December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8745 CFPB’s mission is to take the tricks grade education, would not be eligible. have to ask the Congress: How low can and traps out of financial products we And it cuts $21 billion from affordable you go? Can you go to the floor? use every day like credit cards and health care programs, causing 170,000 f mortgages. Americans to become uninsured. COMMUNICATION FROM THE So even though GOP Senators are Republicans are asking seniors to CLERK OF THE HOUSE filibustering the confirmation of the pay more for their Medicare, and agency’s top official, the Bureau is al- they’re asking the Federal employees The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- ready at work on behalf of consumers. to have serious cuts or salaries frozen fore the House the following commu- This project, Know Before You Owe, until the year 2015. Yet they refuse to nication from the Clerk of the House of aims to simplify credit card agree- ask millionaires and billionaires to pay Representatives: ments and student loan disclosure one more cent. No taxes, no jobs. OFFICE OF THE CLERK, forms so consumers know exactly what Let’s pass a responsible plan to ex- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, they’re getting into when they borrow. tend the payroll tax and unemploy- Washington, DC, December 13, 2011. Importantly, CFPB is asking con- ment benefits before it’s too late. Hon. JOHN A. BOEHNER, sumers for their input on this impor- The Speaker, House of Representatives, f Washington, DC. tant task. So I encourage all citizens TIME FOR CHANGE ON TAX DEAR MR. SPEAKER: Pursuant to the per- to visit consumerfinance.gov to share EXTENDER mission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of their experiences about credit cards the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa- and loan agreements. Consumers can (Ms. EDWARDS asked and was given tives, the Clerk received the following mes- also file complaints about credit card permission to address the House for 1 sage from the Secretary of the Senate on De- companies or mortgage services and minute and to revise and extend her re- cember 13, 2011 at 9:48 a.m.: learn how to protect themselves from marks.) That the Senate passed with an amend- financial scams. Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, Joyce ment H.R. 1801. Timmons from Suitland, Maryland, With best wishes, I am For the first time, we have a dedi- Sincerely, called my office to say that the extra cated watchdog looking out exclusively KAREN L. HAAS. money in her paycheck from the soon- for the interests of consumers. I urge f all American consumers to take advan- to-expire payroll tax cut is important tage of these great new resources. to her and her family. PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3630, MIDDLE CLASS TAX f Joyce and 160 million workers are wondering why my Republican col- RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT TYPE 1 JUVENILE DIABETES leagues are now for raising taxes on OF 2011 (Mr. YODER asked and was given working people before they were Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, by direc- permission to address the House for 1 against raising taxes. That’s right. The tion of the Committee on Rules, I call minute and to revise and extend his re- Republicans oppose extending the pay- up House Resolution 491 and ask for its marks.) roll tax cut except by blackmail. immediate consideration. Mr. YODER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday By extending the tax cut, working The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- in Leawood, Kansas, I had the privilege people like Joyce Timmons would re- lows: to meet with a bright, energetic young ceive, on average, a thousand dollars H. RES. 491 man named Garrett. Garrett is 4 years next year. It’s not a $10,000 bet; it’s real Resolved, That upon the adoption of this old and suffers from type 1 juvenile dia- money in the economy. resolution it shall be in order to consider in betes. Republicans go out of their way to the House the bill (H.R. 3630) to provide in- Garrett’s story is touching, and it is block job creation and protect tax cuts centives for the creation of jobs, and for all too familiar to families across this for the 1 percenters, but they want to other purposes. All points of order against country who struggle with the stress raise taxes for the 99 percenters. And consideration of the bill are waived. The and strain of juvenile diabetes and the they won’t stop there. amendment printed in the report of the Com- constant concern about the right diet, More than a million Americans have mittee on Rules accompanying this resolu- the right insulin levels, about the high- been out of work for a really long time, tion shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All est quality of life for their children. including 25,000 Marylanders; yet Re- points of order against provisions in the bill, Last month, I was pleased to hear the publicans want to be the grinch who as amended, are waived. The previous ques- Food and Drug Administration issue stole Christmas by denying an unem- tion shall be considered as ordered on the new guidelines aimed at helping speed ployment check so that people who bill, as amended, to final passage without in- up the development of artificial pan- want to work but can’t find work can tervening motion except: (1) 90 minutes of creas systems. buy groceries, pay rent and utilities, debate equally divided and controlled by the Mr. Speaker, it’s clear that we as a and tide their families over. chair and ranking minority member of the country need to continue to do all that Republicans want to go home for the Committee on Ways and Means; and (2) one motion to recommit with or without instruc- we can to help bright children like Gar- holidays, but they want working people tions. rett who need better tools to manage to pay more in taxes next year and lose their disease and prevent life threat- out on an unemployment check. POINT OF ORDER ening and costly complications. The Grinch became a good guy; Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I raise a f Scrooge found a heart; even Mr. Potter point of order against H. Res. 491 be- changed his tune. It’s time for Repub- cause the resolution violates Section A RESPONSIBLE TAX EXTENDER licans to change too. 426(a) of the Congressional Budget Act. PACKAGE f The resolution contains a waiver of (Mr. BACA asked and was given per- all points of order against consider- mission to address the House for 1 HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? ation of the bill, which includes a waiv- minute.) (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was er of section 425 of the Congressional Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, 160 million given permission to address the House Budget Act, which causes a violation of Americans stand on the brink of a tax for 1 minute and to revise and extend section 426(a). hike. Republicans in Congress need to his remarks.) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- get serious about working together on Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. This weekend tlewoman from Wisconsin makes a a bipartisan package to extend the pay- I attended a senior citizen party and point of order that the resolution vio- roll taxes for the middle class and we had a dance contest, and two people lates section 426(a) of the Congres- renew unemployment benefits. would hold a stick and others would sional Budget Act of 1974. The Republican extender package re- try to go under it. And the disk jockey The gentlewoman has met the duces eligibility for unemployment would ask the question: How low can threshold burden under the rule, and benefits by 40 weeks. It would require you go? Can you go to the floor? the gentlewoman from Wisconsin and a everyone receiving benefits to have a And I submit that if we refuse to pro- Member opposed each will control 10 GED. My dad, who only had a third- vide unemployment tax extensions, I’d minutes of debate on the question of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.029 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H8746 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 13, 2011 consideration. Following debate, the mographic group within the African The payroll tax deduction, the 2-year Chair will put the question of consider- American community. Further, Mr. SGR fix, as well as one or two other ation as the statutory means of dis- Speaker, this bill cuts the Federal un- health care provisions are good parts of posing of the point of order. employment program by more than the bill that are needed by our Nation’s The Chair recognizes the gentle- half in 2012, eliminating 40 weeks of families, our doctors and Medicare woman from Wisconsin. benefits, cutting benefits so drastically beneficiaries, but they should not be Ms. MOORE. I thank you so much, for those workers and communities weighed down by the provisions that Mr. Speaker. that have been most hurt by this reces- allow the Keystone pipeline to bypass Sadly, we’re here once again with my sion. regulations, that allow industrial boil- Republican colleagues who are trying One of the most egregious aspects of ers and incinerators to pollute, and to ram through this fat-cat tax extend- this bill is that it promotes State drug that cut billions of dollars and, there- ers legislation, providing mere crumbs testing for workers in order for them fore, important services that are in the from the master’s table for working to qualify for unemployment benefits. Affordable Care Act. With millions of people that will neither help the Amer- Mr. Speaker, did the authors of this our fellow Americans out of work, it ican people weather this economic mal- provision know about the Constitution also fails to provide the full extension aise nor create a single job. of the United States? This bill also im- of unemployment that is needed in this poses new limits on unemployment b 1240 time of improved but still slow job cre- compensation by restricting the bene- ation—something the Republican lead- To add insult to injury, the Rules fits that employees have paid for. ership has talked a lot about but has Committee has rejected all attempts to This is just outrageous. It is time to done nothing to help. allow any amendments to this horrible stop the doublespeak and to give them This bill is pure politics. And what is piece of legislation. I proposed four real talk, and I urge all of my col- it that my colleagues on the other side amendments, which were not consid- leagues to vote against this legislation. of the aisle do not understand about ered, and in fact, the Republican ma- Mr. Speaker, at this time I want to drug addiction being an illness? jority rejected a Democratic sub- yield to one of my good friends from One of the Republican Governors stitute. the Congressional Black Caucus, the tried a similar proposal for food stamps There is a song by the group Cameo— gentlelady from Ohio, Ms. MARCIA in Florida. Not only was it bad policy, and I know Mr. DREIER will appreciate FUDGE. it yielded nothing. It unfairly targeted (Ms. FUDGE asked and was given this—called ‘‘Talkin’ Out the Side of and branded poor people, and it wasted permission to revise and extend her re- Your Neck.’’ The lyrics are: taxpayer dollars. All of this is designed marks.) So you can see we’re back into this same to deny unemployment benefits that old mess. Ms. FUDGE. I thank the gentlelady Seems like every time we get out of one for yielding. they have resisted and are still not situation we’re back into it all over again. I rise today in strong opposition to fully funding. I hear a lot about class All you people that watch you talk, you this rule and the underlying bill. warfare, but real class warfare is pro- better get it together or we won’t get it How in good conscience can we allow tecting everything for the rich and done. States to fund re-employment pro- punishing the poor, the middle class, We sit down while you cuss and fuss. But grams with money that would other- the elderly, and the unemployed. It has guess who’s suffering. Nobody but us. wise be in the pockets of the unem- got to stop. That’s exactly what the Republicans ployed? I urge my colleagues to support this are doing—talking out of both sides of My amendment mandates trans- point of order and to vote against the their necks. They talk and talk and parency and accountability. It requires rule and the bill. We need a clean ex- talk, making false claims to the middle States to make public the amount of tension of the payroll tax, 99 weeks of class, false promises, when they’re money taken from the checks of unem- unemployment, and a 2-year SGR fix. really trying to protect the interests of ployed Americans. It’s not that I am Yet it should not be paid for by taking the 1 percent; and like the song sug- against re-employment, Mr. Speaker, funds from programs that are needed to gests, those in the middle class are the but I am against decreasing the protect public health and safety. ones who are suffering. amount of money that beneficiaries get Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I would in- Once again, through this sham piece every month. I mentioned Karen from quire of the remaining time on this of legislation, the Republicans claim to Cleveland on the floor last week. Karen side. be creating jobs when the cruel thing is was laid off in March. Her unemploy- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- that, when 160 million workers are ment check is allowing her to keep her tlewoman has 3 minutes remaining. given a small payroll tax holiday, the home and to pay for expensive prescrip- Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, will the cost is they are held hostage with the tions. She relies on every single dollar. gentlewoman yield? tax breaks for the fat cats. Addition- Let’s cut the partisan posturing, and Ms. MOORE. I yield to the gentleman ally, the Congressional Budget Office let’s extend unemployment insurance from California. reports that this legislation adds over without unnecessary riders. Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I would $25 billion to our Nation’s deficit. Ms. MOORE. At this time, Mr. just like to say that I am going to be But those grinches don’t stop there, Speaker, I would like to yield 2 min- claiming time in opposition to the Mr. Speaker. They’re trying to steal utes to my colleague from the Virgin point of order that my friend has the holiday spirit from hardworking Islands, Dr. DONNA CHRISTENSEN. raised, and I’m not going to consume Americans. How? With this legislation. Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank the the entire amount of time. So, when I Our overall unemployment rate did gentlelady for yielding. do that, I would like to yield 1 minute drop recently from 9.1 percent to 8.6 Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this to my friend in the spirit of the season percent, and I am happy to be joined point of order on H. Res. 491. and in the spirit of bipartisanship. this afternoon by some of my col- Here we go again with another mis- I would just like to state that for the leagues from the Congressional Black named bill that is designed not for mid- record. Caucus who will talk to you a little bit dle class tax relief or for job creation Ms. MOORE. That is very kind of more about how this pertains to black but to hold a ‘‘must pass’’ vehicle hos- you, Mr. DREIER. unemployment. tage through some misguided Repub- I would now yield 1 minute to my Briefly, though, while unemployment lican pet projects and policy initiatives good friend from Oakland, California, dropped for white men from 7.9 to 7.3 that harm the environment and threat- Representative BARBARA LEE. percent, black men endured a spike en public health. It is also a bill that is Ms. LEE of California. I want to from 16.2 percent unemployment to a wasting time, time that could really be thank the gentlelady for yielding time disturbing 16.5 percent. Of course, ac- used to create jobs and help the middle and for her leadership on an issue so cording to the Bureau of Labor Statis- class because, with these poison pills, critical to extending a safety net to tics, unemployment declined for every it is going nowhere. Unfortunately, the those who are desperately looking for demographic group within the white good things in the bill are threatened jobs and who need this bridge over community but increased for every de- because of these other provisions. troubled waters at this point.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.044 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8747 Mr. Speaker, the Republican bill Her point of order is whether or not Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield would gut unemployment benefits to this is what we call ‘‘an unfunded man- myself the balance of my time, as I the millions of Americans who are date,’’ this bill that we will be dis- have said, to speak in opposition to the looking for work when there are, cussing on the floor of the House. And point of order and in support of our roughly, four people for every one job. even though the rule says that the moving ahead with the resolution. It would reduce unemployment bene- points of order or the issues of being an My friend is a very, very thoughtful fits down to 59 weeks from 99 weeks at unfunded mandate have been waived, poet herself, and I’ve been the bene- a time when we are facing a serious cri- please understand that that is an ac- ficiary of much of her fine work. She sis among our long-term unemployed. tion that can be taken. It doesn’t mean and I share an affection for R&B music. It makes no economic sense, and quite that it eliminates the truth. She quoted Cameo and ‘‘Talkin’ Out frankly, it is heartless. And I raise a question, whether this The Side Of Your Neck.’’ I don’t really The Lee-Scott amendment would humongous bill that we are going to know that song, I have to admit, Mr. have replaced these Republican Christ- discuss, that does not answer the crisis Speaker; but I’ll have to check it out. mastime cuts with real extensions of of what we are facing—which is 6 mil- But what I would like to do is, since unemployment benefits, and it would lion people without unemployment in- we’ve heard of the eloquence of Cameo have added an additional 14 weeks of surance who will not able to pay mort- and the eloquence of GWEN MOORE, the unemployment insurance for the mil- gage, rent, food, to be able to have a great poet, I would like to quote Wil- lions of Americans who have already quality of life, to create income, to cre- liam Shakespeare. William Shake- exhausted their benefits, but the Re- ate some 700,000 jobs on the unemploy- speare said, ‘‘In such business, action is publicans did not make any amend- ment end, and to pull 3.2 million people eloquence.’’ ments in order—no fixes allowed to the out of poverty—is now going by the Now we have before us a measure wayside. And the payroll tax cut now is heartless and senseless cuts that this that is designed to do one thing and shackled with unwanted baggage. contains. one thing only, and that is to focus on This bill is really a sham. It’s a So I rise to argue the point of order as to unfunded mandates and argue to getting our economy growing and gen- shame, and it’s a disgrace. It will cost erating job opportunities for the Amer- our Nation jobs, and it is a slap in the support the position of Mr. LEVIN from the Ways and Means Committee, which ican people. The American people are face to job seekers. We should really be hurting. We know that. There are peo- about the work of reigniting the Amer- is to declare the unemployment issue an emergency, to do the payroll tax ple across this country hurting. And as ican Dream, not making it more of a my friends have just outlined, there nightmare for people as this bill would and a surtax on 1 percent of the Amer- ican population for 10 years starting in are individuals who have suffered do. 2013, and adopt a fix, used and paid for greatly. It is absolutely imperative Ms. MOORE. I would now yield 1 with Medicare savings. This is an un- that we do everything that we can to minute to my good friend from Illinois funded mandate. This is not a bill that ensure that they have job opportuni- (Mr. DAVIS). should pass, and we should support the ties and that those who are unable to Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to unemployed and those who need a pay- find job opportunities have the assist- thank the gentlewoman from Wis- roll tax cut. ance that they and their families need consin for yielding. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The to proceed, especially during this time I rise in strong support of her opposi- time of the gentlewoman from Wis- of year. Any action that my colleagues tion to this amendment. I rise in consin has expired. are proposing on the other side will strong support of the passage of the un- Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to simply delay our effort that will ensure derlying bill. claim time in opposition to the point of that we extend the payroll tax holiday This resolution fails to recognize order and in support of proceeding with for an additional year, and it will pre- that there are disproportionate oppor- the resolution. vent us from providing those benefits tunities and a lack of opportunities for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- to people who are unable to find work members of some groups, such as mi- tleman from California is recognized today. nority groups who are African Amer- for 10 minutes. So I will be discussing the underlying ican and who are Hispanics. There is no Mr. DREIER. With that, as I said, in legislation when we proceed with con- consideration given to these facts. the spirit of bipartisanship, which is sideration of this rule, but I urge my Therefore, I must be in opposition to the basis of the underlying legislation colleagues to oppose this point of order the rule and to the bill. and the spirit of the Christmas season, and allow us to proceed with consider- b 1250 I am happy to yield not just a minute, ation of the resolution so that we can Mr. Speaker, but I would like to yield Ms. MOORE. How much time do I put into place a legislative package a minute and a half to my good friend have remaining, Mr. Speaker? that will get the American people back from Milwaukee, with whom I share an The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- to work and ensure opportunity for all. 1 affection for our great, fine music. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back tlewoman from Wisconsin has 1 ⁄2 min- Ms. MOORE. Again, I want to thank utes remaining. the balance of my time. the gentleman for allowing our side to The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time Ms. MOORE. I would yield 1 minute have some voice in this matter. He to my good friend from Texas, SHEILA for debate has expired. yielded me time in the name of the sea- The question is, Will the House now JACKSON LEE. son; so I will frame my remaining re- Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, if the gen- consider the resolution? marks in that frame. The question was taken; and the tlewoman will yield, I will just remind The season is the reason; Speaker pro tempore announced that her that when I claim my time, I will ’Tis almost treason to extend full the ayes appeared to have it. be yielding an additional minute to my benefits to corporations, who are peo- friend. So she certainly can feel free to ple, Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on that I yield any of that time once I do that. And leave those who are unemployed demand the yeas and nays. Ms. MOORE. That is quite generous feeble. The yeas and nays were ordered. of the gentleman. And so I will yield a The season is the reason to extend The vote was taken by electronic de- minute and a half to my very eloquent full benefits to the unemployed. It is vice, and there were—yeas 227, nays colleague, the gentlelady from Texas, almost a ploy to provide tax breaks to 174, not voting 32, as follows: Representative SHEILA JACKSON LEE. corporations and to leave the people [Roll No. 917] Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. with no resources. YEAS—227 Speaker, I join with my colleague from I ask my colleagues to support my Adams Bachus Biggert Wisconsin in thanking the gentleman point of order. It would be egregious if Aderholt Barletta Bilbray from California for his generosity, but we were to move forward on this bill, Akin Bartlett Bilirakis I also thank my colleague from Wis- on this resolution, without considering Alexander Barton (TX) Black Amash Bass (NH) Blackburn consin for her astute assessment that the plight that we would put the unem- Amodei Benishek Bonner causes me to pause. ployed in. Austria Berg Boren

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Boustany Harris Pitts Jackson Lee Moore Schakowsky GENERAL LEAVE Brady (TX) Hartzler Platts (TX) Moran Schiff Mr. DREIER. I ask unanimous con- Brooks Hastings (WA) Poe (TX) Johnson, E. B. Murphy (CT) Schrader Broun (GA) Hayworth Pompeo Kaptur Nadler Schwartz sent that all Members may have 5 leg- Buchanan Heck Posey Keating Neal Scott (VA) islative days in which to revise and ex- Bucshon Hensarling Price (GA) Kildee Olver Scott, David tend their remarks. Buerkle Herger Quayle Kind Owens Serrano The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Burgess Herrera Beutler Kissell Pallone Sewell Reed objection to the request of the gen- Calvert Huelskamp Rehberg Kucinich Pascrell Sherman Camp Huizenga (MI) Reichert Langevin Payne Sires tleman from California? Larsen (WA) Pelosi Campbell Hultgren Renacci Slaughter There was no objection. Larson (CT) Perlmutter Speier Canseco Hunter Ribble Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield Cantor Hurt Lee (CA) Peters Stark Rigell Capito Issa Levin Peterson Sutton myself such time as I may consume. Roby Carson (IN) Jenkins Lipinski Pingree (ME) Thompson (CA) Roe (TN) House Resolution 491 is a closed rule, Carter Johnson (OH) Lofgren, Zoe Polis Tierney Rogers (AL) which, as we all know, is customary Cassidy Johnson, Sam Lowey Price (NC) Tonko Rogers (KY) Chabot Jones Luja´ n Quigley Towns under both Democrats and Republicans Chaffetz Jordan Rohrabacher Lynch Rahall Tsongas for a measure that has emerged from Coffman (CO) Kelly Rokita Maloney Rangel Van Hollen Rooney the Ways and Means Committee. But Cole King (IA) Markey Reyes Vela´ zquez we have chosen in this rule to expand Conaway King (NY) Ros-Lehtinen Matsui Richardson Visclosky Cravaack Kingston Roskam McCarthy (NY) Richmond Walz (MN) the debate time so that both Demo- Crawford Kinzinger (IL) Ross (FL) McCollum Ross (AR) Wasserman crats and Republicans will have an op- Crenshaw Kline Royce McDermott Roybal-Allard Schultz portunity to be heard. So we have ex- Culberson Labrador Runyan McGovern Ruppersberger Waters Davis (KY) Lamborn Ryan (WI) McIntyre Rush Watt panded the debate from 60 to 90 min- Denham Lance Scalise McNerney Ryan (OH) Waxman utes, a 50 percent increase in the Dent Landry Schilling Meeks Sa´ nchez, Linda Welch amount of time, because of the gravity DesJarlais Lankford Schmidt Michaud T. Wilson (FL) of this measure, because there are Diaz-Balart Latham Schweikert Miller (NC) Sanchez, Loretta Woolsey Dold LaTourette Scott, Austin Miller, George Sarbanes Yarmuth Members who want to be heard. We will Dreier Latta Sensenbrenner have this hour debate on the rule itself, NOT VOTING—32 Duncan (SC) Lewis (CA) Sessions which clearly will get at the substance Duncan (TN) LoBiondo Shimkus Bachmann Gutierrez Pastor (AZ) of the legislation, and then we will Ellmers Long Shuster Bishop (UT) Hirono Paul Emerson Lucas Simpson Bono Mack Johnson (GA) Rivera have an additional hour and a half, so Farenthold Luetkemeyer Smith (NE) Burton (IN) Johnson (IL) Rogers (MI) a total of 21⁄2 hours. Fincher Lummis Smith (NJ) Carnahan Lewis (GA) Rothman (NJ) Mr. Speaker, we all know what our Fitzpatrick Lungren, Daniel Smith (TX) Castor (FL) Loebsack Schock job is here. Right now our job is jobs. Flake E. Southerland Coble Mack Scott (SC) Fleischmann Manzullo Our job is jobs. We have a responsi- Stearns Duffy Matheson Shuler Fleming Marchant Filner Myrick Stivers Smith (WA) bility to put into place policies which Flores Marino Fortenberry Napolitano Stutzman Thompson (MS) will encourage job creation and eco- Forbes McCarthy (CA) Sullivan Giffords Olson Foxx McCaul nomic growth, and that’s exactly what Terry b 1322 Franks (AZ) McClintock Thompson (PA) this legislation is designed to do. Frelinghuysen McCotter Thornberry Messrs. CARNEY, GRIJALVA, BER- Our fellow Americans across this Gallegly McHenry Tiberi Gardner McKeon MAN, RICHMOND, Ms. RICHARDSON, country are hurting. Part of the area Tipton Garrett McKinley that I represent in southern California Turner (NY) and Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York Gerlach McMorris Turner (OH) changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to has a 14 percent unemployment rate, Gibbs Rodgers Upton substantially larger than the national Gibson Meehan ‘‘nay.’’ Gingrey (GA) Mica Walberg Mr. WALDEN changed his vote from average. We have people in my State of Gohmert Miller (FL) Walden California and across this Nation who Walsh (IL) ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ Goodlatte Miller (MI) So the question of consideration was have lost their jobs, who have lost Gosar Miller, Gary Webster Gowdy Mulvaney West decided in the affirmative. their homes, who have lost their busi- Granger Murphy (PA) Westmoreland The result of the vote was announced nesses. Graves (GA) Neugebauer Whitfield as above recorded. We, today, are dealing, very sadly, Graves (MO) Noem Wilson (SC) with a chronic unemployment rate. It Griffin (AR) Nugent Wittman A motion to reconsider was laid on Griffith (VA) Nunes Wolf the table. has been sustained for a longer period Grimm Nunnelee Womack Stated for: of time than has been the case since Guinta Palazzo Woodall Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. the Great Depression. And it seems to Guthrie Paulsen Yoder Hall Pearce Young (AK) 917 I was unavoidably delayed. Had I been me that, as we look at where we’re Hanna Pence Young (FL) present, I would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ going on this, we have to recognize Harper Petri Young (IN) Stated against: what it is that gave us this positive Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 917, I number of a reduced unemployment NAYS—174 was away from the Capitol due to prior com- rate from 9 percent to 8.6 percent. It Ackerman Clay Engel mitments to my constituents. Had I been was because, very sadly, hundreds of Altmire Cleaver Eshoo Andrews Clyburn Farr present, I would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ thousands of Americans decided to give Baca Cohen Fattah Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on Tues- up looking for work, and that’s what Baldwin Connolly (VA) Frank (MA) day, December 13, 2011, I was absent during allowed the unemployment rate to Barrow Conyers Fudge rollcall vote No. 917. Had I been present, I drop. But we know that it is not ac- Bass (CA) Cooper Garamendi Becerra Costa Gonzalez would have voted ‘‘nay’’ on the question of ceptable; and especially as we go into Berkley Costello Green, Al consideration of the resolution, H. Res. 491, this holiday season, Mr. Speaker, to Berman Courtney Green, Gene providing for consideration of H.R. 3630, to have so many Americans who are suf- Bishop (GA) Critz Grijalva Bishop (NY) Crowley Hahn provide incentives for the creation of jobs, and fering is not acceptable. Blumenauer Cuellar Hanabusa for other purposes. And that’s why we are here today, to Boswell Cummings Hastings (FL) The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. take steps to ensure that we, first and Brady (PA) Davis (CA) Heinrich DOLD). The gentleman from California foremost, put into place job opportuni- Braley (IA) Davis (IL) Higgins Brown (FL) DeFazio Himes is recognized for 1 hour. ties and, second, address the needs of Butterfield DeGette Hinchey Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, for the middle-income working Americans and Capps DeLauro Hinojosa purpose of debate only, I yield the cus- those who are struggling to make ends Capuano Deutch Hochul Cardoza Dicks Holden tomary 30 minutes to my good friend meet and don’t have jobs. And that’s Carney Dingell Holt from Worcester, Mr. MCGOVERN, pend- why we have chosen to not only extend Chandler Doggett Honda ing which I yield myself such time as I unemployment benefits—and we’re Chu Donnelly (IN) Hoyer may consume. During consideration of doing so, I’m happy to say, with very Cicilline Doyle Inslee Clarke (MI) Edwards Israel this resolution, all time will be yielded important reforms, very important re- Clarke (NY) Ellison Jackson (IL) for debate purposes only. forms that deal with things ranging

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13DE7.011 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8749 from drug testing to encouraging peo- I’m looking at my friend from New they’re not going to see a tax increase ple to qualify for their GEDs. It doesn’t Jersey (Mr. ANDREWS) over here. He take place, and that they’re going to, mandate it. It gives States an oppor- and I have talked on numerous occa- in fact, if they’re struggling and don’t tunity to in fact waive it if they sions over the past several years about have a job opportunity, have their ben- choose, but it encourages people to our shared goal of putting into place efits continue, and to ensure that we move in the direction of seeking oppor- tax reform, reducing the top rate on get at the root cause of the problem by tunities. Our goal, as we extend unem- job creators from 35 to 25 percent, putting into place opportunities for ployment benefits, is to encourage re- while closing loopholes. private sector jobs to be created. I urge employment of our fellow Americans I know my friend from Worcester reg- an ‘‘aye’’ vote. who are having a difficult time trying ularly talks about subsidies and loop- With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the to make ends meet. holes that exist for the oil industry and balance of my time. This measure also, as we know, Mr. a wide range of other areas. We want to PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY Speaker, puts into place a policy that do this in the context of overall tax re- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, before will allow for the extension of the so- form, and I hope very much that we I begin, I have a parliamentary in- called holiday for the payroll tax. Now, can get to the point where, in a bipar- quiry. I will admit that I am a supply-side, tisan way, we can do that. That’s a pol- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- growth-oriented guy. I came here over icy that both President Obama and tleman will state his inquiry. three decades ago with Ronald Reagan, former President Clinton have talked Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, can believing very strongly that we need to about, this dealing, as Mr. ANDREWS you tell us how many Democrats have put into place pro-growth economic and I have discussed in the past, with cosponsored H.R. 3630? policies. The extension of the payroll this tax issue. These are the kinds of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- tleman has not stated a parliamentary tax holiday, based on analyses from policies that can enjoy bipartisan sup- inquiry but may engage that point in economists from both the left and the port, Democrats and Republicans work- debate. right, is that it’s not necessarily a pro- ing together to ensure that we can get Mr. MCGOVERN. I raised the issue, this economy growing. growth measure. But, Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Speaker, because the gentleman And I will say that this Keystone XL we look at where we’re headed today, said this was a bipartisan bill and I pipeline is one of those items, as we all during difficult times, it’s important don’t know of any Democrats that are know, that enjoys bipartisan support. for us to realize that anyone who op- cosponsors of the bill. poses what we are doing here today is It would immediately create jobs based First of all, let me thank the distin- standing in the way and preventing us on the projection of that construction. guished chairman of the Rules Com- And while we look at our quest, I don’t from moving ahead with providing that mittee, my good friend, Mr. DREIER, for payroll tax holiday for our fellow think we’re going to gain total energy yielding me the customary 30 minutes, Americans. self-sufficiency in this global economy, and I yield myself such time as I may but we would have greater energy self- b 1330 consume. sufficiency working very closely with (Mr. MCGOVERN asked and was I know that there are a lot of people one of our closest allies, our ally to the given permission to revise and extend who will say—and as I look at my north, Canada, in ensuring that we can his remarks.) friend from Worcester, I recall last proceed with this. We know that the Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise night in the Rules Committee when he question mark over whether or not in strong opposition to this closed rule said we’ve been doing everything under we’re going to proceed with the pipe- and to the underlying bill. This bill and the sun here except for focusing on job line has raised an understandable quest this process is so lousy, I barely know creation and economic growth. of the Canadians to deal with the Chi- where to begin today. Well, Mr. Speaker, as I think every- nese. Let’s start with the process. The bill, one knows, Democrats and Republicans And so, Mr. Speaker, as we look at the way this bill was conceived, drafted alike, our fellow Americans know, these challenges, this is a bipartisan and brought up may be the worst yet there are 27 pieces of legislation that measure. Let anyone stand up and under this Republican-controlled Con- have passed the House of Representa- start pointing the finger of blame at gress. Simply, this process is shameful. tives, which happens to be for the Re- Republicans. But I will tell you that we It’s an embarrassment. This 369-page publican majority. And at this mo- have—90 percent of the items in this monstrosity was presented on Friday ment, all 27 of those measures sit in measure have enjoyed bipartisan sup- afternoon. the United States Senate, and they port. Many of these are proposals that The gentleman says that this was re- have not passed. And the Senate, of President Obama has made within his ported by the Ways and Means Com- course, has a Democratic majority. jobs package. So that’s why we’ve got mittee. It was presented by the chair- Bipartisanship is what we want. an opportunity to do this. I believe, man of the Ways and Means Com- That’s what the American people want, Mr. Speaker, that we can do it. mittee. It was not reported out of that and I’m happy to say that this measure Unfortunately, we can’t simply legis- committee. I use the word presented is a bipartisan bill. One of the things late full employment in the United because it was introduced on a day that makes it a bipartisan measure, be- States. Legislating full employment is when no committees met and we had yond extending unemployment bene- not an option. I know that some of my no votes in the House. fits, beyond extending the payroll tax friends on the other side of the aisle It was referred to 12 committees, 12 holiday, is this thrust towards creating might like to figure that we could leg- different committees. That’s more than jobs by proceeding with the Keystone islate full employment. If we could do half the committees in the House of XL pipeline. that, we wouldn’t be faced with the dif- Representatives. But not a single com- Now, Mr. Speaker, we know that ficulty that we have today. mittee held a hearing or a markup on there has been some controversy What we can do is we can encourage this bill. It never saw the light of day around this earlier, but while we look America’s innovators and entre- in any of these committees. at the imperative of expanding the pay- preneurs with pro-growth policies, and There are 348 Members who sit on the roll tax holiday and ensuring that the that’s what we have repeatedly sent to committees that have jurisdiction over American people, who are struggling, the Senate. I hope that our colleagues this bill. That’s 348 Members of the have the benefits that they desperately in the other body will report those out. House who should have had an oppor- need, we need to get at the root cause And so, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to en- tunity to offer amendments and ques- of the problem. And the root cause of courage my colleagues to support this tion witnesses about this bill in com- the problem is that we have not put very, very important, bipartisan legis- mittee hearings or markups. Not one of into place policies, we’ve not been able lation, get it to the other body so that these Members had an opportunity. to pass out of both houses of Congress our Senate colleagues can consider And last night in the Rules Com- and get to the President’s desk policies this, and get it to the President’s desk mittee, Members came up, 12 amend- that can immediately jump-start and so that the American people, who want ments were offered. Every single one of get our economy growing. to have a degree of confidence that them was rejected.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.038 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H8750 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 13, 2011 Mr. LEVIN, the ranking member on ment insurance benefits for 1 million people just to score cheap political the Ways and Means Committee, asked Americans who lost their jobs through points. This is not a time for political for a Democratic substitute to be made no fault of their own. And it imposes theater. This is the time for respon- in order. That was rejected too. new limits on unemployment com- sible leadership. It’s time to do the The gentleman from California says pensation by restricting benefits em- right thing for the American people that it’s traditional, when Ways and ployees have paid for. and drop these controversial provisions Means bills are presented, that they be b 1340 from this bill. done so under a closed rule. That’s This is not the time to increase taxes when it’s a tax bill. This is a tax bill Why is it so difficult for this Repub- on middle class Americans. It’s time to plus 1,000 other things that have noth- lican-controlled House to help the mid- extend the payroll tax cut and unem- ing to do with tax issues. dle class and those struggling to get ployment insurance and the doc fix. And this lousy process, I will say to into the middle class? Why do they Mr. Speaker, this House needs to get my colleagues, leads to bad legislating. throw roadblock after roadblock in back to doing the people’s business, Just look at this bill. It’s long, and it’s front of middle class Americans who and the people’s business is jobs. It sloppy. The Republicans who rushed to are trying to make their lives better? would be nice if my Republican friends put this bill together have already Why do they continue to make it vir- would allow the President’s jobs bill to found an error which we’re trying to tually impossible for us to help average come to the floor for a vote rather than correct in the rule. Who knows how people, while at the same time they do bills that reaffirm our national motto many other errors there are? everything in their power to protect or make it easier for unsafe people to subsidies for big oil companies and tax Last year Speaker BOEHNER and Ma- carry concealed weapons from one cuts for the Donald Trumps of the jority Leader CANTOR, Whip MCCARTHY State to another. and other members of the Republican world? I say to my Republican friends, the Extension of the payroll tax cut, ex- leadership rolled out their Pledge to American people are outraged. They’re tension of the unemployment insur- America, their campaign pledge to run outraged at Republican indifference to ance program, and the doc fix should this House in a more open way. Yet all the middle class. They’re outraged by not be controversial. And these exten- year long they have been chipping Republicans’ callous attitude to the sions should have been done a long, away at their pledge, and now we have most vulnerable in this country. long time ago. They’re outraged that Republicans are this bill that flat out breaks their My friends on the other side of the pledge. playing politics with their lives. aisle are playing a very risky game. We Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican In their pledge, the House Repub- know this failure to extend the payroll licans promised to, and I quote, ‘‘end colleagues to do the right thing, to tax cut will mean a $1,500 tax increase pass a clean extension of the payroll the practice of packaging unpopular on middle class Americans. We know bills with ’must-pass’ legislation to cir- tax cut, properly extend unemploy- that 160 million Americans will see ment insurance and the doc fix. Do the cumvent the will of the American peo- their taxes go up if we don’t act before right thing, and do it the right way. ple. Instead, we will advance major leg- the end of the year. So why are Repub- That’s all the American people are ask- islation one issue at a time.’’ That’s licans bringing a bill to the floor that ing for. what they said. we know will not pass the Senate? I reserve the balance of my time. Yet we have three provisions—exten- We know, by the way, the President Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield sion of the payroll tax cut, extension of will not sign it. I have a Statement of myself 30 seconds to say to my col- unemployment insurance, and SGR, or Administration Policy, which I would league that he has performed just as I doc fix—that are must pass by the end like to place in the RECORD, which ba- had expected, pointing the finger of of this year. And do we have a clean sically makes it very clear that the blame when we’re trying to work in a bill that is free from unrelated provi- President would veto this bill. bipartisan way to make sure that we sions? Of course not. That would be EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESI- get this done. We want the doc fix. We logical and make too much sense. DENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT, want to ensure that people who can’t No, Mr. Speaker, the bill we have be- AND BUDGET, make ends meet and are looking for fore us is loaded up with goodies to Washington, DC, December 13, 2011. work have access to those benefits. We mollify the extreme right wing that is STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY want to extend the payroll tax holiday. in charge of this House. Along with the H.R. 3630—MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT ACT OF 2011 We also feel it imperative that we get extension of the payroll tax cut and (Rep. Camp, R-Michigan, and 5 others) at the root cause of exactly what my doc fix, this bill includes the following: The Administration strongly opposes H.R. friend just said, Mr. Speaker, and that Requires the approval of the controver- 3630. With only days left before taxes go up is creating jobs. And everyone knows, sial Keystone pipeline; requires mil- for 160 million hardworking Americans, H.R. Democrat and Republican alike, many 3630 plays politics at the expense of middle- lions of seniors to pay more for health leaders in organized labor focus on the care; increases taxes on working fami- class families. H.R. 3630 breaks the bipar- tisan agreement on spending cuts that was fact that the Keystone XL pipeline is a lies by forcing large, end-of-the-year reached just a few months ago and would in- job creator and can go a long way to- health care payments; slashes preven- evitably lead to pressure to cut investments wards doing exactly what my friend tion funding that actually reduces in areas like education and clean energy. and I share in common as a goal. Medicare and Medicaid costs; under- Furthermore, H.R. 3630 seeks to put the bur- With that, Mr. Speaker, I am happy mines air quality, endangering the den of paying for the bill on working fami- to yield 2 minutes to a hardworking health of children and families by lies, while giving a free pass to the wealthi- new member of your class, Mr. Speak- blocking mercury pollution reduction; est and to big corporations by protecting their loopholes and subsidies. er, the gentleman from Lawrence, cuts retirement programs for Federal Instead of working together to find a bal- South Carolina (Mr. DUNCAN). workers; and extends the pay freeze for anced approach that will actually pass both Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Federal workers. Houses of the Congress, H.R. 3630 instead rep- There are but two points I want to Each of these provisions are dif- resents a choice to refight old political bat- bring up in support of the bill before us ferent. They have nothing to do with tles over health care and introduce ideolog- today. one another. Why are they all bunched ical issues into what should be a simple de- Thomas Jefferson said this: ‘‘A wise together in this one bill? bate about cutting taxes for the middle and frugal Government, which shall re- And these policies are bad for Amer- class. This debate should not be about scoring strain men from injuring one another, ica. They are bad for the American peo- political points. This debate should be about which shall leave them otherwise free ple. Yet the Republican leadership con- cutting taxes for the middle class. to regulate their own pursuits of indus- tinues to push these extreme and If the President were presented with H.R. try and improvement, and shall not harmful policies. 3630, he would veto the bill. take from the mouth of labor the bread And even though the unemployment So why are we wasting precious it has earned. This is the sum of good insurance program needs to be ex- time? government.’’ tended, this bill actually erodes the The Republican leadership insists on I believe that America works better support program by cutting unemploy- playing chicken with the American when hardworking Americans keep

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.040 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8751 more of the money that they earn, I want to remind our colleagues that As families gather around those ta- keep more of their paycheck. That’s for a long time the Republican leader- bles, making those decisions, Demo- why I support the payroll tax cut pro- ship did not support a payroll tax cut crats have put our ideas on the table. vision in this bill. at all. Rhetoric coming from the Re- We are willing and ready to reach The second point, Mr. Speaker, is publicans was, We don’t believe in ex- across the aisle in order to complete this: the administration can be for tending the payroll tax cut; however, our work and give 160 million Ameri- jobs, or the administration can support we do want to make permanent the tax cans the gift of greater opportunity a radical environmentalist policy. Mr. cut for the wealthiest people in Amer- and security, of hope and optimism Speaker, I believe that they are mutu- ica—those making over $1 million a during the holiday season and the New ally exclusive and you cannot support year. Year. You cannot do this by saying, both. So the President taking this to the We’re going to put something in the The Keystone pipeline is a segue to public and the reinforcement of that bill that the President says he will not job creation in this Nation. You re- message by our Democratic colleagues sign. member the jobs created in the 1970s in the House and in the Senate has It’s hard to understand how you can with the Alaskan pipeline? I do. The made the payroll tax cut an issue too say you’re for something except you’re Keystone pipeline will create both con- hot for the Republicans to handle. going to put up obstacles to its pas- struction jobs and long-term jobs as So they’re bringing a bill to the floor sage. The macroeconomic advisers our Nation refines the hydrocarbons today which says they’re for a payroll have said that the proposal the Presi- into energy products here in American tax cut, but has within it the seeds of dent has put forward will make a dif- refineries. Failure not to do this means its own destruction because it has poi- ference of 600,000 jobs to our economy. the possibility that this Canadian oil son pills, which they know are not ac- If we fail to do this, we are, again, risk- will be refined in and used by China. ceptable to the President and do not do ing those jobs and we’re missing the Today, we can pursue North Amer- the best effort for the American people. opportunity. As the previous speaker ican energy independence by Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, will the said, let’s put the money in the pockets partnering with our closest ally and gentlewoman yield? of America’s workers. largest trading partner, Canada. Or we Ms. PELOSI. You have plenty of Welcome to the payroll tax cut, I say can continue the same failed policies of time, Mr. Chairman. You’re the chair- to our Republican colleagues—what this administration which lead to high- man of the committee; I’m not. you have long resisted but what the er prices at the pump for Americans Mr. DREIER. I just wanted to ask a President has demonstrated there is and the continuation of sending dollars question. public support for. overseas for Middle Eastern oil. Ms. PELOSI. I’m not going to yield Let’s reject this rule so that we can This bill cuts taxes, it reduces spend- to you because you make your points have a fair debate on the President’s ing, it ends the regulatory quagmire all day. I’m making mine now. proposal, which is fair to America’s for American businesses and provides a And one of the points I would like to workers and stronger in terms of the path forward for American energy se- make is about the Democratic sub- macroeconomic impact it will have to curity. stitute which the chairman of the com- inject demand into the economy, which I support its passage, and I ask that mittee said we could not bring to the will create more jobs and make the God will continue to bless America. floor. But it’s important for the Amer- holiday season a brighter one for many Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, at this ican people to know that it mirrors more Americans. time I am very proud to yield 1 minute what the President has proposed. Let us put the Republican proposal to the gentlewoman from California, The bill would cut taxes by $1,500 for on the table and the President’s pro- the Democratic leader, Ms. PELOSI. the typical American family. It would posal on the table, which has the full Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman secure a critical lifeline for those who support of Democrats and Republicans for yielding and appreciate his presen- have lost their jobs through no fault of in the House and Senate, as opposed to tation on why we are here today and their own. It would ensure that seniors the Republican proposal they put forth why the rule that is being brought to still get to see the doctor of their in the Senate, which didn’t even win the floor is not the right one, because choice with a permanent doc fix that is the support of a majority of the Repub- it does not allow for us to have options contained in the bill. Our proposal licans. Let’s come together; let’s find for the American people to be consid- would protect and extend the tax cut our common ground; let’s get the job ered. for 160 million Americans while asking done; but let’s understand that we can- One of those options I want to talk 300,000 people, those making over a mil- not leave Congress—that we cannot go about has been described by the Presi- lion dollars a year, to pay their fair home—until we meet the needs of the dent. share. American people. President Obama last week in Kansas I urge my colleagues to vote ‘‘no’’ on b 1350 made a glorious speech harking back to the previous question and to fully sup- President Roosevelt’s speech about the The Republicans not only said no to port the best possible payroll tax cut middle class and its importance to the bill; they said, no, your substitute for the middle class, unemployment America’s democracy, how it is the cannot even be considered on the floor. benefits for our workers, as well as for backbone of our democracy. President The President has said—and the our seniors to have the ability to have Obama said last week we are greater Democrats in Congress agree with the doctors of their choice. together when everyone engages in fair him—that we cannot go home unless I thank the gentleman from Michi- play, where everyone gets a fair shot we pass a tax cut for the middle class, gan (Mr. LEVIN) for his leadership on and everyone does their fair share. This that we cannot go home unless we pass this important legislation. isn’t about one percentage and another the unemployment benefits for Amer- Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield percentage. It’s about all Americans ica’s working families. myself 1 minute. working together. Across the country, families are sit- I’d be happy to yield to my dear Cali- President Obama put those words ting at their tables. Christmas is com- fornia colleague, Ms. PELOSI, if she into legislative action with his pro- ing. I say it over and over that Christ- would want to respond to anything I’m posal for a payroll tax cut for middle mas is coming. For some, the goose is about to say here as I was looking for- income families, as well as unemploy- getting fat, and for others, it’s very ward to getting to debate. ment insurance for those who have lost slim pickings. Families are sitting First of all, my colleague from Cali- their jobs through no fault of their around their tables, having to make fornia began by saying that there was own. difficult choices: Can we put gas in the no opportunity for Democrats to have Democrats have a proposal today car and still afford to put food on the a proposal that is considered. Members which we cannot take up on the floor table? As the holiday season comes of the minority, the Democrats, are en- because the Republican rule is perhaps upon us, can we buy toys for our chil- titled to a motion to recommit. That is afraid of the vote we might get because dren during the holidays and be able to provided in this measure, although we it does so much for America’s working pay the bills when they come due in often were denied that when we were in families. January? the minority.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.042 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H8752 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 13, 2011 Second, the gentleman from Massa- tion about the GOP plan for America’s The SPEAKER pro tempore. The chusetts (Mr. MCGOVERN) did, in fact, job creators. time of the gentlewoman has expired. propose that we have a substitute made Mr. Speaker, we can’t wait for more Mr. MCGOVERN. I yield the gentle- in order; but, Mr. Speaker, since last middle class, Main Street jobs, so I lady 1 additional minute. Friday, when this bill was made avail- urge my colleagues to vote for both the Ms. SLAUGHTER. Why can’t they able, the gentleman from Michigan rule and the underlying bill. H.R. 3630, serve the middle class without playing (Mr. LEVIN), the ranking member of the the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Secret Santa for special interests like committee, never came forward with a Creation Act of 2011, is just the answer the Keystone XL? substitute for us in the Rules Com- that we need at this critical time. In addition to the misguided mittee. We only received one just a few I also wish all Americans a very brinksmanship of the majority, today’s minutes ago. Merry Christmas. bill flies in the face of regular order Then to the important point about Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I am and makes a mockery of the majority’s the so-called ‘‘poison pills’’ that my proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentle- CutGo rules for all bills. We’ve seen in California colleague mentioned, the woman from New York, the ranking the Rules Committee the fact that it distinguished minority leader: The idea member of the Rules Committee, Ms. has been waived many times today. It of saying that we want to encourage SLAUGHTER. is waived yet again. And it says to the those who are unemployed to move to- Ms. SLAUGHTER. I thank the gen- Office of Management and Budget and wards GED qualification does not seem tleman for yielding to me. the Congressional Budget Office that to me to be a poison pill. Mr. Speaker, there are no Democrats they count the savings in this bill but Mr. Speaker, the idea of saying that on this bill. I don’t know what all this not the cost. If only middle class fami- we should have drug testing—and bipartisan talk is about. The gen- lies could use that kind of accounting. that’s, again, optional drug testing—so tleman from Michigan (Mr. LEVIN) This is hardly the deliberate and that people who are receiving these un- didn’t even see it. None of us knew. thoughtful legislative process that the employment benefits are not using Mr. DREIER. Will the gentlelady majority promised us when they as- those resources to purchase drugs is yield? sumed office almost 12 months ago. So obviously not a poison pill. Then the Ms. SLAUGHTER. No. If you don’t because of the rushed process and the idea of having millionaires benefit mind, I’d like to get through my legislative acrobatics used to mask the from the program, which we eliminate speech. We’ve heard this all day. true cost of the bill, I strongly oppose in this proposal, should not be a poison I understand that there is great hope today’s rule and the underlying legisla- pill. for a number of Democrat votes—and I tion and urge my colleagues to vote So, Mr. Speaker, with that, I am very don’t know how that will turn out— ‘‘no.’’ 1⁄2 minutes to another happy to yield 2 but, frankly, I don’t think that this Mr. DREIER. I reserve the balance of hardworking member of the freshman bill will ever see the light of day any- my time. class, the gentleman from Bryan, way. There is not much support for it Mr. MCGOVERN. I yield 3 minutes to Texas (Mr. FLORES). in the Senate, and the President said the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, I rise he won’t sign it. So what I am hopeful ANDREWS). today to talk about options for Amer- for is that, when we really get down to (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given ican middle class jobs and American business here, we can have a bipartisan permission to revise and extend his re- energy security. In this regard, I want bill. It is possible to do that. Just in- marks.) to talk about two real-world examples vite the Democrats to take part in it. Mr. ANDREWS. I thank my friend for that highlight the differences between Let me make it clear that you can- yielding. President Obama’s plan and the GOP not call anything ‘‘bipartisan’’ when Ninety-eight days ago, the President plan for America’s job creators. of the United States came to this Option A is Obama’s plan. Option B is there is not a single Democrat on it. Also, a motion to recommit is nowhere Chamber and proposed to create jobs the GOP plan. Here are the examples: by cutting taxes for middle class fami- Under option A, Solyndra. Under op- near a substitute bill, which we were not allowed to do. lies by about $1,500 per year. For 98 tion B, the Keystone XL pipeline. days, the majority refused to take up How many part-time jobs were cre- Instead of extending tax cuts to the legislation that would enact that jobs ated under option A? One thousand. middle class and giving assistance to plan. So finally today we have their They have come and gone. Under the the unemployed, this majority is hold- version of it, which unfortunately does Keystone XL pipeline, there were over ing the middle class hostage in order to not cut taxes for middle class people 20,000. extract concessions for their friends in How many full-time jobs from Big Oil. Furthermore, instead of asking the way we proposed but at least Solyndra? None. They’re gone. How those with the most to help those with avoids a tax increase on those families many full-time jobs from option B, the the least, which is what we are sup- which is looming on January 1. But I can’t support this bill because Keystone XL pipeline? Thousands. posed to do, today’s bill asks millions What did option A do for America’s of seniors to pay more for health care. of how it pays for that middle class tax improved energy security? Nothing. In exchange, the majority will gra- relief. First let me say this: I agree as How about for option B? Yes, we get ciously continue the Federal unem- a general rule when we cut taxes here improved American energy security. ployment insurance programs, al- on anyone, we ought to pay for it, not In reducing the demand for Middle though they are grievously cut; and 10 increase the deficit. But the majority Eastern oil, Solyndra provided none. States will get waivers not to have to has never subscribed to that principle The Keystone XL pipeline will offset pay unemployment insurance at all. So until today. Middle Eastern demand by 700,000 bar- that’s a sort of Russian roulette idea. So when the wealthiest people in rels per day. They cut the maximum number of America got an enormous tax reduc- The cost to American taxpayers for weeks as Christmas approaches, which tion in their tax rates in 2001 and again Solyndra? Over $1.5 billion wasted. For is the time of goodwill toward men, in 2003, there was no requirement that the Keystone XL pipeline? Nothing. women, and children who are out of we offset that in order to pay for it. Nada. work through no fault of their own. In But now that middle class families are What was the taxpayer return on a country where there are four persons getting some relief, all of a sudden, Solyndra? There was none. What is the applying for each and every available there has to be. taxpayer return on the Keystone XL job, that gives us some idea of how dire Let’s talk about what that offset is. pipeline? It’s infinite. it is to face this Christmas and the rest One major portion of it essentially re- Who benefited from Solyndra? The of this year without jobs. duces unemployment benefits for President’s political contributors. Who Americans down the line. And as I un- benefits from the Keystone XL pipe- b 1400 derstand this, there are some reforms line? The American middle class. Why can’t the Grand Old Party help that really ought to take place. When I How do you get more information? the middle class without demanding a hear about GEDs and drug testing, I Go to jobs.GOP.gov for more informa- quid pro quo? think that is fairly sensible. But it

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.046 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8753 isn’t sensible to say to someone, If cated here, Federal workers and the icas, working with our Canadian allies, you’ve been looking for work day after unemployed, do. creating good jobs, creating access to day and week after week and trying The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. cheaper energy here. Energy in China your best to find your next job, it’s LATOURETTE). The time of the gen- is 20 percent higher than energy here in your fault if you didn’t find it. But tleman has expired. the United States. Why would we want that is essentially what this bill says. Mr. MCGOVERN. I yield the gen- to inverse that? Why don’t we want the If you are unemployed, look in the mir- tleman an additional 30 seconds. cheaper source of energy here? Yet the ror. It’s your fault. Mr. LEVIN. I will just say to the ma- administration stalls and gives the ad- I don’t think the authors of this bill jority, get in the shoes of the unem- vantage to China. know many unemployed people. I know ployed. If you don’t, I think those who I just want to tell you, colleagues, they don’t know that for every four un- deny it deserve their unemployment. support this rule, support the under- employed people in America today, Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am lying legislation. Take a stand for jobs. there is one job. For every one job happy to yield 3 minutes to my distin- Take a stand for American security that’s listed as being open, there are guished colleague from the Committee and consider the fact that China has al- four unemployed people for that job. I on Financial Services, the gentleman ready advantaged itself in Africa and don’t think they understand that even from Fullerton, California (Mr. ROYCE). Latin America and elsewhere at our ex- Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in though there is a law against age dis- pense. support of this rule. This is a question, crimination in this country, age dis- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as it relates to this Keystone pipeline crimination in this country is an ev- 11⁄2 minutes to the gentleman from New project, of whether we’re serious about York (Mr. ENGEL). eryday painful fact of life for a lot of an economic recovery in this country. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank people over about 40 years old in this And frankly, it’s a question about the gentleman for yielding to me. country. whether or not we’re serious about our So I would say to all those who are I rise today in strong opposition to national security. about to vote to extend middle class Now, we have a shovel-ready project this act and in opposition to the rule. tax relief by blaming the unemployed here, the Keystone pipeline, that will It’s a shame that the majority is play- for their own plight that they ought to create tens of thousands of jobs. By the ing legislative chicken with middle walk for just a day or a week or a Chamber’s estimate and by the esti- class tax cuts on a bill that will never month in the shoes of a 50-year-old mate of the unions involved in sup- be signed into law. man or woman who has been out of porting this, it’s actually hundreds of I’m open-minded on the Keystone work for a year and a half, who has cir- thousands in terms of the consequences pipeline, but it has no place in this bill. cled every want ad, gone to every Web of developing this resource and bring- It’s mixing apples with oranges. It’s a site, taken every job interview he or ing it down from Alberta, Canada. poison pill. It’s designed to kill it. The she could get, and still cannot find a These are good jobs, good jobs for men President has already said that he job. We should vote against this bill. and women in this country that are in- won’t sign a bill like this. So what do Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I continue volved in manufacturing pipe and earth my Republican colleagues do? They to reserve the balance of my time. movers. give us more so they can score some Mr. MCGOVERN. At this time I And frankly, when you think about political points with their base. would like to yield 2 minutes to the it, why, why do we keep delaying this The American people want us to gentleman from Michigan, the ranking at a time when unemployment is as meet in the middle. The American peo- member of the Ways and Means Com- high as it is? Because I can tell you, ple want us to approve things to move mittee who was denied his right to the Canadians aren’t waiting. The Chi- the country forward. We need to pass a have a substitute when he was at the nese are not waiting. Make no mistake simple extension of middle class tax re- Rules Committee, Mr. LEVIN. about it, the Canadians will develop lief. We need to pass a simple extension (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given per- and export the oil they’re developing in of unemployment insurance. This is mission to revise and extend his re- western Canada. The Prime Minister what we should do. This is what the marks.) met with Hu Jintao of China, and the American people want us to do. Unem- Mr. LEVIN. You know, when there is deal that they’re talking about strik- ployment is hovering around 9 percent. an issue as serious as this, you would ing is one that accrues to the benefit of People need help, and we’re not helping think that the majority would let us China at the expense of the United them. introduce a substitute. Instead, the an- States. If this energy does not transit This bill also forces millions of sen- swer is a stone wall. So I am going to the United States and go to refineries iors to pay more for health care while explain what is in my substitute. I here, it will go to China, and it will giving the 300,000 wealthiest Americans want the American public to know fuel their manufacturing sector. another free pass. That’s not right. what would be in it. This is unacceptable. We cannot solve A 1-year extension and expansion of b 1410 our debt problem on the backs of work- the employee payroll tax cut to 3.1 per- That is what we are concerned about. ing families. cent, as the President proposed; a 1- We are concerned about throwing away Mr. Speaker, I have always prided year extension on the bonus deprecia- this opportunity. I don’t know about myself as a moderate and someone who tion; and a 1-year extension on unem- you, but it sure bothers me to see wants to work across the aisle. The ployment insurance is in the bill that China playing in our hemisphere and chairman knows that. We have spoken Mr. DOGGETT and a lot of us intro- the administration does not seem to many, many times. I plead with my duced, H.R. 3346—and a 10-year SGR care. colleagues on the other side of the fix. Americans have been told about the aisle, I think the American people I want the American public to under- importance of energy independence. We want us to do some good work in the stand what’s at stake here and how we have been on the hook, my friends, to closing days of this session. We need pay for it. This chart shows very viv- Middle East producers for decades now; unemployment extension. We need a idly what the Republicans essentially and we’re sending billions every year middle class tax cut extension. Let’s are doing. I want everybody to look at to that cartel. And these countries in not mix apples with oranges. Let’s pass it. Under their proposal, seniors sac- that cartel are unstable. They all a clean bill and go home and say we did rifice $31 billion. Under their proposal, collude to control prices, and we have a something good for the country. Federal employees sacrifice $40 billion. chance instead to get this oil from our Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield Under their proposal, unemployed allies, and we’re being told by this ad- myself 1 minute, and I would be happy Americans—unemployed, looking for ministration and by the other side of to engage my friend if he’d like to. Let work—sacrifice $11 billion. And under the aisle that despite the jobs that this me make a couple of comments. their proposal, essentially people earn- would create, that this is going to be First, I think that as we look at the ing over $1 million sacrifice nothing, stopped. issue of the Keystone XL pipeline, the nothing. They don’t pay for this bill, Well, today we have a chance to de- notion of saying that somehow we’re while seniors and everybody else indi- velop an energy resource in the Amer- trying to appeal to our base when we

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.048 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H8754 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 13, 2011 know the most outspoken and enthusi- states with the highest unemployment rates. Preventative health care, for exam- astic supporters of the Keystone XL These benefit cuts would reduce economic ple, improves wellness and lowers pipeline happen to be the labor unions, activity by $22 billion and cost 140,000 jobs. costs. When provided the opportunity Even more troubling, H.R. 3630 would fun- organized labor in this country. We damentally change the nature of unemploy- for free preventative services, 70 per- know because they want to create jobs, ment insurance and erode the unemployment cent of Medicare recipients enrolled. and they are supportive of this so that safety net for the future. Unemployment in- But this bill cuts that care. Why? It’s a we can create jobs. surance (UI) is a social insurance program, rider. People throw around terms like ‘‘poi- to which workers make contributions in the What do payroll tax cuts and ship- son pill,’’ why are we using this issue. form of reduced wages. H.R. 3630 would ping more gasoline to China have in change the nature of UI by allowing states to Because as we extend unemployment common? Republican Senator LINDSEY require jobless workers to ‘‘work off’’ their benefits to people who are unable to benefits, in effect allowing UI to be trans- GRAHAM acknowledged this political find jobs, and as we extend the payroll formed into a workfare program. H.R. 3630 gamesmanship saying: ‘‘I think we tax holiday, we feel that it’s absolutely would further undermine social insurance by should debate the Keystone pipeline, essential that we get at the root cause introducing means testing, which would and we should debate tax policy sepa- of the problem. We have protracted un- surely be used to restrict UI eligibility to rately.’’ Sadly, it’s another rider in employment in this country. Very, fewer and fewer workers over time. this bill. very sadly. We know it has gone on for The authors of this legislation do not seem Finally, Republicans included a poi- to understand that America faces a con- an extended period of time—the end of tinuing jobs crisis, and they seem to think son pill with actual poison—mercury, the last administration into this ad- that jobless workers—rather than Wall arsenic, and other toxins. What does ministration. We all know that we Street—are to blame for high unemployment gutting the Clean Air Act have to do were promised that if we passed the and the lack of jobs. In addition to cutting with payroll tax cuts? Nothing. It’s a stimulus bill that the unemployment unemployment benefits, H.R. 3630 would rider. rate would not exceed 8 percent. Now allow drug testing of all workers before they I strongly support extending the pay- it’s at 8.6 percent. I’m gratified that it can receive benefits; require workers without roll tax cut to help 160 million Ameri- went from 9 percent to 8.6 percent. But a high school degree to be enrolled in classes cans; but first we need to cut the par- before they can receive benefits; and make why did it do that? jobless workers pay out of their own pockets tisan riders. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The for reemployment services offered by the Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I continue time of the gentleman has expired. government. to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DREIER. I yield myself an addi- In order to spare millionaires from having Mr. MCGOVERN. I yield 2 minutes to tional 30 seconds, Mr. Speaker. to pay one more penny in taxes, H.R. 3630 the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Because hundreds of thousands of would also require federal employees to sac- DAVIS). Americans have chosen to give up even rifice even more than they have already. Not Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the looking for work. And so we’re saying, only would H.R. 3630 extend the current pay gentleman from Massachusetts for yes, we will agree to extend unemploy- freeze for federal employees, but it would also raise $37 billion in revenues by increas- yielding. ment benefits; yes, we will agree to ex- ing federal employee pension contributions Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposi- tending for another year the payroll and reducing their retirement income. tion to the rule and to the underlying tax holiday. But let’s get at the root H.R. 3630 would also have a substantial bill. This rule rejected all attempts to cause of the problem. So that’s why we negative impact on the health care of work- amend the bill, limits the general de- see these as being very closely inter- ing families. It would impose daunting sub- bate time, and contains egregious pro- twined. sidy repayment requirements on families visions which allow States to apply whose economic circumstances improve, It’s true the President did say that measures such as drug testing; you’ve he would reject this; but I believe if we which would deter 170,000 people from accept- ing premium assistance under the Affordable got to have a high school diploma or be can pass it through this House with bi- Care Act, according to the Joint Tax Com- enrolled in a GED program. Well, I can partisan support, pass it through the mittee. As a result, thousands of middle- and tell you, Mr. Speaker, that people who United States Senate and get it to the lower-income families would be unable to af- are addicted to drugs don’t need test- President’s desk, that extending unem- ford health insurance. In addition, H.R. 3630 ing. What they need is treatment. Peo- ployment benefits at this time of year would increase Medicare premiums for at ple who are sick need health care. Peo- especially, and that payroll tax holi- least 25 percent of all beneficiaries, requiring ple who are unemployed need a job and many in the middle class to pay substan- day, with a measure that the President the opportunity to work, or they need has indicated support for, dealing with tially more, and would reduce federal sup- port for new preventive services. benefits until such time as they can re- the XL pipeline, that the President H.R. 3630 would protect the most privileged ceive it. will, in fact, sign it. one percent of all Americans from having to This bill goes in the wrong direction. With that, I reserve the balance of pay one more penny in taxes, and it would do I strongly oppose it. my time. so by demanding still more sacrifice and Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I pain from jobless workers, federal employ- happy to yield 2 minutes to my very would like to insert in the RECORD a ees, and low- and middle-income families. good friend from Omaha, Nebraska (Mr. The authors of H.R. 3630 obviously have more letter from William Samuel, the direc- TERRY). tor of the government affairs depart- sympathy for millionaires than for the vic- tims of the economic crisis caused by Wall Mr. TERRY. Thank you, Mr. Chair- ment at the AFL–CIO, in strong opposi- Street. We urge you to vote against this man. tion to H.R. 3630. cruel and selfish piece of legislation. I think coupling—putting the unem- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR Sincerely, ployment extension, the tax holiday, AND CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL OR- WILLIAM SAMUEL, the doc fix, and a real jobs bill to- GANIZATIONS, Director, Government Affairs Department. gether—which is what the American Washington, DC, December 13, 2011. At this time I would like to yield 2 people have been telling Congress for DEAR REPRESENTATIVE: On behalf of the minutes to the gentleman from Vir- AFL–CIO, I am writing to urge you to oppose the entire year, that they want to see the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation ginia (Mr. CONNOLLY). tangible job creation. There’s no better Act of 2011 (H.R. 3630), which would replace a Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. job creator in the pipeline—pun in- modest surtax on income over $1 million Speaker, unrelated, partisan riders tended—than Keystone XL. with drastic benefit reductions for jobless often have received scorn in the past. workers, pay cuts for public employees, re- In 2008, for example, now-Speaker b 1420 duced premium assistance for low- and mid- BOEHNER mentioned his strong dis- It’s a 1,700-mile, $7 billion, shovel- dle-income individuals buying health insur- taste, stating: ‘‘Attaching these riders ready project—not the fake shovel- ance, cutbacks in preventive health services, is the sort of stunt that has made ready in the stimulus, but real, ready, and higher premiums for many Medicare Americans extremely cynical about earnestly ready to start digging right beneficiaries. H.R. 3630 would cut the federal unemploy- Washington.’’ But when finally agree- now. The only holdup for Keystone ment insurance (UI) program by more than ing to vote on a payroll tax cut for 160 pipeline’s permit is the politics of the half in 2012, reducing benefit eligibility by 14 million Americans, this bill is riddled 2012 election. The process sits in the weeks in every state and by 40 weeks in with riders. State Department.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.050 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8755 So what we say is in this bill, State How do we help the 6 million persons Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, at this Department, use the information that who need unemployment insurance? We time I would like to yield 11⁄2 minutes has been sitting on your desk col- call it an emergency. It is an emer- to the gentleman from Pennsylvania lecting dust. You said you would make gency. (Mr. FATTAH). a decision by December 31. We just How do we fix Medicare reimburse- Mr. FATTAH. I thank the gentleman want you to make it 60 days after the ment for our doctors? We use the sav- and I thank the House. permit’s again requested, with the ings from the ending of the Iraq war. There is a time, a place, and a season carve-out for the Nebraska exemption. It’s a simple, clean process, a simple for everything. I would argue to the Why is it so important? Well, it real- vote to help Americans. House that this is not the time for us ly does displace 700,000 barrels of im- How can they violate their pledge, to be playing around with the financial ported oil, almost the entire amount Mr. Speaker, of not putting everything fortunes of 160 million Americans that from Venezuela or about half from under the Christmas tree on a bill that are enjoying a tax cut today that we’d Saudi Arabia. It creates 20,000 jobs must pass on behalf of the American like to extend and the President would nearly instantaneously, 20,000 new jobs. people? That’s the challenge today. like to extend going forward over the It seems to me that as we’re talking I’m against the rule and the under- next year. about putting food on the table and lying bill. Now we’ve had some 21 consecutive Christmastime that this is meat and Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, may I in- months of private sector job growth in potatoes. The potatoes will sustain you quire of my friend how many speakers this country. Now, I know that the like the unemployment insurance, but he has on his side? President has almost had to lift this what people really want is the red Mr. MCGOVERN. I have at least two economy single-handedly since the meat of good, high-paying jobs, labor more speakers. GOP has decided they don’t want to do that they can go to. And I bet you that Mr. DREIER. In light of that, Mr. anything to help move the American the AFL–CIO wants this Keystone pipe- Speaker, I will reserve the balance of economy forward; but the idea that line built. my time. you would actually stand in the way of, Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, again, at a minimum, keeping this tax cut in would like to yield 1 minute to the gen- the AFL–CIO still opposes this bill. place, and to do it in the holiday sea- tlewoman from New York (Mrs. MALO- At this time I would like to yield 2 son—as we prepare our Christmas tree minutes to the gentlewoman from NEY). Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gen- at home and my wife and daughters Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE). have been decorating it—we all need to Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank tleman for yielding. The President has announced that we understand that in this Christmas sea- the gentleman from Massachusetts. I cannot leave Congress without passing son that it is wrong for us to approach don’t think anyone disagrees with my an extension of the middle class tax the holidays and to create this uncer- good friend who discussed the Keystone cut and an extension of unemployment tainty. pipeline that it would create jobs. benefits. We’ve got so much concern about un- There’s nothing that has been said that Now, originally, the ‘‘no new taxes’’ certainty in the business community would suggest that at the appropriate folks in the GOP Republican Senate but no concern about uncertainty in time of review that that project would said that they couldn’t do that, that the homes of 160 million Americans. not go forward. they were going to let the middle class Now, if we want to pass any bill on But what we’re talking about today tax increase expire, they were going to any day, you have a majority, you can is a crisis in the American public deal- let the taxes increase on the middle do it. You don’t have to merge the ing with two major issues: continuing a class, but they were going to refuse to pipeline with this tax cut. You don’t tax relief and tax cut for working and raise taxes on the superrich. Now, if have to tie the fortunes of 160 million middle class Americans, number one; you were not superrich, this was bad Americans’ economic fortune together and, number two, to keep 6 million news for 99 percent of all Americans; with the pipeline. Americans from rolling into the street and they spoke out, and they said they We could move this today. The Presi- and falling on their own spear for lack would like this tax cut. dent is prepared to sign it. I would urge of unemployment insurance being ex- Now the Republicans have come back my colleagues, let’s do this in the ap- tended, disallowing them to pay their with all types of riders that the Presi- propriate way. mortgage, disallowing them to pay dent does not support. We need a clean Mr. MCGOVERN. I advise the gen- their rent, and, in essence, saying to bill. tleman from California that I am the them there is no light at the end. The payroll tax cut that the Demo- last speaker. It is also about Republicans and their crats are supporting would mean that a Mr. DREIER. Then, Mr. Speaker, I commitment to the American people. typical middle class family would have will close after the gentleman does. In their pledge to America, the GOP 1,000 extra dollars to spend. Mr. MCGOVERN. I yield myself the leadership indicated in September that The SPEAKER pro tempore. The balance of my time. they would end the practice of pack- time of the gentlewoman has expired. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- aging unpopular bills with must-pass Mr. MCGOVERN. I yield the gentle- tleman from Massachusetts is recog- legislation. This is must-pass legisla- lady an additional 30 seconds. nized for 41⁄2 minutes. tion. And look what they’re doing be- Mrs. MALONEY. The nonpartisan Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I sides the pipeline provision that has Congressional Budget Office found that would like to place in the RECORD an been supported in a bipartisan manner the payroll tax cut is one of the most article from Politico entitled, ‘‘GOP yet this in the wrong process; they powerful tools that we could use to in- takes packaging path,’’ talking about have got broadband spectrum; they are crease the number of full-time jobs. how my Republican friends have bro- ending jobless benefits to the extent The other policy option that they sup- ken their Pledge to America. that they are requiring burdensome ported for stimulating the economy [From Politico, Dec. 11, 2011] drug testing on college persons who was extending the unemployment bene- GOP TAKES PACKAGING PATH can’t find a job; they are suggesting fits. (By Jake Sherman) that if you can’t find a job, it’s your So it’s time for our colleagues across The year-end rush to extend the payroll own fault; changes to Medicare that the aisle to get with the spirit of this tax holiday has House Republicans strug- are burdening senior citizens; and, on season. Pass the tax cut without the gling to keep up with a key promise from top of that, we’ve got an appropria- harmful riders; pass the extension of last year’s election as they bundle together a tions bill to deal with. unemployment benefits; and—excuse hodgepodge of issues before skipping town My friends, there is a simple way of my Dickens—stop with all the humbug for Christmas. doing this. The Payroll tax can be in- In the Pledge to America, released by GOP and let’s get forward with helping the leadership under much fanfare in September creased by the surtax on just the economy and helping the American 2010, Republicans said they would ‘‘end the 300,000 top 1% of America for 10 years, people. practice of packaging unpopular bills with allowing 160 million Americans to get Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve ‘must-pass’ legislation to circumvent the payroll tax relief. the balance of my time. will of the American people. Instead, we will

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.052 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H8756 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 13, 2011 advance major legislation one issue at a Democrats such as Sens. Barbara Milkulski So why are we wasting our time with time,’’ they said. of Maryland and Ron Wyden of Oregon sup- precious few days left in the session? They’ll be doing the exact opposite this port rolling back the boiler regulation. Some Why aren’t we doing what most Ameri- week. Democrats, including lawmakers from labor- cans want us to do, and that is to ex- The year-end legislative package centered friendly districts, support the pipeline con- on extending the payroll tax has turned into struction. tend the payroll tax cut for middle a holiday tree filled with legislative orna- But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid class Americans and extend unemploy- ments ranging from the Keystone XL oil (D-Nev.) said flatly that the House bill with ment insurance for the millions of peo- pipeline, the sale of broadband spectrum, an the pipeline won’t pass—and Democrats are ple who are out of work, through no extension of jobless benefits, changes to weighing what bill to put on the floor this fault of their own, because it’s the Medicare and easing of certain environ- week. right thing to do? mental standards. On top of that, the House ‘‘It’s the highest priority of the president My friends on the other side of the will also try to clear a nearly $1 trillion and the Democrats in Congress,’’ Senate Ma- jority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said of aisle have no problem with bailing out catch-all year-end spending bill—the type of big banks on Wall Street, but when it appropriations package that Speaker John the payroll tax extension on NBC’s ‘‘Meet Boehner (R-Ohio) himself has decried as in- the Press.’’ comes to helping middle class families adequate. But there’s still blowback on the pipeline and working people, they squawk. issue. Republicans bristle at the comparison, in- b 1430 sisting they’re in full compliance with their Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), also appear- election-season promises, but the manner ing on NBC, said flatly that the ‘‘pipeline is You’ve heard over and over that this with which they’re passing the legislation probably not gonna sell.’’ is the Christmas season; we’re supposed ‘‘At the end of the day, the payroll tax will underscores larger issues Congress has to to be generous in our hearts. I don’t get extended as it is now,’’ Graham said. ‘‘It contend with as a winter chill settles on won’t get expanded; it’ll get extended. And feel the generosity on the other side. I Washington: Republicans want to score po- we’ll find a way to pay for it in a bipartisan don’t feel the compassion. I’m not sure litical points from Democrats; the Senate is fashion.’’ if my colleagues understand how Amer- split; President Barack Obama is in reelec- Senate Democrats say that’s what they’re icans are struggling, what it feels like tion mode; and tax provisions are slated to trying to do. Democratic sources suggest the to be out of work. People who are in expire as the Christmas recess looms. party might abandon its plan to institute a their 50s and 60s who have lost their job A GOP leadership aide said the comparison surtax on millionaires, eyeing instead a is ‘‘a half-assed attempt at a ‘gotcha’ story— and can’t find another job, and my col- package with more palatable spending cuts leagues are trying to make it more dif- and it’s weak even for POLITICO on a quiet to attract Republican support. Friday afternoon.’’ There are a few question marks on the ficult for them to be able to get bene- Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, House side. When the package was rolled out, fits so they can keep their homes and said the extension bill ‘‘does not fit the defi- the conference rallied behind Boehner. But put food on the table. nition of ‘must-pass’ legislation—which gen- should it fray, so might its support. Boehner My friend from California talks erally refers to funding bills, or an increase told members in a closed meeting he wants about, well, Mr. LEVIN, the ranking in the debt limit—nor does it contain any all 242 House Republicans to support the bill. member of the Ways and Means Com- ‘unpopular’ provisions. Therefore, it is en- If the Republican support does not stay in- tirely consistent with the Pledge to Amer- mittee, didn’t submit a substitute, he tact, House Democrats will again be nec- only asked for one. Well, this bill, I ica.’’ essary for passage. It’s an open question Any number of Republicans, though, have what they would support to offset the cost of will again remind everybody, was pre- said that the tax holiday must be extended, the bill. sented to us on Friday when Members saying its expiration would amount a tax in- On Friday, House Minority Leader Nancy were home. And we had an emergency crease when it’s least needed. Pelosi (D-Calif.) was cool on changes to Rules Committee—which bypasses the Whether it’s a ‘‘must pass’’ or not, the Medicare—including means testing for mil- normal procedures and the normal package of bills is seen as critical for both lionaires—and cutting unemployment bene- time given for Members to be able to parties: If Congress doesn’t act, taxes will go fits from 99 to 59 weeks. up on more than 100 million families, jobless ‘‘Some things [that] might be acceptable in offer amendments. So, I mean, every- benefits will expire and doctors who treat terms of a big, bold and balanced plan are thing was stacked against anybody of- Medicare patients will have their fees unacceptable if we’re not only not going to fering an amendment in advance. slashed. the place where President Obama wants to Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the pre- Over the past week, the narrative has go on the payroll tax cut, have a more mod- vious question, I will offer an amend- shifted significantly. Both Republicans and est proposal and on top of that, have con- ment to the rule to make in order Mr. Democrats now say they want to extend the sumers of Medicare pay the price,’’ Pelosi LEVIN’s amendment in the nature of a provisions, recognizing both the political and said. substitute, which extends middle class economic peril that would come from allow- She minced no words when talking about ing the measures to run out. the Keystone pipeline. tax relief, unemployment benefits, and The argument is now over how the govern- ‘‘This is not about the Keystone pipeline,’’ the doc fix the right way. ment will pay for it and what will ride along- she said. ‘‘The Keystone pipeline is a com- I ask unanimous consent to insert side it for Republicans to say they tried to pletely separate issue. People on both sides the text of the amendment in the create jobs. of the issue agree that this shouldn’t be on RECORD along with extraneous mate- It’s all pretty familiar to Capitol Hill on- this package. It’s just not polite; it’s a poi- rial immediately prior to the vote on lookers and could help explain Congress’s 9 son pill designed to sink the payroll tax the previous question. percent approval rating. The year-end dash— cut.’’ The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Boehner says he wants the House to be done Mr. Speaker, the House Republicans by Friday—mirrors Congress’s work during objection to the request of the gen- the previous 10 months. There’s political pos- have designed a bill to fail, and it con- tleman from Massachusetts? turing on both sides and panicked legis- tains poison pills which will result in There was no objection. lating, all set against the backdrop of a tax hikes for 160 million workers and Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I will looming holiday deadline. the loss of hundreds of thousands of ex- just close again by urging my col- Here’s where things stand: Top GOP aides isting jobs. They say they’re for ex- leagues to stand with working people say the Republicans’ Middle Class Tax Relief tending the payroll tax cut for middle in this country, to stand with those and Job Creation Act represents their last class Americans, they say they want to who have lost their jobs through no offer. The legislation extends the payroll tax help the unemployed, but yet they de- fault of their own. I mean, it’s so easy holiday, jobless benefits and the ‘‘doc fix,’’ in addition to other sweeteners. To blunt con- mand a ransom in order for us to get for the other side to stand with big oil servative angst about the bill and to offset this passed. And the ransom that they companies and protect tax breaks for its cost, GOP leaders tacked on language to are demanding is quite high. the wealthiest in this country. Let’s force President Barack Obama to restart the You’ve heard from Members on our have a little justice in our tax system, Keystone XL pipeline project, in addition to side of all the poison pills that are in a little fairness. easing environmental standards on boilers this bill. I have introduced into the I urge my colleagues to vote ‘‘no’’ and slashing money from the Democrats’ RECORD the statement from the admin- and defeat the previous question so we health care law. istration saying that they would veto can amend this bill and make it actu- It will hit the House floor this week. Sen- ate Republican leaders say it has enough this bill, because it is so awful, if it ally address these urgent issues in a steam to sail through the upper chamber. comes to the desk of the President. We thoughtful and reasonable way, I urge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell know that the United States Senate a ‘‘no’’ vote on the rule, and I yield (R-Ky.) said on ‘‘Fox News Sunday’’ that will not move on this bill. back the balance of my time.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13DE7.026 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8757 Mr. DREIER. I yield myself the bal- tinguished minority leader, talked Session of Congress. We are bringing ance of my time. about—and I tried to engage in a dis- these items up. We keep being told, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- cussion with her on the House floor. I bring up the jobs bill, bring up the jobs tleman from California is recognized yielded to her and she chose to walk off bill. This measure does just that. for 81⁄2 minutes. the floor rather than engaging in a dis- Mr. Speaker, I urge my Democratic Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in cussion. I guess the reason is that it’s colleagues to join with Republican col- strong support of the rule and the un- sort of hard to claim that encouraging leagues so that we can do what the derlying legislation. an individual to move towards GED American people want us to do, espe- There is a way to ensure that Presi- qualification is a poison pill. Isn’t it cially at this time of year. As we go dent Obama will sign this legislation. kind of hard to claim that saying that into the holiday season dealing with There is a way to ensure that he will we should allow States to engage in these issues, it would be a very impor- sign this legislation, and that way is if drug testing for people who are on un- tant message to send around the we have Democrats join with Repub- employment is a poison pill? Making United States of America and through- licans in an overwhelming bipartisan sure we reimburse for overpayments to out the world. vote. recapture those hard-earned tax dol- I began, as we were debating the Now, the message that we’ve gotten lars, how can that be a poison pill? point of order, by raising the famous is that they’re poison pills—‘‘hostage’’ These are commonsense proposals to quote of William Shakespeare, and I’ll is the term that both the President and deal with the fact that we have a $15 close with that, Mr. Speaker: ‘‘In such my colleague have just used in trying trillion national debt. business, action is eloquence.’’ to move forward the important provi- And the American people know that The material previously referred to sions of expanding the payroll tax so Big Government is a problem. Just this by Mr. MCGOVERN is as follows: that working Americans can keep more morning I read the Gallup poll which AN AMENDMENT TO H. RES. 491 OFFERED BY MR. of their own money, and the doc fix to shows that we are at near-record levels MCGOVERN OF MASSACHUSETTS ensure that doctors are reimbursed and with Democrats, Republicans, and (1) Strike ‘‘The previous question shall be that Medicare beneficiaries are able to Independents being suspicious of Big considered as ordered on the bill, as amend- have access to the health care that ed, to final passage without intervening mo- Government. What we need to do is we tion except:’’ and insert the following: they need. And of course for those at need to unleash this potential that is The previous question shall be considered this time of year who are struggling out there, and this measure will do as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on and need their unemployment benefits that. any amendment thereto, to final passage expanded, there is a way to get that Now, we keep hearing that politics is without intervening motion except: done. Our goal is to get at the root being played with this. Well, Mr. (2) Strike ‘‘and (2)’’ and insert the fol- cause of the problem. lowing: Speaker, we’ve gotten the word today (2) the amendment in the nature of a sub- As I said in the opening, Mr. Speaker, that the majority leader of the United stitute printed in the Congressional Record right now our job is jobs. Our job is States Senate, Mr. REID, has chosen to pursuant to clause 8 of rule XVIII and num- jobs. And that’s exactly what we’re prevent Members from signing the con- bered 1, if offered by Representative Levin of trying to do. Tragically, tragically we ference report for the absolutely essen- Michigan or his designee, which shall be in are dealing with a protracted unem- tial spending bill that is out there, the order without intervention of any point of ployment problem in this country. You minibus spending bill, because of this order, shall be considered as read, and which know it’s been going on for an extended issue that’s before us right now. If that shall be separately debatable for 30 minutes period of time. The only reason that we equally divided and controlled by the pro- isn’t playing politics, I don’t know ponent and an opponent; and (3) saw the unemployment rate drop from what is. (The information contained herein was 9 percent to 8.6 percent is that hun- Right now we’re faced with the provided by the Republican Minority on mul- dreds of thousands of Americans have threat of a government shutdown on tiple occasions throughout the 110th and given up looking for work. Friday. If the Democrats don’t sign 111th Congresses.) Now, as we listen to people say that that appropriations conference report— THE VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION: WHAT IT at this time of year we need to make which has been negotiated in good REALLY MEANS sure that we create jobs, we have to faith again between both Democrats This vote, the vote on whether to order the make sure that there are opportunities and Republicans with the House and previous question on a special rule, is not out there. My friend from New Jersey the Senate—we’re going to be faced merely a procedural vote. A vote against or- dering the previous question is a vote (Mr. ANDREWS) was talking about the with a government shutdown that against the Republican majority agenda and fact that there are four people looking Leader REID will in fact have created a vote to allow the opposition, at least for for one job. Let’s put into place the by preventing Members from signing the moment, to offer an alternative plan. It kinds of policies that will allow us to that conference report. is a vote about what the House should be de- see the private sector create jobs. We We need to come together and do bating. cannot legislate full employment. We that, sign that conference report, get Mr. Clarence Cannon’s Precedents of the cannot legislate full employment, but that work done. This measure, this House of Representatives (VI, 308–311), de- what we can do is we can pass legisla- measure, once again, Mr. Speaker, will scribes the vote on the previous question on tion that will lay the groundwork for the rule as ‘‘a motion to direct or control the get at the core problem that we face, consideration of the subject before the House America’s entrepreneurs, for America’s and that is the lack of jobs that exist. being made by the Member in charge.’’ To innovators to have success by creating The Keystone XL pipeline will cre- defeat the previous question is to give the job opportunities. ate, as has been said, 20,000 to 25,000 opposition a chance to decide the subject be- There are 27 pieces of legislation that jobs, if not more, immediately—imme- fore the House. Cannon cites the Speaker’s we have passed from this House that is diately—and it will allow us to de- ruling of January 13, 1920, to the effect that in the Republican majority that are crease our dependence on overseas oil. ‘‘the refusal of the House to sustain the de- now sitting in the Democratic-con- And it will allow us to work closely, as mand for the previous question passes the control of the resolution to the opposition’’ trolled Senate. Those measures—in- my friend Mr. ROYCE said, with our in order to offer an amendment. On March creasing access to capital for small close ally to the north, Canada, rather 15, 1909, a member of the majority party of- business men and women to create op- than see them—understandably—en- fered a rule resolution. The House defeated portunities, making sure that we de- gage in a stronger relationship with the previous question and a member of the crease the regulatory burden, which we China. opposition rose to a parliamentary inquiry, all know has undermined job creation There are so many benefits to this, so asking who was entitled to recognition. and economic growth in this country— many benefits all the way across the Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R–Illinois) said: these are the kinds of measures that board that I believe that, since roughly ‘‘The previous question having been refused, are out there that we hope very much 80 to 90 percent of the provisions in the gentleman from New York, Mr. Fitz- here have been proposed by President gerald, who had asked the gentleman to will be considered in the Senate. yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to Now, as we look at the issue of so- Obama—many of which were discussed the first recognition.’’ called ‘‘poison pills,’’ which my Cali- in his jobs bill that 98 days ago he pro- Because the vote today may look bad for fornia colleague, Ms. PELOSI, the dis- posed here in his address to the Joint the Republican majority they will say ‘‘the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13DE7.055 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H8758 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 13, 2011 vote on the previous question is simply a Capito Hurt Quayle Johnson (GA) Murphy (CT) Schwartz vote on whether to proceed to an immediate Carter Issa Reed Johnson, E. B. Nadler Scott (VA) vote on adopting the resolution . . . [and] Cassidy Jenkins Rehberg Kaptur Neal Scott, David Keating Olver has no substantive legislative or policy im- Chabot Johnson (IL) Reichert Serrano Chaffetz Johnson (OH) Kildee Owens plications whatsoever.’’ But that is not what Renacci Sewell Coffman (CO) Johnson, Sam Ribble Kind Pallone Sherman they have always said. Listen to the Repub- Cole Jones Rigell Kissell Pascrell Shuler lican Leadership Manual on the Legislative Conaway Jordan Rivera Kucinich Pelosi Sires Process in the United States House of Rep- Cravaack Kelly Roby Langevin Perlmutter Slaughter resentatives, (6th edition, page 135). Here’s Crawford King (IA) Roe (TN) Larsen (WA) Peters Smith (WA) Lee (CA) Peterson how the Republicans describe the previous Crenshaw King (NY) Rogers (AL) Speier Levin Pingree (ME) question vote in their own manual: ‘‘Al- Culberson Kingston Rogers (KY) Stark Davis (KY) Kinzinger (IL) Lewis (GA) Polis Rogers (MI) Sutton though it is generally not possible to amend Denham Kline Lipinski Price (NC) Rohrabacher Thompson (CA) the rule because the majority Member con- Dent Labrador Loebsack Quigley Rokita Thompson (MS) trolling the time will not yield for the pur- DesJarlais Lamborn Lofgren, Zoe Rahall Tierney pose of offering an amendment, the same re- Diaz-Balart Lance Rooney Lowey Rangel Tonko Dold Landry Ros-Lehtinen Luja´ n Reyes sult may be achieved by voting down the pre- Roskam Towns vious question on the rule. . . . When the Dreier Lankford Lynch Richardson Ross (FL) Maloney Richmond Tsongas motion for the previous question is defeated, Duncan (SC) Latham Duncan (TN) LaTourette Royce Markey Ross (AR) Van Hollen ´ control of the time passes to the Member Ellmers Latta Runyan Matsui Rothman (NJ) Velazquez who led the opposition to ordering the pre- Emerson Lewis (CA) Ryan (WI) McCarthy (NY) Roybal-Allard Visclosky vious question. That Member, because he Farenthold LoBiondo Scalise McCollum Ruppersberger Walz (MN) then controls the time, may offer an amend- Fincher Long Schilling McDermott Rush Wasserman ment to the rule, or yield for the purpose of Fitzpatrick Lucas Schmidt McGovern Ryan (OH) Schultz Waters amendment.’’ Flake Luetkemeyer Schock McNerney Sa´ nchez, Linda Fleischmann Lummis Schweikert Meeks T. Watt In Deschler’s Procedure in the U.S. House Fleming Lungren, Daniel Scott (SC) Michaud Sanchez, Loretta Waxman of Representatives, the subchapter titled Flores E. Scott, Austin Miller (NC) Sarbanes Welch ‘‘Amending Special Rules’’ states: ‘‘a refusal Forbes Manzullo Sensenbrenner Miller, George Schakowsky Wilson (FL) to order the previous question on such a rule Fortenberry Marchant Sessions Moore Schiff Woolsey [a special rule reported from the Committee Foxx Marino Shimkus Moran Schrader Yarmuth Franks (AZ) Matheson Shuster on Rules] opens the resolution to amend- NOT VOTING—15 ment and further debate.’’ (Chapter 21, sec- Frelinghuysen McCarthy (CA) Simpson Gallegly McCaul tion 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: ‘‘Upon re- Smith (NE) Bachmann Giffords Myrick Gardner McClintock Smith (NJ) Brady (TX) Gutierrez Napolitano jection of the motion for the previous ques- Garrett McCotter Smith (TX) Coble Hanna Pastor (AZ) tion on a resolution reported from the Com- Gerlach McHenry Southerland Duffy Larson (CT) Paul mittee on Rules, control shifts to the Mem- Gibbs McIntyre Stearns Filner Mack Payne ber leading the opposition to the previous Gibson McKeon Stivers question, who may offer a proper amendment Gingrey (GA) McKinley Stutzman b 1504 or motion and who controls the time for de- Gohmert McMorris Sullivan Goodlatte Rodgers Mr. LUJA´ N, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. bate thereon.’’ Terry Gosar Meehan BERMAN, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Clearly, the vote on the previous question Thompson (PA) Gowdy Mica Thornberry and Mr. BECERRA changed their vote on a rule does have substantive policy impli- Granger Miller (FL) Tiberi Graves (GA) Miller (MI) from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ cations. It is one of the only available tools Tipton Graves (MO) Miller, Gary for those who oppose the Republican major- Turner (NY) Mr. ROGERS of Alabama changed his Griffin (AR) Mulvaney ity’s agenda and allows those with alter- Turner (OH) vote from ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ Griffith (VA) Murphy (PA) native views the opportunity to offer an al- Upton Grimm Neugebauer So the previous question was ordered. ternative plan. Guinta Noem Walberg The result of the vote was announced Guthrie Nugent Walden Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield Walsh (IL) as above recorded. Hall Nunes Stated against: back the balance of my time, and I Harper Nunnelee Webster move the previous question on the res- Harris Olson West Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 918, I olution. Hartzler Palazzo Westmoreland was away from the Capitol due to prior com- Whitfield The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Hastings (WA) Paulsen mitments to my constituents. Had I been Hayworth Pearce Wilson (SC) question is on ordering the previous Heck Pence Wittman present, I would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ question. Hensarling Petri Wolf Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on Tues- The question was taken; and the Herger Pitts Womack day, December 13, 2011, I was absent during Herrera Beutler Platts Woodall Speaker pro tempore announced that Huelskamp Poe (TX) Yoder rollcall vote No. 918. Had I been present, I the ayes appeared to have it. Huizenga (MI) Pompeo Young (AK) would have voted ‘‘nay’’ on ordering the pre- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on Hultgren Posey Young (FL) vious question of the rule, H. Res. 491, pro- that I demand the yeas and nays. Hunter Price (GA) Young (IN) viding for consideration of H.R. 3630, to pro- The yeas and nays were ordered. NAYS—182 vide incentives for the creation of jobs, and for other purposes. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Ackerman Clarke (NY) Eshoo ant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule XX, Altmire Clay Farr Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, this 15-minute vote on ordering the Andrews Cleaver Fattah on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, I missed previous question will be followed by 5- Baca Clyburn Frank (MA) rollcall 918. Had I present, I would have voted Baldwin Cohen Fudge ‘‘no.’’ minute votes on adoption of House Res- Barrow Connolly (VA) Garamendi olution 491, if ordered; and motions to Bass (CA) Conyers Gonzalez The SPEAKER pro tempore. The suspend the rules with regard to H.R. Becerra Cooper Green, Al question is on the resolution. Berkley Costa Green, Gene The question was taken; and the 3246, if ordered, and S. 384, if ordered. Berman Costello Grijalva The vote was taken by electronic de- Bishop (GA) Courtney Hahn Speaker pro tempore announced that vice, and there were—yeas 236, nays Bishop (NY) Critz Hanabusa the ayes appeared to have it. Blumenauer Crowley Hastings (FL) RECORDED VOTE 182, not voting 15, as follows: Boswell Cuellar Heinrich [Roll No. 918] Brady (PA) Cummings Higgins Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I de- Braley (IA) Davis (CA) Himes mand a recorded vote. YEAS—236 Brown (FL) Davis (IL) Hinchey A recorded vote was ordered. Adams Benishek Brooks Butterfield DeFazio Hinojosa Aderholt Berg Broun (GA) Capps DeGette Hirono The SPEAKER pro tempore. This Akin Biggert Buchanan Capuano DeLauro Hochul will be a 5-minute vote. Alexander Bilbray Bucshon Cardoza Deutch Holden The vote was taken by electronic de- Amash Bilirakis Buerkle Carnahan Dicks Holt vice, and there were—ayes 236, noes 180, Amodei Bishop (UT) Burgess Carney Dingell Honda Austria Black Burton (IN) Carson (IN) Doggett Hoyer not voting 17, as follows: Bachus Blackburn Calvert Castor (FL) Donnelly (IN) Inslee [Roll No. 919] Barletta Bonner Camp Chandler Doyle Israel Bartlett Bono Mack Campbell Chu Edwards Jackson (IL) AYES—236 Barton (TX) Boren Canseco Cicilline Ellison Jackson Lee Adams Akin Amash Bass (NH) Boustany Cantor Clarke (MI) Engel (TX) Aderholt Alexander Amodei

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:17 Dec 14, 2011 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13DE7.014 H13DEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8759 Austria Graves (MO) Pearce Engel Lewis (GA) Ross (AR) the gentleman from California (Mr. Bachus Griffith (VA) Pence Eshoo Lipinski Rothman (NJ) ISSA) that the House suspend the rules Barletta Grimm Petri Farr Loebsack Roybal-Allard Bartlett Guinta Pitts Fattah Lofgren, Zoe Ruppersberger and pass the bill. Barton (TX) Guthrie Platts Frank (MA) Lowey Rush The question was taken. ´ Bass (NH) Hall Poe (TX) Fudge Lujan Ryan (OH) The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Benishek Hanna Pompeo Garamendi Lynch Sa´ nchez, Linda Berg Harper Posey Gonzalez Maloney T. opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Biggert Harris Price (GA) Green, Al Markey Sanchez, Loretta in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Bilbray Hartzler Green, Gene Matheson Sarbanes Quayle RECORDED VOTE Bilirakis Hastings (WA) Reed Grijalva Matsui Schakowsky Bishop (UT) Hayworth Rehberg Hahn McCarthy (NY) Schiff Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I de- Black Heck Reichert Hanabusa McCollum Schrader mand a recorded vote. Blackburn Hensarling Heinrich McDermott Schwartz Renacci A recorded vote was ordered. Bonner Herger Ribble Higgins McGovern Scott (VA) Himes McNerney Bono Mack Herrera Beutler Rigell Serrano The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a Hinchey Meeks Sewell Boren Huelskamp Rivera 5-minute vote. Boustany Huizenga (MI) Hinojosa Michaud Sherman Roby Brady (TX) Hultgren Hirono Miller (NC) Sires The vote was taken by electronic de- Roe (TN) Brooks Hunter Hochul Miller, George Slaughter vice, and there were—ayes 415, not vot- Rogers (AL) Broun (GA) Hurt Holden Moore Smith (WA) Rogers (KY) ing 18, as follows: Buchanan Issa Holt Moran Speier Rogers (MI) Bucshon Jenkins Honda Murphy (CT) Stark [Roll No. 920] Rohrabacher Buerkle Johnson (IL) Hoyer Nadler Sutton AYES—415 Burgess Johnson (OH) Rokita Inslee Neal Thompson (CA) Burton (IN) Johnson, Sam Rooney Israel Olver Thompson (MS) Ackerman Cohen Green, Gene Calvert Jones Ros-Lehtinen Jackson (IL) Owens Tierney Adams Cole Griffin (AR) Camp Jordan Roskam Jackson Lee Pallone Tonko Aderholt Conaway Griffith (VA) Campbell Kelly Ross (FL) (TX) Pascrell Towns Akin Connolly (VA) Grimm Canseco King (IA) Royce Johnson (GA) Pelosi Van Hollen Alexander Conyers Guinta Cantor King (NY) Runyan Johnson, E. B. Perlmutter Vela´ zquez Altmire Cooper Guthrie Capito Kingston Ryan (WI) Kaptur Peters Visclosky Amash Costa Hahn Carter Kinzinger (IL) Scalise Keating Peterson Walz (MN) Amodei Costello Hall Cassidy Kline Schilling Kildee Pingree (ME) Wasserman Andrews Courtney Hanabusa Chabot Labrador Schmidt Kind Polis Schultz Austria Cravaack Hanna Chaffetz Lamborn Schock Kissell Price (NC) Waters Baca Crenshaw Harper Coffman (CO) Lance Schweikert Kucinich Quigley Watt Bachus Critz Harris Cole Landry Scott (SC) Langevin Rahall Waxman Baldwin Crowley Hartzler Conaway Lankford Scott, Austin Larsen (WA) Rangel Welch Barletta Cuellar Hastings (FL) Cravaack Latham Sensenbrenner Larson (CT) Reyes Wilson (FL) Barrow Culberson Hastings (WA) Crawford LaTourette Sessions Lee (CA) Richardson Woolsey Bartlett Cummings Hayworth Barton (TX) Davis (CA) Crenshaw Latta Shimkus Levin Richmond Yarmuth Heck Bass (CA) Davis (IL) Heinrich Culberson Lewis (CA) Shuler NOT VOTING—17 Bass (NH) Davis (KY) Hensarling Davis (KY) LoBiondo Shuster Becerra DeFazio Herger Denham Long Simpson Bachmann Griffin (AR) Pastor (AZ) Benishek DeGette Herrera Beutler Dent Lucas Smith (NE) Coble Gutierrez Paul Berg DeLauro Higgins DesJarlais Luetkemeyer Smith (NJ) Duffy Hastings (FL) Payne Berkley Denham Himes Diaz-Balart Lummis Filner Mack Scott, David Smith (TX) Berman Dent Hinchey Dold Lungren, Daniel Southerland Giffords Myrick Tsongas Dreier E. Gohmert Napolitano Biggert DesJarlais Hinojosa Stearns Bilbray Deutch Hochul Duncan (SC) Manzullo Stivers Duncan (TN) Marchant b 1512 Bishop (GA) Diaz-Balart Holden Stutzman Bishop (NY) Dicks Holt Ellmers Marino Sullivan So the resolution was agreed to. Emerson McCarthy (CA) Bishop (UT) Dingell Honda Terry The result of the vote was announced Farenthold McCaul Black Doggett Hoyer Thompson (PA) Fincher McClintock as above recorded. Blackburn Dold Huelskamp Thornberry Fitzpatrick McCotter A motion to reconsider was laid on Blumenauer Donnelly (IN) Huizenga (MI) Tiberi Flake McHenry Bonner Doyle Hultgren Tipton the table. Bono Mack Dreier Hunter Fleischmann McIntyre Stated for: Fleming McKeon Turner (NY) Boren Duncan (SC) Hurt Flores McKinley Turner (OH) Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, on Boswell Duncan (TN) Israel Forbes McMorris Upton rollcall No. 919, my battery went out on my Boustany Edwards Issa Fortenberry Rodgers Walberg Brady (PA) Ellison Jackson (IL) Walden beeper, and so it never went off. As a result, Brady (TX) Ellmers Jackson Lee Foxx Meehan I missed the vote. Had I been present, I would Franks (AZ) Mica Walsh (IL) Braley (IA) Emerson (TX) Frelinghuysen Miller (FL) Webster have voted ‘‘aye.’’ Brooks Engel Jenkins Gallegly Miller (MI) West Stated against: Broun (GA) Eshoo Johnson (GA) Gardner Miller, Gary Westmoreland Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 919, I Brown (FL) Farenthold Johnson (IL) Buchanan Farr Johnson (OH) Garrett Mulvaney Whitfield was away from the Capitol due to prior com- Gerlach Murphy (PA) Wilson (SC) Bucshon Fattah Johnson, E. B. Gibbs Neugebauer Wittman mitments to my constituents. Had I been Buerkle Fincher Johnson, Sam Gibson Noem Wolf present, I would have vote ‘‘no.’’ Burgess Fitzpatrick Jones Gingrey (GA) Nugent Womack Burton (IN) Flake Jordan Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on Tues- Butterfield Fleischmann Kaptur Goodlatte Nunes Woodall day, December 13, 2011, I was absent during Gosar Nunnelee Yoder Calvert Fleming Keating Gowdy Olson Young (AK) rollcall vote No. 919. Had I been present, I Camp Flores Kelly Granger Palazzo Young (FL) would have voted ‘‘no’’ on agreeing to the res- Campbell Forbes Kildee Graves (GA) Paulsen Young (IN) Canseco Fortenberry Kind olution, H. Res. 491, providing for consider- Cantor Foxx King (IA) ation of H.R. 3630, to provide incentives for Capito Frank (MA) King (NY) NOES—180 the creation of jobs, and for other purposes. Capps Franks (AZ) Kingston Ackerman Capuano Costello Capuano Frelinghuysen Kissell Altmire Cardoza Courtney f Cardoza Fudge Kline Andrews Carnahan Critz SPECIALIST PETER J. NAVARRO Carnahan Gallegly Kucinich Baca Carney Crowley Carney Garamendi Labrador Baldwin Carson (IN) Cuellar POST OFFICE BUILDING Carson (IN) Gardner Lamborn Barrow Castor (FL) Cummings The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Carter Garrett Lance Bass (CA) Chandler Davis (CA) Cassidy Gerlach Landry Becerra Chu Davis (IL) finished business is the question on Castor (FL) Gibbs Langevin Berkley Cicilline DeFazio suspending the rules and passing the Chabot Gibson Lankford Berman Clarke (MI) DeGette bill (H.R. 3246) to designate the facility Chaffetz Gingrey (GA) Larsen (WA) Bishop (GA) Clarke (NY) DeLauro of the United States Postal Service lo- Chandler Gohmert Larson (CT) Bishop (NY) Clay Deutch Chu Gonzalez Latham Blumenauer Cleaver Dicks cated at 15455 Manchester Road in Cicilline Goodlatte LaTourette Boswell Clyburn Dingell Ballwin, Missouri, as the ‘‘Specialist Clarke (MI) Gosar Latta Brady (PA) Cohen Doggett Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building’’. Clarke (NY) Gowdy Lee (CA) Braley (IA) Connolly (VA) Donnelly (IN) The Clerk read the title of the bill. Clay Granger Levin Brown (FL) Conyers Doyle Cleaver Graves (GA) Lewis (CA) Butterfield Cooper Edwards The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clyburn Graves (MO) Lewis (GA) Capps Costa Ellison question is on the motion offered by Coffman (CO) Green, Al Lipinski

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