Robert Aderholt

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, we oppose the amendment because we have already added $30 million above the request. Therefore, we believe this is sufficient funding for this portion of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a fallen hero, Senior Airman Mark Andrew Forester, from my hometown of Haleyville, Alabama. Mark was killed in action on September 29, 2010, while so valiantly trying to rescue a wounded comrade, SGT 1st Class Calvin Harris; Mark ran into direct enemy fire, without regard of his own life, in an attempt to pull his comrade back to safety. Both died on that day, and only earlier on that morning they had taken a beautiful photo together. Mark was a highly decorated Airman who gave that last full measure of devotion and received many honors, such as Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor. He was so very loved by all of the men in his unit, and his beautiful family. This coming Saturday, May 14, marks what would have been his 30th birthday. In recognition of that occasion I ask that a tribute to Mark be inserted in the Record, written by Bert Caswell, at the behest of Mark's fellow airman George Earhart who was in battle with him on that day. Airman Earhart was inspired by Mark, that Mark was the greatest person he has ever met, and was greatly impacted by his love of all the children in theater. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and his family, as they continue to mourn his loss. Devout All In . . . All in this our Country of Tis of Thee . . . There are such brave hearts, such magnificent souls such men as these! Such Strong Bold Men, who all in Strength In Honor do so believe! Freedom Fighters who so live and die . . . All with their most sacred battle cries! Who are all so Devout! All in and out, as all in their most magnificent hues! As they all so stand so very strong, all for that old Red, White, and Blue! And all, with families who but live so close! As on each new morning, their love but means the most! Who now must so live all in such pain, and in such heartache to remain . . . As their most swollen tears upon theirface fall like the rains . . . As were you Mark, so Devout! A man for all seasons, all throughout! As God, Country, and Family . . . were, but what you were so really all about! And, ah yes you were but our Father's Son . . . As why now, from up in Heaven his tears for your selflessness so run . . . All because of your most sacred gift, your most precious life as was all of this . . . As why Mark, you were so Devout! As a hero who so marched off to war . . . All for God and Country, as was your burden bore! And oh what a magnificent shadow, you'd so cast . . . So striking there, all in uniform as now etched upon our hearts to last! With that Bama hat upon your head, as your most brilliant smile to all so said . . . So said, that was a smile that could have launched a thousand ships . . . As why when we so see your picture, oh how the pain it gives! For you were a lover of life, all in your most sacred path so bright! And all of those children that you've so touched, and made laugh on those nights . . . All in the midst of dark evil war, as to them your warmth and love meant so much more! Bringing, such smiles to all of their faces . . . now carried within their hearts in all places! As, such a magnificent warrior who so lived and died . . . by these words of pride! Strength in Honor, as why on this morning we now so cry . . . As we found out all about your actions the day you died! Devout! Shining, so brightly . . . Airman Forester, within and out! So Brilliant . . . So Brilliant . . . as was your life no doubt! A beacon of hope, for all of mankind as was your true amount! Showing us all to what new heights a soul can climb! All in your glory, and such selflessness we now so find! Honor, Duty, Country, God, and Family . . . As it was you Mark, who so ran into that face of hell! But, to save your Brother In Arms Calvin . . . as we will all remember well! Because all in that moment of truth, as your most noble heart gave us all the proof . . . That, you were so Devout! As you had done so many times before! All for what was real! And what is true! As why on this day, our hearts so break for you . . . As why all our tears so flow, whenever we so think of you so! And how you were, so Devout . . . And thinking of all of your love ones, pain so now . . . And all of your Brothers In Arms, who now with you must now so live without! For in your lifetime Mark, you so soared! High above, as an Eagle . . . as an Airman, In The United States Air Force! As all across Alabama this night . . . As you lay your head down to rest, and all of those tears you must fight . . . And to their families, who now so live without . . . Take comfort, all in those souls that Mark has so blessed! As comes a gentle rain, as our Lord's tears wash down upon you to ease your pain . . . And upon you will remain, until up in Heaven you all meet once again . . . And you won't have to cry anymore . . . For Mark is but an Angel in flight, to watch over us all this night! All in the Army of our Lord, to turn the darkness into the light! Who, are Devout!

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation. As of today, Congress prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds on abortions through a patchwork of riders on our annual appropriations bills. These riders include the Hyde amendment in Labor-HHS and other prohibitions in the State and Foreign Operations bill, the Financial Services bill, the Commerce-Justice-Science bill, in addition to the Defense bill. Simply put, this legislation will eliminate the need for these annual riders to ensure that these policies become permanent statute. This bill also codifies the Hyde-Weldon conscience clause that would expand the policy to include all recipients of Federal funds. The conscience clause protects health care entities that choose not to provide abortions from discrimination by State, local, or Federal agencies that receive Federal funds. Therefore, no one who has deep religious or moral opposition to abortions should be forced to provide for them. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. This is precisely why this CR also includes sufficient funding to sustain the critical operations at front line agencies, such as CBP, the Coast Guard, ICE, the Secret Service, TSA, and the department's intelligence office. Madam Speaker, homeland security is far too important to be subjected to budget gimmicks and to inadequate justifications. The Homeland Security title of this CR responsibly funds programs that are vital to our Nation's security, programs that will help get our Federal budget on track.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding. Madam Speaker, as many have said here today, our government has a spending problem, and the American people are demanding we find a solution. The bill before us today is a step toward finding that solution. The bill that we are voting on this afternoon is truly historic. It contains discretionary spending cuts that are nearly five times larger than any other cuts in history. The Homeland Security title of this CR strikes the right balance between funding priority programs that are essential to our Nation's security and keeping our discretionary spending in check. In fact, this bill marks the first time the annual discretionary budget for the Department of Homeland Security has been reduced from the previous fiscal year. This CR provides a total of $41.75 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This funding level is $784 million below the FY 2010 and $1.89 billion below the President's FY 2011 request. In contrast to previous annual spending bills, this CR provides funding for the actual costs of disasters from within the existing budget. So, rather than our relying upon an emergency supplemental to fund the disaster relief fund the White House was maneuvering for, the CR responsibly addresses the shortfall in disaster relief costs that the President failed to address in the FY 2011 budget request. Supporting the cost of security demands truth in budgeting, and this Congress is delivering where the President and OMB have failed. Having said that, the Department of Homeland Security is not immune from fiscal discipline, and underperforming programs have been significantly cut in this CR. By implementing these cuts, we are not choosing between homeland security and fiscal responsibility. Both are serious national security issues that must be dealt with immediately.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. I rise today in strong support of the resolution. While I respect my colleagues who are against this resolution, let me say that I believe that Federal funds should be cut off from Planned Parenthood. As previously stated on the floor by my colleagues, the resolution does not reduce funding for women's health services. It simply ensures that funds are directed to other organizations. Not a dime of women's health or family planning funding is reduced by this resolution. We simply want to ensure that Federal funds are being used in a way that protects the will of our constituents, not to help subsidize Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the Nation, providing over 300,000 abortions in 2009. Over the years, Planned Parenthood has increased their abortion numbers every year, while adoption and prenatal care remains way too low. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today is another necessary step in addressing the national imperative of reducing our debt while also keeping the government operating. Essential funds like homeland security are sustained under this bill and sustained in a fiscally responsible way. Within the more than $6 billion of spending reductions contained in this bill is a rescission of $107 million to Customs and Border Protection, a rescission of unobligated balances requested by the administration for FY11, supported by a minority, passed by this body as part of H.R. 1, and also included in the Senate Appropriations Committee's recently reported bill. But this bill also sends a very clear signal to the White House and to the Senate. As the Speaker and Chairman Rogers have clearly stated, no one wants a government shutdown. The only people that are talking about a shutdown of the government are those who are avoiding the tough decisions and seeking to shift blame from their own failure to act. Instead of excuses, the American people want results: less spending and a leaner, more effective government. And that's exactly what this temporary stopgap bill delivers. I couldn't agree more with what the chairman just stated just a couple of minutes ago. Congress didn't get its work done, and the Senate has yet to provide a viable alternative to the House-passed H.R. 1, a bill that stands as the only year-long spending measure for FY11 passed by either Chamber of Congress. So complaints about a short-term stopgap bill like this CR ring hollow when the House-passed solution has been on the negotiating table for almost a month. The President's proposed spending level for FY11 is no longer a viable option, a fact acknowledged by not only the administration itself, but also by both parties in both Chambers of Congress. So the time to get to work and fulfill our duty to the American people is long overdue. Congress needs to deliver what the American people have so resoundingly demanded. I can only hope that the administration and the Senate will also acknowledge the reality of our Nation's fiscal crisis, demonstrate the resolve to reduce spending significantly below the current FY10 level, and come to the table with a viable budget for the remainder of this year. The American people demand no less.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding this time to me. Madam Speaker, as has been pointed out, 2 weeks ago this Chamber voted emphatically to cut spending and to right-size our government. This CR that's before us today is a necessary stopgap that will keep the government operating until we can finalize an agreement on those spending cuts that was contained in H.R. 1. The homeland security sections of the CR before us today strikes the right balance between funding priority programs that are essential to our Nation's security and, at the same time, keeping our discretionary spending in check. This CR cuts over $264 million in earmarks from the Department of Homeland Security's budget, while at the same time sustaining the current staffing levels of our frontline operating agencies like Border Patrol, CBP, ICE, and the Coast Guard, proof that we can cut spending and fund these functions of government that are truly vital. As I said 2 weeks ago on this floor, the Department of Homeland Security is not immune from fiscal discipline, and no program or agency is beyond the belt-tightening that our government so desperately needs. By implementing these cuts, we are not choosing between homeland security and fiscal responsibility. Both are serious national security issues that must be dealt with immediately. Through a series of prudent choices, this CR achieves both. Madam Speaker, this CR is a reasonable first step in addressing our government's fiscal crisis. There is absolutely no reason why the President or our colleagues in the Senate cannot support these overdue spending cuts. The American people are demanding no less.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest sorrow about a tragic attack on American law enforcement that happened earlier this week in Mexico. On Tuesday afternoon, two agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were attacked by unknown individuals while driving between Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico. Today, I honor the incredible sacrifice of Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata, who lost his life in service of our country. Special Agent Zapata joined ICE in 2006. He joined one of ICE's offices in Laredo, Texas, where he served on the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit, as well as the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. He was most recently detailed to ICE's Attache office in Mexico City. He began his federal law enforcement career with the Department of Homeland Security as a member of the U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Special Agent Zapata graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. A second agent who was injured in the attack remains in stable condition. My thoughts and prayers are with him. These two brave agents gave their all to shield others from harm. They worked tirelessly against dangerous criminal elements. They bravely took dangerous assignments, ultimately making a profound sacrifice. They were two of the hundreds of ICE personnel around the globe. Honorable agents like these two individuals collaborate with their counterparts in joint efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations. Agents like them give their all day in and day out on fighting money laundering, contraband smuggling, weapons proliferation, forced child labor, human rights violations, intellectual property violations, child exploitation, and human smuggling and trafficking. An incident like this serves to remind us, as a Nation, how grateful we are for the sacrifices made by these brave men and women every day. The work they do serves to make the public safe and protect the Nation's security. I know that law enforcement is working closely with the authorities in Mexico to ensure that the perpetrators of this horrible attack are brought to justice as quickly as possible. In the meantime, I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Special Agent Zapata. He died for a just cause and will forever be remembered as a man of courage and honor. And a message for the second injured agent: I think I speak for a Nation when I say that I hope, and pray, for your recovery. Words cannot express our thanks for your service.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chair, let me just reiterate again that the gentleman's proposed cuts just go too far. They would undoubtedly cut and harm border security, transportation security, maritime security, cargo security, cybersecurity, immigration enforcement, and disaster preparedness. The list of crucial programs that would be adversely impacted by this across-the-board amendment goes on and on. I would urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chairman, there is broad consensus that construction and eventual operation of this facility is crucial to our national security. This language that we have included in the CR will help ensure that we get this project done while existing firm oversight and risk costs are being considered. We have included rigorous oversight language in the CR requiring the Science and Technology to revise its risk analysis once it has completed 50 percent of the design planning of the facility, at which time it will have fully incorporated the Department's planned biosafety security measures. The CR also provides for the National Academy of Sciences to review the revised analysis. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins).

Mr. ADERHOLT. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. The CR that we are debating here, and have been for the last couple of days, strikes the right balance between sustaining programs that are crucial to our Nation's security and keeping our discretionary spending in check. This CR doesn't make a choice between fiscal discipline and security. It supports both, and it does so in a responsible manner. In fact, the CR significantly reduces the funding available to the Department of Homeland Security by more than $1 billion, and it fully pays for FEMA's $1.6 billion disaster relief shortfall. Madam Chair, this CR attempts to carefully cut the fat out of the Department of Homeland Security and does so in a way that does not harm vital security operations. The gentleman's amendment cuts everything across the Department, and that is both unnecessary and potentially harmful, especially at a time of heightened threats and terrorist activity. At this point, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Yoder).

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chair, let me just say again that there is broad consensus that the construction and eventual operation of this facility are crucial to our national security. This amendment reflects a well-crafted, stringent oversight requirement that was developed on a bipartisan basis with the ranking member of this subcommittee, so I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general appropriation shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' The amendment imposes additional duties. I ask for a ruling of the Chair.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.