John Barrow

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this is the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, and I rise to urge my colleagues to strengthen that law by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. I'm a proud cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act because, even today, working women in my district in Georgia and across the country earn, on average, 77 cents for every dollar that men earn for the same work. That's because the penalties under the current law aren't strong enough to deter employers from breaking the law. And the current law doesn't protect employees from retaliation for sharing salary information with coworkers. The Paycheck Fairness Act will plug these loopholes in the law. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to stand here today with so many of my colleagues to call for the passage of these long-overdue improvements in this landmark law. Every day we ignore the shortcomings of the law is another day we deny women their rights under the law, and that should end right now.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I'm a proud cosponsor of this bill with my colleague from Nebraska (Mr. Terry). These are the main reasons why: First, this pipeline will move an estimated 840,000 barrels of oil per day. That's about how much we import every day from Venezuela. Any policy that allows us to bid good riddance to countries like Venezuela is a good policy in my book. Critics say that it will increase our dependence on oil as our primary source of transportation energy, but we're already totally dependent on oil for our transportation energy. This pipeline will only make us less dependent on hostile rivals and more reliant upon friendly allies for the transportation energy that we need. Critics say it will increase CO2 emissions, but this oil is going to be produced and refined and consumed by somebody. The only question is whether we get first dibs on it or whether or not we move to the back of the line behind countries like India and China for our own North American oil. For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today and once and for all make the Keystone XL pipeline a reality.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for the time, but more importantly I thank him for the leadership he is showing in this common endeavor. I want to echo what my good friend, Congressman Dent, just said, but I want to make an additional point. The folks in Georgia sent me to Washington to help get things done, not get caught up in scoring political points. They are fed up with the hyperpartisanship in Congress, and that's why I've joined this group. The scandals at the IRS and the Justice Department contribute to one of the biggest problems in our country right now. Americans don't trust their government to do the right thing. The goal of this group is to strengthen the faith that folks have in government. The Problem Solvers coalition offers a chance to break the gridlock by getting Democrats and Republicans focused on actually getting things done in Congress. Unlike some folks, we don't think ``compromise'' is a dirty word. Washington's refusal to respect and work with one another means we are failing this generation and the next generation. No Labels offers a common ground for lawmakers to make government work better and negotiate solutions without the blinders of partisan talking points. We have real problems that are crying out for compromise right now, and we all just can't sit here arguing just to get us through the next election. If we continue with that approach, we won't be doing this country and the folks we represent any good down the road. Mr. Speaker, my Bible says: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor more than silver or gold. I believe that both parties have a great deal to contribute to this country's past, have a great deal to be proud of in their path, and they have a lot to contribute to our country's future. But the label, the name, the good name that folks are looking for is ``problem solver.'' That is the name that brings us together. That is the name that describes our function. That is why I'm proud to support this group and its work.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the folks in my district in Georgia who are witnessing a series of serious missteps in the Federal Government, giving rise to an unprecedented level of distrust in government. This week, we learned that the Internal Revenue Service used inappropriate criteria to delay or stall conservative organizations applying for tax-exempt status. This is a totally unacceptable abuse of the power the IRS has in our government, and calls into question any future decisions made by that agency. Trust in the Federal Government is already at an all-time low. To help regain any of that trust, it is essential that all personnel involved in this misuse of power be held accountable. We've got serious work to do in Congress, but this sort of trouble only takes time and attention away from the work we need to do. I urge my colleagues to investigate this matter swiftly and get on with the work we've been sent here to do.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the budget proposals on both sides of the aisle that are before the House this week. Folks in Washington are good at giving the American people false choices. Today, we're forced to choose between budgets that cut Medicare benefits and budgets that unnecessarily raise taxes. Folks in my district in Georgia have had enough of these false choices. We need to cut spending on things we don't need and can't afford, balance the budget, and lower taxes on all families; but there are no proposals to do that. Each time we come to the House floor to deal with a budget, both sides are focused on messaging, not solutions. The people in my district deserve better. It's time for Congress to develop a responsible budget that cuts the deficit, protects Medicare and Social Security, and lowers taxes by fully reforming our outdated Tax Code.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.J. Res. 33, which would reshape the way Washington operates. Because Congress has failed to do its job to find the spending cuts we need to replace the sequester, folks all across this country, including folks in my district in Georgia, will pay the price. Unfortunately, in Washington there are rules that prevent Members of Congress from being penalized for not doing their jobs. The Constitution doesn't protect the pay of folks back home, so why should it protect the pay of Members of Congress? The 27th Amendment of the Constitution was written to prevent Members of Congress from giving themselves pay increases, but lately it has been used as a shield to prevent a congressional pay cut. My proposal, H.J. Res. 33, would return the 27th Amendment to its original intent and hold Members of Congress to the same standard as folks back home. I urge my colleagues to support this proposal.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it's with great sadness that I rise to honor the life of Jack Connell, who passed away last month at the age of 93. For 34 years, Jack Connell represented Augusta, Georgia, as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. For 26 of those years, Jack had the distinction of serving as the speaker pro tempore of the Georgia House. A representative of the Greatest Generation, Jack served in the Army Air Force as a bombardier navigator during World War II. He then worked as a traveling salesman, went on to own several businesses, and began a long career of public service. Someone once said that it's easier to fight for your country than it is to live for your country. Jack Connell did both, for which we can all be grateful.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Madam Speaker, in a few hours, the so-called ``sequester'' will begin to take effect, and the things we cannot do without will be cut just the same as the things we don't need and can't afford. What got us to this point was the failure to compromise, and what's kept us from solving this problem is that same failure to compromise. Only in Washington can so many folks agree on what the problem is, yet no solution is brought to the table. My home State of Georgia is home to some of this country's vital military installations, including Fort Gordon in my district, the central nervous system of our national defense. Nearly $1 billion in cuts will spread across these installations and will have devastating impacts on surrounding communities. I urge my colleagues to come back to the table, find the spending cuts we need to avoid this disaster, and begin the process of putting these partisan games behind us.

Mr. BARROW of Georgia

Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 50 years that Terrell W. Benton, Jr., has served as a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Terrell Benton earned both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia and, as one colleague put it, is ``the very model of what a lawyer should be.'' Terrell Benton believes that all deserve effective representation in our courts. That may be common today, but in 1964, my daddy's first year on the bench, not everybody felt that way. In that year, Terrell defended a black man the State was trying to put to death for killing a white man. He was convicted of the crime he committed, but he was spared the death penalty thanks to Terrell. That would have been no small feat for the most accomplished lawyer in that time and place, but considering that Terrell was just 1 year out of law school made it all the more remarkable. Today, Terrell is general counsel to three school districts and serves on a host of civic boards. I know I speak for lawyers everywhere when I thank Terrell Benton for his commitment to equal justice for all and for his 50 years of service to our profession.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, the holidays are a time to reflect on the things for which we are grateful. As we enjoy the company of family and friends, we should also take time to thank the brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Every one of us knows the tremendous debt we owe our military families. This year, as a token of my thanks, I'm donating over 79,000 frequent flyer miles that I received for congressional travel to the Fisher House's Hero Miles program, which provides free airline tickets to American soldiers and their families. Flying to Washington is part of our job, and there's no better way to use the miles we accumulate from those trips than to help our troops and their families see each other. I encourage all of my colleagues to donate their miles to the Fisher House or a similar charity that helps make a difference this holiday season.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Geneva B. Stallings, an outstanding Augustan who has devoted over 50 years of service to the Richmond County school system. For six decades, Mrs. Stallings has been a leader in the educational community in Augusta. She understands that equal educational opportunity is equal economic opportunity, and she's worked to see to it that all children, regardless of economic circumstance, received a quality education. Mrs. Stallings has served as a classroom teacher, as a reading coordinator, and as the longest serving director of the Title I pre-K department. In fact, the Board of Education recognized her service by naming the Title I Parent Information Resource Center the Geneva B. Stallings Title I Parent Resource Center. I know I speak for all who know Geneva Stallings in thanking her for her commitment to the education of our children. Mrs. Stallings, you have the appreciation of many grateful Augustans and of this proud Congressman. Thank you for a job well done.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. I thank the gentlelady for the time. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to reach across the aisle in support of the Cutting FUEL Act, a commonsense bill to cut wasteful government spending by reducing the number of nonessential vehicles purchased by the Federal Government. Any family or business knows that you can't spend beyond your means. The government should work the same way. Buying brand new cars the Federal Government doesn't need is a waste of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, and this bill puts an end to that. The government spends $4 billion a year to maintain and operate over 650,000 vehicles. Since 2006, the Federal Government has added over 20,000 vehicles to this fleet, and the cost of operating these vehicles has gone up 5.4 percent. I recently introduced H.R. 6144, which also cuts the Federal vehicle fleet by 20 percent. Like the Cutting FUEL Act, it makes an exception for vehicles that are essential to national security while reducing the size of the nonessential Federal Government fleet by 20 percent. This is just one of the many recommendations of the bipartisan Simpson- Bowles commission, and over the next 10 years it will save literally hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money. I'm pleased to join my colleague, Representative Hanna, in support of his version of this legislation, because acting in a bipartisan fashion isn't just the right way to do things around here, it's the only way to actually get things done around here. However much we tend to forget that in this body, it's the only way to deal with the other body, and it's the only way to truly represent the Nation as a whole. The folks we represent deserve a government that is responsible with their hard-earned dollars. I thank Congressman Hanna for introducing the Cutting FUEL Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bipartisan bill.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of H.R. 5910, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2012. Our success as a country depends more and more on being competitive in a global economy. The United States has historically been a very attractive investment for foreign businesses. In fact, foreign-owned businesses add over 5 million good-paying jobs to the U.S. labor force, produce nearly 18 percent of all U.S. exports, pay nearly 17 percent of all U.S. corporate income taxes, and purchase nearly $2 trillion in goods and services from other domestic small businesses. This bill simply requires the Department of Commerce to work with the heads of other relevant Federal departments to conduct a review of U.S. laws and policies that affect foreign investment in the U.S. and then make recommendations on how we can be more competitive in attracting foreign investment. As our global competitors continue to develop, we have to evolve as well just to keep up. This bill will give us a fuller picture of our challenges and opportunities so we can develop a coordinated strategy for economic success. It's the key to our economic well-being in the decades to come. I want to thank Congressman Dold, Congressman Roskam, and Congressman Peters for their collaborative and bipartisan work on this bill. Working together isn't just the right way to do things around here; it's the only way to actually get anything done around here. However much we may tend to forget that in this body, it's the only way to truly represent the Nation as a whole. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, there being no further speakers on our side, I would inquire of the gentlelady from California if she has any further speakers on hers.

Mr. BARROW. With that, Mr. Speaker, it falls to me only to thank, once again, Congressman Dold, Congressman Roskam, and Congressman Peters for their work on this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Peyton Bell, who's moved on from my staff after 2 years of service to the citizens of Georgia's 12th District. A native Augustan, Peyton came highly recommended after graduating from Rhodes College and interning with the U.S. Senate. He began as a legislative correspondent but was quickly promoted, becoming my point man on veterans' affairs issues. His hard work was rewarded with more work, and he assumed the dual roles of legislative assistant and press secretary, no small feat. Peyton has recently taken on two new roles, having married the former Kate Parker this July, and enrolling in the University of Georgia School of Law this fall. I know he will handle these responsibilities the way he handles life--with humor, enthusiasm, and dedication. Peyton, you have the appreciation of many grateful constituents and of this proud Congressman. Thank you for a job well done.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay my respects to a tireless crusader in the quest to protect America's children from violence and exploitation. Ernie Allen recently retired as the president and chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, where his mission was to protect our Nation's children. Under Ernie's leadership, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children played a crucial role in recovering some 74,000 children. With Ernie at the helm, they saw their recovery rate for missing children climb from 62 percent in 1990 to 94 percent today. While there's no official record book of what Ernie has accomplished over the years, his record lives on in the lives he has saved and the families he has reunited. I know I speak for my colleagues in the Congressional Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children's Caucus and for thousands of grateful families all across the Nation in thanking Ernie Allen for a job well done.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize George Kitchens, Jr., from Augusta, Georgia, who will be representing our State and our Nation at the London Olympic Games beginning tomorrow. George will be making his very first Olympic appearance in the men's long jump. A former Clemson Tiger All-American athlete, George will be the first member of the Tigers long jump team to advance to the Olympic Games. The American Olympic team is made up of 530 men and women. For the first time in history, this Olympic team will feature more female athletes than male athletes. Of the 302 medal events at the Olympic Games, the United States will be represented at 246. We look forward to watching George win the gold when the men's long jump team takes the spotlight on Friday, August 3. I know I speak for all of my colleagues in wishing our American Olympic team the best of luck in London.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my thanks to Kristie Johnson Gregory, who is moving on from my staff after 7 years of service to accept the position of special populations coordinator at Augusta Technical College. Kristie started as an intern in my office back in 2005, and she quickly rose up the ranks to serve as a senior constituent services representative. Every Congressman knows just how important it is to have good staff, and Kristie is the kind of staffer that you need. Kristie and our district staff recovered some $3.7 million in benefits wrongfully withheld from families back home in just the last year alone, and there's no telling how many homes she helped rescue from the brink of foreclosure. When you add it all up, her record is reflected in the thank you letters of grateful constituents and the appreciation of this Congressman for a job well done.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of an institution in my district--Snooky's Restaurant in Statesboro, Georgia. Forty-one years ago, Bruce Yawn opened a family-style restaurant, along with his father, Snooky Yawn. For 41 years, Snooky's wasn't just a place to get some great Southern cooking, it was a favorite gathering place for the folks who call Statesboro home, and it was home away from home for tens of thousands of young people who came from all over the State of Georgia to attend Georgia Southern University. In fact, the Georgia Southern University football program was practically founded at Snooky's, where the legendary founding coach, Erk Russell, was a regular. Coach Russell and his many friends and admirers would sit around and talk about football, fishing, and farming--among other things--for hours. Mr. Speaker, our country needs all the places like Snooky's that we can get, and we need to keep all of those that we can. So it's appropriate to thank Bruce Yawn, and all the other Bruce Yawns of the land, for the contribution they make to our sense of community. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. BARROW. I am opposed to the bill in its current form.

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer one final amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Three days ago on Memorial Day, I held town hall meetings at the American Legion posts in Augusta and Statesboro, Georgia. During these town hall meetings, veterans repeatedly expressed two of their most pressing concerns for our country. First, they're concerned that our increasing debt puts America on a path toward a fiscal crisis that threatens our national defense and the promises we've made to veterans and seniors. Second, they're concerned that the men and women returning home today, after fighting for our freedoms, are not receiving the proper medical care for the injuries they face, like traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and loss of limb. After my town hall meeting in Augusta, a Vietnam veteran came up to me and described how he had suffered from an undiagnosed case of PTSD until just a few years ago, and that his life had been a struggle for a long time as a result. This gentleman's candor reminds us of what we already know. In too many cases, we fell short in providing Vietnam veterans the care and dignity they deserved after giving the best years of their lives to our service. We cannot make the same mistakes today we made then. My amendment will do two things to try to be responsive to the veterans I represent. It takes $56 million of preexisting surplus money from the BRAC closure account and applies half, just $28 million, to veterans' medical and prosthetic research, and the other half to deficit reduction. This figure doesn't come out of thin air. That's the unanimous recommendation of the VFW, the Paralyzed Veterans of American, the Disabled Veterans of America, and AMVETS--in their annual independent budget recommendations--as the additional amount necessary to provide for appropriate program growth and to cover anticipated inflation. This money will go directly to research and treatments unique to the 21st century combat our soldiers face overseas today. Again, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. For all these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to support this motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARROW

Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Deputy James ``J.D.'' Paugh of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Augusta, Georgia. Deputy Paugh was killed in the line of duty when he stopped to help what appeared to be a stranded motorist on the Bobby Jones Expressway. As Deputy Paugh stopped his vehicle, Christopher Michael Hodges opened fire, striking Deputy Paugh nine times before turning his gun on himself. I had the opportunity to visit with members of Deputy Paugh's family on Tuesday at the 31st Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, where family and friends of peace officers who died in the line of duty came together from all over the Nation to remember their loved ones. As National Police Week comes to a close this week, we honor J.D. Paugh, all peace officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and the families of fallen officers throughout the Nation.