E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 156 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2010 No. 173 House of Representatives The House met at 11 a.m. and was to thank and praise You for the many As we look forward to a new year, called to order by the Speaker. good things. It is more difficult to see may we look to it with expectation and f Your hand in the hard times. hope, knowing that You will guide and PRAYER Help us to treasure each event, each direct our lives in everything that moment of our lives. Help us to know Monsignor Stephen J. Rossetti, comes our way. Catholic University of America, Wash- that Your all-powerful spirit brings life May we praise and thank You for the and grace out of everything in our ington, D.C., offered the following year that is passing and for the year lives. prayer: that is to come. Good and gracious God, as the year May we embrace the joys and the sor- draws to a close, we reflect upon all rows. May we embrace the signs of new We pray this in Your holy name. that has taken place. It is easy for us life and the crosses. Amen. NOTICE If the 111th Congress, 2d Session, adjourns sine die on or before December 23, 2010, a final issue of the Congres- sional Record for the 111th Congress, 2d Session, will be published on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, in order to permit Members to revise and extend their remarks. All material for insertion must be signed by the Member and delivered to the respective offices of the Official Reporters of Debates (Room HT–59 or S–123 of the Capitol), Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. through Wednesday, December 29. The final issue will be dated Wednesday, December 29, 2010, and will be delivered on Thursday, December 30, 2010. None of the material printed in the final issue of the Congressional Record may contain subject matter, or relate to any event that occurred after the sine die date. Senators’ statements should also be submitted electronically, either on a disk to accompany the signed statement, or by e-mail to the Official Reporters of Debates at ‘‘[email protected]’’. Members of the House of Representatives’ statements may also be submitted electronically by e-mail, to accompany the signed statement, and formatted according to the instructions for the Extensions of Remarks template at http:// clerk.house.gov/forms. The Official Reporters will transmit to GPO the template formatted electronic file only after receipt of, and authentication with, the hard copy, and signed manuscript. Deliver statements to the Official Reporters in Room HT–59. Members of Congress desiring to purchase reprints of material submitted for inclusion in the Congressional Record may do so by contacting the Office of Congressional Publishing Services, at the Government Printing Office, on 512–0224, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily. By order of the Joint Committee on Printing. CHARLES E. SCHUMER, Chairman. THE JOURNAL Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- ward and lead the House in the Pledge nal stands approved. of Allegiance. The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- f ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- Mr. SKELTON led the Pledge of Alle- ceedings and announces to the House PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE giance as follows: her approval thereof. The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. SKELTON) come for- 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. H8943 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:30 Dec 23, 2010 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22DE7.000 H22DEPT1 tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with HOUSE H8944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 22, 2010 I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the dress the House for 1 minute and to re- strong bipartisan support. Several Sen- United States of America, and to the Repub- vise and extend his remarks.) ators objected to its inclusion in the lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. bill. They expressed concerns over its indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madam Speaker, I am grateful to wel- budgetary impact, and indicated a will- f come the addition of a new congres- ingness to work toward identifying an REPEAL OF DON’T ASK, DON’T sional seat to my home State of South acceptable way to authorize and pay TELL Carolina, one of America’s fastest the claims. (Mr. POLIS asked and was given per- growing States. The Census Bureau an- I regret the inability to resolve this mission to address the House for 1 nounced the State’s population has matter at this time, and I am very ap- minute.) grown enough to merit one more Rep- preciative of the strong support from Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I just resentative in Congress. Our State has Chairman SKELTON and incoming returned from the signing of the repeal been enhanced by transplants from the chairman of the House Armed Services of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The President Midwest and Northeast and from peo- Committee Mr. MCKEON of California spoke wisely and strongly and wel- ple across the world due to a mild cli- for their strong support of this provi- comed those who were discharged mate and lower tax rates. sion. The unresolved nature of Guam under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy After 80 years, it appears we will re- war claims has serious implications for to consider reenlisting. gain a seventh House Member. The peo- the military build-up on Guam. I ap- President Obama said: ple of South Carolina will now have an- preciate the administration’s strong ‘‘There will never be a full account- other advocate on their behalf in Wash- support for this provision. The admin- ing of the heroism demonstrated by ington and another electoral vote for istration recognizes the connection be- gay Americans in service to this coun- President. Growing our representation tween resolving this issue and success- try.’’ He continued, ‘‘As the first gen- on Capitol Hill is a key factor in fully implementing the military build- eration to serve openly in our armed achieving goals for the people of South up on Guam. services, you will stand for all those Carolina. Our State will have another We will continue our work to bring who came before you, and you will voice fighting for conservative prin- closure to this matter of justice for the serve as role models for all those who ciples with the new district on the people of Guam, and to act on the leg- come after you.’’ Grand Strand with Florence. islative recommendations of the Fed- Madam Speaker, today is an impor- In conclusion, God bless our troops, eral Guam War Claims Review Com- tant day, not just for gay and lesbian and we will never forget September mission that reported to Congress pur- members of the military, but to all of 11th in the global war on terrorism. suant to Public Law 107–333. It was not us who are gay or lesbian, to our fami- Godspeed to Marine Captain Ky for a lack of effort from this body, and lies, to our friends, for they all know Hunter, who has successfully accom- we will continue to build on the that today we hold our heads a little plished her service for the people of the progress we’ve made. The underlying higher as Americans. We are closer to Second District of South Carolina, and bill is important for our national de- equal treatment under the law, which now will be in the liaison office of the fense and for our men and women in is all we’ve ever asked for. Marine Corps. uniform and their families, and there- Our government will no longer be an f fore this body is left no other choice instrument of discrimination against but than to concur with the Senate IKE SKELTON NATIONAL DEFENSE us, and all America will see and be told amendments at this time. of the patriotism of the gay and lesbian AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FIS- Again, I want to thank everyone who Americans who proudly defend a coun- CAL YEAR 2011 has assisted me, both the leaders and try that today is one step closer to Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I to the multiple staff members who considering us equal. ask unanimous consent to take from have helped us through this process. f the Speaker’s table the bill (H.R. 6523) Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I’ll keep COMMUNICATION FROM THE to authorize appropriations for fiscal my remarks brief as this is the third time that CLERK OF THE HOUSE year 2011 for military activities of the the House will debate and vote on the Na- Department of Defense, for military tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. ED- construction, and for defense activities Year 2011. They say that the third time is the WARDS of Maryland) laid before the of the Department of Energy, to pre- charm. Let it be so this morning. House the following communication scribe military personnel strengths for I return to the floor with this bill because the from the Clerk of the House of Rep- such fiscal year, and for other pur- Senate found it necessary to delete a portion resentatives: poses, with the Senate amendments of the House-passed bill in order to achieve OFFICE OF THE CLERK, thereto, and concur in the Senate the consensus needed to move the bill to final HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, amendments.