House Session 2011 - 12 - 20 - 16 - 07 - 55 - 17 - 20 - 44

FROM THOSE 160 MILLION PEOPLE, WALKING AWAY FROM THOSE 48 MILLION SENIORS AND WALKING AWAY FROM THOSE 2.3 MILLION UNEMPLOYED. I YIELD BACK THE PLANS OF MY TIME. WITHOUT OBJECTION, FIVE-MINUTE VOTING WILL RESUME. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE VOTE ON THE ADOPTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 501 ON WHICH THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION. HOUSE RESOLUTION 501, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARD ANYTHING FINAL MEASURE TO EXTEND THE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY, EXTEND FEDERALLY FUNDED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS OR PREVENT DECREASES IN REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIANS TO PROVIDE CARE THROUGH MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES. THE RESOLUTION. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES.] ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 226, THE NAYS ARE 185, THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE CHAIR'S OF CONFEREES. ADDITIONAL CONFEREES MAY BE APPOINT THOSE OPPOSED, NO RECOMMENDATION OF THE MINORITY LEADER. THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE FOLLOWING MANAGERS ON THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3630 AND THE SENATE AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION COMMITTED TO THE CONFERENCE, MESSERS CAMP, UPTON, PRICE OF GEORGIA, REID OF NEW YORK, MRS. ELLMERS, AND MS. HAYWORTH. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE? MR. SPEAKER, PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 4 OF RULE 16, I MOVE THAT WHEN THE HOUSE ADJOURNS TODAY IT ADJOURN TO MEET AT 10:00 A.M. TOMORROW. QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION, THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE RULES AND CONCURRING TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2056 WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY TITLE. H.R. 2056, AN ACT TO INSTRUCT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION FAILURES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE CONCUR IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE SENATE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. THE QUESTION IS ON SUSPENDING AND CONCURRING ON THE SENATE AMENDMENT OF H.R. 1801 WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY H.R. 1801, A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR EXPEDITED SECURITY SCREENINGS FOR MEMBERS QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND CONCUR IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT. SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE SUSPENDED, THE SENATE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES AND CONCURRING IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1059 WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY H.R. 1059, AN ACT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF JUDGES BY EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE TO REDACT SENSITIVE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THEIR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND CONCUR IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT. SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE SENATE AMENDMENT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES AND CONCURRING IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 515 WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY TITLE. H.R. 515, AN ACT TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE BELARUS DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2004. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE THE SENATE AMENDMENT. SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE SUSPENDED, THE SENATE AMENDMENTS ARE AGREED TO AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO TABLE. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA SEEK RECOGNITION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. MEMBERS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. THE GENTLEMAN DESERVES TO BE HEARD. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO PAY RESPECTFUL TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN HERO, MAJOR SAMUEL MARK GRIFFITH, UNITED STATES MARINE MAJOR GRIFFITH, KNOWN AS SAM TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN AFGHANISTAN LAST WEEK. MR. SPEAKER, THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER. THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. MR. SPEAKER, I ATTENDED SAM'S MEMORIAL YESTERDAY. A LETTER WAS READ THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT A MARINE IN SAM'S UNIT. IT DESCRIBED HAD SAM HAD INSISTED ON TAKING THE OTHER MARINE'S PLACE ON THE NEXT NIGHTLY PAROLE. BECAUSE THE PATROL WAS RECEIVING ENEMY FIRE -- MR. SPEAKER, THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER. THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. PLEASE CLEAR THE AISLE AND TAKE CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. MR. SPEAKER, I ATTENDED SAM'S MEMORIAL SERVICE. A VERY MOVING LETTER THAT WAS READ BY A MARINE IN SAM'S UNIT. IT DESCRIBED HOW SAM HAD INSISTED ON TAKE THE OTHER MA REAP'S PLACE ON THE NEXT NIGHTLY PATROL BECAUSE EACH NIGHT THE PATROLS RECEIVED FIRE WHEN THEY WENT OUT. SAM KNEW FULL WELL THE INHERIT RISK AND DANGER. IT WAS SAM'S NATURE TO RUN TO DANGER IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM MARINES. SAM LEAVES BEHIND A WONDERFUL FAMILY INCLUDING HIS WIFE, CASEY, AND TWO FINE YOUNG BOYS, CHAD AND NOAH. MR. SPEAKER, THE BURDEN OF DEFENDING FREEDOM HAS FALLEN HEAVY ON THE GRIFFITH FAMILY, SO WE PAUSE TODAY IN THIS HOUSE AND RIGHTFULLY SO TO HONOR SAM AND TO EXTEND OUR HEART-FELT SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO THE GOD GRANT THEM A MEASURE OF GRACE AND PEACE IN THE DAYS AHEAD. I YIELD BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE? MR. SPEAKER, I ASK TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. SPEAKER, WE WALKED AWAY TODAY, WE WALKED AWAY FROM 160 MILLION AMERICANS AND PUT THEIR TAX CUT AT RISK. WE WALKED AWAY FROM 48 MILLION AMERICANS AND PUT THEIR ACCESS TO DOCTORS AT RISK. AND WE WALKED AWAY FROM 2.3 MILLION UNEMPLOYED. FRANKLY, WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH ASKED US TO STABILIZE THE FINANCIAL MARKETS, 2/3 OF HIS OWN PARTY WALKED AWAY. ON DECEMBER 3, THEY WALKED AWAY FROM BOWLES-SIMPSON. ON MARCH 15, 54 REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FROM CONTINUING GOVERNMENT FUNDING. ON APRIL 14, 59 REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FROM THEIR BILL TO GOVERNMENT. ON JUNE 23, THEIR MAJORITY LEADER WALKED OUT ON THE BIDEN TALKS. ON JULY 22, SPEAKER BOEHNER WALKED OUT ON THE TALKS HE HAD WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA. ON AUGUST 1, 66 REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FROM MAKING SURE AMERICA PAYS ITS BILLS. ON NOVEMBER 17, 101 REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY. ON NOVEMBER -- WHEN THE APPROPRIATION BILL FOR THREE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, THAT WAS A REPUBLICAN BILL THEY WALKED AWAY FROM. ON NOVEMBER 21, REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FROM THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFICIT REDUCTION. THE WALKAWAY CAUCUS SHOULD NOT WALK AWAY FROM AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA RISE? I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, PLEASE MR. SPEAKER, WHILE WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE DAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN MISSING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE FLOOR IS THE AMOUNT OF TREASURE FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER THAT'S GOING TO EUROPE. WE HAVE THROUGH THE FED BEEN SENDING HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOANS TO EUROPE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE SENDING MONEY TO THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND OF WHICH WE PUT 18% IN. WE'RE SENDING HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO EUROPE. WE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS HERE AT HOME, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE RISKING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS' MONEY BY SENDING IT TO BAILOUT COUNTRIES IN EUROPE THAT VERY WELL MIGHT GO BELLY UP. AND IF THEY DO GO BELLY UP THAT WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT US IN AMERICA AND THE VALUE OF OUR CURRENCY WILL BE DEPRECIATED AND WE'LL HAVE VERY HIGH INFLATION. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE UNITED STATES AND NOT WORRY ABOUT EUROPE RIGHT NOW. TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE PERMISSION GRANTED. CONGRESS EXCELS AT DOING NOTHING, BUT SOMETIMES DOING NOTHING OR EMPTY POLITICAL POSTURING AS WE'VE JUST SEEN FROM THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IGNORES OUR NATION'S CRITICAL NEEDS. BY LEAVING TOWN WITHOUT EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO 2.3 MILLION LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS WHO WANT TO WORK AND CAN'T FIND WORK IN THIS ECONOMY IS ESPECIALLY CRUEL ON THE EVE OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. AND FOR 48 MILLION SENIORS AND DISABLED, THE NEW YEAR WILL DAWN WITH A 28% DECREASE IN PHYSICIANS' REIMBURSEMENT. MANY WILL FIND THEY CAN'T GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR. IT WILL BE SLAMMED IN THEIR SO WITH THESE ACTIONS OR RATHER THESE INACTIONS BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, THEY TRULY EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF THE GRINCH. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE PERMISSION GRANTED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO CONGRATULATE MY GOOD FRIEND, CHRIS CARNEY, ON TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE TO THE STATE SENATE IN NORTH CAROLINA. CHRIS HAS SERVED AS A TOWN COMMISSIONER IN THE TOWN OF MORRISVILLE FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM ON THAT BOARD. HE DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS A THOUGHTFUL LEADER, SOMEONE WHO LISTENED TO HIS CONSTITUENTS AND ACTUALLY TRIED TO CRAFT SOLUTIONS. HE'LL TAKE THAT SAME MENTALITY TO THE STATE SENATE IN NORTH CAROLINA. SO TODAY I RISE TO CONGRATULATE CHRIS CARNEY. HIS COMMUNITY IS PROUD OF HIM FRIEND. I KNOW HIS WIFE AND HIS THREE CHILDREN WILL ARE VERY EXCITED UNDERTAKE. CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM OHIO RISE? I RISE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, PLEASE. GRANTED. I WANT THE 2.3 MILLION UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS TO KNOW THAT NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE ARE HEARTLESS. IN FACT, 193 MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE STAND WITH THE UNEMPLOYED OF THIS COUNTRY. THE 2.3 MILLION MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO FEED AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS VERY, VERY POIGNANT HOLIDAY SEASON. I HOPE WHEN WE COME BACK IN JANUARY WE CAN DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR AMERICA, BUT WE FELL 36 VOTES SHORT. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS -- AND I HARDLY SEE ANY OF THEM ON THE FLOOR AT THIS POINT -- CARE MORE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO EARN OVER $1 MILLION THAN THEY DO ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FALLING OFF THE EDGE. I FEEL SORRY FOR OUR COUNTRY TODAY, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A WAY OF MAKING THE TABLES OR RIDING THE TABLES WHEN THEY GET SADLY OUT OF BALANCE AND THAT MOMENT IS I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED. BE STRONG DURING THIS SEASON. KNOW THAT WHEN WE RETURN IN JANUARY WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CORRECT WHAT SADLY WAS VOTED DOWN TODAY. I YIELD BACK MY REMAINING TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MR. SPEAKER, I THANK YOU AND I INTENDED NOT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON BUT IT HAS BEEN PAINFUL FOR ME TO LISTEN TO THIS DEBATE. I AM A FRESHMAN IN THIS BODY. MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN I SHOWED UP HERE IS THAT WHEN WE WOULD NOT COME UP WITH THE SAME AND WE WOULD ALWAYS GET TOGETHER AND SORT IT OUT AND TO HAVE THAT PROCESS DERIDED TODAY AS BEING A BASTARDIZATION OF POLITICS INSTEAD OF WHAT EXACTLY THE FOUNDING FATHERS WANT US TO DO HAS ME CONFUSED. THE GENTLELADY WHO SPOKE ME, I'M SORRY SHE LEFT THE FLOOR, SHE'S NOW GONE, TALKED ABOUT REPUBLICANS WANTING TO SEE FOLKS ON EMPLOYMENT HAVE THOSE BENEFITS COME OUT. FOUR TIMES IN 2010 UNDER DEMOCRAT CONTROL, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RAN OUT. NOW, YOU ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU ALWAYS SORTED IT OUT. HAPPEN. WE'RE GOING TO CONFERENCE WE HAVE 10 DAYS TO GET THIS WE GOT THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL RIGHT IN SEVEN DAYS, AND THE SENATE CRAFTED THEIR SO-CALLED COMPROMISE IN THREE DAYS. SURELY WE CAN DO BETTER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND, MR. SPEAKER, THAT'S NOT A PARTISAN DIVIDE. THAT'S AMERICA AT ITS BEST, AND I WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US IN THAT. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND THE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. LAST WEEK LEON PANETTA DECLARED AN END TO THE WAR IN IRAQ, FULFILLING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PROMISE TO BRING THIS TO A CLOSE. IT SYMBOLIZES OUR REDEFINED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTRY OF IRAQ. THANKS TO THE RESILIENCEY OF OUR SOLDIERS AND PERSONNEL, ALL U.S. COMBAT TROOPS IN IRAQ WILL BE HOME BY THE END OF THE YEAR. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON BEING ABLE TO SHARE THEIR HOLIDAY SEASON TOGETHER AGAIN. WE ALSO HONOR THE MEMORY OF LOST HEROS AND RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEW GENERATION OF VETERANS RECEIVE THE SERVICES AND CARE WE PROMISED AND THEY EARNED. AT A TIME WHEN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, OUR COMMITMENTS TO HELP VETERANS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO ENSURE THEY SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION THEIR TALENTS HERE AT HOME, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COUNTRY. ON BEHALF OF THE MISSOURI CITIZENS I REPRESENT, I WISH OUR BRAVE TROOPS AND ALL THEIR LOVED ONES A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR HOME ON AMERICAN SOIL. WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE THE RECOGNIZED. I WANT TO FOLLOW MY FRIEND FROM MISSOURI AND ADD MY APPRECIATION TO THE TROOPS WHO HAVE COME HOME AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING IN WEARING A YELLOW RIBBON IN HONOR OF THEM. I HOPE THEY'LL GO HOME AND TO THE SAME AND ENCOURAGE THEIR BUT I AM STANDING HERE TO CONFRONT THE HYPOCRISY AND THE JOKE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND FOR ANYONE TO SUGGEST THAT THEN -- CONFEREES ARE MEETING WHEN THEY FULL WELL KNOW NO CONFEREES ARE MEETING BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN APPOINTED EXCEPT THE ONE-SIDED CONFEREES. FRANKLY, THEY WANT US TO BE AMERICANS FIRST, NOT TEA PARTYIERS, NOT LOVERS OF SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THE OTHER BODY PUT FORWARD A THOUGHTFUL INITIATIVE TO KEEP US GOING SO THE LIGHTS WON'T BE TURNED OFF IN SOME POOR MOTHER'S HOME AND SOME SENIOR CITIZEN COULDN'T GO TO THEIR DOCTOR. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE 2.3 MILLION, AND 133,000 IN TEXAS WOULD HAVE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT. I'M SADDENED BY THIS CRISIS. THE LADY WHO WENT OFF THE FLOOR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED THAT WAY. SHE SPOKE, SHE'S READY TO WORK, WHAT ABOUT THE EMPTY CHAIR ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S ALL ABOUT A JOKE. THIS IS AN INSULT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I YIELD BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM MARYLAND RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. I DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE TO TAKE TO THE FLOOR AGAIN BUT NOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE WALKED AWAY, IT BEARS NOTICE, 160 MILLION PEOPLE AROSS THE COUNTRY WILL SEE THEIR TAXES GO UP COME JANUARY 2.3 MILLION AMERICANS, INCLUDING 46,000 OF THEM IN MY HOME STATE OF MARYLAND WILL NOT GET AN UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK. 48 MILLION AMERICANS, OUR SENIORS, MOSTLY OUR SENIORS, ARE GOING TO SEE THEIR BENEFITS ESSENTIALLY RIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THEM IN MEDICARE BECAUSE THE DOCTORS WON'T BE ABLE TO TREAT THEM BECAUSE THEIR DOCTORS ARE GETTING A CUT. I'M NOT SURE WHICH CHRISTMAS HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE CELEBRATE BUG IN MY HOUSE, IT'S A CHRISTMAS THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT'S ONE OF CHARITY AND THAT'S ONE OF GOODNESS AND I AM SO SADDENED THIS HOUSE, WE HAVE RIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE, CHRISTMAS, FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES WHO WILL NOT GET TO GO INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH A TAX CUT AND WILL GO INTO THE NEW YEAR WITHOUT AN UNEMPLOYMENT CHE. THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE A GREAT DISSERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY AND WITH THAT, I YIELD. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS. THE -- FOR WHAT PURPOSE BUZZ THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION THEMBING RECOGNIZED. WE'VE HAD AN AWFUL LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THIS AFTERNOON THAT TWISTS ON THE IDEA THAT THE 100 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE ARE SO MUCH SMARTER AND SO MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT THAN THE 435 REPRESENTATIVES. OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE WOULD ASK US TO ACCEDE TO WHATEVER THE SENATE DOES. AS LUDICROUS AS IT IS A TWO-MONTH EXTENSION IS THAT. MR. YET SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER SAYS, WE NEED TO ACCEDE TO THE WISDOM OF THE SENATE. THE WISDOM OF THE SENATE IS REPRESENTED BY A TWO-MONTH NO, MA'AM, I WON'T. IT'S NOT PAID FOR BY ANYTHING THAT MABESES THE REMOTEMENT AFTER SEPS. APPOINT YOUR CONFEREES, HAVE THEM APOINT THEIR CONFEREES, MR. SPEAKER, AND WE CAN TAKE THIS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ALL THIS DOOM AN GLOOM BEING SPOUTED HERE GOES AWAY. WITH A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION IN UNPLIMENT AND ONE-YEAR EXTENSION IN PAYROLL TAX AND A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION FOR OUR DOCTORS. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE RECOGNIZED? MR. COHEN TOK TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT HAVING VOTED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BUT WHAT THEY GAVE WITH THE RIGHT HAND THEY TOOK WITH THE LEFT. THEY SAID, WE GIVE YOU THIS BUT CUT THE BENEFITS TO 59 WEEKS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND THEY PUT IN THE BILL IF YOU A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION BECAUSE THEY VOTED AGAINST THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THEY WANT YOU IF YOU HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION TO NOT GET HEALTH CARE AS YOU CAN TODAY. THAT IF YOU'RE 26 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER, THAT YOU CAN'T GET ON YOUR PARENT'S INSURANCE POLICY WHICH YOU CAN TODAY BECAUSE OF THE A.C.A. AND THAT THE DOUGHNUT HOLE WOULD BE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE AMPLE C.A. BUT THEY'RE GERNS THAT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CUT FUND TO PUT THE AMERICAN CARES ACT THE FACT IS THE SENATE AND HOUSE, THE SENATE REPUBLICANS AN DEMOCRATS DIDN'T VOTE FOR A 60-DAY EX-TENSION THEY VOTED FOR TIME TO GET TOGETHER AND DO A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. THEY HAD WISER HEADS. YOU SAW A GOOD REASON NOT TO HAVE TERM LIMITS. FIRST-YEAR MEMBERS ARE ACTING AS IF THEY KNOW EVERYTHING AND IN A PET LANT WAY THEY HAVE JEPAR -- PETULANT WAY THEY HAVE JEOPARDIZED MILLIONS OF FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL -- WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS, MUST BE WHAT THE TEA PARTY BACKERS ARE SAYING. THEIR REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE HOUSE HAS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR BEEN ABLE TO STAVE OFF ANY FAIRNESS BY PROTECTING THEIR MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES FROM A TAX BREAK AND HERE WE ARE AT THE END OF THE SESSION AND THEY LEAVE OUT HAVING NOT ALLOWED THIS BODY TO VOTE ON THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT THE SENATE REACHED WITH THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP'S CONSENT THAT PASSED 89-10 AND THEY WENT AND SO WE WON'T GET A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THAT PACKAGE. TO LET US DO SO. THAT'S THE STORY THAT WE END WITH. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE REQUEST PERMISSION TO MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY FROM ILLINOIS IS RECOGNIZED. AT JUST ABOUT THIS HOUR, THE SUN IS SETTING AND JEWISH FAMILIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MINE, ARE GOING TO THEIR HANUKKAH MENORAH, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, THE FESTIVAL OF A MIRACLE THAT THE LIGHTS LASTED FOR EIGHT DAYS. USUALLY THIS IS A JOYFUL TIME, A BEAUTIFUL, HOLY CELEBRATION. FOR MANY FAMILIES AROUND THIS COUNTRY, THIS IS A VERY SAD AND WORRISOME TIME. MADE WORSE BY THIS DAY. WITH MILLIONS OF AMERICANS UNEMPLOYED AND RELYING ON A AVERAGE $286 A WEEK CHECK WHILE THEY LOOK FOR WORK, REPUBLICANS VOTED TODAY TO NOT EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, TO NOT EXTEND THE TAX CUT FOR MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE WHO NEED IT SO BADLY THIS YEAR WHEN THE ECONOMICS WAS SO HARD AND IT JUST BREAK MISHEART THAT AT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WHEN PEOPLE ARE FEELING IN SUCH A FRAGILE ECONOMIC STATE THAT TODAY'S VOTE TOOK PLACE. IT DIDN'T NEED TO. WE COULD HAVE HELPED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TODAY. HAPPY HANUKKAH. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, MR. SPEAKER. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM ILLINOIS SAID BECAUSE IT REALLY IS TRUE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HURT FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES HERE. I KNOW THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK AS THIS TIME EXPIRES THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, ON THE MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT, ON THE PAYROLL TAX CUT, I'M GOING TO GET CALLS FROM SENIORS TELLING ME THE DOCTORS ARE NOT ACCEPTING THEM FOR MEDICARE ANYMORE, I'M GOING TO FIND OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR UNINSURANCE -- LOST THEIR INSURANCE AND THE PAYROLL TAX CUT, WE'RE JUST STARTING TO SEE THE ECONOMY IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT AND I KNOW THAT IF THERE'S A REAL RISK IF WE DON'T EXTEND THE PAYROLL TAX CUT THAT WE SEND THE ECONOMY BACK INTO A RECESSION AGAIN. IT IS AMAZING TO ME TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE SUGGEST THAT SOMEHOW THEY'RE GOING TO STAY HERE AN THE CONFEREES -- NONE OF THAT IS TRUE. THEY'RE NOT HERE. THEY'RE GOING HOME AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK UNTIL AFTER JANUARY. I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO THINK THAT THEY'RE RUNNING THE RISK OF THE ECONOMY BEING HURT BY THIS, THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AND THAT THOSE WHO RECEIVE MEDICARE MAY BE REFUSED A DOCTOR. WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING DEMOCRATS, WHY IS IT THE REPUBLICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS? THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA RISE? I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE TWO KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE DEBATE TODAY IS THAT THERE IS NOBODY IN THIS CHAMBER, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, NOBODY IN THE SENATE ON THE OTHER SIDE, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, NOBODY BELIEVES A TWO-YEAR FIX IS THE END RESULT OF THIS PROCESS. RESULT. THE TWO-MONTH FIX IS TO ALLOW THE BENEFITS TO CONTINUE SO THE 160 MILLION AMERICANS THAT ARE NOW BENEFITING FROM THE REDUCTION IN THE PAYROLL TAX CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE BENEFITS WHILE WE COME TOGETHER AND WHILE WE COMPROMISE, WHILE WE COME TO A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. THE OTHER TAKEAWAY IS THE MAJORITY PARTY DID NOT ALLOW A VOTE ON THE SENATE PLAN. FOR ALL THE TALK ABOUT HOW FLAWED THEY BELIEVE THE SENATE PLAN TO BE, THEY DIDN'T ALLOW A VOTE ON THE SENATE PLAN BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR POSITION, THAT BILL WOULD HAVE PASSED, WE WOULD BE DONE WITH IT TODAY SYSTEM OF WHEN YOU HEAR MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY TALKING ABOUT HOW FLAWED THE SENATE BILL IS AND HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT IT, THEIR OWN MEMBERS WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT AND WE WOULD HAVE PASSED THE BILL IF THEY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IT. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA IS SO RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS AUGUST BODY DISPLAYED THE WORST OF WHAT WE CAN DO, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO I HAVE TO SAY, LAST WEEK I SUPPORTED A BILL PUT FORWARD BY MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, SENT IT TO THE SENATE AND IT CAME BACK AND AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER VOTE ON IT. THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION BEING HELD UP THAT THE MORE THAN PUBLIC KNOWS HAPPEN. THIS DEBATE, WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ACROSS THE AISLE BUT WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE IS TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE PLAYING BY THE RULES, TO STOP TRADING ON CONGRESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, THE INSIDER TRADING BILL NOW HAS 240 BIPARTISAN CO-SPONSORS, IT'S NOW SUDDENLY BURIED AND GONE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEMAND US TO DO ONE THING, BE HONEST AND WORK FOR THEM, NOT -- THAT BILL CAN ENSURE THAT HAPPENS. WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE? TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXPAYERMARK MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WERE CALLED BACK TO WASHINGTON CONCLUDE BUSINESS ON A PAYROLL TAX EXTENSION. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE DIDN'T VOTE ON THE BILL. WHY? PERISH THE THOUGHT, THE BILL HAVE PROBABLY PASSED. WHO LOSES, 160 MILLION AMERICANS WHO WON'T REALIZE A PAYROLL TAX EXTENDER, SEENORS WHO WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICARE HEALTH PROVIDER 2.2 UNEMPLOYED MILLIONS WHO THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN LOST A JOB AND WON'T HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENDED. WHEN IT CAME TO PROVIDING TAX CUTS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES, THERE WERE NO BELLS AND WHISTLES NO PAY-FORS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A PAYROLL TAX CUT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS, ALL KINDS OF BELLS AND WHISTLES ARE ATTACHED, ALL KINDS OF DEMAND. THIS IS A FACADE SEEN THROUGH CLEARLY. WHEN THEY HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THEY CALLED IT A GIMMICK, IT WASN'T WORTH OUR ATTENTION. DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU. THIS IS JUST A WAY TO KEEP MOVING THE GOAL POST AND NOT DO THE REAL THING. WE REGRET NOT TAKING A VOTE IN THIS HOUSE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE? TO ADDRESS HE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE SOME FUNNY THINGS THAT GO ON HERE. WE WATCHED THE SUPER COMMITTEE OPERATE FOR ABOUT 10 WEEKS AND PRODUCE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SO TODAY, THE SPEAKER COMES OUT HERE AND SAYS, WE WANT A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. NOW, THE SUPER COMMITTEE WAS 1 MEMBERS, THREE FROM EACH CAUCUS, A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, THREE MEMBERS FROM EACH CAUCUS, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE ANOTHER ONE AND WE THINK THAT SOMEHOW IT WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENCE RESULT. AND CLEARLY, WEIR NOT GOING TO GET A DIFFERENT RESULT. THE SENATE SENT US A COMPROMISE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AGREE ON THE TIME OF DAY, HARRY REID AND MITCH MCCONNEL AND THEY GOT 90 VOTES FOR IT. THAT IS AMERICA. THAT'S 90% OF AMERICA WAS AGREED ON THAT AND THE SPEAKER WOULDN'T EVEN ALLOW IT TO COME TO A VOTE HE SAID, LET'S CREATE A COMMITTEE. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. DON'T FORGET IT IN 2012. WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA RISE? I RISE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED. SPEAKER. WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT POISON PILLS AND I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TALKING I WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS ONE-YEAR BILL THAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE IN LOVE WITH HAD SOME POISON PILLS IN IT. WEEKS OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT US TO AGREE TO. BUT ANOTHER ONE AND THE ONE I THINK IS MOST EGREGIOUS, SAID TO THOSE WHO APPLIED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THAT YOU MUST PASS A G.E.D. IN ORDER TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. WE WOULD SAY TO A VIETNAM VETERAN WHO IS A MASTER ELECTRICIAN, WHO WENT OFF TO FIGHT A WAR, NEVER FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, BUT NOW THAT YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED WITH ALL YOUR SKILLS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR A G.E.D., YOU MUST TAKE A G.E.D. IN ORDER TO GET YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. THAT IS NOT ONLY A POISON PILL, THAT IS INSULTING AND I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RISE? MR. SPEAKER, UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS SO RECOGNIZED. THE UNFORTUNATE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM "SESAME STREET" IS WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE KIDS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS, THEY REACHED A IN THE SENATE. THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAME ALONG TONIGHT. THE PRESIDENT CAME ALONG. THERE WAS ONLY ONE OUTLINE AND THAT WAS OUR HOUSE REPUBLICANS. OVER THE HOLIDAYS, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU REMIND AND ENCOURAGE MY HOUSE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO GO SEE THE WIZARD, GO GET A BRAIN SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE INTELLIGENCE NEEDED TO SPUR THIS ECONOMY, GO GET THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO THE PRIVATE INTERESTS, THE COKE BROTHERS AND THE LOBBYISTS SO THAT YOU CAN DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTRY. AND AFTER ALL, GO GET A HEART SO YOU CAN HELP THE .2 MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED -- 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS SO YOU CAN HELP THE 160 MILLION PEOPLE THAT WILL FACE A TAX HIKE ON JANUARY 1. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE 48 MILLION SENIORS WHO HAVE LESS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. MR. SPEAKER, I WILL CLOSE WITH ONE THING AND IT'S JUST A TIP OF ADVICE. BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. ARE THERE FURTHER ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS? I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, IT'S WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I RISE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PASSING OF A MAN WHOSE LEGACY TO SAN FRANCISCO I RISE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE OF JUAN HELMAND, A COMMUNITY LEADER, A SAN FRANCISCO LEGEND AND AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY. SADLY, JUAN PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 18, SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVING FAMILY. THAT'S THE WAY HE LIVED, SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVING JUAN WAS A TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, AND IT WAS HIS BUSINESS ACCUMAN THAT ALLOWED HIM TO PURSUE HIS TRUE PASSION, PHILANTHROPY. THAT'S HOW HIS DAUGHTER DESCRIBED HIM. THAT'S HOW WE ALL SAW HIM. WITH HIS DEEP GENEROSITY, INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, HIS VISIONARY DYNAMOISM, HE CHANGED THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO. HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON THROUGH HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION, TO MUSIC, TO CIVIC LIFE AND TO THE MEMORY WE ALL HAVE OF HIM OF BEING SUCH A MODEST ATHLETE, SOMETHING HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN. JUAN SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO IT. HIS STRENGTH BUTTEIFIED GOLDEN GATE PARK. HE WORKED TO END HOMELESSNESS. HE SUPPORTED THE SAN FRANCISCO FREE CLINIC. MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE AVAILING THEMSELVES OF SERVICE THERE -- SERVICES THERE BEING HOMELESS. HE HELPED WHEN HE SAW -- CONCERNED ABOUT DOING LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE IN THE INTERNET AGE, HE HELPED FORM BAY CITIZEN JOURNALISM SITE. HE WORKED ON THE BOARD OF MILLS COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. MENTIONED HE WAS AN ATHLETE. HE SUPPORTED -- HE SUPPORTED PROGRAMS AT U.C. BERKLEY WHERE HE HAD PLAYED WHEN HE WAS IN COLLEGE ON THE POLO TEAM AS -- AGAIN, AS A STUDENT. WHETHER IT WAS BICYCLING, SWIMMING, RUNNING, SKIING, YOU NAME IT, WARREN WAS THE BEST. HE WAS A LOVER OF MUSIC, A LOVER OF FAMILY AND LOVER OF THE THREE-DAY CONCERT HE FOUNDED WAS USED TO BE CALLED STRICTLY BLUEGRASS, BUT AS THE PROGRAM EXPANDED AND MORE ENTERTAINERS WANTED TO PARTICIPATE AND THE AUDIENCE WAS IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IT WAS CHANGED TO HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS. SO IT WASN'T STRICTLY BLUEGRASS. IT WAS HELD EACH YEAR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK AND ALLOWED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS EACH YEAR TO ENJOY THE MUSIC THAT HE LOVED, MOSTLY BLUEGRASS, AND IT WAS ALL FREE. WARREN WAS INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE FESTIVAL, INCLUDING PERSONALLY RECRUITING MUSICIANS HE ADMIRED AND AN INVITATION FROM WARREN WAS ONE WARMLY RESPONDED TO BY THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC. FITTING THAT THE SITE OF THE FESTIVAL WAS RENAMED HELMAND HOLLOW JUST LAST WEEK, JUST LAST WEEK. IMMENSELY. I MENTIONED HIS INTEREST IN EDUCATION AND THE ARTS. HE AND HIS WIFE, CHRIS, WERE REALLY SUCH MAGNIFICENT PAT RONS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET. IT'S HARD TO SURPASS THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MADE INTELLECTUALLY AND BY WAY OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN EVERY WAY AND IF I TROPICALLY. SAN FRANCISCO LOST A BELOVED CHAMPION. WE HONOR HIS MEMORY AND ENTHUSIASM BY CELEBRATING HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS. I SAID HE WAS GOOD AT EVERYTHING HE DID AND THAT INCLUDED BEING A FRIEND, A FRIEND TO SO MANY WHO WILL MISS HIM SO MUCH. I AM PROUD TO CALL WARREN A FRIEND AND I HOPE IT IS A COMFORT TO CHRIS, HIS WIFE, AND HIS FAMILY WHOM HE CHERISHED HIM. WAS SO PROUD OF HIM AND RIGHTFULLY SO, THAT SO MANY PEOPLE MOURN THEIR LOSS AND ARE TIME. TOMORROW, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC SERVICE TO HONOR HIS LIFE AND LEGACY. IT WILL REPRESENT AN OUTPOURING OF PEOPLE FROM EVERY ASPECT OF SAN FRANCISCO LIFE. EVERY ECONOMIC STRATA FROM HOMELESS PEOPLE TO THE MOST PRIVILEGED AND SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF THEIR MEASURE OF SUCCESS, BUT IT WILL ALSO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTOR. THIS WAS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON. I WANT EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWS THE WORK OF CONGRESS AND THE PRIDE THAT WE HAVE ALL TAKEN REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICTS AND HOW PROUD WE ALL WERE OF THE LIFE OF WARREN HELMAND. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME. REQUESTS? THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A COMMUNICATION. SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU FORMALLY PURSUANT TO RULE 8 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT I WAS SERVED WITH A SUBPOENA ISSUED BY THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, FOR WITNESS TESTIMONY. PRIOR TO MY REQUIRED APPEARANCE, HOWEVER, THE DEFENDANT IN THE CASE PLED NO CONTEST TO A LESSER CHARGE. THEREBY, ALLEVIATING ANY NEED FOR MY TESTIMONY. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL AND AS A RESULT OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASE, NO DETERMINATION SUBPOENA IS REQUIRED. SIGNED SINCERELY, MICHAEL NIELSON, CASEWORKER, SUPERVISOR, OFFICE MANAGER. THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS. LEAVE OF BE A REQUESTED FOR MR. -- ABSENCE REQUESTED FOR MR. DIAZ-BALART OF FLORIDA FOR TODAY. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUEST IS GRANTED. UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GOHMERT, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60 MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO RECONCILE THE SPEECHES WE HEAR HERE ON THE FLOOR WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING FROM OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE THE LAST 30 MINUTES ABOUT HOW THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE APPARENTLY DON'T WANT TAXPAYERS , WORKING AMERICANS, TO HAVE THE 2% OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX BACK THAT DON'T GET PAID INTO SOCIAL SECURITY. WHEN ACTUALLY THIS HOUSE IS TAKING THE RESPONSIBLE POSITION, NOT WANTING TO RAISE TAXES IN A DOWN ECONOMY SO WORKERS WILL HAVE THE MONEY THAT THEY CURRENTLY DO IN THEIR PAYCHECKS. IT MAKES SENSE. I'VE BEING SAYING EVER SINCE THIS FIRST CAME UP THAT THE IDEA OF A 2% TAX CUT IS NOT A HOLIDAY. AND THAT ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT CORRUPTED THE PAYROLL -- THE TRUE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY IDEA THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD THREE YEARS AGO. THAT WAS MY IDEA. IT WAS A STIMULUS IDEA THAT MOODY'S WHEN THEY RATED THE DIFFERENTLY PROPOSALS SAID THEY WOULD STIMULATE THE G.D.P. MORE THAN THE OTHER PROPOSALS. AND IT WOULD HAVE. THE PEOPLE THAT EARNED ALL OF THEIR -- THE MONEY WOULD HAVE ROW. SOME LAZY REPORTERS HAVE TRIED TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S JUST LIKE THIS. ABSOLUTELY NOT. UNFORTUNATELY IT REQUIRES READING AND NOT ALL REPORTERS ARE WILLING TO DO THAT. BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR MY PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY THAT I TOLD THE PRESIDENT ABOUT IN JANUARY OF 2009, HE LIKED THE IDEA AND THE ONLY THING HE DID WAS TAKE THE NAME OF IT -- SOUNDS FAMILIAR -- AND USE THAT FOR WHAT WAS NOT A HOLIDAY. HOLIDAY WHEN YOU'RE AVOIDING 2% OF THE TAXES YOU NORMALLY DO. A HOLIDAY IS WHEN YOU DON'T PAY THE FAXES. THE DIFFERENT -- THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES -- A HOLIDAY IS WHEN YOU DON'T PAY THE TAXES. THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES, THE PROPOSAL BY THE SENATE JUST PUSHES OFF WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND THAT'S DEALING WITH THE REST OF THE YEAR. WE WANT TO DEAL WITH THE REST WE WANT TO PROVIDE SERPT. THE BILL I PROPOSED DID NOT CREATE ANY UNCERTAINTY. IT DEALT WITH THE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE COULD NOT SHOVE BONUSES TO THOSE TWO MONTHS, THAT IT WAS A TAX HOLIDAY FOR ALL OF THE INCOME TAX, SOCIAL SECURITY, THOSE TAXES THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR CHECK. IT WOULD HAVE AVERAGED, WE WERE TOLD, BETWEEN $2,000 AND $3,000 A MONTH FOR TWO MONTHS INSTEAD OF $80 A MONTH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD, $4,000 TO $5,000 OVER A TWO-MONTH PERIOD. THAT WOULD HAVE STIMULATED THE PROPOSAL IS NOT -- THAT THE PRESIDENT'S HAD, IT HASN'T STIMULATED THE ECONOMY. WE JUST DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES ON PEOPLE IN A DOWN ECONOMY. BUT IT DOES HURT THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. THIS PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL PITS WORKING AMERICANS AGAINST OUR SENIORS. DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. BEFORE THIS PRESIDENT RAN UP AN EXTRA $4 TRILLION IN DEBT, BACK WHEN WE WERE AT $11 TRILLION INSTEAD OF $15 TRILLION JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, THE PROPOSAL WAS COMPLETELY PAID FOR AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE MISSED THE MONEY WAS THE WALL STREET BAILOUT FOLKS THAT WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THEIR MONEY BECAUSE IT TOOK MONEY FROM TARP AND LEFT IT IN THE POCKETS OF THOSE WHO EARNED IT. IT MADE SURE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SHORTFALL IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. IT MADE SURE THERE WOULD BE NO SHORTAGE IN THE MEDICARE FUND. IT ADDRESSED THAT, AND THE ONLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT -- AND I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT -- BUT THE ONLY ONES THAT WOULD HAVE MISSED THE MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN THOSE GETTING THE WELL, THE PRESIDENT LIKE THE NAME, LIKED THE IDEA OF LEAVING SOME MONEY IN THE CHECK, BUT INSTEAD OF $4,000, $5,000, THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE $160, TWO MONTHS. HARRY REID SAID HE WANTS TO GIVE AMERICANS $1,000 AND THAT'S WHAT THE NAT IS DOING. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN KEEP HARRY REID FROM BEING A LIAR, AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE HIM A LIAR, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE THE SENATE PASS WHAT WE'VE PASSED AND AT LEAST SENT CONFEREES TO THE CONFERENCE SO WE CAN WORK OUT A COMPROMISE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW ALL HE'S GOT IS $160, NOT I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE HOUSE WILL URGE THE SENATE, PLEASE HELP US KEEP HARRY REID HE SAID THEY PROVIDED $1,000 IN TAX CUTS TO WORKING AMERICANS AND THE ONLY WAY THAT'LL HAPPEN IS IF THEY'LL ADOPT THE HOUSE PROPOSAL OR SEND CONFEREES TO THE CONFERENCE THAT WILL LEAVE THAT MUCH FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, NOT JUST TWO MONTHS. NOW THERE WERE $700 BILLION ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED FOR TARP. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION GOT $350 BILLION OF THAT, PLUS WAS PROJECTED WE'D GET MAYBE $100 BILLION OR $SO BILLION OF THE ORIGINAL $350 BILLION. THERE'S STILL $120 BILLION PLUS IN ASSETS IN THAT SLUSH FUND. THEY NEED TO BE LIQUIDATED AND THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY. AND MEDICARE. THERE'S ANOTHER $50 BILLION OR SO IN THE TARP THAT IS STILL CASH MONEY THAT SHOULD BE USED, IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE USE THAT TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY BY LETTING PEOPLE KEEP THEIR OWN MONEY IN THEIR PAYCHECK. THIS TWO MONTHS PROPOSED BY THE SENATE IS NOT GOING TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, AS NONPARTISAN GROUPS HAVE SAID, IT IS GOING TO CREATE VAST INSTABILITY AND THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO THAT AND A PAID FOR, COMPLETE HOLIDAY FOR WORKING AMERICANS TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN THEIR PAYCHECK. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A STIMULUS. WE MADE INQUIRIES TO PEOPLE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE SAYING, WE WANT A CAR THAT'S MORE FUEL EFFICIENT BUT THE BIG GAS GUZZLER WE'VE GOT IS UNDER WATER, WE CAN'T GET OUT FROM UNDER IT. IF YOU LET US KEEP OUR TAXES FOR TWO FULL MONTH, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET RID OF THIS CLUNKER AND BE ABLE TO GET A MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CAR. OTHERS SAID, WE GOT BEHIND ON OUR MORTGAGE LAST SUMMER WHEN GAS WENT TO $4 A GALLON. BECAUSE SPEAKER PELOSI AND HARRY REID'S POLICY THE BILL THE LEGISLATION THEY HAD PASSED WERE STIFLING THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR MORE OF OUR OWN OIL AND GAS. SPIKED UP TO $4 A GALLON. THEY SAID WE GOT BEHIND THEN BUT IF YOU LET US KEEP TWO MONTHS' OF ALL OF OUR TAXES, WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, WE CAN GET OUT OF PROBLEMS WITH OUR MORTGAGE OURSELVES. BUT NO, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN THAT LIKE THE G.R.E., THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO KEEP COMING UP WITH PROGRAMS. SO THEY CREATED MORE PROGRAMS. ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT'*** THE NEWS IN THE LAST TWO DAYS BUT UNFORTUNATELY MANY HAVE NOT NOTICED, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS ABOUT -- THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO PROVIDE THE TALIBAN A PRESENT. NOW, TWO WEEKS AGO, WE FOUND OUT THAT A FOURTH CATEGORY OF THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST WAS BEING CREATED CALLED FORMER MILITARY DETAINEES. HAVING SEEN HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION WORKS, HAVING KNOWN WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT REPRESENTED TERRORISTS BEFORE HE BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL, HAVING AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO HAS NO CLUE HOW FAST AND FURIOUS CAME ABOUT, ACCORDING TO HIS TESTIMONY, HAVING AN ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WAS INVOLVED, WAS AROUND WHEN THE MARK RICH PARDON TOOK PLACE, WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO LOOK CAREFULLY WHEN THESE KIND OF INDICATIONS CAME WHAT WE FOUND WAS, THE ADMINISTRATION, NO, NO, NO, WE JUST NEEDED -- WE'RE NOT ABOUT TO RELEASE DETAINEES. NOT MUCH. WHAT'S COME OUT IN THE LAST TWO TAIS IS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORISTS, NEGOTIATING WITH THE TALIBAN DIRECTLY, AND ABOUT TO WORK OUT A DEAL, THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING, REUTERS HAD A STORY ON THIS, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION APPARENTLY IS SAYING, IN ESSENCE, WE NEED TO HAVE A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH TO THESE TERRORISTS, THE TALIBAN, THAT WERE COMPLICIT IN THE KILLING AND MURDERING OF OVER 3,000 WE NEED TO SHOW THEM GOOD FAITH BY RELEASING TALIBAN MURDERERS FROM THEIR DETENTION, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE A MUCH BETTER FEELING ABOUT US. THEN WE'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS DIRECTLY OF NEGOTIATING WITH THE KARZAI ADMINISTRATION, IN AFGHANISTAN, AND THE TALIBAN, TRYING TO WORK SOMETHING OUT WHERE THE TALIBAN WILL HAVE A PLACE. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FORGOTTEN THEY KILLED AMERICANS. THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WE THINK THEY'RE SOFTENING UP NOW, THEY WANT TO KILL AMERICANS AS BADLY AS THEY DID BACK AT 9/11. BUT THEY PROBABLY WON'T PLOT AND TRAIN AND KILL AMERICANS LIKE THEY DID BEFORE. IF THEY JUST SEE HOW WONDERFUL OUR ADMINISTRATION IS AND HOW KIND AND GENEROUS WE ARE JUST TO LET THEM HAVE MURDERERS BACK OUT OF DETENTION WHO HAVE INDICATED NOTHING -- WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING INDICATING THEY DON'T WANT TO KILL AMERICANS ANY FURTHER THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING THIS AND THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO DON'T BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS. THEY BELIEVED IN KILLING AMERICANS THEY BELIEVED IN KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE, THEY BELIEVED IN PLOTTING AND TRAINING AND CARRYING OUT SUCH A PLOT TO KILL AMERICANS AND THEY THINK OTHERWISE. BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SO INTENT ON GETTING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND TURNING THINGS OVER TO THE TALIBAN AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE 20 YEARS AGO AS THE TALIBAN WAS WORKING TOWARD THE ULTIMATE 9/11. AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY WILL THEN KNOW, EVERYTHING OSAMA BIN LADEN SAID ABOUT THE AMERICANS BEING TOO WEAK, NOT BEING UP TO THE FIGHT, THAT EVENTUALLY THEY'LL CAVE IN AND START HELPING US TO DESTROY THEM, THAT'S WHAT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE CAN'T DO THAT. THE LIVES OF AMERICANS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN AFGHANISTAN CRY OUT, DO NOT CONCEDE DEFEAT TO OUR ENEMIES THAT HAVE KILLED US. AFGHANISTAN IS AN ISSUE THAT WITH BUT NOT BY GIVING THOSE WHO TERRORIZED US ALL THAT THEY WANT. THEY'RE WANTING AN OFFICE OUTSIDE OF AFGHANISTAN AND THIS ADMINISTRATION SAID, WE THINK WE CAN WORK THAT OUT, WE'LL PAY FOR THE OFFICE AND TAKE CARE OF THAT IF YOU PROMISE US YOU WON'T USE IT TO FUNDRAISE FOR TERRORISM, OK? THAT'S NOT LIKE -- THAT'S LIKE NORTH KOREA SAYING IF YOU'LL JUST BUILD US A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, WE PROMISE WE WON'T USE IT FOR NUKES AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, AND MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, BELIEVED THEM. AND NOW THEY'VE GOT NUKES AND WE HELPED THEM WITH IT. NOW THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN'T LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES, IT'S ABOUT TO DO THAT WITH THE TALIBAN. IN MEETING WITH WAR LORDS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO FROM NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN, A SMALL GROUP OF US LEARNED THAT AFTER THE TALIBAN WAS INITIALLY DEFEATED IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WITH MERELY EMBEDDED TROOPS THAT THE UNITED STATES ASKED THE WAR LORDS, THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE TO DISARM. AND THEY DID. AND NOW HERE IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THEY'RE SAYING, YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE BUT YOUR ADMINISTRATION, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS INDIRECTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THE TALIBAN RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW. AND YOU'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THEM AND PAKISTAN AND A CORRUPT KARZAI ADMINISTRATION AND WHO IS GOING TO BE HURT OUT OF ALL OF THIS? YOUR ALLIES. THOSE WHO FOUGHT WITH YOU, WHO DEFEATED THE TALIBAN INITIALLY AND NOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO TURN THINGS OVER TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL KILL YOUR ALLIES. DO YOU WANT THAT MESSAGE GOING AROUND THE WORLD THAT TO BE AN ALLY WITH THE UNITED STATES MEANS YOU ULTIMATELY WILL BE ABANDONED AND THE ENEMIES OF YOUR ALLIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO KILL YOUR ALLIES? THAT. THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING YEAR, THIS IS NO TIME TO GIVE IN TO TERRORISTS. WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS, I HEAR YOU, AND IN ESSENCE SAID, AND SOON THOSE WHO DID THIS WILL HEAR FROM US, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HE EVER BELIEVED A PRESIDENT AND ADMINISTRATION WOULD SAY, WE HEAR YOU NOW, TERRORISTS, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOU, WE'LL FIX YOU UP AN OFFICE OUTSIDE AFGHANISTAN, WE'LL MAKE IT WITH WHERE YOU CAN TAKE OVER AREAS OF AFGHANISTAN, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU, WE'LL RELEASE YOUR MURDERERS FROM PRISON. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAID THEY WOULD HEAR FROM US BUT IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THAT'S ABOUT TO BE WHAT HAPPENS, ACCORDING TO THE STORIES NOW CIRCULATING. THOSE WAR LORDS WERE RIGHT. THEY SAID, LOOK, WE WERE NOT HAVE A BIG CENTRAL WE CAN'T HAVE IT WITHOUT BEING CORRUPT, NOT RIGHT NOW. AT LEAST LET US ELECT OUR REGIONAL GOVERNORS, OUR MAYORS, AT LEAST. DON'T HAVE THE KARZAI ADMINISTRATION APPOINT THE REGIONAL GOVERNORS, APONT THE MAYORS AND PICK CORRUPT POLICE CHIEFS, LET US ELECT THOSE. THE POWER OF AFGHANISTAN IS IN THE REGIONS, IN THE TRIBES. TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT'S CENTRALIZED RIGHT NOW MEANS CORRUPTION. LET US DO THAT REGIONALLY. AND GIVE US BACK WEAPONS SO WE CAN DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST THE TALIBAN WHO IS ALREADY MOVING. AND IN ANSWER TO THIS ADMINISTRATION'S WONDERFUL GESTURES OF KINDNESS AND WE'LL RELEASE YOUR MURDERERS, WE HAD THEM KILL SEAL TEAM 6, A BIG NUMBER OF OUR PEOPLE. ENOUGH. IN SEPTEMBER, THEY KILLED ONE OF THE WAR LORDS, JUST AS A HANDFUL OF US WERE ABOUT TO GO HAVE A MEETING WITH HIM AGAIN. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR, THE TALIBAN HAVE NOT LEARNED NOTHING. THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THEY UNDERSTAND, THAT'S FORCE. AND IT'S LIKE CAREER CRIMINALS THAT I DEALT WITH AS A JUDGE, IF YOU WANT TO BE PROTECTED, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THEM WHERE THEY CAN'T HURT YOU ANYMORE. THEY'RE MURDERERS WHO HAVE BEEN PUT WHERE THEY CAN'T HURT US ANYMORE AND THIS ADMINISTRATION IS NOW TALKING ABOUT RELEASING THEM. SO WE HAVE A TWO-FOLD FRONT OF WHERE THE WALL STREET EXECUTIVES THAT CONTRIBUTE 4-1 TO DEMOCRATS OVER REPUBLICANS, CONTRIBUTE 4-1 TO THE OBAMA THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN, THEY'VE BEEN ENRICHED AND ENGORGED WITH TARP MONEY, IT'S TIME TO END TARP, IT'S TIME TO ALLOW WORKERS TO HAVE A BREAK, IT'S TIME THAT THE SENATE QUIT PLAYING GAMES AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A FULL YEAR OF CERTAINTY IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN TWO MONTHS, APONT THE CONFEREES, SEND THEM TO CONFER, IT'S HOW THINGS GET WORKED OUT. IT'S THE WAY THAT PROCEDURALLY THINGS WERE MEANT TO HAPPEN. SO, IT CAN BE ABOVE BOARD, THE RULES REQUIRE THAT THEY MUST BE OPEN SESSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, THAT'S THE WAY YOU RESOLVE THINGS, UNDER REGULAR ORDER. NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT WAY. I KNOW THE SENATE WOULD LIKE TO DO CLOSED DOOR MEETINGS AND GIVE AWAY PROGRAMS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BUT IT'S TIME TO DO THIS THING THE WAY THE PRESIDENT PROMISED FOUR YEARS AGO THAT HE WOULD IF HE WERE PRESIDENT. MAKE IT OPEN. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SEE WHO IS NEGOTIATING FOR WHOM. THAT WILL HELP AMERICA. AND I KNOW IN CLOSING FOR MY COMMENTS THAT WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, THERE ARE SO MANY WHO WANT TO ENTHE ABILITY TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS, THEY WANT TO END THE ABILITY TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING THAT REALLY IS ACKNOWLEDGING OUR ROOTS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK WHERE WE CAME FROM. SO I WOULD CLOSE WITH THIS MESSAGE FROM RONALD REAGAN. HE BASICALLY REITERATES THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID BACK TO THE TIME OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. HE SAID THE THEMES OF CHRISTMAS AND COMING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS HAVE LONG BEEN INTERTWINED IN SONG AND STORY. THERE'S A PROFOUND IRONY AND LESSON IN THIS BECAUSE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATES THE COMING OF A SAVIOR WHO WAS BORN WITHOUT A HOME. THERE WAS NO ROOM AT THE END FOR THE HOLY FAMILY. WEARY OF TRAVEL A YOUNG MARY, CLOSE TO CHILDBIRTH, AND HER CARPENTER HUSBAND JOSEPH, FOUND STABLE. THERE WAS BORN THE KING OF KINGS, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, AND -- AN EVENT ON WHICH ALL HISTORY WOULD TURN. JESUS WOULD AGAIN BE WITHOUT A HOME AND MORE THAN ONCE. ON THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT AND DURING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY WHEN HE SAID THE FOXES HAVE HOLES AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS BUT THE SON OF MAN HAS NOWHERE TO LAY HIS HEAD, FROM HIS VERY INFANCY ON, OUR REDEEMER WAS REMINDING US THAT FROM THEN ON, WE WOULD NEVER LACK A HOME IN HIM. COME, TO WHOM THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY, WE COULD ALWAYS SAY, LET US NOW GO EVEN UNTO BETHLEHEM AND SEE THIS THING WHICH HAS COME TO PASS WHICH THE LORD MADE KNOWN TO US, AS WE COME HOME WITH GLADNESS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS THIS CHRISTMAS, LET US ALSO REMEMBER OUR NEIGHBORS WHO CANNOT GO HOME THEMSELVES. OUR COMPASSION AND CONCERN THIS CHRISTMAS AND ALL YEAR LONG WILL MEAN MUCH TO THE HOSPITALIZED, THE HOMELESS, THE CONVALESCENT, THE ORPHANED AND WILL SURELY LEAD US ON THE WAY TO THE JOY AND PEACE OF BETHLEHEM AND THE CHRIST CHILD WHO BIDS US COME, FOR IT IS ONLY IN FINDING AND LIVING THE ETERNAL MEANING OF THE NATIVITY THAT WE CAN BE TRULY HAPPY, TRULY AT PEACE, TRULY AT HOME. MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS YOU, RONALD REAGAN, DECEMBER 19, 1988. LAST CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AS PRESIDENT. MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO MENTION THE WORD CHRISTMAS AND THERE'S AN EASY SOLUTION. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO MENTION CHRISTMAS, DON'T WANT TO OBSERVE CHRISTMAS, THEN IF THEY TAKE THE HOLIDAY, JUST AGREE TO GIVE BACK THE MONEY BECAUSE THE MONEY EARNED ON A HOLIDAY SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN FOR THOSE WHO DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A HOLIDAY. THAT'S EASY ENOUGH. BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, AND THE THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT GOVERNMENT, THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE WHAT'S IN THE BIBLE, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT PEOPLE AS THE GOVERNMENT, AS PUT OUT IN ROMANS 13, COINCIDES WITH PROVIDING FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE. IT'S TIME TO DO THAT, TO MAKE SURE AMERICANS ARE SAFE, THAT THEY'RE PROVIDED WITH A DEFENSE THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THE POOR, THE NEEDY, THE ORPHAN, THE WIDOWS. THEY CAN HELP THEIR FELLOW MAN. THAT'S OUR JOB AS A GOVERNMENT, OUR JOB AS INDIVIDUALS IS TO HAVE THAT SAME SPIRIT OF ASSISTING AND HELPING AND BEING SERVANTS. WE'RE ELECTED TO BE SERVANTS IN THIS BODY, WE'RE NOT ELECTED AND CHARGED WITH TAKING FROM SOME PEOPLE AND GIVING TO OUR FAVORITE CHARITABLE CAUSE. WE'RE TO DO THAT WITH OUR OWN MONEY. NOT WITH PEOPLE'S MONEY THAT MAY HAVE SOME OTHER BETTER CHARITY THEY PREFER TO GIVE IT TO. WE NEED TO GET THE ECONOMY GOING, WE NEED TO BRING DOWN THE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT. AND SINCE WE KNOW THAT THE MARKET AND THE ENERGY INDUSTRY ADJUST TO ANNOUNCEMENTS, HOW ABOUT A GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR PRESIDENT, WE'RE NOT GOING LET MURDERERS GO FREE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, YOU'LL BE SAFE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE BATTLE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO *** US, WE ARE NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE FURTHER WITH TERRORISTS WHO WANT TO KILL US. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE QUIT BAILING OUT OUR FRIENDS, OUR CRONIES. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO KNOW BETTER WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR OWN MONEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE SOME SECURITY AND SOME CONFIDENCE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THE PRESIDENT WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DEMANDED THE CONGRESS PASS A BILL THAT HAD NOT EVEN COME OUT WHEN I STARTED CRITICIZING FOR NOT PASSING, THEN I STARTED CRITICIZING THEM FOR NOT PASSING A BILL I'D FORGETEN TO ASK A DEMOCRAT TO FILE FOR ME -- I'D FORGOTTEN TO ASK A DEMOCRAT TO FILE FOR ME, SO I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE. I WANT TO WORK WITH CONGRESS, I WANT TO GET THIS COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK. SO INSTEAD OF TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY DEMEANING CONGRESS FOR NOT PASSING BILLS THAT WERE NOT FILED, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH CONGRESS AND I HOPE THAT WILL BE OUR PRESIDENT'S NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION, DON'T RELEASE MURDERERS AND DEAL HONESTLY AND OPENLY WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WITH CONGRESS. WE CAN GET SOME THINGS WORKED OUT. I'VE JUST BEEN TALKING TO DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS TODAY ABOUT THINGS THAT WE AGREE ON. WE CAN DO THAT. PRESENT. AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. MEMBERS ARE REMINDED NOT TO ENGAGE IN PERSONALITIES TOWARD THE SENATE OR ITS MEMBERS AND UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE