House Session 2011 - 03 - 01 - 12 - 00 - 15 - 13 - 01 - 32

THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY THE GUEST CHAPLAIN, PASTOR ELISA LASS TER FROM HERE IN WASHINGTON. LET US PRAY. MANY NAMES. BUT MOST STRIKING, YOU KNOW US AND EACH PERSON WE REPRESENT BY NAME AND WITH LOVE. THANK YOU. GOD, WHO HEALS, WE PRAY FOR THE FULL RESTORATION OF REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS AND FOR THE PERSONAL STRUGGLES OF EACH PERSON HERE. REMIND US THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER AND DESIRE TO HEAL EACH WOUND WE CARRY INTO THIS CHAMBER. UNITING GOD, GIVE US THE WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE PLIGHT OF YOUR PEOPLE IN NEED. SAVE US FROM OURSELVES AND SURPRISE US WITH SHARED SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEMS YOUR CHILDREN FACE. GOD OF ALL, WE REPRESENT NOT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE OUR EAR, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE. SO LET US NOT RAISE OUR HANDS TO VOTE WITHOUT BOWING OUR HEARTS TO YOUR WILL. THROUGH YOUR LOVE THAT CHANGES THE WORLD, WE PRAY, AMEN. THE CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL THEREOF. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1 THE JOURNAL STAPPED STANDS MR. SPEAKER. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE. MR. SPEAKER, PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1, RULE 1, I DEMAND A VOTE ON AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL. THE QUESTION IS ON AGREEING TO THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE JOURNAL STAND AS I PROVED. MR. SPEAKER, I OBJECT TO THE VOTE ON THE GROUNDS THAT A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT AND I MAKE A POINT OF ORDER THAT A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED. THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, MR. DUNCAN. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK THE MEMBERS AND THE FELLOW GUESTS TO JOIN ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO SEEK TO BE RECOGNIZED? MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. WHAT HELPS MAKE THE PEOPLE. EVERY DAY THE STAFF MEMBERS HERE GIVE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY NOT JUST DOING THE JOB, BUT FULFILLING THE MISSION OF KEEPING THIS BODY CLOSEST TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. MEMBERS COME AND GO BUT SOME DEAD CATED PUBLIC SERVANTS CONNECT THE HOUSE'S -- DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT CONNECT THE HOUSE'S HISTORY TO ITS FUTURE. PAT KELLY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THIS. LIKE MANY AMERICANS, PAT JOINED THE FAMILY BUSINESS RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, SHE WENT TO WORK FOR HER MOTHER, CONGRESSWOMAN EDNA KELLY, WHO WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO REPRESENT BROOKLYN. THAT WENT ON TO SERVE AS A LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK DELEGATION AND THE RULES COMMITTEE. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS NOW PAT HAS HAD A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE HOUSE AS EDITOR OF "THE DAILY DIGEST" OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. THE DIGEST D SERVES AS THE TABLE OF CONTENT FOR EACH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IN ALL THE COMMITTEES. AND PAT'S JOB IS A DAILY FEAT OF PRECISION AND PATIENCE THAT REQUIRES PULLING TOGETHER INFORMATION FROM DOZENS OF OFFICES OF. AND I KNOW ALL OF PAT'S CLEARS ADMIRE HER THOUGHTFULNESS AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL. TODAY SHE'S RETIRING AFTER 54 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS INSTITUTION. IT'S CLEAR THAT PAT HAS NOT MERELY RECORDED THE HOUSE'S HISTORY, SHE'S BEEN A RICH PART OF IT, TOO. WHEN THE HOUSE PAID TRIBUTE TO EDNA KELL INY 1998, PAT WAS QUOTED AS SAYING OF HER MORE THAT SHE WAS A GREAT PERSON TO EMULATE. WELL, LET THE SAME BE SAID OF PAT AND MAY ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE PUBLIC SERVANTS BE INSPIRED BY HER EXAMPLE. PAT, WE'RE SORRY TO SEE YOU GO, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE DEDICATION TO THIS INSTITUTION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN RECOGNIZED? I'M SORRY, THE GENTLEWOMAN. MEEKS, I'M PLEASED TO JOIN -- MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED TO JOIN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO HONOR A COMMIT PUBLIC SERVANT, A WOMAN OF THIS HOUSE, A KEY THREAD IN THE FABRIC OF THE CONGRESSIONAL STAFF, WHO RETIRES TODAY AFTER 54 YEARS OF SERVICE, PAT KELLY. 54 YEARS OF SERVICE. SINCE ARRIVING AT THE COMMITTEE STAFF IN 1957, PAT KELLY HAS WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. NEVER ASKING FOR RECOGNITION, NEVER LOOKING FOR THE LIME LIGHT. THE DAUGHTER OF CONGRESSWOMAN EDNA KELLY, PAT SAID SHE CAME TO WASHINGTON BECAUSE IN HER WORDS, I JUST FELT THE URGE TO DO SOMETHING. AND FOR MORE THAN A HALF A CENTURY, SHE DID FAR MORE THAN HER FAIR SHARE. PAT KELLY HAS SERVED MANY ROLES ON CAPITOL HILL. IN ALL SHE HELPED MEMBERS TO DO THEIR JOBS AND WORK TIRELESSLY ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO HER AND CRITICAL TO OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE. FEW ISSUES PLAYED A LARGER ROLE FOR HER THAN THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS. IN 1962 SHE HELPED HER MOTHER PASS THE FIRST EQUAL PAY BILL AND WATCHED WITH PRIDE AS PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY SIGNED IT INTO LAW. AS A LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN MARTHA GRIFFITH, PAT FOUGHT FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, CONTINUING THE MARCH FOR EQUALITY, ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE FOR ALL WOMEN. THANK YOU, PAT, WE'RE ALL IN YOUR DEBT. THROUGH IT ALL, WHETHER THE LEGISLATION SUCCEEDED OR FAILED, SHE STOOD BY A SIMPLE MANTRA, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO BE INVOLVED. FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS, SHE HAS SERVED AS EDITOR OF "THE HOUSE DAILY DIGEST," TRACKING COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES AND GETTING THE WORD OUT ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAPITOL HILL. IN THAT ROLE SHE HAS NOTED, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE TURNOVER TO REPUBLICANS AND BACK TO DEMOCRATS AND TRIED TO HELP EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM DO THEIR JOBS. HELPING OTHERS DO THEIR JOBS, WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, THIS WAS THE ESSENCE OF PAT KELLY'S CAREER AND SERVICE. PAT KELLY'S 54 YEARS SERVING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS A REFLECTION OF HER OWN DEDICATION TO CONGRESS AND THE COUNTRY. AND REPRESENTS THE COMMITMENT, DEVOTION TO DUTY AND PASSION FOR SERVICE OF ALL OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS. THANK YOU, PAT, FOR GIVING SO MUCH TO THE HOUSE, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND FULFILLING YOUR PROMISE TO DO SOMETHING FOR ALL AMERICANS. YES, I JOIN THE SPEAKER IN SAYING YOU WILL BE MISSED. WE'RE SORRY THAT YOU ARE LEAVING. WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS AND WITH DEEP GRATITUDE, SEND YOU OUR LOVE AND BEST WISHES. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO 15 REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ONE OF MANY EGREGIOUS AND PUNITIVE PARTS OF OBAMACARE IS THE BURDENSOME 1099 RULE. A PAPERWORK REGULATION THAT FORCES MILLIONS OF BUSINESSES TO FILE A 1099 TAX FORM EACH TIME THEY SPEND OVER $600 PER VENDOR. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SELF-EMPLOYED REPORTS THAT THOSE COMPANIES WITH 10 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES, THEIR PAPERWORK BURDEN IS GOING TO JUMP FROM AN AVERAGE OF TWO PER YEAR TO ROUGHLY 27 PER YEAR. A WHOPPING 1,250% PAPERWORK INCREASE. MAIN STREET MOM AND POP SHOPS DON'T NEED THE ADDED COSTS OF MORE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AT A TIME WHEN THEIR EFFORTS ARE RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON JUST STAYING IN BUSINESS. IT'S JOBS WE'RE PROTECTING, IT'S TIME TO REPEAL THE 1099 RULE RIGHT NOW. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A MESSAGE. THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER, A MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE. THE SECRETARY: MR. SPEAKER. MADAM SECRETARY. THE SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO INFORM THE HOUSE THAT THE SENATE HAS AGREED TO S.CON.RES. 8, RECOGNIZING WOMEN SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN WHICH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE HOUSE IS REQUESTED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, THE TIME TO GOVERN IS NOW. THE RECKLESS CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS THAT REPUBLICANS PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO IS AN ABJECT FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP. IN THE RACE FOR EVER-INCREASING AND ARBITRARY CUTS, THEY DEMONSTRATED ON A PARTY LINE VOTE THAT THEY KNOW THE COST OF EVERYTHING AND THE VALUE OF NOTHING. MOODY'S ANLY THIC SAID THEIR APPROACH WOULD COST -- ANALYTIC SAID THEIR APPROACH WOULD COST 800,000 JOBS. GOLDMAN SACHS SAID IT WOULD LOWER ECONOMIC GROWTH BY 2% AND INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT BY 1%. EVEN THE CONSERVATIVE CLUB CALLED IT A MISTAKE, STATING, CUTTING SPENDING IS IMPORTANT, BUT ECONOMIC GROWTH IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK THAT ALL OF US, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER TO PASS A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE C.R. THAT REDUCES DEFICITS WITHOUT SACRIFICING ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE THAT PRIORITIZES INVESTMENTS IN OUR ECONOMY, THAT SUPPORT COSTING JOBS. LET'S PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT STREDS -- SPREADS THE ECONOMY AND CREATES JOBS FOR ALL AMERICANS. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? MR. SPEAKER, I REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, LAST TUESDAY, THE TOP FRONT PAGES STORY ON "USA TODAY" SAID GAS WILL SOON HIT $5 A GALLON. IF IT DOES IT WILL REALLY SLOW OUR RECOVERY AND SOME THINK IT COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER RECESSION. IT WILL REALLY HURT THE ALREADY HURTING SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS BECAUSE THEIR PEOPLE ON AVERAGE HAVE SO DRIVE FURTHER DISTANCES TO GO TO WORK. ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT GAS TO GO MUCH HIGHER SO PEOPLE WILL DRIVE BUT IF GAS GOES TO $5 A GALLON OR EVEN HIGHER, IT WILL HURT A WORKING PEOPLE. I KNOW MOST ENVIRONMENTALISTS COME FROM VERY WEALTHY OR UPPER INCOME FAMILIES AND I KNOW THEY WILL SAY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OIL TO DRILL OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT IF WE WOULD AT LEAST START PRODUCING A LITTLE MORE OIL, IT WOULD BE HARDER FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO KEEP RAISING THEIR PRIE PRICES. PRESIDENT CLINTON VETOED DRILLING IN ANWR IN THE MID 1990'S, STOPPING A BILLION MORE BARRELS A DAY FROM BEING PRODUCED HERE. WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL RADICALS STOPPED MORE DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION, IT HELPS FOREIGN ENERGY PRODUCERS BUT IT REALLY HURTS MID AM AND LOWER INCOME AMERICAN -- MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME AMERICANS. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, CONGRESS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON CREATING JOBS, HELPING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AND LOWERING THE DEFICIT WITH INTELLIGENT SPENDING CUTS AND I SAY, WITH INTELLIGENT SPENDING CUTS. BUT INSTEAD WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS A DEVASTATING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. POLICY EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ALL AGREE, THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WILL RESULT IN MORE JOB LOSSES, I STATE, MORE JOB LOSSES, AND MORE SUFFERING OF OUR FAMILIES. SENATOR MCCAIN'S CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISOR ESTIMATES THAT THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WILL LEAD TO 7,000 JOBS BEING LOST, 7,000 JOBS BEING LOST, EVEN WALL STREET FIRMS, THE GOLDEN -- THE GOLDMAN SACHS SAY THE BUDGET PLAN WILL CAUSE OUR ECONOMY TO SHRINK BY 2%. IN MY DISTRICT TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE SET TO LOSE THEIR JOBS DESERVE BETTER. I SAY THEY DESERVE BETTER. THE TIME TO PLAY POLITICS WITH OUR BUDGET IS I URGE MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS TO BREAK FREE FROM THE EXTREMISTS IN THEIR PARTY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER, LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON A REAP REAL PLAN TO CREATE JOBS AND -- REAL JOB TO CREATE PLAN -- A REAL PLAN TO CREATE JOBS AND STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. FRANK BUCKLES. INSPIRED FOR HIS LOVE OF HIS COUNTRY AND THE DESIRE TO SERVE, FRANK ENTERED THE ARMY AT AGE 16. HE SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE DURING THE WORLD WAR, FIRST AS A CAR AND AMBULANCE DRIVER AND LATER AS AN ESCORT FOR RETURNING GERMAN P.O.W.'S. DURING WORLD WAR II HE WAS HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 39 MONTHS. HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT AND AWARDED NUMEROUS MEDALS. I'VE MET FRANK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HE'S A CONSTITUENT OF MY DISTRICT AND WAS ALWAYS INSPIRED BY HIS SENSE OF HUMILITY AND HOPE. HE REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF THIS COUNTRY, SERVICE, DETERMINATION AND PATRIOTISM. HE HAS LIVED THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST HISTORIC EVENTS IN OUR AMERICAN HISTORY FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION TO TWO WORLD WARS, TO THE INVENTION OF THE INTERNET, REMINDING US OF THE IMMENSE PROGRESS YET CHANGE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS NATION. FOR YEARS FRANK HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO ENSURING HIS FELLOW DOUGH BOYS RECEIVE PROPER RECOGNITION. I HOPE THIS CONGRESS WILL HONOR THE LEGACY OF FRANK BUCKLES AND THE LEGACY OF ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR TO END ALL WARS BY PAYING TRIBUTE TO THEM WITH A NATIONAL MEMORIAL. LET FRANK'S LEGACY REMIND US OF THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE ALL VETERANS MAKE IN THE NAME OF PROTECTING AMERICA AND ALL FOR WHICH SHE STANDS. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO TO THE BUCKLES FAMILY. I YIELD BACK. GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED, ONE MINUTE. SO BE IT. THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING TO 700,000 AMERICAN WORKERS WHO WILL BE NEEDLESS CASUALTIES OF THEIR GUTTING AND SLASHING FUNDING BILL. SO BE IT, THAT'S THE REPUBLICAN ATTITUDE TO A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN IF THEY DON'T FORCE MORE CUTS DESTROYING MORE JOBS. SO BE IT, THAT'S THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGE TO ONE OUT OF EVERY 11 AMERICANS STRUGGLING TO FIND WORK. THE G.O.P. CONTINUING RESOLUTION DOES NOTHING TO CREATE JOBS. IN FACT, IT TAKES A STEP BACKWARD, WEAKENING OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. OF COURSE I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED, OVER THE LAST EIGHT WEEKS SINCE THE REPUBLICANS TOOK OVER CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THEY HAVEN'T CREATED A SINGLE JOB. WHAT'S WORSE, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN PUT A SINGLE JOBS WILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. -- BILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. WHILE REPUBLICANS SAY, SO BE IT, I SAY STOP THE WAR ON WORKING FAMILIES AND SHOW ME THE JOBS. THE CHAIR MUST REMIND ALL MEMBERS NOT TO WEAR A COMMUNIQUIVE BADGE -- A COMMUNE -- COMMUNICATIVE BADGE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. WANT. JOBS. EVERYBODY I KNOW WANTS A JOB. PEOPLE STAND IN LINE, THEY WANT A JOB. AND SO NOW WE ARE AT THIS CRU SHALL DEADLINE. AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT -- CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DEADLINE. AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHUT DOWN THE -- CRUCIAL DEADLINE AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. THEIR STRATEGIC THIS YEAR IS TO GUT EVERYTHING, ANYTHING. 700,000 JOBS. 800,000 JOBS. DEPENDS WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO. IF YOU ARE TALKING TO THE MOODY'S PERSON, IT'S 700,000. IF YOU ARE TALKING TO THE ECONOMIC INSTITUTE, IT'S 800,000. SO WHILE THEY CONCENTRATE ON ELIMINATING JOBS, I BELIEVE MOST OF US HERE, DEMOCRATS, ARE WORKING HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AN INVESTMENT. HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE TO GET THEIR NEXT JOB? WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR EDUCATION? WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR HOW ABOUT BUILDING THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL, FOR EXAMPLE, IN CALIFORNIA TO CREATE JOBS? I THINK REPUBLICANS NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK. THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WHILE TODAY WE ARE DEBATING ON HOW WE CAN ADDRESS PUBLIC NEEDS WITH FEWER AND FEWER PUBLIC DOLLARS, I'M HERE TO BRING GOOD NEWS ON HOW THIS CONGRESS, THIS PAST CONGRESS INVESTED OR TAX DOLLARS TO HELP SAVE JOBS. THE NEW GENERAL MOTORS THAT I PROUDLY REPRESENT RECENTLY ANNOUNCE ADD NEW FINANCIAL MILESTONE -- ANNOUNCED A NEW FINANCIAL MILESTONE. PROFITABLITY. THAT'S NOT ONLY GOOD FOR G.M.'S SHAREHOLDERS, BUT ALSO FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM WILL RECEIVE PROFIT SHARING OF OVER $4,000 EACH. WHAT THAT SHOWS IS THAT WHEN THIS CONGRESS WORKS WITH OUR PRESIDENT TO INVEST IN U.S. MANUFACTURING, THAT HELPS ALL OF US TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. I RISE TODAY WITH SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF A TRUE JOBS PLAN FROM THE TO TACKLE OUR SPENDING CHALLENGES. AS THE RACE CONTINUES TO FIND THE NEXT DEEPOUS CUT, JUST WHO ARE THE REAL LOSERS? IT SEEMS TO ME THE HARDEST HIT. IT'S MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR SENIORS, OUR STUDENTS, AND WOMEN. THIS WAR ON WORKING FAMILIES MUST END. OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET. IN ORDER TO MOVE OUR COUNTRY OUT OF THIS RECESSION, WE MUST INVEST IN THEIR SUCCESS. MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH YET ANOTHER DANGEROUS SPENDING BILL. ONE THAT CONTINUES TO GIVE REWARDS TO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AMONG US AND LITERALLY GUTS THE INITIATIVES MOST MEANINGFUL TO MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES. THE WORK OF REDUCING OUR DEFICIT DOUBT HARD. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE HAVE TO CUT SPENDING, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT RESPONSIBLY. AS WE SEEK TO MAKE A COMPROMISE THIS WEEK, LET'S REMEMBER THAT WE CANNOT CUT WHAT MAKES US COMPETITIVE OR HELPS US INNOVATE, SUCCEED IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, AND ULTIMATELY CREATE JOBS. TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, THE 1% OF AMERICANS NOW CONTROL 1/3 OF OUR NATION'S INCOME. 120% MORE THAN 0 YEARS AGO. C.E.O.'S NOW EARN HUNDREDS OF TIMES WHAT THE AVERAGE WORKER DOES. WALL STREET PROFITS ARE UP 720%. THIS 2007. AND CORPORATE TAXES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST POINT SINCE THE 1950'S. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS ARE DOING PRETTY WELL. MUCH BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IN FACT. SO YOU'D THINK AFTER ALL THESE GAINS THE SUPERRICH, A HANDFUL OF AMERICANS WHO CONTROL FULLY A THIRD OF OUR ECONOMY WOULD UNDERSTANDABLY BE ASKED TO HELP AS WE TRY TO BRING OUR FISCAL HOUSE BACK INTO ORDER. BUT THE REPUBLICANS' SPENDING PLAN DOES NONE OF THIS. IT PUTS THE BURDEN EVER CUTS SOLELY ON THE SHOWED -- OF CUTS SOLELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF WORKING FAMILIES. THOSE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THE REPUBLICAN PLAN SPARES THE RICHEST AMERICANS EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INCONVENIENCE. THEY HAVE PROPOSED TO SLASH THE BUDGETS FOR PROGRAMS THAT HELP SENIORS HEAT THEIR HOMES, HELP LOW-INCOME WOMEN FIND A DOCTOR, AND HELP MILLIONS OF AMERICANS STUDENT ACCESS JOB TRAINING OR CARE. THIS IS A RECKLESS PLAN. WE NEED TO REJECT IT AND MAKE THIS ECONOMY WORK FOR EVERYONE. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE SMART CUTS AND DUMB CUTS. THE MAJORITY'S CONTINUING RESOLUTION THE RECEPTION IT HAS RECEIVED SUGGESTED IT'S FULL OF DUMB CUTS. BEEN REJECTED BY PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WORSE THAN A DUMB CUT. THAT'S A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE CUT. IN A MISGUIDED EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY ZEROED OUT TITLE 10 FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD. PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICE IS DOWN THE HALL FROM MY PORT. I SEEN WOMEN COMING IN THERE MAINLY TO LEARN ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL. TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES. TO BE TEST F TESTED -- TO BE TESTED FOR S.T.D.'S. THERE ARE ESTIMATES, 3% OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTIVITIES ARE ABORTION. THERE ARE ESTIMATES ZEROING OUT TITLE 10 WILL COST 400,000 MORE ABORTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. IT'S WRONG. AND I WOULD URGE THIS HOUSE TO REJECT A VERY BAD IDEA. TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE RECOGNIZED? PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF VARIOUS ARAB COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RISEN UP TO THROW OFF THE YOKE OF TYRANNY THAT HAS OPPRESSED THEM FOR TOO LONG. NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO LET OUR IDEALISM TRUMP OUR CYNICISM. A TIME FOR HOPE NOT FEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE REAL POL LICK OF HOW DEVELOPMENTS MIGHT LEAD TO CHANGES IN THE WORLD, MUST MOST AMERICANS, MR. SPEAKER, HAVE DEEP AND UNABIDING SYMPATHY FOR ANY WHO HAVE DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD. WE SUPPORT AS A COUNTRY THE ASPIRATIONS OF ALL PEOPLE TO BE HEARD IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. THE ONLY JUST GOVERNMENT IS ONE THAT GOVERNS BY THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. AND FOR TOO LONG, MR. SPEAKER, TOO MANY ARABS AND TOO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE SUFFERED UNDER UNRESPONSIVE AND TYRANNICAL LEADERS AND NOW IS A TIME FOR HOPE TO CHANGE THAT AND CREATE A NEW MIDDLE EAST TO BETTER SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC VALUES. TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RECENTLY SURVEYED MY CONSTITUENTS AND ASKED THEM WHAT THEY THOUGHT I SHOULD SPEND MY TIME ON IN 2011. NO SURPRISE, THEY SAID JOBS. CREATE JOBS. 15 MILLION AMERICANS WITHOUT WORK TODAY. WHAT DOES THE REPUBLICAN CONTINUING RESOLUTION DO? IT IS GOING TO ADD ANOTHER 700,000 JOBS LOST IN AMERICA. BY MARK ZAHNDY, THE FINE ECONOMIST WHO WAS THE ADVISOR TO JOHN MCCAIN WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, 700,000 JOBS. WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS? YOU GOT TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD. THE REASON WHY THEY WANT TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ONLY WIN IF THE ECONOMY IS DOWN, IF THERE ARE MORE JOBS LOST. SO THEIR WHOLE APPROACH IS NOT TO BE AMERICANS BUT TO BE REPUBLICANS. I SAY REPUBLICANS JOIN US IN BEING AMERICANS FIRST. LET'S CREATE A JOB SEEKING ENGINE. LET'S CREATE JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY. NOT TAKE THEM AWAY. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. A DEMOCRACY IS NOT BEAUTIFUL ED -- EDIFICES OR WORDS ON PAPER, A DEMOCRACY, ITS FOUNDATION IS THE PEOPLE. TODAY WE PAY TRIBUTE ON THE RETIREMENT OF PAT KELLY. SOMEONE WHO HAS REALLY HELPED OUR DEMOCRACY THRIVE. FOR 54 YEARS SHE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ANONYMOUSLY AND WITHOUT MUCH FANFARE HAS MADE SURE THAT THIS DEMOCRACY, WHOSE VERY FOUNDATION IS THE LONGEST CONTINUALLY MAINTAINED JOURNAL IN THE WORLD, KEPT RUNNING. SHE DID IT AS A PROUD DAUGHTER OF BROOKLYN AND SHE COMES FROM A TRULY PATRIOTIC FAMILY. HER MOTHER WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, MINORITY LEADER POINTED OUT, HER GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM KELLY, WAS THE POSTMASTER GENERAL OF BROOKLYN, AND I WAS PROUD TO KIND OF MAKE QUASY ASSOCIATION WITH PAT WHEN I WAS IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND I GOT SOME FUNDS TO FIX UP KELLY'S PLAYGROUND, WHERE SO MANY OF US ENJOYED BROOKLYN. IT REALLY IS TRUE THAT MANY OF US AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WIDELY COME THROUGH HERE, WE CAST OUR VOTES, WE GIVE OUR SPEECHES, AND IT'S EASY FOR US TO FORGET THIS DEMOCRACY IS NOT ABOUT US, IT'S ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENRY AND OF COURSE THE HARD WORK OF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS INSTITUTION SO GRAND. PAT KELLY IS SUCH A PERSON. SHE IS AN INSTITUTION UNDER TO SHE WILL BE MISSED -- UNTO HERSELF. SHE WILL BE MISSED AROUND HERE BUT SHE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. WE'LL REMEMBER HER FOR HER CHARM, SMILE, GRACE, AND THE WAY WITH WHICH SHE DID HER JOB. SO TO HER FAMILY, THE ENTIRE KELLY FAMILY, FROM ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM HER HOME OF BROOKLYN, I WANT TO SAY TO HER CONGRATULATIONS ON HER SHE WILL BE MISSED. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? WITHOUT OBJECTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. A TWO-WEEK EXTENSION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT MAY PREVENT A SHUTDOWN, BUT IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT A SERIOUS CHOICE LIES BEFORE THIS CONGRESS. WILL 2011 BE A YEAR WHICH WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY? A YEAR THAT BUILDS ON THE OVERONE MILLION PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS CREATE -- OVER ONE MILLION PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS CREATED IN 2010? OR REMEMBERED AS A YEAR EXTREMISTS IGNORED THE WARNINGS OF WORLD CLASS ECONOMISTS AT GOLDMAN SACHS AND MOODY'S AND ALLOW OUR ECONOMY TO SHRINK BY OVER 700,000 JOBS? WILL 2011 BE A YEAR YOU WHICH WE PREPARE AMERICA'S CHILDREN TO COMPETE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY OR WILL IT BE THE YEAR THAT RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS IN CONGRESS DEFY COMMON SENSE, CUTTING PELL GRANTS, BLAMING TEACHERS FOR THE DEFICIT AND PUNISHING STRUGGLING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS AMERICA FOR A FINANCIAL CRISIS THEY DID NOT CAUSE? IN TWO WEEKS THESE CHOICES WILL ONCE AGAIN COME BEFORE THIS I IMPLORE THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY NOT FOR PARTISAN GAIN BUT FOR AMERICA'S GAIN. LET'S REDUCE THE DEFICIT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT JEOPARDIZE OUR RECOVERY AND MAKE 2011 A YEAR WE MOVE FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS SEEK TO BE RECOGNIZED? THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, WHEN I RETURNED TO ILLINOIS LAST WEEK I TALKED TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND THE REFRAIN I HEARD OVER AND OVER WAS THEIR FRUSTRATION AND CONCERN ABOUT THE PAIN THEY ARE FEELING AT THE IT'S NOT JUST HURTING THEM, IT'S THREATENING AND THE DAMAGE OUR ECONOMY, IT'S ALREADY A WEAK EVEN WORSE. AT THIS MOMENT THE AVERAGE COST OF A GALLON OF GAS IN MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS IS OVER $3.A. MORE THAN -- $3.50. MORE THAN 10 CENTS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE. THIS IS SEASONABLY HIGH HITTER AMERICANS HARD. AND THREATENING OUR ECONOMY'S TENUOUS RECOVERY. IT'S CLEAR THE CONGRESS MUST ACT TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUENTS FROM EVEN HIGHER GAS PRICES BY EXPANDING OUR NATION'S DOMESTIC ENERGIES PRODUCTION. MORE ENERGIES PRODUCTION HERE AT HOME WOULD NOT ONLY REDUCE THE COST OF GAS, PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE WALLETS OF EVERY AMERICANS, IT WOULD CREATE THE KIND OF GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE NEED AND WILL HELP GET OUR ECONOMY RUNNING AGAIN. CREATING JOBS, SAVING OUR CONSTITUENTS MONEY, HELPING OUR ECONOMY. THESE SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN GOALS AND WE CAN ACHIEVE THEM BY EXPANDING AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION. I HOPE WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS IN THESE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? I CALL UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 115 AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. CLERK WILL REPORT THE RESOLUTION. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 11, HOUSE RESOLUTION 115, RESOLVED THAT UPON ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE THE JOINT RESOLUTION, HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 44, MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION ARE WAIVED. THE JOINT RESOLUTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT RESOLUTION ARE WAIVED. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE JOINT RESOLUTION TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION -- EXCEPT ONE, ONE HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, AND, TWO, ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY, I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO, MR. POLIS, PENDING WHICH TIME I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. DURING CONSIDERATION OF THIS RESOLUTION, ALL TIME YIELDED IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY. MR. SPEAKER, I ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE RESOLUTION 115 PROVIDES A CLOSED RULE FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J.RES. 44. THIS BILL WOULD FUND THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH MARCH 18 AND REDUCE FEDERAL SPENDING BY $4 BILLION OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THE MEASURE CUTS $2.7 BILLION IN EARMARKS FROM ENERGY AND WATER, LABOR H.H.S., TRANSPORTATION AND H.U.D., HOMELAND SECURITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS MEASURE AVERTS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND ALLOWS THE SENATE TIME TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER H.R. 1, THE BILL THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED IN THIS CHAMBER JUST ONE WEEK AGO. MR. SPEAKER, ON THAT BILL WE HAD ROUGHLY 50 HOURS OF DEBATE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, DEBATE THAT RAN LATE INTO THE NIGHT, THAT ALLOWED THE HOUSE TO WORK ITS WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME. AND THE END RESULT WAS THAT CONTINUING RESOLUTION, H.R. 1, THAT NOW SITS IDLY IN THE SENATE. THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, THIS RULE TODAY, WHICH I URGE MEMBERS TO STRONGLY SUPPORT, WILL ALLOW FOR THE TWO-WEEKS EXTENSION OF FEDERAL -- TWO-WEEK EXTENSION FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING, TO ALLOW THE SENATE TIME TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS BILL, AGAIN, H.R. 1, THE FIRST BILL IN A LONG TIME ON WHICH THE HOUSE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO WORK ITS WILL. AND WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. FOUR DAYS. IN FOUR DAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY. WE MUST ASK OURSELVES, HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS DIRE SITUATION WHERE WE ARE FOUR DAYS AWAY FROM CRITICAL FEDERAL SERVICES BEING CLOSED AND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEING UNABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS? TODAY WE'RE RAISING THE CLOCK TO AVOID THIS -- RACING THE CLOCK TO AVOID THIS SHUTDOWN, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE'VE SQUANDERED THE LAST TWO WEEKS ARGUING H.R. 1. A BILL THAT CONTAINED SOME CUT ISES -- CUTS SO EXTREME IT HAD NO CHANCE OF BEING PASSED INTO LAW AND LEFT OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET THAT BOTH SIDES GENERALLY AGREE TO BE NEED CUT UNTOUCHED. H.R. 1 ALSO HAD EVERY BIT OF SOCIAL LEGISLATION, FROM THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, INCLUDING GUTTING THE ABILITY OF E.P.A. TO PROTECT OUR AIR AND OUR WATER, DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND FAMILY PLANNING SO, THAT IT HAD A THREAT OF A PRESIDENTIAL VETO AND FACES NO REALISTIC PROSPECTS OF PASSAGE IN THE SENATE. SO RATHER THAN WORKING WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO CRAFT A REAL LONG-TERM C.R., THEY WOULD PRESERVE THE GAINS OF OUR ECONOMY, INVEST IN OUR FUTURE, REPUBLICANS HAVE SQUANDERED THE PAST FEW WEEKS, TO PASS THEIR OUT OF TOUCH AND UNREALISTIC SPENDING BILL THAT WOULD PROVE DEVASTATING TO OUR ECONOMY, OUR SAFETY, OUR HEALTH AND OUR VALUES. THEIR DRACONIAN SPENDING BILL WOULD DEGREE DE-INDUSTRY TO 700,000 JOBS -- WOULD DESTROY 700,000 JOBS. AND AS GOLDMAN SACHS SAID, THEIR LONG-TERM C.R. WOULD STALL THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND REDUCE U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH. IN FACT, JUST THIS MORNING MORE THAN 300 ECONOMISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WARNED AGAINST THE MASSIVE G.O.P. SPENDING BILL STATING THAT, AS ECONOMISTS, WE BELIEVE IT IS SHORT-SIGHTED TO MAKE BUDGET CUTS THAT ELIMINATE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN OUR HUMAN CAPITAL, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES. THESE CUTS THREATEN OUR ECONOMIC -- OUR ECONOMY'S LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS. MR. SPEAKER, TODAY'S CONTINUING RESOLUTION MEETS OUR SHARED GOAL OF PREVENTING A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. BUT AT WHAT COST AND FOR HOW LONG? WE ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE DEFICIT, BEGINNING WITH AN AGGRESSIVE ATTACK ON WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE. EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY OWES IT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO RESPONSIBLY CUT SPENDING AND BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT SACRIFICING JOBS OR WEAKENING OUR ECONOMY. TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS TOLD US THAT WE WANT TO PROCEED IN AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT FASHION AND YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN, FACING ANOTHER CLOSED RULE. SHUTTING DOWN AMENDMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES AND STIFLING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND GOOD COST-CUTTING IDEAS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. IN FACT, YESTERDAY IN RULES COMMITTEE MY COLLEAGUES TOOK A PARTY LINE VOTE TO BLOCK AN AMENDMENT FOR THE -- BY THE TOP RANKING MEMBER ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, MR. DICKS. MR. DICKS' AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE CUT MORE FUND THANS THE REPUBLICAN BILL AND AT THE SAME TIME RESTORED FUNDS FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IN THE SPIRIT OF THE YOU ARE JEPT NEED FOR COST CUTTING AND BALANCING THE DEFICIT, I THINK THIS BODY SHOULD CONSIDER IDEAS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE AND ALLOW A RULE THAT ALLOWS FOR DISCUSSION OF THE DICKS AMENDMENT AND OTHER IDEAS TO CUT COSTS EVEN FURTHER THAN THIS C.R. ALLOWS. THIS C.R. MAY SUCCEED IN KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT OPEN FROM MARCH 5 THROUGH MARCH 18 WHICH WE ALL AGREE IS NECESSARY, BUT WE ALSO ALL KNOW THAT TWO WEEKS IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TIME TO NEGOTIATE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THE FACE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE PRESIDENT 10 OF THOSE DAYS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WEATHER TO SIGN OR VETO THE BILL. THE OTHER SIDE HAS DISCUSSED AT THE END OF LAST SESSION THE NEED TO HAVE STABILITY WITH REGARD TO WHAT KIND OF TAXES PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES CAN EXPECT OVER TIME. AND AT END OF LAST SESSION WE PASSED A BILL THAT SET PREDICTABILITY FOR TWO YEARS SO PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES KNOW WHAT THEIR TAXES WILL BE. WELL, THE OTHER SIDE THAT HAVE COIN IS WE NEED PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY AROUND APPROPRIATIONS AND THE GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENT. IT IS STIFLING TO THE ECONOMY AND STIFLING TO JOB CREATION FOR PEOPLE TO BE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER THE LARGEST ENTERPRISE IN OUR COUNTRY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WILL OR WON'T BE SOLVENT IN FOUR DAYS' TIME. THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR IN CONGRESS AND ALREADY THE FOURTH TIME I'VE MANAGED TO RULE ON A SHORT-TERM C.R. THE SHORTENED TIMELINE SET OUT BY THIS C.R. SETS A DEVASTATING SHUTDOWN CRISIS EVERY TWO WEEKS. THAT WILL BRING LEGISLATING TO A STAND STILL, IMPEDE HOPES OF A LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CREATE ENORMOUS OVERHANG ON THE MARKETS BECAUSE OF THIS GREAT UNCERTAINTY THAT IS OF OUR OWN CREATION. WE ARE ALSO UNDERMINING THROUGH THIS C.R., MR. SPEAKER, INVESTMENTS IN OUR OWN FUTURE. TAKE THE CUTS TO LITERACY PROGRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE. BUILDING AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT ENSURES THAT EACH AND EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT THAT WE CAN MAKE IN OUR NATION'S FUTURE AND DEVELOPING OUR HUMAN CAPITAL WHICH HELPS KEEP AMERICA COMPETITIVE. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT THAT I'VE SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE TO SUPPORT AND ACHIEVE ON A STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AS A FOUNDER OF A CONGRESS. WHAT WE SEE NOW, HOWEVER, FROM THE PROPOSED SHORT-TERM C.R. IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE STRIVING READERS FUND WHICH SUPPORTS LITERACY FOR STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE. WITH AMERICAN STUDENTS READING SCORES STAGNATING FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, THIS PROPOSAL MAKES NO SENSE. STRIVING READERS IS THE ONLY TARGETED FEDERAL LITERACY FUNDING FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE AND PARTICULARLY IN A TIME OF STATE AND LOCAL BUDGET CUTS, THESE RESOURCES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. NOW, WE CAN AGREE THAT STRIVING READERS SHOULD BE IMPROVED. IN FACT, I'M WORKING ALONG WITH CONGRESSMAN YARMUTH TO PROVIDE THE LEARN ACT WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAVE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AND DATA BACK TOOLS TO IMPROVE READING AND WRITING. AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO BUILD ON THE PROGRESS OF THE STRIVING READERS PROGRAM. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW WE CUT, BUT WHAT WE CUT. REPUBLICANS HAVE MISTAKENLY CLAIMED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO WANTS TO ELIMINATE STRIVING READERS BUT THEY NEGLECT TO MENTION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S 2012 BUDGET PROPOSES INSTEAD TO REVISE AND IMPROVE STRIDING READERS. THE GOAL IS NOT TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR LITERACY, IT IS TO CONSOLIDATE AND MAKE MORE EFFICIENT FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR LITERACY. TO STRENGTHEN LITERACY PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS, SCALE UP INNOVATIVE METHODS OF TEACHING READING, WRITING AND LANGUAGE ARTS. IN FACT, NEARLY ALL STATES, 44, HAVE APPLIED FOR THE FIRST $10 MILLION IN STRIVING READERS ALLOCATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE AND HAVE DEVELOPED STATE LITERACY PLANS AS A RESULT. MY HOME STATE OF COLORADO HAS BEEN AWARDED $150,000 FOR THESE IMPORTANT PROJECTS. LITERACY IS THE FOUNDATION OF IT'S THE GATEWAY TO OTHER CONTENT AREAS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN THE GLOBAL SOCIETY, LIKE SCIENCE AND MAGGET, DESTROYING THE FOUNDATION OF LITERACY IS CUTTING OFF OUR NATION'S OWN LEGS. EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. BY PUTTING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER OUR SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN, REPUBLICANS SEEM WILLING TO SACRIFICE OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS AS A NATION. EDUCATION IS HOW AMERICA CAN RECLAIM OUR EDGE IN JOB CREATION, BRING JOBS BACK TO OUR SHORES, BECOME BETTER BUSINESS LEADERS AND PROVIDE A LIVABLE WAGE FOR WORKING FAMILIES. WE ALL AGREE THAT CUTS MUST BE MADE. BUT AS THE ROMANS SAID, MAY THE BUYER BEWARE. BY AGREEING TO CUTS IN REPEATED SHORT-TERM C.R.'S, WE RUN THE RISK OF OPENING THE DOOR TO A SPENDING AGENDA THAT ARBITRARILY CUTLER KILLS JOBS, HURTS OUR COMMUNITIES, COMPLETELY UNDERMINES EDUCATION REFORM AND WE DO NOTHING TO PROMOTE THE STABILITY, THE STABILITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MARKETS REQUIRE TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AND GROW. TIME. THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME TO SAY TO MY FRIEND, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH HIM MORE. WE MUST ASK OURSELVES, HOW DID WE GET HERE? HOW DID WE GET HERE? I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR 60 DAYS BUT THE FISCAL YEAR BEGAN BACK ON OCTOBER 1 OF 2010. HOW DID WE GET HERE? WE GOT HERE BECAUSE THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE DIDN'T GET DONE LAST YEAR. AND I REGRET THAT AND CANDIDLY I'M NOT SURE HOW. I HEAR SO MANY FOLKS TALK ABOUT THE PARTISANSHIP AND THE PARTISANSHIP IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND PEOPLE CAN'T GET THINGS DONE BECAUSE OF PARTISANSHIP. BUT OF COURSE LAST YEAR DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENCY AND YET WE STILL SIT HERE TODAY WITHOUT A BUDGET. WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT THE SPEAKER KNOWS WE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE ITS OPERATIONS. HOW DID WE GET HERE? I DON'T KNOW. BUT I KNOW THIS. NOBODY ELECTED ME IN NOVEMBER TO COME UP HERE AND POINT THE FINGER OF BLAME. THEY ELECTED ME TO WORK WITH MY FRIEND TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS. IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW WE GOT HERE, WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAVE SO TO SAY, BECAUSE I WAS AT HOME, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE PAST WEEK WITH MY CONSTITUENTS, WORKING THROUGH THESE VERY SAME ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AND THE QUESTION I WWW.OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS, THAT'S A GREAT START, BUT LET'S DO MORE. THAT'S A GREAT START, BUT LET'S DO MORE. GETTING STARTED IS WHAT'S SO HARD. IT'S HARD TO GET STARTED. OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE HEARD -- WE HAVE HEARD OUR FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SAY, YOU KNOW THIS PROGRAM, IT CAN BE FIXED. IT CAN BE FIXED. I WONDER IF WE'LL HAVE A DAY HERE WHERE WE CAN START FROM A JUST A BLANK SHEET. AND SAY, WHAT IS IT THAT'S WORTH BORROWING FROM OUR CHILDREN FOR? WHAT IS IT THAT IS WORTH INCREASING OUR CHILDREN'S CREDIT CARD BALANCE FOR? WHAT IS IT THAT'S WORTH MORTGAGING OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE FOR? LET ME SAY TO MY FRIEND, BECAUSE I KNOW HE HAS A GREAT PASSION FOR EDUCATION AND IT'S A PASSION THAT I VERY MUCH RESPECT, I HAVE THE GREAT FORTUNE OF COMING FROM A PART OF THE WORLD CALLED GEORGIA, WE WERE RECIPIENT OF THE PRIZE FOR THE SINGLE BEST URBAN EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT IN AMERICA. WE MADE THE FINALISTS TWO YEARS AGO BUT LAST YEAR WE WON. AND WE WON IN SPITE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, NOT BECAUSE OF IT. IN SPITE OF IT. WE WON BECAUSE AS A COMMUNITY WE GOT TOGETHER BACK IN 1996 AND SAID, THERE'S A BETTER WAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENABLE OUR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED BETTER? WE WERE DOING STANDARDIZED TESTING IN THE COUNTY BEFORE STANDARDIZED TESTING WAS IN VOGE. BECAUSE WITH WE KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE A WAY TO MEASURE. WE KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE A WAY TO SORT OUT WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T. FOLKS WE NEED SOME THAT HAVE STANDARDIZED TESTING HERE ON WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T? WORKING. NOT OVERWHELM DO WE NEED TO GET THE BAD OUT OF THE BUDGET, WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE THAT WE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOOD AND GOOD. BETWEEN GOOD AND GOOD BECAUSE EVERY SCHOOL GROUP I SPOKE TO OVER OUR DISTRICT WORKWEEK IS A SCHOOL GROUP WHOSE FUTURE -- FROM WHOSE FUTURE WE ARE BORROWING. WHOSE FUTURE WE ARE MORTGAGING. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT THE HOUSE WORKED ITS WILL IN AN UNPRECEDENTED FASHION, AN UNPRECEDENTED FASHION. MR. SPEAKER, I DON'T SAY THAT LIGHTLY. I MEAN NEVER, NEVER BEFORE IN MODERN TIMES HAS THE HOUSE WORKED ITS WILL ON A CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS BILL THE WAY IT DID LAST WEEK. I DON'T CARE WHOSE FAULT IT IS. I DON'T CARE WHY WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE LAST OCTOBER. I DON'T CARE WHY WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE IN NOVEMBER. I DON'T CARE WHY WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE IN DECEMBER. WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT DONE AND WE DID THAT LAST WEEK. AND THE HOUSE WORKED ITS WILL AND WE HAD SOME WINNERS AND LOSERS. I VOTED FOR A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT FAILED. I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING I WANTED IN THAT BILL. I KNOW MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING HE WANTED IN THAT BILL. BUT THE HOUSE WORKED ITS WILL, MR. SPEAKER, WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPENNESS. AND H.R. 1 WAS THE RESULT. I ASKED MY STAFF TO CALL OVER TO THE SENATE BEFORE I CAME DOWN HERE. I WANTED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH DEBATE THE SENATE HAD BEEN PUTTING IN ON H.R. 1. WE DEBATED IT FOR ALMOST 50 HOURS. WENT THROUGH THE NIGHT ON A COUPLE NIGHTS. WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE HOUSE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT. MY STAFF TELLS ME, MR. SPEAKER, NOT A MOMENT, NOT A MOMENT. I HEAR THE SENSE OF URGENCY FROM MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO THAT WE HAD TO TAKE ACTION. THIS IS NO WAY TO RUN A I THINK HE'S RIGHT. I THINK HE'S RIGHT. I HAVE THINK CLEANING UP THIS MESS MEANS PASSING A SINGLE CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO GET US YEAR. FOR PETE'S SAKES THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IS ALREADY TAKING TESTIMONY TO GET US INTO THE 2012 BUDGET CYCLE. THIS IS LEFT OVER WORK THAT SIMPLY DIDN'T GET DONE LAST CONGRESS. NOT ONE SECOND HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE SENATE SIDE, MR. SPEAKER. FROM WHAT MY STAFF TELLS ME. NOT ONE SECOND HAS BEEN SPENT CONSIDERING A BILL ON WHICH THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WORKS ITS WILL. A BILL THAT WAS THE ONLY OPEN PROCESS THAT THIS HOUSE HAS SEEN ON A CONTINUING RESOLUTION. A BILL THAT ALLOWED MEMBERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO COME DOWN HERE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME BY DOING EXACTLY WHAT MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO IS SUGGESTING, TRYING TO MAKE GOOD TRYING TO MAKE THOSE THINGS, PRESENT THOSE THINGS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT MAKE THE MOST SENSE TO FOLKS BACK HOME. MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. NO ONE WANTS THE SENATE TO ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE MORE THAN I DO. GIVEN THAT NOT ONE MOMENT HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THAT, WE HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE AND FUND THE GOVERNMENT ONE MORE TIME. IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO THE BETTER THING TO DO WOULD BE TO ACT ON H.R. 1, WHICH THE HOUSE PASSED LAST WEEK WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS -- THE MEMBERS HERE IN THIS BODY. BUT NOW WE HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE AND EXTEND, JUST FOR TWO WEEKS, TO GIVER US TIME TO FINISH THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SENATE SIDE. IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME, I SUSPECT WE'LL BE BACK DOWN HERE MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO AND I WILL BE DOWN HERE IN THIS SAME WELL DOING THIS SAME THING, BUT IT'S NO WAY TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT. IT'S NO WAY TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS JUST WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHILE WE WAIT ON THE SENATE TO TAKE UP THAT BILL ON WHICH THE WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE OF HIS TIME. SECONDS. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SAID LET US DO MORE TO SAVE MONEY. AND YET THIS RULE SHUTS DOWN THE PROCESS AND DOESN'T ALLOW AMENDMENTS FROM THE MINORITY, INCLUDING ONE BY MR. DICKS, THAT SAVED OVER $1 BILLION AND WOULD HAVE REDUCED THE DEFICIT BY OVER $500 MILLION. YET AGAIN THROUGH THIS CLOSED RULE WE ARE UNABLE TO DO MORE THANKS TO THIS RESTRICTIVE RULE BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR. ELLISON. THE MINUTES. I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE RULE AND UNDERLYING BILL. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 44. THIS BILL IS JUST ANOTHER PART OF THE RECKLESS REPUBLICAN NO-JOBS AGENDA. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON CREATING JOBS, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO CUT NEARLY ONE MILLION JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE FOR TWO MONTHS. THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE FOR NOW MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AND THEY FAILED TO BRING UP A SINGLE BILL TO CREATE A SINGLE JOB. I MEAN THEY HAVEN'T DONE JUST A POOR JOB. THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. AND THIS BILL IS JUST THE MINI VERSION OF A LARGER REPUBLICAN DRIVE TO -- THAT AMERICA -- ACROSS AMERICA TO -- THAT AMERICA'S FINALLY REREPRESENTATIVE-ELECT JD -- REJECT ADD WEEK AGO. I'M AGAINST STARTING A SHORT-TERM CUTS, SHORT-TERM C.R.'S THAT RESULTS IN A BLEED OF THE AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS. SPEAKER BOEHNER STATED EARLIER THIS WEEK BEFORE THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS CONVENTION, HE SAYS, IF THEY DON'T EAT THE WHOLE LOAF ONE AT A TIME, HE SAID OF DEMOCRATS, WE'LL MAKE THEM EAT IT ONE SLICE AT A TIME. THIS IS WHAT THIS C.R., THIS SHORT-TERM C.R. IS ALL ABOUT. ONE SLICE AT A TIME. WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING -- SHOVING A WHOLE LOAF DOWN THE THROAT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T WANT THEY WANT JOBS. LET'S BE CLEAR. THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY IS JUST ONE MORE BATTLE IN THIS FIGHT, IN THIS BATTLE TO KEEP AMERICAN JOBS. IT'S THE SAME JOB CUT THAT REPUBLICANS PASSED A WEEK AGO. JUST A TWO-WEEK VERSION OF IT. THE REPUBLICANS' RECKLESS SO BE IT ATTITUDE ON SPENDING DESTROYS JOBS AND THREATEN AMERICA'S SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS READ THE REPORT, RELEASED BY CHIEF ECONOMIST AT MOODY'S, MARK ZAHNDY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN NO JOBS AGENDA, C.R., WHICH WOULD CUT 700,000 JOBS BY YEAR-END IF THEY MAKE US EAT ONE SLICE AT A TIME. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS. 700,000 JOBS BY THE YEAR-END OF 2012 AND REDUCE REAL ECONOMIC GROWTH. LET ME QUOTE ECONOMIST MARK ZAHNDY DIRECTLY. WHILE LONG-TERM GOVERNMENT SPENDING RESTRAINT IS VITAL AND LAYING OUT A CREDIBLE PATH TOWARD THAT RESTRAINT IS VERY DESIRABLE, TOO MUCH CUTTING TOO SOON WILL BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. THE ECONOMY IS ADDING ABOUT 100,000, 150,000 JOBS A MONTH. AND UNTIL THAT NUMBER REACHES ABOUT 200,000 ON A MONTHLY BASIS, QUOTE, IMPOSING ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT CUTS BEFORE THIS HAS HAPPENED WOULD BE -- HURT THE RECOVERY. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. TO PUT THESE CUTS IN PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE AGAIN WE HAVE TO GET STARTED SOMEWHERE. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SPEAKER THAT STANDS UP HERE TODAY THAT DOESN'T SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF FISCAL RESTRAINT. THE QUESTION IS, WHEN DO WE START AND HOW MUCH DO WE DO? NOW, TO PUT THIS BILL IN PERSPECTIVE, THE BILL THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND FOR TWO WEEKS, ADDS ABOUT $4 BILLION IN CUTS IN IT, COMPARE THAT TO THE BILL WE PASSED LAST WEEK, WITH $100 BILLION IN CUTS. PUT THAT $100 BILLION IN CUTS IN PERSPECTIVE. LET'S TAKE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY. WHO HAS TO GO OUT AND BUY THEIR GROCERIES. 31-DAY GROCERY BILL. WHAT WE ARE ASKING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS KNOWING THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND BUY 31 DAY'S WORTH OF GROCERIES, LET'S CUT ONE DAY OUT. WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU NOW, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CUT ONE DAY OUT AND WE NEED YOU TO STRETCH YOUR 30 DAY'S WORTH OF GROCERIES INTO 31. MR. SPEAKER, THAT DOESN'T SEEM THAT DRACONIAN. IT DOESN'T SEEM DRACONIAN AT IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE DOING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE RECESSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN BATTLING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE JOBS NUMBERS, THESE ARE THE SAME JOBS NUMBERS THAT FOLKS SAY, IF ONLY YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN DEBT TO THE TUNE OF ANOTHER $1.5 TRILLION, WE'LL GET UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN UNDER 8%. SAME ECONOMISTS WHO SAID, IF YOU CAN WORK THE FIRST YEAR, BUT WHAT THE SECOND YEAR, WE PUT YOU IN DEBT TO THE TUNE OF $1.6 TRILLION IN ADDITION TO THE $1.5, IN ADDITION TO THE $1.3 TRILLION THE YEAR BEFORE. THEN WE'LL GET UNEMPLOYMENT BACK DOWN UNDER 8%. MR. SPEAKER, THOSE JOBS DIDN'T MATERIALIZE BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T CREATE JOBS. WE CAN DESTROY JOBS. WE CAN AND WE DO. BUT WE CAN'T CREATE JOBS. THOSE JOBS. 8 -- JOBS. THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES CREATE THOSE JOBS. WE DESTROY JOBS, BUT WE CANNOT CREATE JOBS. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION IS A RECOGNITION OF, MR. SPEAKER. THE GOVERNMENT CAN ABSOLUTELY GET OUT OF THE WAY. CAN ABSOLUTELY GET OUT OF THE WAY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR TODAY ABOUT THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WILL BE LOST IF THE E.P.A. CONTINUES TO CLASSIFY CARBON DIOXIDE AS A POLLUTANT AND HAMSTRINGS THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER ECONOMY ON THIS PLANET IS HAMSTRUNG. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR THOSE JOBS NUMBERS. H.R. 1 RESOLVED THAT. WE HAVE TO GET STARTED WE HAVE TO GET STARTED SOMEWHERE. MR. SPEAKER, I TAKE NO PRIDE OF I'M JUST A PARTICIPANT IN H.R. 1 AS IT PASSED THE HOUSE. AS THE HOUSE WORK ITS WILL, AS DEMOCRAT AMENDMENTS PASSED AND REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS PASSED. I WISHED WE HAD BEEN GOVERNING THE RIGHT WAY AND IT HAD BEEN DONE BACK ON OCTOBER 1. WHEN WE PASSED THAT CONTINUING RESOLUTION, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME WHY THERE WAS NO OPEN PROCESS THEN. WE PASSED THE SECOND ONE IN DECEMBER, THIRD ONE IN DECEMBER AGAIN. THE OPENNESS THAT THIS HOUSE HAD SEEN IN THIS 112TH CONGRESS IS UNPRECEDENTED, ABSOLUTELY UNPRECEDENTED. I KNOW MY FRIEND FROM COLORADO IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF C.B.O. AND THE WORK THAT C.B.O. DOES. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH HIM MORE. WHEN MR. DICKS CAME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PUT EVEN MORE -- CUT EVEN MORE, AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES WE NEED TO CUT MORE, I WAS INCREDIBLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS C.B.O. HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SCORE THAT AMENDMENT. THERE WAS NO SCORING TO BE HAD. SO WE COULDN'T TELL WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS GOING TO CUT OR WHETHER THIS WAS GOING TO ADD OR HOW THE SPEND RATES WERE GOING TO SORT THEMSELVES OUT BECAUSE IT CAME AT THE LAST MINUTE. BUT WHAT DIDN'T COME AT THE LAST MINUTE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MINORITY TO OFFER A THE SPEAKER REACHED OUT TO THE MINORITY TO SAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OFFERING THE SAME CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT YOU OFFERED BEFORE THAT WAS GOING TO FREEZE FUNDING, WE HAVE HEARD THAT WORD A LOT, MR. SPEAKER, LET'S JUST FREEZE THINGS. WE DON'T WANT TO CUT ANYTHING. WE DON'T WANT TO BE DRACONIAN, BUT IF YOU WANT TO OFFER THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE, THE MAJORITY WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY MADE THAT IN ORDER. ABSOLUTELY MADE THAT IN ORDER. SO THE HOUSE COULD WORK ITS WILL. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OFFER WAS TURNED DOWN AND FOLKS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN OFFERING THAT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROUD NO VOTE ON THAT SUBSTITUTE, BUT I STILL BELIEVE AS THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO SAID, OPENNESS IN THE PROCESS YIELDS TO A BETTER WHICH BRINGS ME FULL CIRCLE, MR. SPEAKER, H.R. 1. THE SINGLE CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT'S HAD MORE OPENNESS IN THE PROCESS THAN ANY OTHER CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT THIS HOUSE HAS EVER CONSIDERED. AND IT LED TO THE BEST PROCESS AND IT LED TO THE BEST OUTCOME. AND THAT IS THE BILL THAT SITS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AID -- TODAY THAT COULD BE ACTED ON TODAY THAT WOULD FUND THE GFT AND PROVIDE THE CERTAINTY -- FUND THE GOVERNMENT AND PROVIDE THE CERTAINTY WE NEED TODAY FOR THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR ON SEPTEMBER 30. SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CERTAINTY, AND I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT OUR ECONOMY NEEDS CERTAINTY, AND IT'S THE GOVERNMENT CREATING THE UNCERTAINTY, WE ARE CREATING THE UNCERTAINTY, WE HAVE HISTORICALLY CREATED THE UNCERTAINTY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH H.R. 1 TO ELIMINATE THAT UNCERTAINTY FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR, TO GET BACK TO DOING WHAT THIS HOUSE ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING, WHICH IS CONSIDERING APPROPRIATIONS BILLS UNDER REGULAR ORDER AND I HOPE MY FRIENDS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE THROWING DOWN THAT GAUNTLET TODAY. SAYING IT'S NOT EASY TO LEAD. IT'S NOT EASY TO MOVE BILLS THROUGH REGULAR ORDER. I WANT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY. I WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND IF WE CAN MOVE H.R. 1 ACROSS THE SENATE, THROUGH THE SENATE ON TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK, WE CAN THEN COME TOGETHER WITH THE SAME KIND OF OPEN PROCESS THAT WE BEGAN TWO WEEKS AGO TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS AND MAKE THE PRIORITIES THAT THIS HOUSE CHOOSES TO MAKE PRIORITIES, NOT LAST CONGRESS, NOT TWO CONGRESSES AGO, NOT PRESIDENT OBAMA IN HIS FIRST YEAR, NOT PRESIDENT BUSH IN HIS LAST TERM, BUT THIS HOUSE TODAY, TOGETHER, WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES? AS SOON AS WE MOVE THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION BEHIND US, MR. SPEAKER, WE CAN BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THOSE PRIORITIES WHICH IS WHERE THE TRUE WORK OF THE WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU. I LIKE THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, HE'S A NICE GUY. I HAVE TO SAY THAT HIS STORY ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED HERE IS NOT EXACTLY ACCURATE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CHARGE IN THE LAST CONGRESS, WE DID HAVE AN OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, BUT IT WAS THE SENATE REPUBLICANS THAT REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE VOTES. AS YOU KNOW YOU NEED A SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE. THEN HE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WAS GLAD TO BE HOME LAST WEEK. TOO. AND I GOT A LOT OF INPUT. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING HERE AND NOT MOVING UP SO PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO THESE DEADLINES WHERE THE GOVERNMENT COULD SHUT DOWN. AND I THINK -- MY FEAR IS WE ARE GOING TO BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD EVERY TWO WEEKS, EVERY TWO WEEKS FACING ANOTHER POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. AS THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO UNCERTAINTY. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY. I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, I WAS GLAD I FINALLY HEARD HIM USE THE WORD JOBS. AND TALK ABOUT JOBS. BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE. THIS H.R. 1, THAT HE TALKS ABOUT, WE KNOW IS GOING TO DESTROY JOBS. VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, 700,000, NOT JUST BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T PAYING FOR THE JOBS BUT BEANT IT DOESN'T INVEST IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU LIVEN TO WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A RULE. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. WE NEED TO MAKE WISE INVESTMENTS IN OUR FUTURE, IN OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH THIS CUTS, IN OUR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FUTURE, IN INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AND MASS TRANSIT SO THAT COMMERCE CAN CONTINUE AND WE CAN GROW THE ECONOMY. THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH H.R. 1 AND THIS LARGER BILL THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE PUT FORWARD. AND OF COURSE THE SENATE CAN'T TAKE UP THE BILL THE WAY IT IS. BECAUSE THEY NOPE IT WILL DESTROY JOBS AND CRIPPLE THE ECONOMY. SO WHAT I ASK IS TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, GO OUT THERE, SIT DOWN WITH THE SENATE DEMOCRATS, SIT DOWN WITH THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS, DON'T JUST SAY, TAKE IT OR LEAVE THIS BILL THAT WE KNOW HAS SUCH DRACONIAN CUTS AND DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO INVEST IN AMERICA'S FUTURE. WE CAN'T CONTINUE DOWN THIS WE'VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE