H8924 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 7, 2006 The question was taken; and (two- The projected deficit for fiscal year vesting in education, homeland secu- thirds of those voting having responded 2007 is $350 billion, at least that is what rity, veterans or our soldiers, simply in the affirmative) the rules were sus- they tell us, but not true. The real def- paying interest on the national debt. pended and the resolution was agreed icit for fiscal year 2007 is $545 billion. That is the red bar. You can see in con- to. You see, when the people in this House, trast how much we are spending of A motion to reconsider was laid on when the Republican leadership tells us your tax money on education and on the table. that the deficit that is projected for homeland security and on veterans. The majority of the money is going to f fiscal year 2007 is $350 billion, that is counting the money they are bor- help pay interest, not principal, not in- b 1348 rowing from the Social Security trust vesting in education, homeland secu- rity, veterans or soldiers, but paying RECESS fund, with absolutely no provision on how or when or where the money is interest on the debt we already got. So The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- going to come from to pay that debt America’s priorities will continue to go ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair back. unmet until we get our Nation’s fiscal declares the House in recess subject to I am starting to understand now why, house in order. the call of the Chair. when I first got to Congress in 2001 and To help me explain this, and I will be Accordingly (at 1 o’clock and 48 min- I wrote that bill to tell the politicians coming back to talk more about the utes p.m.), the House stood in recess in Washington to keep their hands off Blue Dog Coalition’s 12-point plan for a subject to the call of the Chair. the Social Security trust fund, I am be- meaningful budget reform, I will be f ginning now to understand why the Re- talking about our package of account- publican leadership refused to give us a ability bills; but to help set the stage, b 1414 hearing or a vote on that legislation. Mr. Speaker, and to put this in per- AFTER RECESS Last year, the deficit was about $300 spective, I yield to my colleague and billion. In fact, Mr. Speaker, if you fellow Blue Dog member from The recess having expired, the House (Mr. SCOTT). was called to order by the Speaker pro look with me here, you can see in 2004, we had the largest deficit ever in our Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, tempore (Mr. SHIMKUS) at 2 o’clock and thank you very much. It is always a 14 minutes p.m. Nation’s history, $413 billion; the sec- ond largest deficit ever in our Nation’s pleasure to join you as we talk about f history in 2003, $378 billion. In 2005, it the important issue of getting our fis- was $318 billion, and for 2006, there was cal house in order. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Coming out of this recent election, much to do made out of the fact that PRO TEMPORE the American people spoke and they they only had a deficit of $296 billion. spoke boldly, and the one thing they The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Only $296 billion? Mr. Speaker, that is said was they want a new direction. A objection, the Chair will recognize the an enormous debt. That is a lot of hot part of that new direction is to be fis- gentleman from (Mr. ROSS) checks that have been written by our cally responsible and to make sure we and the gentleman from (Mr. Nation. are spending the taxpayers’ money KIRK) each for 45 minutes without prej- Let me put it in perspective. Those udice to the resumption of legislative wisely. are the four largest deficits ever in our I want to talk about several aspects business. Nation’s history, the fiscal year 2007 There was no objection. of this today, one of which I want to deficit projected at $350 billion, but let start off by talking about the aspect of f me put it in perspective. The total na- our foreign borrowing. That is one of BLUE DOG COALITION tional debt from 1789 until 2000 was the most dangerous areas in which we $5.67 trillion, but by 2010 the total na- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- are moving. tional debt will have increased to $10.88 As you well know, we now are bor- ant to the previous order of the House, trillion. This is a doubling of the 211- rowing more money from foreign gov- the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. year debt in just 10 years. Interest pay- ernments and foreign banks, foreign fi- ROSS) is recognized for 45 minutes. ments on this debt are one of the fast- nancial institutions. In the last 5 Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this est growing parts of the Federal budg- years, we borrowed more money from afternoon on behalf of the 37-member et. foreign interests than we borrowed in strong, fiscally conservative, Demo- It is called the debt tax, D-E-B-T, and the whole history of this country up to cratic Blue Dog Coalition, a group of that is one tax that cannot be repealed, 2001. conservative Democrats that are that cannot be cut until we get our Na- I want to make that clear because I united with a common cause, and that tion’s fiscal house in order and return know the American people are sitting is, restoring common sense and fiscal to the days, like we saw under Presi- there and saying, is he saying what I discipline to our Nation’s government. dent Clinton from 1998 through 2001, think he is saying, that since 1789, at As we spend the next 45 minutes or where for the first time in 40 years the birth of this country, through all so, Mr. Speaker, talking about the fis- Democratic or Republican, the Clinton the way up to 2001, we have borrowed cally conservative Democratic Blue administration gave us the first bal- less money from foreign governments Dog Coalition’s 12-point plan for mean- anced budget, gave us a surplus that in than we have borrowed in the past 5 ingful budget reform, and as we talk the past 51⁄2 years has been squandered years? That is a dangerous situation about our plan for accountability with- by this administration and this Repub- for us to be in. It is dangerous to the in our government, I would remind lican-led Congress. future of our country, and we must you, Mr. Speaker, that you can e-mail Our Nation is borrowing $1 billion a move to correct that. us your comments or concerns at day. We are sending $8 billion a month When we look at Japan, we are bor- [email protected]. Again, Mr. to Iraq, $57 million a day to Afghani- rowing nearly $700 billion from Japan. Speaker, if you have any comments, stan. We are borrowing $1 billion a day, We are borrowing $368 billion from questions or concerns of us, you can e- and before we borrow $1 billion today China, and we are borrowing $117 bil- mail us at [email protected]. and before the current debt grows by lion from Taiwan. We are borrowing Mr. Speaker, the Federal debt is the another $1 billion today, our Nation is over $200 billion from the OPEC na- largest this Nation has ever seen, some paying $500 million on the debt we have tions. When you look at the Asian $8.6 trillion. This Nation has had one of already got in interest payments alone. Basin and you look at the Middle East, the largest deficits year after year America’s priorities will continue to you also find another occurrence that after year since 2001. I believe the go unmet until we get our Nation’s fis- is troubling, and it presents some of American people are ready for us to cal house in order. Let me just make the most unstable regimes and coun- put an end to the partisan bickering this point of what I mean by that. tries in our world today. It is a terrible and clean up the mess in Washington The red bar is the amount of money situation for us to be in. to restore common sense and fiscal dis- our Nation is spending on interest not At home, we must act more respon- cipline to our Nation’s government. meeting America’s priorities, not in- sibly by making sure that we are

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:49 Dec 08, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K07DE7.055 H07DEPT1 jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with HOUSE December 7, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8925 spending our money and putting our for folks earning over $400,000 a year and never take a single day off of work priorities where they count the most. that you want to cut, you have got to for vacation, you earn $10,712 a year. The American people are looking for show us where you are going to pay for If we are serious as a Nation in mov- help in terms of getting more of this it. You cannot just pass laws that cut ing people from welfare to work, we money into their pockets, being able to revenue or increase spending without have got to value their work and we help them with critical issues of edu- showing where the money is going to have got to pay them a living wage. cation. come from, because we know where it And that is exactly what the gen- So, for a little bit today, I want to has been coming from. It has been com- tleman from Georgia is talking about talk about what we are doing as Demo- ing from foreign central banks and for- doing; and I am so pleased that Speak- crats, and I thank God because this is eign investors, as the gentleman from er-elect PELOSI has included that in her the first time that I am standing and Georgia so eloquently pointed out. legislative agenda for the first 100 you are standing in this floor on the This administration and this Con- hours. House of Representatives with this de- gress in the past 51⁄2 years have bor- Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. And I will tell bate when we can say to the American rowed more money from foreign cen- you why I am so pleased with our lead- people as Democrats, thank you, thank tral banks and foreign investors than ership and Leader PELOSI and STENY you for giving Democrats an oppor- the previous 42 Presidents combined. HOYER, , and all of our tunity to lead this Congress. We are Reinstituting the PAYGO rules that great leaders. They have said that be- grateful and we are humbled because were in place on the floor of this House fore this Congress gets another raise in we understand the levity and the seri- when President Clinton gave us the pay, we will raise the minimum wage ousness of this responsibility that the first balanced budget in about 40 years, for the American people. That is lead- American people have given us to lead. every year from 1998 through 2001, ership that the American people can be Nowhere is that more crucial than in PAYGO rules were in place; then they proud of. taking care of their money and taking will be in place again on the floor of As we move from the minimum wage, care of our fiscal responsibility and this House, which is the first step to- another area that we are going to work being responsible for it. ward restoring fiscal discipline and on very quickly: we know the high cost So I think it is very important that common sense to our Nation’s govern- of education, we know what it costs for as we talk this afternoon about this re- ment. a young person to go to college. We sponsibility to let the American people I yield back to the gentleman from have found a way in which we can get know where we are going to work Georgia. common ground. The Democrats will quickly to make sure we are paying at- Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. You are abso- lead the way in cutting in half the in- tention to their needs, and one of the lutely right, and it is so important I terests that students will have to pay first places that we are going to start think as we talk this afternoon that on their student loans. That is the kind is to raise the minimum wage. the American people are well aware of tax cut for middle-class America Why is that important, people say, that they are in good shape with Demo- that is needed. It impacts everybody to the minimum wage? It is more than crats in control of the Congress. have that. And we pay for it as we go. just a symbolic gesture. It is a timely Let me go on from the minimum We can afford that, because that gesture. We have had the minimum wage. I mean, that is important. We money that is saved is stimulated and wage since 1938. There has never been are going to get that done and we are goes right back into the economy. as long a period where we have not ad- going to do it in a bipartisan way. We When you are able to get money back justed the minimum wage as in the pe- will reach out to the Republicans. We to the consumers and to the American riod since the last raising of the min- will work with Republicans. That is an- people, they are able to use that money imum wage. So it is important for us other thing that the American people in every area; but it is recycled, it con- to show the American people, at least want to see us do. tinues to go back into the economy to they will see, they are paying atten- help the greater productivity of this b 1430 tion to us. Yes, we will pay attention country. to the world; yes, we are very much I can’t tell you the number of times Mr. ROSS. I want to thank the gen- concerned about what is happening in on the campaign trail that people will tleman for discussing some of the legis- the world; but we must immediately come up to me and say, Congressman lative agenda items that we will see in send a message to the American people SCOTT, for goodness sake, can you all the first 100 hours of the new 110th Con- that we care about you. We care about stop the bickering? Can you just get gress. And reforming Medicare part D America first. That is why the impor- along? To paraphrase our friend in is another one of those that I am very tance of raising this minimum wage is , can we just get along? And excited about, where we are actually so important. It sends that message. we are going to do that. going to allow our government to nego- The American people say, oh, okay, I So we find common ground on the tiate on behalf of 40 million seniors think they get it. minimum wage and quickly pass that. with the big drug manufacturers to Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I believe an Then we can find common ground, and lower the cost of medicine, which hope- important message was sent on elec- let me just say something about the fully can help us to eliminate or reduce tion night, and that message was that minimum wage as we go forward so this doughnut hole and continue to im- the American people are ready for us to people will know. We are talking about prove and make this benefit for Amer- put an end to the partisan bickering, to pay-as-you-go; we are talking about ica’s seniors even better. work together to clean up the mess and keeping financial and fiscal responsi- But we are 37 members strong. We to put people’s interests above special bility in and making sure we are ac- are the fiscally conservative Blue Dog interests. countable. This minimum wage is to- Coalition, Mr. Speaker, and I am That is why I am real proud that in tally absorbed by the private sector, by pleased we are growing to 44 members the first 100 hours under Speaker-elect the employment sector. We are simply with the 110th session of Congress be- Pelosi, she has announced that in the making the adjustment to give a due ginning in January; and we are all first 100 hours we will reinstitute raise to go in line with inflation and about restoring common sense and fis- PAYGO rules on the floor of the United the other needs to bring the minimum cal discipline to our Nation’s govern- States House of Representatives. wage up to the standard that we have. ment. And, wow, does our country need PAYGO means pay-as-you-go, and it is Mr. ROSS. Will the gentleman yield? a good dose of that, does Congress need one of the 12 points for meaningful re- Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Yes, I will. a good dose of that. You can look to form that the Blue Dog Coalition has Mr. ROSS. Just on the minimum the chart here and find the answer is put forth. We are very grateful that she wage aspect, let me just make a point an overwhelming ‘‘yes’’ with a great has included it in one of her objectives to that. If folks don’t recognize the big exclamation mark at the end of it. to accomplish in the first 100 hours. current Federal minimum wage of As you walk the Halls of Congress, What PAYGO means is that if you what it means, let me tell you what it Mr. Speaker, you will find this Blue have got a new Federal program you means. If you are working 40 hours a Dog Coalition poster as a welcome mat want to fund or if you have got a tax week, 52 weeks a year, never get sick to the door of each of the 37 members

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:49 Dec 08, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K07DE7.058 H07DEPT1 jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with HOUSE H8926 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 7, 2006 of the fiscally conservative Democratic on the face of the Earth; we have the that if you are going to have a new pro- Blue Dog Coalition to serve as a daily political machine that has been put gram, you have got to find money to reminder to all of us that walk the here over the years that has never been pay for it. And we also want to put in Halls of Congress that our Nation and equaled by man before. And with that, place spending caps. We want these in its spending habits are out of control. we achieve a lot of political clout statute. This is what we did in 1997, Mr. Today, the U.S. National Debt, and around the world, and with that comes Speaker, shortly after you came here a these numbers change daily in the a lot of responsibility. But we have an few years ago that got us on the path Halls of Congress by the front door as underlying economic model, Mr. to fiscal responsibility and fiscal san- a welcome mat to the members of the Speaker, that has allowed us to become ity. fiscally conservative Democratic Blue really the greatest country on the face So I am very proud to be a part of Dog Coalition. But today, as we stand of the Earth, and for several years now this group. This group wants to reach here, the U.S. national debt is we have eroded that underlying eco- across that aisle, tear down that wall $8,643,173,864,324 and some change. nomic model in a way as we begin and that exists, work with the folks on If you divide that enormous number as we try to address, and not very suc- both sides of the aisle, because we all that is very difficult for us to get our cessfully, the issues that face our coun- represent about 650,000 or 700,000 peo- arms wrapped around, if you take that try. ple, and those people have a right to be number and you divide it by every It appears to me that over the last heard. Those people from back in the man, woman, and child, including few years that many of the things we country have a right to be heard, and those being born today here in Amer- did were to maintain power rather than we ought to work that way. And I ica, your share, each individual’s share to advance the American cause and know the new leadership of this Con- of the national debt is $28,867. We refer make life better for the American peo- gress has committed that they will work in a bipartisan way, and we will to it in the Blue Dog Coalition as the ple. have a Speaker of the House, not the debt tax, D-E-B-T. And that is one tax We have a unique opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to tear down that wall that Speaker of a party. that cannot go away, that cannot be Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for exists in the middle of that aisle that cut, that is stopping us from meeting the time, and I want to especially America’s priorities here at home. So has been built over the last 8 or 10 or 12 thank my colleague, Mr. ROSS, for put- that is the reason we have written a 12- years. The Blue Dogs want to do that. ting this together. point plan for reform that will cure our We want to reach across that aisle as Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I want to Nation’s addiction to deficit spending, Democrats and take hands with some thank the gentleman from who put us on a course toward a balanced folks on the Republican side who feel has been elected cochair of the Blue budget, and that will allow us to begin like we do, that we have to preserve Dog Coalition for the 110th session of to invest in America again. that economic model, we have to ad- Congress for coming and sharing his We have got the cochair-elect of the dress these issues that are before us in thoughts with us. Blue Dog Coalition with us today, one terms of spending problems and rev- Mr. BOYD, you are so right. The of the members of the Blue Dog Coali- enue problems, we have to address American people on election night tion who has been around for quite them all in one context. were telling us they want us to put an some time and has been a real leader in You can’t come here to this floor and end to the partisan bickering, to clean the group and I am pleased to report address the spending issue one day up the mess in Washington, to reach that beginning with the 110th session of without any regard for the revenue across that aisle and work together, Congress will become the cochair for side, and then come the next day and not as Democrats or Republicans, but administration for the Blue Dog Coali- address the revenue side without any as Americans. And put America first tion, and that is the gentleman from regard for the spending priorities of again, put our families and children Florida, Mr. . this country. So that is what the Blue first again, and put the people’s inter- Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, I want to Dogs are all about. We believe at the ests above special interests. That is thank my colleague from Arkansas, my end of the day the revenues have to why I am so proud that Speaker-elect fellow Blue Dog, Mr. ROSS, and also Mr. meet the expenditures. PELOSI has announced that during the SCOTT, for being here and sharing in Now, we have some very difficult first 100 legislative hours we will see a this hour to talk a little bit about the choices to make before us in the next meaningful ethics reform bill on the priorities of the Blue Dog Coalition. few months: how do we put this Con- floor of this House. Mr. Speaker, we have a unique oppor- gress and this country on a path so Some people, when they hear about tunity here before us that we don’t that we will again come into a fiscal the Blue Dog Coalition and the fact have a whole lot of time to grasp on to discipline situation where we can see that we are a group of fiscal conserv- and do something with. It is an oppor- down the road that we are going to ative Democrats, a lot of people all of tunity that doesn’t come along often, have a balanced budget. We have a sys- a sudden just assume that it is a group maybe once every generation or so, in temic deficit built in right now into of . Not true. This which the American people say to the our government activities, and we are is not a regional group; this is a na- United States Congress and to the ad- going to have to make some tough tional group and a national movement ministration, We don’t like the direc- choices relative to spending and rel- that stretches from Salt Lake City and tion the country is heading in, and we ative to the revenue side, and I am Burbank, California all the way to would like to put a new team in place honored that the Blue Dogs are going Long Island. And I am so pleased that and head in a different direction. And, to be leading the way to bring fiscal one of our longstanding members of the Mr. Speaker, many of us who serve in sanity back to this government that fiscally conservative Democratic Blue the Halls of this Congress have not ex- we are so very proud of. Dog Coalition, the gentleman from Long Island, STEVE ISRAEL, is here perienced this before, we have not been My friend from Georgia (Mr. SCOTT) here when this has happened. More has laid out the agenda items of the with us today; and I yield to him. than half of the Members of this Con- first 100 hours, and those we agree b 1445 gress were not here in 1994 when this with. We think they are items that we Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank happened before. So we have a unique heard the American people tell us dur- my very good friend from Arkansas opportunity to change the way that ing the campaign that we need to get with whom I have served for 6 years. this Congress operates and to do some done. And we are going to do those We were elected together in 2000, and it things that will help to keep America things, and we are going to do them in has been my privilege to work with and the greatest country on the face of the the context of balancing the budget in under him in the Blue Dog Coalition. Earth. the long run. Mr. Speaker, one of the critical obli- Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that we One of the things that the Blue Dogs gations we have as Members of Con- live in a very special place. It is not are going to really push for in the first gress, it does not matter whether you perfect, but it beats the devil out of 100 legislative hours in the 100-hour are a Blue Dog or Republican or Demo- what is in second place around the agenda is to make sure that we pass a crat, one of the most critical obliga- world. We have the greatest economy PAYGO rule, a PAYGO rule that says tions we have, in my view, is keeping

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:49 Dec 08, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K07DE7.059 H07DEPT1 jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with HOUSE December 7, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8927 our country strong and safe, making cludes the FBI. It includes payments to tives as we discuss the fiscal conserv- sure that our military continues to be farmers. It includes the CIA. It in- ative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition the strongest and greatest on earth; cludes all of our national security and our plans to restore some common- making sure that our children, as they spending. That is what we are saying to sense and fiscal discipline to our gov- advance in years, inherit a military our children. ernment. that is strong and a country that is If we continue these unsustainable It begins with our 12-point reform safe and secure. That is what we all budgets, by the year 2040, Federal reve- plan for curing our Nation’s addiction think about. That is the obligation nues will only pay for interest on debt, to deficit spending. that we all have. credit card interest, and a little bit of Mr. Speaker, if you have questions, But if we continue these Social Security. They are either going comments or concerns, you can e-mail unsustainable budget strategies on this to have to cancel all other programs or us at [email protected]. unsustainable budget path with $8 tril- tax themselves catastrophically to pay Quickly, I want to go through some lion debts and multibillion-dollar an- for them. Now, that is not a value that of the 12 points. In other words, we are nual deficits, we are undermining our any American sitting around their not here on the floor of the U.S. House military and we are doing a disservice kitchen table would agree to. That is of Representatives just to beat up the not only to our children but to the not a work ethic that any of us would Republican leadership or just talk brave men and women who count on us agree to. about what has gone wrong, we are to ensure that we are appropriating the So how do we fix this problem? How here to offer up commonsense solutions funds adequate for them to fight the are the Blue Dogs proposing that we to getting this Nation out of debt. fight. give our kids the ability to pay for the Number one, require a balanced budg- I have the great privilege of being on strongest military on earth? It is very et. Forty-nine States do. Holly Ross the Armed Services Committee, which simple, not very complicated at all. does. Most Americans understand the has jurisdiction for all military and na- The Blue Dogs say balance our budgets. concept of a balanced budget. So num- tional security issues. We have a $500 Don’t spend if you don’t have the re- ber one, require a balanced budget as a billion national defense budget this sources to spend. The Blue Dogs say nation. year. We need to continue providing impose fiscal discipline on this Con- Number two, don’t let Congress buy our forces with the critical funds that gress and on the administration. The on credit. That goes back to the they need for force protection, for Blue Dogs say prioritize, meet your PAYGO rules, and we are very pleased night vision goggles, for up-armored critical needs first, pay for a strong that Speaker-elect PELOSI has included Humvees, for Kevlar, for pay increases, military, don’t try to balance budgets in her legislative agenda for the first for health benefits, for decent housing, on the backs of people who are fighting 100 hours reinstituting PAYGO rules, for education. We are going to continue on our fronts and then have them re- rules that were in place on the floor of to need to do that because the world port to us that they didn’t have coagu- this House from 1998 through 2001 when will continue to be a very dangerous lant bandages in Iraq because nobody we had a balanced budget for the first place. We want to make sure that our paid for adequate amounts. Pay for time in about 40 years. Pay as you go men and women have all of the re- those things first and watch and meas- simply means if you want to spend sources that they need to confront ure your spending on other less impor- money on a project, show us where the those dangers. tant things. That is what we are say- money is coming from; don’t go to The problem is this: These ing. But make sure at the end of the China and borrow it from them. unsustainable budgets, the lack of bal- day the budget is balanced. Number three, put a lid on spending, anced budgets, the lack of true Finally what the Blue Dogs are say- what is referred to as strict spending prioritizing and the lack of true bipar- ing is this: We don’t care whether you caps to solve the growth of runaway tisanship is not going to provide our are Democrat or Republican. We don’t government programs. military with what they need. Let me care whether you are from the south Number four, require agencies to put give an example. shore of Long Island or from the deep their fiscal house in order. At a recent Blue Dog meeting, I was South. It doesn’t matter to us. Work Mr. Speaker, did you realize that 18 very concerned to receive a report from with us. Work with us. We will work of 24 major Federal agencies can’t the GAO, and that report is eye-open- with you. produce a clean audit of their books? ing. It is jarring. It should be a matter The seat that I stand in front of here The Constitution clearly gives Con- of concern to everybody who makes is three seats from the center aisle of gress the authority to provide over- budget decisions. the Congress of the United States. Blue sight, and all this Republican-led Con- According to that report, in 2005 Fed- Dogs have demonstrated time and time gress has been doing is rubber stamp eral revenues as a percentage of GDP again our willingness to cross that after rubber stamp after rubber stamp were just over 20 percent; just over 20 aisle and work with anyone who is as and continuing to give these agencies percent of our gross domestic product committed as we are to the values of a more money when they can’t account was Federal revenues. Federal revenues balanced budget and a strong defense. for the money they already get. will be flatlined all of the way through So as we go into the majority, which These are four of the basic principles 2040. Federal revenues, now over 20 per- is a very sober responsibility, and face of the 12-point plan that the Blue Dog cent of our GDP, in the year 2040 Fed- the difficult choices to be made, we as- Coalition is offering up for meaningful eral revenues will continue to be just sert again our willingness to cross that budget reform. over 20 percent of our GDP. The prob- center aisle and forge partnerships I yield to the gentleman from Geor- lem is this: that Federal spending is with Members on the other side of the gia (Mr. SCOTT). going to far exceed our Federal reve- aisle to do what is best for our chil- Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, nues. Last year, 2005, Federal spending dren: Pay for a strong defense, an ex- it is very important that we put this in as a percent of GDP, might have been cellent military, a well-trained mili- context because as we move forward sustainable. But by the year 2040, Fed- tary, and do it as we balance our budg- with pay as you go, we at the same eral spending as a percentage of GDP ets. Give our children the ability to be time must respond to the needs of the will be so high, without the appro- protected and pay for that protection American people. But we are doing so priate balanced budget controls, that at the same time. in a very fiscally responsible way. this is the condition that our kids will It is about simple, fundamental com- Check the minimum wage, no Federal find themselves in. In the year 2040, monsense priorities, and few organiza- expenditure. It will be absorbed by the Federal revenues will be ample to pay tions are as equipped and as expert to private sector, and indeed stimulating for two functions in the Federal Gov- pursue those priorities as the Blue Dog that private sector to produce more. ernment: interest on debt and a little Coalition, which is why I have been so The movement to bring down pre- bit of Social Security. Everything else proud to be a member. scription drugs by having the Sec- will be in the gap between the money Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman retary of Health and Human Services we have and the money we need. That from Long Island for joining us on the be able to negotiate using the bulk includes all defense spending. It in- floor of the U.S. House of Representa- number of 55 million recipients of

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:49 Dec 08, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K07DE7.061 H07DEPT1 jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with HOUSE H8928 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 7, 2006 Medicare to be able to bring down the basic energy costs. That is what it H.R. 1751. An act to amend title 18, United cost that accrues to us. costs the military to fuel itself. Of States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, And just now with the release of the that, the Air Force spent $4.7 billion, witnesses, victims, and their family mem- bers, and for other purposes. Iraq Study Group report, and Mr. about half on one thing: fuel for its air- ISRAEL and I share as cochairs of our planes. With this $8 trillion debt, we The message also announced that the Democratic group, as cochairs on na- have to fund the defense budget. How Senate has passed with amendments in tional security, that we have been ex- do we do it? The gentlemen know well, which the concurrence of the House is requested, bills of the House of the fol- amining these issues. He is absolutely we borrow the money from China. lowing titles: right. We must take better care of our So here is what we are doing: We are military. The American people are ex- borrowing money from China to fund H.R. 4075. An act to amend the Marine pecting our expenditures to go there. Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to provide defense budgets to buy oil from the for better understanding and protection of And one of the great, I think, rec- Persian Gulf to fuel our Air Force to marine mammals, and for other purposes. ommendations of this study group that protect us from China and the Persian H.R. 4588. An act to reauthorize grants for is headed by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Gulf. This is not just an energy policy, and require applied water supply research re- Baker that was just presented to the it is a national security vulnerability. garding the water resources research and President yesterday is the realization, We will balance our budgets, have fis- technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. number one, we have to make some cal responsibility and pursue energy changes in this Iraqi situation because independence so that we are safer and The message also announced that the of the terrible drain that it is doing to we are much better off in terms of our Senate has agreed to, with an amend- ment, a concurrent resolution of the our military. If we don’t correct that, budgets. following title: surely the security of our country goes I thank the gentleman for yielding. down. Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Absolutely. H. Con. Res. 430. Concurrent resolution rec- The other area that we talked about ognizing the accomplishments of the Amer- Again, energy and becoming inde- ican Council of Young Political Leaders for with regard to fiscal responsibility is pendent is a reachable goal. It is a do- the matter of halving the interest rate providing 40 years of international exchange able goal, and we can reach that con- programs, increasing international dialogue, that our students pay on their student clusion within a matter of a few years and enhancing global understanding, and loans. That is money that goes back with the kind of leadership we are put- commemorating its 40th anniversary. into the economy and a savings to our ting forward. The message also announced that the middle-class families. I am proud to say we will be putting Senate has passed bills of the following Now the other area that we are going research grants into that to spur our titles in which the concurrence of the to move on in our first 100 hours is to House is requested: begin to deal forthrightly with our country to move very rapidly and de- problem of energy, our problem of en- velop that infrastructure. S. 2322. An act to amend the Public Health Mr. ROSS. The gentleman raised an Service Act to make the provision of tech- ergy dependence on the Middle East, nical services for medical imaging examina- that most volatile region. We are mak- excellent point, and I am writing a plan to put America on a path towards tions and radiation therapy treatments ing great strides. One of our first ef- safer, more accurate, and less costly. forts is to increase the incentives to go energy independence, something Brazil S. 2653. An act to direct the Federal Com- into renewable energy. will achieve this year. And the reason munications Commission to make efforts to I just came back with a group of this is all so important, and it relates reduce telephone rates for Armed Forces per- other Congressmen who are members of to the debt and the deficit, is as a Na- sonnel deployed overseas. S. 2735. An act to amend the National Dam the Agriculture Committee. We went tion we are spending half a billion dol- lars a day paying interest on the debt Safety Program Act to reauthorize the na- to Brazil. The reason we went to Brazil tional dam safety program, and for other and South America, is because we real- we have already got. purposes. ize here in this country we don’t have b 1500 S. 3821. An act to authorize certain ath- all of the answers. But I will tell you letes to be admitted temporarily into the America’s priorities, including in- one thing, they are doing something United States to compete or perform in an vesting in alternative and renewable very special down in South America. athletic league, competition, or perform- fuels and bioenergies and clean coal ance. We need to hurry up and do it here. technology and synthetic fuels, will S. 4092. An act to clarify certain land use For example, in Brazil, 85 percent of in Jefferson County, Colorado. their new automobiles that they are never happen. So it is time to get our Nation’s fiscal house in order. The message also announced that the putting out in the market this year are Senate agrees to the amendment of the flex fuels so that they will be able to Mr. Speaker, we will be back on the floor next Tuesday night or at some House to the bill (S. 3938) ‘‘An Act to use ethanol as well as regular gasoline. reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of I asked the Minister of Industry in Tuesday night in the future, whenever the United States.’’. Argentina and Brazil this one question we see fit to come back as a Congress, about their trade relations with the to talk more about the Blue Dogs 12- f Middle Eastern countries and what per- point plan for meaningful budget re- GENERAL LEAVE form, to restore common sense and fis- centage of their energy they were get- Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I ask cal discipline to our Nation’s govern- ting from abroad: Argentina and unanimous consent that all Members ment. Brazil, absolutely none. They are al- may have 5 legislative days in which to And until we see you again, Mr. most at the point of being energy inde- revise and extend their remarks and to pendent because they had the foresight Speaker, I will leave you with this include extraneous material on S. 2370. to move on this area. thought: everyone in America’s share The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. I am so pleased with our leadership of the national debt: $28,867. The debt EMERSON). Is there objection to the re- on the Democratic side to say among tax, d-e-b-t. It is time, Mr. Speaker, we quest of the gentleman from Illinois? our first efforts will be to increase at a get our Nation’s fiscal house in order There was no objection. and pay down this debt and have a bal- rapid rate our preparedness, our infra- f structure, so that we can develop eth- anced budget in this country once anol in this country from the primary more. COMMEMORATING THE SERVICE two sources that we have, granular f TO THE UNITED STATES OF THE corn and soybeans, as well as cel- HON. HENRY HYDE FURTHER MESSAGE FROM THE lulosic. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- SENATE Mr. ISRAEL. If the gentleman would ant to the previous order of the House, yield, this is such a critical point. This A further message from the Senate the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. KIRK) is a national security area. And I know by Ms. Curtis, one of its clerks, an- is recognized for 45 minutes. that the gentleman understands that nounced that the Senate has passed Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, we meet so well. with an amendment in which the con- here today to commemorate the serv- Mr. Speaker, last year the Depart- currence of the House is requested, a ice to the United States of our col- ment of Defense spent $10.6 billion on bill of the House of the following title: league HENRY HYDE of Illinois. HENRY

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