee of that post would presumably consistently, and it has been the exclu- First of all, with regard to his com- have some sexual orientation, be it sive activity of his, the nearly exclu- mentary on the life of Harry Hay, straight, be it gay, be it bi. That is not sive activity of his entire professional Harry Hay was the founder of the what that job is, and there is no dif- life. And we can find somebody better, Mattachine Society, the first organized ference in the sexual orientation of the and we can find somebody that is not LGBT rights group in this country, a individual performing that job. No one there with an agenda that he is seeking legitimate part of the LGBT history is more or less capable of keeping our to drive, aside from safety for kids in and movement. To somehow detract schools safe and drug-free, regardless of school. from praising such an individual is their sexual orientation. I wanted to make a comment also akin to, let’s say, colleagues on the b 2220 that the CBO score on the Senate’s other side of the aisle who might have Mr. Jennings is somebody who has health care bill, it includes 10 years in the past or continue to praise con- dealt with, in his own life, addiction worth of revenue and 7 years worth of servative talk show host Rush issues and has worked with youth to expenses. When I listened to the gentle- Limbaugh. And I would never, I would help bring them out of addiction, and I lady from Wyoming talk about being never, Mr. Speaker, say that they are applaud President Obama in standing audited for a third of every year or a endorsing drug use by saying that Rush by this well-qualified nominee for the fourth of every year, none of us could Limbaugh is a leading conservative Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. get by with that. thinker. Nor in any way, shape or form, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share If I look back on my business career, has Kevin Jennings ever endorsed the with you stories from Colorado’s Sec- if I could have had 10 months in every concept of pedophilia. year worth of revenue and only 7 It is offensive to hear some of this ond Congressional District about why months worth of expenses, or 10 years language that emanates from the other we need health care reform urgently. worth of revenue and 7 years worth of side of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I am I was written by one of my constitu- expenses, I would have made millions glad we are at such a late hour of ents, Anastasia Gonzalez of Thornton, and millions of dollars with that kind night. I would hope that C–SPAN and Colorado. Anastasia is a single mom of bookkeeping. the functions of the United States Con- and a full-time student. She wrote to This is billions and hundreds of bil- gress remain a family-friendly station me to let me know how important it is lions of dollars. They need to be held and the people can be confident that that in our country we put our dif- accountable. It has got to be 10 years of their kids can watch and listen and ferences aside and fix our health care revenue, 10 years of expenses, and it hear without hearing the tales of besti- system so that everybody, not just the has got to be legitimate expectations ality and pedophilia which all too often people who can afford it, have health on how people will react when you fine stem from the tongues of those on the care. Anastasia told me the story of them $700 a year as opposed to requir- other side of the aisle. her child, who just started school this ing them to buy insurance. With regard to the advice that Mr. fall. Anastasia had to borrow money I thank the gentleman from Texas. I Kevin Jennings gave to a 16-year-old from friends just to get her child im- yield back. boy when he was his teacher during the munized before school started. Mr. CARTER. I thank my friend for height of the AIDS crisis, a 16-year-old Anastasia hasn’t been to a doctor since coming down here and talking about a of the age of legal consent in the State she had her daughter. She can’t afford new subject, but a subject that is im- of Massachusetts who said he had been to see a doctor, no less have any nec- portant. These czars, when we have got struggling with his sexuality, had essary procedures done. individual issues on the rule of law, we turned to anonymous sex, had been When she was pregnant she was diag- ought to talk about them. And I en- conflicted in his internal feelings, the nosed with precancerous cells on her courage all my colleagues, if they have advice, and it was fundamentally good cervix. She had a procedure done right issues about laws that they don’t think advice, was ‘‘I hope that you used pro- after the pregnancy in hopes that it are being enforced right or that they tection.’’ would take care of the problem, but she are concerned about the enforcement If more young people in that situa- has been unable to see the doctor for of, that is what this hour is about. It is tion at the height of the AIDS crisis any follow-up because she can’t afford about the rule of law. had received the type of counsel that the fee. She doesn’t know if it’s devel- I thank you for bringing up that Mr. Jennings had provided this 16-year- oped into cancer or not. She doesn’t issue. I hope everyone will be very con- old, there would be thousands more know if she’ll be around to tell her cerned about the issues that you raised people alive today and thousands less story to her child when she’s old today. victims of the AIDS crisis. enough to know. Anastasia writes that

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