Tip: Highlight text to annotate itX
TO SEE IMPROVEMENT.
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2011]
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
WE TAKE YOU LIVE TO THE U.S.
HOUSE AS THEY COME IN FOR ONE
VOTE ON EXTENDING PROVISIONS OF
THE U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT.
REFORM AND TERRORISM PREVENTION
ACT OF 2004 RELATING TO ACCESS
TO BUSINESS RECORDS.
INDIVIDUAL TERRORISTS AS AGENTS
OF FOREIGN POWERS, AND ROVING
WIRETAPS UNTIL DECEMBER 8,
2011.
THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
VOTE.
IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD AND
THAT THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET
THE
GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND.
THE GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND.
THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
IT'S NOT THAT
IMPORTANT, WE'VE JUST GOT TO
GET IT ON THE RECORD HERE.
THE
HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE HOUSE
FLOOR.
WILL MEMBERS TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR
PLEASE.
THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
WILL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE THEIR
PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS OFF THE
HOUSE FLOOR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
SPEAKER.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I'LL TRY AGAIN.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE CHAIR OF EACH COMMITTEE BE
PERMITTED TO SUBMIT THEIR
RESPECTIVE COMMITTEE RULES FOR
PUBLICATION IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD AND THAT
THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE BE PERMITTED TO
SUBMIT MATERIAL RELATED TO THE
BUDGET PROCESS INTO THE RECORD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
SEND TO THE DESK PRO-- TWO
PRIVILEGED REPORTS FOR FILING
UNDER THE RULE.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE.
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY
HOUSE RESOLUTION 72, RESOLUTION
DIRECTING CERTAIN STANDING
COMMITTEES TO INVENTORY AND
REVIEW EXISTING, PENDING AND
PROPOSED REGULATIONS AND
ORDERED FROM AGENCIES OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY
WITH RESPECT TO THEIR EFFECT ON
JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY HOUSE
RESOLUTION 73, RESOLUTION
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
THE RESOLUTION HOUSE RESOLUTION
72 DIRECTING CERTAIN STANDING
COMMITTEES TO INVENTORY AND
REVIEW EXIST, PENDING AND
PROPOSED REGULATIONS FROM
AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY WITH
RESPECT TO THEIR EFFECT ON JOBS
AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
UNDER HOUSE RESOLUTION 22C, THE
CHAIR ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FOR
APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMISSION
OF SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN
EUROPE.
MR. SMITH OF NEW
JERSEY, CHAIRMAN, MR. PENCE OF
-- MR. ADERHOLT.
PURSUANT TO THE RONALD REAGAN
CENTENNIAL ACT AND THE CHAIR
ANOUNS THE SPEAKER'S
APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE TO THE
RONALD REAGAN CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION.
ILLINOIS.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE THE
FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
REQUESTED FOR MR. CRAWFORD OF
ARKANSAS FOR TODAY AND MR.
HANNA OF NEW YORK FOR TODAY.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUESTS
ARE GRANTED.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN
REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
IT WAS AN HONOR
TO HAVE PRESIDENT OBAMA VISIT
THE COMMONWEALTH AND HIGHLIGHT
THE RESEARCH BEING DONE AT PENN
STALTE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
I WAS HOPEFUL THE PRESIDENT
WOULD TOUCH ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION,
ESPECIALLY OIL, COAL AND
NATURAL GAS JUST AS EACH IS
PLAN.
UNFORTUNATELY, I REMAIN
CONVINCED THAT AMERICA LACKS A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO END OUR
RELIANCE ON FOREIGN AIL.
IN TOO MANY INSTANCE, THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS UNDERMINED
AMERICA'S PATH TO A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED
A MORATORIUM ON DRILLING IN THE
GULF, PLACED HUGE PORTIONS OF
THE CONTINENTAL SHELF OFF LIMBS
TO OIL PRUCK.
THESE ACTIONS WILL NOT HELP
CEASE AMERICA'S DANGEROUS
RELIANCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
OUR NATION NEEDS A LOW-COST
ENERGY SUPPLY FOR ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND CURT.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE WILL JOIN ME
IN THAT EFFORT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WILL MEMBERS IN THE AISLE
PLEASE TAKE THEIR PERSONAL
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR SO
WE MAY HEAR THE ONE-MINUTES OF
OUR COLLEAGUES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
MR. BURTON AS A FOLLOWUP TO
WHAT WAS SAID BY MY COLLEAGUE
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, WE KNOW
ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.
THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM IN
GULF STATES, PROBLEMS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND WE
GET AT LEAST 30% OF OUR ENERGY
FROM THAT AREA.
WE ALSO YET ABOUT 20% OF OUR
ENERGY FROM VENEZUELA AND THE
PRESIDENT DOWN THERE, MR.
CHAVEZ IS NO FRIENDS OF HOURS
-- OF OURS.
IF WE DON'T MOVE TOWARD ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE AND THERE'S A REAL
PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS HERE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IF WE HAD 30% OF OUR
ENERGY CUT OFF BECAUSE THERE
WAS A BLOCKAGE OF THE SUEZ
CANAL OR THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ
IN THE PERSIAN GULL SNF WE MUST
MOVE TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
AND THE PRESIDENT IS BLOCKING
US FROM GETTING PERMITS TO
DRILL IN THE GULF, WE CAN'T
DRILL IN ANWR, CAN'T DRILL OFF
THE CONTINENTAL SHELF, CAN'T
USE COAL SHALE -- OIL SHALE TO
PRODUCE OIL.
WE HAVE ENOUGH MEANS TO BE
ENERGY INDEPENDENT BUT THE
PRESIDENT WILL NOT MOVE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM WITH WINDMILLS AND
SOLAR ENERGY, WE HAVE TO SOLVE
US RIGHT NOW.
IT'S IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
AND ECONOMIC SECURITY WE OUGHT
TO DO THIS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
DURING THE SUPER
BOWL, CHRYSLER AIRED AN ADD
ABOUT THE CHRYSLER 200 THAT
TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF AMERICA
WITH THE ENDURING SPIRITS OF
DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
THE RESEMS OF A CITY AND REGION
THAT MADE SOME MISTAKE BUS IS
ALSO HOME TO SOME OF OUR
NATION'S GREATEST INNOVATORS,
OUR BEST WORK FORCE, SKILLED
CRAFTSMEN, THE REDEMOCRATS OF
AN ENERGY -- INDUSTRY THAT MADE
SOME MISTAKE BUS IS THE BACK
BONE OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.
EPITOMIZED BY THE WORKERS AT
CHRYSLER'S STERLING PLANT THAT
WAS SLATED TO CLOSE.
THE WORKERS FOUGHT AND
SACRIFICED AND MADE THE
BUSINESS CASE THAT THEY WERE
THE RIGHT ONES TO BUILD THE
CHRYSLER 200 FEATURES IN THE
AD.
IN DETROIT, WE BUILD THINGS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE DO IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY
ELSE IN THE WORLD.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
BUT THE DETROIT REGION IS
COMING BACK AND OUR STORY OF
EREDEMPTION IS DISTINCTLY
MR. SPEAKER, TO ALL AMERICANS
WHO ARE LOOKING TO BUY A NEW
CAR AND WHO ARE CONSIDERING
IMPORTS, I HAVE A SIMPLE
MESSAGE -- IF YOU WANT THE
BEST, YOU SHOULD BUY IT.
IMPORTED FROM DETROIT.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT REASON DOES THE
RISE?
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
ONE MINUTE.
I DON'T OFTEN TALK
ABOUT SPORTS ON THE NOOR OF THE
HOUSE BUT SOMETIMES A PLAYER,
TEAM OR COACH'S ACTIONS ARE SO
RECOGNIZED.
SUCH IS IS THE CASE WITH WAKE
FOREST UNIVERSITY BASEBALL
COACH TOM WALTER THIS WEEK,
COACH WALTER, IN AN ACT OF
PROFOUND PERSONAL SACRIFICE,
DOE THATED ONE OF HIS KIDNEYS
TO KEVIN JORDAN A FRESHMAN
PLAYER ON HIS TEAM.
KEVIN JORDAN SUFFERED WITH
FAILING KIDNEYS AND A DONATION
WAS HIS ONLY HOPE FAR NORMAL
LIFE.
BEFORE HE EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO
SWING HIS BAT FOR WAKE FOREST,
HIS COACH STEPPED UP AND
CHANGED HIS LIFE BY OFFERING
ONE OF HIS OWN KIDNEYS.
THIS IS NOT YOUR EVERYDAY TAKE
ONE FOR THE TEAM STORY.
RATHER, THIS IS THE STORY OF A
MAN OF GREAT CHARACTER AND
GENEROSITY TAKING INITIATIVE TO
IMPROVE THE LIFE OF A PROMISING
YOUNG MAN LIKE KEVIN JUNIOR
DAN.
I WANT TO WISH BOTH KEVIN AND
COACH WALTER A SPEEDY RECOVERY
FROM THEIR TRANSPLANT SURGERIES
AND HOPE TO SEE THEM SOON ON
THE BALL DIAMOND WINNING GAPES
FOR WAKE FOREST.
COACH WALTER'S EXAMPLE IS MORE
THAN INSPIRATIONAL, IT'S THE
VERY IMAGE OF A LIFE LIVED WELL
OF COURSE PUTTING OTHERS FIRST,
HIS FAMILY, HIS PLAYERS, HIS
FRIENDS AND HIS COMMUNITY COULD
NOT ASK FOR A BETTER MAN TO
CALL THEIR OWN.
I YIELD BACK.
WHAT PURPOSE DOES FELLOW
DELEGATE FROM MINNESOTA RISE?
ASK CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, REVISE
AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA HAS
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
LEGISLATION, THE PATIENTS'
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE ACT.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL REPEAL
TWO PROVISIONS OF THE NEW
HEALTH CARE LAW THAT LIMIT A
PATIENT'S CHOICE AND HOW TO USE
THEIR CONSUMER-DIRECTED HEALTH
BECAUSE BEGINNING IN 2013
CONTRIBUTIONS TO FLEXIBLE
SPENDING ACCOUNTS WILL BE
LIMITED BY A NEW FEDERAL CAP OF
THE NEW HEALTH CARE LAW WILL
ALSO PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM
USING THEIR HEALTH CARE SAVINGS
ACCOUNTS AND THEIR FLEXIBLE
SPENDING ACCOUNTS TO PURCHASE
OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION
WITHOUT A PREDICTION FROM THEIR
MR. SPEAKER, 10 MILLION
AMERICANS NOW ARE ENROLLED IN
H.S.A.'S AND OVER 35 MILLION
PEOPLE HAVE F.S.A.'S, WHILE 85%
OF ALL LARGE EMPLOYERS OFFER
THEM AS A BENEFIT TO THEIR
EMPLOYEES.
THIS LADIES AND
GENTLEMENSLATION IS NEEDED
BECAUSE THESE TWO PROVISIONS IN
THE HEALTH CARE LAW WILL PUNISH
FAMILIES OF A COST OF OVER 5DS
BILLION.
INSTEAD OF LIMITING OPTIONS AS
IS HAPPENING UNDER THIS NEW
HEALTH CARE LAW, WE SHOULD BE
EMPOWERING PATIENTS BY GIVING
THEM INCREASED ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CARE.
AND YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK TO
BE RECOGNIZED?
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
ONE MINUTE.
HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND I
BELIEVE IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT MANY
AMERICANS HAD A GREAT TIME
EITHER PARTICIPATING AT THE
SUPER BOWL OR MAYBE
FELLOWSHIPPING WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE INFORMATION AND TO
INSPIRE.
THAT'S WHY I'M SO DISAPPOINTED
WITH THE PEPSI ADVERTISEMENT
THAT SHOWED A DEMEANING ROLE
FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN
AN AD THAT SHOWED A CAN BEING
THROWN AND BEING UTILIZED TO
HIT SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT
INDIVIDUAL FELL TO THE GROUND.
IN THIS MONTH OF
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY WHERE
WE'RE TRYING TO CELEBRATE WHAT
IS GOOD AND GREAT, IT CERTAINLY
SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT PEPSI
WOULD UTILIZE THIS KIND OF
HUMOR.
IT WAS NOT HUMOROUS, IT WAS
DEMEANING.
AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN
THROWING SOMETHING AT AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE AND
WINDING UP HITTING A CAUCASIAN
WOMAN.
I THINK WE CAN COME TOGETHER IN
A MUCH BETTER WAY AND TALK
ABOUT GOOD NUTRITION.
BUT FRANKLY I CONSIDER THIS
INSULTING AND SO DID MANY OTHER
WOMEN OF ALL COLORS.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A LOT
MORE WOMEN IN ADS AT THE SUPER
INVOLVED.
BUT IT ALSO WOULD BE GREAT TO
HAVE A SENSE OF BALANCE THAT
WILL RESPECT INDIVIDUALS FOR
WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY
CONTRIBUTE.
GREAT WOMEN LIKE THE HONORABLE
BARBARA JORDAN AND THE
HONORABLE SHIRLEYY CHISS AM.
I THINK EVEN THOUGH THEY
PROBABLY HAD A GREAT SENSE OF
HUMOR, THEY FIND THIS VERY
OFFENSIVE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN
ORDER TO SHARE THE FEEDBACK
THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS DURING MY PAST
WEEK IN THE DISTRICT.
AT A TOWN HALL MEETING ON
THURSDAY NIGHT, I ASKED THOSE
IN ATTENDANCE TO RAISE THEIR
HAND IF THEY FELT THEY HAD A
BETTER LIFE THAN THEIR PARENTS.
NEARLY EVERY ONE RAISED THEIR
HAND.
BUT WHEN I ASKED IF THEY
GRANDCHILDREN COULD LOOK
FORWARD TO A MORE PROMISING
FUTURE, NOT ONE PERSON RAISED
THEIR HAND.
NOT ONE PERSON.
THAT'S SIMPLY
UNACCEPTABLE.
WHILE THIS HOUSE HAS TAKEN
POSITIVE STEPS TO ADDRESS THE
OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING HABITS
OF THIS GOVERNMENT, MY
CONSTITUENTS STRONGLY FEEL THAT
THE BEST WAY TO CREATE A
BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IS
TO CUT SPENDING AND GOVERNMENT
WASTE AND ALLOW OUR ECONOMY TO
HAVE THE FREEDOM TO GROW AND
CREATE JOBS.
I THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS SHARED
THEIR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
WITH ME OVER THE PAST WEEK AND
MONTH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
DIALOGUE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
TO BE RECOGNIZED?
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN
COMMEMORATING PRESIDENT RONALD
REAGAN'S CENTENNIAL.
PRESIDENT REAGAN SERVED AS AN
INSPIRATION FOR AN ENTIRE
GENERATION OF US TO GET
INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND I
FIRST HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING
RONALD REAGAN AS A YOUNG
STUDENT IN CALIFORNIA.
AND IN FACT THIS MEETING LED TO
MY GETTING ACTIVE IN YOUTH FOR
REAGAN.
AND HE HAD A POWERFUL MESSAGE
OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND LIMITED
GOVERNMENT, YET IT WAS HIS
ABILITY TO TRANSLATE POWERFUL
MESSAGES LIKE THIS INTO REAL
REFORMS THAT SET HIM APART FROM
PAST LEADERS.
AT THE HEART OF ALL
REAGAN'S POLICIES, FROM SUPPLY
SIDE ECONOMICS TO PROMOTING
DEMOCRACY OVERSEAS, WAS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL,
NOT THE COLLECTIVE.
IT WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF
FREEDOM, NOT STATISM.
AND THIS GREAT LEGACY IS WHAT
WE CELEBRATE TODAY.
AND I REMEMBER FOLLOWING THE
CARTER ADMINISTRATION OUR
ECONOMY WAS IN A STATE OF
ECONOMIC MALAISE.
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGH
INFLATION.
IN FACT, THAT LEGACY LED TO THE
MISERY INDEX.
INFLATION PLUS UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND THAT REACHED AN ALL-TIME
HIGH.
BUT THROUGH THE ENACTMENT OF A
PROGRAM, REAGAN WAS ABLE TO CUT
THAT NUMBER IN HALF, END THAT
ERA OF STAGNATION AND LEAD US
INTO PROSPERITY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTES?
SEEING NONE, UNDER UNDER --
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
DREIER, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
I'VE TAKEN THIS TIME OUT THIS
EVENING SO THAT MY COLLEAGUES
AND I MIGHT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
TOOK PLACE THE DAY BEFORE
YESTERDAY AND THE CENTURY THAT
LED UP TO IT.
I'M REFERRING, AS MY FRIEND
FROM FULLERTON, MR. ROYCE, JUST
DID, TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BIRTH OF RONALD WILSON
REAGAN.
WE KNOW THAT RONALD REAGAN IS
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS PROVIDED
INSPIRATION TO DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ALIKE.
AND THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.
THE REASON IS THAT WHILE NOT
EVERYONE AGREED WITH RONALD
REAGAN'S POLICIES, HE WAS AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ABLE TO
PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT, HE WAS
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ABLE TO
PROVIDE INSPIRATION AND I THINK
MOST IMPORTANT, MR. SPEAKER, HE
WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ABLE
TO PROVIDE HOPE TO SO MANY
PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AS
WELL AS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
MRS. REAGAN DID AN INTERVIEW
THIS PAST WEEK LEADING UP TO
FEBRUARY 6 IN WHICH SHE WAS
ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU
MOST WANT YOUR HUSBAND TO BE
REMEMBERED FOR?
AND WHAT SHE SAID WAS THAT SHE
WANTED HIM TO BE REMEMBERED FOR
THE FACT THAT HE INSTILLED A
SENSE OF OPTIMISM FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT GREAT SENSE OF OPTIMISM
WHICH WAS NOT POLLY ANNA LIKE
BECAUSE HE WAS VERY CLEARLY
REALISTIC, DIRECT AND HAD A
GREAT STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, AN
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HIS
PRINCIPLES, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME HE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE HOPE
FOR THE FUTURE.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE GREAT
THINGS THAT THE RONALD REAGAN
FOUNDATION HAS DONE, AS WE ALL
KNOW, MR. SPEAKER, AND WE SEE
IT ON A REGULAR BASIS RIGHT
DOWN THIS HALLWAY INTO THE
GREAT ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL
AND IT IS THERE DUE IN LARGE
PART TO THE NOW DISTINGUISHED
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON
ADMINISTRATION, MR. LUNGREN,
WHO WORKED ON THIS STATUE AND I
WAS HONORED THAT HE CONSULTED
ME ON A FEW OCCASIONS AS HE WAS
WORKING ON IT, BUT THE THING
THAT IS TO ME THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF THE STATUE IS
INSCRIBED AT THE BASE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS TO BE
ON THE BACK SO YOU HAVE TO GO
THROUGH A LITTLE EFFORT TO SEE
IT, MR. SPEAKER, BUT AT THE
BASE OF THAT STATUE IT HAS
THREE OF THE GREAT STATEMENTS
THAT RONALD REAGAN WAS KNOWN
FOR.
WHAT WERE THEY?
THEY WERE OF COURSE, AMERICA'S
BEST DAYS ARE YET TO COME, OUR
PROUDEST MOMENTS ARE YET TO BE,
OUR MOST GLORIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS
ARE JUST AHEAD.
IF THAT DOESN'T INSTULL
OPTIMISM AND ENCOURAGEMENT --
INSTILL OPTIMISM AND
ENCOURAGEMENT I DON'T KNOW WHAT
DOES.
SPEAKER, I BELIEVE DEFINE
RONALD REAGAN.
HE OBVIOUSLY WAS SOMEONE WHO
ENJOYED HAVING A GOOD TIME.
IN FACT, NANCY SAID ON SUNDAY
AT THE PARTY THAT HER HUSBAND
ALWAYS ENJOYED CELEBRATING HIS
BIRTHDAY AND HE WOULD HAVE
LOVED THE PARTY THAT TOOK
PLACE.
AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE
BEEN THERE OR SEEN IT, YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT THE
CELEBRATION CONTINUES.
IT ACTUALLY BEGAN AT THE END OF
LAST YEAR, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO
GIVE AN ADDRESS UP AT THE
LIBRARY IN WHICH I WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST
TODAY AND THE WAY THAT RONALD
REAGAN DEALT WITH MANY OF THE
SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE
TODAY AND THEN ON NEW YEAR'S
DAY THE ROSE PARADE FEATURED A
FLOAT MARKING THE 100TH
ANNIVERSARY OF RONALD REAGAN'S
BIRTH AND THEN AGAIN THIS PAST
WEEKEND, ON FEBRUARY 5 AND 6,
THERE WAS GREAT ACTIVITIES THAT
TOOK PLACE AT THE LIBRARY AND I
SHOULD SAY THE WEEKEND BEFORE
THERE WAS A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO WERE
ELECTED IN 1980, WITH RONALD
REAGAN, THREE DECADES AGO, TO
CONVENE FOR A CLASS REUNION,
THE RONALD REAGAN FOUNDATION
HELPED US PUT TOGETHER THAT,
AND AT THE SAME TIME THE
HERITAGE FOUNDATION HOSTED ITS
MEETING WHICH INCLUDED MANY OF
THE NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS.
AND IT WAS BASICALLY A 2
1/2-DAY GATHERING AND SEVERAL
MEMBERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MEMBERS OF
THAT 97TH CLASS, THE CLASS OF
1980, WHO CAME IN WITH RONALD
REAGAN, SHARED THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH THE NEWLY
ELECTED MEMBERS, 87 STRONG, THE
LARGEST TURNOVER IN 3/4 OF A
CENTURY, WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE
THOSE EXPERIENCES AND MEMBERS
HAVE SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT 2 1/2-DAY
GATHERING THAT WE HAD AT THE
RONALD REAGAN LIBRARY.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT JUST YESTERDAY WE
SAW THE OPENING OF THE NEW
RONALD REAGAN MUSEUM AND THAT
MUSEUM IS AN AMAZING FACILITY.
NOW, REMEMBER THE AIR FORCE WON
THE AIRCRAFT THAT RONALD REAGAN
FLEW, CLAW -- INCLUDING MARINE
ONE ARE BOTH THERE AT THE
LIBRARY, AND THIS MUSEUM, WHICH
HAS BEEN RENOVATED OVER THE
PAST YEAR OR SO, WAS REOPENED.
I SAID AT ONE OF THE GATHERINGS
THAT ANYONE WHO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW RONALD
REAGAN, WORK WITH RONALD REAGAN
, WOULD HAVE HAD CLEARLY AT
LEAST ONE OCCASION AS THEY WENT
TO THE LIBRARY TO HAVE A
WONDERFUL MEMORY COME BACK TO
THE FOREFRONT.
AND EVEN NEW EXPERIENCES.
IN FACT, I HAD A VERY MOVING
EXPERIENCE WHEN I WENT THROUGH
THE MUSEUM AND SAW SOMETHING
THAT I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE.
ONE OF MY CLOSEST FAMILY
FRIENDS LOST -- HIS FATHER
PASSED AWAY JUST BEFORE HE WAS
BORN.
WAS BORN.
HE WAS AN ONLY SON AND
OBVIOUSLY NEVER KNEW HIS
FATHER.
AND AS I WALKED THROUGH THE
REAGAN MUSEUM, I WAS STRUCK
BECAUSE I SAW ON THE WALL THE
DISCHARGE PAPERS THAT WERE
SIGNED BY CAPTAIN RONALD
REAGAN.
AND WHEN I SAW THEM I TOOK OUT
MY TELEPHONE AND CALLED MY
FRIEND AND SAID, DID YOU KNOW
THAT RONALD REAGAN HAD SIGNED
YOUR FIREFIGHTER -- FATHER'S
DISCHARGE PAPERS?
HE SAID, NO, HE DIDN'T KNOW IT.
AND WAS NEEDLESS TO SAY VERY
EMOTIONAL, HAVING JUST LEARNED
THAT AT THAT MOMENT AS I WENT
IN.
WELL, THIS MAN IS GOING TO, ON
MARCH 20, MARK HIS 50TH
BIRTHDAY AND HIS NAME IS JOHN
CLARK GABBLE.
HIS FATHER WAS THE LEGENDARY
ACTOR CLARK GABBLE WHO HAD HAD
HIS DISCHARGE PAPERS SIGNED BY
CAPTAIN RONALD REAGAN.
AND AS YOU LOOK AT THE GOOD AND
THE BAD, WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN
THIS MUSEUM, INCLUDING THE VERY
TRAGIC DAY IN MARCH OF 1981
WHEN AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
WAS LAUNCHED AGAINST PRESIDENT
REAGAN, TO LOTS OF EXCITING AND
FUN TIMES THAT TOOK PLACE
DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW
RONALD REAGAN'S LEGENDARY,
LEGENDARY SENSE OF HUMOR.
ONE OF THE STORIES THAT I'M
HAPPY THAT MY FRIEND FROM
HUNTINGTON BEACH WHOM I MET
WHEN HE WAS WORKING FOR RONALD
REAGAN, SHORTLY AFTER WE CAME
TO WASHINGTON TOGETHER IN THE
EARLY 1980'S, HE LIKED TO, MY
FRIEND MR. ROHRABACHER, LIKES
TO TAKE CREDIT FOR MANY OF
PRESIDENT REAGAN'S FUNNY LINES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A RAGING
DEBATE THAT HE AND I HAVE ON
THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BUT ONE STORY THAT I KNOW
RONALD REAGAN ENJOYED BUT DID
NOT IN FACT GET FROM DANA
ROHRABACHER BACKER, I SHOULD
SAY FOR THE RECORD, MR. SPEAKER
-- ROHRABACHER, I SHOULD SAY
FOR THE RECORD, MR. SPEAKER,
WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH ONE
ECONOMIC TIMES THAT THE UNITED
THROUGH, IT WAS THE EARLY
1980'S, AND I WAS INVITED ON A
SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO A SMALL
PARTY IN LOS ANGELES, THERE
WERE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE GATHERED
AND THE PEOPLE GATHERED WERE
COMMISERATING OVER THE FACT
THAT WE HAD AT THAT POINT AN
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT WAS WELL
INTO DOUBLE DIGITS, WE HAD AN
INFLATION RATE THAT WAS SKY
HIGH, AN INTEREST -- AND
OF 15%.
AND SO NATURALLY EVERYONE WAS
FOCUSED ON THIS.
PRESIDENT REAGAN STOOD UP AFTER
LUNCH AND SAID THAT THE OTHER
DAY SOMEBODY ASKED ME HOW I WAS
DOING HE SAID, I'VE NEVER BEEN
BETTER.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, EVERYONE AT
THIS LUNCH LOOKED AROUND LIKE,
HOW IN THE WORLD COULD HE SAY
THAT?
HE SAID, THE REASON I SAY THAT
IS BECAUSE I'M REMIND THOFFED
HUGE CARAVAN OF FARM ANIMALS
BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A
COUNTRYSIDE, THERE'S A TERRIBLE
OVER THE HIGHWAY.
AND THE SHERIFF CAME ROARING
UP.
AND HE LOOKED TO THE SIDE OF
THE ROAD AND SAW A HORSE WITH
TWO BROKEN LEGS, FROTHING AT
THE MOUTH, THE SHERIFF PULLED
OUT HIS GUN, PUT IT TO THE
HORSE'S HEAD AND PUT IT OUT OF
HIS MISERY.
THEN HE SAW A DOG, SAME THING,
THE DOG WAS SHAKING LIKE THERE
WAS TOMORROW, PUT THE DOG OUT
OF HIS MISERY.
THEN HE SAW THE DRIVER OF ONE
OF THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER HAD
AT LEAST ONE LEG BROKEN, BADLY
BLOODIED AND BANGED UP AND THE
SHERIFF LOOKED AT THE DRIVER
AND SAID, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
AND THE DRIVER RESPONDED BY
SAYING, I'VE NEVER BEEN BETTER.
THAT, IN FACT, MR. SPEAKER,
DEMONSTRATED THAT GREAT SENSE
OF OPTIMISM AND HOPE THAT WAS
ALWAYS THERE FOR RONALD REAGAN.
NOW HIS POLICIES ARE SOMETHING
THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED
TODAY AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE
THAT AS WE HAVE NOW WON WHAT
WOULD BE LIKE A REAGAN-LIKE
MAJORITY HERE IN THE HOUSE THAT
WORKING TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY, WHICH WAS A
MESSAGE THAT FORMER SECRETARY
OF TREASURY, FORMER CHIEF OF
STAFF, FORMER SECRETARY OF
STATE JAMES BAKER PROVIDED
SUNDAY MORNING AT THE REAGAN
LIBRARY, WORKING TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY TO DEAL WITH OUR
NATION'S PROBLEMS AND THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH AROUND THE GLOBE IS A VERY
IMPORTANT THING AND THAT'S WHY
AS WE LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
FOLLOWING WHAT I'D LIKE TO
DESCRIBE AS THE KENNEDY-REAGAN
ECONOMIC MODEL WOULD BE A GREAT
PRESCRIPTION FOR US TO CREATE
JOBS AND GET OUR ECONOMY BACK
ON TRACK.
IT SEEMS TO ME, MR. SPEAKER,
THAT AS WE LOOK AT WHERE IT IS
THAT WE'RE GOING, MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE TAX RATES THAT
ENCOURAGE JOB CREATION,
ECONOMIC GROWTH ARE IMPORTANT.
THAT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT
JAPAN HAS JUST REDUCED ITS TOP
RATE ON JOB CREATORS, THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TODAY
HAS THE HIGHEST TAX RATE ON JOB
CREATORS OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST TAX RATE OF
ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHEN
IT COMES TO THOSE BUSINESSES
THAT ARE TRYING TO CREATE JOBS.
WE CONTINUE TO HEAR AND DECRY
THE FLIGHT OF JOBS OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES TO OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD.
PEOPLE GET INTO SO MANY OTHER
ISSUES.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES
THAT ENCOURAGE THE FLIGHT OF
THOSE JOBS OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTRY AND I WILL TELL YOU
THAT IF RONALD REAGAN WERE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
I HAVE NO DOUBT HE WOULD BE
CHAMPIONING THE NOTION OF
REDUCING THAT TOP CORPORATE TAX
RATE AND I HAVE TO SAY, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT I WAS VERY
GRATIFIED.
RIGHT BEHIND ME, JUST 10 DAYS
AGO, PRESIDENT OBAMA STOOD HERE
AND ADVOCATED A REDUCTION OF
THAT TOP RATE ON THOSE JOB
CREATORS AND WE KNOW THAT HE
HAS RECENTLY, PRESIDENT OBAMA,
READ LOU CANNON'S BOOK ON
RONALD REAGAN AND UNDERSTANDS
HOW SUCCESSFUL RONALD REAGAN
WAS.
NOW I HAVE LOTS OF THINGS I
WANT TO SAY BUT I'M PRIVILEGED
TO BE JOINED BY FOUR GREAT
CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE HERE RIGHT
NOW SO I THINK THE MOST
APPROPRIATE THING FOR ME TO DO
WOULD BE TO GO BY BOTH AGE AND
SENIORITY AND SO I THINK THAT
MY FRIEND DAN LUNGREN, WHO HAS
BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME AS
RONALD REAGAN WAS HAS JOINED US
AND I MENTIONED HIM EARLIER,
HE'S THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE ON
ADMINISTRATION, SOMETHING THAT
WE WERE NEVER AIL TO DO DURING
THE REAGAN YEARS THAT BEING
HAVE THE MAJORITY AND I KNOW
THAT RONALD REAGAN WOULD BE
VERY PROUD TO SEE HIS FRIEND
DAN LUNDWREN IN THE POSITION
THAT HE IS TODAY AND MR.
SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO
MY FRIEND.
I THANK THE
TAKING THIS TIME AND YIELDING
THIS TIME TO ME.
I NOTE TO OTHERS AS WE COME
