E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

Vol. 158 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 No. 151 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, yesterday not print those names, but almost ev- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- in the Republican Conference, I ac- eryone in the country knows Paula pore (Mr. FLEISCHMANN). knowledged that five marines and one Broadwell. That’s such a tragedy, Mr. f soldier from my district, the Third Dis- Speaker, that our troops are dying in trict of North Carolina, had been killed Afghanistan, and we’re writing about DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO in Afghanistan by the Afghans they generals having relationships outside TEMPORE were training. This, to me, just does of a marriage. It makes no sense. The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- not make any sense at all as to why we We lost 32 Americans in October and fore the House the following commu- stay in Afghanistan. November. I want to know, where is nication from the Speaker: I also shared with the Conference an the outrage here in Congress? Why are WASHINGTON, DC, email I got from the former Com- we spending money we don’t have? Why November 29, 2012. mandant of the United States Marine are our troops dying, and yet we just I hereby appoint the Honorable CHARLES J. Corps, who has actually been my ad- seem to go on and on talking about the FLEISCHMANN to act as Speaker pro tempore viser on Afghanistan for 3 years. I said, fiscal cliff? Well, I know that’s impor- on this day. Mr. Commandant, why do we stand by tant. JOHN A. BOEHNER, Speaker of the House of Representatives. and see our American soldiers, Ma- Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress rines, killed by those people we’re to realize that we are having young f training? I said, Mr. Commandant, how men and women die in Afghanistan for MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE many more have to die, killed at the a failed policy that will not change one A message from the Senate by Ms. hands of the people they’re trying to thing. Curtis, one of its clerks, announced help? Mr. Speaker, before closing, I make that the Senate has passed a bill of the And I read this from the Com- reference to this poster of a young following title in which the concur- mandant: American in a casket being carried by rence of the House is requested: At the end of the day, I am more convinced his colleagues to be buried. Please, than ever that we need to get out of Afghani- S. 1998. An act to obtain an unqualified American people, put pressure on Con- stan. When our friends turn out to be our gress to bring our troops home now and audit opinion, and improve financial ac- enemy, it is time to pull the plug. The idea countability and management at the Depart- not wait until December 2014. that troops we have trained and equipped I ask God to please bless our men and ment of Homeland Security. now turn that training and equipment on us f is simply unconscionable. Whether we leave women in uniform, to please bless the families of those who’ve lost loved ones MORNING-HOUR DEBATE tomorrow or 1,000 tomorrows from now, nothing will really change. We are now noth- in Afghanistan and Iraq. I ask God to The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ing more than a recruiting poster for every please bless the United States of Amer- ant to the order of the House of Janu- malcontent in the Middle East. We need to ica. And please, God, help us get our ary 17, 2012, the Chair will now recog- wake up. troops home now and not later. nize Members from lists submitted by I read that yesterday in the Con- f the majority and minority leaders for ference, Mr. Speaker. I want my party morning-hour debate. and the Democratic party to wake up HOW BIG IS YOUR FEMA? The Chair will alternate recognition and get our troops home. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The between the parties, with each party Mr. Speaker, recently on CNN’s Reli- Chair recognizes the gentleman from limited to 1 hour and each Member able Sources with Howard Kurtz, a Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) for 5 min- other than the majority and minority well-known journalist, Tom Ricks, utes. leaders and the minority whip limited made the following statement: Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, to 5 minutes each, but in no event shall We, as a Nation, seem to care more about Mitt Romney weathered a storm of debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. the sex lives of our generals than the real criticism late in the campaign after lives of our soldiers. f Hurricane Sandy for his earlier com- Mr. Ricks went on to say that prob- ments about privatizing FEMA and AFGHANISTAN ably no one knew who Sergeant Chan- turning responsibility back to State The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ning Hicks and Specialist Joseph Rich- and local governments. But during an Chair recognizes the gentleman from ardson were. They were two Americans era of fiscal restraint and global warm- North Carolina (Mr. JONES) for 5 min- killed in Afghanistan the Friday before ing, it’s high time that we start this utes. Ricks was interviewed. The media will conversation in earnest. How big do

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29NO7.000 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6508 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 you want your FEMA to be, how gen- true disasters. That’s precisely the means we need to help our businesses erous your disaster relief payments, time that the local economy and tax- grow and hire. That has become way and how much do you want to pay? payer are least able to pay the full cost too hard to do in the past couple of In today’s New York Times op-ed sec- of recovery. They need money, per- years. A businessman in Dutchess tion, there is an article that points out sonnel, and assistance, but that doesn’t County, New York, told me that he’s the potential liability for flood insur- mean a permanent entitlement to going to have to limit the number of ance alone is $1.25 trillion, second only risky behavior. The Federal Govern- employees he has to fewer than 50 so to the liability for Social Security. ment should deal with what is truly that he won’t be subject to penalties Right now, we have arguably the worst catastrophic and with the humani- under the 2010 health law. So, right of both worlds. The Federal Govern- tarian costs. Families obviously should now, the Federal Government is keep- ment responds to disaster, usually pay- not be left destitute, hungry, and ing him from offering jobs. That hurts ing too much for the wrong people to homeless in the aftermath of natural the people who need jobs and who do the wrong things. We provide Fed- disaster. There is, however, no reason would be happy to be on a payroll on eral money to put people back in that we encourage the repetition of which they would be putting their own harm’s way and sometimes provide in- these terrible events. contributions into Social Security and frastructure to make future, risky de- In a time of fiscal stress and budg- Medicare. velopment worse. We often take reme- etary realignment, we should include Increasing taxes means less growth dial action like fortifying beaches, a government disaster spending, liability and fewer jobs, and that’s not balanced. temporary solution that can actually and development policy as we address Three years ago, I made a pledge to op- accelerate erosion elsewhere, shift the fiscal cliff. Done right, this will not pose tax increases. I made that pledge storm damage down the coast to an- only save money, but countless lives, to the citizens I serve and to no one other spot or more serious flooding as well. else, and I made it because tax in- down river. By giving the illusion of f creases will hurt them. When Jen, the protection, more people locate in dan- owner of La Petite Cuisine in Warwick, gerous areas, and the vicious cycle is b 1010 New York, tells me that the best thing repeated with untold damage to fami- THE TRUE MEANING OF THE I can do for her small business is to lies, with loss of life, loss of property, FISCAL CLIFF give her a break from high taxes, I be- disruption of business. lieve her. I ran for Congress to help Jen Perhaps we’d be better off if we began The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and all the small business people like with a serious conversation about what Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from her, who are the engines of job cre- people expect from FEMA and heavily New York (Ms. HAYWORTH) for 5 min- ation. I ran for Congress to help all the subsidized flood insurance. utes. people who need employers like Jen to What if the balance of responsibility Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, our hire them. between individuals, local, State, and work in Congress during these final These good people deserve better Federal governments were analyzed? weeks of 2012 is focused on the fiscal than temporary fixes that mean we What if we required individual prop- cliff. We’re worried—and rightly so— lurch from one crisis to the next. They erty owners to assume more of the cost about what it means to our economy, deserve a plan that solves our eco- of disaster mitigation and recovery by to our future, to the daily lives right nomic problems for the long term. paying the full cost of their flood in- now of hardworking Americans who They deserve a plan that goes beyond surance premiums and having recovery are, in all too many cases, already politics and shows a commitment to benefits provided on a declining scale struggling to make ends meet, like the putting the Federal Government on a after repetitive incidents? mother in Carmel, New York, who told budget and on track to eliminate our What if local developers were re- me her kids are going to have to limit crushing debt, that respects our citi- quired to insure their buildings with- their sports activities because she’s zens’ rights to enjoy the fruits of their stood the cost of certain foreseeable having trouble finding the money to labors and to spend and save and invest disaster events? Would they be less fill her gas tank a couple of times a as they see fit, which is the best way to likely to pressure local governments to week. grow the economy and add jobs, and approve risky development proposals? I came to Congress 2 years ago to that allows each of them, regardless of If individual homeowners absorbed help that mom who is doing all she can their station in life or where they live more of their cost with slightly higher just to get by. She cares for her family, or their ethnic background or their home prices, would it make it less like- she has a job, and she is a taxpayer. gender, to use their energy, talent, and ly that they’re going to be buying She is in the middle class, and she is common sense as free people in a Na- homes in dangerous locations? being squeezed from all sides. She tion that must remain the strongest in Shouldn’t local governments be re- knows, even though she has to set and the world, which it simply cannot be if quired to have stronger zoning and keep a budget, the Federal Government it is drowning in debt. building codes to make loss less likely hasn’t been able to do that, and that’s I am here to fight for what is best for and recovery less expensive? What if why we’re facing the fiscal cliff. The my constituents—every one of them— these local governments were put on Federal Government has been spending today and every day, in every single notice that when they invest in infra- her hard-earned tax dollars like water, way I can. I am here to serve them and structure, that the Federal disaster re- running trillion-dollar deficits year not any party or ideology. My con- lief is only going to cover a portion of after year. She is angry, and she has stituents’ future extends far beyond the loss and that portion will decline every right to be angry. any election. They deserve that future with increasing frequency of events? So what are we going to do about it? to be as secure and prosperous as it can While there appears to be little appe- Lately, we’ve heard a lot of talk be, and it surely can be if we in Con- tite for overall Federal control, there about raising revenues but not nearly gress and the White House can have the ought to be even less appetite for the enough talk about bringing the Federal courage to move forward together in a Federal Government to pay for the fail- Government down to the right size, spirit of true cooperation. I stand ure of local control to plan, zone, about matching spending to the re- ready to do that, and I stand with the enact, and enforce strong code provi- sources we have, about balancing the people of the Hudson Valley. Federal budget. Oh, we hear about a sions and consumer protection. The no- f tion that this is all going to be a one- ‘‘balanced approach,’’ but that’s just a way street for the Federal taxpayer to way of saying we need to increase TURNING THE CORNER ON REAL pay for repetitive disaster costs is taxes. Actually, we don’t need to in- IMMIGRATION REFORM something that needs to be challenged crease taxes. The best thing we could The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and rejected out of hand. do would be to not increase taxes. Chair recognizes the gentleman from Make no mistake; I think it would be The best thing we can do to raise rev- Illinois (Mr. GUTIERREZ) for 5 minutes. foolish to privatize FEMA because enues is by making our economy as Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, let there is a need for Federal response to healthy and strong as it can be. That me tell you how you know you’ve

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.013 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6509 turned the corner on the immigration parents of almost every Member of I had the opportunity to visit the Ko- debate. Congress. In this case, half of the peo- rean War Memorial here in our Na- When Sean Hannity and Senator ple who come to America legally, tion’s capital with Louis earlier this RAND PAUL and a group of others in the through the Diversity Visa program, year. I was fortunate to have been able Republican Party begin saying it’s come from the continent of Africa, to spend that time with him and proud time to rethink the party’s approach to over half of them. Yet they come from to have called him my friend. immigration, we’ve probably reached a all over. So the Republicans would His life of service is an example to milestone. When Donald Trump says have us say to the good people of each of us, and I wish his family all the the Republican policy of asking 12 mil- Ghana or South Africa—but also to the best in these difficult times. lion people to self-deport is a ‘‘crazy people of Sweden and Ireland and New f policy’’ that likely cost the Repub- Zealand and Taiwan who apply to come licans the White House, you’ve turned here legally—sorry, we have to with- PITS FOR PATRIOTS a corner. Any time I agree with Donald draw the chance you had at 50,000 visas The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Trump, hope for a bipartisan agree- so we can divert them to, maybe, 20,000 Chair recognizes the gentleman from ment should be running high. STEM graduates. Maybe. Once again, Illinois (Mr. QUIGLEY) for 5 minutes. Most Americans believe that Elec- the Republicans’ math doesn’t add up. Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise tion Day demonstrated that it’s time Here is something I’ll bet you didn’t today to highlight the exceptional to move beyond the same old politics, know about the Diversity Visa pro- work of an organization operating in the same tired blame game on immi- gram, which is that many of them my district called Pits for Patriots. gration. So, when I saw a Republican- come to this country and join the This innovative program strives to sponsored STEM visa bill on the House Armed Forces of the United States of save not just one life, but two. calendar this week, I thought, well, America. But these legal immigrants The Chicagoland organization cur- maybe House Republicans are changing are the target of the Republican bill. rently trains rescued pit bulls to be- their tune. On the campaign trail, we I have news for my friends on the come service dogs for veterans in need. heard Governor Romney say he sup- other side of the aisle: you can’t fool In addition to helping our country’s pa- ported stapling green cards to the di- immigrants. You can’t pretend to be triots, the program is committed to plomas of every math and science grad- pro-immigrant and then eliminate im- educating the public about the loyalty, uate from our universities. Why should migration from one group to allow an- devotion, and commitment of the pit we educate some of the best minds on other group to come. bull breed. Their service dogs are Earth and then say, ‘‘Sorry, no room in I woke up the day after the election trained to help improve a veteran’s the U.S. economy for you’’? It makes and I saw a new landscape for the im- quality of life in their day-to-day ac- no sense. They go away and compete migration debate. It is one in which tivities, such as opening and closing against us rather than innovating and Democrats and Republicans work to- doors, retrieving items, and assisting creating jobs here. gether to solve tough problems facing with mobility problems. Then I took a closer look at what the the United States. We should not treat I had the honor of attending a train- Republicans are actually proposing. this as an opportunity for politicians ing session and meeting a dedicated They haven’t turned a corner at all. In to score political points again, but veteran, Sergeant Danny Randall, and fact, they haven’t even stepped out of sadly, that is what is happening here. I his companion dog, Shiloh. After serv- their houses. They certainly didn’t want Republicans to know that Demo- ing for 9 years in the Army, Danny felt learn anything from the last election. crats support STEM visas. We don’t an emotional disconnect between mili- The STEM visa bill on the House floor need to kill other legal immigration tary and civilian life. Reentering the this week was actually voted down in programs to create a STEM program, civilian workforce had been a difficult September. It was introduced with a but Republicans are more interested in adjustment. Danny suffers from few changes but with absolutely no killing the Diversity Visa program posttraumatic stress disorder, making consultation with Democrats. than in creating a program for STEM it difficult for him to remain calm in I want to find a bipartisan solution graduates. For this bill, no matter large crowds or tight spaces. He is not on immigration. I am committed to it. what happens on Friday, it will not comfortable sitting with his back to a I know it won’t be easy. They say a pass in the Senate. door or window and feels stress when journey of a thousand miles begins Mr. Speaker, I believe we can turn strangers enter his personal space. But with just one step. The problem is my the corner on real immigration reform Danny has found a way to help battle colleagues on the other side of the aisle but only if Republicans are willing to some of the aftereffects of war. want to take one step and have the put on their walking shoes and take a Danny’s medicine is in the form of a Democrats travel the other 999.9 miles. few steps with Democrats, walking side four-legged pit bull dog that goes by Certainly, this bill isn’t even a step— by side, for a greater, better America. the name of Shiloh. Shiloh helps it’s a shuffle; it’s a shell game. It has f Danny to remain calm when going out in public and increases his comfort exactly the same problem that the b 1020 STEM bill in September had. It moves level and socialization skills. visas from a legal immigration pro- HONORING LOUIS GIACOMELLI Shiloh and other pit bulls do more gram, which works, over to a new visa The SPEAKER pro tempore. The than just facilitate the day-to-day lives category where there may or may not Chair recognizes the gentleman from of the recipients; they provide a sense be sufficient demand to use those visas Pennsylvania (Mr. FITZPATRICK) for 5 of independence and unconditional each year. minutes. love. For the veterans, caring for a Immigration is always a zero-sum Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I companion animal can provide a sense game for my colleagues on the other rise today to honor the life of Louis of purpose and fulfillment, while less- side: we will only increase visas for im- Giacomelli of New Britain in my home ening feelings of loneliness, isolation, migrants we like if we can eliminate of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A de- and depression. immigration for immigrants we don’t voted husband and a loving father, There are over 22 million veterans in like. But it isn’t even a zero-sum trick Louis passed away earlier this week America today. And although the num- they’re pulling here. Best estimates are after a long life of service to his com- ber of servicemembers being deployed that only 20,000 STEM visas would be munity and to his country. in today’s wars are fewer than in wars issued to graduates, meaning that the As a young man in the Army, Louis of the past, those returning from war other 35 visas would just disappear. answered his country’s call and honor- are suffering from increasingly severe Which immigrants do they want to ably served in the Korean War and was disabilities, such as traumatic brain in- exclude in order to play this game? awarded a Purple Heart for his service. jury, numerous amputations, and They’re people from around the world Upon returning home from the war, posttraumatic stress disorder. who want a chance to make a new life Louis went on to serve his community Over the past decade, the number of for themselves in the U.S., people like with the Philadelphia Police Depart- vets in need of disability compensation the fathers and mothers and grand- ment for over 20 years. has more than doubled, from 600,000 in

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.004 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6510 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 2000 to over 1.4 million in the year 2011. of the Liberty Caucus Congressman voice was raised alone on one side of the As more vets return home from mul- PAUL has hosted in his office with a question, it was never stilled. tiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the wide variety of speakers. f need for assistance will grow even One national magazine about 4 years greater. We must do all we can to sup- ago gave just three Members 100 per- b 1030 port inventive programs such as Pits cent ratings on a freedom index—Con- PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE for Patriots that provide essential sup- gressman PAUL, Congressman JEFF The SPEAKER pro tempore. The port and assistance to our veterans in FLAKE of Arizona, and myself. Last Chair recognizes the gentleman from need. year I was very surprised when the Na- Virginia (Mr. CONNOLLY I want to end with the words of Ser- tional Taxpayers Union ranked me as ) for 5 minutes. geant Danny Randall, who said about the most fiscally conservative Member Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. his pit bull, Shiloh: on all 338 spending votes. But the only Speaker, Americans turned out in record numbers this past election day, reason Congressman PAUL was not first He truly gives me a reason to be success- November 6, to exercise our most cher- ful. Shiloh gives me a great sense of calm was because he missed many votes dur- and balance. He is an amazing dog, not just ing his run for the White House. ished and fundamental right, the right where he has been and what he’s lived There have been articles and com- to vote. through, but all that he has overcome. In ments and questions about who would No doubt my colleagues heard from that sense we are a lot alike, and I believe be the next RON PAUL in Congress, but, their constituents who endured, in that is why we have such a strong bond. We really, no one can replace RON PAUL or many cases, outrageously long lines. I truly do everything together, and I could not spoke with voters who reported having have asked for a better pittie partner. fill his shoes or be the next RON PAUL. He has achieved a fame and a following to wait two or more hours, and in some Let’s make sure other veterans in and a position of influence that is al- cases up to 5 hours, to cast that pre- need have access to the same program most miraculous considering his cious vote. In most cases, the absence that has done so much to help Danny unique independence. of early voting and the shortage of vot- and Shiloh. He is such a kind, humble, almost ing machines and well-trained election f bashful person that I know he has been volunteers were the primary culprits amazed by the numbers that have leading to unacceptably long lines. TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN RON Whether one lived in a blue or red PAUL turned out to support him, and espe- cially the following he has among State, or voted in an urban, suburban The SPEAKER pro tempore. The young people. After all, there is noth- or rural precinct, residents at polling Chair recognizes the gentleman from ing cool or hip about him, but several places in more than a dozen States, in- Tennessee (Mr. DUNCAN) for 5 minutes. million college students and 20-some- cluding Florida, Pennsylvania, Colo- Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. things love the man. I think his appeal rado, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to lies in his principled stands on the Wisconsin, South Carolina, Montana, my friend, RON PAUL. I have now issues, the concern young people have Tennessee, Hawaii, Arizona, Rhode Is- served in Congress for 24 years, the last for their future and where this country land, and my own Commonwealth of 16 of which I have served with Con- is headed, and the fact that Congress- Virginia, encountered significant, yet gressman PAUL. During all of that man PAUL is real. There is nothing avoidable, barriers to casting their bal- time, I have never once seen him waver fake about him. He believes what he lots. or stray from a commitment to liberty says and says what he believes and This is not a Republican or a Demo- and freedom and his promise to uphold then sticks by it even when it is not cratic problem. Voters from both par- and defend our Constitution. ‘‘politically correct.’’ ties were affected. This is truly a na- I can assure you that no one runs for Financial columnist Charles Goyette tional bipartisan challenge, if not a office wanting to make people mad. In probably summed up Congressman crisis. And to quote President Obama: fact, it may be that people who run for PAUL’s time in office best in a column ‘‘It’s one we have to fix.’’ office have a stronger desire to be liked a few days ago. He wrote: I think about the employee who than most people. Thus, I feel certain Politics has ways of bending such lesser struggles to manage his commute or that at times it has been hurtful to men and molding even the well-intentioned her commute and work schedule on Congressman PAUL to be the only to become servants of the State. The tools election day, or the senior citizen who Member out of 435 to vote ‘‘no’’ on are many: Congressional leadership bribes may not have had the stamina to stand some popular bill or seemingly harm- and bestows its favors from plum committee in line for 5 hours, or the young work- less resolution. Yet, on many occa- assignments to nicer Capitol offices. The ing mom waiting to vote, worried sions, he has been the only vote on parties reward the lockstep marchers, too. about the fact that she won’t get to the For those who stay in step, there are en- some issue. Yet, because of his courage dorsements and campaign funds. Meanwhile, front of the line in time to pick up her and sincerity and his steadfast belief in for those who march to a different drum- kids at daycare. free enterprise, private property, and mer—well. And then there is the simple so- The experience of our constituents on individual freedom, he has earned the cial pressure to which men whose eyes are election day amount to a modern-day respect and admiration of almost ev- not focused on a polestar of principle soon poll tax on all Americans that must be eryone with whom he has served on succumb. The description you’ve heard of eliminated. Twelve years after the 2000 both sides of the aisle. Washington that you have to go along to get Presidential election exposed the deep When there was tremendous pressure, along is all too true. structural problems that plague our de- especially on the Republican side, to Mr. Goyette concluded by writing: centralized voting system, our troubles vote to go to war in Iraq, only six Re- Ron Paul never succumbed. He never sold appear to have worsened, not improved. publicans voted ‘‘no.’’ Three of those out for a better assignment, a nicer office, Long waits in the cold or the heat, were very liberal Republicans, and lobbyist largesse, or shallow conviviality. confusing and conflicting instructions three were very conservative. The Finally, Mr. Speaker, I think words from poorly trained election officials, a three conservative ‘‘no’’ votes came written in a 1930 novel called ‘‘The paucity of voting machines or malfunc- from John Hostettler of Indiana, Con- Lion’s Den’’ fit Congressman RON tioning machines showing their age, a gressman PAUL, and myself. PAUL. The words described a fictional shortage of paper ballots, absentee bal- It is probably accurate to say that, Congressman named Zimmer. The au- lots that failed to reach civilian and during the 16 years Congressman PAUL thor, Janet Fairbank, wrote: military voters in time were among the and I have served together, no two No matter how the espousal of a lost cause litany of voting problems that came to Members have voted more alike than might hurt his prestige in the House, Zim- a head on election day. we have. Most of that time we have ar- mer had never hesitated to identify himself I saw the problem firsthand at poll- with it if it seemed to him to be right. He rived at our decisions separately and knew only two ways; the right one and the ing places in my district as I visited independently. But we also have dis- wrong, and if he sometimes made a mistake, with voters in one Prince William cussed many votes over the years, and it was never one of honor. He voted as he be- County precinct who had been waiting I have attended most of the meetings lieved he should, and although sometimes his in line for more than 4 hours in the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.005 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6511 cold. That’s why I joined with Con- on terror. On September 28, America service of Mother Marianne Cope of gressman JIM LANGEVIN to introduce lost Army Sergeant First Class Riley Molokai, and her canonization as a the Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely G. Stephens of Tolar, Texas. saint of the Roman Catholic Church on Voting Act of 2012, the FAST Act. A Riley grew up in Tolar. He enlisted as October 21, 2012. She joins Saint Senate companion bill was introduced an infantryman in the Army in 1993. He Damien of Molokai among the 12 Amer- by Senators CHRIS COONS of Delaware, volunteered for the Special Forces As- ican saints. MARK WARNER of Virginia and SHELDON sessment and Selection Course. He also I am joined in introducing this reso- WHITEHOUSE of Rhode Island. went on to graduate from the Special lution by Congresswoman ANN MARIE Representative LANGEVIN and I have Forces Qualification Course in March BUERKLE, who represents Syracuse, significant experience serving at the of 2005. New York, where Mother Marianne’s State and local levels, and we strongly At the time of his tragic death, he Order of the Sisters of Saint Francis is believe that the Federal Government was assigned to Company B, 1st Bat- based; by Congressman RICHARD often works best when it leverages talion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Air- HANNA, who represents Utica, New those laboratories of democracy at the borne) as a Special Forces medical ser- York, where Mother Marianne grew up; local and State levels to test innova- geant. He would go on five separate de- and by Congresswoman COLLEEN tive solutions and governing reforms ployments in support of Operation En- HANABUSA, who represents Hawaii’s and best practices that might have ap- during Freedom. First Congressional District. I am plicability at the Federal level. During his 19 years of service to our proud to represent Hawaii’s Second Consistent with this principle, our country, Sergeant Stephens earned Congressional District, which includes bill avoids overly prescriptive require- many awards and decorations. He the island of Molokai. ments and, instead, offers States a earned the Bronze Star Medal with It may seem surprising that one- menu of options and financial incen- Valor, two Bronze Star Medals, the sixth of America’s saints are connected tives to adopt voting reforms. Purple Heart, the Army Achievement to the tiny Kalaupapa Peninsula on the Our FAST Voting Act recognizes that Medal with Valor, four Army Com- Hawaiian island of Molokai. The story modernizing the Nation’s voting sys- mendation Medals, four Army Achieve- of Kalaupapa is heartbreaking. tem will require collaborative and co- ment Medals, the National Defense We have all heard of how isolated na- ordinated efforts at the State, Federal, Service Medal, the Afghanistan Cam- tive populations are especially suscep- and local levels. It creates a competi- paign Medal with three campaign stars, tible to new diseases. Once Westerners tive grant program, similar to the the Global War on Terrorism Service and other peoples came to Hawaii, dis- President’s Race to the Top schools Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer eases like smallpox and measles caused initiative, and rewards those States Professional Development Ribbon Mili- high mortality. It was no different that aggressively implement the most tary, the Army Service Ribbon, two with leprosy. Native Hawaiians made effective and promising reforms to ex- Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO up the majority of those afflicted with pand the franchise. The menu of reforms includes flexible Medal, the Air Assault Badge, the this disease. voter registration opportunities, in- Basic Parachutist Badge, the Expert To stem the spread of leprosy, the cluding same-day registration; early Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infan- Kingdom of Hawaii decided in 1866 to voting, with a minimum of at least 9 tryman Badge, the Ranger Tab and the forcibly relocate persons found to have days before the election; no-excuse ab- Special Forces Tab. the disease to the Kalaupapa Penin- sentee voting; assistance to voters who On October 7, Sergeant First Class sula. Those with the disease were out- do not speak English as a primary lan- Riley G. Stephens was laid to rest at casts in every sense of the word. guage; assistance to voters with dis- the Dallas-Fort Worth National Ceme- Kalaupapa was chosen because it is abilities, including the visually im- tery, not far from his hometown in surrounded by the ocean and some of paired; effective access to voting for Tolar where, earlier that day, his life the tallest sea cliffs in the world, effec- members of the Armed Services; formal was celebrated and his service to our tively cutting off escape. training of election officials, including country was celebrated in a church full b 1040 State and county administrators and of friends and family and fellow patri- ots. Mothers, fathers, and children who volunteers; auditing and reducing wait- contracted the disease were taken from ing times at polling stations; creating Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sergeant Ste- their families and brought to contingency plans for voting in the Kalaupapa, where living conditions event of a natural or other kind of dis- phens. He will forever be remembered were terrible and medical care almost aster. as an outstanding soldier, a husband nonexistent. Father Damien, who ulti- To be clear, the FAST Act is the lat- and a father. We thank him and his mately contracted and died from the est in a series of proposals to reform family for their service and sacrifice disease, is recognized throughout the how our elections are administered. for our country. world for all he did to improve condi- Given the renewed interest among the His sacrifice reflects the words of tions for the outcasts of Kalaupapa. public, Members of Congress, and the Jesus in John 15:13 which say: Greater Mother Marianne carried on and ex- President, we ought to at least move love hath no man than this, that a man panded on his work. This resolution forward with hearings to debate the lay down his life for his friends. honors Mother Marianne for her legacy merits of these proposals. As I close, Mr. Speaker, I would like This is the world’s greatest and old- to ask all Americans to continue pray- of compassionate care and recognizes est democracy. How can any of us be ing for our country during these dif- her example of what it truly means to satisfied with the scandalous oper- ficult times, for our military men and dedicate one’s life in service to others. ations that occurred in all too many women, and for our first responders One does not need to be Catholic to be voting places that impaired the ability who keep us safe by their sacrifice each humbled and inspired by the life of of Americans, free Americans, to freely day. someone who devoted herself so self- cast their vote? God bless our military men and lessly to those whom almost everyone We ought to clean this up. It’s a solv- women, and God bless America. else shunned and rejected. able problem, and it ought to be solved f Mother Marianne, born Barbara on a bipartisan basis. Koob, immigrated to this country from COMMEMORATING THE CANON- Germany as a young girl. She and her f IZATION OF SAINT MARIANNE OF family settled in Utica, New York. At HONORING SERGEANT FIRST MOLOKAI the age of 24, she entered the religious CLASS RILEY G. STEPHENS The SPEAKER pro tempore. The life as a Catholic nun and commenced a The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from life dedicated to children, education, Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii (Ms. HIRONO) for 5 minutes. and the sick. Mother Marianne later fo- Texas (Mr. FLORES) for 5 minutes. Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise cused her efforts on health care and Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, America today to introduce a resolution com- was influential in establishing St. Eliz- recently lost another hero in the war memorating the remarkable life of abeth Hospital in Utica. She was also

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.007 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6512 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 the founder and administrator of St. rifice of our military families. But size the important role that Federal in- Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, the sometimes I don’t know how we as a vestments in research and develop- city’s first hospital. Congress and a Nation can look them ment, or R&D; and science, technology, In 1883, Mother Marianne received a right straight in the face after every- engineering, and mathematics, or letter that would change her life. It thing we’ve put them through. The STEM, education play in stimulating was from Father Leonor Fouesnel, a benefits of this war don’t come close to growth, creating new industries and missionary in Hawaii, who was des- justifying the devastating human jobs, and delivering long-term benefits perately searching for volunteers to cost—not just fatalities, but dis- to our citizens. take charge of the hospitals that figuring wounds, lost limbs, traumatic As a member of the House Committee served people with Hansen’s disease. brain injury, and demons of post-trau- on Science, Space, and Technology, and More than 50 religious congregations matic stress. They all add up to trag- now as ranking member, I have had the had already declined, but Mother edy at the utmost. privilege of hearing countless witnesses Marianne was different. She eagerly For too many of our veterans, the from industry, academia, and govern- accepted the mission. She wrote back transition back to civilian life is a ment over the past several years tes- to Father Leonor: daily struggle. Many face not just tify that investments in R&D are es- I am hungry for the work and I wish with health care challenges but joblessness, sential to keeping America competi- all my heart to be one of the chosen ones. I housing and credit troubles, and over- tive in a challenging international am not afraid of any disease. all economic anxiety and stress. We’ve marketplace. In fact, according to a Mother Marianne left for Hawaii, had enough of this. Why would we want paper by the National Bureau of Eco- along with six sisters from Syracuse, in to extend a war that has given so much nomic Research, changes in technology 1883, where she began a 30-year mission misery and so much heartache and so are the only source of permanent in- caring for those diagnosed with Han- few actual national security benefits? creases in productivity. sen’s disease. Mother Marianne accept- The American people have rendered If we are to reverse the trend of the ed a government plea to start a new their verdict on the occupation of Af- last 20 years, where our country’s tech- home for women and girls with Han- ghanistan. Poll after poll shows they nology edge in the world has dimin- sen’s disease at the Kalaupapa settle- want it over. Who can blame them? In ished, we must make the investments ment. Mother Marianne arrived in fact, the public opinion was so clear necessary today. The statistics speak Kalaupapa just months before Father during the last Presidential election for themselves. It is estimated that Damien’s death. She oversaw the ex- that both candidates for President in more than 50 percent of our economic pansion of health services and pro- this year’s campaign were saying that growth since World War II can be at- grams to provide education and tend to they would end the war. But the ques- tributed to development and adoption tion, Mr. Speaker, is, When? The cur- the spiritual needs of the patients. of new technologies. The path is sim- rent 2014 timetable is not nearly ag- Mother Marianne lived until the age ple: research and education lead to in- gressive enough—not when we’re losing of 80. On August 9, 1918, she died in novation. Innovation leads to economic brave servicemembers every single Kalaupapa. She was deeply mourned development and good-paying jobs and week, not when our military presence and is still revered. I have visited her the revenue to pay for more research. is sustaining the very extremists we’re grave site, where I left ho-okupu, a tra- trying to defeat, and not when Amer- b 1050 ditional Hawaiian offering. I was deep- ican taxpayers are paying the bill to ly moved by the devotion of this As private firms underinvest in re- the tune of $10 billion a month, at woman from New York who left all search and development because the re- least. turns are too far off in the future, that was familiar to live on an isolated And now it seems that our policy- peninsula 5,000 miles from home. there is a clear and necessary role of makers might be planning for a signifi- government to help our Nation keep Kalaupapa became her home and its cant military presence in Afghanistan people her family. pace with the rest of the world. beyond 2014. According to a new New More than 50 years ago, when DARPA Mother Marianne recognized the York Times article last weekend, one rights and inherent dignity of all peo- was first created, no one had any idea of the options on the table calls for that the research that they would fund ple. She dedicated her life to caring for 10,000 American troops and several those who needed it the most. People of would be responsible for the creation of thousand more NATO troops to remain the Internet or the proliferation of all faiths can admire her spirit of on the ground after 2014. Sources say aloha—encompassing love, compassion, GPS technology, but it did. Those in- that General John Allen, our top com- ventions started with Federal dollars, mercy, and grace—and malama—to mander in Afghanistan, prefers to keep care for others. as did countless other game-changing as many as 60,000 troops for another technologies. f year. As The Times editorial board It is clear that Federal investments ONE LESS PLACE SETTING AT THE points out, this is not the ‘‘steady in R&D bring significant returns for HOLIDAYS pace’’ of troop withdrawal that the decades to come. In 1987, MIT Professor President has promised. Robert Solow was awarded the Nobel The SPEAKER pro tempore. The This is unacceptable. We ought to Prize in Economics for his work prov- Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from have a role in Afghanistan, but it can- California (Ms. WOOLSEY) for 5 min- not and must not be a military role. ing that improved technology and im- utes. We need more humanitarian aid, more proved education in the workforce was Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it’s the support for education, health care, de- clearly and chiefly responsible for time of year when families reunite and mocracy promotion, civil society, and long-term growth, much more than in- renew their very close connections— so much more. But we will not make creases in labor or capital. The current connections that are actually, in most America safer and we will not make Af- best estimate for the return on aca- instances, the most precious parts of ghanistan stronger by continuing this demic research alone is 28 percent. our lives. This Thanksgiving I know all war. The only morally decent and stra- Federal efforts are underway now to of us were grateful for the company of tegically sensible approach is to bring more vigorously and rigorously quan- those we love the most. But more than our troops home now—certainly before tify the return on Federal investments 2,000 American families sat at tables 2014. in R&D. where there was one less serving of the Today we find ourselves at a cross- f Thanksgiving meal just a week ago. roads. The United States remains a Those families lost a loved one in the INVESTING IN R&D AND STEM leader in science, technology, and inno- deadly war in Afghanistan—now more The SPEAKER pro tempore. The vation but no longer the unchallenged than 11 years long and a tragically Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from leader. While our own world-class inno- reckless policy. Texas (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON) for vation infrastructure is under stress, I’m personally grateful for the serv- 5 minutes. our competitors in other countries, ice of all of our Afghanistan veterans Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of even as they institute austerity meas- and for their sacrifice and for the sac- Texas. Today, I would like to empha- ures in other parts of their budgets, are

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.009 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6513 seizing the opportunity to make stra- and our nation’s leadership is being chal- delaying an investigation but by lim- tegic investments in long-term basic lenged. At the same time, our demographics iting the scope of it when it did occur. research and build and leverage public- are shifting in profound ways, making the ra- Neither General Caldwell nor General private partnerships to support the cial/ethnic gaps that much more consequential Yaftali have been disciplined for their shorter term R&D that will help create for our future. By the year 2050, minorities are conduct. jobs now and long into the future. predicted to represent 55 percent of the na- Last week I was in Afghanistan and I As we struggle with our own deficits, tional college population. visited the hospital. I left Afghanistan we too can make the strategic choice I am heartened by many of the initiatives confirming my belief that the greatest to continue to invest in our future— going on now at both the federal and state threat to the future of Afghanistan is both in our human capital and physical levels, including the Obama Administration’s not the Taliban but the pervasive cor- infrastructure—or we can make the Race to the Top, Initiative and the state-drive ruption that permeates every level of strategic choice to permanently cede common core standards in math and science. Afghan governance and the lack of our leadership, to fail our current gen- Nevertheless, we have a long way to go to en- leadership by the United States in con- eration of young people and to put our sure that the U.S. continues to produce the fronting it. economy in a state of stagnation for world’s best scientists, mathematicians, and f years to come. engineers and to make sure that every student RECESS STEM education is another critical is prepared for the highly technical, high-pay- component to the Nation’s economic The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ing jobs of the future. According to 2008 data ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair competitiveness. Yet according to the from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pro- declares the House in recess until noon Program for International Student As- fessional information technology (IT) workforce today. sessment, the U.S. currently ranks 17th was projected to add a little under a million Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 55 in science and 25th in math out of 34 new jobs between 2008 an 2018. This rep- minutes a.m.), the House stood in re- countries. Though our best STEM stu- resents more than twice the rate of overall cess. dents have no trouble competing with workforce growth over that same period. Many f their international peers, on average, high-tech companies cite the availability of a our K–12 students continue to lag far skilled STEM workforce as the number one b 1200 behind their international peers in reason for determining where they locate their AFTER RECESS math and science aptitude. According facilities. Producing students with the STEM The recess having expired, the House to the National Assessment of Edu- skills needed to fill the jobs of the future is was called to order by the Speaker at cational Progress (NAEP) 2009 science necessary to maintaining our nation’s innova- noon. assessment, 34 percent of the fourth- tion capacity and creating new high-skill, high- graders, 30 percent of the eighth-grad- paying jobs at home. f ers, and 21 percent of the 12th-graders We need to take a step back and refrain PRAYER performed at or above the proficient from making short-sighted, ill-advised cuts to Reverend Dr. Leslie Callahan, St. level in science. When eighth-graders our R&D and education investments in pursuit Paul’s Baptist Church, Philadelphia, were tested again in 2011, they achieved of illusory budgetary benefits. While we debate Pennsylvania, offered the following a modest 2-point gain in the percentage turning the lights off on groundbreaking re- prayer: of students demonstrating proficiency. search projects, shuttering world-class re- Gracious God, we offer thanks for the When the results are broken down by de- search facilities, stopping emerging industries joys and challenges of self-government, mographic groups, we see a 6–7 point gender in their tracks, and losing many of our best which this House and the whole Con- gap that begins somewhere between the 4th and brightest scientists from the STEM pipe- gress symbolize. and 8th grade and persists through 12th line for good, our competitors in China, India, In a world ravaged by violence, polit- grade. Even more troubling, there are huge and elsewhere are surging ahead in their in- ical and domestic, we enter gratefully and persistent gaps across racial/ethnic vestments in R&D, STEM education, and the sanctuary of these Chambers for groups. Among African American students, in emerging industries. peaceful deliberation for this Nation’s 2009 only 11 percent of fourth-graders, 8 per- I urge all of us, as we undertake our very good. Even in the spaces of deep dis- cent of eighth-graders, and 4 percent of difficult task of trying to set us on a more sus- agreement may these debates be sea- twelfth-graders performed at or above the pro- tainable fiscal path, to do whatever it takes to soned with mutual understanding. May ficient level in science. The number for His- prioritize steady growth of our investments in Your presence as liberty, love, and jus- panic students—14, 12 and 8 percent, respec- science, technology, and STEM education. It tice walk up and down and, yes, even tively—are only slightly better. The one small is when our economy is hurting the most that between these aisles. Remind everyone sign of improvement is a 4 point gain for His- we should be redoubling our efforts to inno- of the sacredness of the trust of their panic 8th graders from 2009 to 2011. But how vate our way into a brighter future of new jobs, constituents and the hope of all our as a nation and as parents and grandparents new technologies, and untold societal benefits. citizens. At day’s end, may all affected by can we tolerate any of these numbers for any f of our students? their decisions be confident of their We must also do better at the college level. CORRUPTION IN AFGHANISTAN good faith. At the end of the term, may Even among those minority students who The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the reelected redouble their efforts for have access to high-performing schools or Chair recognizes the gentleman from the common good and those retiring who otherwise succeed against the odds and Colorado (Mr. COFFMAN) for 5 minutes. find satisfaction in having done their enter college intending to major in a STEM Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. duty. In the name of all that is holy and good. degree, fewer than 20 percent finish within five Speaker, this year I pushed for and re- Amen. years, compared to a 33 percent 5-year com- ceived a congressional investigation pletion rate for White students and 42 percent into the Dawood National Military f for Asian students. Hospital in Afghanistan based on alle- THE JOURNAL We’ve been talking about ‘‘A Nation at Risk’’ gations that senior Afghan medical The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- since the report by that name came out nearly personnel sold U.S. military medical ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- 30 years ago, but in that time we’ve made lit- supplies and that Afghan soldiers and ceedings and announces to the House tle to no improvement. Some suggest we may police were dying in the facility from his approval thereof. even have gone backwards. As long as our untreated wounds and malnutrition be- Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- nation overall was still number one, it was cause their families couldn’t come up nal stands approved. easier for our leaders to let year after year with the necessary bribes to pay the f pass without taking the hard steps to take on hospital staff for their care. an enormous set of challenges in a large and The Afghan surgeon general, General PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE diverse country where, rightly so, education is Ahmad Zia Yaftali, was complicit in The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman controlled at the local level. the corruption. U.S. Army Lieutenant from New York (Mr. REED) come for- However, the world is changing, the de- General William Caldwell was instru- ward and lead the House in the Pledge mand for STEM skills is steadily increasing, mental in covering it up by not only of Allegiance.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.011 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6514 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 Mr. REED led the Pledge of Alle- that may actually create perverse in- final game as head coach of the Car- giance as follows: centives for private insurers to behave dinals, capping a 33-year career at the I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the like Medicare. Some have suggested helm. His teams earned three State ti- United States of America, and to the Repub- that the consumer protections provided tles, eight Section Six championships, lic for which it stands, one nation under God, by the MLR rule are too important to and a career record of 213 wins and 99 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. subject the rule to change in order to losses. Today, we honor Coach Slater f prevent fraud. Setting aside whether for the positive impact he has had on individuals or employers have received the young people at Randolph for so WELCOMING REVEREND DR. the benefit of the MLR rule, clearly the many years. LESLIE CALLAHAN best way to save money is prevent it f The SPEAKER. Without objection, from being stolen in the first place, not CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. chasing criminals after they have re- FUDGE) is recognized for 1 minute. ceived and spent their illicit gains. (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given There was no objection. The flawed MLR rule is just another permission to address the House for 1 Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, it is my example of how ObamaCare’s sloppy minute.) pleasure to welcome Dr. Leslie D. Cal- legislating and rulemaking has the po- Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, our na- lahan to serve as our guest chaplain tential to cost the American people tional policy for transportation and today. I have known Dr. Callahan since dearly. budgetary commitment is a disgrace she was a toddler and am proud to say f and an embarrassment. Our roads and that she is the dedicated senior pastor bridges are a mess. Transportation for of St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Phila- MORE MONEY FOR WAR? America says that we have 69,000 struc- delphia, Pennsylvania, its first female (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given turally deficit bridges in this Nation. leader in 119 years. permission to address the House for 1 We have over 2,000 structurally defi- Dr. Callahan is a religion scholar who minute and to revise and extend his re- cient bridges in New York State, and received her bachelor of arts in religion marks.) we have 99 structurally deficient from Harvard University/Radcliff Col- Mr. KUCINICH. The same geniuses bridges in my home community of lege, a master of divinity from Union who involved the U.S. in a war against western New York. Every second of Theological Seminary in New York, Libya, who knocked off the pro-U.S. every day, seven cars carrying our fam- and doctor of philosophy in religion Libyan Government, who created in ilies drive on a bridge that is struc- from Princeton University. Benghazi an extremist shooting gallery turally deficient. A native of Gary, West Virginia, and which has claimed four American lives In the city of Buffalo, we are pre- resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including our Ambassador, who have paring to make a decision about the fu- Dr. Callahan has been publicly preach- not been held accountable or respon- ture of the elevated Skyway bridge, a ing since the age of 19. She is noted for sible for those events, who have opened roadway classified by transportation her dynamic preaching and teaching the door for radical fundamentalists to officials as being structurally defi- gifts and as a minister who plays a run roughshod over Libya, these same cient, fracture-critical, and function- major role in shaping the future of the experts are working out of the same ally obsolete. African American church. She is the playbook for Syria. Federal investments should help mother of 2-month-old Annabelle, or Assad was no angel, but he was not a communities make smart decisions and Bella. significant threat to the U.S. Appar- become more self-sufficient. Investing Reverend Callahan’s character is cap- ently, flush from success in Libya, the in smart infrastructure is not simply tured in her favorite scripture from administration is preparing to ratchet about tearing down our crumbling Psalm 27:4: up the war in Syria. bridges; it’s about rebuilding our Na- One thing I desired of the Lord, that I shall Why would Qatar, our partner in tion. seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Libya, be supplying surface-to-air mis- f Lord all the days of my life, to behold the siles to rebels in Syria without the sup- CONGRATULATING COLORADO beauty of the Lord and to seek God in God’s port of this administration? NATO— STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION temple. meaning the U.S.—discusses putting CHAIRMAN BOB SCHAFFER ON f missiles in Turkey, which would create HIS RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER a de facto no-fly zone over northwest (Mr. GARDNER asked and was given PRO TEMPORE Syria, expanding the war. Is this why we need a tax increase? permission to address the House for 1 The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. More money for more war? Really? minute.) BASS of New Hampshire). The Chair f Mr. GARDNER. Today, I rise today will entertain up to 15 further requests to honor Colorado State Board of Edu- for 1-minute speeches on each side of CONGRATULATING RANDOLPH cation Chairman Bob Schaffer on his the aisle. HIGH SCHOOL CARDINALS recent retirement. f (Mr. REED asked and was given per- Chairman Schaffer proudly served mission to address the House for 1 the State of Colorado and our country MLR AND FRAUD minute.) in this Chamber, representing Colo- (Mr. PITTS asked and was given per- Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today rado’s Fourth Congressional District. mission to address the House for 1 to congratulate the Randolph High Throughout his career in Congress and minute and to revise and extend his re- School Cardinals on their victory in on the State Board of Education, he marks.) the New York State Class D title game has dedicated himself to improving the Mr. PITTS. Yesterday, we had an En- on November 23, 2012, at the Carrier education of Colorado and this Nation’s ergy and Commerce Health Sub- Dome in Syracuse, New York. Led by youth. He’s a passionate advocate of committee hearing on how we can com- Head Coach Pat Slater and the game’s education policies that reach all stu- bat waste, fraud, and abuse in our Most Valuable Player, Cody Oldro, the dents in our Nation. health care system. We heard from pri- Cardinals won 28–7. It is with no small In addition to his work on the State vate sector representatives about some amount of pride that we recognize all board, Bob serves as the principal at of the innovative ways that they pre- of the players, cheerleaders, coaches, Liberty Commons in Fort Collins, Col- vent fraud before it happens. At the advisers, administrators, and, most im- orado. Liberty is a public charter same time, Medicare loses billions of portantly, the parents and the kids for school and is consistently ranked dollars annually because most fraud is their achievements and congratulate among the State’s top-performing only discovered after it has been per- them on their third State champion- schools. petrated. ship since 2005. Chairman Schaffer has been an advo- Now, under ObamaCare, we have a The 2012 New York State Class D cate for State and local control over new medical loss ratio rule, or MLR, title game was also Coach Slater’s education. He promotes the value that

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.014 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6515 all schools need to be competitive and forum—which we held in Vernon Hills, changed the lives of literally thousands accountable, including faculty and ad- Illinois—I’m proud of the work that’s of students who had the opportunity of ministration. being done to end this epidemic. We do being taught by such an outstanding While the challenges of education have much more work ahead of us, but educator. I have watched Mrs. Obray have been many over the past two dec- I’m confident that Sheriff Mark Curran for many years and can verify that she ades, Bob knows they are worthy of our and others will continue to champion is the epitome of what a good educator time and our best efforts. Through his this cause and provide valuable re- should be, and she will be sorely leadership, we have seen education in sources to our community. I look for- missed. So, Mrs. Obray, we want to Colorado improve for our kids; they ward to helping in any way possible. thank you for what you have done, for have a brighter future ahead and the f the impact you’ve had on students you tools to achieve success. have taught in the past, the ones you WORLD AIDS DAY And today, I recognize Bob Schaffer’s are teaching currently, and we have service in this Chamber and his service (Ms. CASTOR of Florida asked and pity for all those kids in the future to the people of Colorado. was given permission to address the who will never have that experience. House for 1 minute.) f f Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, b 1210 I rise today on World AIDS Day to HIV/AIDS CONGRATULATING SHALER NORTH highlight the remarkable progress that (Mr. MCDERMOTT asked and was HILLS LIBRARY has been made over the past 30 years in given permission to address the House the fight against HIV and AIDS. for 1 minute and to revise and extend (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given I commend local leaders from my his remarks.) permission to address the House for 1 Tampa Bay area district like the Rev- Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, as minute.) erend Dr. James Favorite, who under- we celebrate World AIDS Day today, Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, recently stands the importance of speaking to we have reason to be proud of what I had the honor of attending a cere- his congregation about HIV and AIDS. we’ve done to fight HIV/AIDS. mony recognizing the Shaler North Reverend Favorite has urged more When I came to the Congress in 1989, Hills Library for receiving the National than 100 local churches and pastors AIDS was a death sentence; now, with Medal for Library and Museum Service. across the Tampa Bay area to put the right medicine, it’s a manageable This is the highest Federal honor any AIDS and HIV awareness at the heart chronic disease. And we’ve made real museum or library can earn. of their sermons. Reverend Favorite’s progress toward a vaccine. That hap- The Shaler North Hills Library impact has garnered national acclaim pened because the United States Con- serves over 50,000 families, providing from the National Black Leadership gress took action. It wasn’t magic. assistance for everything from job Commission on AIDS. People living with the disease fought searching to computer training. The li- I also commend the Test Tampa Bay to make it happen, and leaders in the brary also presents outstanding pro- campaign, which is an initiative de- Congress and the White House fought grams for all ages, including show- signed to intensify HIV education, to make it happen too. casing local gardeners, art exhibits, awareness, and prevention brought As we recognize World AIDS Day and a speaker series. Their interactive along by local health departments and today, we cannot get complacent. We science program, ‘‘Discovery Kids,’’ other health advocates. Test Tampa can create an AIDS-free generation—it won a Pennsylvania Library Associa- Bay aims to increase the number of is possible. But it will slip away if we tion Best Practices Award, recognizing Tampa Bay residents who know their let these essential programs get cut. the program as the best of the best for HIV status by encouraging HIV testing. Today, we should resolve to stay the early learning. The Shaler North Hills Finally, I would like to voice my course, to keep the pressure on, and Library truly sets the standard for all strong support for H.R. 6138, Ending win the fight, to honor all those who ages in library services. I congratulate the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Act, by Rep- died of AIDS and all those who are still them on this well-deserved honor. resentative BARBARA LEE and others, of fighting for AIDS today. This Capital f which I’m a proud sponsor. We must re- has an epidemic of AIDS. We need to main committed to ending the HIV/ DEDICATED LEADERSHIP OF deal with it. AIDS epidemic and improving the lives SHERIFF MARK CURRAN f of those infected with the disease. (Mr. DOLD asked and was given per- We are at a tipping point in the fight CONGRATULATING TEACH ELE- mission to address the House for 1 against AIDS, so let’s recommit to en- MENTARY SCHOOL IN SAN LUIS minute and to revise and extend his re- sure that America continues to lead OBISPO marks.) the way to achieve an AIDS-free gen- (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today eration. permission to address the House for 1 to honor the work that Sheriff Mark f minute and to revise and extend her re- Curran and the Robert Crown Center marks.) are doing in Illinois’ 10th Congressional HONORING MARGARET OBRAY FOR Mrs. CAPPS. I rise today to con- District. DEDICATION TO EDUCATION gratulate Teach Elementary School in Heroin and prescription drug abuse Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, San Luis Obispo on becoming a Na- are on the rise in our local commu- schoolteachers are an overworked and tional Blue Ribbon School. nities. Families of all backgrounds are undercompensated group, but the good For 30 years, the Department of Edu- being affected by this epidemic in the ones are always appreciated for the cation has bestowed this coveted award Chicagoland region. As a result of the time and effort and commitment they for outstanding academic achievement, increase in heroin deaths and prescrip- make to kids. So I stand today to and I am delighted that one of our tion drug overdoses, Sheriff Mark honor one of the best examples of a local schools on the central coast of Curran and the Robert Crown Center dedicated teacher, Margaret Obray, California was awarded such a tremen- and other individuals in the commu- who was a government and history dous honor. nity have come together to raise teacher at Mountain Crest High School This distinguished recognition high- awareness of the dangers of these in Hyrum, Utah. Mrs. Obray has dedi- lights the hard work and dedication of drugs. cated the past three decades of her life the entire staff at Teach Elementary, Throughout the past 2 years I’ve had to encouraging her students, both in and I would specifically like to note the privilege of working with these and out of the school. She has worked the outstanding leadership of Principal leaders so that we can help educate our tirelessly to open their minds to guide Dan Block. communities and to help get help for them towards a productive and mean- For Teach Elementary to have such those who are struggling with addic- ingful life. remarkable results—particularly dur- tion. From roundtables to awareness Mrs. Obray has decided to retire at ing these tough budget times—is truly events and a recent community the end of this school year, having commendable. At a time when we must

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.016 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6516 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 invest in high-quality education in most vulnerable children and families. But while we have made tremendous order to strengthen our Nation’s eco- Yet they are the ones most likely to be progress, we must not lose sight of the nomic vitality, it is important that we targeted for budget savings. If we allow long road ahead. In my own district, recognize and replicate the successes of that to happen, we’ll condemn 16 mil- for example, in Alameda County, we schools such as Teach Elementary. lion children to living their lives on declared a state of emergency in 1998. Our students are our Nation’s great- the margins of our economy rather My phenomenal local activists and pro- est resource, and it’s our responsibility than providing them with the means viders have done a great job with mini- to provide them with high-quality necessary to escape the cycle of pov- mal resources to end the state of emer- schools that put them on a solid path erty as adults. gency; but like all communities, we towards success. A Nation such as ours cannot meet need more resources and not budget San Luis Obispo, California, is truly the challenges of the 21st century with- cuts. We have the tools we need. We fortunate to have a remarkable school out making the necessary investments just need the political will and invest- such as Teach Elementary. in our human and our physical infra- ments to make the end of AIDS the f structure and in cutting-edge basic re- legacy of our generation. search in health and technology. We OPPOSE ANTI-IMMIGRATION BILL f shouldn’t further diminish our future (Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD AIDS in order to get ourselves through this DAY was given permission to address the artificially created budget crisis. House for 1 minute.) (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given f Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- permission to address the House for 1 er, I rise to oppose the anti-immigra- b 1220 minute.) Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I join my tion bill brought before us today. WORLD AIDS DAY The supporters of this legislation colleagues today in recognizing World would have you believe that immigra- (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was AIDS Day. While great progress has tion is a zero sum game—that for every given permission to address the House been achieved nationally and globally, door you open for one person you have for 1 minute.) our fight against HIV/AIDS should only to close it on another. That’s what this Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Today, World grow stronger. Globally, 6.8 million bill aims to do by increasing the num- AIDS Day, provides the opportunity to people are eligible for HIV treatment ber of visas for STEM graduates while celebrate the gains made in the preven- but don’t have access. In the U.S., ac- eliminating them from the Diversity tion and treatment of HIV/AIDS. cessibility of treatment has signifi- Visa Program. This troubling prece- People living with HIV can now expe- cantly increased, but the rate of new dent of creating visa offsets will fore- rience long and productive lives. Ad- HIV infections has only stabilized. close the promise of the American vancements in prevention have led to a So today, in recognition of World AIDS Day, I come first to remember Dream for countless immigrants. turning point—the possibility, as Sec- Our country remains the beacon of retary Clinton said—of an AIDS-free the lives of the affected in my district, the country, and the world but also to opportunity and freedom. For many, generation. reaffirm my commitment, on their be- the only path to getting here is However, cuts in funding to inter- half, to stand with those who have re- through the diversity program. People national and domestic programs could lentlessly forged progress, including like Yulia, who is a constituent of very well turn back the clock. We must my late predecessor and father, Donald mine, that lucky draw in the lottery take action now to avoid the looming M. Payne. was her best hope for coming to Amer- threat to more than 1 million Ameri- cans, including more than 4,000 in my Today, I stand with the Nation and ica from Kazakhstan. the world in international solidarity, It is irresponsible, Mr. Speaker, to own district in Illinois who are living with HIV/AIDS. They cannot afford the committed to the fight against HIV/ hold the much-needed—and I would say AIDS and ‘‘Getting to Zero.’’ we need it—STEM visa bill hostage $538 million in sequestration cuts that just to dismantle a program that has would affect our HIV/AIDS programs; f helped new Americans like Yulia. It’s 15,708 people cannot afford to lose ac- EQUAL RECOGNITION FOR DC AND bad policy, and I urge my colleagues to cess to crucial lifesaving drugs. So let’s THE TERRITORIES reject the bill. stop these cuts and move forward to- (Ms. NORTON asked and was given f wards an end to this epidemic. permission to address the House for 1 BUDGET CRISES f minute and to revise and extend her re- WORLD AIDS DAY 2012 marks.) (Mr. MORAN asked and was given Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I come to permission to address the House for 1 (Ms. LEE of California asked and was the floor to thank the House for recog- minute and to revise and extend his re- given permission to address the House nizing that all veterans and members marks.) for 1 minute.) of the military must be recognized Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, the con- Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, equally, not only some of them; and I sequences of jumping off this so-called December 1 is World AIDS Day, al- have asked the Senate to do the same. ‘‘fiscal cliff’’ are serious but avoidable though every day is World AIDS Day Imagine you are a parent. You go to if the sacrifice is shared. My concern is for the millions battling this epidemic a military ceremony, for example, the that the domestic discretionary ac- on the front lines. It’s an important graduation from Navy boot camp. Ap- counts don’t seem to have a seat at the time, though, to reflect upon our loved plause comes with each graduate as his negotiating table. If you don’t have a ones lost, to celebrate the progress we or her name is called, and the flag of seat at the table, you’re far more like- are making, and to recommit ourselves the home State is raised. But your flag ly to be on the menu. to achieving an AIDS-free generation is not raised. Why? Because your son is Domestic discretionary funding is al- for all. from the District of Columbia or one of ready projected to fall to historically As this Congress comes to an end and the Territories. low levels at less than 3 percent of a new one begins in January, we have The House defense authorization bill GDP. This is less than what existed been given the extraordinary oppor- recognizes the injustice of the dis- during the Eisenhower administration tunity to leave an astonishing legacy. crimination against any of our vet- when our population was much smaller Our understanding of the spread of HIV erans or members of the military. The and much younger. These are the pro- has changed dramatically in recent Senate bill does not. We ask that the grams that are the most critical to the years. Armed with the National AIDS Senate follow the lead of the House. future of our country. They fund our Strategy, the Affordable Care Act, and In our country, no American—and es- roads and rails and ports, they support the ongoing progress of PEPFAR and pecially no veteran or member of the the most important scientific research the Global Fund, we are closer than military—is more equal than any in health and technology and are nec- ever to stamping HIV and AIDS off the other. If the military flies the flags, essary to educate, feed, and house our face of the Earth. then fly them all.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.018 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6517 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION even the Senate to come up with a bill that we need to keep American busi- OF H.R. 6429, STEM JOBS ACT OF that, hopefully, everybody could sup- nesses competitive in a globalized and 2012 port. increasingly technical age. In the proc- Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, by direc- Unfortunately, we’ve since been in- ess, we will eliminate a visa lottery tion of the Committee on Rules, I call formed that our colleagues on the system that’s rife with fraud and abuse up House Resolution 821 and ask for its other side of the aisle and in the other and the State Department stated con- tains significant threats to our na- immediate consideration. Chamber are looking to play politics tional security. The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- with the STEM Jobs Act. However, In the Rules Committee meeting last lows: that doesn’t change the fact that Chairman SMITH worked diligently to night, some opponents to H.R. 6429 said H. RES. 821 make sure this legislation was filled that fraud and security concerns are Resolved, That upon the adoption of this old problems and that they’ve been resolution it shall be in order to consider in with bipartisan ideas. The STEM Jobs Act would eliminate fixed. My colleagues were right in that the House the bill (H.R. 6429) to amend the these are old problems, but the State Immigration and Nationality Act to promote the flawed Diversity Lottery Green innovation, investment, and research in the Card program and reallocate up to Department inspector general report United States, to eliminate the diversity im- 55,000 green cards a year to new green published in 2003 listed the widespread migrant program, and for other purposes. All card programs for foreign graduates of abuse in the diversity lottery visa pro- points of order against consideration of the U.S. universities with advanced STEM gram. The inspector general pointed to bill are waived. An amendment in the nature degrees. identity fraud, forged documents, and of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules According to a study by the National national security threats. That’s their Committee Print 112-34, modified by the words. amendment printed in the report of the Com- Science Foundation and the National Center for Science and Engineering However, my colleagues were abso- mittee on Rules accompanying this resolu- lutely wrong to say that the problems Statistics, in 1990 about 91,000 full-time tion, shall be considered as adopted. The bill, have been fixed. In fact, just 2 months as amended, shall be considered as read. All foreign graduate students were study- ago, the GAO released a study dis- points of order against provisions in the bill, ing in STEM fields in the United cussing the ways the State Department as amended, are waived. The previous ques- States. That number had jumped to al- could reduce fraud in our immigration tion shall be considered as ordered on the most 149,000 by 2009. It was 149,000 in system, and it highlighted the diver- bill, as amended, and on any amendment 2009. However, the vast majority of thereto to final passage without intervening sity lottery program. Moreover, the these highly skilled, highly educated motion except: (1) 90 minutes of debate STEM Jobs Act does this without put- innovators are leaving the United equally divided and controlled by the chair ting American jobs at risk. and ranking minority member of the Com- States where they once received their This legislation includes provisions mittee on the Judiciary; and (2) one motion education. that would require the petitioning of to recommit with or without instructions. We’re training hundreds of thousands an employer to submit a job order to SEC. 2. It shall be in order at any time on of highly skilled engineers, techni- the legislative day of December 6, 2012, for the appropriate State workforce agen- cians, and scientists at American uni- cy. The job opening would then be post- the Speaker to entertain motions that the versities and then sending them back House suspend the rules as though under ed in the agency’s official Web site in clause 1 of rule XV. home to compete against us in other an effort to publicize available jobs for countries. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Americans. tleman from Florida is recognized for 1 b 1230 In addition to reforming the green card process for foreign students with hour. They aren’t moving to other coun- advanced STEM degrees, H.R. 6429 also Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, for the tries because they want to leave the includes provisions that would help re- purpose of debate only, I yield the cus- United States. They’re moving because unite families waiting on the immigra- tomary 30 minutes to the gentleman the immigration system forces them tion process. As it currently stands, from Colorado (Mr. POLIS), pending out. family green cards can take 6 or 7 which I yield myself such time as I Currently, we only select 5 percent of years to process and be approved. Dur- may consume. During consideration of our Nation’s legal immigrants based on ing these long years, families are sepa- this resolution, all time yielded is for skills and education they bring to the purpose of debate only. rated. A spouse or parent can be living America. So the vast majority of for- as a permanent resident in the United GENERAL LEAVE eign students who come to America for States while their loved ones wait back Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I ask advanced degrees and get their edu- home hoping to be reunited somewhere unanimous consent that all Members cation find themselves on a years-long down the line. This pro-family legisla- have 5 legislative days to revise and ex- green card waiting list and give up on tion would help reduce the time these tend their remarks. the idea of staying here in the United families need to spend apart without The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there States. speeding up or preempting the actual objection to the request of the gen- When they leave our country, they green card process. tleman from Florida? take with them all their training and Provisions contained within the There was no objection. all of their potential to go work for STEM Jobs Act would expand the V Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise America’s business competitors in Can- nonimmigrant visa program to allow today in support of this rule, which ada, Europe, and Asia. The exodus of spouses and minor children of perma- will allow the House of Representatives U.S.-trained STEM professionals has nent U.S. residents to come to the to consider H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs been referred to as reverse brain drain. United States to live with their loved Act of 2012. The STEM Act of 2012 would reverse ones once they have spent 1 year on the As I am sure my colleague from Colo- this trend. It would establish a pro- green card waiting list. The bill ex- rado will point out, H. Res. 821 is a gram to prioritize green cards for im- pressly states that these folks would closed rule. The fact is that like Mr. migrants with graduate-level degrees not be allowed to work, taking jobs POLIS, I prefer an open-amendment in the STEM fields. To offset the num- away from American citizens, nor process. Open rules let us come to- ber of green cards that would be given would they inherently be entitled to gether on both sides of the aisle and to the STEM Visa program, the bill any government welfare programs be- contribute ideas to help make a bill would eliminate the diversity lottery cause of the V visa in and of itself. better. green card program, a program that Similarly, the expanded V visa pro- Today’s rule will be closed, but that’s has been repeatedly highlighted as a gram won’t speed up or expedite the because the crafting of the STEM Jobs threat to our national security. green card process in any way. All it Act has been in a collaborative process The result is that there would be no does is this: It ensures that families for the last few months. Chairman net increase in the number of green don’t have to live separately and in un- SMITH, the author of this legislation, cards we give out as a Nation. The dif- certainty as to when they can be re- has already worked with his com- ference is that we will get immigrants united at an unknown time down the mittee, Republicans, Democrats, and who have the training and the skills line. It brings families back together.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.020 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6518 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 The simple fact is that our current the Rules Committee a bill that I have who don’t happen to be from Mexico, immigration system is ineffective. We for the permanent reauthorization of India, China or the other main coun- educate the world’s best and brightest the EB–5 visa program, a program that tries have a way of getting here. It’s a and then send them away to be our is not very controversial and has good program. competitors. We only prioritize about 5 strong support from both sides but suf- So, too, having a STEM visa program percent of our visas based upon what fers from temporary reauthorizations. is absolutely critical as it is important they actually contribute to our econ- This is a critical program for creating to our country to make sure that we omy. We have a diversity lottery sys- jobs for Americans because it allows can retain the talent that we attract to tem that is subject to widespread abuse companies to attract capital from in- our universities. There is something and opens up our country to entry of vestors, and those investors are able to that is so frustrating to me as an hostile intelligence officers, criminals, be part of those companies and grow American and to many of our constitu- and terrorists. We separate spouses, those companies, creating jobs for ents, and I talk about it frequently parents, and minor children for un- Americans. back home with my representing both known years on end. This program could be much more of our major State universities in Colo- We can do better with the STEM successful if the Rules Committee yes- rado as well as private universities in Jobs Act. It is an important step to- terday had, on a party-line vote, not my district: wards doing better. It makes the Amer- allowed that amendment to come to Here we are educating people from ican green card process smarter, safer, the floor. I’m confident that that across the world, and if you look at our and more family oriented. It protects amendment would have passed with engineering grad schools, we see a high American jobs and workers while still near universal support, and certainly number of foreign nationals on student supporting the American innovation strong support from both sides. visas. We are educating computer pro- industry, which is why over 100 major Instead of trying to catch and move grammers and aerospace engineers companies and councils have supported forward on some of the less controver- with the skills they need to compete in H.R. 6429. sial aspects of immigration which in no a 21st-century workforce. Upon giving I support this rule, and I hope all my way, shape, or form, again, prevent the them their master’s degrees or Ph.D.s, colleagues on both sides of the aisle need for a comprehensive solution, but we tell them, do you know what, you’re will. instead of even moving forward on the not allowed to work here in this coun- With that, I reserve the balance of noncontroversial aspects, we have a try. You have to move back to another my time. bill before us that is controversial be- country and compete against us. Guess Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the cause it weighs two important goals of what? The jobs follow them. In the dig- gentleman from Florida for yielding immigration against one another. So ital age, employers care less where an me the customary 30 minutes, and I rather than create a STEM Visa pro- employee is based. They care where the yield myself such time as I may con- gram as the IDEA Act does, as the talent is. If the best computer pro- sume. STAPLE Act, which I’m a cosponsor of grammer is only available for hire or if Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to with my colleague Congressman FLAKE an aerospace engineer is only available the rule for the underlying bill, H.R. from Arizona who has introduced it in for hire in India or in Mexico or in the 6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012. It is past sessions, rather than do that, it U.K., the companies will—and increas- important to talk about, in consider- asks the question of this body: Would ingly are—setting up divisions in those ation of this rule and this bill, what it we rather have a Diversity Visa con- countries to hire them rather than hir- is and what it isn’t. cept or would we rather have a STEM ing here. So the lack of having a STEM Here we are with a looming fiscal Visa concept? In reality, I think many job pathway is actively destroying cliff, and yet Congress has allowed no in this body would agree that both are American jobs every day. issue to fester longer than immigra- desirable. Here we are as a body being asked to tion. Whether one is on the left or the say under a closed rule, Is it more im- right or in the middle, I’m sure my col- b 1240 portant to have immigrants from coun- league from Florida would agree that Diversity Visas essentially go to im- tries other than Mexico, India, and whatever we’re doing now in immigra- migrants that are from countries other China? Is it more important to have tion is not working very well. We have than the main countries that send us some Ukrainians and Ethiopians and over 10 million people here illegally. immigrants. What are the main coun- Albanians? I use those examples be- There is rampant violation of the law. tries that send us immigrants? Obvi- cause those are some of the leading There is lackluster enforcement. Fami- ously, Mexico. In addition to that, countries that have used the Diversity lies are torn apart. there are China, Brazil, Bangladesh, Visa, but there are a broad number of What’s before us, regardless of the Pakistan, Peru, and several others. We countries that do. Is that something merits, which we’ll get into in a mo- have a lot of immigrants from Mexico that’s important? How does its impor- ment, clearly does not address the and these other countries. What the Di- tance compare to making sure that problems in our immigration system. versity Visa says is, shouldn’t we also those we train here are able to deploy Whether this bill becomes law or not, give opportunities to some residents of their talents here and create jobs in our immigration system will continue countries, like the Ukraine or Albania America rather than overseas? to have problems, and there will con- or Ethiopia, and have them also come Again, it’s a very frustrating propo- tinue to be over 10 million people here so that they’re not just crowded out by sition in the way the Republicans have in violation of the law, many working applicants from Mexico, India, and chosen to bring this to the floor: a, it illegally, in some cases taking jobs China? obviously doesn’t address the under- away from American citizens. If we don’t have a Diversity Visa, a lying issues of our immigration crisis So instead of a solution, we have a higher percentage of our immigrants in this country. It doesn’t change the bill before us that asks us to weigh two will be from Mexico, India, and China. fact that there are 10 million people goals of our immigration policy in Now, that’s okay—it’s certainly not here illegally, and it doesn’t prevent many ways against one another. There the end of the world—but there is value people from coming here illegally; b, it might very well be room for a non- in having immigrants from across the asks us to choose between two valuable controversial immigration bill that world. There is value in having Ukrain- programs. Rather than simply passing catches up and includes some of the ians come to this country. There is the Staples Act, rather than passing less controversial provisions, including value in having Ethiopians. In addi- the IDEA Act, it says that we’re going a STEM program, and there could very tion, there is value in people having di- to have to choose as a country to ben- well be room for that short of com- verse social backgrounds and ethnic efit either from STEM graduates or prehensive immigration reform. backgrounds coming to this country to from people from other countries other I support and am a cosponsor of the facilitate assimilation into this coun- than Mexico, India, and China. It’s a IDEA Act, which does that. I tried to try and integration into this country. false dilemma. amend into this bill and allow for the So I think that it was well thought out There were amendments that were consideration of this body yesterday in in having a concept whereby people offered by ZOE LOFGREN that would

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:09 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.022 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6519 have addressed that which were turned As a former Internet entrepreneur ago, and amends it to deny V visa hold- down by the Rules Committee. Again, myself and in representing our univer- ers eligibility to work and cuts out of there were strong bipartisan concepts sities, I know firsthand about the crit- the program spouses and minor chil- like EB–5 permanent authorization ical need to pass a STEM visa program. dren already living in the U.S. This that I offered, put forward, that were Not only would it create more high- backhanded, so-called family fix should also shut down in committee. In addi- paying, high-tech jobs for Americans, offend anyone who truly cares about tion, at a time of budget deficits and but it would produce tax revenues. It families. the looming fiscal crisis, this bill would make our country stronger and But the family provisions are even would increase the budget deficit by our economy stronger. Yet rather than worse than that. Families of STEM over $1 billion over the next 5 years; take up the IDEA Act or the Staples visa holders are treated fairly, but the and that is unpaid for as well. Act, we’re here with a backdoor at- families of ‘‘ordinary’’ green card hold- There are many ways that immigra- tempt by the Republicans to increase ers are treated as second class. If you tion can be looked at to reduce our the number of illegal immigrants in are a STEM degree holder, your spouse budget deficit, and there are many con- our country, which I would argue is not and minor children can immediately cepts of comprehensive immigration the right direction for immigration re- come to the United States and your reform either through fees paid by form. Immigration reform should be spouse is granted a work permit. My those who violate the law, penalties predicated around solving the crisis of colleagues on the other side of the aisle paid. Increased taxes going forward for illegal immigration. Rather than in- know this. However, if you’re an ‘‘ordi- those who would have to pay taxes creasing the number of illegal immi- nary’’ green card holder who applies to under immigration reform would actu- grants from 10 million to 12 million to bring your spouse and children to the ally reduce our deficit; but here we are 14 million, we need to find a way to re- United States through our regular fam- with a solitary idea around immigra- duce that number to as close to zero as ily immigration channels, you will tion that forces all Members of this is feasible, and that should be the goal make your spouse and children wait at body to weigh two valuable programs of immigration reform. least a year before joining you in the against one another, and at the same With that, I reserve the balance of U.S., and we will not allow your spouse time it costs taxpayers over $1 billion my time. to work once he or she gets here. over the next 5 years. It’s a choice that Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve I agree that STEM holders should be Congress shouldn’t face. the balance of my time. able to bring their families—their chil- There are also very legitimate con- Mr. POLIS. It is my honor to yield 3 dren and their wives or their hus- cerns that, not only does this bill minutes to a leader on immigration bands—and that their spouses should weigh two valuable programs and asks issues, the gentleman from Illinois be able to work legally in the United us to choose, but, in effect, it’s a back- (Mr. GUTIERREZ). States. However, I resent that the door way to reduce the number of legal Mr. GUTIERREZ. I thank the gen- spouses and children of other family- immigrants. There should be no hesi- tleman from Colorado and distin- based immigrants are treated dif- tation in saying that, by reducing the guished member of the Rules Com- ferently and unfairly. Apparently Re- number of legal immigrants, we will mittee for yielding time to me. publicans’ devotion to family extends increase the number of illegal immi- Despite bipartisan support for a clean only to families where the principal grants. This bill will likely increase STEM visa bill, this is a partisan bill immigrant is smart enough to earn a the number of illegal immigrants to that picks winners and losers in our Ph.D. or master’s degree in a STEM this country because the math doesn’t immigration system and requires the field, and that is something that I re- work. elimination of the Diversity Visa pro- sent. And that is something that all Now, why doesn’t the math work? gram before a single STEM visa can be Americans should abhor. It goes The bill purports to offset 55,000 STEM issued. In other words, we want to pick against the immigration diversity that green cards by eliminating 55,000 green immigrants we like and then eliminate we have, as a Nation, created. cards in the Diversity program. Now, if immigrants we don’t like as though Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I con- that were a one-on-one trade, that some are better than others. The inter- tinue to reserve. would be the same net number of immi- esting thing is that most of the Mem- Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like grants. The issue is, as to our institu- 1 bers of the House can look back into to yield 2 ⁄2 minutes to the gentleman tions of higher education that give their own personal histories and find from Michigan (Mr. CURSON), a new master’s degrees and Ph.D.s in the eli- their own family members and ances- Member of our body. gible areas to students on foreign visas, tors who come from the countries that Mr. CURSON of Michigan. Mr. Speak- there are not 55,000 foreign students are being eliminated. er, I rise today in opposition to H.R. who receive them every year. There 6429 because I have grave concerns with were, in fact, 29,904 last year, so about b 1250 the bill’s elimination of the Diversity 30,000. There is a backlog so that, after After the historic elections we’ve Visa program. The Diversity Visa pro- several years, the 55,000 would no just witnessed, it flies in the face of gram has given people from around the longer be able to be met; but then after our diverse American electorate to pre- world the opportunity to win the most 3 or 4 years and after the backlog was condition STEM visas on the elimi- precious lottery: the chance to come to met, this would likely lead to a reduc- nation of Diversity Visa immigrants, 50 the United States, to work hard, and to tion in legal immigration and to an in- percent of whom come from the con- earn the right to be an American. The crease in illegal immigration because tinent of Africa. Like STEM graduates, program increases our Nation’s ethnic only 29,000 foreign nationals are ma- they have much to contribute to the diversity and provides one of the few triculating with master’s and Ph.D.s in United States. legal pathways for immigration from the included areas; yet 55,000 visas We’ve seen this poison pill before— countries that are impoverished, per- would be removed from the program pitting immigrant against immigrant— secuted, or unfree. that allows Ukrainians, Ethiopians, when the House voted down H.R. 6429 I do support increasing STEM visas and people from countries that are not under suspension. But it gets worse. In- to foreign graduates. That will increase Mexico, India, China, and the other 12 serted in the new version of the bill is our pool of high-skilled workers that from coming to this country legally. an amendment to the V Visa program will promote new ideas, new tech- So I have very sincere concerns that, that the majority claims helps families nologies, and help our businesses stay rather than addressing the issue of ille- and makes the bill balanced and bipar- on the cutting edge of new things to gal immigration, this bill because of tisan. come. But we should not reward one the math and because of the numbers Let me be clear: this was not a provi- class of individuals and deny another that have been brought to my atten- sion negotiated with us on the Demo- class that’s not so blessed with the op- tion could actually increase illegal im- cratic side. It was negotiated with portunity to prove themselves. migration by reducing legal immigra- anti-immigrant groups and extremists H.R. 6429 would actually reduce legal tion, which is the last thing that we in the Republican Party. immigration levels by not allowing the need to do with regard to solving in a H.R. 6429 takes the V visa, a bipar- rollover of unused visas. It’s dis- bipartisan way our immigration crisis. tisan visa created more than 10 years appointing that there’s no opportunity

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:27 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.024 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 to craft sensible, bipartisan legislation bill was also made marginally better. I rection. The DREAM Act and the creation of a on an issue that so many Democrats think we have an opportunity here for STEM visa program should be low-hanging and Republicans agree on. us all to help break this logjam. Cre- fruit that almost everyone can embrace. H.R. 6412, the Democratic version, re- ating a STEM Visa program should be The deferred action announced by the ad- quires that employers offer wages to a no-brainer. ministration to give a sliver of hope to these STEM graduates that do not undercut This legislation is certainly not per- bright young people who study hard and play actual wages paid to U.S. workers with fect, and I agree, as I mentioned, with by the rules and who are good citizens was a similar levels of experience. I have wit- some of the reservations that have good step but should be followed by early ac- nessed over the last decade unscrupu- been advanced. Frankly, unless our ob- tion on the DREAM Act. I am proud this was lous employers who dramatically erod- jections are addressed, it will not pass passed by the previous Congress and I hope ed wages, not for competitive reasons, the Senate. We don’t support the phi- it will be the first order of business in the new but solely to transfer wealth from losophy that immigration needs to be Congress. These young people are the life- workers to executives. They were suc- zero sum. We need not eliminate the blood of America’s future and we should wel- cessful only because workers were hun- Diversity Visa program in order to add come them and do everything possible to en- gry for jobs and willing to work for this program. The Senate, as I said, sure their success. nearly any wage. The median house- will fix these provisions, if they take it I will vote for H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs hold income dropped by $3,700 in that up at all. Frankly, I hope they do take Act, which creates a STEM visa program and time while executive pay skyrocketed, it up and they do fix it. This would be would give 55,000 green cards a year to doc- even as our economy tanked. By con- an important signal to the next Con- toral and master’s graduates in science, tech- trast, the bill we are debating today gress that we can and must move for- nology, engineering and mathematical fields. I does not include wage protections and ward on broader immigration reform, reluctantly voted against this in September be- does not adequately ensure that Amer- like the comprehensive immigration cause it was brought forward as a last minute ican workers are protected. reform, that Senator MCCAIN pre- suspension bill designed to fail and create un- Equally important is that H.R. 6412 viously supported with the late-Sen- necessary political divisions. This time, dealing preserves the Diversity Visa program, ator Kennedy. with this in regular order is encouraging. It ensuring equal opportunity to work in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The was also made marginally better. For exam- our great land. Democrats and Repub- time of the gentleman has expired. ple, the new version of the legislation de- licans alike have forwarded great wis- Mr. POLIS. I yield the gentleman an creases the wait time for certain spouses and dom towards this issue. Now is the additional 30 seconds. children who are planning to join their loved time to cooperate with one another and Mr. BLUMENAUER. America needs ones with permanent residency in the United craft a truly bipartisan approach to to unite families, to protect and give States. It also removed a concerning provision immigration reform that provides for justice to young people, strengthen that forced STEM visa applicants to commit to equality of opportunity for all those business from high tech to agriculture working in the United States for five years. who seek the benefit of U.S. citizen- and help us live up to our ideals as a While prospects in the Senate are still dim, the ship. Nation of immigrants. most important change has been the willing- Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I con- A costly, inhumane, and broken immigration ness of my friends on the other side of the tinue to reserve the balance of my system is a shadow over the American land- aisle to take another look at immigration and time. scape. The current system denies the reality maybe dial down the political rhetoric. I was Mr. POLIS. It is my honor to yield of nearly 12 million immigrants, who for the personally willing to meet them halfway. 21⁄2 minutes to the gentleman from Or- most part are already part of the fabric of Creating a STEM visa program should be a egon (Mr. BLUMENAUER). American life. They work in American busi- no-brainer. It will make a huge difference in Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I ness and are often already integrated into ex- keeping the best and brightest from around appreciate the gentleman’s courtesy isting families. Strengthening and expanding the world in the United States. These students for yielding me this time, and I iden- legal immigration even helps grow our econ- come to our colleges and universities to re- tify with a number of the reservations omy. Conservative economists for the Cato In- ceive the best education available and it is in- that he mentioned about this legisla- stitute project that a comprehensive imigration sane to send them back home or to other tion. reform with a pathway to citizenship would countries if they want to stay here. It has been A costly, inhumane, and broken im- add $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy over 10 said that we should staple a green card to migration system is a shadow over the years. Unfortunately, rational immigration pol- every diploma for an advanced degree. We American landscape. The current sys- icy has fallen victim to some of the most ex- should certainly do whatever is necessary for tem denies the reality of nearly 12 mil- treme political cross currents in our country appropriate verification to ensure national se- lion immigrants, who, for the most which not only deny our roots, but violate fun- curity, but the overwhelming majority should part, are already part of the fabric of damental fairness and reality. be welcome to reside, be productive, create American life. They work in American Recent immigration legislation is costly, inef- families, and support businesses right here. business and are often already inte- ficient, and cruel as it relates to families al- grated into existing families. ready here. Young people brought here as The legislation is certainly not perfect and A consequence of this recent election children who know no other life and are Amer- unless our objection is addressed will not pass may well be a new reality on the Amer- ican in every sense, but are still denied the the Senate. We need comprehensive immigra- ican political scene when it comes to American dream. tion overhaul, not a piecemeal approach. I immigration, a willingness to soften A consequence of the election may well be also do not support the philosophy that immi- hard-edged positions and move us in a a new reality on the American political scene gration needs to remain zero-sum: we should more thoughtful direction. We are al- when it comes to immigration and a willing- not need to eliminate the diversity visa in ready hearing some of these signals ness to soften hard-edged positions and move order to add this program. I am confident the from the Senate this week. In a small us in a more thoughtful direction. Senate will fix these provisions. way, the legislation before us today There have been shifts in public attitude This would be an important signal to the may provide an additional opportunity embracing comprehensive solutions for some next Congress that we can and must move to move forward. time, but in the political arena this is a more forward on broader immigration reform. Amer- I voted against its earlier incarna- recent phenomenon. It will take time to do this ica needs to unite families, to protect and give tion—reluctantly—because it was de- right, but a willingness by some on the other justice to young people, strengthen business signed to fail. While I will vote today side of the aisle to offer their own version of from high-tech to agriculture, and help us live against the rule, tomorrow I will be the DREAM Act in the Senate, for example, is up to our ideals as a Nation of immigrants. voting for the legislation which would reason for optimism. Mr. POLIS. I would like to inquire if create the STEM Visa program and While I strongly support a comprehensive the gentleman from Florida has any re- give 55,000 green cards a year to doc- solution that provides a path to citizenship for maining speakers he’s expecting. toral and masters graduates in the people who are willing to play by the rules, Mr. NUGENT. I do not. science, technology, engineering, and work hard, pay their taxes, and demonstrate Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, seeing as I mathematical fields. Dealing with this citizenship skills, there are two intermediate am the last speaker from my side, I in regular order is encouraging. The steps that should get us moving in the right di- yield myself the balance of my time.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:27 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.026 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6521 As articulated by the gentleman PLE Act, which would simply create a Congress to solve a broken immigra- from Oregon, this bill presents a dif- new STEM immigrant visa program. tion system, I’m certainly not holding ficult decision for Members of this My other concern with this bill, as I my breath. body, and I certainly have great re- mentioned, is that it would increase The zero-sum bill on the floor asks us spect for people on both sides of the the number of illegal immigrants here to weigh one class of immigrants at the issue. in this country. Simply by the way expense of another, in effect, trying to that the math works, the number of play politics and avoid solving our im- b 1300 STEM graduates is lower than the migration crisis. I want to go over, again, some of the number of STEM visas that are avail- I think it’s time for a transparent pros and cons. The program that allows able each year. and open debate. It’s time for com- Ukrainians, Ethiopians, and Albanians Now, it would be one thing if that promise. It’s time to work in a bipar- to come in to make sure that a dis- was allowed to trickle down to other tisan fashion to actually replace our proportionate number of our immi- categories, or, for instance, the over- broken immigration system with one grants are not just from a small num- flow was allowed to be used for diver- that works for our country, one that ber of countries is important. Absent sity visas. There might be room for strengthens our economy, one that cre- that, a higher percentage of our immi- compromise. But instead, those excess ates jobs for Americans, one that grants will be from Mexico, India, and visas disappear. So after the backlog of makes our Nation’s immigration sys- China. So again, if this bill passes, a three or 4 years is dealt with, these tem more humane and makes it work- higher percentage of our immigrants 55,000 visas that are being taken away able and enforceable. will be from the major countries that from Albania and the Ukraine and This bill, for all its merits, for all its send people here. Ethiopia and Africa and Asia, the back problems, I think, we, both proponents Now, it’s not the end of the world, of those 55,000 visas will only result in and opponents can agree it falls short but there’s added value in having peo- 20,000 or so net immigrants. on that account of fixing our broken ple from all corners of the world come Now 29,000 graduates graduating from immigration system and replacing it here to become part of our great coun- institutions of higher education. Now, with one that works. It has no addi- try and, in many cases, this is the only keep in mind, not everybody wants to tional enforcement provisions, no bor- way that people from Nepal or Albania stay here. As attractive as our country der security provisions. It provides no or Ethiopia have a shot at coming to is, some people do want to learn here requirement for people who are here il- this country and succeeding. and go back to their other countries, legally to get right with the law. We also need people in this country and that’s certainly fine as well. But Rather, it does create an excellent across all different skill levels in our many will want to stay here. program to keep high-tech graduates labor market. And whether that labor But in losing some of those visas, here. It destroys another valuable pro- includes toiling in the field or toiling again, we are only increasing the im- gram to keep people from countries in downtown buildings at night or pro- migration problem, the illegal immi- other than Mexico and India and China gramming computers or designing air- gration problem, and moving in the op- and the UK here. It likely will increase craft, we have needs across all sectors posite direction of addressing immigra- illegal immigration by 10 or 20,000 a of our economy—yes, in STEM, but not tion in this country. There is little to year, and provides no solution. just in STEM. be proud of with regard to the current So a difficult decision for all Mem- So we are asked to choose, asked to state of affairs in immigration. bers of this body. And I’d like to think choose between people with graduate It’s very different than when my that Members on both sides, hopefully, degrees whom we want to keep here in great-grandparents came here and got would agree that we can do better. We science, technology, engineering, and off at Ellis Island and registered and, need to do better. We’ve been called math. In many cases, if they’re not al- albeit with a misspelled name, were upon by the voters of this country to lowed to stay, they will have to return able to go to work the next day. It’s be- do better. to other countries, and the jobs will coming harder and harder. And I encourage, whether it’s in this follow them, costing our country jobs. The absence of a legal way of immi- Congress or the next Congress, to take Choose between them and allowing grating that is in touch with our labor up the difficult but critical issue of re- people here from countries other than market in this country, the lack of placing our broken immigration sys- Mexico, India, and China, some of having an operative immigration sys- tem with one that works for our coun- whom are high-skilled, some of whom tem has led to over 10 million people try, creates prosperity for America, are low-skilled, a diverse group across being here illegally, working illegally, helps reduce our budget deficit, is hu- the board. Looking back at many of as my colleague from Oregon said, in mane, is enforceable. No one said it our own forebears, certainly mine, my many cases, integrated into our com- would be easy, but that’s what the peo- family came to this country in the late munities. Many of them have American ple send us here to do. 19th century, and early 20th century, children, are parents of American kids, And regardless of the outcome of this 1890s, 1905. They didn’t have master’s and yet, without any way, currently, of particular bill, we are simply taking degrees. They didn’t have Ph.D.s. They getting right with the law. another week in avoiding addressing didn’t have college degrees. And that’s What we need to do in immigration the real issues of the immigration cri- the case for many of our forebears. reform is require that people who are sis in this country. Here today their great-grandson sits here illegally get right with the law, I encourage my colleagues to vote as a Member of Congress, and had a rather than prevent them from getting against the rule, which was a closed program not existed whereby they right with the law, which is what we do process and doesn’t allow for consider- could arrive at Ellis Island and be here, currently. ation of even noncontroversial amend- I wouldn’t be here today. So, again, while STEM immigration ments such as my EB–5 amendment. Now, my father has a Ph.D., but is very important, my colleagues are I yield back the balance of my time. that’s the legacy of his hard-working being asked, in a closed process, to Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield immigrant grandparents that came to weigh that with the issue of immi- myself such time as I may consume this country without a college degree grants from countries like the Ukraine To my good friend from Colorado, we and, in many cases, without something and Albania. At the same time, again, agree on so many issues, particularly that’s the equivalent of even a high this bill will increase the number of il- as it relates to immigration reform. We school degree today. To work hard, to legal immigrants in this country. Per- agree. I think this is the first step in live the American Dream, and for their haps increasing the number of illegal regards to where we need to go. You descendents, to be able to serve in this immigrants will redouble the efforts of have sold a very persuasive argument august body. this Congress to address this issue. in regards to why it is so important, so So it’s a cause for reflection. Both But, given the enormous dimension important, that we have a STEM visa are important. And again, the closed of the problem already and the com- program; why it’s important to us to process of the bill doesn’t allow for a plete lack of consideration of any keep that brain power that we edu- discussion of the IDEA Act or the STA- meaningful immigration bill by this cated in the United States, keep them

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:27 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.027 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6522 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 here in this country to support our has the option to bring it up, debate it, come law. The President has already businesses and our manufacturing so vote on it, amend it, and send it back kind of said he wouldn’t sign it. I don’t we can be more competitive on a global to the House. Do your job. I agree that know how you can have it both ways, market. You have made my case on that’s what they should do. At least Mr. Speaker. When we talk about that argument. have the discussion. When the Senate STEM, those individuals who have I’ll agree with you that this immi- comes out and says, We’re going to ig- come to our universities and graduate gration system that we have is broken. nore it, we’re not going to do anything with a degree in those STEM sciences, I wasn’t here 2 years ago or 4 years ago with it, that’s a disservice to the how we can just ignore them and say, when the Democrats were in power in American public, it’s a disservice to Listen, this is good for America. both the House and the Senate and the those that create jobs, and those Amer- Instead of making this a Republican Presidency, and they moved nothing icans that need jobs. or Democratic idea, why don’t we just forward that we’re talking about You talk about a zero sum game. pass it because it’s the right idea? today. This is not a way to reduce immigra- Let’s do something for once that’s good tion. I don’t know where my good b 1310 for America. Let’s do something once friend got the numbers about how this that’s good for those green card holders It’s disappointing when you have all is going to increase the number of ille- that are currently here in the United the levels of government and you don’t gal immigrants to this country. I’ve States, bringing their families together accomplish anything as it relates to never heard that before. I’ve never seen so they can become productive in what- this. And now we want to turn it anything in writing as relates to that. ever sense their family decides. around and say that this is a flawed I’m not saying it’s not true, but I don’t Wouldn’t we want to do that? I would bill. At the end of the day, this meets know that. I think it just sounds like a want to do that. I want to see families the needs of our corporations of cre- good number. What we don’t want to do reunited, not split apart, not kept be- ating more jobs here in America, about is scare people to be opposed to some- cause of some arcane rule that’s going putting more people to work, and it thing that is good for America. to take them 6 or 7 years, maybe, to We made an investment as a Nation also rectifies an issue on the V-Visa get a green card so they can bring their in these foreign students when they program in regards to instead of having family here in the United States, where came here, when we allowed them here families split because someone has a this would allow them to come 1 year in the STEM fields. Why let that in- legitimate green card as a resident after being on the waiting list, they get vestment leave? Why would we ignore here, that he has to be split or she has the opportunity to come here and be that investment and say, you know to be split from their family. The reunited with their family. what? we don’t care, when it has a di- mother of their children or their chil- For all that we hear about Demo- rect negative impact on this country— dren are kept from coming in the crats are always for families, this time not on any other country—on this United States. Because today, the way I guess they’re not. This time I guess country it has a direct negative im- the program is, they are kept from because they’re from some other coun- pact. It’s just common sense. And I coming to the United States. So they try, maybe they’re just not that impor- don’t have an opportunity to get a job, guess that’s the problem. Sometimes common sense and Washington, D.C., tant. They are to me. I think it’s im- anyhow. portant. Here’s once where the Repub- But what this does do is it rectifies a are vast worlds apart. While looking at this, it’s just a licans are stepping forward on an im- problem that allows parents to be re- migration issue that’s good for Amer- united with their children. I don’t small, commonsense reform to our im- migration policy. But what it does do ica, it’s good for the people that are know, but that’s important to me as a currently here on green cards legally. father of three. I would much rather is addresses a dangerous Diversity Visa problem. Even the former Deputy As- It allows them to reinvest. How can have had my family here if I was a resi- this be bad for America? Is it because dent alien here. I would rather have my sistant Secretary of State for Visa Services testified in front of the Judi- it’s a Republican idea? Is that the rea- family here so I could reach out and ciary Committee that visa lottery son why this is a bad piece of politics? touch them and help encourage them fraud includes multiple entries, fraudu- I would hope not. I would hope that my and move them forward in the Amer- lent claims to education and work ex- colleagues across the aisle will be like ican principles—that’s what I would perience, pop-up spouses or family Mr. BLUMENAUER from Oregon and look want to do—versus trying to talk members, and false claims of employ- at the real merits of it. across great distances to try to bring a ment or financial support in the United While not perfect in any sense of the family together. That’s no way to raise States. His words, not mine. word, as is any legislation that comes a family. But they do it because they For example, one third-party agent out of this place, at least it’s a move have to. This rectifies that problem. in Bangladesh entered every single and a step in the right direction. And While it doesn’t allow them to go out name from a phone book in Bangladesh let the Senate do their job. Let the and get a job, it does bring the family into the lottery system in order to ex- Senate bring it up. Let the Senate vote unit back together again. I know, Mr. tort money. If your name got pulled he on it and amend it and send it back to POLIS, you have a son. You would rath- would go to you and extort money so the House. Let the Senate for once do er have your son with you than a thou- you can come to the United States. Or, their job. And then, Mr. President, you sand miles away, as I would. guess what? Sell that winning slot to can make a decision whether you’re So this is a step in the right direc- someone else. going to veto it or not. But let’s quit tion. This is moving us forward, not That’s not what the whole program playing politics with immigration. moving us backwards. This is actually was designed for. I would suggest to Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank my taking an approach that should have you that students that are coming good friend from Colorado because we been taken 4 years ago, and the Demo- from foreign countries come across- agree on so many issues as it relates to crats punted it down the field. In Sep- the-board. We have them from China, this. We just don’t agree on everything. tember, we voted on this initial STEM we have them from the Ukraine, as you Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance bill and we had 30 Democrats across like to keep pointing out, and from all of my time, and I move the previous the aisle vote with us. We didn’t meet over the world to come to our univer- question on the resolution. the threshold of two-thirds because it sities, particularly for those STEM de- The previous question was ordered. was under suspension. grees, advanced degrees. So I would Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that this bill has the suggest to you that you’re going to I rise today to oppose H. Res. 821, the Rule ability to cut across the aisle. And we continue that diversity by getting peo- providing for the consideration of H.R. 6429 heard our good friend from Oregon talk ple that have gone to the max that are ‘‘STEM Jobs Act,’’ a bill which eliminates the about it—for the right reasons. Just be- going to be so productive here in Amer- Diversity Visa Program. cause it’s not perfect doesn’t mean we ica to help us. It’s not a sum game. It’s Nearly 15 million people, representing about should just throw it in the scrap heap. just a rational game. 20 million with family members included, reg- And I agree that we can pass this bill I really wish that I knew that if we istered late last year for the 2012 Diversity and send it to the Senate. The Senate passed this today, that it would be- Visa Program under which only 50,000 visa

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.029 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6523 winners were to be selected via random selec- Diversity Visa recipients go through the Denham Kelly Reed Dent King (IA) Rehberg tion process. same immigration, criminal, and national secu- DesJarlais King (NY) Reichert Each year, diversity visa winners make up rity background checks that all people apply- Diaz-Balart Kingston Renacci about 4% of all Legal Permanent Resident ing for Lawful Permanent Residence undergo. Dold Kinzinger (IL) Ribble (LPR) admissions. They also are interviewed by State Depart- Donnelly (IN) Kissell Rigell Dreier Kline Rivera SEEDS OF DIVERSITY ment and Department of Homeland Security Duffy Labrador Roby Unlike every other visa program, its express personnel. Duncan (SC) Lamborn Roe (TN) Duncan (TN) Lance purpose is to help us develop a racially, eth- FRAUD Rogers (AL) nically, and culturally-diverse population. It Ellmers Landry Rogers (KY) Since the State Department OIG first raised Emerson Lankford serves a unique purpose and it works. In re- Rogers (MI) concerns about fraud in 1993, significant Farenthold Latham Rohrabacher cent years, African immigrants have com- Fincher LaTourette Rokita changes have been made. In 2004, State im- Fitzpatrick Latta prised about 50% of the DV program’s bene- plemented an electronic registration system. Rooney Flake Lewis (CA) Ros-Lehtinen ficiaries. This allows State to use facial and name rec- Fleischmann LoBiondo Diversity Visa immigrants succeed and con- Roskam ognition software to identify duplicate applica- Fleming Long Ross (AR) tribute to the U.S. economy. According to the Flores Lucas tions and to share date with intelligence and Ross (FL) Congressional Research Service, in FY 2009 Forbes Luetkemeyer Royce law enforcement agencies for necessary immi- Fortenberry Lummis Diversity Visa immigrants were 2.5 times more Runyan gration and security checks. Foxx Lungren, Daniel Ryan (WI) likely to report managerial and professional Franks (AZ) E. Scalise In 2012 there was an incident where 20,000 Frelinghuysen Mack occupations than all other lawful permanent Schilling people were erroneously notified that they Gardner Marchant Schock residents. Garrett Marino were finalists in the Diversity program. They Schweikert The Diversity Visa program promotes re- Gerlach Massie would have the opportunity to enter the lottery. Scott (SC) spect for U.S. immigration laws. It reduces in- Gibbs Matheson Scott, Austin The OIG investigated and found this was due Gibson McCarthy (CA) centives for illegal immigration by encouraging Sensenbrenner to a computer error. There was no evidence of Gingrey (GA) McCaul Sessions prospective immigrants to wait until they win a Gohmert McClintock intentional fraud, as a safety precaution and Shimkus visa, as opposed to attempting to enter with- Goodlatte McHenry Shuler because of the principle of fairness the State Gosar McIntyre out permission. Shuster Department did the lottery again. Gowdy McKeon U.S. FOREIGN POLICY INTERESTS Granger McKinley Simpson The Diversity Visa sustains the American The Diversity Visa program has led the way Smith (NE) in applying cutting edge technology to reduce Graves (GA) McMorris Dream in parts of the world where it rep- Graves (MO) Rodgers Smith (NJ) Smith (TX) resents the only realistic opportunity for immi- fraud and increase security. The program was Griffin (AR) Meehan one of the first in the government to use facial Griffith (VA) Mica Southerland grating to the U.S. Stearns recognition software to analyze digital photo- Grimm Miller (FL) Former Rep. Bruce Morrison—one of the ar- Guinta Miller (MI) Stivers chitects of the Diversity Visa—testified in 2005 graphs. Guthrie Miller, Gary Stutzman Terry that the program advances a principle that is I join the vast majority of my Democratic Hall Moran colleagues in supporting an expansion of the Hanna Mulvaney Thompson (PA) ‘‘at the heart of the definition of America’’; the Harper Murphy (PA) Thornberry principle that ‘‘all nationalities are welcome.’’ STEM program. H.R. 6429 attempt to increase Harris Myrick Tiberi Ambassador Johnny Young, Executive Di- the STEM Visa program is an admirable one; Hartzler Neugebauer Tipton rector of Migration and Refugee Services, U.S. however, I firmly believe it should not come at Hastings (WA) Noem Turner (NY) the expense of the Diversity Immigration Visa Hayworth Nugent Upton Conference of Catholic Bishops, testified at a Heck Nunes Walberg 2011 Judiciary Committee hearing: ‘‘The Pro- Program and should include a broader range Hensarling Nunnelee Walden gram engenders hope abroad for those that of institutions. Herger Olson Walsh (IL) Webster I firmly support Rep. LOFGREN’s bill, H.R. Herrera Beutler Palazzo are all too often without it—hope for a better Huelskamp Paul West life, hope for reunification with family in the 6412 which is a clean STEM Visa bill and cre- Huizenga (MI) Paulsen Westmoreland United States, and hope for a chance to use ates a visa program for students graduating Hultgren Pearce Whitfield their God-given skills and talents.’’ with advanced STEM degrees from U.S. re- Hunter Peterson Wilson (SC) search universities, without eliminating the Di- Hurt Petri Wittman AMENDMENTS OFFERED IN JUDICIARY AND RULES Issa Pitts Wolf During the Judiciary Committee’s markup of versity Visa Program. Jenkins Platts Womack a bill earlier this year to kill the Diversity Visa Frankly, it appears there are Republicans Johnson (IL) Poe (TX) Woodall who have been needlessly targeting this pro- Johnson (OH) Pompeo Yoder program, I offered an amendment directing the Johnson, Sam Posey Young (AK) Secretaries of Homeland Security and State to gram, as a means to decrease legal immigra- Jones Price (GA) Young (FL) report to Congress on steps that could be tion. Jordan Quayle Young (IN) taken to further eliminate fraud and security The SPEAKER pro tempore. The risks in the Diversity Visa program. Rather question is on the resolution. NAYS—170 than vote to fix the program and defend legal The question was taken; and the Altmire Connolly (VA) Grijalva Speaker pro tempore announced that Andrews Conyers Gutierrez immigration and diversity in our immigrant Baca Cooper Hahn pool, every Republican on the Committee who the ayes appeared to have it. Baldwin Costa Hanabusa was present voted down the amendment. Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I Barrow Courtney Hastings (FL) Once again I offered 2 amendments in demand the yeas and nays. Bass (CA) Critz Heinrich Becerra Crowley Higgins Rules Committee to protect the Diversity Visa The yeas and nays were ordered. Berkley Cuellar Himes Program, and once again the Republican ma- The vote was taken by electronic de- Berman Cummings Hinchey jority on the Committee voted against it. vice, and there were—yeas 243, nays Bishop (GA) Curson (MI) Hinojosa Bishop (NY) Davis (CA) Hirono NO SIGNIFCANT EVIDENCE OF A SECURITY RISK 170, not voting 19, as follows: Blumenauer Davis (IL) Hochul No substantive evidence has been given [Roll No. 611] Bonamici DeFazio Holden that the Diversity Program poses a significant Brady (PA) DeGette Holt YEAS—243 Braley (IA) DeLauro Honda risk to our national security. There are organi- Adams Bishop (UT) Camp Brown (FL) DelBene Hoyer zations like Numbers USA who are not just Aderholt Black Campbell Butterfield Deutch Israel advocating against illegal immigration but also Akin Blackburn Canseco Capps Dicks Jackson Lee wish to place caps on or decrease legal immi- Alexander Bonner Cantor Capuano Dingell (TX) Amash Bono Mack Capito Carnahan Doggett Johnson (GA) gration as well. Amodei Boren Carter Carney Doyle Johnson, E. B. As former Congressman Bruce Morrison Bachmann Boswell Cassidy Carson (IN) Edwards Kaptur testified in 2005: ‘‘[I]t is absurd to think that a Bachus Boustany Chabot Castor (FL) Ellison Keating lottery would be the vehicle of choice for ter- Barletta Brady (TX) Chaffetz Chandler Engel Kildee Bartlett Brooks Coble Chu Eshoo Kind rorists.’’ 12 to 20 million people enter the Di- Barton (TX) Broun (GA) Coffman (CO) Cicilline Farr Kucinich versity Visa lottery each year and no more Bass (NH) Buchanan Cole Clarke (MI) Fattah Langevin than 50,000 visas are available. Benishek Bucshon Conaway Clarke (NY) Fudge Larsen (WA) In 2007, GAO ‘‘found no documented evi- Berg Buerkle Cravaack Clay Garamendi Larson (CT) Biggert Burgess Crawford Cleaver Gonzalez Levin dence that DV immigrants . . . posed a ter- Bilbray Burton (IN) Crenshaw Clyburn Green, Al Lewis (GA) rorist or other threat.’’ Bilirakis Calvert Culberson Cohen Green, Gene Lipinski

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:27 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29NO7.008 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6524 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 Loebsack Perlmutter Sewell Iran’s mullahs shipped long-range that most Americans have come to now Lofgren, Zoe Peters Sherman rockets into Sudan, sent them up into understand as the acronym for science, Lowey Pingree (ME) Sires Luja´ n Polis Slaughter Egypt before smuggling them through technology, engineering, and math. Lynch Price (NC) Smith (WA) tunnels and assembling them in Gaza. As a longstanding member on the Maloney Quigley Speier Israel responded by doing the only Subcommittee on Immigration and on Markey Rahall Sutton thing a responsible nation should do: it Homeland Security, STEM is now a Matsui Rangel Thompson (CA) McCarthy (NY) Reyes Thompson (MS) defended itself. Now the United States basis for expanding visas to ensure or McCollum Richardson Tierney needs to show there are consequences to give opportunities to young people McDermott Richmond Tonko McGovern Rothman (NJ) for attacking this sovereign nation, who are graduating from our research Tsongas McNerney Ruppersberger consequences for Hamas and Iran, as institutions of higher learning who Van Hollen Meeks Rush Vela´ zquez well. have been born in other countries and Michaud Ryan (OH) We should have stricter enforcement to give them the ability to be able to Miller (NC) Sa´ nchez, Linda Visclosky Miller, George T. Walz (MN) of sanctions against Iran. Iran and stay here in order to help create jobs Moore Sanchez, Loretta Wasserman Hamas both need to be held account- and to build this economy. That’s a Nadler Sarbanes Schultz able for these attacks. Israel had the good thing. Yet on November 6, 2012, I Napolitano Schakowsky Waters Neal Schiff Watt moral right and legal duty to defend think America spoke and said, We’re Olver Schrader Waxman itself from attacks by the barbarians, ready to do more and go further. Pallone Schwartz Welch Hamas. There is a ceasefire, but only I voted ‘‘no’’ on the rule because I be- Pascrell Scott (VA) Wilson (FL) until Hamas obtains more Iranian mis- lieve we are ready for comprehensive Pastor (AZ) Scott, David Woolsey Pelosi Serrano Yarmuth siles. immigration reform, not something Hamas is the puppet, and Iran is the that will hurt us, but something that NOT VOTING—19 puppeteer. The Iranian regime needs to will help us. For those who appreciated Ackerman Lee (CA) Schmidt go. The Iranian people need to rid the Statue of Liberty that welcomed Austria Manzullo Stark Barber Murphy (CT) Sullivan themselves of the little fellow from the the poor and the downtrodden, that Costello Owens Towns desert, Ahmadinejad, and his ways of welcomed the Irish and the Germans Filner Payne Turner (OH) war. and the Italians, we know that com- Frank (MA) Pence Gallegly Roybal-Allard And that’s just the way it is. prehensive immigration reform is the f right way. This rule, H. Res. 821, is not b 1342 the right way. So I ask my colleagues Messrs. HONDA, ELLISON, CARNEY, b 1350 to look to comprehensive immigration CLEAVER, and Ms. LINDA T. NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS reform, and I will speak about this bill ´ SANCHEZ of California changed their MONTH tomorrow. vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ f So the resolution was agreed to. (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given The result of the vote was announced permission to address the House for 1 UPHOLDING THE SECOND AMEND- as above recorded. minute and to revise and extend his re- MENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS A motion to reconsider was laid on marks.) (Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois asked and the table. Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise was given permission to address the Stated against: today to recognize the more than 65 House for 1 minute.) Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 611, I million family caregivers across the Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Twelve was away from the Capitol due to prior com- Nation who work tirelessly and self- years ago, I took an oath to defend the mitments to my constituents. Had I been lessly to care for loved ones who are Constitution of the United States. I am present, I would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ chronically ill, disabled or aging. So here today to urge my colleagues to f this month, we celebrate National uphold our Second Amendment right to Family Caregivers Month, which is a ELECTING MEMBERS TO CERTAIN bear arms. time to thank all those heroes who sac- Congress has to put aside partisan STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE rifice their time and effort in looking HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES differences and act to uphold a citizen’s after others. right to bear arms in every State in Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. It is estimated that family caregivers the Union. Unfortunately, in my home Speaker, by direction of the Demo- provide 80 percent of our Nation’s long- State, residents are denied the ability cratic Caucus, I offer a privileged reso- term care, saving families about $375 to carry firearms even though the resi- lution and ask for its immediate con- billion annually. Caregivers are the si- dents of every other State in the Union sideration. lent heroes of the family. They work are allowed to protect themselves and The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- day in and day out to ensure that those their property. The Second Amend- lows: in need of care receive that support. ment is clear and concise, and it was H. RES. 822 Taking care of sick family members is, meant to protect all residents no mat- Resolved, That the following named Mem- no doubt, a difficult job; and I encour- ter where they live. bers be and are hereby elected to the fol- age caregivers to continue to utilize I urge Congress and the States to up- lowing standing committees of the House of the resources they have in their com- hold this fundamental and basic right. Representatives: munities for support. (1) COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.—Mr. f I would like to acknowledge the hard Garamendi. THANK YOU, NOT GOODBYE (2) COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND work of the family caregivers in Min- TECHNOLOGY.—Mr. Curson. nesota and of those helping families in The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. POE The resolution was agreed to. America. Your work to support your of Texas). Under the Speaker’s an- A motion to reconsider was laid on families exemplifies the true meaning nounced policy of January 5, 2011, the the table. of putting someone else’s needs first. gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. f f BIGGERT) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. HAMAS IS THE PUPPET AND IRAN COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION Mrs. BIGGERT. Thank you, Mr. IS THE PUPPETEER REFORM Speaker. (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked I begin this Special Order for those given permission to address the House and was given permission to address Members on this side of the aisle who for 1 minute and to revise and extend the House for 1 minute and to revise are retiring or who are leaving at the his remarks.) and extend her remarks.) end of 2012, so I rise today not to say Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. goodbye, but to say thank you. eyes of the world were on the Gaza Speaker, just about 40 minutes or so After 14 wonderful and productive Strip for 8 days as sirens wailed and ago, we were in the midst of a debate years, I will be stepping away from this Hamas rained rockets down on Israel. concerning STEM, which is something podium for the last time at the end of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29NO7.006 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6525 the 112th Congress. Representing the gress have all been as the result of col- What I heard around America was that people of the 13th District of Illinois laboration. My work to keep homeless they want people who will sit down to- has been the great honor of my life- kids in school, to bar genetic discrimi- gether and try to solve the problems time. Words cannot express the depth nation, or to reform the Nation’s Flood that confront America’s families and of gratitude I feel to my friends, col- Insurance Program were all signed into America’s workers. leagues, supporters, and staff who have law after extensive personal conversa- I want to say to the gentlelady from made this time in Washington so cheer- tions with Members of the upper Cham- Illinois, my experience with her, ful and fulfilling. I can recall the first ber. We have great leaders here in the throughout her career, has been that time that I stepped out onto the House House, but they alone cannot maintain she is one of those types of people. And floor as a Member of this great body communications between the two I want to thank her. I want to thank and said to myself, How did I end up in greatest deliberative bodies in the her for her decency. I want to thank the U.S. Congress, surrounded by the world. It’s up to all of us, and it will be her for her hard work. I want to thank legacies of so many great leaders? to all of you. her for her commitment to country Growing up on the south side of Chi- So, Mr. Speaker, my advice is to first. It’s been a privilege to serve with cago, I never expected to become a law- work together across the aisle and you, Judy, and I look forward to being yer or a school board president, much across the Capitol. I urge my col- your friend for many years to come. I less a Member of Congress. At the leagues to stay close to their voters wish you great success in the future. time, few women went to college, let and true to their principles, but to I wanted to say that because too alone law school. Today, I know the never let ‘‘compromise’’ become a dirty often the public sees us confronting path here was often the same for all word. That’s what our constituents one another and sometimes being who have walked these Halls. We are want; that’s what America needs; and angry with one another, but you and I just Americans who love our commu- that’s what has made these last 14 have had the opportunity to work to- nities and our country and who found years the source of great joy in my life, gether and I know the good heart that ourselves pursuing that love through none of which, I should add, would have you have and the openness that you service to others. Even among those been possible without my wonderful have displayed, and I thank you for who rarely see eye to eye, I know that staff. that. we share a passion for creating a better Before I close, I must give thanks to Mrs. BIGGERT. And I thank you, the future for the next generation and that these individuals who have been with minority whip, so much for those com- there has always been enough to bridge me for months or years and who have ments. That really is very kind of you, any gap that divides us. Maybe that’s never let up in their service to the resi- and I appreciate it. why I’ve always been known as a mod- dents of the 13th Congressional District Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentlelady. erate. I like to assume the best about of Illinois. From casework, to flag re- Mr. PERLMUTTER. Would the gen- people with whom I disagree, at least quests, to building roads or to passing tlelady yield for one more comment? until they prove me wrong. Thank- laws, my staff has taken every chal- Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield to the gen- fully, I can say without question that lenge in stride, has brought out the tleman from Colorado (Mr. PERL- I’ve rarely been wrong, which is why best in me, and has done it all without MUTTER). my faith in this country and its future ever seeking recognition, praise, or a Mr. PERLMUTTER. I just wanted to has never been stronger. raise. echo Mr. HOYER’s comments. You and I But listening is the key. Lawmakers I also want to thank the great com- have served together on the Financial must listen to those around them as mittee staff with Financial Services, Services Committee. We have worked one American to another, as neighbors with Education and the Workforce, and together on legislation that I was pro- with shared values and without assum- with Science, Space, and Technology, posing and that you were proposing, ing that any difference of opinion is as well as the team at Ethics, with and working with you was always a evidence of greed, ignorance, or malice. whom I worked for several years. Also, pleasure and an honor. I always appre- I was fortunate. I learned that lesson thank you to the unappreciated staff ciated the knowledge you would bring early. Maybe it was because I was the here on the House floor, who always to all of these different discussions; only female Republican in my fresh- keeps the debate moving forward. and the fact that you were willing to man class here. All of my colleagues, Most of all, I would like to thank work with me in such a fashion, that chairmen and ranking members seemed Kathy Lyndon, the best chief of staff helped bring me along as a Member of eager to come and say hello, to wel- and friend that a Member of Congress Congress. I think you definitely come me with a smile and sage advice. ever asked for. Without her, I would brought legislation to the country that Their advice served me well, and, in not be here; and without her, I would was of value, and I just want to thank turn, it allowed me to serve my con- not have been able to assemble one of the gentlelady from Illinois. stituents better. My hope is that our the smartest and most capable staffs in Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gen- incoming class of lawmakers follows a Washington. tleman. I will always think of you as similar path and that they come to the green man from Colorado. Washington ready to learn from those b 1400 Now I would like to yield to the gen- around them and to benefit from the So, thank you. Thank you to my col- tleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. TODD diversity of backgrounds and experi- leagues, my staff, my friends, my fam- PLATTS, who is also retiring. ences that can be found here in the ily, my supporters, and even my critics Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentlelady. Capitol. who have helped me to grow, to learn, Before commenting on my own re- Because we face great challenges— and to serve the people of Illinois. I tirement, I want to echo the gentlemen the economy, immigration, the debt, have always viewed public service as a from Colorado and Maryland, Mr. Social Security, and Medicare—on privilege, not a career, and you have PERLMUTTER and Mr. HOYER, and their these items and more we must find the all made this the fondest privilege of right-on-point remarks, Judy, about answers soon if we hope to keep our my life. you and your service. country on a path to prosperity. Those Mr. HOYER. Will the gentlelady We have sat together for the last 12 solutions will only materialize if the yield? years on the Ed Committee working on Members of Congress take a chance, Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield to the gen- education issues and children’s issues. work together, and care more about re- tleman from Maryland. You’ve been such a great leader on the sults than sound bites or the next elec- Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentlelady issue of homeless children and the im- tion. Equally important, they must be for yielding. portance of us doing right by them in willing to take a walk a few hundred I was in the cloakroom having some the education arena even though they feet to the other side of the rotunda. lunch, and I heard the gentlelady’s were homeless—and maybe all the The House and the Senate are two comments. Most of us—a lot of us— more important that we do right by sides of the same coin, and yet they went around this country listening to them. have never seemed further apart. My people as well as speaking on behalf of When we hear the terms ‘‘statesman’’ proudest moments as a Member of Con- our respective candidacies and parties. or ‘‘public servant,’’ you epitomize

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.037 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6526 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 both. Judy, it has been a great privi- teered on my first campaign. It was supper where everybody brings a dish lege to work with you. Jerry Ford running for reelection for and we’ll have food, we’ll get some As I think back to arriving 12 years President, John Heinz for the United good work done. But the people of the ago, one, it is hard to believe it has States Senate, and Bill Goodling for 19th district is what allowed me to been 12 years since first coming here. his first reelection to represent the come here. That first campaign I was My decision about a year ago, January 19th Congressional District of Pennsyl- outspent 5–1, 3–1, 2–1, and because of of this year, to step down was not an vania. Pretty eerie, 24 years later, after the people, I’ve been allowed to serve easy one, but it’s one that I felt was volunteering for Mr. Goodling as a here for the last 12 years, and I will be the right decision for me. I’ve always ninth grader, that’s who I succeeded. forever grateful for that. been one who believed in 12-year term When he retired after 26 years here in Before I wrap up, I’d be very remiss if limits and thought I’ve got to live the people’s House, I had the privilege I didn’t recognize my family. My wife, what I preach as a servant, as a public to succeed him. But I have known ever Leslie, well, we celebrated 22 years of official, but maybe most importantly since then that this is what I wanted to marriage this past July. I’ve been in of- as a dad, that I needed to set a good ex- do. fice for 20 of those, 8 in the State ample to my sons, Tom and TJ, that So first, I thank the citizens of the House, 12 here. And so this is our first they saw me living up to my word and district for allowing me this privilege election year in 22 years where we that my actions backed up my words. and for giving me their trust. Certainly weren’t campaigning, going door to So while it wasn’t an easy decision to I could not have served the citizens door. And I certainly would not be decide to leave this great Chamber, I back home without a tremendous staff standing here as a Member of the believe it was the right one. in the district, as well as here in Wash- United States House of Representatives But it has been such a privilege to ington. I have been blessed with just but for her great love and support over represent the people of Pennsylvania’s true public servants. When we would all these years, along with our sons, 19th Congressional District—Adams, hire, I never asked what their party T.J. and Tom, and my extended family. Cumberland, and York counties; Get- registration was or anything about Mom and Dad. Dad passed away my tysburg, Carlisle, and York, the county their politics other than, Why do you first year here in Congress, but Babs seats in the three counties in my dis- want to serve, and why do you want to and Dutch Platts; my brothers, Mark trict—and the fact that 12 years ago serve in the 19th District in particular? and Craig; and sisters, Pam and Jill; the citizens of this district said, Todd, So, thanks to all of my staff, to my and my sons, Tom and T.J., who have we trust you to represent our interests personal staff in the district and down made so many sacrifices while I’ve in Washington. And to allow me to re- here, and to the committee staff. I’ve been allowed to serve in this position turn for five more terms after that had the privilege to chair a sub- from a time standpoint of being away first one has been pretty remarkable. committee on Oversight and Govern- and missing ball games here or there. And it speaks volumes to me about ment Reform for many years, and have But because of their support, and that what truly a land of opportunity we been blessed in the past and present love and support of my family, and the are. As a kid growing up, that I would with a great staff there as well. support and trust of my constituents, be given this opportunity, it only hap- But the one thing I would emphasize I’ve been allowed this great privilege. pens in America. I’m one who’s known is we call this the people’s House, and I’ll leave here with a heavy heart, be- that I wanted to do this since I was 14. I look at it that way for a number of cause I’m still pretty passionate about I’ve often been asked, What made you reasons. One in particular is the only what we do. I’ll leave here with great want to serve in Congress at such an way you get here is if you’re elected. friends on both sides of the aisle, Re- early age? You can be a Senator, you can be Vice publican, Democrats, from all corners I point first to my mom and dad, President, you can be President and of this great country. It’s been such a Babs and Dutch Platts, just average never be elected to those positions. privilege to serve with these true pub- citizens, middle class family. Dad was Jerry Ford, never elected Vice Presi- lic servants. a mechanical engineer; Mom was a dent and President, served in both I’m going to share one final story stay-at-home mom, park director, a lot Houses. You can serve in the Senate, that kind of captures what I think is of odd jobs that were part time to but here, if there’s a vacancy, you have great about our country and the fact make sure that she could be hands on to wait until the people decide. So that I’ve been allowed to serve here. with all five of us kids. They were not we’re the people’s House. But also be- When my dad passed away my first active politically other than always cause we’re a great representation of year in Congress, June 25, 2001, I had voting and taking us with them to vote the people of this great country. just, about a month earlier, had the when they would go, but they were so The approach and how I got here, it privilege of introducing my parents to active in the community. They were was because of the people of the 19th President Bush for the first time. In community servants, teaching Sunday District. When I leave, it’s my under- fact, the last picture of my dad before school, coaching Little League base- standing that I’m the last Member of his passing is a picture of my mom and ball. In fact, I had the privilege to the House or Senate, other than a cou- dad with me and President Bush taken coach my sons for about 10 years on the ple of self-funders, who rely solely on up on the edge of my district in Penn- same fields that my dad coached three individual contributions—no special in- sylvania. of us Platts sons way back when; Mom terest money, no PAC contributions. Dad passes away. I get a note from running the school candy sales. They I’ve never had a paid television com- the President expressing his sym- gave all five of us children—I’m the mercial in any campaign. I’ve never pathies, having just met my dad. But fourth of the five—a wonderful example had a paid pollster in any campaign. about a week after his funeral, Presi- to follow, that if you want to live in a It’s been about volunteers going door dent Bush was here in the Capitol with great Nation and a great community, to door with me spreading the word. us in caucus and meeting with all the you need to do your part. You need to I think back to that first campaign House Republicans. And when it was be engaged and be involved. So they 12 years ago when over 500 volunteers over, we all scattered and went back to gave me the example of service, and came out in 1 day and stuffed a 115,000- our offices, wherever it may be. then it was my eighth grade social piece mailing for me. And not only did As I’m leaving the Capitol Building studies teacher by the name of Earl they come and volunteer and spend to go back to Longworth House Office Lucius, who passed away just shy of 2 about 10 hours that day doing that Building, I hear applause up here in the years ago, who encouraged taking that work for us, but they also brought rotunda. And I come up, and this was community service example of my par- their own food and fed themselves be- pre-9/11, and the President’s just going ents and to make it a public service ca- cause we were a low-budget campaign, down a rope line, shaking hands with reer. then and now. all the visitors to the Capitol that day. So as I left eighth grade and Mr. So moms and dads and kids are just Lucius’ class and got ready to enter b 1410 getting to meet the President of the high school, I joined the Teenage Re- We didn’t have money to buy them United States by good timing of being publicans as a ninth grader and volun- food, so it was kind of like a church in the Capitol.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.038 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6527 I’m standing at the House side of the wedding anniversary, which I can’t be- But you’ve always been willing to rotunda with Bill Livingood, our then- lieve, as time flies when you’re having discuss the issues with us. You’ve al- Sergeant at Arms, and the President fun. ways been willing to make suggestions. stopped and said hello to Bill, said Mr. PLATTS. Congratulations. We haven’t always agreed. We’ve hello to me, and invited me to walk out Mrs. BIGGERT. But my children, we agreed a lot on these issues of child nu- to the motorcade with him. And the raised them, I think, well, and we trition and school reform and out-of- subject of our conversation was the raised them to be independent. We home children and where do they go to passing of my dad and how he dreads didn’t think that they would be so find the schooling and the support sys- the thought of some day losing his dad. independent. One lives in London with tems they need to be successful in our And, thankfully, President Bush 41, 88 her husband and three children, one education systems. And I just can’t tell and I know in the hospital right now, lives in Los Angeles with her husband you how much I appreciate your serv- but hopefully still going strong. and three children, one lives in Be- ice. Thank you. I thank you for that. thesda with her three children, and our But it was an amazing conversation, And TODD reminds us—I’m listening one, President Bush, a new President son lives in New York City. to you talk about your family. Some- They’re great places to visit, but you showing concern for a freshman House body once said, there’s no great way to don’t really have time, I think, when Member and my family and how my do this job with a family because the mom and I were doing with the loss of you’re here as much as it was. But to have the family that’s there family sort of is the shock absorber for my dad and my mom’s husband. But it our schedules and everything else. But also spoke volumes about what an all the time I think it’s wonderful, but it has also been really difficult. you obviously have done it pretty darn amazing country in which we live. well. My dad was one of nine kids who Mr. PLATTS. It’s one of the bless- grew up in a row house in the city of ings, Judy, that I’ve been allowed, be- I just want to thank you for your York during the Depression. Five boys, cause of my district, about 100 miles service to the Congress, to the country, four girls. Five boys in one bedroom, each way, in my 12 years serving here, and to obviously the people that you’ve four girls in the second, Grandma and while I’ve been honored to work here, represented so terribly well. Thank Grandpa, his mom and dad, in the I’ve been blessed to live at home all but you. third. 12 nights, or maybe 13 nights that I Mrs. BIGGERT. I really appreciate The fact that his passing was the sub- couldn’t go back home. But being able that. Thank you. You were great as ject of a conversation between the to go back to my wife and children, to chairman, great as ranking member, President of the United States and a start every day and end every day with and I think education is where it all Congressman who happened to be his them kept me grounded. And it’s one of starts in this most important com- son speaks volumes about us being the sacrifices that, as you know, and mittee. Thank you. truly a land of opportunity. That this our colleagues, the families of Mem- Mr. PERLMUTTER. If the gentlelady kid from a typical middle class family bers make a tremendous sacrifice, be- would yield to me one more time, as to has been allowed to serve here for 12 cause I’m the exception. I’m the only Mr. PLATTS and to yourself, I mean, years, it’s just amazing about what we Pennsylvanian. There’s a couple of the word that has come to me as I’m stand for, that if you are willing to Maryland and Virginias, but most sitting here and always has struck me work hard and follow your dreams, Members have to be away all week or is ‘‘respect.’’ You both have respect on they can come true. relocate their families here, so it is a both sides of the aisle. You listen, you So to the people of the 19th District tremendous family commitment. work, you have energy, you want to of Pennsylvania, I say thank you for But you’re right. As I say, my kids, make this country a better place for all allowing this now 50-year-old’s dreams when I walk in the door, they don’t of us. And I just want to thank you for to come true many years ago as a care if I was meeting with the Presi- the service to the Nation. It’s been an State representative and then ulti- dent of the United States or working honor to serve with both of you. whatever issue. Dad, get rid of the coat mately as a United States Congress- And I would say to my friend, Mr. man. I will be forever grateful and and tie. We’re late for practice. Let’s PLATTS, he introduced me to about a go. Kids do a good job of keeping our would tell you that while I’m a proud half a dozen military installations in Republican, most importantly, every priorities straight. the Far East on the fastest moving trip time I entered the Chamber, I came Mrs. BIGGERT. I also thank you for I have ever been on; and that was a into this Chamber, as our men and the experiences we’ve had working to- year and a half ago and I’m still tired women in uniform do every day on the gether on the Education Committee from how quickly and how much en- front lines of democracy, as a proud and being the Bermuda Triangle that ergy he put into this trip to expose me American, first and foremost. we always laughed about, sitting on I think they give us the example, and our side with Tom Osborne. We made a to the needs of our troops throughout that’s my final comment is to all those nice triangle to put things like vouch- the Far East. out there who are defending the free- ers in there. They go away, but they doms we have and the blessings we wouldn’t come back. b 1420 have, such as TODD PLATTS, me, being Mr. PLATTS. And public education, Again, your respect on both sides of allowed to serve in Congress, I say and one of our colleagues who we both the aisle is well known. Your energy is thank you to those courageous men had the privilege to serve under when well known. And thank you for your and women and to their families. he was chair of our committee as well. service. Godspeed as they continue to defend Mrs. BIGGERT. So thank you. us and all that’s great about this great Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mrs. BIGGERT. I appreciate that. Nation. Will the gentlewoman yield? Thank you. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mrs. BIGGERT. Yes, I will yield to Mr. PLATTS. If the gentlelady will Mrs. BIGGERT. You know, I just the gentleman from California. yield, I would add it’s been a great would like to say how we have worked Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. privilege to serve with you here and to together, and I really appreciate all I want to thank the gentlewoman for travel. You’ll enjoy a story from that that you have done. And what’s dif- yielding. I want to thank the gentle- trip when we were visiting the Special ferent is that you had this family. And woman from Illinois, JUDY, and TODD Forces in the Philippine Islands. This that is the hardest thing to have, you from Pennsylvania. Thank you so past September, I was at my local fair know, the kids and a wife, but to have much for your service in the Congress. in York, Pennsylvania, and I ran into the kids that you’re always worried I’ve known you as members of the Edu- one of those Special Forces members about. You always want to be to their cation and Labor Committee, and I that’s from my district that we had games. I know you were always rushing can’t thank you enough. I’ve known met and had just left the military and around to do that and driving home, you when I was in the minority, I knew was getting ready to go back to school. and I appreciate that. you when I was chairman, I’ve known But we were reminiscing about our trip I have four children and a husband. you when I was ranking minority mem- to visit him and his fellow special oper- Actually, we just celebrated our 49th ber. ators on that trip.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:22 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.040 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 It was great to travel and to serve to come before the body today, Mr. views simply to get any deal done. The with you, and I wish you great success Speaker, with the Progressive message. deal we should do should be a fair deal, as you continue to serve the State of The Progressive message is a message it should be a deal for all, and it should Colorado with great fashion. that the Progressive Caucus shares be a deal that meets our most impor- Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you. with people. The progressive message is tant priorities. But it should not be Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentlelady very simple. It’s a basic idea that some force-fed thing that we accept again for the time she’s allowed me America, this great land of ours, is big simply because we fear going over this here today. enough for everybody, has enough cliff that really doesn’t exist. Mrs. BIGGERT. Thank you. abundance for everybody, and we have You can refer to it as a set of dead- I yield 1 minute to Mr. YODER. natural resources which should be re- lines. That’s the best way to put it. CONGRATULATING KANSAS HOUSE SPEAKER spected, and we should live in harmony That’s what it actually is. And if you MICHAEL O’NEAL and promote a green economy and don’t meet a deadline, then, of course, Mr. YODER. I thank the gentlelady should have civil and human rights for there are consequences to not meeting from Illinois for yielding. all people. deadlines. And you want to avoid them. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute In the Progressive message we say But at the same time, this idea that the legacy of service and dedication of that we would promote dialogue and di- we’ve got to put up with anything that my friend, Kansas Speaker of the plomacy before we ever find ourselves the other side may offer because we’re House Michael O’Neal. After 28 years, in military conflicts. The Progressive facing a cliff is a concept that I reject, Mike has decided to retire from public message is about an inclusive Amer- and I hope the American people reject, service to the people of Kansas. He ica—all colors, all cultures, all faiths, Mr. Speaker, because that’s not really leaves behind a history of courageous an America that says if you live in this what is going on. We have a set of leadership in making smart public pol- country and you want to work hard, deadlines that we should meet. And ev- icy on behalf of all Kansans. the economy should be robust and erybody in this body should work ear- Mike spent his career in the Kansas broad enough and fair enough for you nestly, sincerely, and in good faith to House notably chairing the Judiciary to make a good run in this economy. If compromise. But in terms of just ac- Committee and the Education Com- you work 40 hours a week, you ought to cepting some bad deal just to get a deal mittee before eventually being elected be able to feed your family. You done because of a crisis that they’ve by his colleagues twice as Kansas shouldn’t have to resort to public as- threatened, we shouldn’t buy into that speaker of the house. While Mike’s ca- sistance. It’s talking about standing up line of thinking. reer in the people’s house in Kansas for the rights of labor, the rights of Now what are these deadlines? Well, will be remembered for his many nota- working men and women, the right to we know that the Bush tax cuts are ex- ble legislative achievements, his most be able to be paid fairly, the right to be piring. They’ll expire for everyone, not prominent legacy may be the wonder- able to go to the doctor, the right to just the top 2 percent. This is some- ful friendships and relationships he look forward to a decent and fair re- thing that we don’t want the American built along the way. Many of us con- tirement, the right to be able to see middle class to get hit with, a tax in- sider Mike a mentor and true friend, that your children will be able to get a crease at this time, but we do believe someone you can always count on—a good education that can see them the wealthiest among us should pay rare quality in politics today. through. In other words, the Progres- more. And we think that the top 2 per- So as the gavel falls for the last time sive message is the message of an in- cent should pay a higher tax rate on and Kansas Speaker of the House Mike clusive America that makes sure that the money they make after $250,000 a O’Neal closes this chapter of service on our economic and our environmental year. behalf of so many appreciative Kan- lives are strong, healthy, and affirm- b 1430 sans, I would like to thank him for his ing. 28 years of tireless service to make We contrast this with another vi- We also believe that there’s more Kansas the best State in the Nation. sion—a vision of a divided America, that can be done. Closing loopholes. Rock Chalk, Mr. Speaker. where not everybody counts and not People say, well, let’s talk about that Mrs. BIGGERT. We have no other everybody matters; an America in tonight too. But we see the Bush tax Members that are here so I would just which labor and management are fight- cuts expiring for everybody. We see the like to say, again, thanks so much to ing and there’s no peace; an America production tax credit expiring—which my colleagues, and particularly my where there’s not full inclusion of is something important for people who family. Some have been with me these LGBT Americans or Americans who work in the wind industry and in the entire 14 years and some have arrived are trying to join America through im- area of industry that promotes envi- after the start of the 14 years. To my migration—a not fully inclusive Amer- ronmental matters. We also see the ex- friends and my supporters who have ica; an America in which women have piration of things like the estate tax, helped me really to grow and to learn to worry about their right to be able to the SGR—which is the doctor fix for and to serve the people of Illinois, it’s seek out contraception or seek out Medicare. We also see the sequestra- been a real honor and a privilege. Pub- equal pay for equal work. This is the tion, which is the outcome, the final lic service is something that is such a America that we don’t embrace. The outcome of the Budget Control Act privilege and honor, and I think that America that we embrace embraces that we passed in August 2011 which is this has been the greatest privilege of equality, inclusion, and opportunities. now coming due. There will be equal my life, to have been a Member of the Now where are we today? We are in defense and discretionary spending U.S. House of Representatives. the middle of a national conversation cuts on both sides, which will inflict With that, I yield back the balance of which is playing itself right here in damage. my time. Congress that has to do with the so- So all these things are happening at f called fiscal cliff. I’m not going to use the same time, and so the same ques- that term anymore because we’re actu- tion is going to be asked: How will this THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS ally not on a cliff. What we are on is a budget entanglement be resolved? Will The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. set of important deadlines that we it be resolved on the backs of people YODER). Under the Speaker’s an- should meet and we should work at. who can least afford it, or will the peo- nounced policy of January 5, 2011, the But this imagery of a cliff and of fall- ple who can best afford it be asked to gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. ELLI- ing over something and plummeting help out? SON) is recognized for 60 minutes as the downward is false, and we should stop So it’s within this context, Mr. designee of the minority leader. using this analogy. I know the press Speaker, that I come before you with Mr. ELLISON. Thank you, Mr. likes it because it adds drama. Of the Progressive message today to try Speaker. course, the press thrives on drama. But to bring some clarity to folks listening My name is KEITH ELLISON, cochair in truth, there are some important to C–SPAN today about what the real of the Progressive Caucus along with deadlines we should meet. But we issues are, what we have to avoid, and my good friend, RAU´ L GRIJALVA. I want should not surrender our deeply held what we have to fight for.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:22 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.042 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6529 I submit, Mr. Speaker, that this deal we’re going to continue to have Social people’s retirement savings—or at least that is being considered right now by Security. Well, we’ve got to change it. one-third of what they were counting the U.S. Congress and the American We have the fiscal crisis coming up, on—is diminished in a very significant people—and of course the President—is don’t we have to change Social Secu- way. still something that is subject to being rity? No, we don’t. It doesn’t add to the The other thing, private savings have changed and altered depending upon deficit. In fact, if any changes need to gone down. A few years ago before the how vigorously people are willing to be made to it, they need to be on their financial crisis hit in 2006 we had a sav- advocate for what’s right. So I want to own, freestanding. ings rate of negative 2 percent, which talk about that today. I don’t want to Social Security is one of the greatest meant people were not saving. So here call it the fiscal cliff—that will be the programs this country has ever pro- we are when we’re having one of the last time I use that term—because it’s duced. It helps literally millions and largest age cohorts in American his- not that, but there are serious fiscal millions of senior citizens and people tory moving into their golden years, issues that we should address. on disability and people who receive when they’re expecting to retire, their Now, I want to talk about a few survivor benefits. It’s a great program, 401(k) is a 201(k) and their pension from things that we should not be discussing and we should continue to support that their own personal savings has gone and don’t need to be talking about, and program. We don’t need to mess with down, and now we’re going to tell one of them is Social Security. Social it. When we do want to reform it, it them, your Social Security, you can’t Security does not contribute to the needs to be something that will pre- really count on that anymore. This is a deficit. It’s not expiring. There’s no serve benefits for people and allows the problem. reason we have to deal with Social Se- program to continue. It’s a solid pro- We have a problem with retirement curity right now. It is one of those gram, and it doesn’t need to be in these in America today. People aren’t ready things that some people—who never budget entanglements. I hope Ameri- for it. This is the wrong time to take liked Social Security, by the way, cans really get the facts. that one solid leg on what we used to called it socialism even—want to Some people say, Well, okay, you’re call a three-legged stool and start saw- change and have been wanting to right, Social Security doesn’t add to ing on it and making it less strong change for decades, and so they create the deficit, but let’s talk about it any- than it was before. The fact is, raising this imagery of crisis coming at the way. Okay. Well, let’s talk about it for the retirement age means lessening end of the year. Then what they’re try- a minute anyway even though it benefits for people—people who need it, ing to do is say, well, we’ve got to shouldn’t be considered. Here’s what many of them who have been working change Social Security because of the could be said, Mr. Speaker, by someone hard at jobs all their lives—and it’s so-called ‘‘fiscal cliff’’—although it’s who wants to defend the excellent pro- wrong to do. not really a cliff. So this is something gram known as Social Security. As I said before, Mr. Speaker, as we that really shouldn’t be on the table. They might say, Well, shouldn’t we talk about this fiscal entanglement, I want to encourage folks to really raise the retirement age? Again, it’s an these expiring deadlines that we’re discuss and get the facts, Mr. Speaker, irrelevant conversation to this prob- coming up on right now, Social Secu- because Social Security is solvent lem. But if they want to go down that rity shouldn’t be part of the conversa- through 2037. Does it need to be fixed? road you can tell them, Look, we don’t tion. Anybody who brings up Social Se- Yeah. It is true that there is slightly need to raise the retirement age be- curity in this conversation ought to be more money going out than coming in. cause, firstly, people who are running asked why they’re bringing up things But when you look at all the money jackhammers or people who are on that are irrelevant to resolving these that is owed to Social Security and you their feet for their whole working life— expiring deadlines that are coming up have the interest payments that are nurses, firefighters, people who really between now and the end of the year. being made on it, it more than pays for use their bodies to earn a living—it’s Why do they want to bring up stuff itself for now. There are some things just not fair to them when you say that doesn’t have to do with these ex- that could be done into the future that we’re going to raise the retirement age. piring deadlines? If it doesn’t have to are not an emergency. It doesn’t have If you’ve been a nurse picking up pa- do with sequestration and it doesn’t to be done this second. tients and walking, walking, walking have to do with the 2001/2003 tax cuts Social Security is probably more sol- for 30, 40 years, now all of a sudden that are expiring, then what are we dis- vent than a whole bunch of businesses they tell you, yeah, you used to be able cussing it for? It’s a distraction from and agencies of government. To try to to retire at 65, but we’re going to move what we should be devoting our time throw Social Security into the mix at it to 70, that’s just not fair to them. If to. this time is a big mistake. I believe, you’re just a white collar worker, that Mr. Speaker, it’s being done because might be a little different, but the b 1440 people who have been wanting to truth is it’s going to be a big rule that change it for decades and decades and everybody has to abide by, and it’s not Now, Mr. Speaker, you’re also going decades want to create the idea of a fair to a number of people, so we’re to have people who like to use the term crisis and then use that crisis to get against it. ‘‘entitlement.’’ I resent the term ‘‘enti- Members to vote for something that is Here’s another reason—even the tlement’’ because entitlement kind of not well considered. more important reason—why messing suggests that, well, this is just some- I insist on any changes to Social Se- with Social Security that way is the thing we’re giving to you. No, this is an curity being well considered. I insist wrong thing to do: earned benefit, Social Security, and it that there be a full-fledged debate on As you know, Mr. Speaker, over the should not be referred to as an entitle- Social Security, not this fiscal mess last number of years we’ve seen our ment. that we’re working through right now. 401(k)s go to what? 201(k)s. We’ve seen Mr. Speaker, I hope that people begin But let Social Security be considered American savings rates go down. We to defend Social Security and say, on its own freestanding basis, and if used to talk about a three-legged stool Look, don’t call my Social Security an changes need to be made, we make when it came to retirement: one, So- entitlement. I’ve worked my whole life them. But just to sort of argue that in cial Security; two, the money you save for this, and I’m not about to just say order to solve this fiscal crisis that yourself; three, the money you get it’s some sort of entitlement, that it’s we’re facing with these ending dead- from your job. some sort of a thing that somebody’s lines, these expiring deadlines, because The money that we get from our jobs, handing to me. of that we’ve got to deal with Social we have seen pensions, guaranteed pen- I just want to say that I think people Security, Mr. Speaker, I think the sions become almost a thing of the need to defend Social Security. They American people should reject that past. Some people still have them—God need to stand up for it. They need to idea. bless them—but most workers are now explain that it’s not part of this fiscal I have brought this issue to people having to bear the risk of their own re- mess that we’re in. It’s not part of the who say, Well, what are we going to do tirement through a 401(k) plan. If the expiring deadlines that we’re seeing about Social Security? I say, Well, market has been down, as it has been, happening right now, and we should

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.044 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6530 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 not deal with it here. They should de- not, and, therefore, they have to either but they had paid into Social Security. fend it by saying that people’s retire- have extended public care or wind up Which brings me to a couple of other ment security has significantly dimin- picking up those children. But what I points, and I will yield back to the dis- ished over the last number of years, will say to you is that they toil and tinguished gentleman. and now is not the time to start cut- work every day. It is important that we maintain the ting benefits to Social Security. And So this fiscal deadline—deadline—is extension of unemployment benefits more than that, we should make it very serious to the Progressive Caucus because I’m glad to say that I feel a clear that Social Security is the best and those of us who really believe that surge in this economy. Things are get- program, perhaps one of the best pro- we would not be the patriots that we ting better. We’ve had some great grams our government has ever come claim to be if we did not recognize the Thanksgiving sale days, and people up with. We’re going to get more into millions of Americans—with great went out even on Thanksgiving Day. the expiring deadlines that we see com- humor, people were making jokes to Then we had Black Friday and then ing up in the next few weeks. the gentleman from Minnesota about Cyber Monday. And everybody is tell- But before I say another word, Mr. the Powerball last night and how many ing us that things are on the move. Speaker, I want to yield to my good people had tried to sign up for it—not But it is important to recognize that friend from the great State of Texas, out of greed. When they interviewed the country churns if you keep the im- SHEILA JACKSON LEE, a stalwart mem- people, they were talking about char- portant safety nets of Medicare, Med- ber of the Progressive Caucus. She is ity and their friends and helping Mama icaid, Social Security. And that must totally reliable and can be counted on get a better house and helping them- be what we do. And then to add unem- to stand up for the American working selves get a better house. ployment, unemployment insurance. people. And something was said in our dis- You always have to say over and over Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank cussions today that the people who are again, the word ‘‘insurance’’ means the distinguished gentleman. And, of trying to get into the middle class are that you’ve gotten some insurance to course, who could help but listen to the ones that we should be able to say get you through a rainy day. It’s not a that very potent message. And we are to them, Your desires, the service you handout. It’s a hand up. But it is insur- better for the fact that you and the dis- have given to your country, the work ance, and you’ve earned it because you tinguished gentleman from Arizona you do when you get up in those early have worked and you are now unem- have come together again to—I call it mornings—some of them are park at- ployed and you are looking for work. standing in the gap and reinforcing to tendants. Some of them are working in So the unemployment insurance is to individuals who have never walked bus barns. They may not even be bus be something that we need to count as these Halls. drivers or they may not be conductors. a safety net and one that is of great The thing I want to just reinforce They may be working around. They need. very briefly is how much all of us who may be working in the great work that Now let me finish by trying to, again, have the privilege of walking these au- we could not survive, we call it Depart- reemphasize the importance of biparti- gust Halls, sometimes on occasion ments of Sanitation, the same group of sanship. And progressives are those looking at these ornate murals and rec- men at that time that Martin King who recognize what a great country ognizing the historic features and the went to Memphis for. this is, and we are progressive by the history of this body, the largest democ- And the reason why I call out what nature of some of the issues that we racy but the longest democracy, ex- it’s like every morning before dawn support. But we do not have a wall in tending democracy in the world, that is when people get up and go to work is front of our face and say that we don’t the United States of America. And for that they don’t have time to do social believe in bipartisanship or we haven’t this place called the House of Rep- media. They don’t know when we are in joined with some of our colleagues to resentatives, this honored place to be negotiations about the fiscal deadline, make a difference for America. called the people’s House is for the but they’re hoping someone is here I truly believe that every set of poli- very reason that we are the defenders. standing in the gap. cies have, maybe, relevancy as their We are those who will stand in the gap. And Social Security is earned. It is past, and some policies—and I’m going We will be there when others cannot earned by these people, whether to add the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the and when others’ voices cannot be they’re in coal mines, as I said, wheth- 1965 Voting Rights Act—have an heard. er they’re sweeping streets, whether unending life. But when you come to So let me give you a picture of Amer- they are children who are disabled, fiscal policy, because the economy ica because, for some reason, if we are whether they are children of the de- churns and it goes in cycles, sometimes not tied to the latest social media or ceased who the only thing that kept we’re up, and sometimes we’re down. maybe to our favorite cable stations, them going or is keeping them going is Tax cuts of the nineties and earlier we can’t imagine what happens across a Social Security death benefit that than the nineties with President Bush, America, from California to New York, they got from their deceased parent. before President Clinton and then from the furthest State going to the So it is important as we look to what thereafter with President Bush who North to our southern friends, includ- we will be doing is that we understand came after President Clinton—some- ing the great State of Texas. that it is not those of us in this place times economic policies say it’s time Every morning, every morning some that we speak of. And as we speak of for a rest; and those tax cuts, the top 1 family, some single mother, some sin- the hardworking middle class, we must and 2 percent, it is time for a rest. gle dad, some mother and father rise at put into the mix those individuals that 4:00 or 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning. And keep the lights on, those individuals b 1450 on some tables, there may be more that keep the streets clean, those indi- To be able to shore up, to say to than one would expect for breakfast; on viduals that are assisting those who every American that you will get a tax some tables, there is no breakfast. are at home—our nurses, attendants, cut for $250,000 of your income, which They rush to prepare for the day’s and aides—those who are working in includes 97 percent of small businesses work. They rush sometimes to get daycare centers, those persons who, is a reasoned response to the changing their children to schools that are far when a fire in my district burned down economy. The protection of the safety beyond bus stops. And the reason why a daycare center or something occurs, net is a reasoned response to the I say that is many school districts have then you can be sure that there are changing economy. And the recogni- even cut out school buses. So that workers who cannot work. tion of the importance of Social Secu- means that these hardworking Ameri- And let me be clear: Since there was rity, the recognition of the importance cans have to rush and get their chil- a tragedy in my community, I was not of Medicare and Medicaid, and the rec- dren to school. And they go off to jobs speaking of that specific tragedy. I’m ognition of the importance that if that are 8, 10, 12 hours long, where they talking about if something stops you you’re unemployed of extending the work all day. And maybe they had from working, something happens to unemployment, responds to the people someone—a grandmother or someone— your business and there are workers who don’t get their news on a regular pick up the child, but maybe they did there, those workers are unemployed, streaming basis. They don’t know

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.046 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6531 what’s going on up here. They’re count- proper role of government is to have a that sometimes you get it on disability ing on us to stand in the gap and to program administered through the gov- and sometimes you get Social Security make a difference in their lives. Some ernment that looks out for the aged, as a death benefit for a deceased parent of them are working and some are on the disabled, the vulnerable. They that keeps those children going. Then assistance, but they’re not defined by don’t think the government should do you have people who get payments be- anything except that they are Ameri- that. They think it’s all about 100 per- cause they are ill or have no way of cans that love their country. cent individual initiative, and they working or have children, need assist- I hope as we go into 2013 and as we don’t believe the government has a role ance; and people start looking at that. have the privilege of being sworn in or responsibility to administer a pro- We need to be deliberative in our at- again, that we will look at issues like gram to make sure the aged and the tempt to do the things that we want to a wealth tax, that we will look at sick and those who are the children of do in a bipartisan way, which is reduce issues that address equalizing the im- those people who may have died should the deficit, to make sure we tighten poverished in this Nation, most of have some basic sustenance. our belt and act accordingly to churn them children. We’re not there yet, but We disagree philosophically and fun- this economy, and we’re fair in our tax I think that we would be even a greater damentally, but some folks—there is a policies. My friends, we can do all that, country—we’re a great country and the concept out there known as the ‘‘shock but let us not do that with hysteria greatest country in the world—if we doctrine.’’ A woman named Naomi that starts looking at the basic safety recognize that there is value to lifting Klein wrote a very interesting book. net of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social all boats, that there is value to saying Sometimes you will have folks who Security. As my friend said, Social Se- that you’re on hard rubble times, and will create a crisis. They want there to curity is 2037 and Medicare is 2024. this great country wants to lift the be a crisis because within the context That means your house doesn’t have to boat so that any children that you are of the crisis, the parties to the bar- be on fire. You don’t have to get a raising have the equal opportunity to gaining will be willing to do things skinny hose that is just drip, drip, drip- achieve their greatness. that in the absence of a crisis they ping, and then you just burn up. To the gentleman of Minnesota and would never agree to. So I believe that You can be deliberative. We can deal the cochair of the Progressive Caucus, these expiring deadlines don’t have to with this immediate fiscal issue of let me thank you for your wisdom and be a crisis, but they’ve been created to deadlines with tax issues and begin to your sense of—I think the character- be one. We even use words that invoke build on what the revenues will be. ization that I’ve heard you state in imagery of a crisis, and that’s why we Mr. ELLISON. The gentlelady cor- many different instances and the char- now talk about this thing as to what it rectly mentioned Medicare, because in acterization that I made today. We really is, which is expiring deadlines. this whole fiscal situation, they keep have an obligation to the people whose Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. If the on throwing out Social Security and daily life is simply about trying to gentleman will yield for a moment. Medicare entitlement reform, which is make it to the next day. I hope this Mr. ELLISON. I yield to the gentle- what they want so bad. Again, we’ve Congress and I hope this process of ne- woman. clearly shown Social Security has no gotiations and media debate and dis- Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. The place in this debate. cussion don’t ignore the fact that Congressional Budget Office even indi- Let’s talk about Medicare for a mo- sometimes you’ve got to make sure cated that there is no such thing as a ment. In the Affordable Care Act, the that you respond to those who are now ‘‘cliff.’’ There will be expiring dead- so-called ObamaCare, which I used to busily filling in those 12 hours of work, lines that will allow deliberative not want to call it that, but now I do and the only thing they’re looking for- thought. That’s what you’re talking because Obama does care. We call it ward to is whether they will have about. Let’s have deliberative thought. ObamaCare because the Republicans enough for a dinner at home and to When you act and your hair is on fire thought they could use it as an insult, pick up those children and get ready or you’re running out of a burning but actually it’s kind of a badge of for the next day. As Americans, many building, you will take any water hose honor. of whom have served their Nation, I you can find; and that may not be the The Affordable Care Act, with the feel an obligation to make sure that we good water hose that will keep us bill we passed, is estimated to save stand in the gap on their behalf. going. about $500 billion over the next 10 I thank the gentleman for yielding, I just wanted to mention my late col- years. They say we’ve got to reform and I thank the gentleman for his lead- league, Mickey Leland. This is his Medicare. There may be reforms to ership. birthday this week. It was November Medicare that are important to do, but Mr. ELLISON. I thank the gentlelady 27. I just wanted to mention it on the we already started that process with for joining me. If you have the time, floor of the House. Congressman Mick- the Affordable Care Act by reducing we’d love to hear more from you. ey Leland served in this Congress in extra subsidies paid to Medicare Ad- Let me just say today that we’re the late 1970s until 1989, when he died vantage plans. They said they were members of the Progressive Caucus in Ethiopia trying to feed the starving going to do it for cheaper, and they did talking about the deal for all. First of Ethiopians who had been impacted by it for more. Now we’re saying we’re all, we are laying out some of our val- the drought. At the same time, he going to hold you to your word. ues, but also talking about some things helped cochair the Hunger Select Com- that are really problems in this debate. mittee because at that timeframe b 1500 I mentioned before and you men- there was an effort to try to extinguish We used that savings to close the tioned, as well, Social Security is not hunger in America and hunger in the doughnut hole, to make reductions in contributing to the deficit. Social Se- world. Lo and behold, here we are in the rate of growth and provider pay- curity is solvent through 2037. Social 2012, and I bet we can have a vigorous ments, in efforts to make sure that Security may need attention, but to debate on hunger that still exists in Medicare programs were more effi- try to fix it in the midst of this debate this country. cient, and to reduce waste, fraud, and is not the right thing. Again, I’m When we put our hair on fire, then we abuse. speaking only for myself. People who start looking and digging deep and we Medicare will be reformed as we re- are demanding that we reform Social start ignoring the peace dividend and form health care and as we move away Security right now are people who resources that we could get from that, from this fee for service, where it’s this want us to put attention on something from an expedited withdrawal for our much for this test, this much for that that is other than the problem, and hardworking military that are in far- test, then some folks run a bunch of then I have to wonder why that is. away places such as Afghanistan. The tests, and you get this huge bill. We Does it have something to do with the point is that then we begin to do things are now moving from that fee-for-serv- fact that ever since Franklin Delano like look at the minimal subsistence ice model to a model that goes on, Are Roosevelt signed the legislation, that that people get in order to survive. So- you improving the health of your pa- there have been some that don’t like it. cial Security is a different line of fund- tients? There are a lot more doctors Why? Because they don’t think the ing; but as you well know, I mentioned nowadays, particularly at the Mayo

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.048 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6532 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 Clinic in Minnesota, who are on salary States of America is actually poorer is, if you are a poor woman in the so that the doctors don’t have to worry today than we were then? United States of America, you have ac- about the tests, they just have to I wanted to quote from something in tually lost ground in terms of lon- worry about health. They order the The Washington Post, an article that gevity in this country. So it is just tests that you need, but they don’t Ezra Klein wrote, entitled, ‘‘Why Rich simply a myth to say that. Averages order the ones that you don’t. Guys Want to Raise the Retirement can be deceiving, right? You get a bas- So my point is that we are already Age’’: ketball player, and you average him to implementing ways to maintain and The first point worth making here is that 6-feet tall even though one is 7’2’’ or control costs in Medicare that do not the country’s economy has grown 15-fold whatever. That’s ridiculous. People are deprive seniors of good medical care. since Social Security was passed into law. actually losing life expectancy. That’s the key. Medicare—I’m sorry— One of the things the richest society the The truth of the matter is, while the is going to cost more in the future be- world has ever known can buy is a decent re- Social Security retirement age is now cause we have a lot of people born be- tirement for people who don’t have jobs they about 67, you can retire early at 62, love and who don’t want to work forever. tween 1945 and 1960 who are now get- which is the earliest the law allows. ting into older years. Everybody knows I think that’s right. It’s like—real- You lose some benefits, but that is as you get older you may need to go to ly?—we can’t afford it? This is one of when most people retire. Now, these the doctor more, and we have more the things that we absolutely have to are not slackers. These aren’t people folks who are in that age group, so cut. who just now want to lie around at that’s the way it is. It does make sense I wanted to just make a point about home and eat bonbons. These are peo- to try to control costs, but the pro- some of these guys, these 71 CEOs who ple who pretty much can’t wait until posals have been to give seniors a cou- are in the fix-the-debt group who wrote their full benefits kick in because pon that the Congressional Budget Of- this letter about the things that need they’ve been working really tough jobs, fice admits is going to cost them $6,000 to be done, some of which included the long hours, who’ve been on their feet, a year more than it does now and to cuts. flipping patients in beds, working with give Medicaid a block grant program, Mr. ELLISON. Will the gentlelady their hands. It is not easy. So now which we know will likely be reduced. yield? what? Are these people supposed to go What’s the point? Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I yield to the out and all find jobs—what jobs? Where They keep on saying, ‘‘entitlement gentleman from Minnesota. are those jobs?—in order to wait even reform,’’ ‘‘entitlement reform.’’ Social Mr. ELLISON. Is not having to bail longer for them to get their Social Se- Security is fine for now, and it will be them out on that list? curity benefits? into the future with just a few tweaks Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Bailing them Frankly, I’m personally pretty re- that will not hurt beneficiaries. As for out, that was then. Get over it. Of sentful that some of the very richest Medicare, we are reforming it and course they got a lot of money from people in our country, who are now of- making it more solvent. We literally the taxpayers. Why do you keep bring- fering advice on how we can save extended the life of the program up ing that up, Mr. ELLISON? That was money and fix the debt, are offering up through 2024. Republicans during the just a fine thing to do. senior citizens, half of whom make campaign attacked President Obama But here. The 71 fix-the-debt CEOs, $22,000 or less per year. for this, and yet we extended the life of who lead publicly held companies, have b 1510 amassed an average of $9 million in the program. If entitlement reform Those seniors who make $85,000 or their own company retirement funds. A were wrapped up in the expiring dead- more a year are already paying more dozen have more than $20 million in lines and the sequestration, I would for their Medicare benefits. We are al- their accounts. So, if each of them con- say, yes, we have to talk about that ready means testing Medicare benefits. verted his assets to an annuity when he now, but it isn’t. Why are we doing A lot of people don’t know that. So that? It’s because people never liked turned 65, he would receive a monthly who are the rich seniors who are sup- the program and don’t believe the prop- check of at least $110,000 for life. Now, posed to pay more? Who are the seniors er role of government is to help people. one of those fellows, Dave Cote, whom who are living longer? Well, you know, So we just disagree. I just wish folks I know because I served with him on Dave Cote and the other CEOs, they’re would be a little more transparent in the Simpson-Bowles commission—and doing just fine. They may want to the positions that they take. he’s a longtime advocate of Social Se- work forever. God love them. God bless I am very fortunate to have been curity cuts—has a $78 million nest egg. them. Let them do it and retire with joined by the gentlelady from Illinois, That’s enough to provide a $428,000 tens of thousands of dollars every sin- JAN SCHAKOWSKY, and I yield to the check every month after he turns 65 gle month. And their advice is cut the gentlelady. years old. Since the average monthly rest of the people. That’s not right. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I want to thank Social Security benefit is $1,230, Dave Mr. ELLISON. It’s not right. you so much, Congressman ELLISON, Cote would receive a retirement in- You know, here’s the reality. In this for pulling this together, because we come every month—by the way, this whole debate, we want to talk about are in the midst of an incredibly impor- doesn’t count his Social Security—of how to deal with these expiring mat- tant debate about how to deal with all as much as 348 Social Security bene- ters like the 2001 and 2003 taxes and the of these fiscal issues. Mainly, to me, ficiaries. This is a guy saying that sequestration. They have a time limit it’s about who shall pay, not about those 348 people, who are together on them, and we in Congress are here what are the dollar figures and how do going to get as much as he gets, ought now to address these issues. But does it we take a little bit from this and that. to see those Social Security benefits strike you funny that they keep on It’s about who exactly in our society is cut. talking about stuff and want to drag it going to be responsible. I just think it’s outrageous because into this debate that doesn’t have any- I want to focus on the entitlements. this is about who we are. Really? We thing to do with sequestration or these In addition to some of our Republican can’t afford today the kind of Medicare expiring tax matters? Why do they colleagues—I’m talking mainly about benefits that we had 50 years ago when keep talking about Social Security? the CEOs now, the fix-the-debt group, Medicare went in or 70 years ago? Why do they want to keep talking who say quite piously, by the way, and Here is the other thing. One of the about raising the age or somehow cut- self-righteously that we have to cut en- arguments that is used is that life ex- ting benefits for Medicare and Med- titlements. In listening to them, you pectancy has gone up. That’s true for icaid? I mean, one needs to ask the would think that the United States of some of us but not for all of us. Since question, if these are problems and America is poorer today than it was 50 1977, the life expectancy of male work- they need to be solved, why do they years ago when Medicare and Medicaid ers retiring at age 65 has risen 6 years have to be solved in this very limited became part of our social contract, or in the top half of the income distribu- window of time when there are other 70 years ago when we created Social tion, but if you’re in the bottom half of things that, in fact, are expiring? Security. Now they say it’s the income distribution, then you just Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Well, first of all, unsustainable. Is it because the United gained 1.3 years. The fact of the matter I agree with you because I think what

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.051 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6533 I’m hearing you say is let’s put those— belt and have to lower expectations, what happened to the basic idea that, Medicare, Social Security, and Med- this should be met with extreme dis- yes, I may be a CEO and, yes, I have an icaid—in a separate basket and deal pleasure. obligation to my shareholders, but I with them at another time. Social Se- Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Here’s Lloyd also have an obligation to the commu- curity should not be even on a different Blankfein, and he’s just one example, nity that has fed my business and I’ve table. It should be in a different room, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, and part of got an obligation to the United States because Social Security has a big sur- what I really resent about it is he that has made it possible for me to do plus in the trust fund and hasn’t con- doesn’t even know what he’s talking well. about. He says: tributed one thin dime to any deficit. b 1520 Medicare and Medicaid, I’m all for You can look at the history of these making those programs more efficient. things, and Social Security wasn’t devised to What happened to the basic idea that We can find savings in those programs. be a system that supported you for a 30-year we’re sort of in this thing together? But let’s remember, it occurred to me retirement after a 25-year career. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Well, frankly, I that Democrats, through ObamaCare, Well, first of all, the average bene- think that idea is alive and well and actually found—does this number ficiary collects about 16 years, so a 30- was reflected in the elections on No- sound familiar?—$716 billion worth of year retirement after 25 years? vember 6—— Mr. ELLISON. He must be talking Mr. ELLISON. I agree. savings in Medicare that made the pro- Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. That the idea gram more efficient but didn’t touch about himself. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I don’t know that we are all in this together, that benefits. we do have some responsibility. And I Mr. ELLISON. Right. what he’s talking about. want to tell you that there isn’t a per- Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. We actually im- So there will be things. Maybe the retire- son that goes to synagogue or church proved Medicare by finding savings. ment age has to be changed, maybe some of It seems to me that number came up the benefits have to be affected, maybe some or a mosque or a temple that doesn’t in the election that Democrats were of the inflation estimates have to be revised, learn about, we are our brother’s and but, in general, entitlements have to be our sister’s keepers, we do feed the somehow stealing from Medicare, im- slowed down and contained. plying to senior citizens that their pro- hungry and take care of the poor, that Now, you know, this is a guy who’s a grams were being eroded when, in fact, we have an obligation to do that. So in pretty entitled fellow. And the idea of their programs were being improved our private lives, and in our faith lives, him pointing to these people who, you and Medicare was made more efficient. we’re taught that as well. know, half of whom make less than I mean, it’s good economics, but it’s So now that the election is over, $22,000 doesn’t sit well with me and, I also the right thing to do. And I also they’re back to saying we’ve got to cut don’t think, most Americans. It’s not think it’s a very American kind of these entitlement programs; they’re just that I think; we’ve asked most ideal, and that, at the end of the day, unsustainable. We just can’t make it Americans. that most people agree with that. anymore. We’re too poor a country. We And, by the way, even people who When I say under $22,000, that’s in- can’t aspire to make sure that people voted for Mitt Romney said, Do not cut come. The average Social Security ben- with disabilities and old people are my Social Security and Medicare bene- efit is far below that. And so we’re going to have access to health care. We fits. They don’t want that. And it’s not talking about very little, very little can’t do it anymore. That was so 20th because they’re stupid or greedy, as money to provide not a whole lot of se- century. We’re done with that. Alan Simpson would like to make them curity, but some security. I mean, it’s really outrageous, the out to be. It’s because, in this country, Mr. ELLISON. Well, I’d just like to hypocrisy of criticizing us for making retiring with some level of security is advise the gentlelady that we’ve got the programs more cost effective, cost something that people who’ve worked about 3 more minutes in our hour, and less, but keep benefits, and now hitting all their lives deserve in this country I just wanted to encourage you to us over the head with that and now and something that should be a pri- think about some of your essential saying, Oh, no, never mind, we have to ority. points that you may want to repeat for go back and cut those programs. Mr. ELLISON. Well, let me quote Mr. the Speaker. Mr. ELLISON. Well, you know, I ap- Blankfein of Goldman Sachs. He says: But I just wanted to say that, look, preciate the gentlelady in revealing You’re going to have to do something, un- you know, the Progressive Caucus— really the real deal here. The Presi- doubtedly, to lower people’s expectations of we’re here with the Progressive mes- dent, to his credit, is trying to talk to what they’re going to get, the entitlements, sage—is thinking about these fiscal broad cross sections of Americans. He’s and what people think they’re going to get deadlines that this country is facing. had labor and progressive groups join because you’re not going to get it. We do believe that we should try to him, and then the CEOs come in. And That’s what he said. Now, this gen- come up with a fair deal in anticipa- it’s funny, when the CEOs come in, and tleman is the CEO of a firm that re- tion of sequestration and the expira- I’m not talking about everyone, but ceived tens of billions of dollars—— tion of deadlines on some taxes. this letter where they’re telling us Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Tens of billions. We believe that the top 2 percent of we’ve got to have austerity, we’ve got Mr. ELLISON. Tens of billions of dol- the income scale should have to pay to lower people’s expectations as to lars from direct money and indirect more. We believe that the Defense De- what people expect. money through access to the Fed at partment, which has seen its budget Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Other people. lower rates, and now has the audac- double since 2001, should have to take Not them, other people. ity—is the only word you can use—to cuts. Mr. ELLISON. Other people. They start talking about how somebody who We believe we have to invest in jobs are extremely well taken care of, and is making $22,000 a year has to figure and get people back to work. And we they come from companies, several of out what they’re going to do. believe we should protect Social Secu- them, that got direct benefits from the Here’s the thing. I remember 2008 rity, Medicare, and Medicaid. Those government. And now all of a sudden, very well. I remember people’s 401(k)s are some takeaways that I think are you know, everybody else has to tight- taking massive hits directly related to very important. en their belt. It’s shocking, actually. the behavior of large banks. So it used We do believe in negotiating. We be- And if there’s anything funny about it, to be that you had money you saved, lieve that it’s important to do so. it is that they don’t get the irony of money you saved on the job and then We’ve already given up $1.5 trillion in what they’re doing. Social Security. Two sources of your the last term. People talk about what’s I think the American people should retirement income are now dwindling on the table, what’s off the table—$1.5 know that whenever you see CEOs from in part because of the behavior of these trillion should be on the table as cuts polluting industries, from financial banks, and one of the leaders of one of that have already taken place. services industries, from industries the biggest ones is talking about other I’d just like to leave the gentlelady that have gotten a lot of help and ben- folks having to get by on less. the remaining time to summarize. efit from the government talking about My question is: What happened to the Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. You have the how other people should tighten their basic concept of civic virtue? I mean, sign, ‘‘The Progressive Message,’’ and I

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Nov 30, 2012 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29NO7.053 H29NOPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H6534 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 29, 2012 am a proud member of the Progressive morrow, Friday, November 30, 2012, at 9 the 698-746, 747-762 and 777-792 MHz Bands Caucus. But I believe that if you pre- a.m. [WP Docket No.: 07-100] [PS Docket No.: 06- 229] [WT Docket No.: 06-150] received Novem- sented what you just said to the Amer- f ican people, in general, that the vast ber 14, 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. majority agree with that because it’s EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, ETC. 8501. A letter from the Chief, PSHSB, Fed- fair. That’s all. eral Communications Commission, transmit- We are willing to find cuts, and as Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive ting the Commission’s final rule — Imple- you pointed out, we’ve already done communications were taken from the menting Public Safety Broadband Provisions that. That’s already been done with Speaker’s table and referred as follows: of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Cre- $1.5 trillion in cuts. But fairness means 8494. A letter from the Director, Regu- ation Act of 2012; Implementing a Nation- not just that starting from scratch, we latory Management Division, Environmental wide, Broadband, Interoperable Public Safe- ty Network in the 700 MHz Band; Service cut everybody across the board, but we Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- cy’s final rule — 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene; Rules for the 698-746, 747-762 and 777-792 MHz do it in a humane and fair and sensible Bands [PS Docket No.: 12-94] [PS Docket No.: way in our country. And I think the Amendment to an Exemption from the Re- quirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP- 06-229] [WT Docket No.: 06-150] received No- Progressive message is the American 2011-1029; FRL-9368-2] received November 14, vember 14, 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. message, the one that we’re hearing 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and from the American people. Committee on Agriculture. Commerce. So I thank you so much for your 8495. A letter from the Director, Regu- 8502. A letter from the Chief of Staff, Wire- latory Management Division, Environmental less Communications Bureau, Federal Com- leadership. And going forward, I hope munications Commission, transmitting the we can help to mobilize, along with the Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- cy’s final rule — Dinotefuran; Pesticide Tol- Commission’s final rule — Amendment of President, mobilize people to support Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Permit these ideas. erances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0060; FRL-9365-1] received November 14, 2012, pursuant to 5 Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Tech- Mr. ELLISON. The gentlelady from U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Ag- nology; Request by the TETRA Association Illinois has the last word from ‘‘The riculture. for Waiver of Sections 90.209, 90.210 and 2.1043 Progressive Message.’’ 8496. A letter from the Director, Regu- of the Commission’s Rules [WT Docket No.: I yield back the balance of my time. latory Management Division, Environmental 11-69] [ET Docket No.: 09-234] received Octo- Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- ber 31, 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); f cy’s final rule — Flonicamid; Pesticide Tol- to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 8503. A letter from the Chief of Staff, Media erances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0985; FRL-9368-7] SENATE BILL REFERRED Bureau, Federal Communications Commis- received November 14, 2012, pursuant to 5 sion, transmitting the Commission’s final A bill of the Senate of the following U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Ag- rule — Basic Service Tier Encryption; Com- title was taken from the Speaker’s riculture. patibility Between Cable Systems and Con- table and, under the rule, referred as 8497. A letter from the Director, Regu- sumer Electronics Equipment; Inter Moun- follows: latory Management Division, Environmental tain Cable Inc.’s Request for Waiver of Sec- Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- S. 1998. An act to obtain an unqualified tion 76.630(a) of the Commission’s Rules; cy’s final rule — Approval and Promulgation audit opinion, and improve financial ac- RCN Telecom Services, Inc.’s, Request for of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Dela- countability and management at the Depart- Waiver of Section 76.630(a) of the Commis- ware; Requirements for Prevention of Sig- ment of Homeland Security; to the Com- sion’s Rules; Coaxial Cable TV’s Request for nificant Deterioration and Nonattainment mittee on Homeland Security; In addition to Waiver of Section 76.630(a) of the Commis- New Source Review; Fine Particulate Matter the Committee on Oversight and Govern- sion’s Rules; Mikrotec CATV LLC’s Request (PM2.5) [EPA-R03-OAR-2012-0381; FRL-9747-9] ment Reform for a period to be subsequently for Waiver of Section 76.630(a) of the Com- received November 2, 2012, pursuant to 5 determined by the Speaker, in each case for mission’s Rules [MB Docket No.: 11-169] [PP U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on En- consideration of such provisions as fall with- Docket No.: 00-67] (CSR-8483-Z) (CSR-8525-Z) ergy and Commerce. in the jurisdiction of the committee con- (CSR-8334-Z) (CSR-8528-Z) received November 8498. A letter from the Director, Regu- cerned. 21, 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to latory Management Division, Environmental f the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- 8504. A letter from the General Counsel, BILLS PRESENTED TO THE cy’s final rule — Approval and Promulgation Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, of Implementation Plans; Tennessee; Re- PRESIDENT transmitting the Commission’s final rule — gional Haze State Implementation Plan; Electricity Market Transparency Provisions Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House, Best Available Retrofit Technology Require- of Section 220 of the Federal Power Act reported that on November 28, 2012, she ments for Eastman Chemical Company [Docket No.: RM10-12-000; Order No. 768] re- presented to the President of the [EPA-R04-OAR-2009-0786; FRL-9752-5] re- ceived November 16, 2012, pursuant to 5 United States, for his approval, the fol- ceived November 14, 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on En- U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on En- lowing bills. ergy and Commerce. ergy and Commerce. 8505. A letter from the Director, Defense H.R. 6063. To amend title 18, United States 8499. A letter from the Chief of Staff, Wire- Security Cooperation Agency, transmitting Code, with respect to child pornography and less Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Transmittal No. 12-56, pursuant to the re- child exploitation offenses. Communications Commission, transmitting porting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of H.R. 6570. To amend the American Recov- the Commission’s final rule — Amendment of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended; to ery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the the Amateur Service Rules Governing Quali- the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of fying Examination Systems and Other Mat- 8506. A letter from the Director, Defense 2008 to consolidate certain CBO reporting re- ters; Amendment of Part 97 of the Commis- Security Cooperation Agency, transmitting quirements. sion’s Amateur Service Rules to Give Perma- Transmittal No. 12-0C, pursuant to the re- H.R. 2453. To require the Secretary of the nent Credit for Examination Elements porting requirements of Section 36(b)(5)(e) of Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Passes; Amendment of Part 97 of the Com- the Arms Export Control Act, as amended; to Mark Twain. mission’s Rules to Facilitate Use in the the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H.R. 6118. To amend section 353 of the Pub- Amateur Radio Service of Single Slot Time 8507. A letter from the Acting Secretary, lic Health Service Act with respect to sus- Division Multiple Access Telephony and Department of Commerce, transmitting pension, revocation, and limitation of lab- Data Emissions; Request for Temporary Periodic Report on the National Emergency oratory certification. Waiver; Amendment of the Amateur Service Caused by the Lapse of the Export Adminis- H.R. 6131. To extend the Undertaking Rules Governing Vanity and Club Station tration Act of 1979 for February 26, 2012 — Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement Call Signs [WT Docket No.: 12-283] [WT August 25, 2012; to the Committee on Foreign With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, Docket No.: 09-209] received November 14, Affairs. and for other purposes. 2012, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the 8508. A letter from the Director, Consumer f Committee on Energy and Commerce. Financial Protection Bureau, transmitting 8500. A letter from the Deputy Bureau the semiannual report on the activities of ADJOURNMENT Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security the Office of Inspector General for the period Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I move Bureau, Federal Communications Commis- April 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012; to the sion, transmitting the Commission’s final Committee on Oversight and Government that the House do now adjourn. rule — Amendment of Part 90 of the Commis- Reform. The motion was agreed to; accord- sion’s Rules; Implementing a Nationwide, 8509. A letter from the Secretary, Depart- ingly (at 3 o’clock and 23 minutes Broadband Interoperable Public Safety Net- ment of Transportation, transmitting the p.m.), the House adjourned until to- work in the 700 MHz Band; Service Rules for annual report under the Federal Managers’

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Financial Integrity Act for 2012; to the Com- DEGETTE, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. LAM- By Ms. MATSUI: mittee on Oversight and Government Re- BORN, Mr. POLIS, and Mr. TIPTON): H.R. 6614. form. H.R. 6615. A bill to exclude from gross in- Congress has the power to enact this legis- 8510. A letter from the Chairman and Chief come payments from the Aurora Victim Re- lation pursuant to the following: Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administra- lief Fund to the victims of the event at the Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 tion, transmitting the semiannual report on Century 16 Cinema in Aurora, Colorado, on By Mr. PERLMUTTER: the activities of the Office of Inspector Gen- July 20, 2012; to the Committee on Ways and H.R. 6615. eral of the Farm Credit Administration for Means. Congress has the power to enact this legis- the period April 1, 2012 through September By Mr. PRICE of Georgia: lation pursuant to the following: 30, 2012; and the semiannual Management Re- H.R. 6616. A bill to protect securities trans- Article 1, Section 8 port on the Status of Audits for the same pe- actions in the United States from enforce- By Mr. PRICE of Georgia: riod; to the Committee on Oversight and ment of certain excise taxes imposed by any H.R. 6616. Government Reform. foreign government, and for other purposes; Congress has the power to enact this legis- 8511. A letter from the Director, Trade and to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in lation pursuant to the following: Development Agency, transmitting the addition to the Committee on Foreign Af- This bill makes changes to existing law re- Agency’s Performance and Accountability fairs, for a period to be subsequently deter- lating to Article 1, Section 8 which provides Report including audited financial state- mined by the Speaker, in each case for con- that, ‘‘The Congress shall have Power To lay ments for fiscal year 2012; to the Committee sideration of such provisions as fall within and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Ex- on Oversight and Government Reform. the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. cises, to pay the debts and provide for the 8512. A letter from the Acting Assistant By Mr. SIMPSON: common Defense and general Welfare of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, H.R. 6617. A bill to provide for Indian trust United States; but all Duties, Imposts, and transmitting the Annual Report to Congress asset management reform, and for other pur- Excises shall be uniform throughout the on the implementation, enforcement, and poses; to the Committee on Natural Re- United States.’’ The Secretary of the Treas- prosecution of registration requirements sources. ury is responsible for the collection of any under Section 635 of the Adam Walsh Child By Mr. SMITH of Washington (for him- tax at the federal level. It is purview of the Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Pub.L. self and Mr. REICHERT): Congress to determine which taxes the Sec- 109-248)(AWA); to the Committee on the Ju- H.R. 6618. A bill to further the mission of retary shall or shall not collect. Clarifying diciary. the Global Justice Information Sharing Ini- direction to the Secretary in regards to a 8513. A letter from the Commissioner, So- tiative Advisory Committee by continuing foreign financial transaction tax will ease cial Security Administration, transmitting a its development of policy recommendations the administrative and compliance burden news release on Social Security Benefit In- and technical solutions on information shar- on the private financial sector and the fed- crease for 2013; to the Committee on Ways ing and interoperability, and enhancing its eral government. and Means. pursuit of benefits and cost savings for local, By Mr. SIMPSON: f State, tribal, and Federal justice agencies; H.R. 6617. to the Committee on the Judiciary. PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Congress has the power to enact this legis- By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska: lation pursuant to the following: Under clause 2 of rule XII, public H.R. 6619. A bill to provide for the Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress bills and resolutions of the following unencumbering of title to non-Federal land the power to regulate Commerce with the In- owned by the city of Anchorage, Alaska, for dian Tribes. titles were introduced and severally re- purposes of economic development by con- ferred, as follows: By Mr. SMITH of Washington: veyance of the Federal reversion interest to H.R. 6618. By Mr. CASSIDY (for himself, Mr. ROO- the City; to the Committee on Natural Re- Congress has the power to enact this legis- NEY, Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. sources. lation pursuant to the following: HARRIS, and Mr. BENISHEK): By Mr. LARSON of Connecticut: Article I Section 8. ‘‘. . . provide for the H.R. 6611. A bill to amend title XVIII of the H. Res. 822. A resolution electing Members common Defence and general Welfare of the Social Security Act to promote public notifi- to certain standing committees of the House United States . . .’’ cation and provide incentives to reduce drug of Representatives; considered and agreed to. By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska: shortages, and for other purposes; to the By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. H.R. 6619. Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in HANNA, Ms. HANABUSA, and Ms. Congress has the power to enact this legis- addition to the Committee on Ways and BUERKLE): lation pursuant to the following: Means, for a period to be subsequently deter- H. Res. 823. A resolution honoring and Article 4, Section 3, Clause 2 mined by the Speaker, in each case for con- praising Mother Marianne Cope for her leg- sideration of such provisions as fall within acy of compassionate care and recognizing f the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. her example of what it truly means to dedi- By Mr. MCCARTHY of California (for cate one’s life in service to others, especially ADDITIONAL SPONSORS himself, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. SCHIFF, to those she served at the leprosy settlement Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai; to were added to public bills and resolu- PALAZZO, and Mr. ROHRABACHER): the Committee on Foreign Affairs. tions as follows: H.R. 6612. A bill to redesignate the Dryden f Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Arm- H.R. 59: Mr. GOSAR. strong Flight Research Center and the West- CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY H.R. 402: Ms. MCCOLLUM. ern Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. STATEMENT H.R. 816: Mr. MARCHANT. H.R. 1001: Mr. MICHAUD. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range; to the Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- H.R. 1386: Mr. CUMMINGS. nology. the Rules of the House of Representa- H.R. 1489: Ms. ESHOO. By Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for tives, the following statements are sub- H.R. 1653: Ms. BONAMICI. himself and Mr. CAPUANO): mitted regarding the specific powers H.R. 1711: Mr. RANGEL. H.R. 6613. A bill to establish the Securities granted to Congress in the Constitu- H.R. 2069: Mr. BLUMENAUER. and Derivatives Commission in order to com- tion to enact the accompanying bill or H.R. 2104: Mr. PALAZZO. bine the functions of the Commodity Futures joint resolution. H.R. 2705: Ms. PINGREE of Maine and Ms. Trading Commission and the Securities and EDWARDS. By Mr. CASSIDY: Exchange Commission in a single inde- H.R. 2969: Mr. ELLISON. H.R. 6611. H.R. 3238: Ms. MOORE and Ms. MCCOLLUM. pendent regulatory commission; to the Com- Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 3497: Mr. THOMPSON of California. mittee on Financial Services, and in addi- lation pursuant to the following: tion to the Committee on Agriculture, for a Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United H.R. 3769: Mr. ISRAEL. period to be subsequently determined by the States Constitution. H.R. 4156: Ms. CASTOR of Florida. H.R. 4202: Mr. TIERNEY. Speaker, in each case for consideration of By Mr. MCCARTHY of California: such provisions as fall within the jurisdic- H.R. 6612. H.R. 4373: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. tion of the committee concerned. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 5741: Mr. NEAL. By Ms. MATSUI: lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 6155: Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. H.R. 6614. A bill to amend the National Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the Con- H.R. 6256: Ms. FUDGE, Mr. CLAY, and Mr. Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow the re- stitution RANGEL. building of certain structures located in spe- By Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts: H.R. 6275: Ms. MATSUI. cial flood hazard zones, and for other pur- H.R. 6613. H.R. 6312: Mr. PAULSEN. poses; to the Committee on Financial Serv- Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 6320: Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas and Mr. ices. lation pursuant to the following: JONES. By Mr. PERLMUTTER (for himself, Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (the Com- H.R. 6388: Mr. HANNA and Mr. KING of New Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, Ms. merce Clause). York.

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H.R. 6413: Mr. ELLISON. H.R. 6575: Mr. PETERSON and Mr. BISHOP of GUTIERREZ, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. CLAY, Ms. SE- H.R. 6475: Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA and Mr. Georgia. WELL, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. TOWNS. H.R. 6587: Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. ESHOO, and NADLER, Mr. TIERNEY, and Mr. KUCINICH. H.R. 6494: Ms. BASS of California, Mr. SHER- Mr. STARK. H.R. 6603: Mr. MATHESON. MAN, Mr. WAXMAN, Mrs. DAVIS of California, H.R. 6588: Ms. WILSON of Florida and Mr. H. Con. Res. 141: Mr. NADLER, Ms. LEE of Ms. WATERS, Ms. SPEIER, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. ELLISON. California, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, and Mr. GRI- MATSUI, Mr. BECERRA, Ms. HAHN, and Mr. H.R. 6589: Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. JALVA. COSTA. MCCAUL, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. H. Res. 220: Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. SENSEN- H.R. 6495: Mr. RIGELL, Mr. PITTS, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. BRENNER, and Ms. NORTON. MULVANEY, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mr. GARRETT, FARENTHOLD, Ms. GRANGER, and Mr. OLSON. H. Res. 734: Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas and Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. H.R. 6591: Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CLARKE of Ms. HIRONO. STUTZMAN, Mr. CAMPBELL, and Mr. RIBBLE. Michigan, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. H. Res. 819: Mr. PAUL, Mr. AMASH, Ms. LEE H.R. 6527: Ms. SEWELL. CLARKE of New York, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. of California, and Mr. MCGOVERN.

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