Joe Baca

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 320, the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act. I want to thank my colleague from southern California, Mr. Calvert, for sponsoring this bill and championing this cause to recognize some of our nation's greatest aviators. March Air Field Museum, located in California's Inland Empire, at the site of the March Air Reserve Base, is a place for Americans to learn and celebrate our nation's great aviation and military histories. It is appropriate then, that this museum serve as a sight for the United States to officially recognize the heroic service of over 165,000 Americans who have received the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to a member of the Armed Forces who distinguishes himself or herself with heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. March Air Force Bace, March Air Reserve Base, and now March Air Field Museum have all been vital parts of the fabric of our community in California's Inland Empire. I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 320 and help ensure California's Inland Empire will forever serve as home to the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National School Lunch Week to express my appreciation to the thousands of people in the great state of California who work tirelessly to ensure that children are fed nutritious meals in school. During times of limited resources, these professionals are working to provide high quality meals to all students. I applaud Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack for the USDA's efforts to improve child nutrition programs. Yet I also wish to express my concerns regarding the recently proposed regulations for school meal standards. I fear the proposed regulations will increase costs to hard-pressed school districts beyond what can reasonably be managed. The result may be that schools will reduce access to nutritious meals because they simply can't afford to provide them. Of equal concern is the great number of unknowns about the impacts of the proposal--including how it will impact school meal costs, participation, and access. I urge the Secretary to take this into consideration and allow flexibility during this regulatory process. We must all closely monitor the progress made by schools, and the effectiveness of the new rules on the health and well-being of America's children moving forward.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to not make cuts to vital safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. 52.5 Million people received Social Security in 2009 alone--and 3 million seniors live below the $11,000 federal poverty level. Today, 40 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare. More than 48 million people rely on Medicaid services. Unfortunately, Republicans want to turn back the clock and place increasing costly burdens on the backs of America's seniors and their families. We must not ask seniors to sacrifice benefits before asking the wealthiest few and major companies to pay their fair share. Seniors have health care security and a greater financial security because of these services--we must ensure their protection and avoid cuts that will negatively impact job creation. We must lower our long-term deficit and work together to find a better solution so that America's beneficiaries are not at risk.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, as policymakers, it is our job to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them. Nearly 700,000 American jobs have been lost as a direct result of NAFTA. In my district, the 43rd Congressional District, we have lost over 2,000 jobs since the passage of NAFTA and other trade agreements; and the United States has gone from a $1.6 billion trade surplus to a $97 billion trade deficit with Mexico. Yet we stand this week ready to pass three more NAFTA-style trade agreements: Korea, Colombia, and Panama. My constituents face a 15 percent unemployment rate. They need us to create jobs, not shift them overseas where thousands of jobs will be sent. I ask you, who benefits from these trade deals? Not the American working families. Major corporations are the ones who benefit with this misguided agreement. This is a debate about the haves and the have-nots. It is time to stand up for working families. I say it's time to stand up for working families and do the right thing for the American people.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to a fallen soldier and unsung hero, Carlos Aparicio. Carlos was killed while serving on September 23, 2011, at the age of 19. A viewing will be held on Friday, October 7th, at Ingold Funeral Chapel in Fontana. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, October 8th at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Rialto. Burial will follow at Riverside National Cemetery. Carlos was born on January 9, 1992, in Fontana, California to Concepcion and Hugo Aparicio. He was the youngest of three children. He had an older sister, Maricela, age 26, and an older brother, Miguel, age 29. He grew up in Fontana and moved to Redlands in 2008. He attended Fontana High School before graduating from Redlands East Valley High School in 2010. In high school, he was a standout member of the football and wrestling teams. He also excelled in the classroom-- Carlos had a love for literature, and could often be found reading. He earned straight As on his last report card. Carlos enlisted in the Army in June 2010 after graduating from high school. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he went to Fort Pork in January 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan in February 2011. He was an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Pork, Louisiana. Carlos died in Wardak province from wounds sustained when insurgents used an improvised explosive device to attack his unit, according to the Defense Department. He earned the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. His mother recalls that Carlos wanted to devote his life to serving in the military. ``He told us he loved America and he wanted to make a difference. He felt his purpose in life was to make the country safer,'' his mother says. The last thing Carlos told his mother was that his goal was to earn a Gold Star and become an Officer. His mother remembers him as an outstanding young man who achieved everything he set his mind to do. ``He was outgoing and touched a lot of lives. He was a very happy person,'' she says. His sister remembers Carlos for his big heart, intelligence and down to earth nature. ``He was our hero,'' she says. Carlos leaves with cherished memories his parents, two siblings, and his two grandmothers, Juana Torres and Audelia Aparicio. My thoughts and prayers, along with those of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer are with Carlos' family at this time. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring a true hero, Carlos Aparicio.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, in my congressional district, the unemployment rate is 17 percent; and in San Bernardino County, it's well above 14 percent. My constituents need a bold plan of action, not more gridlock in Washington, D.C. They want us to come together and take action. The American Jobs Act provides a clear path forward to put our country back to work. This bill contains bipartisan ideas that will put teachers, firefighters, first responders, and cops back to work right now, provide tax cuts that put money in the pockets of working Americans right now, give businesses job-creating tax breaks right now, and provide a boost to our economy right now. And this bill is fully paid for, not adding a dime to our deficit. The Republican Party has supported these ideas in the past. It's time to put politics aside. Let's come to the table and work together. The American people cannot afford to wait any longer. Let's act now. Pass this bipartisan jobs bill.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to recognize October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Sadly, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. I extend my prayers to the women and families affected by this disease, and my appreciation to the advocates at Susan G. Komen working tirelessly on their behalf. The 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States today are a testament both to courage, and the necessity to promote awareness for breast cancer, following recommended screening guidelines, offering treatment to those affected, and continuing to fund ground-breaking research. Early detection affords women the best chance of fighting this disease and we must understand the importance of regular mammograms and following recommended screening guidelines. This October, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has launched the Promise Action campaign to increase breast cancer screening rates. Today Komen is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world, but the organization started with a sister's promise to end the disease her dying sister was fighting. Breast cancer touches far too many families in my community and across the nation. We are all indebted to the Komen affiliates fighting every minute of every day for a world without breast cancer. As a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, I know it is essential to do all we can in Congress to ensure breast cancer research is adequately funded. This is why I have introduced legislation that would reauthorize the sale of a special-rate U.S. postage stamp, with proceeds from the stamp funding breast cancer research. In 2007, Senator Diane Feinstein and I introduced legislation that was signed into public law by the President which reauthorized the stamp through this year. The Breast Cancer stamp has been highly successful in both raising tens of millions of dollars for important research, and raising public awareness of the ongoing need to fight a disease that affects millions of American women and their families. On behalf of my wife, Barbara, and my children, we bestow our thoughts and prayers to those women and their families suffering from breast cancer. As we recognize October as NBCAM, we stand by all those affected by this disease. I will continue to work to raise greater awareness and promote new funding for research into breast cancer. I am hopeful that my colleagues, organizations like Komen, and families across the nation can come together to fight this disease. God bless the mothers, sisters, and daughters battling this disease, and their families for their love and support.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, the ``party of no'' is at it again. Republicans have been in the majority for 273 days, and they still have no plans to create new jobs. Now the Republicans are saying ``no'' to the American Job Act, with the majority leader calling this bill ``dead.'' But what are the Republicans really saying no to? They're saying no to helping small businesses grow and hire. They're saying no to keeping teachers in the classroom. They're saying no to keeping firefighters, first responders and cops on the job. They're saying no to building our crumbling roads, bridges and schools. They're saying no to cutting taxes for hardworking American families. The American Job Act is a bipartisan approach with ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. We must stop this political game. The American people are suffering, and they need our help now. Let's all say yes to putting Americans back to work and pass this bipartisan agenda.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 470, a bill for the allocation of power from the Hoover dam. I thank my colleague from Nevada, Representative Heck, for sponsoring this important resolution. I support this bill because it will ensure that many small communities in Southern California, including the community of Colton in my district, have access to cost effective power that is provided by a renewable resource. Close to 4,000 homes in Colton are powered by the Hoover dam. The Hoover dam is one of our nation's greatest feats of engineering. It is a symbol of American ingenuity, and representative of the success that the Roosevelt administration had in putting our nation back to work during the Great Depression. In a time when our country struggles with its dependence on foreign oil, the Hoover dam and the power that it provides shines as a beacon of what we are capable of in harnessing renewable energy. I commend the men who generations ago built this engineering marvel, and thank those today who maintain it for our benefit. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 470--and ask that they ensure the lights will stay on for millions of families in California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, the American people are hurting. They need our help now. It's time for Congress to step up to the plate and live up to our responsibilities. Let's do what is right for the American people. The American Jobs Act contains bipartisan policies that both Republicans and Democrats have supported in the past. Economists across the Nation agree it will create jobs and give our economy an immediate boost. If we do pass the American Jobs Act, in my home State of California, over 700,000 businesses will receive a payroll tax cut, $3.9 billion in the infrastructure investment will create over 50,000 new jobs, and over 37,000 teachers and first responders will be saved from layoffs. This debate is not about political winners and losers. It's about the struggle of everyday Americans. The next election is 14 months away. Let's come together and pass this bipartisan agenda.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic Americans to the culture of the United States. Today, Hispanics make up 16.3% of the total United States' population--that's nearly 50.5 million people. Their buying power was $1 trillion in 2010, and is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2015. Hispanic-owned business grew between 2002 and 2007 by 44%--and these businesses generated $345.2 billion in sales in 2007 alone. Hispanics are involved with every aspect of our culture--from science, to sports, business, government, and the arts. They will continue to contribute to our nation economically, culturally, and politically. This is why it's vital to make the correct choices when it comes to immigration. Here in Washington, we need a bipartisan effort to make comprehensive immigration reform a reality. As Members of Congress, we must work for a stronger United States--a nation that recognizes diversity and embraces it.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I was absent from today's vote. If I had been here, I would have voted ``no'' on H.R. 2608, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, last week President Obama laid out a plan of action to create new jobs and strengthen our economy. Now the American Jobs Act has been sent to Congress, and it is up to us to catch the ball and run it into the end zone. The American people are suffering. They are in pain. They are hurting. They need and deserve our help now, not tomorrow. They don't need more excuses. The American Jobs Act contains tax incentives, Federal incentives that will give our economy an immediate boost. Ninety-eight percent of businesses will have payroll tax cut in half. The new tax credit will encourage businesses to hire returning veterans, and 280,000 teachers will be saved from being laid off. New investments will help build our roads, our bridges, our airports and rail systems, and not the bridges to nowhere. Let's invest in the American people and work together to build our economy. This is not about allowing President Obama a win. This is about the American people, people who need jobs now, and building our economy. Let's work together. Let's help the American people who are suffering.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to raise awareness for prostate cancer and recognize the California Prostate Cancer Coalition (CPCC) for its outstanding efforts to fight prostate cancer. The CPCC is a coalition of health professionals, prostate cancer survivors and families, and support groups concerned about this disease across the state of California. I ask my colleagues to join me today to extend our appreciation for CPCC's work on behalf of the men and families affected by prostate cancer. Until we find a cure for this disease, we need organizations like the CPCC. The men and women working in this organization educate the public, advocate for legislation and funding, and involve communities in the fight against prostate cancer. In my home state of California, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in almost every ethnic and racial group. More men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in California than any other state. California also suffers from the highest number of deaths from this disease. I want to thank the CPCC today on behalf of the estimated 25,030 men who will be diagnosed with the disease across the state this year. Sadly, 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is one of the most diagnosed and deadliest types of cancer for men today. Every fifteen minutes an American dies from this disease and over 2.3 million men alive have a history of prostate cancer. The early stages of prostate cancer usually show no symptoms and there are no self-tests. Early detection is the key to surviving the disease. The exact causes of prostate cancer are still unknown, but awareness allows men to make more informed decisions about their personal health. Organizations like the CPCC help educate men about prostate cancer and guide them through their fight with the disease. On behalf of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer, we would like to bestow our thoughts and prayers to those men and their families suffering from prostate cancer. As we recognize the important work of California Prostate Cancer Coalition, we stand by all those affected by this disease. I would like to thank the health care professionals, researchers, and advocates who are working tirelessly to cure prostate cancer. I would especially like to recognize Dr. Manouchehr Lalehzarian for his commitment to this cause. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the California Prostate Cancer Coalition. God bless the fathers, sons, and brothers battling this disease, and their families for their patience and love.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on rollcall 690 due to the fact that I had reconstructive ankle surgery this morning. I needed to be put under general anesthesia for the procedure. Had I been able to attend today's floor proceedings, I would have voted ``yes'' on S. 365, the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, had I been able to attend today's floor proceedings, I would have voted ``no'' on S. 627--Speaker Boehner's Short Term Default Act.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, Republicans claim that they want to lower the government spending, but they sure have a funny way of showing it. First, they refused to compromise with the President on a proposal that would lower the deficit by $4 trillion. Now they refuse to compromise on a long-term plan that would result in meaningful deficit reduction. Even after the stock market plunged yesterday, Republicans still refuse to compromise. Why? Because they're more interested in scoring political points and protecting the tax breaks for the ultrarich corporations that ship jobs overseas. We must not balance the budget on the backs of our seniors and the poor by cutting Social Security and Medicare. We need a balanced approach. We need to work together. No taxes, no jobs. Let's stop this dangerous game of chicken before we have an economic disaster. We must compromise, and it shouldn't be ``my way or the highway.''

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, the Republicans in Congress campaigned on, Where are the jobs? Not spending cuts or living within our means, but where are the jobs. The Blue Dogs were the ones calling for responsible fiscal responsibility. Then at the end of Congress last year, President Obama compromised with the Republicans, extended the Bush tax cuts in order to try to create jobs. This gamble did not create jobs. All it's done is extended the tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. We cannot play chicken and cause our Nation to default. We must lower the deficit with cuts to wasteful spending. But we can't balance the budget on the backs of seniors, the poor, by cutting Social Security and Medicare while continuing to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich and oil companies and those who make over $250,000 a year. No taxes, no jobs. We must compromise. It can't be ``my way or the highway.''

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to the spiritual leadership and service of Reverend Arturo Gomez. I want to extend my congratulations to Father Gomez on his retirement on July 24, 2011, after over thirty years of priesthood. Father Gomez has served our community with humility and compassion. He will leave a legacy of service and spiritual leadership that most people can only hope to strive for. Father Gomez has touched the lives of many people. I want to thank him not only on behalf of our community, but as a parishioner, for his service to the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, in union with the diocese of San Bernardino. Father Gomez's parents and faith in God have helped shape him into the man he has become today. Family has always been a central part of Father Gomez's life. He has said that after Jesus and Mary, his greatest role models of goodness are his parents. They are his heroes. His father, Auerliano, immigrated to the United States from Jalpa, Zacatecas, Mexico, and met his mother, Petra, in Santa Paula, California. Father Gomez is the third oldest of the twelve children the couple raised. Father Gomez has lived a life of service to others. After graduating at the top of his high school class, he joined the United States army because he was grateful to God and his country for the aid his family received. Father Arturo trained and served as a medic in Europe. Once he returned home he continued to practice nursing to support his widowed mother and eight younger siblings. Father Arturo waited to enter religious life until the last of his siblings completed high school. His diligence and steady faith allowed him to earn a Bachelor's degree followed by two Master's degrees. He was ordained into Priesthood on August 23, 1980. Father Gomez entered religious life at the age of thirty and will retire after over thirty years of humble service. Heeding the commandment, love thy neighbor, he has tirelessly advocated on behalf of members of his parish facing deportation. Father Gomez is a beloved guide and Shepherd to our community. From performing the last rights, to ministering to his flock, he is there to offer a helping hand and his prayers along the way. He has served our community with unwavering faith in the good of humankind. On behalf of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer, we would like to congratulate Father Gomez for his leadership, service, and guidance. We will miss him and his special blessing that he bestowed to me and my family. May the Lord continue to grant him wisdom and watch over him.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, we passed one of the worst bills I have ever seen in my time in Congress. The cut, cap, and default plan jammed through by the Republicans is not a real solution to our fiscal crisis. Instead, it threatens Medicare benefits, and it increases out-of-pocket expenses for seniors. It's just another example of special interests holding our country hostage to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest few. It has been 28 weeks since the Republicans took control of the House, and we have not seen a jobs bill. Instead, we see a bill that makes seniors suffer while cutting taxes for the ultrarich and corporations that shift jobs overseas. The Bush tax cuts for the wealthy have failed to create jobs. We need a balanced solution to go forward. No new taxes, no new jobs. Let's work on a plan that solves our Nation's deficit without making our seniors and our middle class pick up the tab.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in strong opposition to the bill before us today. In 2008, this country experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Millions of Americans lost their jobs, homes, life savings, and pensions because of the recklessness of some on Wall Street. For too long, financial institutions were allowed to solely look out for their bottom line, instead of the hardworking American consumers they served. Our economic system was dominated by greed, irresponsibility, and lacking oversight. And now, exactly one year after we enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act, a comprehensive package of financial reforms, my Republican colleagues have brought to the floor a bill that severely restricts one of the main components of the bill--the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. For the first time in our history, we constructed a government agency that will look out for the American consumer first and foremost. Yet instead of applauding this movement and supporting the efforts of consumer protection, my colleagues are working to cripple its authority and limit its effectiveness. H.R. 1315 does nothing to protect American consumers. Instead it delays the transfer of authority to the CFPB and adds several levels of bureaucracy to the bureau's leadership which will only work to delay any decision, rulemaking or enforcement action the bureau engages in. Finally this bill makes it easier for the other banking regulators, who failed to protect consumers for years, to overturn the Bureau's rules. Equally appalling is the source of funds being used to pay for this bill. Republicans have taken the savings gained from H.R. 830, a bill that eliminates the FHA Refinance Program to pay for the cost of the bill before us today. This means that Republicans are taking money away from a government program aimed at helping homeowners struggling to keep their home, and using it to weaken the CFPB--ultimately making it easier for big banks to skirt consumer protection regulation. Our economy is still struggling to recover from the economic collapse of 2008. Millions of Americans are still struggling to find jobs and figure out how they are going to keep their homes. It has been 28 weeks since the Republicans took control of this chamber, and time and time again, we are forced to consider bills that do nothing to solve the problems that Americans are facing today. Instead we debate bills like this that eliminate protections for the American middle class and serve as handouts to the ultra rich and corporations that ship jobs overseas. We should be focusing our attention on getting our economy back on track. We should be focusing on bills that create jobs and help the middle class recover. We need to bring back financial security for Americans, and one of the ways to do that is to allow for a strong and independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Democrats are standing with American families to help get our economy back on track, and calling for strong consumer protection and effective accountability to prevent another financial crisis for Wall Street. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to a valued member of the Colton Community, the Honorable Mayor David R. Zamora. Mayor Zamora passed away at the age of fifty-six on July 14, 2011. Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying, ``Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.'' According to these standards, David Zamora lived one of the fullest lives imaginable for others. David was born in San Bernardino on January 9, 1955. He attended the California State University at San Bernardino, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology as well as Social Science. He later graduated with a Master of Public Administration. He worked in Colton and the Inland Empire for over forty years, primarily in education and public service. David led a life of service to the cities and people of the Inland Empire. He spent twenty-eight years working at the City of Colton, retiring as the Director of Community Development in 2009. As a lifelong Inland Empire resident, David was always extremely dedicated to the well-being of his community. The positive impact he left on the City of Colton will be felt for years to come. David served three consecutive terms as an elected member of the Board of Education for the Colton Joint Unified School District. He was elected Mayor of the City of Colton in November of 2010, and immediately bolstered Colton's budget reserve funds. However, the friends and colleagues that served with David say his biggest impact was personal. He possessed the rare ability to bring people together. It was always about the team--the team that he built-- and the best interest of the community. Many people credit Mayor David Zamora for bringing a civility to Colton's fractious politics. On a personal note, I always felt a special kinship with David because my own mother's maiden name was Zamora. He was a positive and genuinely happy person, and I know he will be deeply missed in the Inland Empire. David leaves with cherished memories his wife, Sarah, his three daughters, Mia, Summer, and Alexa, and his three grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers, along with those of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer are with Davids's family at this time. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the memory of a beloved community member, the Honorable David Zamora.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, last year my Republican colleagues ran their campaign on the slogan: ``Where are the jobs?'' It's been 28 weeks since the Republicans took control of the House, and the question still remains: Where are the jobs? We all know that the Bush tax for the wealthy failed to create new jobs. They fooled the public once. It ain't going to happen again. Now, instead of working to create jobs, Republicans are holding our country hostage, taking the debt limit talks to the brink. Under the Republican budget proposal, seniors will lose guaranteed medical benefits, have their out-of-pocket medical expenses double. The Republican plan will reopen the Medicare doughnut hole area, costing 4 million seniors an additional $2.2 billion. It's wrong to make our seniors suffer to give a tax break to the ultrarich and corporations that ship jobs overseas. No new taxes, no new jobs. No taxes, no jobs. No taxes, no jobs. Let's put together a plan that lowers our deficit without doing it on the backs of our seniors and the middle class.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, it's been 27 weeks since the Republicans took control of the House, and they have yet to bring one single jobs bill to this floor. In San Bernardino County, my constituents face a 13 percent unemployment rate. But instead of taking swift action to create new jobs, Republicans are threatening the loss of countless more jobs by taking the debt ceiling negotiation to another brink. And why are they doing this? To protect billionaires, millionaires, and corporations that ship jobs overseas. We all know that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy have failed--have failed--to create any new jobs here at home. And they are threatening Social Security and Medicare to protect these unneeded tax breaks, which is wrong. No taxes, no jobs. No taxes, no jobs. Let's come together on a plan that creates jobs, protects our seniors and the middle class, and do it responsibly to deal with the deficit.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, as negotiations continue on the upcoming debt ceiling, the retirement savings, mortgages, and pensions of the American people hang in the balance. It is long past time for both sides--I say, for both sides--to get serious about a balanced budget. Any long-term budget must--I state, must--protect Medicare and Social Security for all Americans, create jobs here at home, and begin to reduce the deficit with intelligent class protection. It's time for the wealthiest among us to step up to the plate and take up their share. We must end tax breaks for ultrarich, Big Oil companies, and the corporations that ship jobs overseas. No jobs have been created--I state, no jobs have been created--in the United States since the Bush tax cuts first went into effect. No taxes, no jobs. No taxes, no jobs. Let us put politics aside and do what is best for the interests of the American people before it is too late.